Tiger Suit-KT Tunstall Album Review

KT Tunstall is a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum, Scottish born siger-songwriter with such accomplishments as 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,' 'Suddenly I see,' 'Other Side of the World,' and 'Hold On.' With another great album to add to her musical accomplishments, 'Tiger Suit' is unlike any of her of her other albums in my opinion. The genre is pop/rock and I love the uniqueness of this album from her others because of the difference in her voice and the music. I love it when you can hear the raspy-ness and this album gives me that. Whether she is standing there playing guitar or backed with a band-this album is by far my favorite!!
The first time I listened to the 'Tiger Suit' album I was on an hour drive through the canyon and figured it would be the perfect opportunity to listen to the whole thing without being interrupted. I popped the disc in and had to take a second look to see if it was the right disc. I was used to KT's music being more of a 'country' sound and feel. So when I popped the disc back out and looked at it and seen that it was KT-I popped it back in and turned it up! I got into it and I found a few favorites: 'Diffculty,' 'Fade Like A Shadow,' 'Lost,' okay so I like the whole album!

KT's new album 'Tiger Suit' was released on October 5th and her first single 'Fade Like A Shadow' is a Top 20 hit on the radio.
KT is hitting the road with her new album playing 17 U.S. cities. For the latest news, tour dates, tickets, and more visit KT's official website, follow her on Twitter and 'like' her on Facebook.

Tiger Suit heralds the beginning of a new musical adventure for KT. Organic instrumentation is blended with dance-friendly textures, the results of which she has dubbed “Nature Techno” to encapsulate the album’s collision of raw, upfront rootsiness and sleek electronic textures.

This is one of my favorites from her album. Give it a listen and let me know what you think?

My overall review of 'Tiger Suit':
Buy it! If you liked her albums before your going to like this one even more. It not only can be played in the car, but with the girlfriends and in the club!
Buy KT's new album Tiger Suit here.

This album contains 11 great songs:
-Uummannaq Song
-Glamour Puss
-Push That Knot Away
-Difficulty
-Fade Like a Shadow
-Lost
-Golden Frames
-Come on, Get In
-(Still a) Weirdo
-Madame Trudeaux
-The Entertainer

*Disclaimer: I was not compensated monetarily for this review. A product of the above mentioned album was received to facilitate this review. The opinions expressed are that of my own and others' may differ. By writing this review I am also entered into a drawing for a giftcard through One2OneNetwork.

Sharing Personalized Holidays....

When it comes to the Holiday's we have so many things going on that we get so stressed out and no matter how hard we try we always forget something! When it comes to our Holiday cards it doesn't have to be hard or stressful.
I have some great tips to help you get your personalized holiday cards perfect for sending to family and friends for the Holidays!

-Don't be stuffy & fake.
Yes we all want that picture perfect card to send to our family and friends-BUT-they are the ones who know us best right? So they might love to get that card with each family member's personality. You know your family best!
-Don't be matchy-matchy.
Your pictures say a lot about you, your family and style and if you are all wearing the same exact sweater it just doesn't look well 'natural.' You can still color coordinate just don't put the little man, big man and daughter in the same sweater!!
- Take your own pictures-or-ask for help.
You don't have to pay big bucks to have those perfect pictures! You can either do it yourself or have a family friend help you. Look to the internet for some ideas on how to take pictures in certain lightning, from different angles, how to use props etc. You might find that your a professional or a new hobby!!
Right now in most parts of the country the Fall weather is beautiful. Take your family out to the mountains, the family farm or the pumpkin patch. Bring your tripod, props and everything you need to make everyone happy! How cute would your picture be with the family looking for leaves or sitting on a plaid blanket laughing and enjoying the warm fall weather. Just remember that lighting is key! The best time to go would either be in the early morning hours or when the sun is getting ready to set.
-Have FUN!!
Remember that taking pictures is not the most 'fun' thing to kids. Make it fun not only for them but for you too! Some ways to do this would be to bring some balloons, pumpkins, suckers, blankies, binkies etc. Make sure that your not going around nap time, dinner time, or just plain 'cranky' time. You know how to have fun with your kids, make it fun-throw leaves around and start snapping away.
-Bring your own props.
You can bring chairs, tables, pies, pumpkins, blankets, chandeliers, candles-anything you can think of. Just make sure that you have all of this planned ahead of time. You don't want to lose your lighting!! How awesome would it be if Grandma got a card with her hand-me-down antique table in it with the family sitting on top of it? Think outside of the box, you can use anything at all if you don't want too. If you have a beautiful backdrop don't ruin it with too much 'stuff' in the picture. If you have to ask yourself if it should stay or go? Take it out!!
PurpleTrail has some great cards that you can personalize and make your own. Look at the variety that they have.
Look at the beautiful card I made:








Before-Front

After-Front

Before-Back

After-Back



*Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. By writing this post I am participating in a giveaway from PurpleTrail.com & in doing so I am eligible to win a gift code. The opinions expressed our my own & others' may vary.*

BOO!

