The Winners Are...

The three winners of the Shutterfly giveaway are:

• Heather
• Ashamuhlee
• mmunford2000

If you have not received an email from me within the next 24 hours with your promo code, PLEASE contact me! Thanks to everyone who entered.

Christmas Card Blunder (Giveaway)

The other day I was looking at one of the pictures we used three years ago for our Christmas card. It's a really cute picture of all four of our girls on a field trip at a local farm. They were three and it was their first preschool field trip. The picture is really sweet... until I started studying it and realized one of the girls is using her middle finger to point at the sky. How did it take me THREE years to figure this out?! Oh, and when I mentioned it to Hubby, he gave me an incredulous look and said "You're just now noticing that?" Thanks for the heads up, hon! Maybe most people never noticed it... or they're just too polite to point it out.
Picking out our annual Christmas cards is one of my favorite holiday traditions. School pictures are expensive, so this is the easiest way to give many friends and family a yearly picture. It takes many, many, many snaps to catch the perfect picture, but we usually have a lot of fun doing it.
Last year, Shutterfly gave bloggers a chance to write about their products and receive free holiday cards. The program is in place again, so of course I'm all over it. But this time, I also get to give three readers 25 free cards each! (More on that in a moment).
Shutterfly has long been one of my favorite photo sites. Before my girls were even a twinkle in my eye, I surprised my dad by making a calendar out of a bunch of photos he had taken. Once my daughters were born, I tried not to overdo it on the photo books. (They're so easy to make!)
I'm definitely excited about the prospect of creating our Christmas cards this year. My daughters understand the concept of "show me your best smiles." They rush to the camera after we take photos so they can see how the shots turned out (Ah, the delight of the digital age). This is the type of picture Hubby would prefer to use (those are Rudolph noses), but I usually go the Christmas dress route. (and yes, those are two of my girls!)

By now, you're wondering how to receive your own free cards through Shutterfly. If you're a blogger, you can register here for a chance to receive 25 free cards. 
And, as I mentioned, Shutterfly is giving three lucky Buried in Laundry readers 25 free cards as well. To enter this giveaway: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Visit Shutterfly and tell me which holiday card you like the best. No links necessary, just the "title" will do. This step is mandatory. No other entries will count without this step.
• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry or leave a comment letting me know you already follow.
• Tweet about this giveaway (one tweet per day). Include @quadmamablog in your tweet. (Remember to leave a comment here each time you tweet).
• Blog about this giveaway and include a link back to this post.

Again, please leave a separate comment for each entry. You must include a valid email address in your comment!
The deadline to enter this giveaway is 5pm MST November 1, 2011. Once the winners are notified, they each have 48 hours to contact me with their mailing information or a replacement will be selected. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.   If you don't follow the mandatory entry, no other entries will be counted.
(Disclosure: Shutterfly supplied me with 50 free holiday cards and will be providing 25 free cards to each of the three winners. No monetary compensation was given for this post. All opinions are mine).

The Winners Are...

Three entries, three coupons to giveaway... this was easy. The winners of the Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday Air Freshener giveaway are:

• MaryAnne
• Sarah
• mmunford2000 (I can't find your email address!! Please email me ASAP at the address under my profile or leave a comment with your info so I can contact you!)

Congratulations!

The Scent of the Holidays (Giveaway)

While I'm not a fan of the weather that comes with fall and winter, I do enjoy the smells associated with those seasons. Cinnamon is one of my favorite scents and it always reminds me of a cozy winter day. As a Purex Insider, I had the chance to try a new product to keep those scents around whenever I want!
It's called Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday Air Freshener. I tried the Festive Snow and Winter Berry scents. I have to say, I didn't really like the Festive Snow scent. It was too strong. The Winter Berry scent is nice and light. Plus it has a warm feeling to it. The fresheners last for 30 days and don't require plugs, batteries or flames! No work... that's my kind of product! Plus it features a pretty snowflake design, which will help put you in the holiday mood.
Want to try the Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday Air Freshener for yourself? Renuzit Brand will give three lucky Buried in Laundry readers a coupon for a free freshener. Here's how to enter the giveaway: (Leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Leave a comment telling me what scent you associate most with your favorite holiday. This step is mandatory. No other entries will be counted if you do not complete this step.
• Tweet about this giveaway and include @quadmamablog in your tweet.
• Blog about this giveaway and include a link back to this post.
• Follow Buried in Laundry or leave me a comment letting me know you're already a follower.

