Rudolph Foods: Cinnamon Churros

Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Good!

The Cinnamon Churros from Rudolph Foods were such a treat. My kids love churros in the summer. The taste really brings back memories of our trips to amusement parks and festivals. These crispy treats are really something else. They're full of flavor and taste great. They're excellent for on-the-go snacking!

No wonder these delicious twists were featured as one of Rachael Ray's Snack of the Day!

Check out these yummy recipes using Rudolph Food's Cinnamon Churros. Click here to purchase.

Product received from Rudolph Foods to review. All opinons are my own.

Mother's Cookies: Circus Animal Cookies

These Circus Animal Cookies from Mother's Cookies bring back so many wonderful childhood memories. These were seriously my favorite cookies growing up. My younger brother loved them even more. It's too funny seeing us chow down on these to this day. They're that good! If you haven't tried them, you must. If not for yourself, do it for your kids. They will love them!

My kids are always up for Mother's Circus Animals. These pink and white frosted cookies are loaded with colorful sprinkles. They're a whole lot of fun to eat. Add them to ice cream sundaes, decorate cupcakes and cakes...there are many possibilites.

You can view all of their cookie varieties here. Trust me, all the rest are delicious, too. If you're in an area where Mother's Cookies are not in stores, be sure to click here to purchase.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mother’s Cookies and received two bags of cookies and a $20 Amazon gift certificate to facilitate my review.

My Forever Child: $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ AmandaSue #50!

You will find a beautiful selection of Miscarriage Memorial Jewelry, Personalized Mommy Jewelry and Hand Stamped Silver Jewelry from My Forever Child. This company is so uplifting and such a joy to feature.

Read more about this beautiful company from their website:

Our mission at My Forever Child is to honor and acknowledge our loved ones, while celebrating their life and the love they have bestowed to us. We believe that jewelry should tell a story and be meaningful for the wearer. Our personalized keepsakes are handcrafted upon order in our studio and customized to your specifications. Treasured memories will always be in your heart forever.

Fertility Jewelry and Pregnancy Jewelry

For many couples, Trying to Conceive and Pregnancy can be a very long and emotionally draining process, especially if there have been one or more previous losses. When your greatest desire is to conceive, carry, nurture, and raise a child of your own, it is heartbreaking and devastating if you are not able to do so. The outside world may not understand or be insensitive to your struggle and lonely journey.

Our Fertility Jewelry and Pregnancy Jewelry is created from natural genuine gemstones with special metaphysical properties and sterling silver charms with symbolic meaning which have been traditionally used to enhance fertility, conception and healthy pregnancies in cultures around the world. The genuine gemstones we use have mineral properties and energies which are thought to decrease negativity, stress and fear; while promoting positive energy, relaxation, tranquility, confidence, love, luck, hope, reproductive health, emotional and hormonal balance. Our Fertility and Pregnancy Bracelets, Pendants, Necklaces, and Charms are soothing to the touch and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. All of our Fertility and Pregnancy jewellery is created with .925 Sterling Silver, and is Lead-Free. A jewelry pouch and card explaining the gemstones and symbolism is included with each purchase, perfect for sending as a gift of encouragement!

Please note that the jewelry or gemstones is not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure infertility or any medical condition. Always discuss your medical concerns with your physicians. Wearing our Fertility Jewelry and Pregnancy Jewelry is a visual reminder to think positively and ready your spirit to nurture new life. Believe, Hope, and Pray for Miracles!

Sales of our Fertility Jewelry exploded through the roof when the season premiere episode of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” featured a woman who had multiple miscarriages and then had a successful pregnancy and healthy baby, after she wore a Fertility Bracelet (among other factors).

Custom Engraved Images

Now you can have an image of your child`s actual Handprint or Footprints on a piece of keepsake jewelry to always wear! This is a special and unique way to celebrate your child`s life, and to carry with you a treasured keepsake made from their creation! The remarkable details will comfort you that you are wearing your child`s actual hand or foot image. Just as no two handprints or footprints are exactly the same, your child`s prints are captured in precious metals that will represent their individuality.

