Mother's Day Gift Guide: Compilation of Favorites (w. giveaways)

I promised more reviews and giveaways of some of my new favorites for Mother's Day and here they are! Please leave a comment for each item you are interested in winning. Comments will close on Monday and all eligible entries must include an e-mail address or Twitter handle! Thanks!

Jawbone ICON (giveaway)

One of the only times I get to talk on the phone with my Mom is during my 7 minute ride between work and picking up the kids each afternoon where I find myself cramming in as many important details about the day as possible. I appreciate the ability to have a hands-free conversation en route to pick up my kids thanks to my Jawbone ICON ($99.99). With precious little time to talk to my mom, I love that the Icon cancels out background noise so I can actually hear her on the phone. The tiny Icon is always comfortable to wear thanks to a fit kit featuring different earbuds so you can easily find the ones to fit your ear best. It also comes in six stylish, jewelry-like designs, each with unique names that reflect the personas they embody. While I selected “Thinker,” choose one for your loved one that reflects her personality and see her delight when you tell her that she’s a total “Bombshell” or your personal “Hero.” Win a Jawbone icon by leaving a comment telling me how you would use an extra hand! My Jawbone Thinker and giveaway were generously provided by Jawbone.

Savvy Cents (giveaway)

Never has being money-wise been so chic. Being able to stretch your dollar is quite fashionable and even more so with a Savvy Cents ($24.99) wallet that serves as a way to organize your monthly/weekly budget, coupons, or money thanks to an accordion style file system. Pre-printed and blank labels come with each Savvy Cents to make it easy to organize the categories. Color choices include black patent leather, red patent leather, and a pink patent leather one is coming soon! Win one of 2 Savvy Cents courtesy of founder, Melinda, by leaving a comment below! My Savvy Cents and those for giveaways were generously provided by Melinda of Savvy Cents.

JAVOedge Cases for Nooks, Kindles and more

The purchase of an eReader is an investment and needs to be protected with a stylish case but not all cases are the same. I was so thankful when JAVOedge sent me this gorgeous Poppy Sleeve Case ($29.71) for my Nook after I had purchased an inferior case for more money. This gorgeous pattern is not only a delight to see, but it is stylish, and protects all sides of my Nook thanks to some luxurious black velvety fabric on the inside and a printed canvas exterior. Originally I wasn’t sure how I felt about an envelope-style case because I wanted one that would function more like a cover of a book but love that I can tuck this in my purse, pull out my Nook, and secure my device with a magnetized flap when I’m done reading. If you aren’t a fan of the Poppy pattern, JAVOedge makes a wide variety of cases in different patterns and styles for your eReader.

SeeHere.com’s Photobooks and Photo Gifts by Fuji Film (giveaway)

What woman doesn’t love to get photos of their beloveds? Whether mom, grandma, aunt, godmother, or just a special woman in your child’s life, photo gifts are always winners. SeeHere.com makes it easy to create photo books but they also have a wide assortment of other unique photo gifts such as customized pillowcases, onesies, photo plates, crystal ornaments, photo puzzles, gel mouse pads, amazing 3D prints and more, all of which will delight the hearts of moms everywhere. Create your one of a kind photo gifts and save 25% and get free standard shipping with the code gifts-30. And when you purchase a mug, hooded sweatshirt, or tote bag, SeeHere.com will donate $2 from each sale to Homes For Our Troops. Win the opportunity to create your own photo book for free courtesy of SeeHere.com and Fuji Film by leaving a comment below. SeeHere.com provided me with a code to create my own photo book in order to try the site.

Haiti Relief Necklace by Studio Jewel

Oh how I coveted Janine’s necklace when I saw it around her neck at a recent MomzShare event! Luckily she talked up her necklace giveaway and I Tweeted my way to a win. Ever since, my
Haiti Relief Necklace by Studio Jewel has been a favorite and always complimented. Made of wood, metal, and stone, this necklace “serves as a “small, yet significant reminder of what we need to do in response to the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. We need to SURROUND those impacted by this disaster with HOPE - thus the significance of the silver circle encompassing the hope disk. It will take our faith, our hope and our love to feed their emotional needs...but it will also take our hands. We need to use WOOD, STONE and METAL, as seen in the individual beads, to rebuild what has been lost - to rebuild lives torn apart. We must LINK together, as represented by the silver chain, as a people united in order to serve others and share our HOPE for a new and better future.” Beautiful, don’t you think? $25 of each sale of this necklace goest towards Christian World Outreach, Inc. While I was lucky to win my necklace, I had planned to buy myself one regardless in order to convey The Bead Girl’s message for a good cause.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8

I’ve always said I want to learn Photoshop and now that I have a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 (the #1 selling photo-editing software) not only can I take my photo editing to a new level, but I can also make one-of-a-kind creations ranging from picture-perfect cards to scrapbooks and videos. With Photoshop Elements 8, children and adults can follow simple steps to adjust color, contrast and lighting, get the best exposure and resize images without worry of distorting them, and compile it all into custom photo albums or scrapbooks. Photoshop Elements 8 is available for Macs and PCs and is as low as $69.99. A bundle package is also available for as low as $99.99, which adds Adobe Premiere Elements 8 software that takes editing and enhancing video to the next level. This special pricing is good through Adobe’s online store or by phone (1-800-585-0774) until May 10, making it a great last minute gift for the photo happy mom (or blogger!) in your life! Thanks to Adobe for a review copy of Photoshop Elements 8.

