TFH Family Favorite Finds

The Perfect Gentleman's Guide to Valentine's Day (and BEYOND!)

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  So happy to be able to share this with you, Ann F (comment #40) please check your email for further instructions !

With Valentine's Day less than a week away (yeah, I know, I don't have anything "just for him," either!) I'm beginning to think, you know, why can't we just celebrate, whatever, whenever and however we want, damnit?

Well, now we can (and by we, I mean you, yes, YOU!) AND smell good, doing it, too, courtesy of the folks at Gillette.com.

FIRST, SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE:  Visit the P&G Brand Sampler to snag yourself some of the latest samples and coupons.

Disclosure:  Gillette is a brand that we shop, a lot, and I prefer to share the Gillette Series Shave Gel for sensitive skin with my husband, Garth (not his real name) as well.

Want some?

2010 Sunscreen Safety Guide: EWG's Best & Worst

[7/7: Updated to Add - aaaand, yes, there is an iPhone app for that!]

SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 100, is it me, or does anyone else wonder which sunscreens really do work best and, you know, what's the right answer?

Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently released their 2010 Sunscreen Guide, where you can find their top-rated sunscreens, how major brands rank and tips to stay safe in the sun.

FIND IT HERE:  http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/

Have a happy, healthy and skin-friendly summer, everyone!

© 2010 This Full House Gone Shopping - All Rights Reserved.

The Small Gray-ish Print:  No payment, or any other consideration, besides sharing stuff that  perhaps make life for families (like mine) a little easier, was received for this blog post.

Calling All BlogHer Moms: Enter To Win $1,000 Shopping Spree, Spa Day & More!

Raise your hand if you need a time-out and/or some quality “me” time!

[raises BOTH hands]

Well, BornFree wants to give one (1) lucky mom going to BlogHer 2010 a well-deserved break, including:

The Ultimate Indulgence Package at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa

• Elizabeth Arden Facial
• Desert Hot Stone Massage
• Olive Oil Manicure
• Olive Oil Pedicure
• Shampoo, Blow Dry, & Finish
• Makeup Refresher
• Spa Lunch

Dinner for you and a friend at The Russian Tea Room ($250) http://www.russiantearoomnyc.com

A $1,000 NYC Shopping Spree

Yeah, I want it, how about you?

Enter Here: http://bornfreemom.com/2010/06/01/attention-all-blogher-2010-moms-you-need-a-time-out/

 

© 2010 This Full House/This Full House Gone Shopping

DISCLOSURE: No payment, or consideration, other than an entry into the contest, was received for this blog post, 'cawse...um...yeah...I really, really want this!

Choose You Campaign Less Cancer, More Birthdays Healthy Lifestyle Giftbag

[CONGRATULATIONS:  JULIE L (COMMENT #52) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

According to the The American Cancer Society, when asked to pick one day to focus on themselves and their health each year, the majority of women (65 percent) chose their birthday.

Today (May 28th) is MY birthday and, in celebration of the 17th Anniversary of my 29th birthday (ahem) I am proud to partner with the Choose You movement (doing something special on my mom-type-blog, too) to shine the spotlight on a sobering statistic: one in three women will get cancer in her lifetime.

Considering my twin brother has been battling cancer for a few years, now (AND WINNING!) I am committed to finding and sharing ways in which women (especially, moms like me) can lead a healthier lifestyle.

Why?

Because, it's My birthday, being nice matters and cancer sucks wet poodle!

Got Acne? Stridex Naturally Clear - Summer Survival Kit Giveaway

[WE HAVE OUR WINNERS: CONGRATULATIONS RAE HIGGINS (#37) TINA (#43) AND AMANDA STARR (#2) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAILS FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS ]

Got acne?  Unfortunately, raising 2 teens and 2 tweens (ages 16 to 9) and my STILL suffering from adult acne (UGH!) the battle against blemishes is a rite of passage, in our house.

Still, I try to be very careful with acne medicines we use -- my middle girl (she's 14) got a terrible rash, using something I ordered from an infomercial, once -- and all of my cosmetics are for sensitive skin.

So, when the nice folks representing Stridex contacted me about a new alcohol-free product with 1% salicylic acid (my skin can't handle benzoyl peroxide) I was all, like, got any extra?

Kleenex Towels Hand Drying Song: Dry Hands Are Happy Hands - Now With Less ICK!

Did you know that freshly cleaned, wet hands transfer pathogens more readily than dry hands or hands not washed at all.

[cringe]

Me, either.

I am very excited to partner with my friends at TheMotherhood.com and in the Kleenex Hand Towels campaign and share some important facts about hand drying -- like, how I've spent the last 16 years reminding my kids (constantly) to wash their hands and never once worried about their hand drying habits, or lack thereof.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (you know, the CDC, they specialize in ICK!) recommends hand drying with a single-use towel to help reduce the spread of germs, but consumers have not had a practical alternative to traditional cloth hand towels in their home bathrooms – until now.