One lucky reader will have the chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate from My Forever Child!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me how you would spend your $50.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow My Forever Child on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Become a fan of My Forever Child on Facebook here and leave your Facebook name
• Follow My Forever Child on MySpace here and leave your name
• Subscribe to My Forever Child's blog here and leave your name
• Make any purchase from My Forever Child for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog

**This giveaway ends on June 2nd and is open worldwide. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on June 3rd.

Advertorial from My Forever Child

Polar: CS300 Training Computer

The Polar CS300 Heart Rate Monitor/Cycling Computer – This little gadget does it all! Not only does it work as a heart rate monitor, it also measures cycling data, calories burned, and you can also download all this information on Polar’s site to track your performance! The package comes with the Wrist Unit which records all the data, Strap/Transmitter that mounts across your chest, Bike Mount, and Speed Sensor/Magnet. I used the Polar CS300 as a heart rate monitor as well as a cyclometer on my mountain bike. Both functions worked great and provided me with data I need to keep track of my performance.

Heart Rate Monitor: This feature measures your heart rate during exercise, time in/out of your target heart rate zone, maximum/average heart rate, and even calories burned. You can either set your own limits (for the elite athlete) or you can choose “Automatic” which automatically configures your settings based on your age and weight; this is the setting I chose. Referring to the American Heart Association, their suggestion on heart rate limits closely resembled Polar’s automatic settings.

Cycling Computer: This feature measures Distance, Maximum/Average Speed, Cadence, Ride Time, and even shows the time you started your exercise. Polar instructs you to mount the Wrist Unit on the Polar Bike Mount, but I had it on my wrist and measured data just fine. You have the capability to measure data on two bikes, but you will need an extra Polar speed Sensor for the second bike. Furthermore, you can measure cadence, but you will have to purchase this sensor separately.

Bottom Line: The CS300 from Polar is for the cyclist who would like to have a cyclometer and heart rate monitor in one. The heart rate monitor can also be used off the bike and used with other exercises. The user does not have to have a degree from MIT to use it, but will have to be somewhat tech savvy to be able to use this product successfully.


Product received from Polar for review. All opinions are my own.

Enter the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest: 4-packs of AA and one 4-pack of AAA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries Giveaway - 2 Winners!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the TWO winners ~ lisa #90 and Brenda #68!

Energizer is such an amazing company to work with. Right now the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest is taking place! Get your entries in today for a chance to win a trip for two to Greece!

Do you have a winning shot? Send in your best photos—in categories like Animals/Wildlife, Travel, and Weather—for a chance to win a National Geographic Expeditions trip for two to Greece! The winning photo will also be featured in an Energizer ad in the December issue of National Geographic magazine.

This year, the Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest is all about you. Send in your photos, rate contest entries, see how your favorites are doing, and ask award-winning photographer and contest judge Jim Richardson your photography questions.

There's no question about one thing: To get the best shot, you need the best equipment. That's where Energizer comes in. Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA and AAA batteries are the world's longest lasting batteries in high-tech devices. They last up to eight times longer than Energizer® MAX® in digital cameras (results vary by camera), you can take your mind off your batteries and focus on capturing that winning photo.

What are you waiting for?!? Click here to enter!

Energizer is also offering a wonderful giveaway to two lucky Funky Monkey readers. Now is your chance to win 4-packs of AA and one 4-pack of AAA Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me something else about this company not
mentioned.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow Energizer on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Become a fan of Energizer on Facebook here and leave your Facebook name
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog

**This giveaway ends on May 31st and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on June 1st.

Product received for review from Energizer. All opinions are my own.

Alouette Cheese: 3 Full Value Coupons Giveaway for Two Winners!

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the TWO lucky winners ~ luckycat1818 #194 and jerseygirl137 #12!

The Soft Spreadable Cheese from Alouette are terrific! My family loves them and we'll definitely be purchasing more at every grocery store visit. Even the light variety tastes good.

We loved this cheese on crackers and veggies. The soft, creamy texture tastes fresh and spreads nicely. This gourmet cheese is really delicious to use as a snack or appetizer.

With its different flavor varieties including Sundried Tomato & Basil, Garlic & Herbs, Pepper Medley, Spinach Artichoke and Garlic & Herbs Light, you'll want to experience them all! My personal favorite - Garlic & Herbs.

Two lucky winners will receive THREE Full Value Coupons for Alouette Cheese products!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me another product you would love to try.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow Alouette Cheese on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Become a fan of Alouette Cheese on Facebook here and leave your Facebook name
• Tell me something else about this company/products not mentioned
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog

**This giveaway ends on May 31st and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on June 1st.

Full Value Coupons received for review from Alouette Cheese. All opinions are my own.