Mommy’s High Heel Shoes

2 years ago I hung up my hat as a SAHM to become a PTWOHM. Unlike so many life events that are depicted in stories, I had trouble finding a suitable book that I could use to begin a discussion with my children about me going back to work. Kristie Finnan's book, Mommy's High Heel Shoes ($16.99) is a delightful story that discusses why parents work while celebrating working moms, family bonds, and lots and lots of shoes! The modern tale has charming illustrations that my children love to look at as they search for the ladybug, heart, and cupcake hidden on each page. Thanks to author, Kristie Finnan, for a review copy of her book when it first came out last year.

Don't forget it isn't too late to enter my other giveaways by accessing them here. You have until Sunday!

DC Area Readers: Science You Can Sing To this Saturday 5/1 (ticket giveaway)

Jammin Java in Vienna is one of our favorite places to catch local bands because it is a fun place to grab a coffee and enjoy great music for kids and adults alike.

This Saturday, May 1st the fun, educational, and hands on Curiosity Zone will be holding a Science You Can Sing To concert for kids at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA at 10:30 am. Tickets are $10 each and needed for anyone a year or older.

Not only will there be live music to appeal to your young scientists but the Curiosity Zone is bring hands on science to the concert by providing experiment stations for the kids! I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning with my 2 little scientists!

Get your tickets here before they sell out then check out the songs, meet the characters, and play games that will appeal to your budding scientist on the Science You Can Sing To website to get your family pumped for the show!

Giveaway: Win a 4 pack of tickets to attend Saturday’s Science You Can Sing to Concert at Jammin’ Java by leaving a comment about a science class you would be interested in taking at the Curiosity Zone! A winner will be drawn on Thursday!

Thanks to the Curiosity Zone for providing my family with tickets to the show and also as a reader giveaway! See you at the show!

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Microsoft Mice (w. giveaways)

Congratulations to Kim, Jodi, Mariana, Heather, and Ana as the fastest commenters who also entered my other Mother's Day giveaways. Each is receiving a mouse of their choice thanks to Microsoft!

Being a busy mom on the go who is constantly connected to the computer, I love my Microsoft Wireless mice. I get lots of mice to try but honestly my favorites are the Microsoft ones.

Why?

Microsoft makes a mouse to meet everyone’s needs. I love the compact size of the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000 (above left- $29.95) and how comfortable the Comfort Mouse 4500 (below- $29.95) really is for someone like me who is constantly on the computer. Since both models are wireless, I keep one attached to my desktop and another in my laptop bag at all times.

Size matters and Microsoft mice are nice and compact. Perhaps you are thinking that a mouse is just one more thing to carry in your laptop bag but I find that since they are so small, they hardly take up any space and I find it helpful to have 2 buttons and a scroll wheel to maximize my productivity even on the go.

Fun colors! My high school art teacher one told me I wasn't afraid of color and I like to inject color wherever possible. My desktop mouse is purple and the one in my bag is pink because who says a mouse has to be black! The Comfort Mouse 4500 comes in colors like strawberry, sea blue, poppy, and lochness gray. Decorate your desk with red garnet, pink topaz, purple amethyst, blue sapphire, and green emerald Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000. Of course you can have a black mouse if you'd like, but with colors like those pictured above, don't be afraid of color!

GIVEAWAY: I'm giving away 3 Comfort Mouse 4500s and 2 Mobile Mouse 3000s in the color of your choice!

The first 5 commenters on to leave a comment on this post and enter one of my other Mother's Day giveaways will each win a mouse! Leave me the type of mouse you want along with your preferred color in your comment to be entered to win then go comment elsewhere to score some great gifts for the special women in your life this Mother's Day. You must enter a giveaway that you haven't already entered. Hint: if you've entered all my giveaways, enter via a daily tweet.

This giveaway was inspired by Jodi who was the first commenter on my Black Mountain Jewelry Tree of Life giveaway. She wished there was a giveaway based on speed so here it is!

Thanks to Microsoft for providing mice for review and giveaways and all images. No compensation was received for this post. Winners will be notifed in order that their eligible comments are received!

FamZoo Helps Parents Teach Financial Literacy to Kids of All Ages (w. giveaway)

Congratulations to Becky who won a lifetime membership to FamZoo!

Right now our 6 and almost 4 year old hoard their money in their little nylon wallets, eager to stuff in more but I know that the day of spending will arrive with no end in sight. Rather than appearing like a bottomless pit of money to our two children, we want to begin conveying the value of a dollar and how hard it can be to work for the things they want rather than what they need. Thank goodness for FamZoo!