We love Halloween around here. So much so that we love to share our love with our neighbors. We make up really cute 'Boo' kits filled with Hershey's candy, ring the door bell and run! Chucky looks forward to this each and every year.(As do I) Our favorite neighbor's aren't your typical 'Boo-ers' they are elderly living with their elderly daughter. But they sure look forward to their ringing doorbell! Once you get 'Booed' your supposed to 'Boo-it-forward' to another neighbor and so on but they are not to know who 'Booed' them, and once you have been 'Booed' you place a 'I've been 'Booed' ghost in your window to let others know that you have already been treated! It sounds like a lot of work but it is so fun and also teaches your children to give back!
We love to include a cute personal note to the King's(our elderly neighbors)and some of our favorites like Kit Kat, Twizzlers, and of course the cute pumpkin shaped Reese Peanut Butter Cups!

You can Celebrate with Hersheys too, you can start your own Booing or just switch it up a little. Whatever your going to do to spread the Halloween Spirit you can get some good recipes and spooktacular ideas from the Hershey's website.

*Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am entered to win a Hershey's prize pack for my participation from the MomBloggersClub. The opinions expessed are those of my own and others' may differ.*

Help Cure Breast Cancer in a Sweet Way...



I know that every day, month, minute and hour that passes is hard for those who have been affected by breast cancer but I think that the month of October would be even harder knowing that they are so close to finding a cure for breast cancer and that this could have been the month. I know that one October we will be celebrating the cure instead of looking for it.

We all have one, a "Sweet Moment" whether it is by yourself or with someone else, but there is a way to share it with Milano and help cure breast cancer! Right now if you go to Milano's Facebook  page and share your "Sweet Moment" Pepperidge Farm will donate $.50 to Susan G. Koman For the Cure up to $50,000 through October. You don't have to train for a marathon, empty your bank account or even leave your house, just get on your computer and head to the Milano Facebook page and share your Milano Moment!

*Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am entered to win a prize from One2OneNetwork.com. The opinions expressed are my own & others' may vary.*

Hello My Name is Hope...

 When somone we know is diagnosed with cancer, we often wonder or feel like there is nothing we can do- but there is! We can help raise awarness and money for a cure! Although I was not diagnosed with breast cancer I still like to help fund research to find a cure because they can then move on to the rare cancers and ultimately find a cure for all cancers!

To help boost awareness about Breast Cancer Quill.com{a leading business-to-buisness online and direct marketer of office products,} is having a campaign on Facebook-"Hello My Name is Hope." Quill.com is inviting all Facebook users to post and personalize virtual "Hello My Name is Hope" stickers on their profiles to honor both survivors, fighters and victims of this disease. For every sticker shared Quill.com will donate $1 up to $20,000 to City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute a designated comprehensive cancr center dedicatd to research, treatment and education!

Throughout October every ticker created will be displayed in a community gallery on the Quill.com Facebook page, creating a virtual wallof breast cancer messages and images.

So if you are/were one of those people who didn't know what do do or how to help here is your chance to speak up not only for yourself but for other's affected by breast cancer. I hope you will help and know that you are finding a cure for cancer!


*Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. By posting I am eligiable to win a prize from MomSelect.com. The opinions expressed are my own & others' may vary.*

Shutterfly Winners...

Thank you to Shutterfly for the awesome giveaway and to everyone who entered, there is a lot you can do with these cards! I am going to do my Christmas Cards. I haven't a clue yet on the design or picture, there are so many designs to choose from it makes it hard but I know that no matter which one I choose it will be perfect! Okay now onto the good part.
The winners are...
#12 JoeyfromSC
#7 Rachel
#30 Deb
Congratulatons! I sent each of you an email and you have 48 hours to respond or I have to choose new winners;(

"Set a Place at the Kids' Table"

You know where it is, it's out of the way of the adults where you can't hear their squeals and their laughter...it's the kids table! We all used to be there and know what it's like, but could you imagine if you were sitting there with little to no food?