Snorg Tees: Shirt of Choice Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ Kim Benton #208!

I've worked with Snorg Tees in the past and every time, this company has been friendly, professional and never disappoint with their humorous tees.

My son loves a game of rock, paper, scissors. He was thrilled to see their Choose Wisely tee for kids. It's really a fun and cute t-shirt.

Oooooo, spiders.... Is it just me or do you know someone who has serious arachnophobia, too?!? The Only Thing We Have To Fear t-shirt is hilarious.

This company also offers shirts for women and hoodies!

One lucky winner will receive the t-shirt of their choice!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me the shirt you would choose.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow Snorg Tees on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Become a fan of Snorg Tees on Facebook here and leave your Facebook name
• Make any purchase from Snorg Tees for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog

**This giveaway ends on May 31st and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on June 1st.

Product received for review from Snorg Tees. All opinions are my own.

ZLilly Accessories: Onesie of your choice Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ Anonymous #7!

How cute...the I HEART MOM tee I received from ZLilly Accessories is really darling. I was drawn to it's colors and style. Isn't it so rocker chic?!?

This shirt is great for a little boy or girl to wear to show their LOVE for MOMS. Shown after one washing. Fraying will occur and adds to the charm, identity and individuality of the shirt.Stripes made with dark blue sparkly fabric (can be made with other colors) and sewn in strips across the front of shirt. Big tatoo style heart decal and flower cut from a cotton print fabric, appliqued to light blue felt then stitched onto shirt. Stitching creates a light 'quilting' affect. Two choices for the big heart: Red with 'I Love Mom' or Pink with 'MOM' (shown on model) - please let me know which heart you would like in comments to seller.

My daughter loves this shirt and thinks it's very cool to have "mom" on the front. This shirt is handmade with love. It's a basic white t-shirt and comes in the following sizes:

Toddler 2T/3T & 4T T-shirt

Kids Small-XLarge T-shirt

Other sizes are available if you contact the designer.

One lucky reader will have the chance to win a short sleeve onesie of their choice (up to 24 months)!

You can also take 20% OFF your entire order with discount code FUNKMONK20. Refund will be given through PayPal after purchase.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me the onesie you would choose.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow ZLilly Accessories on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Make any purchase from ZLilly Accessories for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog

**This giveaway ends on May 30th and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on May 31st.

Product received for review from ZLilly Accessories. All opinions are my own.

Uncle Ben's: Whole Grain White Rice

Eating whole grains is best for you. Thank you Uncle Ben's for creating a rice that is whole grain, but looks and tastes like white rice. My family was fortunate enough to experience this. We also received a handy Uncle Ben's apron!

This rice was so easy to make! Just add water, steam on the stovetop and you're done. It was a wonderful addition to our meal. We eat white rice a lot in my home. It was really great knowing that my kids were eating a healthier option, but it looked and tasted like the white rice they're used to.

I also received enough boxes and aprons of this rice to give away to friends and family. I chose to give them to my friends and they thought it was a nice way to make their meals healthier for their children. They commented on how the aprons were very helpful to use in the kitchen, too!

Take advantage of this coupon for 75 cents OFF an Uncle Ben's rice product. Click here.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben’s and received samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

WellnessMats: 2x3 Mat Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ Jolee #117!

I had the opportunity to try out a mat from WellnessMats. I must say, this mat is the best anti-fatigue mat I have reviewed to date. I love the way this feels. The minute I stepped onto this mat, I immediately felt the difference. I had been walking on our hard floors all day. My feet were killing me! After I experienced the feel of this mat, I knew it was a winner.




All of the mats from this company are manufactured here in the USA. The comfort level is beyond good. It would be heavenly if my entire house was covered in these mats. They feel that good! I use my mat right in front of our kitchen sink. My husband loves it and I love it.

Perfect for smaller spaces, our 3 x 2 mat will enable you to stand in comfort and style - anywhere. Our 'no slip, no trip' edges ensure your wellbeing and safety. Use this mat anywhere you are tight for space - smaller kitchens, washrooms, laundry rooms or anywhere you find yourself standing around!

One lucky winner will win a 2x3 mat in the color of your choice!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me what color you would choose.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow WellnessMats on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Make any purchase from WellnessMats for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog

**This giveaway ends on May 30th and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on May 31st.

Product received for review from WellnessMats. All opinions are my own.

