Giveaway: Blog Friendly PR Social Buzz Giveaway

Cherry Blossoms {The Blog} is super excited to be participating in the first Blog Friendly PR Social Buzz Giveaway! Cherry Blossoms {The Blog} has joined with Blog Friendly PR and other bloggers for this amazing giveaway. ONE winner within all of the participating blogs in this giveaway will win a....

$200 Amazon gift card or a Kindle Fire Tablet!

This giveaway runs from Feb. 28th until March 21st!    

Enter the Giveaway after the jump!

The Choose Joy Auction and Benefit

If you haven't heard of Ashley from Lil Blue Boo's battle with cancer, you can learn more about her here. She is a young mom who is battling cancer. The auction will start at 7:00 pm tonight and all proceeds will go to Ashley!  Please go and check out all of the wonderful items that have been donated and either bid or donate if you feel so inclined. 

You can find the auction here: http://hyenacart.com/stores/teamashley/

Thank you!

Review: Bayberry Naturals

A Bit about Bayberry Naturals
Bayberry Naturals because I saw a need for a 100% all-natural skin and hair care products line for the whole family. As a new mom of twins, I made the decision to try to eliminate unnecessary exposure to chemicals and toxins in our household wherever possible.
Owner of Bayberry Naturals, Nancy Liddell began investigating the labels of all of the shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and soaps in her home and was astounded by what she found. Every single product contained artificial and controversial ingredients.

Thus began her search for natural, plant-based products that she felt safe having her family use, day in and day out. Nancy was surprised at how hard it was to find products online or in stores that were actually natural. Many inferred that they were "natural or organic", but really were not. This is what really convinced her to develop her own line of products made only with ingredients found in nature.

Nancy discovered that when you strip down health and beauty products to the most natural, basic ingredients, they can be both incredibly effective and gentle at the same time. Something as simple as removing sulfates prevents hair and skin from becoming overly dry. Using only the purest essential oils provides amazing aromatherapy.

From this philosophy came the Bayberry Naturals product line. Simplistic in its packaging and basic in its premise.

My Review

I was sent the following items from Bayberry Naturals to review;

Lavender Chamomile Hand Soap 
    This hand soap smells divine and leaves my hands so soft and clean! Organic lavender and chamomile essential oils leave a light fragrance behind while glycerin, vitamins B and E, wheat protein, jojoba oil and rosehip oil. The Lavender Chamomile Hand Soap is 78% organic and free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances and dyes.

Simple and Soothing Baby Lotion

     As I have said before my son and daughter have very sensitive skin. Basically every skincare item that I use on them makes their skin break out. This Simple and Soothing Baby Lotion didn't make them breakout at all. Roman Chamomile Essential Oil soothes baby's sensitive skin. The lotion moisturizes with Organic Aloe, Coconut, and Grapeseed Oils. The Simple and Soothing Baby Lotion is 89% organic and free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances and dyes.

Lemongrass Bar Soap
    The Lemongrass Bar Soap cleanses easily with organic oils and rosemary leaf. It is ideal for daily use-especially for dry skin. I absolutely LOVE the way this soap makes my skin feel and smell. It doesn't leave any residue or tacky feel to the skin.Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances and dyes.

Disclosure

I was sent this product free of charge.

This in no way has affected my opinion of the product or service. This review is my opinion and has been written in my own words.m

Review & Giveaway: MyBabyClothes.com

MyBabyClothes.com features a wide variety of adorable clothing for boys and girls at amazing prices! Looking for that special party wedding, or birthday outfit for your little one?

Then I suggest you visit MyBabyClothes.com!

 Need some accessories? MyBabyClothes.com has those too! From fun tutus, baby headbands, or baby hats you will sure to find exactly what you need at MyBabyClothes.com! 

A Bit about MyBabyClothes.com

Founded in Cartersville, GA by Greg and Michelle Sanders, mybabyclothes.com is a leading online provider of baby clothes and accessories.  At mybabyclothes.com they strive to bring their customers the most fashion forward and unique baby clothes on the web, all at an affordable price!  The mybabyclothes.com team searches to find the cutest, most comfortable, and highest quality clothes and accessories available.  Their goal is to offer unique and trendy boutique style clothes at affordable prices.    Since it's inception, mybabyclothes.com has continued to grow exponentially. Customers are quickly spreading the word that mybabyclothes.com is "the best place to find unique and affordable baby clothes."

