Scentsy Giveaway! *closed*

The other night, it was our turn to watch kids for our babysitting co-op (do you do one of these? It's FANTASTIC!), and I hadn't had much time at all to clean my home. In fact, the week had been so insane that I fear my house was beginning to look like an episode of Hoarders.

But, never fear. I had about an hour, which was enough to tidy up the main rooms and turn on my Scentsy candle warmer. I put a nice spice-scented sort of scent in there (Welcome Home perhaps?) and everyone that came by to drop off children commented on how nice my house smelled, and wanted to know what I had been baking.

My evil plan to cover up the fact that the dishes hadn't been done in about 2 days worked! Everyone thought of me as a wonderful housekeeper who baked yummy treats all day instead of the crazy woman that I actually am.

Okay. So maybe it didn't work that well, but my house sure did smell good! And surely nobody noticed the dirty dishes, right?

Now, I am always surprised that everyone in the world hasn't heard of Scentsy yet, because it is just so wonderful, but I know that there are some of you that might be new to hearing about the company. These are candle warmers with wax squares that are melted on the little tray on top. They smell fabulous, and you don't have to worry about the open flame at all, which is very nice. There are literally hundreds of scents to choose from, and every "scent-personality" is represented. I am so a bakery and spice kind of girl. And vanilla. I LOVE vanilla, too. My husband likes some of the cleaner scents--his favorite is one called Casablanca. But I admit I don't ever put it in unless he asks me to, because I am too busy enjoying my Pumpkin Roll, Honey Pear Cider and Sticky Cinnamon Bun scents. Mmmm.

I am also a huge fan of their room sprays, which come in all of the same scents the scent bars do. I have a covered front porch that gets pretty funky smelling sometimes, and I can't have a warmer out there because there isn't an outlet. But I can spray to my heart's content.  And I do.

Finally, one of the best things about Scentsy, according to this ridiculously aesthetic girl (I'm all about form before function: If it doesn't look good, I don't care how well it works, I won't use it), is that the warmers can be a part of your decor and they look great! Again, they have a warmer for every design personality and every room. I've got a rooster one for my dining room, which has lots of other rooster company. I have a music one for my office, because I am a musician and I think it's pretty. I have a Christmas one that I love. And I have a cute orange one for the girl's bathroom.

I also have one to give away. It's this totally cute "Jolly" Christmas warmer. Isn't it adorable?

Kristin Mabb is my amazing Scentsy gal, and she should be yours, too. She lives in Utah (soon to be Phoenix area--are you listening my AZ peeps?) but I've done a party through her all the way out here in Michigan, and I'll be doing another one in a couple months. She's great to work with, and she is generously giving away the Jolly warmer, along with a Christmas Cottage scent bar. The Christmas Cottage scent is a "cozy, inviting blend of Valencia oranges, raspberries, cloves, and spices," and it happens to be one of Kristin's favorites. (My favorite Christmas scent is Silver Bells.)

So do you want to win?  Here are the instructions:

***Please comment separately for each task.*** 

If you don't do it because you love me and want me to stay sane while sorting out entries, do it because you want to have a chance at winning.  :)

Comment on this post (what's your favorite candle scent?): 1 entry
Tweet/Facebook about this giveaway (please provide link): 1 entry
Follow this Overstuffed Reviews blog: 1 entry
Follow my main blog (Overstuffed):  1 entry

Follow me on Twitter HERE:  1 entry

Visit Kristin's Scentsy website (found HERE) and tell me what your favorite product is: 3 entries

"Like" Kristin's Scentsy Facebook page  HERE: 5 entries
Add your email to Kristin's Monthly Newsletter  HERE: 5 entries
Order from the "Overstuffed!" Scentsy party  HERE: 10 entries

Again, please comment separately for each task you choose to do.  I know it's a lot, but hey!  You get a higher chance of winning a totally cute warmer and scent for Christmas.  And if you have Scentsy stuff already on your list to buy, definitely do it here because it will boost your odds significantly.

The giveaway will close Monday, December 5th.  

Have fun!!

CSN Giveaway!

You may recall my review on the CSN stores a couple months ago.  CSN is an amazing network of stores where you can purchase anything your heart desires.  And I do mean anything.

