Sack It To Me! {GIVEAWAY & DISCOUNT}

When I attended the Martha Stewart Dreamers Into Doers Conference back in January, I had the opportunity to meet some amazing entrepreneurs who were truly "dreaming into doing," and one of those women was Rupa Wickrama.  Rupa, who worked in the fashion industry, started a company called Saky Sacks after she had a hard time finding multi-purpose bags that were not only functional but also stylish.  And let me tell you - her designs certainly live up to their tagline "Green Style on the Go!"

Made from Tyvek, a recyclable material, Saky Sacks are machine washable and tear, stain and water resistant.  Fellow moms, I know your ears just perked up!  And while those are amazing characteristics, the two things I love most about these bags is how lightweight they are and how small they fold up.  This is the Saky Weekend.

It measures 15” x 18” x  7.0” and can carry up to 25 pounds.  But get this - here's what it looks like folded up.

It's teeny tiny and so easy to carry in your purse for when you need it.  I know I'm not the only one who can't fit everything back in the diaper bag after taking it out or who needs an extra bag when I'm traveling just in case I want to do a little shopping on my trip, and Saky Sacks are the perfect solution!

Rupa sent me a Saky Weekend so I could get a look at the bags firsthand.  Here's what it looked like when it arrived, all cute and compact.

Here's the Weekend after being filled with lots of goodies with the girls.

And here's how my first attempt at re-folding it went.  Not too shabby!

Since then, I've gotten it down pat - it's super simple thanks to the hand instructions that come with each bag.

I've tried lots of other "green" bags but none of them has been anywhere close to the quality of Saky Sacks.  In addition to being easy to re-fold, the Weekend is so so lightweight, which is what you want if you're carrying around 25 pounds of stuff.  The hardware is pretty and well fastened to the bag and the material is really strong.  Whether I need to lug toys to the beach for the girls or just need to pack a quick bag for an overnight, I know which tote I'll be grabbing! 

In addition to the Saky Weekend, there's the City Saky, which is smaller but can still tote up to 25 pounds.

As well as Sakccessories, two bags that clip to the larger bags and are ideal for your makeup, wallet, cell phones, etc,.

Saky Sacks start at $15 and go up to $25 so the price is right and there are lots of different patterns and designs to choose from.  And although it probably won't be for quite a while, when your bag does finally wear out, it's completely recyclable.  Good for the environment and good for your wallet.  Does it get any better than that?

Actually it does because Rupa has offered to give away a City Saky in Mod Floral to a lucky AFOMFT reader!

To enter, please visit the Saky Sacks site and post a comment here telling me which Saky Sacks pattern is your favorite (this is mandatory). For additional entries:

• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
• "Like" Saky Sacks on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
• Follow @sakysacks & AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: #Win a fabulous green shopping tote from @sakysacks at @AFOMFT http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
• Click here - - to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did. You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.
• Donate $10 to the Red Cross to help the relief efforts in Japan by texting REDCROSS to 90999 (the donation will be billed to your cell phone bill).  (This is worth 5 entries so please post five separate comments saying that you made a donation)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada and ends March 22nd at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on March 23rd. If the winner does not contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

And that's not all!  Rupa is also offering readers of AFOMFT 25% off all purchases! Just enter code AFOMFT at Saky Sacks to get your discount.  Happy shopping!

Please note that I was sent a Saky Weekend bag for the purpose of this review and giveaway.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions I've shared of this product are my own and yours may differ.

Images: Saky Sacks & AFOMFT

Jam On! {GIVEAWAY}

It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away! Around now, you're probably checking your list to make sure that you've bought something for everyone, naughty and nice. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, friends, co-workers, teachers, babysittters, hairdressers, neighbors.... Wow, that list is endless isn't it? And you just realized you forgot someone, didn't you? Well, not to worry! I have the perfect gift for anyone you still need to buy for.

Homemade jams and jellies from That's My Jam! Cooked up in Brooklyn, each jar is made with organic and local ingredients and preservative-free. And the flavors are to die for! From Strawberry Rhubarb Jam:

And Grapefruit Marmalade:

To Habanero Jelly:

And Apple Butter:

There's something for everybody!