You must leave a valid email address with your comments or have an email address in your profile that's easy to find. The deadline to enter is 1pm MST Friday October 21, 2011. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Once the winners are selected they will have 48 hours to provide me with a valid mailing address or a new winner will be selected. I reserve the right to delete any comments/entries.
(Disclosure: As a Purex Insider, I was provided with two Renuzit Fresh Accents Holiday Air Fresheners. Renuzit Brand is supplying complimentary coupons for the three winners. No monetary compensation was given for this post. All opinions are mine).

The Winner Is....

The winner of the Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal prize pack is:

Toystory

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Giveaway: Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal Prize Pack

I am a big fan of cereal for breakfast. A bowl of cereal tends to fill me up, but not make me feel as though I've started my day with the "wrong" food. That's why I was excited to be asked by My Blog Spark to try Fiber One 80 Calories cereal.
I'm smitten. This cereal has a light honey flavor. It's filling and satisfying, which helps me get through the morning. While I'm not a huge calorie counter, I like that the box tells you how many more calories you'll add if you pair the cereal with cut up strawberries (25 calories for a 1/2 cup, FYI). I've seen tons of commercials for Fiber One products during which the actors extoll the wonders of how full the food will make you feel. I was skeptical. I have to say I've been eating this cereal every morning for about a week and I no longer have the mid-morning "I need food now" moments that I have experienced after eating other cereals. I definitely recommend giving this cereal a try.
Now for the fun part. General Mills and My Blog Spark are providing one lucky Buried in Laundry reader with a prize pack, which includes one box of Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, one sensor pedometer with USB connector to chart walking progress and one neoprene iPod/Smartphone holder with an arm strap. 

To enter the giveaway: (all comments must contain a valid email address or your address must be easy to find on your profile)

• Leave a comment telling me what song helps jump start your exercise routine. This step is mandatory. No other entries will count if you do not complete this step.

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry or let me know if you already follow
• Tweet about this giveaway (one tweet a day) and include @quadmamablog in your tweet

• Blog about this giveaway and include a link back to this post

The deadline to enter this giveaway is 9am MST Sunday July 31, 2011. The giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. Once the winner is randomly selected and notified, he/she will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. I reserve the right to delete any entries (because I'm getting tired of people not following the mandatory entry step but trying to enter by completing other steps).
Disclosure: General Mills and My Blog Spark provided me with a prize pack identical to what the winner of this giveaway will receive. All opinions about Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal are my own.

The Winner Is...

The winner of the In Stitches giveaway is:

• Mandy E

Congratulations!

