Giveaways and Reviews Archives - Palmettos and Pigtails

Southern Paisley Apron Giveaway!

March 11, 2013 posted by Shara

Today’s giveaway is courtesy of Southern Paisley, your one stop shop for handmade baby (and mom) gifts! They have been nice enough to let me give away a kids Reversible Artist Apron today!

Whether your little ones like to cook, craft, paint or make mud pies, these aprons are the perfect match! Made with heavy duty Canvas and Cotton Duck, they will last for years to come! Personalization included & many designs to choose from!

Retail price $24.95

Sizes are 2T, 3-4, 5-6 or 7-8 and big kids 12-12 or 14-16.

Your choice of fabric and the type of personalization you’d like on their website, Southern Paisley.

Keep in mind there are multiple ways to enter for this giveaway, and if you are one of my loyal readers, you probably have already done half of them!

Giveaway ends on 3/17!

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Brand NEW Veggie Tales DVD Giveaway!!

March 8, 2013 posted by Shara

Am I going overboard on the giveaways this month? Soory, but there is just so much cool stuff being offered to you!!! As you know, Grace Hill Media is one of my sponsors….I love being a mommy reviewer for their movies! And I get to pass on the promotional stuff to you!!

And, if I know you….{and I think that I do by now}…I’ll bet your kids LOVE Veggie Tales just like mine do! They are such entertaining movies {downright silly at times!} but teach powerful, Biblical messages in real world situations that kids can understand. And they’ve hit the jackpot again with their new movie: I had the opportunity to have some cuddle time with Jayna and watch it with her. We both loved it!

Here’s what’s happening in the movie:

When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation – following the wise plans from the “Master Builder’s Handbook!” Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses – and their lives – on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God’s blueprints, they can stand strong when the storms come!

PLUS! Ever wonder what happened before Humpty cracked? Find out in this very Veggie retelling of the classic Humpty Dumpty story, “The Good Egg of Gooseville,” where we learn that a good neighbor always “lends a little hand” to those in need!

After (and a little bit during) the movie, Jayna and I were able to talk about the decisions that the characters made, and why some were good and some were bad. It was also a great lesson in following directions! The second movie, the one about Humpty Dumpty, revolves around taking on too many tasks, and neighbors not helping each other. After we talked about it a little afterwards, Jayna actually made the connection that if Mom is busy, she can help Millie instead! Success! And we both cracked up at some of the antics that happened in the stories!

Here’s a little snippet from the movie:

Want a copy for yourself? Grace Hill Media was nice enough to give one to me, to give to you! Good Luck! (the contest ends on 3/15!)

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Thirty-One Bags Giveaway

March 4, 2013 posted by Shara

Jayna told me today that she wishes God didn’t make Mondays because the weekends are better. Amen to that! Well, in case you have any Monday Blues today, I have an awesome giveaway from one of my March sponsors. Lauren, an independent sales director for Thirty-One, has offered up one of the oh-so-popular Inside Out Bags for a giveaway today. How’s that for a FABULOUS Monday pick-up?

Approx. 12.5”H x 14”W x 6.5”D

Two looks for the price of one! This reversible bag is one of the most versatile styles Thirty-One’s ever offered. Wear it one way during the day, and then flip it inside-out at night to show off the coordinating print. The shoulder strap can also be worn several different ways, giving you even more style options! And you can choose which color combinations from these choices:

I think my favorite is the Party Punch/Turquoise Cross Pop. What’s your favorite?

Enter the giveaway now, and remember if you have already done some of the entries {i.e. “subscribing to my blog!”}, obviously you can’t do it again….so that’s a free entry for you {just hit the I Did It button!}. The giveaway starts NOW and ends on Monday, March 11.

And, you will be my best friend {and probably Lauren’s too}, if you pinned this/shared this/tweeted this/etc. Tell your friends!

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The Bible Miniseries Giveaway

March 1, 2013 posted by Shara

Exciting news! Have you seen the commercials for the new mini-series on the History Channel? The Bible will be airing beginning on March 3rd, and will be a 10 part mini-series. The show will show events of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It will also feature some of the lesser known {but equally important} stories of the Bible….such as the stories of Rahab, Bathsheba and Joshua.

Bathsheba and the Baby from The Bible Mini Series

In addition to the series on television, they also have corresponding musical soundtracks, Bible studies, children’s books and apps. The folks over at Grace Hill Media have been gracious enough to put together an awesome giveaway to celebrate this historic television event.