Oh, and there's this cute little song you can sing along with your kids while hollering at reminding them to, you know, dry their hands.

Why?

Because, I am ALL about ridding my house of pathogens (the killer dust bunnies are getting real jealous) and my family and I get to work on this project, together!

No, I am NOT going to sing (you're welcome!) but, my oldest daughter is working on this really cool idea and, well, did I mention she's 16 and digitally/graphically gifted?

[the sound of crickets chirping]

Oh, and there's a lovely prize to help kick-off the promotion.

Enjoy 20% OFF Courtesy of Saks 5th Avenue

Use code FRIEND4 at checkout at saks.com, or click here to print the above coupon valid from Thursday, April 22 to Sunday, April 25th.

Enjoy!!!

 

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

DISCLOSURE:  NO PAYMENTS, PRODUCTS, OR OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, OTHER THAN A CHANCE TO HELP FAMILIES (LIKE OURS) SAVE A LITTLE MONEY, WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST.

AVEENO Baby Essential Daily Care Gift Basket Giveaway

[CONGRATULATIONS, CHERYL - COMMENT #13 - PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

Okay, I've got babies on the brain, so what? 

[bites lower lip]

I don't know what it is.  Maybe it's because the sky is blue and weather has warmed up, a bit (here in Jersey, anyway) or, that spring break is fast approaching (hold me!) heaven knows, there isn't much room left in our house and even the dust kitties are fighting for my attention.

Still, I just can't help it -- I miss that new baby smell!

So, in celebration of all things warm and fuzzy, I would love the chance to share a basketful of baby softness with one of you and I will just have to live vicariously through those of you with babies in the house.

[sniff-sniff]

Want one?

Q-Tips Baby Packs: How to Create the Perfect Nursery - Or, Just Send Me a Bottle of New Baby Smell, Thx!

Forgive me, but I have a soft spot for Q-tips -- besides, the fact that our family, alone, has probably gone through thousands of them, still do -- it just feels so gosh-darned good to clean my ears.

[shivers]

Q-tips has these cute newly designed baby packs, which are launching this week...January 18th...and early February 2010...and, well, they just scream baby, don't they?

My friends at Weber Shandwick sent me over some great tips on creating the perfect nursery, by Celebrity Nursery Designer, Wendy Bellissimo to share with expectant families...NOT like mine.

Why?

Okay, so maybe our nursery wasn't as stylish, or even trendy, as Wendy's, seeing as my husband, Garth [not his real name] and I shared the same room with each of our babies -- our bedroom WAS the nursery -- but, I think these would make great additions to gift baskets I personally like to give out at baby showers:

Just fill a laundry basket with baby essentials (i.e. baby wash, shampoo, a couple of wash cloths, bath toys and a cute hooded towel) and viola...a clean baby is a happy baby.

More about Q-Tips Baby Packs:

• Size: 285 count
• Suggested retail price: $3.19
• Available at:  Target and Walmart stores nationwide 

Now, if only someone would come up with a way to bottle that new baby smell, right?

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

DISCLOSURE:  NO PAYMENT OR CONSIDERATION, OTHER THAN A CHANCE TO PERHAPS HELP MAKE OTHER FAMILIES SHOP A LITTLE EASIER, WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST COURTESY OF WEBER SHANDWICK & Q-TIPS.COM

Glambassador Report: GlamAlert.com - Insider Perks, Freebies and More!

As the 2009 New Jersey Glambassador -- yeah, I don't know how that happened either -- I am very excited for the opportunity to keep you updated on the latest products in beauty and really fun events in the tri-state area.

The October issue of Glamour Magazine contains a coupon booklet with promotional discount codes, printable coupons and freebies to take advantage of this fall.  

[Offers vary effective through end of September and October 2009]

Can't get to the magazine rack in time?  No worries. 

You can also visit http://www.glamour.com/shopping and grab the promotional discount codes directly from their website. 

Also, check out Glamour Magazine on Facebook.

In addition to the savings found in-book, you can also visit GlamAlert.com, or download their GlamAlert widget and get the inside scoop your ownself, like:

Join Tim Gunn and Glamour at Bloomingdales at the Mall at Short Hills (NJ) on September 30th (Wednesday) to debut Kate Spade's fall clothing collection.  Visit glamalert.com for event details.

Happy Fall, to all yous guys :)

Recent Glambassador Reports

DISCLOSURE:  No payment was received for this blog post - just sharing some cool stuff courtesy of Conde Nast Publications and Glamour.com

[Please, clean off a chair and feel free to stay a while - subscribe to our feed or, if you really, really like me, then sign up for our free subscription updates and I'll love you forever!]
 

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

Save 15% Off EVERYTHING at UVSkinz.com

We officially opened our pool last week (Memorial Day was a wash out) although, we haven't been able to use it (been raining since Memorial Day) I'm about ready for some summer sales -- how about you?