This Holiday season, Frigidaire and Jennifer Garner are asking everyone to set a place at the "virtual kids' table" for a child in need. Starting today at MakeTimeforChange.com Frigidaire will donate $1 to support Save the Children. It is an effort to ensure that kids have access to healthy foods this holiday season and all year long.

About Save the Children:
Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we help children and families help themselves. We work with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining our own independence without political agenda or religious orientation.


When disaster strikes around the world, Save the Children is there to save lives with food, medical care and education and remains to help communities rebuild through long-term recovery programs. As quickly and as effectively as Save the Children responds to tsunamis and civil conflict, it works to resolve the ongoing struggles children face every day — poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease — and replaces them with hope for the future


You and I can help by visiting MakeTimeforChange.com and setting a virtual plate at the table to help feed our children!

*Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. In posting this I am entered to win a prize as part of the Frigidaire program thanks to MomSelect.com. The opinions expressed are my own & others' may differ. I disclose as part of the FTC Guidelines for blogging.*

The Morning Rush

It's hard to get ready in the morning with the kids all over, you all over and nothing but chaos!
Well Kellog's & Blogher along with Jenny on the Spot are giving away a $100 Visa gc! Ends 10/12

Ecostore Review-Clean Green!

We love our families so much that we would give up our lives for them. So why is it that we don't do the one thing that can help save our families and the environment that we live in-Use green and eco friendly products? Ecostore is trying to help us learn and use green products to protect our families and planet from harsh chemicals. I know when I think of 'green' products I think a lot of 'green' out of my pocket but Ecostore is not looking to drain your bank account, just get you to think smarter.

Poisonig Statistics Based on the United States' Data
• More than 90% of poison exposures occur in the home.
  Source: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

• 218,316 reported poison exposures in 2005 were from household cleaning products.
   Source: Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poisoning and
   Exposure Database (2005).

• 121,498 children under the age of 6 were poisoned by household cleaners last year.
   More than one out of every 6 poison exposures in 2005 from non-pharmaceutical
   substances was attributed to household cleaning substances; with 56% attributed to
   children under the age of 6. Source: Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control       
   Centers' National Poisoning and Exposure Database (2005).

• Bleach is the number one household chemical involved in poisoning.
  Hypochlorite (bleach) was the source of 54,433 poisonings in 2005; 25% of the total
  exposures from household cleaning substances and the cause of 8 deaths.
  Source: Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poisoning and
  Exposure Database (2005).

• Animal poisoning exposure cases totaled 131,336 in 2005 with dogs accounting for
  89% of the cases. Source: Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers'
  National Poisoning and Exposure Database (2005).

To find out what’s lurking on your shelves & under your counters, go to the National Institutes of Health Library of Medicine Household Products Database.. You can search almost any brand of cleaner you use, find out what’s in it, and uncover its links to health effects. Or search by chemical ingredients (see list below for some examples) and discover what brands contain it. If this won't scare you into going green then there is no hope for you!!
Chemical ingredients to look out for:
• Sodium hydroxide
• Hydrochloric acid
• Butyl cellosolve
(2-Butoxyethanol)
• Formaldehyde
• Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
• Ammonia
• Sulfamic acid
• Petroleum distillates
• Sulfuric acid
• Lye (potassium hydroxide)
• Morpholine


From the Ecostore site:
Ecostore NZ was founded more than 15 years ago by Melanie and Malcolm Rands from their home in an eco village in New Zealand.
All of the families that lived in the farm based eco village shared a commitment to organic growing and healthy living, making this an ideal environment in which a young, environmentally conscious business could thrive. Each household in the village was responsible for their own waste water, which quickly highlighted the problems caused by using regular supermarket cleaning products that relied heavily on cheap, petroleum-based, synthetic ingredients.



Faced with the challenge of protecting the pristine rural waterways of the eco village, Malcolm Rands began to research and seek expert help from scientists to develop household cleaning products using plant-based ingredients that would biodegrade safely and quickly. Achieving his goal, he eliminated the need to use toxic chemicals, leaving the eco villages water pure. His goal was more than accomplished as the product line of this home-based business began to grow, and an exciting future began to unfold.