Giveaway: In Stitches, A Memoir

I am a self-proclaimed bookworm. While it is easy for me to veg out on the couch at night in front of the TV, I would much rather read a book. When my daughters were born, reading had to be put aside. Now that they're older, I try to read more often. I'm always looking for a good book and I was excited to be asked to review and host a giveaway for In Stitches: A Memoir by Anthony Youn, MD with Alan Eistenstock.
I have to confess, I am a huge fan of Nip/Tuck, so I was expecting all sorts of juicy stories about bizarre plastic surgery cases. Instead, what I found was an intriguing and often touching recounting of Youn's journey to become a doctor.
Youn, who makes frequent appearances on The Rachael Ray Show and The CBS Early Show, has a wonderful outlook on life... and himself. He's not afraid to describe himself as a nerd or recount the seemingly endless number of women who turn him down. While many parts made me laugh, there were a few parts of this book that made me tear up.
From birth, Youn knew he would be a doctor. The day his parents bring him home from the hospital his father says he will be a doctor... and that's the end of the discussion. Youn has moments when he questions whether this is what he really wants to do. The incident that confirms his passion to become a doctor, specifically a plastic surgeon, is one that will likely stick with you long after you're done with this book.
Sneak Attack Media is offering one lucky Buried in Laundry reader a copy of In Stitches. (FYI: The book will be released to the public tomorrow, April 26).
To enter this giveaway (THIS STEP IS MANDATORY. NO OTHER ENTRIES WILL COUNT IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE THIS STEP) *Please leave your email address in your comment or make sure it's visible in your profile

• Leave me a comment telling me what you're currently reading (like I said, I'm always looking for a good book)

For additional entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry or leave a comment telling me you already follow
• Tweet about this giveaway and include @Quadmamablog and @TonyYounMD in your tweet
• "Like" the In Stitches page on Facebook (if you use an alias to blog, send me an email at momofquads@gmail.com and tell me your real name so I can confirm you "liked" the page)

The deadline to enter this giveaway is Thursday April 28, 2011 at 9am MST. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only. The winner will have 48 hours after notification to provide me with a mailing address or a new winner will be chosen. I reserve the right to remove any comment/entries at my discretion (mainly because I always have a few spammers or someone who doesn't complete the mandatory entry).
(Disclosure: Sneak Attack Media provided me with a complimentary copy of In Stitches to review and will be providing the winner's copy. I received no monetary compensation for this post and the opinions in this post are strictly my own).

The Winners Are...

The winners of the Purex Complete with Zout giveaway are:

• #2 Ashley
• #6 Mrs. Werginz

Congratulations! Your coupon will be mailed soon. Thank you to everyone who participated. Stay tuned, because I have another fun giveaway coming up in about a week or so.

Giveaway: Purex Complete with Zout

Have I ever mentioned how many loads of laundry I do a week? (I'm being sarcastic. I know I have. Repeatedly). In a good week, I do 12 loads. A good week means no accidents or a cat that decides to crawl under my covers and hack up a hairball. (The latter actually happened last week!) I'm always looking for ways to make laundry day easier. 
As a Purex Insider, I had the chance to try Purex Complete with Zout. It is one of the best laundry detergents I've used. It's a detergent and a pre-treater in one. I put it to the test and it does a great job of getting out most stains. After spaghetti night, it didn't get out all the pasta sauce and I had to use my trusted stain remover. Still, after one of the girls woke up with a bloody nose, I didn't need any other stain remover, so I'm impressed. Purex Complete with Zout is also a "dual compatible formula," which means, lucky for me, it can be used in top loaders or High Efficiency washing machines. Plus, Purex gave me a "free and clear" version. We're a fairly sensitive family, so I appreciate having a detergent without dyes and fragrances. 
Want to try it for yourself? Purex is offering two Buried in Laundry readers a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Complete with Zout. 
To enter the giveaway: (Please leave a separate comment for each entry. You must leave your email address in your comment or have an email address that's visible in your profile).

• This entry is mandatory: Visit Purex.com and then leave me a comment tell me what other Purex product sounds interesting to you. 

For additional entries:

• Follow Buried in Laundry or let me know you're already a follower
• Blog about this giveaway and include a link to this post and Purex.com
• Tweet about this giveaway and include @quadmamablog and @purex in your tweet

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. You must have a valid email address to participate. The deadline to enter the giveaway is 9 am MST Thursday April 14, 2011. The two winners will be chosen by Random.org and have 48 hours after notification to provide me with a mailing address or a new winner will be chosen.
(Disclosure: Purex provided me with a complimentary bottle of Purex Complete with Zout in order to do this review. Purex will also be providing the two winners with a coupon for complimentary bottles. I received no monetary compensation for this post).

