U*Neaks Kids Shoes-Review and Giveaway

U*Neaks is a great company with a very...well...unique product! U*neaks sells customizable shoes for children. They are sneaker-type shoes, with clear plastic panels in the side of each shoe, so that children can "customize" their shoes just by putting on a pair of socks!

"U*neaks patented customizable footwear are sneaker style shoes with side clear panel windows and specially designed socks that allow kids to continuously customize their shoes by simply changing their socks. Pair the shoes with any of U*neaks’ double-sided decorated socks for footwear that’s fun and chock full of personality.

U*neaks brand of customizable footwear was created by Ingenuity Express Corp. in Somerset, NJ. The footwear concept was invented and developed by company founders Steve Braynock and Jeff Gabriele, Ingenuity Express’ CEO. Both Rutgers University alum, Steve Braynock, came up with the product concept in 1990 and shared it with Jeff in 2003. Together they developed U*neaks, which included a collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan, N.Y. On September 9th, 2008 Steve and Jeff were awarded patent number 7,421,806 for their customizable footwear system."

I was sent a pair of the Pink/White Boomerang shoes, and several pairs of socks for review. They are so cute! I had a friend's daughter model them for me, and she loves them! She wore the shoes almost all day, even when she was inside the house!

U*Neaks is offering a pair of shoes and 2 pairs of socks to one of my readers!

Mandatory Entry-

Go to U*Neaks and tell me which shoes and socks you'd pick if you won.

Bonus Entries-

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

1 entry-Sign up for U*Neaks newsletter. Leave a comment telling me you did.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

Discliamer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from U*Neaks website.

eShakti Women's Clothing Review

eShakti recently offered me the opportunity to host a review on my blog, and I jumped at the chance! I am very picky about my clothing, so I love the ability to basically design my own clothing at eShakti!

"A woman can shop for exactly what she wants - no compromise, no premium to pay. She can ask for the fabric, color, body, styling and sizing that she likes. Earlier the information flowed one way: from the manufacturer to the customer. Now, the customer can talk to the manufacturer and easily specify online what she wants and get the clothing made just for her

We offer trendy, comfortable styles in clothes in a selection of fabrics. To know what our customers like, we run customer panels.

We offer the full size selection from 0 to 26W. We also offer custom sizes.

We give the customer the option to change the styling to suit herself. For instance, she can change the length of the sleeve or the body, or the shape of the neckline, in a tunic quite easily during the shopping process.

We have kept our website and customer policies friendly. We have a no-questions- money-back guarantee on sales returns, for instance.

Now, we ship in 3 business days. Yes, even custom clothes ship in 3 days. And the transit time from us to the customer is typically 4 days. So in 7 business days or less the customer gets to wear what she has ordered from us.

We ensure that no woman is told we don't carry her size - we offer every size, on all our clothes, at all times.

And we keep our prices stunningly reasonable." What a great idea! I chose the Bias Cut Paneled Long Skirt. The best part was being able to give the exact length I wanted the skirt! I only wear long skirts, so this was a wonderful benefit of shopping at eShakti! There are so many options at eShakti...I had a hard time choosing one item for the review. I love this color block dress! I highly recommend eShakti to anyone looking for a fun online shopping experience! In addition to the huge selection, and being able to customize your clothing, they have fast service, too! I received my skirt about a week after placing the order...and that was with the customized option!

Piczzle Picture Puzzle Review

I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again...I love personalized photo gifts! They are so unique, and I love being able to put a picture of a family member or friend on something I'll be using, whether a mug, tote bag, mouse pad, etc. Well, here's a very neat photo gift-a personalized photo puzzle from Piczzle!

"Piczzle Picture Puzzling is an internet-based sale and manufacturing service of Jigsaw Puzzles. Our company constantly pursues its vision of becoming a true global digital service leader who can make its customers worldwide happy through its creative supreme quality products.
Our company specializes in the field of custom puzzles production and selling of wood, cardboard and computer jigsaw puzzles. Our photo puzzle products are sold to individual and business customers directly through this website, and indirectly through online/ offline stores, distributors and independent resellers. Piczzle operates worldwide especially in the USA, the UK and in Israel.

