Not Attending BlogHer'12? You Can Still Win A Swag Bag

Are you like me and not able to attend BlogHer'12 this year? I must admit I was very excited to learn it was in NY this year, being it was only a drive across the state for me to attend. Unfortunate events have come into play and I'm not able to attend the conference. But, rest assured for those of my fellow bloggers, like myself, that are not attending the conference we will still have a medium to keep track of everything going on at the conference. Just follow @BlogHerAtHome on twitter to stay up to date on conference happenings, connect with fellow bloggers who are also at home, and bring the experience of BlogHer to you virtually.

While doing so you can also enter to win a BlogHer '12 Swag Bag - entries can be done here . This sweepstakes is open to people who are not attending the conference.

Disclosure:I am receiving a Sweepstakes Entry into the BlogHerAtHome Swag Bag sweepstakes in exchange for this post.

Johnson Family of Wilson, NY NEEDS YOUR HELP

**UPDATE 8/1/12**

Offline Donations Can now be sent to

The Johnson Family Benefit Fund
PO Box 487
Wilson, NY 14172

$5 Donations VIA Text Message Can Also Be Made AT

Tragedy struck a local family here in Western New York yesterday morning around 6am. The unthinkable happened.. as the family was asleep in their home their entire house exploded. The explosion could be felt for miles away. It also leveled the entire home, there is nothing left but debris and the home foundation. Jody and Judith Johnson; their daughters Katie, 18, and Sarah, 14; and son Nathan, 16 were inside their home when the explosion occurred early Tuesday morning. Hannah, 16, and Sam, 10 -- had spent the night with a family friend so they were not at home. Sarah did not make it out of the home, she perished in the explosion. Katie - the oldest daughter - is still listed in critical condition.  How anyone even survived this explosion is a mystery. The pictures are overwhelming, the out pouring of support is amazing, and this family could use us! 

As A Mom Do You Love or Snub Your College Student

Are you a Mom of a college student that goes to college away from home? Do you Love or Snub your away from home college student? Have you ever sent your out of town college going child a care package or has the thought of a shopping trip, boxing up items, and then trip to send the package deterred you from sending one? You'd be surprised at how many Moms do and do not send their college children care packages. Interestingly 87% of college students still depend on their parents for monetary support while in college and of all those away at college 88% of them get care package from home. If you are already supporting their college spending wouldn't it make more sense to send care packages of items they may need? Such items like fresh foods, hygiene supplies, linens, pens, papers, notebooks, technology gadgets.. I'm sure you get the picture! mygofer.com service can send your college student care packages right to their dorm rooms. Mother's can just log into mygofer and select those items their students may need to keep them healthy, clean, happy, and feel loved then simply just ship it right off direct to them. As a person who enjoys the service mygofer offers I can see how it would help Mother's eliminate the worry relating to the away from home college student regarding if they are eating right, keeping the proper hygiene, getting enough rest, having enough time to study, and having enough money to get by on. By sending them a care package, that was carefully selected using mygofer, Mother's can show their love and not be deemed a snub!

American Express Prepaid Card + $25 Gift Card Offer

The American Express Prepaid Card. Get exclusive American Express benefits- with no credit check. Get your card now! ORDER AN AMERICAN EXPRESS® PREPAID CARD, LOAD $200 OR MORE AT THE TIME OF ORDER, AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY $25 GIFT CARD. Offer Ends August 31, 2012. Limit one (1) offer per Card. After qualifying for this offer, please allow 6 weeks for the $25 Gift Card to be mailed to the Card purchaser. 

Disclosure:This is an affiliate network promotional post

Julep Maven Box - Paint Your Nails Pretty - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

I'm the type that has my toenails painted all year round! I just love to put different colors and designs on them no matter the season. But when summertime rolls around I'm all about the "what's in" colors so my toes look awesome in my summer sandals and flip flops! To insure that my toes look their best for the summertime I became a Julep Maven! What is a Maven you ask? I am going to tell you and  after I do I will also offer you the opportunity to get your first Maven Box for a penny and of course a giveaway!

Julep is a line of Nail Parlors in the Northwest that are powered by girlfriends! Girlfriends who encourage us and push us to do something different. Not only does Julep have parlors they also make and create some of the most stylish nail colors out there. All of their nail colors are toxin free and named after women! Women who empower, encourage, and are the best girlfriends they could be. Julep also donates $1 of every polish sold to women's organizations! They are the true meaning of Girlfriend in ever sense of the word. Julep created the Maven program and being a Julep Maven can bring so much meaning and girlfriend connection to your life than just putting polish on your toes! For more information on Julep you can go here and read the inspirational girlfriend story!