Mybabyclothes.com offers everything from the most popular name brand clothes to unique designer lines that are hard to find. Mybabyclothes.com mission is to offer the lowest prices combined with free shipping and excellent customer service.  My Review    I was sent a Good Lad Brown Pea and Khaki pants set to review from MyBabyClothes.com. The outfit consists of three different versatile pieces; a plaid button-up shirt, khaki pants, and chocolate double breasted pea coat-complete with darling anchor buttons. This little set is absolutely adorable! For less than $25 you get all three pieces! The shirt, pants, and coat are wonderfully made and look darling worn together or separately--for many different looks! The pea coat is fleecy and thick for those cold fall/winter days and nights and the button up shirt and pants are perfect for any occasion-church, a picnic in the park....whatever! You will be sure to get tons of compliments on this little outfit-I love it on my little boy! Enter the MyBabyClothes.com Giveaway after the jump!

Review: Ukala Sydney

I dislike the cold...mainly because I despise it when my feet are cold or wet. Talk about uncomfortable! Sure there are quite a few footwear companies out there that carry shoes that claim to keep your feet warm and dry but lets just be honest here...some of those shoes I wouldn't be caught dead wearing. They are not only unfortunate looking but they are also SUPER uncomfortable-plus they are unbelievably expensive. So, what if I was to tell you that I found an alternative? Super cute boots at a great price that keep your feet dry and warm (or cool depending on the season). Interested? I thought so...! Read on to learn more!

A bit about Ukala Sydney
    Ukala Sydney is the iconic Australian fashion brand that produces comfortable and fun footwear designs for the international market. All collections are designed in Australia and represent elements of the true modern Australian lifestyle. Ukala only uses premium quality materials such as beautiful Australian Merino Wool and natural suede that allows feet to breathe and makes Ukala the number one choice over inferior footwear companies.

My Review
I was sent Sydney Low Boots in Charcoal and Sydney Low Kids Boots in Teal to review from Ukala Sydney. Lined in thick wool and covered in a softly brushed suede upper-leather outsole these boots are just as beautiful as they are comfortable. The lining of Merino wool has the ability to breath so that feet stay dry. Merino also acts as a natural thermostat keeping feet warm in the winter and cool in the summer-perfect! The colors are vivid and lovely and the flat traction sole keeps you from slipping in any weather. Compared to other boots on the market you can't beat the price.


My five year old daughter absolutely adores her Teal Sydney Low boots. She says that they feel just like slippers. She has worn them out in the rain and they have held up beautifully. She is excited to wear them in the snow (if we ever get any this winter!). I absolutely adore the Teal color it is a blueish-green and reminds me of the deep sea...quite lovely! What I really like about these boots is that they don't get dirty easily-and that is a feat in itself when it comes to kids footwear!


The Sydney Low Charcoal boots are a dream. Super soft on the inside they keep my feet toasty and warm no matter what is going on outside. The charcoal color matches perfectly with almost every outfit I own and the boots are so easy to slip on and off-they are a mother's dream (for those of you who have to carry a baby around). I love the quality and craftsmanship. So if you are looking for an affordable pair of boots that will keep your feet dry and warm be sure to check out Ukala Sydney!

Disclosure

I was sent this product free of charge.

This in no way has affected my opinion of the product or service. This review is my opinion and has been written in my own words.my ow

Press Release- In His Eyes Young Adult Lit Anthology

A brilliant writer and friend of mine, Ms. Cory Putnam Oaks of The Veil fame (see my review over here at The Three Under), recently gave me the opportunity to tell you about her latest project. Along with several of her young adult lit contemporarie, The Indelibles, they created this anthology of short stories that has just been released.

The Indelibles bring you a one-of-a-kind young adult anthology! Sixteen original short stories, all from the point of view of our favorite male characters - some are old flames from our novels and some were dreamed up especially for this anthology.

 Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like – in his eyes.

 The contributors to IN HIS EYES include award winners, frequent “Top 100” placers, and hot 2011 debut authors.               