About FamZoo

FamZoo is a family friendly site that allows children to learn about the value of money through a virtual bank account that is tied to real money. Founded by Bill Dwight (aka Chief Dad of 5 kids), the site contains a wealth of easy to use online tools for parents to use to create child accounts to manage allowances, set spending limits, track savings goals, and even add or debit (gasp!) accounts for chores with the goal of building financial, social and organizational habits around money in a safe and friendly environment for kids of all ages.

I could write more about the history of FamZoo, describe the easy set up, and the many features but seeing is believing so here is Bill with an exclusive video for Tech Savvy Mama readers that walks you through the site!

FamZoo Giveaway on TechSavvyMama

from Bill Dwight @FamZoo on Vimeo.

Cost

FamZoo costs an affordable $5.99/month but you are welcome to take advantage of the two month free trial so you can try it without commitment. If you are doing mental math and realize that this costs $72 a year, I believe the cost is well worth it. Here are some reasons why.

Child and Adult Friendly

As you could see from Bill’s demonstration, FamZoo is nothing like the dreaded Quicken. It only takes a few minutes to create your family’s FamZoo account and all parent and child accounts. The built in “How Do I” button is extremely helpful if you are feeling stuck or have questions about what to do next. I also like the wizards that make it even easier to set up financial plans for each child’s allowance and setting percentages for dividing allowance into spending, saving, and charitable giving.

FamZoo is easy to navigate thanks to the use of cartoons as avatars and fun illustrations by an award-winning cartoonist populate the pages of the site to make it visually appealing. I appreciate the use of avatars, tabs, and color coding debits versus savings because they help kids navigate the site without knowing how to read. While you may not be giving your 2 or 3 year old an allowance, it isn’t too early to get them acquainted with the site to start teaching them the value of money and how mom and dad like to divide their income into spending, saving, and charitable donations too. And don’t worry, the illustrations aren’t at all cutesy so your tweens and teens won’t find the illustrations dorky!

In keeping with the theme of many visuals, FamZoo provides a wealth of different kinds of graphs for kids to get true understanding of their money. Some kids learn better with bar graphs while others prefer graphs in the pie or line format. FamZoo features all kinds of graphs to provide kids with visual representations of their money so it will make the most sense to them.

Flexible

FamZoo provides the building blocks for you to set up your accounts according to the way they work best for you, your family, your values, your financial situation, and your children. It is completely flexible. The wizards are there to help you with the calculations but the dollar amounts are purely up to you!

It can be as simple as you need it to be for your elementary aged student and include an allowance for chores but then more sophisticated for your teenager who is always blowing their budget on texting, clothes, movies, and gas.

As an experienced dad, Bill set up a budget for his teens that included an annual budget for clothing, monthly debit for cell phone insurance to cover constantly broken phones, and the ability to track expenses related to hobbies just so his teens could see the costs associated with such endeavors.

**Parents of teens and tweens: I know you want to sign up now! Visit FamZoo and remember 2 months free!

Teachable Moments

While the set up may be quick, the life-long lessons you teach your child when you sit down and go over FamZoo together are invaluable. FamZoo creates the opportunity for conversations about money and will probably spawn many teachable moments where they bring up questions you might not have thought of or present ideas that will be proud parent moments.

Being able to sit down with my kids and talk about concepts like spending, saving, and charitable giving now will certainly shape how they look at money in the future. While it might not teach them to save every penny, I think it will have an impact on their impulse buying when they can see how long it takes to earn the money they need for their purchases and helps introduce the idea of charitable giving at a young age.

GIVEAWAY: One Tech Savvy Mama family will win a lifetime membership to FamZoo!

To enter, leave a comment about how you think FamZoo can help your family and what the most interesting aspect of the site is, based on Bill's video tour. Include your e-mail address or Twitter handle.

For extra entries,

• Follow FamZoo on Twitter

• Become a Fan of FamZoo on Facebook

• Subscribe to the FamZoo blog

• Tweet this: @TechSavvyMama recommends @FamZoo 2 teach financial literacy 2 kids- even tweens/teens! Win lifetime membership here: http://bit.ly/cRV4Fh
  

Winner will be selected on Friday, April 30 and will receive a lifetime unique registration code good for a FamZoo membership.

I received a lifetime membership to FamZoo and was compensated for my time in evaluating the site and writing this review.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Snapfish Photo Jewelry (w. giveaway)

Congratulations to Cori who plans to make a keepsake box for her mother with her $50 gift card from Snapfish!

I’m a huge fan of keepsake jewelry and have always wondered how the Snapfish silver jewelry (starting at $39.99) with the photo charms turn out in real life. Thanks to Snapfish, I was able to create my own photo jewelry that turned out beautifully and was constantly complimented by my coworkers!

My main concern was that the photos would be too small or the pictures would fall out but neither were an issue. When my sterling silver charm bracelet arrived, not only was it nicely packaged and ready for gift giving (see right), but the images of Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer were perfectly sized and the photos were sealed, making them untouched by the water that comes with frequent handwashing.