The Winners Are...

That's right, I said winners. There was miscommunication about how the Purex giveaway was going to work, soooooo Purex has agreed to give THREE Buried in Laundry readers a coupon for a free bottle of Purex Complete Crystal Softeners. Those three winners, as determined by Random.org are:

Doodle741

Jill

CTMom

You have 48 hours to provide me with your mailing address or a new winner will be chosen. I'll get the coupons out to you as soon as I receive them from Purex.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Giveaway: Purex Complete Crystals Softener

As you can tell from the title of my blog, I do a lot of laundry. In a good week (meaning no emergency loads due to illness, etc.) I do 12 loads of laundry. I do my daughters' laundry every other day, plus have a "family laundry day" to wash my clothes and Hubby's clothes. 
I'm always looking for ways to simplify this dreaded chore. The main lifesaver was receiving a "hand-me-down" front loading washer and dryer set from a relative. She upgraded. We benefited. It has definitely made laundry day easier. Still, as someone who uses liquid fabric softener, I've struggled with how much to put in my front loader. In a "standard" washer I would fill the designated area with softener, top the rest off with water and... done. The way my front loader is set up it's not as easy, that's why I was eager to try Purex Complete Crystals Softener. As a member of Purex Insiders, I'm among the first to give it a try. In fact, it just went on sale today at Wal Mart (other retailers will begin carrying the product in January and February).
As the name states, it's a crystal, not a liquid or a powder. It goes directly into your washer, which took a lot of the guess-work out for me. A few sprinkles and I'm done. According to Purex, the Purex Complete Crystal Softeners are 92% natural and, unlike oil-based liquid fabric softeners, won't coat your laundry with oil. The product goes in the washer, rather than in a dispenser cup, to penetrate the fabric. According to Purex, this is the first major fabric softener that is 100% safe to use on children's sleepwear, as it does not impair these flame retardant qualities.
I've used the crystal softener a few times now. My initial reaction is a little goes a long way. The smell is nice, but strong. You really need to pay attention to how much you use. My first load I didn't feel like my clothes were as soft as they have been with liquid softeners, but after putting in fewer crystals in the next load I was satisfied. The smell wasn't as overpowering and my clothes were soft.
I'm giving away one coupon for a free bottle of Purex Complete Crystals Softener.
To enter the giveaway: (A valid email address must be left in your comments)

• Visit the Purex site and leave me a comment telling me which scent you think you would like to try. This step is mandatory.

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry (or leave a comment telling me you already follow)
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post
• Follow me on Twitter (@Quadmamablog) or leave a comment telling me you already follow me on Twitter
• Tweet about this giveaway (include @Quadmamablog in your tweet)

The deadline to enter is 9 am MST Monday January 3, 2011. Three winners will be chosen. A valid email address is required to enter. This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. The winner has 48 hours after notification to provide me with a mailing address or a new winner will be chosen.
(Disclosure: As a Purex Insider, I was provided a complimentary sample to review. Purex also gave me a coupon for a free bottle which I will be passing on to the winner. No monetary compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are mine).

The Winner Is...

The winner of the Bryan Adams Bare Bones CD giveaway is:

entry #1 MaryAnne

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated. Also, don't forget there's still time to visit Multiples and More and vote for your favorite blogs about multiples, including yours truly who is nominated for "Most Creative Blog." Have a great weekend!