Here are just a few of the stories you will find in this anthology:

Surprise, Surprise by Stacey Wallace Benefiel, author of Glimpse: Half the women in Melody's family can see the future, which makes it nearly impossible for Raleigh to surprise her. What's a guy to do for Valentine's Day when his girlfriend is always one step ahead of him? 

First Kiss or First Kill? by C.K. Bryant, author of Bound: Love isn't always rainbows and kittens, sometimes it can be downright deadly. (A deleted chapter from Bound.) 

Shattered by Ali Cross, author of Become: James and Desi use each other in an effort to cling to the darkness in each of them, but in the end they discover that love changes everything. (A short story from James’ POV) 

Before by Jessie Harrell, author of Destined: When a younger Eros is exiled to a land that doesn't believe in the Greek gods, he finds the first love of his immortal life. Read Eros' first person account of his romance, and heartbreak, in the time before he met Psyche. 

The Qualm Before the Storm by Karen Amanda Hooper, author ofTangled Tides. Yara Jones doesn’t want to be a mermaid. Treygan doesn’t want to be the monster who turns her. You can’t always get what you want. (A short prequel to Tangled Tides.) 

Unspeakable by S.R. Johannes, author of Untraceable: When Mo sees a strange girl in the woods, he follows her. He soon realizes they are both in a dangerous position and might not get out alive. 


Precalculus by Cory Putman Oakes, author of The Veil: a re-telling of the fateful class period that changed Addison Russell’s life, from Luc’s point of view (a.k.a. Chapter 2 of The Veil from Luc’s perspective) 

The BEST news about this- is that the price cannot be beat.

You can purchase the ebook for In His Eyes on Amazon  or Barnes and Noble for .99 cents! Or, better yet- what about FREE? You can download the book for free at Smashwords. See the site for more info.

Check out the Indelibles blog for more information, as well as the In His Eyes Goodreads page.

Enjoy!

Giveaway: "Más Canciones en Español" from Music With Sara

If you live in the Los Angeles/Glendale area and haven't yet discovered Music With Sara's high-energy bilingual music then you're missing out because she's everywhere: parties, classes, festivals. I met her first at school and have had a little music-crush on her ever since. She donates most of her free time to teaching music to all the Spanish classes at our school. It's fun to be in on the ground floor of things so I'm here to tell you that she has a brand-new album that has just been released!

Más Canciones en Español is exactly what it says it is: more songs in Spanish. Supported by tight production and recording, Sara and friends bring us eighteen more Spanish songs for you and your children.

Now, I have a confession to make: I personally know almost everyone in this recording, children and adults. That said, I'd enjoy the easy rhythms and adorable voices even without seeing those faces in my mind. The music is really fun and I'm kind of a music snob.

You can listen to all this fun music, too, on her facebook page and download the digital album or buy a good ol'fashioned cd. Giveaways are always more fun, however, and Sara has graciously offered a giveaway. Are you listening from her facebook page while you read the rest of this? You should. Don't you feel more cultural already? Time to plan a family vacation to somewhere Spanish-speaking to try out your new skills... (or maybe we need another album, Sara!)

Entering the giveaway is easy using rafflecopter below. Hurry, the giveaway ends on February 28th!

Post: ghd

Do you have curly or wavy hair? Chances are then that you straighten your hair. Are you  concerned about the damage that heat styling can do over time? Many people I know use ghd flat irons to get their hair sleek and straight. Did you know that Katy Perry is the brand ambassador for ghd? Katy is always rockin' awesome hair styles- so no wonder why she is their brand ambassador! If you have never heard of ghd then you must get accquanted with the brand. Their iconic stylers are a cult must-have for women in search of beautiful hair. They also just recently released a new product line named ghd Style. Looking for professional hair brushes? ghd has those too! ghd has been endorsed by the world's top hair stylists and hottest celebrities. ghd flat irons heat up quickly and have ceramic plates that help seal the hair cuticle and create static-free shine. ghd ceramic heaters also emit infrared heat and negative ions....-HUH? All you need to know are that both infrared heat and negative ions are less damaging to the hair. So if you are in the market for a great hair straightener why not check out ghd? 