In the past, I've found charm bracelets to be heavy, clunky, and always in the way when I type but the design of this bracelet is feminine but sturdy. I also usually avoid purchases with toggle clasps since they seem to be far less secure than a lobster claw or traditional clasp but after wearing my bracelet, the toggle clasp proved to be secure even during my busiest days teaching!

Snapfish offers a sterling silver charm bracelet and a necklace with the chain and one charm for $39.99, with additional charms available for $13.99 each.

If you have concerns about whether or not you will be the recipient of such lovely jewelry, I advise taking matters into your own hands! Snapfish currently has some great coupon codes to save big on coveted personalized photo jewelry featuring your beloveds! Use the code MOMJEWEL for 30% off photo jewelry until 4/30 or MOMSDAY10 for 20% off any photo gift for mom until 5/9.

GIVEAWAY: Win a $50 gift card to Snapfish that will cover the cost of a sterling silver charm bracelet and a necklace with the chain and one charm plus shipping!

To enter:

• Browse the Snapfish site and leave a comment with the photo gift you would most like to receive this Mother's Day

• Tweet this daily to win and leave comment with the link to each Tweet: @TechSavvyMama has a $50 @SnapfishbyHP #giveaway for Mother's Day! Enter here: http://bit.ly/anzPAc
  

Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries on May 2.

Snapfish provided me with a giftcard to create my own bracelet with 1 charm. I paid for the addition of 2 extra charms. No compensation was received for this post or hosting this giveaway.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Black Mountain Jewelry (w. giveaway)

Congratulations to Kelly who won a custom Tree of Life pendant that will be handmade by Black Mountain Jewelry!

Black Mountain Jewelry is a company that I’ve fallen in love with because of their gorgeous designs that use beautiful materials, concern about how their jewelry making practices impact their local environment, and because founders, Mark and Carla Mead, are just always so wonderful! Mark and Carla hand make all of their incredible pieces out of reclaimed and recycled materials, purchase responsibly sourced gems from companies whose mining practices don’t violate human rights, and give 5% of each sale to children's charities like Jewelers for Children.

Mark and Carla are truly dedicated to their craft and each piece is made with tons of love. I have their Sonora Star Western Heart Pearl Choker with a heart pendant and whenever I wear it, I always get compliments on its beauty. I love the vivid colors, knowing that my pendant is unique, and the fact that Carla added thoughtful details like an extender chain so I could adjust the length and took the time to enclose a thoughtful handwritten note that was in the package.

In honor of Mother’s Day, Black Mountain Jewelry is honoring one lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader with a custom Tree of Life Pendant. The Tree of Life jewelry line is made from 100% recycled metals and fair trade gemstones. This collection was designed to help people find strength, feel connected and to celebrate life in a way that becomes possible when you have a tangible talisman, a physical reminder you can touch and be reminded of what touches you.



GIVEAWAY: One reader will receive a custom Tree of Life Pendant made of sterling silver, 14k gold, and semi-precious stones (code TCS1) of their choice. The charm can have up to 7 smaller accent stones to symbolize their children on 18" sterling snake chain. This meaningful jewelry amulet is semi-custom with a birthstone on the front and custom stamping on the back (if you choose not to add extra stones) and has a minimum value of $175.

To enter, leave a comment telling me what the Tree of Life Design means to you along with your e-mail address or Twitter handle. Ponder the gorgeous image and share your thoughts!

Carla says that they “have many different customers - mom's, nurses, survivors- and they share their stories with us. Recently I sent out one to an old dear friend. We put her stone in the roots of the tree and her three children in the branches. She lost one of her children who's stone we set in the human heart in the branches - because he's always in her heart.” Isn’t that just beautiful?



Additional ways you can enter to win the Tree of Life Charm:

• Join Black Mountain Jewelry’s mailing list by contacting info {at} blackmountainjewelry {dot} com and leave a comment telling me you have done so. Include your e-mail or Twitter handle.

• Tweet this: @techsavvymama is honoring moms with a jewelry giveaway from Black Mountain Jewelry. Enter here: http://bit.ly/bVYS1u Tweets can be done daily. Just include a link to your daily Tweet in your comment.

• Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with your permalink. Include your e-mail or Twitter handle.

Tech Savvy Mama readers can also enjoy 25% off any order placed by 4/30 with the coupon code MD04. Get free shipping on orders placed by today- the shipping charge will be removed before order processed.

View my other Mother's Day Gift Guide reviews and enter giveaways here.

I received my Sonora Star Choker as a holiday gift from Black Mountain Jewelry from our long relationship that began last Mother’s Day with my first giveaway of their Tree of Life pendant. No compensation was received for this post.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Timberland Earthkeepers Greenside Slides

This Mother’s Day treat mom to a stylish pair of new shoes that are great for the environment too. Mentioned in my recent Earth Day post, the Timberland Earthkeepers line debuted with a single pair of boots in 2007 and now includes 85 styles for men, women, and children that feature Green Rubber outsoles made with 42% recycled materials and leather from Silver-rated tanneries that received high scores for energy reduction, water quality and reduced waste.