You can get outdoor playsets (we're hoping for that this spring--it's at the top of our wish list) or cooking utensils or home decor or toys or exercise equipment.

And I have a $50.00 gift certificate for one of my readers to apply towards an outdoor playset or a cooking utensil or a wall decoration or a toy or a fitness help.  Or whatever else you want and/or need.

You are SO lucky!

So, tell me what's on your wish list in the comments, and I'll draw for the winner one week from today (Tuesday, February 15).

You will be given one extra entry if you follow this review blog.  Please mention if you already follow or are a new follower in a separate comment.

Good luck!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas *contest closed*

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts®.

The Night Before Christmas from Lara Neves on Vimeo.

What do you  leave for Santa on Christmas Eve?  Share it here for a chance to win a $100.00 Gift Card from BlogHer!

Sweepstakes open from 12/13-12/25.  To enter, leave a comment.  (Please include your email within the comment.)

For a second entry, you can:

·         Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)

·         Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

·         Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

For NINE more chances to win a $100.00 gift card, make sure to visit the BlogHer review/giveaway round up page.

Rules:

• No duplicate comments
• You may receive an additional entry by tweeting about this contest and leaving the link in the comments
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected at random, and will be notified by e-mail (please leave your email in your comment)
• If you win, you will have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected\
• Visit the Official site for more information.

Tastes Like Christmas *contest closed*

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts®.

I don't cook.  My husband does all of that in our household.  I hate it, and am forever grateful to have found a man who loves it (and me!).

However, I do bake.  Not very well, mind you.  But I love to make pie and cake and cookies.  Especially around Christmas time.  It makes me very happy.

So when Pop-Tarts sent some of their new Gingerbread Pop-Tarts for the kids and me to bake with, we jumped at the chance to try out a new recipe.  Naturally, we chose something ginger-bready...

Gingerbread Sheet Cake

1/2 C Butter

1/3 C Sugar

1 C Molasses

3/4 C Water

1 Egg

2 1/3 C Flour

1 tsp Baking Soda

2 tsp Ground Ginger

2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add the molasses, water and egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt; add to creamed mixture and beat until combined. Pour into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. 

We then drizzled icing over the top in fun shapes and crumbled up a couple of the gingerbread Pop-Tarts on top. Yummy!

 Although, I must say, I was a little sad that I couldn't think of anything that would highlight how cute these particular Pop-Tarts are:

And it's no surprise that the kids loved the cake.  They each had about three slices before I made them stop! And the Pop-Tarts.  They taste like Christmas, and who doesn't love that?

 (Bria loved it too, but was feeling a little self-conscious about eating cake for the internet today.)

What tastes like Christmas to you?  Share it here for a chance to win a $100.00 Gift Card from BlogHer!

Sweepstakes open from 12/13-12/25.  To enter, leave a comment.  (Please include your email within the comment.)

For a second entry, you can:

·         Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)

·         Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

·         Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

For NINE more chances to win a $100.00 gift card, make sure to visit the BlogHer review/giveaway round up page.

Rules:

• No duplicate comments
• You may receive an additional entry by tweeting about this contest and leaving the link in the comments
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected at random, and will be notified by e-mail (please leave your email in your comment)
• If you win, you will have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected\
• Visit the Official site for more information.

A Very Special Interview *Contest Closed*

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts®


I had a chance to interview Chloe the Pilgrim Girl--one of the menu-planners for the very first Thanksgiving!


BlogHer and PopTarts Thanksgiving video from Lara Neves on Vimeo.


And, since you're dying to know, the recipe to our favorite Green Jell-O Salad with marshmallows can be found here.  It really has been passed down from generation to generation and no Thanksgiving is complete without it.  Or Easter.  Or Christmas.  


What is your favorite family tradition at Thanksgiving?  Share it here for a chance to win a $100.00 Visa Gift Card from BlogHer!


(Comments from the previous post will be combined with the comments from this post, comment again to be sure you have a second chance!) 

To enter, leave a comment.  (Please include your email within the comment.)

For a second entry, you can:

·         Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)

·         Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

·         Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

For NINE more chances to win a $100.00 gift card, make sure to visit the BlogHer review/giveaway round up page.