We provide a range of personalized photo puzzle products through a service that makes it easy and fun for our visitors to design, write, paint, enhance, share and preserve their digital photos while sharing these interactively with their friends and family in an original, one of a kind, creative and thoughtful way.

We enable anyone in the world to easily and quickly turn their own digital picture into their very own picture puzzle as a personalized gift or just for fun. Here you have the control over what you would like your one-of-a-kind jigsaw puzzle to be: its picture, personal text, size, design, and level of difficulty are all up to you.

Piczzle's puzzles are made-to-order custom puzzles, and are produced using the customer's own photos. Being first in line we are committed to providing excellent service and top-quality personalized puzzles, thus linking a history of over 15 years of custom-made jigsaw puzzles manufacturing with online retail experience. Piczzle sees great importance in individuality and creativity, and promotes these issues by giving the customer the power to design their own product on one hand, and on the other hand by tending personally to each puzzle: on the service aspect, the graphic-design aspect, and the final product manufacturing aspect. Piczzle Personalized Picture Puzzle service was founded on May, 2003."

Piczzle sent me a 300 piece puzzle with one of my pictures on it. I emailed them a picture of my little brother with one of his favorite preachers, and I was thrilled to see how nice it turned out! The puzzle box even has the picture on it, just like a "real" puzzle! As I put the puzzle together, it was neat to see the picture take shape.

Isn't that neat??!!

Piczzle sells puzzles from 12 pieces to 2,000 pieces, and you can choose from cardboard or wooden, and even different shapes-heart, round, or rectangular. Piczzle will also put text on the puzzle if you want!

Piczzle is offering a 35% discount to my readers! Simply enter "HopesCafe35" during checkout!

High Sierra Sport Day Pack-Review and Giveaway!

I'm sure many of you have heard of High Sierra Sport Company-a family owned business that sells great quality luggage, backpacks, etc. When I contacted them about sponsoring a review and giveaway on my blog, they graciously offered one of their Day packs for review!

I was sent the Malcolm day pack. It is sooo nice! Plenty of room, and very well-made. I am using it mainly for a laptop bag (it has a cushioned area for the laptop!), and I love all the compartments in it. My last laptop bag/backpack wore out (the straps ripped off) within about 6 months of having it (I probably carry more stuff with my laptop than most people...2 external hard drives, a fan/cooling pad, etc.). This one feels like it will last much longer than my other bag, though!





Here is a little info about High Sierra Sport Company:

"

For over 30 years, High Sierra Sport Company is a family-owned organization, committed to producing thoughtfully innovative bags and luggage that appeal to the intelligence and esteem of the active lifestyle and outdoor consumer. High Sierra Sport Company has strived to give you the bags you need at a price you can afford. Specializing in adventure travel, our dedication to function, design, and quality shines in each and every one of our products. From athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, to students, travelers, and professionals, our versatile, innovative products are sure to fit your needs. Founded in 1978 as H. Bernbaum Import & Export Company by Harry Bernbaum and Hank Bernbaum, High Sierra Sport Company has grown to become the tenth largest outdoor company in the United States (Sporting Goods Business, November 1999). Today, High Sierra Sport Company employs 40 people and distributes and sells to more than 1500 retailers and 2250 corporate accounts worldwide. High Sierra Sport Company is the official supplier of bags to the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding teams and its memberships include the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), SnowSports Industries America (SIA) and the Travel Goods Association (TGA)."

Now, High Sierra Sport is also offering a Day pack (their choice) to one of my readers!

Mandatory Entry: Go to High Sierra Sport and tell me which Day pack you like best.


Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

1 entry-Follow High Sierra on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Fan High Sierra Sport on Facebook. Leave a comment with your Facebook name.

2 entries-Visit High Sierra's Community Page, and leave a comment on High Sierra's Facebook page about what charity you like best that they support. They ask that you not mention my blog or this contest in your comment, though. Leave 2 comments here with your Facebook name.

This giveaway ends Monday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

Discliamer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from High Sierra Sport website.

Growing Cooks Review and Giveaway!

Here's a really cute giveaway for kids, from Growing Cooks.