The Earthkeepers Greenside Slide ($80) is one of the 11 shoes in the collection that are Designed-for-Disassembly. The Designed-for- Disassembly means that the shoes in this line are easily recycled and 70-90% of the shoes’ components can be recycled and reused when the shoes are returned to Timberland for recycling.

How does Timberland recycle shoes??? The components come apart and get a new life as used materials. The leather can be refurbished at Timberland’s factory in the Dominican Republic. Green Rubber™ outsoles – the ones made with 42% recycled materials – go back to a Green Rubber™ factory in Georgia for recycling. Removable metal hardware can be reused in new footwear or recycled. Recycled polyester components are recycled into new polyester products by the Teijin

Not only is the fact that so many parts of the shoe can be reused but the Earthkeepers Greenside Slides are incredibly comfortable and cute! I received a pair to try in today’s mail and while the DC area weather didn’t quite cooperate for a trip out of the house due to the rain, they were a treat to slip on after a long day in high heel boots. I would never know by looking at the shoes that they were made with such a high percentage of recycled materials. The rubber sole of the shoe is pliable, yet sturdy, and the leather is soft and buttery. I feel good about putting on a pair of shoes that is Earth-friendly and already have my eye on the Ring Ankle Slides (pictured above- $100) as my next pair of sandals and I’m thinking ahead to fall with the Bethel Fold Down Boots (pictured below- $140) from the Earthkeepers line!

With a gift of any pair of shoes from the Timberland Earthkeepers line your moms footprint will be smaller this Mother’s Day!

Timberland is offering free shipping on orders over $100 with the code SHIP100 and free returns on all orders. Learn more about Timberland Earthkeepers by following their blog.

All images courtesy of Timberland. I received a pair of Greenside Slides for review purposes. No compensation was received for this post.

Reinforce Green with Shows & Movies with Earth Friendly Themes (w. giveaway)

I am a firm believer in fresh air and outside time but if you have a television, chances are your child enjoys watching the tube so why not sneak in positive messages about treating our Earth right for our future eco-warriors by learning and watching together.

A great new kid-friendly eco-friendly DVD called He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands ($14.95) comes out today from Scholastic Storybook Treasures. Featuring a guide for parents and kids with tips on how to be green, the DVD begins with a rendition of the American spiritual, “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.” I like this DVD because of the way diversity and beauty of the world is represented through stories like Jane Yolen’s “Owl Moon” that is about a magical, night-time walk through the snowy woods in search of the Great Horned Ow “Come On, Rain!” an ode to a good, soaking, and the appreciative Thanksgiving address, “Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message.” With environmental issues top of mind, this DVD is perfect for a new generation of eco-conscious kids ages 5 and up. (To win a copy, see below!)

The blockbuster, Avatar, comes out on Blu-Ray and DVD ($19.99 from Amazon) today and is an action-adventure that demonstrates how human invasion almost destroys the balance of life on the planet of Pandora. While passionately rooting for the survival of Pandora, the movie carries a message that all living beings are connected and that those who seek to exploit nature rather than respect it will only destroy themselves. Taking that message of conservation and ecological harmony, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Earth Day Network, along with various organizations worldwide, pledge to plant one million trees across the globe by the end of 2010. If you happen to buy Avatar on Blu-Ray or DVD, you will receive a unique access code that allows them to go online and actually adopt one of the million trees being planted, charting its location and progress.

The Discovery Channel’s Planet Green will air an entire night of the celebrated documentary series Planet Earth through a marathon that begins at 8pm EST tonight. Also on Planet Green, the third season of Wa$ted has begun and Annabelle Gurwitch continues to show that American homeowners can adopt healthier, environmentally-friendly lifestyles -- and save money at the same time. Pick up some simple ideas on how to lead a more earth-conscious lifestyle in your own home Wednesdays at 8pm EST.

If you resolve to eat better by consuming less meat, eating seasonal produce, and supporting your local farmers through farmers' markets and community supported agriculture, Food Inc. is a fabulous and eye-opening movie as to why you should. Also, after watching SuperSize Me while pregnant with Little Miss Techie, I resolved to never eat fast food again. You know why if you see it!

Here's the trailer from Food Inc.

And what do you like to watch that contains Earth Day themes? Gathering your ideas via Facebook and Twitter, here’s what you said were your favorites:

• Wall-E (via @techmommi)
• The Lorax (thanks to colleagues at school)
• The Day After Tomorrow (from Natalie)
• Happy Feet (a friend writes “Not Earth Day, but definitely taking care of the planet)

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands courtesy of Scholastic Storybook Treasures by leaving a comment about how you will be celebrating Earth Day and one way you resolve to be more eco-friendly this year. For an extra entry, name a different movie than those listed above that contain Earth Day themes! Don’t forget your e-mail or Twitter handle!

Now run out to get supplies for tonight’s environmentally friendly screening party with your family and enjoy the rest of your Earth Day!

I received a copy of He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands and Avatar for review. No compensation was received for this post.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Tiny Prints Greetings (w. giveaway)

Congratulations to Stephanie who won 25 free Tiny Prints Greeting Cards!