The original customer base of ecostore NZ was comprised of mostly ‘Greenies’ and organic gardeners. However, it was not long before testimonials from other parents (many of whom were unaware of the benefits of eco-friendly products) began to pour in with wonderful news of their children's allergies and eczema clearing up. Many noted that any respiratory issues were healing, and many lingering chronic conditions were disappearing.


By simply changing to the genuinely clean and green ecostore products, people were experiencing surprising and unexpected improvements in their health. As the notion of using products with “No Nasty Chemicals™” gained popular appeal, ecostore quickly outgrew its location in the Rand’s basement and the business moved to a storefront in Auckland, New Zealand.


Doing good by nature
The team at ecoSTORE USA loves making a difference in people’s lives. ecoSTORE USA does not compromise on performance, so customers can be assured of the efficacy of the products - they truly work. We offer more than 100 products, each one meeting the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards. The guiding principle of every formulation is and will always be that the end product must not only be good for the user, but good for the planet.


Gentle on your budget
ecoSTORE USA knows that it can be expensive to buy natural or organic products, but we've found a way around this by safely super-concentrating each formulation. This means that a little really does go a long, long way. The result is saving money by significantly cutting down on cost per use.


Today and in the future – ecostore USA
ecostore NZ now has its own research and development facility and factory. Addressing individual health issues are at the forefront of eco-friendly product development. Seventeen years after beginning as a home-grown business, ecostore NZ is a well known brand in over 600 retail outlets throughout New Zealand; our products are also exported to Australia and the United Kingdom.


What is green?
Aren't you tired of the terrible confusion about what is really a green product? With the guidance of our ecostore NZ partners, ecoSTORE USA can answer that question for you. At ecoSTORE USA, we are here to help you make the connection between the household products that you have been using for your entire life and the potentially harmful effects that they may be having on the earth and on your family's health. ecostore USA is here to help you become more informed and offer you authentic, safe alternatives. Would you like to learn about what "Green" really means? ecoSTORE USA is green!

I was provided with 2 products to test out from Ecostore's website. I chose The Baby Shampoo and the Toilet Cleaner. The reason I chose these two products was to see if they would work as good as they said they do! Sure enough, the Toilet Cleaner got the toilet clean and stays clean a lot longer but the best part is I didn't need a 'gas mask' to clean it or to go in after it was clean. The Baby Shampoo was great, he didn't break out from using a different kind of shampoo and his hair was still soft and touchable!

Would I be showing my toilet if it didn't work? Don't think so!!

If your looking to go green and don't know where to start or your already a green family and looking for some amazingly priced items check out Ecostore. Ecostore offers free shipping on all orders over $25 and you can find them at these local retail stores Meijer and Duane Reade Stores, you can also follow them on Facebook & Twitter.

*Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I was provided with products to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed are my own & others' may vary. I full disclose as per the FTC Guidlines for bloggers. Thank you to Ecostore for this opportunity.*

Glasses USA Review & Coupon Code{I Can See Clearly Now}

I hadn't been to the eye doctor in a long time, the last time was when I was going to get my drivers license, I failed my eye exam. When I thought about eyeglasses, I was scared; thinking that I was going to look a little 'dorky,' but I wanted my drivers license more then I cared about glasses or looking 'dorky!' I headed to the eye doctor with my mom and I ended up leaving with a pair of 'rental' prescription glasses that did not fit my needs, face or style but I wanted to get my drivers license! When my glasses arrived they weren't that far off from the 'rentals'. When I look back now at the type of prescription eyeglasses that I did pick and ended up with I can't help but laugh but I did get my drivers license!

Thank goodness for GlassesUSA.com because now that I am older and back in school, the drivers license was a big deal but my vision & prescription glasses should have been a bigger deal. I didn't think that my eyes were really that bad but when I started getting headaches from squinting to see the chalk board or overhead I knew I needed to get my eyes checked. When I went to the eye doctor I was shocked to find out how expensive glasses are with or without insurance. I looked at the cheapest assortment and could only get the kind that I had back in high school. That's when I discovered GlassesUSA and the great variety of prescriptions eyeglasses that they carry.

GlassesUSA is the premier place to buy discount prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. There are a few things you should know about GlassesUSA...