"Growing Cooks is all about creating fun, developing good eating habits and building wonderful memories cooking with your kids!

I love cooking, so it was only natural that I would want to share good food and get my own kids involved in the kitchen. Teaching my kids the basics of cooking enables them to create tasty nutritious, and balanced meals without having to resort to the local fast food establishment.

It didn’t take long before cooking with my kids took on a life of it s own. My daughter started helping with dinner on a regular basis, my son and his friends were making their own pizzas (along with decorating pizza boxes), Those were the seeds that inspired Growing Cooks."

Growing Cooks sent me the Deluxe Pizza Party Set for review, and the kids had a lot of fun with it! This is a 7 piece set that includes a cloth apron, aluminum pizza pan, rolling pin, recipe card, pizza box, paper chef's hat, and portion cups. The kitchen tools are very well made, and seem very durable.

Growing Cooks is offering an Apron, Hat and Rolling Pin Set to one of my readers! Winner gets to choose color and size of apron, so if you have a child that's a little bit older, the apron will still fit them!

Mandatory Entry:

Go to Growing Cooks and tell me another product you like!

Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments, with a link to your post.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends Saturday, May 8, at 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from the Growing Cooks website.

Emerson Creek Pottery Review and Giveaway!

Here is a great review and giveaway from a really neat place-Emerson Creek Pottery!

"Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Emerson Creek Pottery artisans are continuing the American tradition of pottery making in a contemporary way. The property on which Emerson Creek Pottery sits was originally a 500-acre land grant from the King of England. In 1825, Silas Wade aquired the land and built his two room, and two story log cabin, now the home of Emerson Creek Pottery. To the north are the majestic Peaks of Otter, visible through the treetops in winter. The land rolls gently away from the house to the creek beds. More information about this historic home can be found in the Virginia Room of the Roanoke City Library, Roanoke, Virginia.

Influenced by the energy of Early American cobalt decoration, owners Priscilla Palmer and Jim Leavitt founded Emerson Creek Pottery in 1977. Priscilla developed the unique technique of applying natural pigments to an absorbent glaze with a Japanese Sumi-e brush. The spontaneity of the brush stroke, combined with the accuracy of design yields our distinctively recognizable style. Priscilla's deep love of the natural world provides a multitude of organic designs for all of Emerson Creek's pottery.

Our ceramic pottery has been featured at Monticello, Mt. Vernon and the Smithsonian Institute, as well as in fine homes across America. We have had the pleasure of designing customized pottery patterns for numerous clubs and organizations.

Our pottery is formed of clay made onsite. Each piece is hand made, hand painted and fired in a gas kiln. Each pattern is a series of carefully planned strokes. No templates or stencils are used. The patterns are practiced and committed to memory. The artists paint the pattern again and again. Each piece is alike and yet different, like flowers in a field. We are currently featuring 14 different lines of ceramic pottery, including our beloved signature line - Field of Iris, a classic since 1977. All of our work is microwave and dishwasher safe, lead free and ovenproof."

I was given the opportunity to review one of the small loaf pans. I chose the blueberry design (there are 14 different designs you can pick from!), and I was impressed with the quality when it came in. The pan is a great size to make a small gift for someone. I know my little sisters will also love using it to make something for their tea parties! I made a loaf of...you guessed it...blueberry bread! It turned out really nice!

Emerson Creek Pottery also sells Dinnerware, Pie Plates, Serving Bowls, Tea Sets, and even Bathroom Sets! All of these are available in beautiful designs! And, they are

offering a mug (winner's choice of style and design!) to one of my readers!

Mandatory Entry

Go to Emerson Creek Pottery and tell me another product you'd like to get.

Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Tell me which style (ceramic or classic) and design you'd pick if you won!

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends Monday, May 3, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, ro another winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from Emerson Creek Pottery website.

Snaptotes Review Coming Up!!

I was recently offered the opportunity to review a product from Snaptotes. Snaptotes is a really neat company that allows you to put your picture(s) on a purse or handbag.
They have a new design service that is very handy! It makes ordering your bag so easy...all you do is pick the type/size bag you want, upload between 1-10 pictures, specify if you want any text on the bag...and Snaptotes designs your bag for you-for free! Here is a picture of what my bag will look like when I get it.