A Story of God & All of Us – Young Readers Edition

(Based on the mini-series, “The Bible”)

”A STORY OF GOD AND ALL OF US is a sweeping narrative that dramatizes some of the most important events and characters in the Bible. The young reader’s edition of the novel contains abridged action-packed versions of the Bible’s most fascinating stories, featuring Moses, David, Daniel, John the Baptist and Jesus. This edition includes an exclusive introduction by author Roma Downey and a photo insert including images from the companion epic TV miniseries “The Bible.””

I don’t know about you, but I am super excited about this mini-series…it’s been in my DVR queue for weeks now! And I will be so jealous of the winner, because this is a great way to relate the mini-series to kids!

Mary reaching out to Jesus

A young David throwing water

Want to see more? Check out the video clips!

Remember, even if you have already done any of the entries {i.e. you already “like” me on Facebook} be sure to click on that entry because it totally counts for you!! And please, please share this giveaway! (It ends March 8th!)

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March Sponsor Spotlight

February 28, 2013 posted by Shara

Good morning! Today I just wanted to give a shout out to all of my March sponsors. As you know, I haven’t really been blogging that long, and so one of my goals this year is to increase my traffic {that’s you!} and put myself out there a little more. And there is no better way to do that than by networking! So I thought I would do something a little different by offering completely free advertising for the month of March. No hitches! I just wanted to showcase some other blogs and small businesses that are out there, trying to make a name for themselves too!

So, do me a favor. Stop on by any of their websites and say hello! Don’t be a lurker…leave a comment and tell them you found them here! Tell your friends about them too…share this on Facebook! If we all work together we can really help all these mamas out!

Not to mention the cool deals and giveaways! Scroll down to see what some of them are offering P&P readers all month long, and stay tuned for a TON of giveaways this month! And they are awesome prizes {tell your friends!}.

Without further ado….

Southern Paisley is a handmade shop that sells adorable, personalized gifts for babies, moms and kids! And just for Palmettos and Pigtails readers, get FREE personalization on any item during the month of March!! Here’s how:

1) Select your items and make your fabric selections using the Standard Options (not the Embroidered/Personalized Options)

2)Before you hit Pay Now, type PALMETTOS AND PIGTAILS in the Note to Seller option

3) Southern Paisley will contact you regarding your Personalization Options during normal business hours, 8am – 5pm EST

Stay tuned this month, as there will be an AWESOME giveaway from Southern Paisley!

Tara is a part-time literacy interventionalist for an elementary school. She was a full-time teacher until becoming a stylist with Stella & Dot in October 2012. She was able to cut back her teaching hours and make back her Stella & Dot investment in a month and a half! She loves the flexibility of the company, and enjoys the social aspects of selling the jewelry. Girl time is a rare commodity these days, and she is happy that she is able to offer that to women in addition to making some extra cash for her family!

Tara is offering a pair of FREE Stella & Dot earrings to any Palmettos and Pigtails readers who host a trunk show! Be sure to let her know you found her here when booking!

Lauree is a stay at home mom of twins {a boy and a girl}, who keep her busy! When she can, she finds time to entertain, cook and craft. She shares her tips and creations on her blog All About the Details, hoping to inspire and help others.

Loggerhead Apparel, a 100% American-grown, American-made brand, offers coastal lifestyle apparel for a cause. The brand seeks to conserve two endangered South Carolina treasures: the local textile industry and the state reptile, the loggerhead sea turtle. Available for men, women and children, Loggerhead Apparel donates 10% of all sales to sea turtle conservation efforts, while the majority of its products are manufactured right here in the state of South Carolina.

Connecting the Dots Events is a premier event planning service in the Atlanta area. Shannon and Paula have together put in 20 years in the industry and are ready to create and implement your custom day, without you stressing! CTDE offers Day-Of, Partial, and Complete Wedding Planning Services, as well as help in any area you can think of for other events! Contact them to help plan your next event!

Shannon and Paula are running an AWESOME giveaway in March. FREE WEDDING PLANNING! Check out the giveaway on their website if you would like to win!

The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountryis a non-profit organization whose mission is to spark imagination, stimulate curiosity and encourage problem solving through the power of play in families from all backgrounds with young children. Nine interactive exhibits, including a two-story Medieval Castle, a pirate ship and a dedicated Art Room, allow your children to explore the arts, sciences and humanities through their own hands-on experiences. Weekly classes expose children to the arts, movement and foreign languages. And, when school’s out, CML camp is in session!
Spring Break Camp and Summer Camp registration, as well as Session II Spring Classes schedules and registration are all available online at www.explorecml.org.