"Bare Bones" CD: Review and Giveaway

I always enjoy hearing an artist do a stripped down version of his or her work. Some of my favorite CDs are unplugged compilations, so I was quite excited to review the new Bare Bones CD from Bryan Adams.
Adams says Bare Bones is inspired by his 1996 MTV Unplugged album. After that experience, he wanted to pare it down even more and just use a guitar and his voice. While on tour singing acoustic versions of his hits, he had so many requests for those arrangements that he decided to record a few shows.
I think you have to be a fan of Bryan Adams to truly appreciate this album. I'm a fan, so this wasn't a problem. You'll find all his biggest hits on here, including"Cuts Like a Knife," "Summer of '69," and "(Everything I Do) I Do it For You." It was really fun to hear his acoustic version of all these songs. He relies only on his guitar, a harmonica and a piano.
I will admit, I'm not a huge fan of "concert" albums. I want to enjoy the music. I don't want to hear fans screaming in the background or singing along. Fortunately, the concert setting doesn't take away from the overall experience of this album. Besides, I think some of the "rawness" of this album would have been taken away if Adams had recorded this in a studio, rather than during a performance.
Want to hear this album for yourself? Decca Records is giving a copy to one lucky Buried in Laundry reader. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents. The deadline to enter is 9 am MST Friday Dec. 3, 2010. To enter you must have a valid email address. The winner will have 48 hours after notification to provide me with a mailing address or a new winner will be chosen. 
To enter (this step is mandatory) leave me a comment telling me what artist you would like to hear do an acoustic version of his or her work.
For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry (or leave a comment if you already are a follower)
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post

Again, please remember to leave an email address in your comment.
Disclosure: While no monetary compensation was given for this post, Decca Records provided me with a complimentary copy of Bare Bones and is providing a copy of the album for the winner.

The Winner Is...

The winner of the $60 CSN Stores gift certificate is.... ROSEMARIE. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered!

Giveaway: CSN Stores Gift Certificate

You may recall around Father's Day I posted a review for CSN Stores. I was provided a one-time use $60 gift certificate, and, after mulling over hundreds of items, from bistro sets to doll accessories to cat beds, I finally settled on a set of grill tools for Hubby. You can click here to read my full review. Overall, I was pleased with my shopping experience.
Now, CSN has agreed to give one lucky Buried in Laundry reader a similar opportunity. That's right... someone is going to win a $60 gift certificate to spend as you wish at any of the company's 200+ websites.
Let me layout some ground rules, first. The winner will be provided with a one-time use $60 gift certificate. In other words, if you don't use the entire amount in one purchase, you forfeit what you didn't spend. You are allowed to use the gift certificate toward a larger purchase. Potential winners should note while many items have free shipping, there are items which DO have shipping fees.

To enter this giveaway: (this step is a must)

• Visit the CSN Store websites and leave a comment with a valid email address telling me what item you might purchase if you win

For additional entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry (or leave a comment indicating you already follow)
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post

This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses. The deadline to enter is 11 am EST Sunday Sept. 12, 2010. The winner will have 48 hours after notification to respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen.
Disclosure: Any opinions expressed on this blog are solely my own. While CSN Stores is providing a gift certificate for the giveaway winner, no monetary compensation was provided for this post.

The Winner is...

The winner of the David Garrett Rock Symphonies CD is:

Meg

Congratulations, Meg and thanks to everyone who entered!

Review and Giveaway: David Garrett's "Rock Symphonies" CD

As part of the Music Moms program, I occasionally have the opportunity to listen to and giveaway new music. I like music of all genres, so I'm always eager to listen to the new tunes. This time around, Music Moms provided me with a copy of David Garrett's Rock Symphonies.
Combining classical music with classic rock isn't a new concept, but I'm always interested in hearing what artists do to give something "old" a "new" spin. On this album, Garrett blends his violin skills with songs from bands such as Led Zepplin, Aerosmith and Nirvana.
I think I have to first confess that before I was asked to do this review, my opinion may have already been swayed. I subscribe to a certain entertainment magazine which has a "Bullseye" in the back of each issue, discussing each week's "hits" and "misses." Just a few weeks ago a "miss" was this: "While turning rock songs into choral numbers is great, turning them into symphonies is not. Please take note, David Garrett." Then Music Moms contacted me and asked me to do this review and giveaway. My curiosity got the better of me. I really wanted to hear this and judge for myself.
My overall opinion is that certain songs simply don't need to be turned into symphonies. Garrett's take on Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" was not entertaining for me to listen to. Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was OK. Guns 'N Roses "November Rain" was enjoyable as was Garrett's spin on the band's "Live and Let Die." It's not a bad album... it's just not something I would listen to on a regular basis. Still, there are some songs I would listen to (and enjoy listening to) again.
One Buried in Laundry reader will get the chance to decide for his/herself if rock songs should be made into symphonies. Music Moms is giving one of my readers an autographed copy of David Garrett's Rock Symphonies.
To enter the giveaway (this step is a must):