I love the different options available on the design service. There are 4 themes to choose from (collage, funky, scrapbook, and cutout).
The service was very fast, too. I was emailed the proof for my approval the day after uploading the pictures! Now I am just waiting (not very patiently, I might add!) to get my purse. I am sure it will be beautiful, but I am really looking forward to seeing it for myself!
Keep an eye out, because I'll be posting about the purse soon...and Snaptotes is also offering a coupon code for 15% off any Snaptotes purchase! That would be a great gift for Mother's Day (I know my Mom would love one)!

Sunglass Warehouse Review and Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Here's a great giveaway just in time for summer-Sunglass Warehouse!

"Sunglass Warehouse was founded in 2002 for the purpose of offering a low cost alternative to high designer sunglasses prices. We listen to our customers, adding the latest men's and women's styles. We even back up our claims with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. With 100's of designs available, you can count on Sunglass Warehouse to provide you with continued variety and assortment of the most popular sunglasses on the market. We put a lot of focus on making sure the sunglasses get delivered to our customers as quickly as possible. In order to do that, we warehouse everything that we sell, and unlike most other online retailers, we don't make an item available for sale unless it is present in our warehouse."


I was offered my choice of sunglasses for my review. I chose the SW Aviator Style #242. I'm not much for big frames, so these were a nice choice. The glasses are very comfortable! I will be wearing them a lot this summer (I've already used them quite a bit!). Sunglass Warehouse has a huge variety of glasses, and you are sure to find a pair to suit you...no matter how picky you are!
Check out their great selection of Women's Sunglasses. Or, if you're like me, you prefer the Aviator Style glasses. They also have pages to help your choose sunglasses based on your face shape or your skin tones.
Sunglass Warehouse is offering a $20.00 Gift Certificate to one of my readers! All their glasses are $20.00 or less, so this is great!

Mandatory Entry
Go to Sunglass Warehouse and tell me what pair of sunglasses you'd pick if you won!


Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Follow Sunglass Warehouse on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Fan Sunglass Warehouse on Facebook. Leave a comment with your Facebook name.

1 entry-Follow Sunglass Warehouse's blog. Leave a comment.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.
Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine, all quotes taken from the Sunglass Warehouse website.

Gifts Passion Photo Gifts-Review and Giveaway! 3 Winners!

A couple weeks ago I found a really neat website-GiftsPassion.com
Gifts Passion specializes in personalized photo gifts, and they sent me 2 items for review. I received a travel mug and a mouse pad with my picture (actually my little sister and her friend, but you know what I mean!) on them. They are beautiful! It is amazing how clear the pictures came out on both items.

"We feel strongly about the role of gifts in our lives and are passionate about gifts. Gifts have the ability to make any occasion special and memorable for life especially if it is given with passion and comes from the bottom of ones heart. Through this gifts store online, we want people to enjoy giving and receiving gifts by going one step ahead to personalize them.

The experience of creating and presenting personalized photo gifts – Photo Coffee Cups, T-shirts and Apparel, Photo Clocks, Mouse Pads and other novelty photo gifts is truly amazing. Nothing can be better than giving your loved ones a gift with personal and unique touch. The site aims at making the process of Gifts Customization easy, enjoyable, and exciting. Fortunately enough the latest achievements in Internet technology has made this possible. This is how the original website, www.GiftsPassion.com emerged. This website features great variety of gifts that users can easily customize on the site and send to their loved ones in no time. Gift Customizer is Gift Passion’s state-of-art proprietary web-application that has taken gift customizing to new heights by adding an element of fun and joy while customizing."

Gifts Passion also carries photo clocks, jewelry boxes, candy jars, keychains, pillow cases, etc. This is the perfect place to check out if you're looking for a unique gift for someone! Who doesn't love personalized gifts?!
I was also impressed with their super-fast service! I received my products 3 days after placing the order! I highly recommend Gifts Passion to anyone looking for a unique gift, or that just wants something special for themselves!