That's My Jam! began when Tux, a Brooklynite, was given 20 pounds of apples after a friend went a little crazy picking them in upstate New York. He made some apple butter and taught himself how to can it, and the results were so great that when his garden yielded way too many habanero chillies, he decided to use his new skills to create is his own jelly with them. Soon, friends were begging for his delicious concoctions and a business was born.

I can personally attest to just how yummy That's My Jam! is because Tux sent me three flavors to try out.

The Watermelon Jelly is a little slice of summertime in the dead of winter. It's got a subtle tang that made my mouth happy. And just look at the ingredients - it doesn't get any more natural than that!

The Pear & Ginger Jam is just as good but a totally different experience. It's richer and the little kick of spice from the ginger is divine. Tux suggests mixing it with some goat cheese, which I can only imagine would be a bit of heaven smeared on a bit of baguette.

Last is my personal favorite, the Vanilla Peach Jam.

If I had to choose two flavors I love the most, they would probably be vanilla and peach, so this combination made me do a happy dance. Spreading it on my morning bagel was like creating my own mini-peach cobbler, and believe me when I tell you that after sampling this, cream cheese won't ever cut it again.

Not only am I a fan of That's My Jam! but Gabrielle and Alaina are too. They've had Watermelon Jelly on their toast and Pear & Ginger Jam on bagels and there's barely a crumb left over afterward. They haven't had any of the Vanilla Peach Jam yet because I'm too greedy to share it.

I told Tux that after trying his jams and jellies, my taste buds wanted to thank him while my thighs were cursing him and his response was "Feel free to tell your thighs that there's no fat in jam, and that while there is sugar, it's much less and much more from whole fruit than the jams you find in the grocery store." That was all of the explanation I needed to help myself to some more!

Each 8 oz. jar is just $6, such a great value for something so good! Wrap a jar up in some cellophane and attach a gift tag (get some freebies over at out HOLIDAY FREEBIE FESTIVAL!) and it's ready to give. And just think of the cute messages you can use - "You're such a peach!" for the Vanilla Peach, "Something to Heat Up those Winter Days" for the Habanero Jelly or "A Gift that's as Sweet as You Are" for the Apple Butter. And why not keep a few jars wrapped and ready just in case someone gives you something you didn't expect? After all, there's nothing worse than getting caught empty handed! Now you know why That's My Jam! is one of our HOLIDAY GIFT PICKS.

Get your order in by Sunday, December 19th and you're guaranteed delivery by Christmas. And Tux has a little present for one of you too!

One lucky AFOMFT reader is going to in three jars of That's My Jam! To enter, visit That's My Jam! and post a comment here telling me which flavor sounds tastiest to you (this is mandatory). For additional entries:

• Subscribe to AFOMFT or let us know you are a subscriber.
• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook
• "Like" That's My Jam! on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
• Ask your friends to "like" AFOMFT on Facebook by sending them this link - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN - and post a comment here with the names of each one who does. You'll earn one entry per new friend who "likes" our page and names will be cross-checked.
• Follow AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway: It's the Holiday Happening on @AFOMFT! #Win three jars of homemade jams - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
• Click here to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did - . You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
• Grab our button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post. Comments on Facebook will not count as entries. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada and ends December 18th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on December 19th. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Please note that That's My Jam! sent me three jars of jelly and jam for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. The opinions I've shared of their product are my own and yours may differ.

Images: AFOMFT & That's My Jam!

Get Your Doodle On! {GIVEAWAY]

Stocking stuffers are always the hardest holiday gifts for me to buy.  So many of the "little" things for kids are junky that they don't really need and I hate buying the girls candy so color me stumped.  Wait a minute.  Rewind.  What was that I just typed?  "Color me."  Why did I think of this before?  Doodlers are the answer! 

 
Doodlers are upcycled chunky marbled crayons from Crayon Couture that are perfect for little hands.  And you won't believe the variety of shapes they come in!  There's Elmo for Sesame Street lovers.

Butterflies:

And rings for girly girls:

Rocket ships for the wannabe space explorer:

And a fun assortment of holiday goodies.

I love the super cute cupcakes.

And you can even get the letters to spell your child's name.