We’re not just out to make money – we actually care about society! All of our returned eyeglasses are not restocked as they are with most optical stores. Ours are “recycled”! What does that mean? Well, we believe that everyone should have access to vision care. So, we donate all of our returned eyeglasses to various organizations around the US who then sanitize and redistribute the eyeglasses with the correct prescription to people all over the world who can’t afford vision care! Seeing properly shouldn’t be a luxury – it should be a necessity. We do our best to help our customers and we take their vision needs very seriously. We are an international company with two offices: one in New Jersey (our headquarters) and one in Israel. Our eyeglasses are produced at both facilities in order to provide our customers with top quality lenses in the hottest frames available!

I can see the numbers at the Bingo hall!!

Closer picture of my fab glasses!

I have to admit that I was a little hesitant on the quality and type of glasses that I would receive, but GlassesUSA made it easy. You can upload a picture of yourself and try your glasses on before you purchase them! I chose the Deb in brown and am extremely pleased with them and couldn't imagine getting my prescription glasses anywhere else. It was really easy all I had to do was get an eye exam from the eye doctor, give GlassesUSA  my prescription info and pick out a pair. They were here within a week and a half, that is faster then the eye doctor;}

If you would like to purchase glasses or get more information visit GlassesUSA.com you can also follow GlassesUSA on Facebook.
GlassesUSA is giving Ma21cuteboy readers a discount of 10% off your final order use code BLOG10


*Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, I was provided with a product to facilitate this review. The opinions are expressed & others' may vary. A BIG Thank You to Hillary & GlassesUSA for this opportunity. I disclose as per the FTC guidelines for blogging.*

Happy Boo Day-Chucky's Birthday Party

So Chucky's Birthday was on September 30th and he told me the Tuesday before that he wanted a birthday party!!! Yeah, I was freaking out;} I had 4 exams that week and a party to plan!??
I decided that we would have it on October 2nd, what we were going to do.....no clue!
I started googling 'Halloween Party Ideas.' Well I didn't get any ideas that I could use for his party, so I got on Etsy and I found this awesome shop Paper Glitter. The owner was absolutely amazing! I sent her a convo right before closing time and the night before the party to purchase the Halloween Party Kit! She accommodated me and then some, I had a problem downloading them{not on her side} she accommodated me again, then for some reason they wouldn't print!!!  I got it figured out 'after' I sent her a convo yet she was still very accommodating. Come to find out I just had to update Adobe! If you are ever on the market for adorable printables with EXCELLENT customer service then Paper Glitter is your place!!
We had Sno Cones, Caramel Apples, Pop Corn, A Buffet of Candy, Mummy Dogs, Cupcakes and a lot more! They played games, bobbed for apples and had a blast! Even though I did it all in 24 hours I think it turned out great!
Look how cute Chucky's party turned out:


One of the banners included in the Halloween Party Kit from Paperglitter.



Brain Juice
{I bought the container at Walmart}

The Dessert Table

The popcorn box my brother made to hold the popcorn!
He used Halloween scrapbook paper, tape and a knife to make the holes.
I used this tutorial to make the cones.

This is another view of the desserts & printables that I used.
I bought all of the glass jars at the Dollar Store. I made the cup cake stand out of a plate & candle stick both from the Dollar store. I applied E-6000 to the candle stick, placed a heavy book ontop & let dry overnight.

Cupcake toppers from Paperglitter's Halloween Party Kit
I couldn't find my circle hole punch so I used zig-zag scissors to cut them out.

Skull ice cube mold that I got at Walmart.

Sno Cone syrups with bottle wrappers from Paperglitter's Halloween Party Kit.
{Can you tell I did them at 4:00 in the morning?}

Close up of Paperglitter's Editable Halloween Party Kit & close up of the mummies I made out of Oreo Cookies from this tutorial. I didn't have eyes so I used black frosting in a tube with a toothpick. I also tried it with the Nutter Butters for Ghosts, but forgot to seprate them before adding the mummies 'bandages' so they all ended up being mummies;}

A BIG Thank you to Linnette fom Paperglitter, my mom & my brother for all of your help without all of you this wouldn't have turned out so great! I appreciate it and I know that Chucky does too! Happy Halloween;}

Linking here:

WINNERS....

Sorry about the delay in picking winners! It has been one busy week-I had 4 tests last week, Chucky's Birthday and a Birthday Party on Saturday. I am one exhausted woman;}

Without further procrastinating-
 The winner of the DiamondEarrings.org giveaway is.....#6 buzzd
Congratulations I have sent you an email!

The winner of the CSN Stores giveaway is... #126 clc408
Congratulations I sent you an email!

 I have some more amazing giveaway's coming up, make sure you are subscribed to Ma21cuteboy to find out first!