Now, the best part is that Gifts Passion is offering 3 different gifts to my readers! There are 3 options: a Photo Travel Mug, a Photo Ceramic Mug (15 oz.), and a Photo Mouse Pad. 1st place winner gets first choice, 2nd place gets 2nd choice, etc. I guarantee you will love any item you get from Gifts Passion!

Mandatory Entry


Go to Gifts Passion and register on their website. (Click on "My Account" and sign up). This is free, and does not require you to purchase anything! Leave a comment telling me you did. If this entry is not completed, any other entries will not count!


Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Visit Gifts Passion and tell me another product you'd like!

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

5 entries-Make a purchase from Gifts Passion. Leave 5 comments. This will be verified!

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave 1 comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive products for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from the Gifts Passion website.

SBS Tea Gift Set Giveaway & Review

Down here in the south, sweet tea is a staple drink! But in the morning, or on a cool evening, a cup of hot tea is really good too. I contacted SBS Teas to see about doing a review and giveaway, and they sent me 8 bags of gourmet tea in 5 different flavors- Earl Grey De la Creme, Lemon Chiffon Rooibos, Absolutely Fabulous, Almond Biscotti and Final Frontier, along with 2 personal tea bags for making the tea. The tea is delicious! My favorite is the Earl Grey de la Creme. I have to admit, this is the first time I've used loose-leaf tea (we usually just buy regular tea bags), but it was very easy to make! As well as tea, SBS Teas also sells coffee, bath and beauty supplies, mugs, and hot cocoa.
"SBSteas.com is a small, woman-owned business is now located in the beautiful Southeast. We are environmentally conscious, keeping our focus on helping others achieve better health and a more peaceful existence, one cup of tea at a time. We hope you enjoy our products as much as we enjoy bringing them to you!"

And, if you want to send a gift to someone:
"We are Secret Pal Friendly! If you are looking for the perfect gift to give your secret pal, your secret brother, your secret sister, or even your secret santa - you've come to the right place. We making gift giving easy at SBS Teas and we guarantee that your secret pal will never know who you are!"

SBS Teas is offering the Signature Best Sellers Collection pack to one of my readers! This is a beautifully packaged set that comes with the same 5 flavors of tea that I received, and a pyramid tea infuser!

Mandatory Entry

Go to SBS Teas and tell me another product you'd like to try.

Bonus Entries
2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.


1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

This giveaway ends Friday, April 23, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.. Giveaway open to US residents only.



Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from the SBS Teas website.

Scrubz Bodys Scrub Review & Giveaway-4 Winners!!

If anyone hasn't tried Scrubz Body Scrubs...they need to! I wasn't sure how I would like this product, but it is wonderful! I was sent a 4 oz. jar of the Ginger Teaze scent. It smells delicious! The scrub works very well, leaving your skin soft and moisturized when you get out of the shower. I really like this product! Scrubz also sells facial scrubz, whipped body butter, scrubz for children and lip butter. They even sell gift baskets...the perfect gift for Mother's Day coming up!

"Once upon a time, Roberta Perry decided that the skin products on the market were not satisfying her addiction to soft skin. They were either filled with artificial preservatives and/or colors, didn't do what they promised, or the scents were not quite right. She then did extensive research into skin care and natural based plant oils. Roberta tried various formulas of the scrub, testing bucket after bucket on herself and her sister Michelle.

One day, Michelle, having just recently sampled the latest formula, burst in the room announcing, "you have to sell this stuff...it's amazing!" 2 days later, Michelle called Roberta and announced she had the perfect name, thus...
Scrubz^sm All Natural Sugar Body Scrub was born.

Scrubz^sm uses only the finest and most natural ingredients, and our fragrance list is so extensive, there is a scent to please everyone. We even offer unscented!


You have only one skin, treat it to Scrubz^sm All Natural Sugar Body Scrub and it will thank you for life!