Review: Udi's

    
     My dear sweet niece was having stomach issues and she finally figured out that she was allergic to gluten. For all of you Gluten-Free people out there I feel your pain-I have seen how hard it is for my niece to eat at restaurants or even at home. GOOD tasting Gluten-free products are hard to come by plus they are normally pretty pricey. I have been searching the internet for the past few months to see if I could find different Gluten-free alternatives for my niece and while I have found a few Gluten-free companies that carry products their reviews have been less than stellar. About a month ago I was wandering around our local health food store when I noticed a brand called Udi's. Udi's caters to those who are living 'Gluten Free' lives and I was able to review some of their products. 


A bit about Udi's     Udi’s Gluten Free Foods, is the #1 gluten free baked goods brand. Udi's revolutionized the category when it introduced the first gluten-free bread that tasted and looke like “real” bread. Udi’s products are so delicious that you will wonder if they are truly gluten-free. Udi’s Gluten Free Foods are now 150 Wal-Mart stores across the country! Walmart will carry 5 of Udi’s best-selling products (soft white bread, soft whole grain bread, plain bagels, chocolate chip cookies, and pizza crust) in the bakery department. To see if there is a Walmart near you that carries Udi’s, enter your zip code into our store locator: www.udisglutenfree.com/stores

My Review

    I was sent the following products to review from Udi's; Whole Grain Bagels, Millet-Chia Bread, Blueberry Oat Muffin Tops, Au Naturel and Cranberry Granola to review. Now I will say I was a bit freaked out when I read the name of the bread...Millet-Chia...? There is NO way that could actually taste good...could it? 




Whole Grain Bagels-Packed full of nutritious whole grains, protein and fiber, our whole grain bagels are a perfect way to add a delicious balance to your healthy regime any time of day. Load this bagel up with veggies, hummus and roasted red peppers for a plentiful lunch. Now while I thought I might be biting into something rubbery and other-worldly I was quite pleasantly surprised at what I found. A soft, light bagel with a great texture and taste. No need to toast these babies-they are perfect right out of the bag! Eat alone or topped with your favorite spread and go!

Millet-Chia Bread-Amidst the complexities of modern life, we returned to the land for inspiration. Baked with hearty ancient grains, this bread contains a wholesome balance of nutrients, vitamins and deliciously earthy flavors. Naturally gluten free, ancient grains have been providing nutritious happiness to global cultures for centuries. Chia seeds are quite popular in Europe so I was really interested in seeing what this bread would taste like. I am not one for nuts or seeds in anything baked but I absolutely LOVED this bread. The inside of the bread is soft and the outside crust has the perfect amount of crunch. While this bread had great texture and taste I found it rather hard to top it with anything unless toasted. If the bread wasn't toasted and I tried to spread peanut butter on it-it basically fell right apart. That being said both my kids loved this bread-which basically speaks for itself!



Blueberry Oat Muffin Tops-combine sweet and tangy blueberries with heart-healthy oats to deliver a powerhouse of nutrition. Fortified with vitamins and loaded with antioxidants, the delicious Blueberry Oat Muffin Tops include 5 grams of fiber, 12 grams of whole grains, and include Oat Bran, Gluten-free Oats, and Oat flour plus 10 essential vitamins and minerals. The Muffin tops are soft and moist with big blueberries throughout. Personally for me a muffin top wouldn't be enough to have for breakfast but they are perfect for a snack.


Au Naturel Granola-Loaded with natural caramelized flavor, crunch and uncluttered taste,  gluten-free granola is perfect for breakfast or as a snack. Udi's sources local Colorado honey, which provides the right combination of sweetness. In addition, Udi's granola is made with certified gluten-free oats. Yummm is this granola great. I loved adding it to yogurt at night for a yummy-and healthy dessert. The yogurt is also great with milk or on its own right out of the bag. I found it perfectly sweet and satisfying! 


Cranberry Granola- The Cranberry Granola is just as delicious as the Au Naturel...the only difference is the added dried cranberries. I was a bit worried that the cranberries would give the granola a bitter taste (which I really don't like) but I was pleasantly surprised that they gave the granola a sweet/tangy twist. My favorite way to eat this granola was with milk but it would be great in yogurt or right out of the bag as well!

Udi's is available at Kroger, Publix, Whole Foods and some Wal-Marts.

Disclosure

I was sent this product free of charge.

This in no way has affected my opinion of the product or service. This review is my opinion and has been written in my own words.