Do you ever find that important milestones sneak up on you and the selection at the nearby drugstore, grocery store, card store just aren’t cutting it? Say goodbye to agonizing over the perfect greeting card thanks to Tiny Print Greetings!

I’ve always been a fan of Tiny Prints but their new Tiny Prints Greetings service allows you to choose the perfect greeting card, personalize it with your own message and photo, and send it to your home in just a few clicks! With 24 hour access, you can shop for cards from the comfort of your computer at your convenience. Set automatic event reminders or schedule cards in advance so you never miss a loved one’s important milestone. You can even add a stamp to your order and have them ship it for you the next day. Being thoughtful doesn’t get any easier!

Tiny Prints Greetings is a membership based site that is affordably priced for the amount of convenience it affords busy parents. Tiny Prints Greetings is currently offering 3 free cards (with stamps!) and free membership for the first year when you sign up for one of their membership plans. The membership allows you to save money with every card you send by offering 3 different membership levels:

• Pay As You Go allows the occasional card-sender to send a unique greeting without committing to a yearly membership. The cost is $3.99/card with no annual fee.
• Savvy Sender is a great option for those who value convenience for the many cards that they send over the year. At $2.99/card, personalized greetings are far more special than any generic card from the store. With this option, you get 3 free cards (with stamps!) and the $5.99 annual fee will be waived for the first year. You can cancel your membership at any time.
• Super Sender is for those who never forget an occasion! Affordably priced at $1.99/card, the per card price is less than most retailers charge for single cards. Super Senders will get 3 free cards (with stamps!) and the $16.99 annual fee will be waived for the first year. You can cancel your membership at any time.

Between the cost of cards, high probability that I will forget someone’s birthday, anniversary, etc., and the added stress of running out to find the perfect card at the last minute, I love Tiny Prints Greetings for the convenience and am sure that a membership would be a great gift to any woman this Mother’s Day.

Giveaway: Tiny Prints Greetings is giving away 25 greeting cards!

To enter, leave a comment about any of the following along with your e-mail address or Twitter handle:

• Browse the Tiny Prints Greetings site and let me know which Mother’s Day greeting card is your favorite.

• The first ever Tiny Prints Twitter Party will be on Friday, April 23 at 9 pm. Leave a comment letting me know your will be participating then mark it on your calendar, keep a lookout on Resourceful Mommy to RSVP, and leave your Twitter handle in your comment so I can look for you at the party!

• Follow Tiny Prints on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know you have done so.

• Become a Tiny Prints fan on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you have done so.

• Become a fan of Tech Savvy Mama on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you have done so.
  

This post was done as part of a Global Influence campaign with Tiny Prints Greetings. I received 15 free Tiny Prints Greetings by participating.

Mother's Day Gift Guide: Jasmere.com (w. giveaway)

Congratulations to Sharon who won $25 to shop for fabulous finds on Jasmere!

Jasmere is my new favorite shopping site. Not only is it run by local friends Jeremy and Katrina Kugel, but I love the diversity of offerings and have bought everything from designer denim, organic meat, to market baskets for summer shopping trips to the farmer’s market at way below retail price.

Jasmere was founded in December for consumers who “care about savings almost as much as they do about style.” Katrina, Jeremy, and their partners seek out specialty retailers and the underknown “gems” that deserve national attention. The site spotlights one merchant for a day. Deals run for 24 hours (from Noon to Noon) and feature everything from luxury items, kids apparel, to gourmet goods from small boutique firms. All products are personally tested by Katrina (a job she loves!) and feature an honest but glowing review.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Jasmere is offering many mom-propriate items that would make perfect gifts. Check out Jasmere on the following dates for 24 hours only or sign up for their e-mail list (look in the upper left corner of the site) so you don’t miss the daily offerings.

Wednesday, April 21- Love Bottle is an earth-friendly bottle made partially from recycled glass. It has a ceramic swing top lid that creates a water tight seal. Love Bottles are customized and always contain the word “love” on them so you can show mom how truly special she is. Bottles come in 500 ml and 1000 ml sizes and were such a popular offering on Jasmere the first time that they are back! Don’t miss out this time though since they may not come around a third time!

Monday, April 26- Tile Mural Studios offers custom tiles that are created based on your artwork or photographs and can be a wonderful way to display family pictures and children’s art work either. And don’t worry if you happen to break one…Tile Mural Studios can replace a single broken tile!

Tuesday, April 27- Menus and Music Productions: Gifts for Food, Art, Music, and Travel Lovers offers MusicCooks recipe cards paired with music CDs. These stylish boxed recipe cards are paired with a CD to make cooking and entertaining at hoe fun. The recipes are fun, quick, easy, and are accompanied by wonderful food photos, practical tips, and shopping and pantry lists. Beyond Mother’s Day, stocking up on items from Menus and Music would also be wise if you will be houseguests over the summer.

Thursday, April 29- Urban Junket offers laptop handbags, eco-friendly totes, handcrafted handbags, custom painted bags, and bags you can create yourself. All of their designs are incredibly stylish and a dream for working mothers, busy students, young urban professionals, semi-retired baby boomers or busy suburbanites with demanding schedules and are a favorite of Oprah! I know I have my eye on their laptop handbags that are bold, big, and serve as a more hip way to carry my laptop in style or as a perfect weekender.