You may remember that I made my own chunky crayons as favors for Gabrielle and Alaina's first birthday party and while it wasn't hard, it was time consuming and it took a lot of crayons.  A lot.  And each one had to have the label peeled off.  Which took forever.  So this time around, I'll be ordering Doodlers for Gabrielle and Alaina.  For the reasonable price at Crayon Couture, it's so worth it.  It took me weeks to get the wax out from under my nails! 

Annie, the creative one behind the crayons, also has a wonderful blog called Ordinary to Extraordinary where she shares fabulous free printable coloring pages, great kids' craft projects and more.  It's a great resource for finding ways to help your child express his or her creativity.

So whether you're looking for sticking stuffers like I am or need practical but cool party favors, check out Crayon Couture.  If you don't see a shape you like, convo Annie because she can do custom work too! 

And guess what?  One lucky AFOMFT reader is going to win a $25 credit to buy the Doodlers of their choice!  To enter, visit Crayon Couture and post a comment here telling me what you'll buy if you win (this is mandatory).  For additional entries:

• Subscribe to AFOMFT or let us know you are a subscriber.
• Publicly follow Annie's Ordinary to Extraordinary blog
• Visit Crayon Couture and make the store a favorite.
• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook 
• "Like" Crayon Couture on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
• Ask your friends to "like" AFOMFT on Facebook by sending them this link - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN - and post a comment here with the names of each one who does.  You'll earn one entry per new friend who "likes" our page and names will be cross-checked.  
• Follow AFOMFT on Twitter (@AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway:  It's the Holiday Happening on @AFOMFT w/ a giveaway-a-day all month! #Win a $25 credit to Crayon Couture - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
• Click here to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did - .  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
• Grab our button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Grab our HOLIDAY HAPPENING button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada and ends December 7th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on December 8th. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Images: Crayon Couture

Photo Finish {GIVEAWAY}

I take a lot of pictures of the girls.  A LOT.  It's gotten to the point where my husband regularly asks if every moment has to be a Kodak one.  Um, yeah!

The problem is that all of the great memories I've captured live on our computer and Facebook but rarely grace the walls or bookcases of our home.  One of my New Year's resolutions (yup, it's that time of year, folks!) is to print our more of our photos to display and enjoy.  And when I found MatSpeaks, I knew it would make keeping that resolution that much easier!

MatSpeaks is a company that produces colorful, fun photo mats made by Cindy, a stay-at-home mom to four girls, which make showing off your favorite photos so so simple.  Many of the designs are customizable so you can choose a color palette that matches your decor or wording that means something to you.  The holiday mats are perfect for all of the pictures you'll be taking over the next few weeks.

And designs like Ribbons and Stripes:

And Foliage:

Would make wonderful holiday gifts!  

The Black & White is just right for displaying pictures of siblings or twins.

Little ladies will look adorable in Doily and Dots.

And Little Sluggers will adore the World Series mat.

Cindy offered to let me pick a mat from MatSpeaks to review for you and I decided to go a little crazy.  I chose the Subtitles design that looks like this on the website.

Wouldn't that be so sweet to give to a grandmother?  But I wanted to put my mat up in the girls' room, so I decided to go with an orange and green color scheme with the words LOVE, BEST FRIENDS and SISTERS in the background and their names in the box.  When it arrived, I couldn't believe how adorable it came out.

Cute, right?  And look at how great it looks with a picture and in a frame.

I love it!  The quality is wonderful and really makes the picture pop, which is why I'm making MatSpeaks one of our HOLIDAY GIFT PICKS.  

Because who doesn't love showing off their photos?  Just be sure to place your order by December 15th to guarantee delivery by Christmas.  

Cindy has generously offered to give away not one but two photo mats to a lucky AFOMFT reader!  To enter, visit MatSpeaks and post a comment here telling me which ones you'll choose if you win (this is mandatory).  For additional entries:

• Subscribe to AFOMFT or let us know you are a subscriber.
• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook 
• "Like" MatSpeaks on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
• Ask your friends to "like" AFOMFT on Facebook by sending them this link - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN - and post a comment here with the names of each one who does.  You'll earn one entry per new friend who "likes" our page and names will be cross-checked.  
• Follow MatSpeaks & AFOMFT on Twitter (@matspeaks & @AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway:  It's the Holiday Happening on @AFOMFT w/ a giveaway-a-day all month! #Win 2 custom photo mats from @matspeaks - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
• Click here to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did - .  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
• Grab our button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Grab our HOLIDAY HAPPENING button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends December 1st at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on December 2nd. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

And that's not all!  Cindy is also offering AFOMFT readers a 20% discount on all purchases!  Just enter AFOMFT when you checkout.  Happy shopping!

