"Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" Building Disney's Frozen Olaf at the Build-A-Bear Workshop®

Recently, Smiley360 launched one of its best missions yet! 

A chance to visit a Build-A-Bear Workshop® store and make your own stuffed animal friend!

And I was lucky enough to have been invited in on the fun....
for FREE!!!!

Or, rather, Alexis was...

While the front of the mission card depicted images of Superhero bears, My Little Pony® friends and Disney® Princess Palace Pets...

 

I believe Smiley360 hadn't anticipated the arrival of the popular Disney® Frozen character, 

Olaf.

Olaf is the first of three Disney® Frozen characters available at the Build a Bear Workshop®, 

with Anna and Elsa bears set to follow his arrival starting November 1st!

Since its release, the Disney® film has been capturing the hearts and imaginations of both young and old, continuing to increase in popularity as the days go by. 
So it's really no surprise that the furry friend Alexis chose to build....

....was a snowman. 

Never having been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop® before, I was a bit surprised at all the work that went into making them and more than a little impressed by how much thought had gone into the process. Not only do you get to choose from among tons of different furry companions (dogs, bunnies, bears and more), you also get to personalize your new friend with everything from outfits and accessories, to recording your own special Build-A-Sound® message. Sounds pretty expensive, right? Not exactly. While each animal does vary in price, some can be purchased for as low as $6 (Build-A-Bear Buddies (TM) & Minis) with accessories available for as low as $1.50.

With the vast amount of customization options, each Build-A-Bear Experience is uniquely your own and the prices don't exactly "break the bank," do they? 

When compared with the option to choose, stuff, fluff, dress, name and bring your newly acquired friend home in an exclusive Cub Condo® carrying case, I don't believe the traditional, pre-stuffed, ready-to-gift bears, offer any real competition.

Have you visited a Build-A-Bear Workshop®? 
Visit one today and use this coupon for $5 off your $25 purchase!

Click here for a $5 off any $25 purchase coupon!

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Build-A-Bear Workshop®
The most fun you'll ever make!™
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*Disclosure: As a member of Smiley360, I was given the opportunity to experience and review the Build-A-Bear Workshop®. To facilitate this review, I was given a FREE $40 Bear Buck$® gift card, to be used towards my purchase at the Build-A-Bear Workshop®. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Skintimate® Mandarin Burst Shave Gel Review (Courtesy of Crowdtap)

Thanks to Crowdtap I was able to sample and review Skintimate® Mandarin Burst Shave Gel!
For FREE in exchange for my honest opinion. 

I received my package from Crowdtap a little over a week ago. I was positively thrilled to have been accepted into the sampling program and I couldn't wait to open it up and try it out.

Inside the Sampling Kit:

•                   1 Full-Sized can of Skintimate® Mandarin Burst Shave Gel 
•                   1 Sampling Card with instructions on how the sampling program worked.

Here is the box it arrived in.

Inside was 1 full can of Skintimate® Mandarin Burst Shave Gel

and a Sampling Instruction Card.

I really have to give it to Crowdtap. They made sure the can of Skintimate® Shave Gel was really securely packaged to prevent any damage to the product. You can't even begin to imagine how many products I've received that are simply thrown in the box and the company hadn't put any thought into proper packaging!

So, well done, Crowdtap!

And here is the whole deal. 
TADA!

For the time period allotted, I must say, I was extremely surprised. They had quite a lengthy list of things that they asked you to complete prior to the report submission. This pretty much required you to post nearly every day and start your review ASAP. 

Here is a photo of the Sampling Card that was included within the Crowdtap Sampling Kit with the checklist on the back. 

Front

Back

And you pretty much had a little over a week to complete EVERYTHING that was required while at the same time not pestering your networks by sounding like a sales rep. 

So, I do think they probably should consider a longer time frame in the future...

This shave gel had a nice fruity scent (not overwhelmingly sweet, but pleasantly so) and left my legs feeling well moisturized, smooth, and very soft. 

I found that I liked so many things about this product. Not just the scent, but the fact that my legs felt much more moisturized and smooth after shaving. Usually, I would NEVER even CONSIDER going to the beach after shaving. (Like anyone hasn't had those nasty, irritating, burning red flare-ups from the salt water, right??!) Well, this time I had absolutely no issues at all. No irritation. No red bumps. It was really a wonderful surprise and I will definitely be purchasing this product in the future, as well as, recommending it to others. I'm actually anxious to try more shave gels within the Skintimate® line! I was seriously THAT impressed.

Again, thank you to both Crowdtap and Skintimate® for allowing me to try this amazing product, for FREE, in exchange for my honest opinions and feedback. I truly enjoyed this sampling opportunity and look forward to participating in more of these in the future!

*Disclosure: As a member of Crowdtap, I was given the opportunity to experience and review Skintimate® Mandarin Burst Shave Gel, for FREE, in exchange for my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

SweetLeaf® Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops™ Cola Review

"SweetLeaf® has developed more consumer stevia sweetener products than any other single company, from a tabletop sweetener and flavored drops to tablets and a convenient shaker bottle, to SweetLeaf’s baking product, SugarLeaf™, which has 2/3 fewer calories than sugar." 