Save 15%	In case you missed it up top, you can save 15% on all of your purchases from www.uvskinz.com for the month of June! Just enter the coupon code: 09summer15 at the checkout and enjoy your new skinz!
Offer Expires: July 1st, 2009

Check out our other Weekend Specials and Reader Discount Codes!

[No payment, product, or any other consideration was received for this blog post - just passing along some great savings I happened to find in the mail]

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

Discovery Channel’s Josh Bernstein’s Camping Survival Kit

[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED: CONGRATULATIONS KEITHA (#25) AND SANDY (#18) YOUR COMMENTS WERE PICKED VIA RANDOM.ORG AND ANNOUNCED ON MY GIVEAWAYS LISTED WITH PRIZEY.NET.  PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

We love watching the Discovery Channel and often times find ourselves taking mental notes from Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild) and Les Stroud (Survivorman) on just what NOT to do (or, eat) when lost in the wilds of Africa and Canada.

If, we ever do find ourselves lost...not to mention, ever get the chance to visit Africa, or Canada...I mean. 

Josh Bernstein (Into the Unknown) however, is mommy's guilty little pleasure.

[heavy sigh]

Aaaand, not because the man is good looking as all get out (yes, my husband also thinks he is quite handsome) Josh Bernstein is an accomplished explorer, author, wildness expert, archeologist and all the things I want to be, when I grow up.

If it weren't for the pesky little fact that I hate camping, or that two of my kids and I suffer with allergies...I mean...oh, and the bugs!

Still, we love to hike and have spent the last 3 years of our staycation with day trips to The Cape May Bird Sanctuary and Buskhill Falls, PA and I am pleased to have been asked to join a campaign with the makers of BENADRYL and the National Park Foundation (NPF) designed to encourage everyone, including people with allergies, to pledge to spend more time enjoying outdoor moments with friends and family. 

Without all the, you know, itching.

Organic Sunscreen and Sun Care by Vivesana

My kids have been counting down the last school days before summer vacation since...um...February and they just canNOT wait for the days when we can hang out in our backyard, swim in our pool and not worry about homework, or having to take showers, every night, for that matter.

We got a taste of some very warm weather in late April (hit 90's here in Jersey) and then, soon after all the winter clothes were put away, it got cold again.

Good thing.  I'm SO NOT ready.  Because the girls need new bathing suits and the boy (he's 10) is very fair-skinned (like his dad) and, no matter how heavily I slather on the sunscreen, he always comes home feeling a little, you know, crispy.

I recently was contacted by the makers of a new organic sunscreen and thought it was time I put Vivesana to the test.

Spotlight on New Jersey: Cozy Petal Home Spa Products - Gifts for Brides-to-Be to Mommy & Me!

Ellen Y. Lau runs an eBoutique, Cozy Petal in New Jersey that offers a unique collection of spa & bath products, lounge wear and mommy & me gift-sets.

Her extensive experience in the apparel industries along with her degree in fashion design from New York Parsons School of Design (you know, the Project Runway people) allows her to combine her passion for fashion with her love for luxury relaxation.

"With the daily stress of women, my company offers them a guilt-free way to relax with the home-spa experience. Cozy Petal also focuses on wellness lifestyle by offering natural and organic products."

Amen, sistah!  So, are you from Jersey? 

Check out Cozy Petal's Flip Flop Store!

FIND IT HERE:  http://www.cozypetal.com

GET 20% OFF YOUR PURCHASE HERE:  Now until March 31, 2009 - This Full House readers receive a special treat of 20% OFF when shopping at CozyPetal.com and entering this coupon code at checkout:  PamperMommy

[Spotlight on New Jersey:  Please, clean off a chair and sit down, feel free to stop by every Tuesday, as I share information on some of the really great stuff you can find...right here in Jersey!]

© 2009 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

[No payment has been received for this blog post]

Review and Giveaway: Avon's ANEW ULTIMATE Treatment Collection - What's old is ANEW, again!

[This giveaway has ended: Thank you SO MUCH for visiting with us -  but, feel free to stay and visit with Patrick Dempsey, all you want - congratulations to our winner, Dawnlizabeth!!!]

Earlier this year, I learned (via Babble.com) that Patrick Dempsey signed on to be the new face of Avon and I remember thinking to myself...WOW!...I wonder what he looks like, with his shirt off...NO, WAIT!

[taking it back down to a G-rating]

I mean...WOW!...this is so NOT the Avon I grew up with and I remember going over to my Aunt Marie's house (my mom's Avon Lady) hoping she had a couple of extra samples of Sweet Honesty at home, downstairs in the rec-room, where she kept all of her Avon inventory.

Avon has grown up and so have I, dammit, and I have the adult acne and fine lines to prove it to you, sort of!