Please note that MatSpeaks sent me one photo mat for the purpose of this review.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions I've shared of their product are my own and yours may differ.

Images: AFOMFT & MatSpeaks

Wishing on a Starfish {GIVEAWAY & DISCOUNT}

I host a ton of giveaways on this site and they usually keep me too busy to enter them.  But a few months ago, Freckled Laundry, one of my daily reads, was hosting giveaway for a necklace from Starfish Jewelry Design and I had to leave a comment.  The pieces in the feature were so unique, with a really cool vintage vibe, that I knew as soon as I saw them that I wanted one for myself.  So you can imagine how overjoyed I was when I won!  But my joy soon turned into confusion because having to choose just one necklace from the amazing selection from Starfish wasn't easy.

I was immediately drawn to the styles with key charms like the Coco.

 
And the Betsy.

But then I saw the pretty aged rose and grey saltwater pearl on the London, along with the cool wider link chain, and started leaning in that direction.

I really couldn't pick!  Lucky for indecisive me, Amber, who makes all of these beautiful necklaces by hand, offered to create a necklace that combined all of my favorite features.  How sweet was that, especially considering she was giving me the piece for free?

Amber ended up taking the key from the Coco, the tab with the initials on it from the Betsy and the longer 24-inch funky chain from the London.  And I love the end result!

Isn't it pretty?

The tag has my, my husband's and the girls' initials on it and I love the length of the chain because it's so different from my other "mother's" necklaces.  Maybe that's why Amber calls them "Mommy Couture."  If I only I were more adept at taking self-portraits so I could show you how cute it looks on!

In addition to the Mommy Couture necklaces, Amber just introduced a new collection, all priced $32 and under, that are guaranteed to ship within 72 hours.  

They are perfect gifts, especially for last minute shopping!  You can check them out HERE.  And if you'd like to get a Starfish piece at a steep discount, be sure to sign up for their Sample Program.

If you're looking for a truly distinctive piece of jewelry, you have to visit Starfish Jewelry Design.  Don't see exactly what you want?  Amber will work with you to create a one-of-a-kind design like she did for me.  And that's why Starfish is an AFOMFT HOLIDAY GIFT PICK.

And guess what?  Amber has generously offered to give away any necklace in her shop to one lucky AFOMFT reader!  That's right, there are no restriction on which one you can choose so with pieces that run up to $96, that's a mighty fine prize.  To enter, visit Starfish Jewelry Design and post a comment here telling me what you'll choose if you win (this is mandatory).  For additional entries:

• Subscribe to AFOMFT or let us know you are a subscriber.
• Subscribe to or publicly follow the Starfish Jewelry Design blog
• "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook 
• "Like" Starfish on Facebook and leave a comment that A Few of My Favorite Things sent you.
• Ask your friends to "like" AFOMFT on Facebook by sending them this link - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN - and post a comment here with the names of each one who does.  You'll earn one entry per new friend who "likes" our page and names will be cross-checked.  
• Follow Starfish & AFOMFT on Twitter (@starfishsd & @AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway:  It's the Holiday Happening on @AFOMFT with a giveaway-a-day all month! #Win any personalized necklace from @starfishsd! http://bit.ly/bUACw4
• Click here to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did - .  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
• Grab our button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Grab our HOLIDAY HAPPENING button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
• Blog or post on Facebook about this giveaway with a link to this post (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and make sure your comments include a link to your status or blog post.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends November 26th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on November 27th. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

And I've got great news!  Amber is offering readers of AFOMFT 25% off any Starfish Jewelry Design purchase through November 23rd with code FAVORITE.  Happy shopping!

Images: AFOMFT & Starfish Jewelry Design