Q: Why the fuss about exfoliation?
A: In general, scrubs function by removing old cells to produce a smooth and refreshed skin surface and by providing physical stimulation to skin through a massaging effect, which in turn helps improve circulation. Oil-based scrubs focus on skin treatment and rejuvenation, first with exfoliation and then with nourishment, using natural oils and emollients. Scrub products also emphasize the holistic approach of de-stressing and relaxation, along with skin conditioning.
Scrubz^sm Natural Sugar Body Scrub offers you the complete benefits of both functions. "

Scrubz Body Scrubs is giving away 4 $15.00 Gift Codes to my readers!!

*******Mandatory Entry*******


Go to Scrubz and tell me which scent you'd pick if you won


Bonus Entries
2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

1 entry-Sign up for Scrubz e-newsletter. Leave a comment telling me you did.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

This giveaway ends Friday, April 23, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.. Giveaway open to US residents only.



Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from the Scrubz website.

Friday Follow Blog Hop 4/9

Organically Grown Infant-Toddler Outfit Giveaway

I found Organically Grown the other day while browsing, and they have some of the cutest baby outfits!

"Driven by our positive spirit, and heartfelt commitment to a healthy planet, we founded the Organically Grown Group. We were raised to believe that we could make a difference, and affect real change in the world. As a young and innovative company, we believe in your right to affordable, safe, stylish, high-quality organic products from apparel and home décor, to personal care items.

Organically Grown has begun to play an active role in the organic revolution. Our apparel is made from organic cotton, which is grown by safe, pesticide-free methods from plants that are not genetically modified. We support the organic farming community and organizations worldwide that are committed to a green, sustainable environment. There is a direct connection between what we wear and the effect it has on the earth.

According to the Organic Exchange, as estimated 170 million pounds of pesticides, and 25% of the world's insecticides are used in the production of conventional, non-organic cotton. 7 out of 10 of these pesticides are on the EPA's "known" list of "likely" or "probable" carcinogens. These chemicals result in the work-force illnesses, water contamination, and the devastation of farmland. All of the problems are eliminated through organic farming practices. Organically Grown is proud to be a part of the solution."

Organically Grown acts as an educational collective. We sponsor fund-raising events and through the media, we teach consumers about the benefits of living an organic lifestyle. We are about balance and taking baby steps. We do the best we can today, knowing we will grow with innovation tomorrow. Together, we can make a difference by creating products we are proud of and you are proud to purchase.

We hope this will be our green legacy."

Organically Grown is offering an outift (from $12.00-$38.00) to one of my readers! The winner will simply specify what size and gender they need, and Organically Grown will mail them an outfit! These are available in infant and toddler sizes!

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment telling why organic is important to you.

Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

1 entry-Sign up for Organically Grown's special offers.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

1 entry-Tell me which outfit you like best at Organically Grown.

This giveaway ends Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway open to US residents only.

Green Mountain Coffee Review

Green Mountain Coffee gave me the opportunity to review some of their coffee, and boy is it good! I picked the Flavored Sampler, which comes with Caramel Vanilla Cream, Hazelnut, and Rain Forest Nut. All 3 are good, but the Caramel Vanilla Cream is amazing! It has a very well balanced flavor, and is probably one of my favorite coffees now! I am sharing the other 2 flavors with the rest of the family, but this one is just for me! (Okay, I did let everyone else try a cup...once!)
As well as selling ground coffee, Green Mountain Coffee also carries the K-Cups, Keurig Brewers, Travel Mugs, and even tea! Their prices are very reasonable, too.

"Carefully sourcing the perfect bean is just the start. The perfect cup reflects thoughtful consideration of each bean's character, and how different beans can be combined to strike just the right balance of flavor, body and acidity.

Of course, a great cup of coffee should be an everyday occurrence. Once we hit upon the magic combination of roast and recipe, our state-of-the-art software and roasting equipment allows us to replicate a roast profile precisely, time after time. The results can be revelatory."

"Blending is where the art is," says Don Holly, Director of Quality for Green Mountain Coffee. "Knowing which notes will harmonize, and which are better left to solo."

Don was part of a team that developed the recipe for Organic Espresso Blend. Working with the chefs of nearby Shelburne Farms, the team tasted our entire collection of organic, Fair Trade Certified™ beans at a medium roast. They then started blending, adding nuances of chocolate from our Mexican coffee with the deep body found in Indonesian beans.