The Children's Place: SALE GOING ON RIGHT NOW!

The Children's Place is one of my favorite stores when it comes to value, style and comfort. I trust this company and their clothing. I've never had a bad experience from TCP.

This company sent over a really cute outfit for my son. He is in love with button front shirts and this style is terrific. I love the color combination!

This Plaid Woven Shirt is now only $8.99! What a steal! The print you see is Cowboy, but it also comes in Nautico - a orange and navy color combination.

These elastic waist shorts are great! My son loves these Pull-On Cargo Shorts in Stone. Get these in navy, magnet and sandal as well. Only $10! Wow!

Head on over to The Children's Place now. There are tons of great deals to take advantage of! Shop online with only $5 shipping on your entire order or find a store near you here.

Products received from The Children's Place for review. All opinons are my own.

Out of Office brought to you by FedEx Office

If you haven't heard about the FedEx Office blog, Out of Office, you must visit! You'll find a ton of great tips to on how to get creative. School is almost out and summer is soon approaching. Be sure to visit this great blog for fun project and craft ideas to keep the kids busy.

I was sent a bookmark kit that my kids had a blast with today. They had so much fun coloring them and adding their special stickers. They came out great and can't wait to use them with their favorite books.

Use what you have on hand! Decorate your bookmark with photos, paper scraps and fabric. When you're all finished creating your one-of-a-kind bookmark, stop by your local FedEx Office to have them laminated!

Be sure to visit Out of Office, brought to you by FedEx Office. What a creative blog! I loved all of their fun topics from Home Helper to Parent Projects.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office and received the items necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Precious Ideas: Li'l Shopper Cart Cushion Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ daunfamily #71!

I've never seen a shopping cart cover like this! Introducing Precious Ideas - Comfort for your little ones!

Li'l Shopper TM our soft ergonomically designed cart cushion provides patented support to your child's legs while helping to protect the back of the thigh and knee from contact with the painful seat edge.

Uncomfortable and painful cart seats are the main reason children try to climb out, which can lead to injury.

Lightweight and washable, our simple one piece design requires no installation. It slips into place and uses existing cart belts to secure your child.

Always buckle-up children in shopping carts!

About Precious Ideas:

As a parent, the problem of shopping with an uncomfortable child was always a frustration. My kids would complain that their legs were hurting or "falling asleep". I developed a simple practical solution to relieve the discomfort kids face when sitting in the harsh metal cart seats. (Necessary when shopping with small children.) The leg extension addresses the most painful aspect of the shopping cart seats. Rough grill ends and short seat depth force the weight of the leg to be uncomfortably concentrated on a small area (the point where the cart seat ends). Our cushion is designed to provide much needed support and comfort for your child.

One lucky winner will receive a Li'l Shopper Cart Cushion!

You may also take 10% OFF your order now through May 31st when you use the coupon code MOM.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me why you love/need this product.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Tell me who this will be for
• Make any purchase from Precious Ideas for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog

**This giveaway ends on May 24th and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on May 25th.

Advertorial from Precious Ideas.

Testing the CamelBak Capo on the Trail

The CamelBak Capo Part 2 – Thrash Test – When I filled up the bladder with ice and beverage, I noticed how easy it was to do so because of the wide mouth! There is a separate compartment for the bladder, which unzips and there is a hole on the top for the PureFlow Delivery Tube to go through. Easy, breezy, no fiddle faddling and it was mess free. Cleaning was also a cinch since you can fit your whole hand in there.

For this test, I travelled to Auburn, CA and rode the Clementine Loop Trail. At this trail, you have to ride about 4 miles up to the top and 5 miles downhill. The idea was to load up the pack with safety gear to include body armor, knee guards, and elbow/forearm guards; Once at the top, put all the gear on and survive going downhill.

During the long uphill ride, I noticed how secure the pack was; nothing came loose and it felt solid on my back. The Back Panel Air Director (part that sits directly on your back) felt comfortable and did not make me feel hot at all. It sat on my shoulders nicely and the weight was evenly distributed which prevented any “hot spots”. The chest harness kept the pack secure and also enabled me to breath with no constriction.

When I finally got to the top of the hill, I inspected the straps and everything was just as secure as when I started the ride. After putting on all the gear, I tightened up all the straps and flew downhill. There were many rocky parts going downhill that can make one’s fillings pop loose, but the Capo was like an extension of my body; it never felt like it was going to pop off my back despite all the shaking. At times, I was hanging on to my handlebars for dear life, but I was still able to get a sip of my drink since the Bite Valve was easily accessible.

