Holiday Gift Guide - System Mechanic 11 Giveaway

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Recently I had the opportunity to review System Mechanic 11, a truly great toolbox for your computer from iolo technologies.

You can check out my review here. Thanks to the generous folks at iolo, I have a System Mechanic for one lucky winner! Just follow the directions below to enter!

Holiday Gift Guide - New Softsoap Scentsations Wintermint Wonderland and Enchanting Sugar Plum Review

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Whether you are crossing a name off your gift list or gearing up for a holiday party, with Softsoap’s two new limited edition holiday themed body washes you can embrace the magic of the winter season and keep skin radiant and glowing at the same time. New Softsoap Scentsations Wintermint Wonderland and Enchanting Sugar Plum body washes fill your shower with your favorite seasonal scents and conjure up images of a winter wonderland. Added bonus? These moisture rich formulas will keep your skin hydrated throughout the cool winter months.

The scents of these new body washes are just amazing. Opening the Wintermint Wonderland is like opening a bottle of candy canes. The Enchanting Sugar Plum has a soft, sweet scent that is just a bit intoxicating in a very good way. So this holiday season give yourself and everyone on your list the gift of luxurious skin from the new Softsoap Scentsations Wintermint Wonderland and Enchanting Sugar Plum body washes.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own or those of my immediate family. My firm policy is to only reccomend products or services I use personally and believe will benefit my readers.

Holiday Gift Guide - System Mechanic Reveiw

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"Used and recommended by the world's leading technical authorities and consistently ranked as best in class by independent labs worldwide, iolo technologies, LLC products have benefitted nearly 40 million users worldwide and received hundreds of awards from industry analysts and media."

I've had my laptop since 2009 and daily use over three years can slow even the most advanced machines down. Then there is our kids' computer, even though we use parental controls and anti-malware, they still seem to bog it down with "clutter". No matter how often I have run the built in system tools, both machines still got slower and slower.

System Mechanic 11 from iolo Labs is a 'toolbox' full of  components to unclutter, protect and optimize your home computers. It is compatible with  Microsoft Windows® 8, 7, Vista, or XP and with the Whole Home Licensing, you can use it on as many computers as you own!  Among many more, it's abilities are:

Boosts Speed

• Automatically accelerate PC startup, internet speed, program operation and gaming performance.

Repairs Problems

• Diagnose & fix over 30,000 different PC problems using intelligent live updates from iolo Labs™. 

Cleans-up & Protects Privacy

• Remove over 50 types of junk files, and wipe sensitive internet and chat history for a cleaner, faster PC.

Plugs Security Holes

• Block dangerous program, system changes and faulty settings.

I was given the opportunity to try System Mechanic 11 from iolo Labs, LLC.  We have been using the program for a couple of  months now and the results have been great. Both of our laptops are operating at high speed again, and it appears to me, that the longer we use it, the better our machines run. There are so many tools available, I can use an all-in-one tool or choose to fix an individual problem. I especially like the CRUDD Remover™, Designated Drivers™, and NetBooster™.

This program would make a great gift, from 'techno-sophisticated' to the 'techcno-challenged' on your list. Thanks to System Mechanic 11, my laptop is humming along at top speed and my online Christmas shopping list is quickly becoming a ghost of Christmas past.

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Gift it: System Mechanic 11 is available directly from www.iolo.com for $39.95 or from major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Staples.

I received a sample{s} and/or gift certificates by the company mentioned above, or the PR agency representing said company to facilitate review . All opinions are my own or those of my immediate family and are not influenced by any form of compensation. My firm policy is to only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will benefit my readers.

Being Thankful

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My favorite scent is my mother's house on Thanksgiving. The moment her door opens, the aroma envelopes you like a warm blanket of holidays gone by. As we sit at the table and pass the feast, we celebrate our loved ones past, present and to come and give thanks for all we have; each other, love, faith and life. What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Hullabaloo Gift Guide With Just Becki Kicks Off

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As Thanksgiving and Black Friday are at the end of this week, I am proud to announce I am kicking off my branch of the Holiday Hullabaloo Gift Guide! I am co-hosting this event with my very good friend Becki of Just Becki - A Confused Mom Blog. From Today until December 23 Just Becki and Supermom On Wheels will feature great gifting ideas for everyone on your list. We have both reviews and giveaways so make sure to come back often!

Have a wonderful holiday season!