Join CML for their 9th Annual Fam Jam festival in Marion Square on Saturday, April 20 from 10am – 2pm! Fam Jam is a FREE family festival that celebrates homegrown family fun and the power of play with no sugar added! The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry (CML) and Fam Jam prove that being active can be fun by transforming Marion Square into a giant playground where families can enjoy fun-filled physical challenges, relay races, outdoor play and more!
Grace Hill Media is a faith & family marketing agency in Hollywood, CA. Grace Hill Media constantly balances the needs of the faith and family market with the wants of the Hollywood industry. In recognizing the business demands of Hollywood while remaining sensitive to the values of their audience, Grace Hill Media stands alone in the entertainment industry. Tune in tomorrow for the first of TWO giveaways from Grace Hill Media!

Lauren is a full-time mom to {almost} three beautiful children. She started selling for Thirty-One in September of 2010 and LOVES it!!! Thirty-One is a faith-based company with a mission to celebrate, encourage & reward women. They offer unique & stylish products to simplify and organize your life, along with an incredible hostess plan to allow women to earn FREE products and an awesome business opportunity! Stay tuned later this month for an AWESOME giveaway from Lauren!!

If you are interested in advertising on my sidebar, check out my advertising page, or email me for details!

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Little Red Wagon DVD Giveaway

January 5, 2013 posted by Shara

To celebrate the DVD release of the incredible story of 8-year-old Zach Bonner’s trek across America feeding homeless children and families, my friends over at Grace Hill Media have given me two DVD’s of The Little Red Wagon to give away to you! Dave and I got the chance to screen this movie when it first came out, and were amazed at what an uplifting and entertaining story it was. Great for families and for introducing the concept of helping others to kids! Click here to read my blog post about the movie. P4F_LittleRedWagon_Poster_27x391copy

The giveaway will end on Friday, so be sure to enter as much as you can, and tell your friends about it! Remember that if you already subscribe in any way, those count as extra entries for you!

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Hot Cocoa Party! {And a Smart Balance Kids Milk Recipe and Giveaway!}

December 22, 2012 posted by Shara

We decided to celebrate the world NOT ending by having ourselves a little Hot Cocoa and Polar Express Party last night. Jayna invited a couple of her best buddies over for a little after dinner pajama party.Jayna and I had built a fun Polar Express fort earlier in the day, so the kids got to snuggle as they watched wide-eyed during the adrenaline pumping train ride. And of course, we had hot cocoa for them, just as the kiddos in the movie got served. Needless to say, I did not attempt any fancy dancing moves though!I made the hot cocoa from scratch using Smart Balance Kids milk. Here’s a quick bio for the three new products:

Smart Balance Kids^® Transitions Whole Milk and Nutrient Blend: {In the RED carton} This milk is perfect for kids who are 12-24 months old because it contains DHA & EPA Omega-3′s, Calcium & Vitamin D, Prebiotics, and Iron.

Smart Balance® Kids Reduced Fat Milk & Nutrient Blend: {In the BLUE carton} This milk was made for kids two and older. It’s made of 2% milk with DHA & EPA Omega-3′s, 30% Calcium & 50% Vitamin D, and Antioxidant Vitamins C & E.

Smart Balance® Kids Chocolate Low Fat Milk & Nutrient Blend: {In the BROWN carton} This 1% milk has DHA & EPA Omega-3′s, 30% Calcium % 50% Vitamin D, Antioxidant Vitamins C & E….but is in that Chocolately taste that kids love!

Check out their website and Facebook page for more info and promotions:

http://www.smartbalancekids.com/

http://www.facebook.com/SmartBalanceKids

And yes, I have three more coupons to giveaway to round out 2012!!! So be sure to read to the end of the post to enter the giveaway for them. Remember that you can enter in many different ways….even if you have done some of the things on the list before. So, for instance, one of the entries is to “Like” P&P on Facebook. If you already “like” me, then you still get credit, just click on “I did it!” The contest will end on December 31st.

The Recipe {which I adapted from Allrecipes.com}Ingredients:

4 cups ofReduced Fat Smart Balance Kids Milk
3 baking bars of grated semi-sweet chocolate
2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3 candy canes, roughly crushed
1/2 c mini marshmallows ( I used itsy bitsy micromallows that I bought from Grandma’s Pantry when we visited Virginia last year)
1 shot of Bailey’s (for you!)Instructions:

Heat up themilk in a saucepan or in a microwaveable container (2 minutes in microwave). Make sure that the milk doesn’t boil.
Stir in the chocolate until completely melted, then add sugar and cinnamon.
Whisk until smooth, and pour into four mugs.
Top with crushed candy canes and marshmallows (and Bailey’s for you!)Enjoy! {And enter the Smart Balance giveaway!}

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Milk Mustaches {And a Smart Balance Giveaway!}

November 14, 2012 posted by Shara

We’ve been taking it easy this week. Dave had Veteran’s Day off on Monday so we went to the zoo as a family and the girls were tickled {literally!} to find out we could feed the giraffes there!