I am a huge soda drinker, and before I switched to Veri Organic Soda (among other healthier, organic brands), I used to drink Coca-Cola religiously (yeah, I know). So, being a huge soda fan, I was thrilled when I received the opportunity through Moms Meet to try Cola SweetLeaf® Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops™!

So, you're probably wondering why you should even consider making the switch from your regular diet soda. Well, according to a 10-year study presented to the American College of Cardiology by Dr. Ankur Vyas of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic in Iowa City in March 2014, women who drank two or more diet drinks in a day were 30% MORE likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular related event and were 50% more likely to die during those cardiac episodes than women who rarely consume diet drinks. 

This study suggests a link between regular consumption of diet soda and heart disease in women.

“Many people tolerate some chemical content in exchange for zero calories and zero carbs. This, of course, is a personal choice, but why take the risk,” said James May, CEO and Founder of Wisdom Natural Brands®, the maker of SweetLeaf Stevia® Sweetener.

.....Especially when there is a natural, health-conscious alternative: Cola Sweet Drops

So, what EXACTLY are Cola SweetLeaf® Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops™ and what makes them a better-for-you alternative?
Read some of the unique characteristics below!

The first kit I received was accidentally sent instead of the actual kit so, instead of the blog being completed by the end of August, I ended up having to extend it. The first kit (pictured below) included a 6 ml sample, a product informational card, and a coupon to share with you (that, unfortunately, expired in July). 

I recently received the larger sample in the mail 

and now....

For the review!

Okay, so the instructions are extremely simple. 

For every ounce of sparkling water, add two drops of Cola Sweet Drops™ (or to taste).

I started out going exactly by the instructions and using two drops per every ounce.

I used Canada Dry All Natural Original Sparkling Water 16.9 fl oz.
It is caffeine free, unsweetened, zero calories and zero sodium. 

I didn't want to drink an ENTIRE bottle so, I used a measuring glass
and poured in the amount I wanted and then added two drops per every ounce.

After putting in the drops, I was pretty confused. I suppose I expected the solution to turn a "cola colour" but it remains clear in appearance. Now, for the taste test!

So, I definitely ended up having to add additional drops to get the "taste" I wanted, but once I got to the taste I desired, I have to say, the drops really weren't all that bad. No bitter aftertaste and it actually tasted BETTER than diet soda.

Unfortunately, not EVERYONE in the household felt the same way - mostly preferring regular soda instead. So, while the Cola Sweet Drops™ weren't a WIN with everyone, they are certainly one of the best alternatives I have ever tasted so, if you're looking for a healthy, natural, gluten-free, soda alternative that's convenient and a great value, I highly recommend you try these out! 

(Oh, and did I mention....they have 20+ flavours!)

Interested in trying SweetLeaf® Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops™ for yourself?
Visit SweetLeaf® online and use the coupon code “ColaMD” at checkout to receive 30% off your online purchase
(plus you'll get free shipping)! 

Connect with SweetLeaf® online to view their latest products, detailed product information and get exclusive access to special offers and discounts!

View the SweetLeaf® Website

Shop All SweetLeaf®

Shop SweetLeaf® Sweet Drops™ Liquid Sweeteners

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I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.

As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. 

My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product. 

Sugar Shoes Arrived! (WHO DELIVERED THESE? ACE VENTURA!?)

So, I received a pair of Sugar Shoes in the mail via FedEx and didn't get the chance to post about them quite yet.

I did, however,  find a video of when I received the package in the mail and decided to go ahead and share it with you until I finish up my review and photos. ^_^! <3

The package arrived looking like it had been through quite a beating....

Stop One. Stop Them All.

World Wildlife recently released a series of ads that many find both "shocking" and "morbid."

The ads center on the numerous industries and people of power contributing "behind-the-scenes" in the poaching, trading and eventual sale of wildlife products. 

A pyramid operation that begins with wildlife poachers, but is ultimately driven by the high demands of those at the top, 

consumers.

The middle consists of those who strive to satisfy that demand and who do so at whatever the cost.

Although conservation laws have been put into place to help prevent wildlife crime, illegal poaching and trading still continue and demand for ivory is high. The trade and sale of old ivory is still legal and potential buyers looking to purchase legal ivory are often mislead. Something poachers are finding easy to do, using techniques to make new ivory appear old, in order to avoid detection by law enforcement. This makes it next to impossible for consumers who are making ivory purchases to ensure that the ivory they are buying is not illegally acquired.

In fact, the only way to avoid accidentally buying these illegally trafficked goods is to avoid the purchase of ivory entirely. 

And with ivory in such high demand, that option seems far from likely.

With so many working tirelessly to fuel illegal trading, it has become an extremely difficult operation to pinpoint, target and shut down. Corruption is rife even among enforcement agencies and many of the leaders ("bosses") of illegal trading markets are not only hard to track down but even more difficult to arrest, once enough evidence is gathered and a sting operation can be put into place. A problem likely attributable to inside informants notifying sellers, who quickly pack up and disappear.

Illegal trade is likely to continue as long as there is a high enough demand for it and enforcement laws remain lax. 

WWF wants to spread awareness about the issue in the hopes that people will add their voice in the fight to prevent and stop the trade of wildlife.

What do you think of the ads? Do they make you think twice?

Leo Burnett

Leo Burnett

Leo Burnett

Read more about the photographer, Leo Burnett, and view more of his work here.