This giveaway is now closed and the winner has been contacted.  Congrats Angela!

Are you looking for some great make up tools?  Something that works the way you want it to and is good for our environment?  And make up tools that are very affordable?  Sounds perfect- right?  Well, look at the great qualities you can find in the ecoTOOLS products:

• Chosen as one of InStyle Magazine’s 2009 Best Beauty Buys
• Winner of Ideal Bite’s “Best in Green Award”
• Winner of PETA’s 2009 Proggy Award for Best Cruelty-free Brushes
• Winner of VegNews Magazine’s 2009 Best of Show Award
• Beloved by celebrities like Alicia Silverstone, Mariska Hargitay, Olivia Wilde, and Courteney Cox-Arquette
• Member of 1% For the Planet and recent donor to EarthShare

Their products are undoubtedly the finest “green” additions to any beauty lover’s toolbox. The best part? They’re extremely easy on the pocketbook, with nothing in the collection retailing over $12.99.

Here is the entire collection of ecoTOOLS- everything you need to apply your make up and to help our environment:

So then- how would you like to win some ecoTOOLS?  I thought so!  Here is what you have a chance to win:

The ecoTOOLS 5-Piece Travel Brush Set (ARV $5.99). This travel brush kit has all a girl needs to get by on the go. Respectfully traverse the earth with this pint-size set, which has the necessary survival tools for any adventure. Throw it in your carry-on for quick and easy re-application as you brave long security lines and crowded airports. The set includes a mineral powder brush, concealer brush, eye shading brush, lash and brow groomer, and a linen and hemp brush case.

AND!

The ecoTOOLS Recycled Retractable Kabuki Brush (ARV $7.99). ecoTOOLS thinks beyond bamboo with the Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki Brush. Recycled aluminum helps to save energy and reduce waste – which is always in style. This sleek brush is perfect for applying a touch of blush or a dusting of powder. Plus, the casing is super sleek and chic!

Here is what you need to do for a chance to win:

• Leave me a comment telling me the one item of make up that you just have to put on every day.

Want some extra chances to win? Leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH extra entry.

• Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then leave me a comment with the direct URL.
• Subscribe to my RSS feed and then leave me a comment letting me know you’re a subscriber.
• Stumble this post (please leave a short review) and leave me a comment letting me know and tell me what your name on Stumble is.

This giveaway is open to US mailing addresses and will end on May 27th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be chosen on May 28th 2009 via random.org and notified by email. Please read all of my giveaway rules here.

This giveaway is now closed and the winner has been contacted. Congrats Danetta!

Are you looking for a fun new game to play with your family or friends?  Around the Table Games are the perfect choice, with games for every age.  We were recently given the chance to check out the Family Talk and Teen Talk games.

The Family Talk game is perfect for any family.  There are 100 cards on a clip and each card has a question on it.  These cards would be perfect to take on vacation to keep the kids occupied in the car, to bring to a restaurant to keep everyone entertained while waiting for your meal to arrive or to just use for fun conversation at home.  I had a blast looking through the cards and asking my family members some of the questions.

We also got to check out the Teen Talk game, which is similar to the Family Talk game except that it was made by teens for teens.  I gave these cards to Brooke (17 years old) to check out.  She said she could see herself and her friends asking each other the questions and having some good laughs.  A couple of her favorite questions were:

• If you were a crayon,what color would you be?
• If you could have any superpower, what would you have?

Around the Table has a bunch of fun games for a variety of situations:

Camp Talk – Gather around and make new friends with…Camp Talk! Perfect gift for kids heading off to camp or for family camping trips! Camp Talk is the perfect way to get to know new camp friends on the bus to camp, in the bunk after lights-out or around the campfire while eating s’mores! It’s also a great way to learn fun things about your family! Just draw a card, read one of the 50 cool questions and let the fun begin! The handy flashlight and compass allow you to navigate your way back to your campsite or cabin for some fun, late night conversations! Ages 7+, MSRP $7.99. Here’s a small sample of the questions included in Camp Talk:

- What’s the funniest or most unusual nickname for a counselor you’ve heard?
- If you wrote your own campfire song, what would it be about?
- Name a place you feel you can really be yourself.

Buddy Talk – Fun ways to get your friends talking! Buddy Talk is rapidly becoming the rage for both boy and girl BFFs. Find out a ton about your friends at the bus stop, during recess or at a sleepover. Ages 7+, MSRP $7.99. Here’s a small sample of the questions included in Buddy Talk:

- What’s your favorite thing about summer break?
- If you could have picked your own name, what would it be?
- What is the funniest trick your pet can do?

Teen Talk – A fun way for teens to really get to know their friends! This set of diverse questions is sure to spark some colorful conversations among teens! The cool carabiner clip attaches to backpacks, sports bags or overnight bags for fun conversations anytime! MSRP $7.99. Here’s a small sample of the questions included in Teen Talk:

- What is one thing you couldn’t live without?
- What influences you the most?
- What is the weirdest dream you’ve ever had?
- Do you think guys/girls act or talk differently online than they do in person? Why?
- What would be the title of YOUR autobiography?

 

So, how would you like to win one of these fun games?  Here’s what you need to do for a chance to win:

• Leave me a comment telling me which game you would want if you won- Teen Talk, Camp Talk or Buddy Talk.

Want some extra chances to win? Leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH extra entry.

• Follow the Around the Table on Twitter and leave me a comment letting me know you did.
• Become a fan of Around the Table on Facebook and leave me a comment letting me know you did.
• Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then leave me a comment with the direct URL.
• Subscribe to my RSS feed and then leave me a comment letting me know you’re a subscriber.
• Stumble this post (please leave a short review) and leave me a comment letting me know and tell me what your name on Stumble is.

This giveaway is open to US mailing addresses and will end on May 25th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be chosen on May 26th 2009 via random.org and notified by email. Please read all of my giveaway rules here.

I know that Hailey’s birthday isn’t until October but I have already been thinking and planning ahead for some ideas of what to get her for her 3rd birthday.  Today I was looking at the MEGA Brands website and checking out the fun products that they have.

From their main page I clicked on “shop” and then I clicked on “age” to separate the choices by age.  Since Hailey will be turning 3 I selected the ages 3-6 group.  And when I saw this Sleeping Beauty’s Princess Room I knew that Hailey would love it!

Isn’t that adorable?  Hailey is really into princesses, so I know that this would be something she would really enjoy.  I can either purchase it right online through Mega or there is a tab where I can click on “where to buy” and check to see which retailers carry the item I want.

There is another tab that says “product benefits” that tells the various benefits of the product- things like how it helps with reasoning and problem solving as well as fine motor development.  I just love how this site is set up!

If you’re looking for a gift for a child in your life be sure to check out the Mega Brands site!

I was recently given the chance to check out some new Softsoap Ensemble hand soaps.  As soon as I saw how pretty the soap containers were I jumped at the chance to check them out. 

The way these Softsoap ensembles work is that there is a starter pump you purchase.  Then there are four different bases you can buy to go with the pump.  When your soap runs out you simply use the next disposable base- and they are so pretty they do not look like they are disposable.  Plus there is no brand name stamped all over the bottle- they look just like a regular, fancy soap dispenser.  See?

I absolutely love these!  The soap dispenser I had in my bathroom before I got to try these out was a glass one- and that dispenser made me nervous with Hailey always trying to grab it when she washes her hands.  With these Softsoap ensembles I don’t have to worry about her breaking one.

From now on when I need new soap I don’t have to worry about trying to refill my glass soap dispenser (and spilling soap all over the palce)- I can just purchase a new base- and they are so pretty they will fit in with any decor!