Monday, May 3- BedHog makes whimsical sheets that mark a his and hers side of the bed thanks to the pattern on the fitted sheet and pillows. Finally Mom can stake her claim to her own side of the bed! These would also make great gifts for newlyweds or as an anniversary present!

GIVEAWAY: Win a $25 gift certificate on Jasmere to fund a Mother’s Day shopping spree! With Jasmere prices being so low, $25 will go a long way!

To enter, leave a comment about any of the following along with your e-mail address or Twitter handle:

• Tweet this: @TechSavvyMama has great Mother's Day giveaways for special women in your life! Read about them & enter here: http://bit.ly/cTseZk

• Visit Jasmere and then come back here to tell me about what their daily deal is and who it might make a great gift for.

• Follow Jasmere on Twitter and leave a comment letting me know you have done so.

• Become a Jasmere fan on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you have done so. Jasmere Facebook fans have the opportunity to win the daily deal for free!

Huge thanks to Jasmere for providing a gift certificate for use as a giveaway. No compensation was received for this post.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide is Here!

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 9 and it isn’t too early to start shopping for the special woman in your life or dropping hints about what would be an appropriate gift for all the TLC you are constantly providing to your little ones.

This year’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide will be different from past gift guides. Rather than one long compilation post, each review and giveaway will have its own day.

Click on the links below to access reviews and giveaways from the following sites and companies:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Black Mountain Jewelry
• FamZoo
• Haiti Relief Necklace
  
• Jasmere
• JavoEdge Case for eReaders
  
• Jawbone
• Microsoft Mice
  
• Mommy's High Heel Shoes
  
• Tiny Prints Greetings
• Savvy Cents
• SeeHere.com
• Snapfish
• Timberland Earthkeepers
  

Huge thanks to the many companies that generously provided samples for review purposes and giveaways. No compensation was received for the reviews or hosting the giveaways.

American Cancer Society's National Volunteer Week

In celebration of the 37th annual National Volunteer Week (April 18 to April 24), the American Cancer Society, the Official Sponsor of Birthdays, recognizes the efforts of its more than three million volunteers nationwide by kicking-off a national pledge to volunteer in 2010. Volunteers are crucial to the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays, and with the help of its volunteers, the Society is successfully helping people stay well and get well by finding cures and fighting back against cancer.

As National Volunteer Week approaches, American Cancer Society is encouraging the rest of the country to join its volunteers in making a big impact in 2010 by pledging to volunteer by year’s end. The Society today kicked off a national pledge to volunteer with a new tool that allows consumers to pledge hours and find rewarding volunteer opportunities in their own community.

The American Cancer Society listens, shares, heals, and nurtures a spirit of hope and a culture of caring through volunteerism. For those looking to get involved in their own community this Spring, the Society offers many opportunities to get outside, get moving and get healthy all while making a difference:

• The Society’s DetermiNation™ program offers athletes of all abilities the opportunity to save lives with every mile they conquer in endurance events across the country, all while maintaining their own health and fitness goals.

• Relay For Life®, the world’s largest movement to end cancer, is celebrating it’s 26th year and with more than 5,000 events in 20 countries, this overnight community event engages volunteers in organizing teams that celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

• Making Strides Against Breast Cancer®, the organization’s premier event to raise funds and awareness to fight breast cancer, involves nearly 500,000 people across the country in an inspiring, non-competitive walk.

Additional opportunities to volunteer throughout the year include:

• Road to Recovery, where volunteers drive patients to and from treatment

• Look Good…Feel Better®, where volunteers help women overcome treatment related-side effects by teaching them skills to help their appearance

• Reach to Recovery where breast cancer survivors volunteer to provide one-on-one support to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients

• Hope Lodge®, where volunteers can cook a meal for guests staying at a local Lodge, which offers cancer patients and their families a free, temporary place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city.

Besides volunteering, help communicate the importance of celebrating more birthdays by visiting the American Cancer Society’s website to:

• Download their Birthday Kit to ensure that your birthday is even more meaningful.

• Visit the Cool Stuff section where you can show your support for More Birthdays by adding any one of 6 images to your desktop, print and display the More Birthdays poster, send your birthday invitation to guests using the ACS’ Evite, and bloggers can obtain HTML to add the badge to their blogs.

• Make a donation to help save lives to help people stay well and get well. Your donation will aid in finding cures and fighting back against cancer.

Learn more about the American Cancer Society volunteer pledge and how you can saves lives while fulfilling your own then join the American Cancer Society’s movement to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays, visit morebirthdays.com.

How will you spend your time fighting for a cure and against cancer to ensure that everyone has more birthdays?

This post is dedicated to Susan and the women in my life who are able to celebrate more birthdays.

This information was provided by the American Cancer Society and shared as a public service through my involvement with ACS’ Bloggers for More Birthdays. All images are courtesy of ACS. No compensation was received for this post.