But mostly we’ve been catching up on housework, sleep and each other. Some lazy mornings have led to silly breakfasts!

Have I mentioned that my kids are IN LOVE with Smart Balance Kids? I know, I know….they are a sponsor. I’m getting {lots} of promotional items from them. BUT, you should know, I’d never endorse anything I don’t believe in! And my kids really do love this milk!

And I love the fact that their new Kids’ Line of milk products are hormone free!

Here’s a quick bio for the three new products:

Check out their website and Facebook page for more info and promotions:

http://www.smartbalancekids.com/

http://www.facebook.com/SmartBalanceKids

And, since we love it so much…I thought maybe you’d want to try it too! Smart Balance has graciously given me three vouchers for FREE milk this month to give to you! It’s a great deal, so I’ve given you lots of ways to enter the contest (which ends next Wednesday!)

On your mark, Get set, GO!

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Required Disclosure: I have received promotional consideration from Smart Balance.

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Little Red Wagon

October 16, 2012 posted by Shara

Isn’t it nice to have a date night? Even if it’s late at night, and on your own couch? The other night, Dave and I were able to slip away for a couple of hours after the girls went to bed and actually watch a movie. Not Cinderella or Veggie Tales, mind you, but a REAL movie!! And luckily, thanks to my new partnership with Grace Hill Media, we had a movie in hand to preview for them!

The first movie I got in the mail to screen for them was called Little Red Wagon. It hits theaters on October 19th, and it’s a great family film. It’s based on a true story about a big-hearted kid named Zach Bonner, who organized thousands of toys and supplies to help out kids in the Florida areas who were made homeless by Hurricane Charley. In order to raise awareness about child homelessness, he walked from Tampa, FL to Washington, D.C. The movie also follows the story of a single mom and her son who are personally affected by homelessness.

As a mom, the movie really tugged at my heart…there are some really raw, emotional moments throughout the film as Zach’s mom struggles over whether to support her son’s dream (even though it means putting their life on hold), the progression of events that lead to the single mom’s loss of her home, and the reactions of the public to Zach’s cause. Have a couple of tissues ready!

A great story about a great kid….and although there are a few mild language moments (no cursing, just your typical hormonal teenage daughter calling her mom and little brother names!), it’s overall a good movie to see with your school-aged kids. {rated PG}

Opening in theaters on Friday!

Required Disclosure: I received sample viewing products from Grace Hill Media to review.

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Cooking Class at the Coastal Cupboard

October 12, 2012 posted by Shara

A couple of weeks ago, I got asked to visit one of Coastal Cupboard’s cooking classes as their guest. {Yes, blogging has some perks!} And it just so happened that the class took place last week, while my mom was here…the perfect mother-daughter date!

The Coastal Cupboard is one of my favorite little shops to visit when I go to Mt. Pleasant…they have tons of fun kitchen gadgets, rows of pretty aprons, samples of their food lines, and holiday decor.

The Coastal Cupboard wanted to create a unique cooking class for Mommies…..a Mother’s Morning Out, if you will. So they asked me to help spread the word and come check it out! I managed to get a few good friends {Melinda, Amy and my mom}, and their friends to come with me.

Chef Stephen Harman had a delicious brunch menu typed up for us when we got there, that included ingredients and directions, as well as a place to take notes. And then he cooked for us {all while entertaining us with stories about his kids and from his chef days at some of the most popular restaurants in Charleston}.

First up was a Grilled Fruit Salad. Chef Harman used a fancy gadget to core and slice a pineapple, just by twisting!

And after slicing up some mangos, strawberries and blueberries, he dumped them all onto a stovetop grill for just a couple of minutes.

While the fruit was grilling, Chef Harman poached some shrimp….simmering it in a mixture of champagne, tabasco, honey, salt and pepper.

And while he was waiting for the shrimp to cook, he made homemade ice cream using real, fresh mint {there’s no food coloring in it, so it stays white}. He chopped up the mint into large pieces and cooked it with milk, cream, vanilla, salt and sugar. Then he whisked it into an egg and sugar mixture, straining out all of the mint first. And finally, he added the chocolate chips before serving!

And finally, he added the Pecan Crusted French Toast to the side of the grilled fruit salad and shrimp. His secret ingredients in the french toast were Challah bread, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey. And everything was served with cucumber water and mimosas!