Final Verdict – Does what it’s supposed to do by keeping you hydrated and also holds on to your safety gear with no hiccups. Thrash Test – PASSED.

CamelBak provided this product for review. All opinions are my own.

Herman's Creations: Handpainted Customized Gifts for Baby, Teachers, Wedding...

Perhaps it's because I grew up in family of teachers, but I ALWAYS give the teachers in our lives gifts for Valentine's Day, Christmas, Easter and at the end of the school year. Being a teacher is a special job that often goes unappreciated. I found a wonderful little Etsy shop that I'm dying to share with you!

Herman's Creations is dynamite! The owner of this shop is so accommodating, professional and super friendly. I feel like I've made a new friend. And this shop gives back. 10% of sales goes to the Autism Speaks organization. What a great cause.

This talented shop owner and mother of two boys loves to paint and create. You can find custom tile wall hangings, plates and platters for babies, children, weddings, newlyweds and so on... Get creative! Custom orders are always welcome.

I chose to have a personalized platter created for my son's teacher. Their entire classroom is one big pirate theme. The platter this designer created for me is such a knock-out! I love everything about it. All I had to do was give her my theme, name for personalization and platter size. That was it. It was so easy! The next thing I knew, she had created THIS just for me!

Isn't it adorable?!? I can't wait to surprise my son's teacher with this handmade gift. It's always so special to see your name on something. Give a Customizeable Teacher Appreciation Plate to the teacher in your life.

This platter came with a very nice black metal plate stand. It was also packaged securely and arrived in perfect condition. I cannot say enough nice things about Herman's Creations. I highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for a unique gift.

Be sure to take advantage of this wonderful discount! Take 20% OFF your order when you use the discount code FunkMonk2010. Contact this shop for a custom order to receive your special offer.

Herman's Creations provided this product for a review. All opinions are my own.

Winners!

Congratulations to the following giveaway winners:

Pippers America - Paula Michele #96

Money Savvy Generation - pixie13 #23

Kidz Gear - jewellknits #91

HearthSong - LuvMyCoffee #75

Panda Licorice - OneDayItWillBeAlright #205 and Jenna Wood #5

Gerber - brianpiero #24

**All winners have been notifed through email. Please check your junk/spam folder! If no response is received within 2 days, a new winner will be chosen. Random.org is used to determine all winners.

Inspired Gifts: Custom Photo Dry-Erase Board Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ Jenndiggy #40!

Becca DiPersia is the visionary behind Inspired Gifts. The idea came soon after the birth of her daughter, Makena. She began searching for ways to preserve and share the beautiful memories her new family was creating. She also wanted to create perfect gifts for grandparents, but nothing seemed to capture the importance of these very special people in her daughter’s life. All this searching led to the creation of Inspired Gifts. Becca hopes Inspired Gifts becomes your everlasting resource for creating meaningful gifts.

Create meaningful photo gifts for those you love. We provide high quality photo books & products to personalize with words of inspiration, love and timeless expressions.

Inspired Gifts will help you create a cherished gift for family and friends. Capture all of life’s moments, from times of celebration to times of healing, in one of our treasured photo books.

For the little ones in your life, Inspired Gifts offers original Baby & Children Stories. Compose Magical Fairy tales & Adventure books with your child’s name and pictures. Give your child the gift of being the lead character in a magical story created just for them.
Click on the icons below to take a tour of Inspired Gifts

Inspired Gifts Inspirational Gift Books

Bring vision, healing, love and laughter to your family and friends with this beautiful collection. Our stunning Inspirational Gift Books celebrate all life's occasions from birth, love, special people, times of healing and everything in between.

In this series, heartwarming quotes are paired with your personal photographs of family and friends... creating a meaningful gift for those you love.

Currently available in the Inspirational Series: Our Family Values, The Book of Healing and Mothers & Daughters

Dry-Erase Boards

Dry-erase photo boards are the right size for lockers but are also perfect as message boards for dorm-rooms, workshops or offices.

Make a Photo Dry-Erase Board

• Select any of our designs, and add your own photo.
• We print your photo on metallic photo paper and then mount the print on a rigid Sintra backing.
• A dry-erase marker is included.