Ways to Be More Green with Your Technology Throughout the Year

While Earth Day serves as a good yearly reminder to remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle, the commitment to being green means adopting practices that should become routine throughout the year. By this point we know that plastic bottles, aluminum cans, newspapers, etc. can be recycled but what about cell phones, televisions, and computers?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones, and computer products that can be recycled, only 18 percent were collected for recycling and 82 percent were disposed of, primarily in landfills.

If you are getting rid of an old cell phone, AT&T offers the following tips to remember before recycling your wireless phone:

• Power off your phone
• Remove your phone’s SIM card, if it has one
• Erase your address book, photos, messages, and other stored information. One easy way to clear data from your device is to access the data eraser through Wireless Recycling’s Erase Cell Phone Data: Free Data Eraser.

Now that you have recycled the old, consider the following when shopping for new technology in order to be more green:

• Consider energy usage. Select an Energy Star-certified model with a power-saving mode and always consult the most current Energy Star ratings as they have gotten stricter with time. According to National Geographic’s Green Guide for Families, some large plasma TVs consume more energy than your refrigerator! Look for LCDs that use far less watts per square inch than plasmas.

• Evaluate whether you really need to make the purchase. When considering whether or not to buy a computer, ask if you really need one or if it is possible to share. Green Guide for Families urges giving careful thought to the purpose and necessary features of a computer. Sharing one is the “greenest” option but if the one in your home is old, then it may be time to upgrade to one with a more current Energy-Star rating.

• Buy used- CraigsList and eBay are our favorite places for purchasing used electronics. With the frequency that technology changes, chances are that you can pick up someone’s unwanted items that are just as good as new ones for less. In the past, we’ve gotten everything from digital cameras for the kids (a deal at $10 each!) to iPods to flat panel monitors. We’ve also sold our electronics via CraigsList too.

• Ask if the manufacturer has a recycling or take-back program for disposing of electronics. Since computers are made of metals that damage the environment and chemicals, they can’t be taken along with household trash. Yahoo! Green site has a helpful guide on where to start when recycling electronics.

• Packaging- One of my pet peeves is the amount of unnecessary packaging in everything from food products, toys, to computers. Imagine how pleasantly surprised I was upon opening up my HP TouchScreen Printer to find that the entire thing was packaged in a gigantic reusable bag, rather than plastic! Packaging printers in reusable bags rather than plastic and Styrofoam is only one way that HP is committed to the environment. After going on their website, I learned that there are many ways that they help consumers reduce their impact on the planet with innovative eco solutions and products designed to keep households green and save precious natural resources.

The above tips are adapted from National Geographic’s Green Guide for Families and Yahoo! Green’s Seven Questions to Ask Before Buying Electronics

Regardless of whether you are shopping for new technology or not, I like to support companies with green initiatives. Like HP, there are many companies that manufacture a variety of different products and do so in an environmentally responsible way. CNNMoney.com has a list of the 10 Green Giants but besides the large companies, there are lots of smaller companies that remain committed to the environment such as:

• Steaz- Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Eric, cofounder of Steaz. Steaz is a company whose mission is to “build a healthier world with great tasting, good-for-you beverages.” Their mission isn’t just about the bottom line, rather it encompasses using practices that benefit people, planet, and profits. The fact that Steaz taste good and the company does great things for the environment makes me far more likely to purchase them over another brand.

• Timberland- I’ve always been a fan of their shoes and love the idea of their new Earthkeepers line which is made with eco-conscious materials. The line includes the Greenside Slide which is “designed for disassembly” – meaning that 70% of its components come apart at the end-of-life for recycling. Plus, the outsoles are made with GreenRubber™ 42% recycled materials, such as tire crumb. Sustainable stylish footwear at affordable prices? Yes, please!
  

• Whole Foods- Supporting organic farmers, sustainable seafood, a commitment to reducing, reusing, and recycling, and community involvement sets Whole Foods apart from other grocery chains. Often referred to as “Whole Paycheck,” by those who think their prices are too high, a recent tour of my local Whole Foods market reinforced the idea that you get what you pay for and made me realize that the store's 365 brand is highly competitive with other grocery chains but with all the fillers and artificial ingredients. Filled with high quality products, Whole Foods is committed to providing the the kind of food I want my family to put in their bodies while doing great things for the environment too.

For more information about maintaining a more eco-friendly lifestyle, visit National Geographic's Green Guide for Everyday Living and Yahoo! Green. Both sites are treasure troves of information and provide guidance about everything including technology, buying, recycling, energy conservation, global warming, and will even aid in your hunt for a greener job. I particularly like the Home & Garden sections as an avid grow-your-own gardener who anxiously awaits our first garden harvest of the season!

This post was inspired by National Geographic’s Green Guide for Families, the Silicon Valley Moms Blog Book Club pick for April and Yahoo MotherBoard’s April blog topic: Going Green for Earth Day. No compensation was received for this post however I did receive a copy of National Geographic’s Green Guide for Families for review. I also attended an event at Whole Foods sponsored by Steaz where I learned about the eco-friendly practices of both companies and received a goody bag full of samples.