• leave me a comment telling me what rock song you think would sound good if it were turned into a symphony. Please be sure to leave a valid email address in your comment.

For additional entries: (Leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry or let me know that you already follow this site.
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post

This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses. The deadline to enter is 11 am EST Sunday August 29, 2010. The winner will have 48 hours after notification to provide me with a mailing address or a new winner will be chosen. Again, please remember to leave a valid email address!
Disclosure: Music Moms provided me with a complimentary CD to review and keep and will be providing the winner's prize, however no monetary compensation was provided for my review.

Lesson Learned

I learned something with my most recent giveaway... not many Buried in Laundry readers are Michael Bolton fans. Oh well. The winner of the Michael Bolton CD giveaway is Marci J. Congratulations!!!
Be sure to check back for more giveaways and/or reviews. I'll have a fun review coming soon for CSN Stores. With more than 200 sites, you'll find everything you could want, from track lighting to toys to cooking utensils. I'm excited to take part in this opportunity.
Also, a big HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you moms out there.

Giveaway: Michael Bolton's "One World, One Love" CD

When I hear the name Michael Bolton, I automatically think of the movie Office Space. I can't help it. Poor Michael Bolton is the butt of a lot of jokes in that movie.. but it's a good flick. So when I was asked to review a complimentary copy of Bolton's latest CD, One World, One Love, I didn't know what to expect. (The CD was provided to me by Universal because I am a member of Music Moms).
Michael Bolton has definitely made an effort to change with the times. Gone is the hair. The cover of his new CD shows a pretty attractive guy... I don't remember him looking like that. His music, in my opinion, is changing, too. Sure, he still sings of love and heartbreak, but it's not all power ballads. It's a fairly upbeat play list.
I was most excited to hear his collaboration with Lady Gaga. Michael Bolton and Lady Gaga? Not exactly two artists I would think of pairing together. They co-wrote "Murder My Heart" and Gaga provides back up on the track, too. I like it. It's a love song, but a different spin on romance than you would expect Bolton to take.
Most of the songs on the disc are co-written by Bolton. I have to admit, though, it's two covers that I really enjoy. Bolton tackles Terence Trent D'Arby's hit "Sign Your Name." When I heard the beginning of the song, I knew that I knew the song, but I couldn't put my finger on it until the chorus. He definitely gives it his own flavor. Bolton also covers Van Morrison's "Crazy Love," one of my favorite songs ever, and I wasn't disappointed.
I'm not a fan of the entire disc. Some of the songs seem interchangeable. Overall, though, it's quite enjoyable.
Universal and Music Moms want a lucky Buried in Laundry reader to have their own copy of One World, One Love.
To enter, leave me a comment telling me your favorite love song. You must provide a valid email address.
For additional entries: (Please leave a separate comment for each entry)

• Become a follower of Buried in Laundry (or indicate if you already follow)
• Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post

The giveaway is open to U.S. addresses. The deadline to enter is 8 a.m. MST May 9, 2010. The winner will be chosen by Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours after notification to provide me with a mailing address or a new winner will be chosen.
Want to check out some of the songs? Michael Bolton will be appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 7... where I'm hoping he'll sing something off his new disc.