Available in the Following Size: 8x18"

The Photo Dry-Erase Boards come in a variety of styles.

All Inspired Gifts press-printed photo books, calendars, cards and Earthtru™ Prints are produced by a Kodak NexPress.

Recyclable
Our Earthtru recyclable photo prints can be ordered on paper that is composed partially of recycled material. Even some elements of the NexPress are made from reclaimed materials and designed for future remanufacturing. Dry inks used by the press are packaged in recyclable containers, and printed sheets generated by it can easily be de-inked.

Chemical Free and Cleaner
Nontoxic dry inks used by the NexPress eliminate the use and production of harmful compounds during printing, cleanup or disposal of the inks. Worried about volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? You don’t have to be with these prints. The press produces virtually no emissions. Even the high-gloss finish is nontoxic and easily removed for recycling.

Less Wasteful
Print-on-demand technology eliminates the need for the plates that must be switched for each job on a traditional press. Because the NexPress does not use plates, operators can easily and quickly switch from one print job to the next. Small quantities that would never have been practical or economical in the past now make sense. Customers can avoid placing unnecessarily large orders only to find themselves discarding pallets of brochures or other printed pieces that were never used for one reason or another. Accurate registration and reliable paper handling ensure less wasted paper and decreased consumption of natural resources.

One lucky reader will have the chance to win the Photo Dry-Erase Board of their choice!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me one other product you love.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow Inspired Gifts on Twitter here and leave your name
• Become a fan of Inspired Gifts on Facebook here and leave your name
• Make any purchase from Inspired Gifts for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog.

**This giveaway ends on May 23rd and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on May 24th.

Advertorial from Inspired Gifts.

Winners!

Kiddy Kuvers - Edyta #39

Pink Hippo Boutique - Erica G #25

U*Neaks - Becky M #17

T-ShirtOutlet.com - luckycat1818 #162, degood #194

Sunglass Warehouse - Susan #44

Snyder's of Hanover - Sweetscove #113, Marcia Goss #127, lisa #208, Nicole #237, ShesAnAngel #282

Crispy Green - debbie #11, ohhhfire #36, missrantsypants #115

petLINENS - monapete #78

**All winners have been notifed through email. Please check your junk/spam folder! If no response is received within 2 days, a new winner will be chosen. Random.org is used to determine all winners.

Full Circle: Green Cleaning Tool Set Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ RosieGirlDreams.com #106!

It feels good to live a green lifestyle. Knowing that I'm cleaning with products that make a positive impact on the environment is a great thing.

Full Circle sent over some really neat cleaning products for me to try out. Here are a few of my favorites:

The High & Dry Scrub Brush is really a beautiful thing. A cleaning brush? Beautiful?!? Let me explain...

The bamboo handle finished with natural oils is really nice. The recycled bristles get the job done and I love the angled tip. It's great for cleaning out those hard to reach corners.

I would much rather hold this in my hand than the previous plastic versions I had before. It's comfortable to hold and cleans well.

I love The Ring vegetable brush. With its comfortable bamboo handle and recycled/all natural bristles, this unique brush gets my veggies clean. Just the way I like them! Eating right and cleaning right...

I've never felt a dish towel as soft as these! Full Circle offers a terrific towel that is super absorbent and feels like heaven. 70% bamboo + 30% organic cotton = unbelievable softness. Get these In the Buff Dish Towels in the following colors: green, natural, blue and earth

One lucky reader will win a Green Cleaning Tool Set from this amazing company.

You will receive:

1 x Laid Back dish brush
2 x brush refills
1 x Flip loofah scrubber sponge (2 pack)
2 x In the Buff organic dish towels

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me one other product you love.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Follow Full Circle on Twitter here and leave your name
• Become a fan of Full Circle on Facebook here and leave your name
• Make any purchase from Full Circle for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog.

**This giveaway ends on May 20th and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on May 21st.

Products received for review. All opinions are my own.

L.L.Bean: Gore-Tex Rain Pants & Gore-Tex Mountain Treads Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the lucky winner ~ Katie #316!

Here is a company that is true to their word. All of L.L.Bean's products are guaranteed. This company settles for nothing less than the absolute best when it comes to customer service and selection. I am a huge fan of this company and feel they really deliver when it comes to supreme quality.

I received these Gore-Tex Mountain Treads, Mid Cut in their Dark Brown/Chocolate color combination. You can also get these in Graphite/Navy. Both colors look spectacular.