"That's the way we determined how each element complemented the other, and were able to express the complexity of a good espresso," Don says. "It's like a conductor putting together a symphony of individual musicians."

I definitely recommend checking out Green Mountain Coffee. They have some really neat Gift Baskets and Coffee Samplers that would make a great gift for Mother's Day!

Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from the Green Mountain Coffee website.

Piggy Paint Review and Giveaway!

Here's a giveaway mainly for little girls-Piggy Paint! Piggy Paint is a "water-based polish that is specially formulated of natural ingredients. Finally, a kid-friendly polish without the accompanying drawbacks of traditional polishes. It is free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone... and made in the USA!"

"Why is Piggy Paint™ Nail Polish the safe nail polish?

• Non-toxic
• Low Odor
• Water-based formula
• Hypoallergenic
• Fun, vibrant colors
• Dries to a hard, durable finish"

Piggy Paint also sells natural nail polish remover:

"Why is Piggy Paint™ Nail Polish Remover the best choice?

• Low Odor
  
• No Acetone
• Hypoallergenic
• Biodegradable

Put harmful, smelly polish removers behind you with Piggy Paint™ Nail Polish Remover, a remover that works quickly on all polishes, especially Piggy Paint™ Nail Polish. Our remover contains none of the solvents that could offend your nose or harm our atmosphere. Aloe Vera and Vitamin E are added to supplement the natural oils that protect nails and cuticles.

Ingredients: Corn alcohol, butyl diglycol, Aloe Vera extract, Vitamin E, embittering agent."

This nail polish comes many pretty colors that any little girl would love! I was sent a bottle of the "Girls Rule!" polish, and a bottle of nail polish remover. My little sister (who is always playing dress-up) loved the polish! She did her finger and toe nails, and it stayed on for several days before starting to chip. The remover also works well, and doesn't smell like most polish removers do!

Piggy Paint has offered a 10% off coupon code for any of my readers that make a purchase! Just make your order, and use this code: HOPE10L

And, Piggy Paint is giving away a $15.00 gift code to a Hope's Cafe reader!!

Mandatory Entry
Go to Piggy Paint and tell me what you'd buy if you won!

Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

1 entry-Sign up for Piggy Paint's newsletter. Leave a comment telling me you did.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be contacted. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer:I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. All quotes taken from Piggy Paint's website.

Novica Jewelry Review

A month or so ago I hosted a giveaway for Novica.com
Well, Novica graciously offered me a gift code to pick something out for myself to review! For anyone not familiar with Novica, here is some info from their website.

"We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.

We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together.

NOVICA. The World is Your Market."

It took a long time to decide what I wanted to get, but I finally chose the Blue Topaz Heart Necklace. This is a sterling silver necklace with blue topaz gems along one side of the heart. When it came in, I was surprised to see it also came in a very pretty box. This necklace came from India, and the designer even included a postcard in the package! Here is her story:

"My father was a jeweler and I was highly inspired by him. I grew up watching him make amazing jewelry with his own hands and this really fascinated me.

"In traditional Indian families, it is not easy for a housewife to start a design workshop, but I was fortunate that my husband also shares the same interests. Together, we create beautiful jewelry...."

The necklace is really nice. I can wear it to Church and dressy events, or with casual, everyday clothes.

Novica also carries much more than jewlery, and I recommend checking it out! Whether you're looking for a unique gift, or just want something for yourself, Novica offers a great variety of items from many different countries!

Zak Designs Mixing Bowls Review

When Zak Designs offered to send me a set of their mixing bowls to review, I gladly accepted! I do a lot of baking, and you can never have enough mixing bowls! Besides, I got to choose which color/design I wanted...and the Confetti Bowls (I
got the Brights-Red) are so neat! The day they came in I was already planning to bake a cake, so I got to use the largest bowl right away :) The bowls are very sturdy and well-made. They look like they will last a long time!
Zak Designs also carries drinkware, storage containers, tableware, serving dishes, and even petware! Anything you need in the kitchen, Zak Designs has it...in bright, pretty colors!