Rules:

• No duplicate comments
• You may receive an additional entry by tweeting about this contest and leaving the link in the comments
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected at random, and will be notified by e-mail (please leave your email in your comment)
• If you win, you will have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected
• Please see Official Rules here.

For more information, visit the Official Pop-Tarts website.

Pumpkin Pie: Ain't Nothin' Better*Contest Closed*

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts®

I freely admit, the first thing I am grateful for at Thanksgiving is the pumpkin pie I know I will be having for dessert. And for breakfast the next day.  In fact, I might have to say that pumpkin pie for breakfast at 3:30 in the morning or whatever ungodly hour I decide to go shopping on Black Friday is my favorite moment of the entire year.  Anyway, it's pretty clear that I love pumpkin pie.

You can imagine my excitement when I found out that Pop-Tarts has a limited edition Thanksgiving flavor this year: Pumpkin Pie.  My kids and I were given the assignment to use the Pop-Tarts to make something yummy, and not surprisingly, we chose to make an actual pumpkin pie using the Pop-Tarts as the crust.

First, we ripped up 6 Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts and put them in a bowl.

We then melted a stick of butter and mixed it all together.

Second, we smooshed the crust down into the dish.

Then we made our favorite pumpkin pie recipe, poured it over our fancy crust and baked as normal.

Finally, we ate it, which is the best part!

What do YOU most look forward to eating on Thanksgiving Day?  Share it here for a chance to win a $100.00 Visa Gift Card from BlogHer!


(For another chance to win the gift card please comment on this post.)

To enter, leave a comment.  (Please include your email within the comment.)

For a second entry, you can:

·         Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)

·         Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

·         Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

For NINE more chances to win a $100.00 gift card, make sure to visit the BlogHer review/giveaway round up page.


Rules:

• No duplicate comments
• You may receive an additional entry by tweeting about this contest and leaving the link in the comments
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected at random, and will be notified by e-mail (please leave your email in your comment)
• If you win, you will have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected
• Please see Official Rules here.

For more information, visit the Official Pop-Tarts website.

Scent-sational Giveaway!

I have always been somewhat obsessed with yummy smelling candles.  Especially in the fall.  I *need* to have a candle burning in my house and emitting some sort of bakery scent, so it seems like I've just been slaving away in the kitchen making all manner of cakes and pie.  Pumpkin is my favorite, but I love the spicy scents, too.

The problem with candles, though, is that they require flame.  And smoke.  And smoke makes my walls turn blackish because I burn the candles too often.  And then there's always the worry about housefires.  You can never be too careful.

That's why I love Scentsy.  I found Scentsy a couple years ago and I fell in love.  The warmers are pretty and fit right in with just about any decor because they have such a great selection.  I have three warmers currently (the rooster and the music warmers on this page and an orange plug-in warmer that matches my girls' bathroom), and will definitely buy a few more.  Every time I look in a catalog I see another warmer that I would love to have.  I've especially got my eye on a few of the holiday warmers.

And I really love the scents.  My personal favorites pretty much all come from the Bakery collection (pumpkin roll is my all time fave and I have a big huge giant brick of it...yum!), but there seems to be something for everyone: Floral, fruity, exotic, perfume-y and more.

Kristin Mabb, who is my Scentsy consultant, (who happens to live 2,000 miles away from me...proximity is definitely not required!) is giving one of my readers a $25.00 gift certificate to Scentsy.  To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and tell me what your favorite candle scent is.  That's it!

However, if you do want extra entries to up your chances of winning, do any of the following and leave a comment here letting me know:

•  "Like" Kristin's fan page on Facebook:  1 extra entry
• Tweet/Facebook/Blog about this giveaway:  1 extra entry
• Go to Kristin's Scentsy Website and tell me what your favorite item is in the current catalog: 1 extra entry
• Make a purchase from the party on Kristin's Scentsy Website titled Overstuffed:  5 extra entries

Also if you order from the Overstuffed party during the duration of the giveaway, you will receive a free "Circle Scent" (car freshener).  

I will close comments on Monday, November 15 and draw for a winner the next day. Good luck, and may the force be with you!

(comments now closed: Winner announced tomorrow!)