UNREAL Unjunk Your Candy Party

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"UNREAL™ exists because a thirteen year old boy asked one Halloween why candy needs to be so unhealthy. After an argument with his father, he did a bit of research only to find that candy is filled with bad things like hydrogenated oils and artificial colors and flavors. And what’s worse, he found out that those ingredients don’t make candy taste better, they simply make it cheaper to produce. Nicky believed that candy without the junk could be made and that it would taste better. And he and his father and brother decided to prove it. And they did. UNREAL™ provides many of the great flavor combinations we love in our treats, but without the corn syrup, without the partially hydrogenated oils, without the GMOs, without the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, and with 40% less sugar per serving on average. The key ingredients are responsibly sourced, and the candy is available in the stores we all shop, at a price point we can all afford." 

I was lucky enough to be chosen to host an UNREAL candy party. Because our village is so small and our trailer so tiny, we had a "Chocloate at Church" party with the yourhy group that every kid in town participates in. Out theme was 'Celebrate Body, Friends and Faith'. 

As the kids, parents,and group leaders gobbled up their sweet treats with equal enthusiasm. I explained the concept of unjunking your candy. 

"When it comes to 'faux food', candy is the worst of the worst. It's crammed with one artificial ingredient after another. Corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. What makes UNREAL unjunked? There are none of those 'faux foods' in them. Thy're made with real cane sugar, natural oils, real milk, more peanuts and twice the cacao."

I asked everyone what their favorite product t was and overall it was the Chocolate Caramel Nougat Bar. Then I asked the adults what they liked the most  about UNREAL. The first answer was pretty unanimous, which I expected because I agreed, you can give your kids some sweet treats from time to time without the guilt. The second answer surprised me, but again I found myself agreeing, they liked the unpretentious names.  They really liked that each product is simply called what it is.

The other benefits of UNREAL are just as important, in my opinion and these have nothing to do with the nutrition value, just the value of the candy. You don't have to search them out at health food stores or pay premium prices, you can find them the same places around the same prices of the other candy.

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I was given this opportunity by Global Influence. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own or those of my immediate family. My firm policy is to only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will benefit my readers.

Pirates Booty Healthy Snacking - Review and Giveaway

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All the kids are back in school now and Pirate Brands has given me some helpful tips to share with you, my readers, about healthy alternatives from lunch packing to after school snacking.

Emily Whelan Anschlowar, MS, RD, the in-house nutrition expert at Pirate’s Booty all-natural snacks, has created smart lunchbox swaps that are wholesome, fun and won’t get traded come lunchtime. When it comes to school lunches, making simple swaps can make all the difference between an average meal and one that makes the grade. Here are a few tips on how your child’s lunch can earn high marks: 

• Sandwich Substitute: Whole grain bread, wraps or bagels packed with lean cuts of meat or hummus for protein is the way to go. Whole grain breads are packed with fiber and protein that keep away afternoon hunger pangs! Don’t forget the mustard, which is loaded with antioxidants. Tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers are delicious ways to add crunch, fiber, plus vitamins and minerals. 

• Snack Switch: This may be the most important part of the meal because it’s a kid’s favorite. Stay away from greasy, fried potato chips and artificially flavored cheese curls. Baked, all-natural snacks with less fat and calories are a much better alternative. You shouldn't need Google to read the ingredient list! 

• Drink Exchange: Avoid sugary fruit drinks loaded with calories and little to no nutritional benefit. Rehydrating with water or low-fat milk makes the grade! Low-fat milk is delicious and nutrient-rich; containing calcium and vitamin D which are essential for growing bones. 

• Sweet Tooth Swap: Instead of something high in fat and sugar like cookies or snack cakes, try naturally sweet low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit. Yogurt is rich in protein, calcium and B vitamins.

Pirate’s Booty makes the grade for the “Snack Switch” tip! 

Pirate’s Booty is a deliciously baked, all-natural snack that is gluten and tree-nut free, so it’s safe for kids with allergies and their classmates too. Pirate’s Booty is made without trans-fats and ingredients you can’t pronounce. Also, it’s more convenient than ever, as Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar now comes in half-ounce size multi-packs that are only 65-calories per pack! We're huge Pirate's Booty fans here and love that we can enjoy these great tasting snacks guilt-free.

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Win it!! I have 2 packages of 12 half ounce bags to giveaway to 2 lucky US winners! That's 24 half ounce bags for each winner! Just fill out the form below and follow the rules.