"Since 1976, Zak Designs has been committed to making mealtime fun for people around the world. Whether it's through dinnerware and on-the-go products that feature children's favorite characters or tableware and kitchen prep products that represent the latest global fashion statements, Zak gives people the mealtime products that fit their appetites.

At Zak Designs, our mission is to make everyday meals a little more special by creating safe, innovative and fashionable products that add a touch of color and an element of fun to tables around the world."

I recommend Zak Designs to anyone looking to add a little fun or flair to their kitchen or dining table!

Community Coffee Giveaway and Review!

Community Coffee offered me the chance to work with them on a review and giveaway featuring their Mother's Day Gift Set. This is the perfect gift for Mother's Day! This neat set comes with a (handpainted) Red Travel Latte Mug and a bag of Private Reserve House Blend Coffee. I had some of the coffee this morning...it is great! The mug is really cute, and will get a lot of use, I know! I like having a ceramic mug that can be used as a regular coffee mug, or just pop the travel lid on, and you can take your coffee with you anywhere! The mug is also dishwasher and microwave safe!
Community Coffee also sells this gift set with tea instead of coffee, for any of those Mothers (like mine!) who don't drink coffee!

"Community Coffee Company invites you to enjoy the unique taste of Louisiana's most distinctive coffee. We start with only quality, 100% Arabica beans selected by the Saurage family. Then, through generations of roasting experience, we have perfected a full-bodied yet smooth flavor that reflects the extraordinary culinary traditions of Louisiana. Today, Community® coffee is served in the best New Orleans restaurants and is shared in homes across the South. To understand why, simply sit back and enjoy a cup.

Community Coffee Company is steeped in tradition as rich as our coffee. As the largest family-owned retail coffee brand in the U.S., our company grew from a small country store in Baton Rouge where more than 90 years ago, founder Henry Norman "Cap" Saurage brewed his popular coffee."

Community Coffee is offering one of their Mother's Day Gift Sets to a Hope's Cafe reader! This will give plenty of time to have it in before Mother's Day!

*******Mandatory Entry*******


Go to Community Coffee and tell me another product you'd like to try.

Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from Community Coffee website.

Curious Chef Review and Giveaway!

Curious Chef is a really neat company that I was glad to have the opportunity to work with.

"Curious Chef is all about stirring the creative and curious side of children. Under the guidance of adults, budding chefs proudly take their first steps towards a lifelong love of cooking. With each uniquely designed kitchen tool, discovery and fun is just around the corner.

Our products coupled with a favorite family recipe and an adult's love and encouragement can produce the most memorable moments in a young person's life."

"When adult size cooking utensils are too big and toy utensils too small, Curious Chef® comes to the rescue with utensils and gadgets that are just right for kids to cook up all their favorite recipes.

We invite you to learn more about Curious Chef®, as well as the company behind the brand. Your interest and feedback is always welcomed because you are the real test kitchen!"

I was sent the 6 pc. Cookie Gift Kit for review. This is a cute set that comes with a Mixing Spoon, Whisk, Cookie Turner, Rolling Pin, Bear Cookie Cutter, and Butterfly Cookie Cutter. It also includes a bonus set of stickers and a shopping list! The kids really enjoyed using this. The utensils are very easy to use, and are a great size for children.

I highly recommend Curious Chef for anyone wanting to get some nice, well-made kitchen tools for their children!Curious Chef is offering another 6 piece Cookie Gift Set to one of my readers!

*********Mandatory Entry**********

Go to Curious Chef and tell me another product you'd like to try.

Bonus Entries

2 entries-Become (or be) a public follower of Hope's Cafe. Leave 2 comments.

1 entry-Follow me (Pilgrim86) on Twitter. Leave a comment with your Twitter name.

1 entry-Tweet this giveaway. This may be done once daily. Leave a comment with a link to your Tweet.

3 entries-Blog about this giveaway. Leave 3 comments with a link to your post.

1 entry-Enter another of my giveaways. Leave a comment for each giveaway you enter.

This giveaway ends Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Please leave a valid email address in each comment, as this is how the winner will be notified. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer:I was not monetarily compensated in any way for this review. I did receive product for the purpose of review. All thoughts and opinions are mine. All quotes taken from the Curious Chef website.