As best put by Julep's site "Becoming a Julep Maven gives you exclusive access to COLOR. Each month we hand-pick trendsetting new nail colors, cult faves and cutting-edge beauty products that are just right for you. Commitment shy? No problem. YOU decide how often to receive your Julep Maven box, and you can cancel at any time." Once you sign up to be a Maven you take a fun quiz to establish your style profile and each month around the 27th your box will be shipped. Well what's in the box? It is two stylish colors and other beauty favorites that are shipped to you based on your style profile. Best part is, you can log in each month to ship that month's box to a friend! What an excellent gift to send to a girlfriend, Sister, Mother, or Aunt! Being a Maven isn't just about getting a Maven box every month, there are also many other perks to being a part of this society. For every two girlfriends that sign up to be a Maven you get a FREE month Maven Box and also 20% off and free shipping from the Maven Boutique. There are no obligations and you can cancel your subscription at any time with no questions asked! 


This is the Maven Box I received! I chose the Classic With A Twist and the two colors are Robin and Rose. I still have Robin on my toes (as pictured right) and I love it! I also love the Pedi Cream that came with the box it makes my feet feel amazingly soft. 

Before I get to the giveaway I'd like to offer my followers the opportunity to become a Maven!

Sign up to be a Maven here (yes this is my own personal referral link)

Use promo code MAVENINTRO to receive your first Maven Box for a PENNY!!

*You can cancel anytime after your first order, skip a month, or send a box to a girlfriend*

Without further ado now is your chance to WIN your choice of one Maven box. Remember, you can check out the boxes here. Giveaway will run from 7/24/12 until 8/8/12 at 12:01am EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:I was given my choice of a Maven box for the purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are of my own

Bagluxe.com Handbag-A-Day Sweepstakes Ends 8/31/12

Bagluxe.com is having a sweepstakes on their Facebook page. You can enter once a day and then share your entry on your Facebook wall, by invite, twitter, or on your blog! Entries are open worldwide and you must be 13 years or older. Under 18 needs parents permission to enter. There will be 30 prizes (1 a day) each winner will be able to pick three handbags and will receive one of them for the win! What one of us ladies isn't drooling over the chance to win a nice handbag!!

You can enter here
Rules are embedded

Disclosure: This is my personal referral link - I will receive extra entries for you entering through this link

Custom Water Bottle $8.99 Shipped From Ink Garden

Everyone has a water bottle in today's day and age. Stainless water bottles help eliminate the use of plastic, which is great for our environment. How many times have you picked up the wrong bottle? Perhaps your husband's? Daughter's? Now you can customize your water bottle so you know who's is who's. Ink Garden has an excellent deal going on right now. You pay just $3 for the Water Bottle (that includes customization) and $5.99 to ship it! You can't find a stainless water bottle for that price even including shipping. So eliminate mixing up of your bottles and order your customized bottles today! Click here to find out more details or click on the banner!

Wholly Salsa Not Just Good For Dipping - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

WINNER!

Congratulations Heather! Enjoy Your Goodies!!

Wholly Guacamole is most well known for their amazing Guacamole. Which I happen to be in love with the 100 calorie packs they have. However, guacamole is not the only thing they make that is awesome. This past spring Wholly Guacamole launched a Wholly Salsa line of products.  Their Salsa is made with all natural ingredients, fat free, gluten free, kosher certified, and preservative and additive free. I had heard about their salsa line, but hadn't had the opportunity to try any of the flavors yet. Well that was until recently. Wholly Guacamole sent me a cooler full of their products!! Both guacamole and ALL of the salsa flavors. Needless to say I was over the moon delighted to have received this surprise shipment of what was now making my mouth water (ok maybe I drooled a little too). Contained within this cooler of goodness was Guacamole, Salsa, a rubber avocado, chip clip, and a pen! I'm not here to tell you about their guacamole because I am almost certain all of you have already tried it and love it. I'm here to tell you about Wholly Salsa! Wholly Salsa line of flavors include:

Classic - Hot, Medium, and Mild

Avocado Verde

Guacamole & Spicy Pico

Roasted Tomato

Red Pepper Mango

Pineapple

The Car I Call Sybil

For anyone who saw the 1978 movie Sybil they know what she was, a person with multiply personalities. She had eight of them to be honest, each having their own name... but her legal birth name was Sybil. I call my car Sybil, probably you can guess why after reading who Sybil was. My car seems to do her own thing when she wants and when she feels like it. Sybil is also nicknamed the Shuttle, because the inside wraps around you like the cockpit of the shuttle, not to mention she is quite quick like a shuttle too! My car is no longer made (Pontiac) not only to mention it is a one of a kind in this area. There were only so many GXP's that were built and well I happen to have a white one with black chrome rims.. so she is rare. So it's not like I can just say OK sell the Shuttle and buy another one, that's not happening... finding them for sale is rare and few and far between! But here is Sybil aka Shuttle errr aka my car... and her story!