Giveaway: Rebekka Seale Art and Illustration

While wandering around Etsy one day I happened upon a darling little shop called; Rebekka Seale Art and Illustration. The shop is filled with lush swirling colors-flowers intertwined with tags, homes richly detailed, and animals fluttering about on the page-each piece of artwork unique and lovely. Owner Rebekka is the talent behind the gorgeous pieces of art. Rebekka is an artist and illustrator based out of Nashville, TN. All of her work is hand-painted and hand lettered, reflecting her love of homespun charm in a digital world. She loves creating original paintings, custom portraits, stationary and illustrations for print. While she's working she daydreams of pastries and trains and New Orleans, and especially riding the train to New Orleans. 

That's Rebekka in the picture above...isn't she just darling!

...Darling + Brilliantly Talented=Lethal Combination!

Q: Why did you start your Etsy shop? 
A: As an illustrator who normally works for clients, it's really important for me to do work that's just for fun. I love collaborating and creating illustrations for clients, but it's SUCH an outlet for me to create whatever I want and put it all in one place!

Q: What's your favorite item? 
A: I think it's the "When in Rome" print, because it's based on a quote by Flannery O'Connor, who I just adore. It features a picture of her home in Milledgeville, Georgia, which some friends and I visited this past fall. It was more like a pilgrimage. We love her. 

Q: Did you take art classes growing up? 
A:Yes! I was obsessed with art, and every summer I attended and volunteered at an art day camp in our town. Art day camp was the highlight of my year! Even if I did spend one of the summers drawing nothing but ballet slippers.

Q: What is your favorite medium to work with?
A: I work pretty much exclusively in watercolors and gouache, with some acrylic ink and fun things like gold leafing thrown in sometimes. I paint with a very tiny brush. 

Q: What or who inspires you? 
A:I am really inspired by the colors and textures of my favorite cities: New Orleans, Mobile Alabama (where I grew up), Savannah and Birmingham. Those are the four floweriest cities I've ever seen. And the architecture...I can't even describe how much I love it. Also, Martha Stewart. I have adored her as long as I can remember! Say what you want about her, but she has flawless taste!

Q: What is your best seller? 
A: My custom illustrated house portraits, without a doubt! They aren't even listed in my Etsy shop at the moment because I'm booked through July (with a waiting list over 300 people long!). I had no idea they would take off like that, but I'm so grateful they have....it's such a joy to create these little heirlooms for people in hopes that they will treasure them for years :) 

Q: How long have you been selling your creations on Etsy? 
A:Two years....

Q: Why Etsy? 
A: I love Etsy! I actually tried out a couple of other online shopping services, but for me nothing compared. Etsy has so many valuable resources for a seller: shop stats, a great way to keep track of your customers, and endless ways to connect with other sellers and buyers. It's just so great. 

Q: What do you do in your spare time? 
A: I knit! A LOT! I bake bread, eat cheese, drink wine, and read. Also I do yoga and ballet, ride my bike when it's warm, go on dates with my husband, and dates with my friends. And I travel as much as I can. 

Q: Favorite book? 
A: This one is constantly revolving, every year it's different. But I always come back to The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. There are characters in that book that will haunt me for the rest of my life. 

Q: Your favorite dessert? 
A: Bananas Foster. We always order it at Brennan's in New Orleans, the restaurant that invented it, and watching them flambe it tableside is like participating in living history. And we cook it at home a lot too. 

Q: Favorite Artist: 
A:Of all time? John Singer Sargent. 

Q: Your favorite holiday? 
A: Whichever one is coming up next. I love them all so much. 

Q: Your favorite movie? 
A: Cinema Paradiso, and it's halfway because of that beautiful score by Ennio Morricone.

Q: Your favorite recipe? 
A: Oh, now that will never have an answer! But right now I am in love with this homemade pimiento cheese, bacon, and strawberry preserve sandwich from the February issue of Southern Living...it's the most scrumptious sandwich I have ever tasted! 
www.myrecipes.com/recipe/some-like-it-hot-grilled-pimiento-50400000119137/

You can follow Rebekka on her adventures at her blog; Dear Friend, Rebekka Seale

The Giveaway

Rebekka would like to giveaway a set of three flower prints from Rebekka Seale Art and Illustration