Take these boots out to the trail! They fit wonderfully and really support the ankle and foot well. The construction of these mountain treads is fantastic. They truly are some of the nicest boots I've seen in a long time. One look and you just know that they're well made. My husband thinks they are top notch.

We did end up going up a half size as they ran a bit small. The half size up ended up being perfect! Be sure to check out these boots in low cut, too.

From their website:

We looked to our experts – the men and women who wear our boots – to help us make these handcrafted waterproof hikers perform even better on and off the trail. We think you'll agree that their feedback has resulted in day hikers with the best performance and comfort we've offered yet. First, we gender tuned the rugged midsole and lasting board to offer the correct level of support, stability and flexibility with every step. We then added a more rugged Vibram® rubber outsole that grabs and brakes on even the most hardscrabble terrain. An upper of waterproof leather and breathable Air 8000 mesh is matched with a waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex® liner, helping your feet stay dry through everything from summer river crossings to treks in snow and ice. The improved Ortholite® sock liner has a special antimicrobial treatment and wicks moisture so feet stay drier on long hikes. The improved lacing system helps you get the most consistent fit, whether your foot width is AA or EE. Imported. Fit best with midweight socks.

The Stowaway Rain Pant with Gore-Tex is another wonderful product. These durable, waterproof pants are great for all of your outdoor activities.

My husband wore these on a fishing trip and really liked the fit and feel. Plus, they kept him nice and dry. These pants provide good ventilation and the deep zippers are a plus. They pants can easily be slipped over a pair jeans, shoes or boots.

From their website:

Waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex® Performance Shell nylon features a double-ripstop weave, making it twice as abrasion resistant as before. Inside, we added Mesh Zoning Technology™ – which puts larger-hole mesh where you tend to heat up and smaller-hole mesh where you don't – to enhance breathability and ventilation. Stows in its own pocket for easy portability. Scuff-guard hems with deep zippers for easy on/off over shoes. Drawcord waistband. Imported. Machine wash and dry.

L.L.Bean also offers clothing and footwear for women and kids. They carry a huge variety of outdoor gear, luggage and products for the home. THINK FATHER'S DAY!

L.L.Bean is offering a very exciting giveaway! One lucky reader will win their choice of the Gore-Tex Stowaway Rain Pants or the Gore-Tex Mountain Treads!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit their website and tell me one other product you love.

If not completed, your additional entries will be disqualified from winning.

Click "comments" below this posting and leave a message as your entry. It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner. You do not need to have a Google account to comment. You may do so with just your name.

AFTER you have completed the mandatory entry above, you may do any of the additional entry options below for more ways to win. Each one counts as one separate entry.

• Subscribe to my blog via email - be sure to leave your email address in your comment
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed/Reader
• Follow The Funky Monkey on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to leave the link in your comment (Qualifies as one extra entry PER DAY)
• Post the link to this giveaway (Facebook, Blog, MySpace etc.) and leave the link in your comment (one entry per site)
• Add my button to your blog/site - be sure to leave the link in your comment
• Become a fan of L.L.Bean on Facebook here and leave your Facebook name
• Follow L.L.Bean on Twitter here and leave your Twitter name
• Make any purchase from L.L.Bean for an additional 10 entries (leave a separate comment for each - example: purchase1, purchase2, purchase3...) Purchase will be verified by the company
• Email three or more people about this giveaway and CC me at susannahbananaATliveDOTcom

**Be sure to check out my "CURRENT GIVEAWAYS" list on the right hand side of my blog.

**This giveaway ends on May 20th and is open to U.S. residents. **Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. **The winner will be announced on May 21st.

L.L.Bean provided product for this review and I've agreed not to materially misrepresent the product or functionality.

Have a Wonderful Mother's Day Weekend!

Where would the world be if it wasn't for mothers?!? I'm sure you can all agree, motherhood isn't easy, but it sure is worth it.

I hope you all have a Mother's Day filled with lots of hugs and kisses. I know it's a day to celebrate mothers everywhere, but it's also a day that I feel so blessed to have such phenomenal children. They fill my life with endless laughter and love. So for that, I celebrate them as well.

We're heading over to San Francisco on Sunday to see Peter Pan with my own spectacular mother. I'm looking forward to it.

Enjoy your day everyone. You deserve it.