Easy Canvas Prints

When you have as cute of kids as I do, you might as well plaster your house with pictures of them!  


I love taking pictures… and when I have a memory to cherish I love displaying it in a great way.  I had been eyeing numerous different canvas prints for a while, but couldn’t quite commit.

 

So let’s just say I was thrilled when Easy Canvas Prints contacted me about reviewing one of their Photo Canvases.   We had literally just wrapped up Easter and I was in love with a certain photo of the children.  I hopped on the website and found it SO easy to use, and I had my canvas ordered in less than 5 minutes.  

And the canvas arrived in about 4 days. (I am not sure what they guarantee on shipping, but I was shocked how fast it got to me!)
It was carefully wrapped in plastic and bubble-wrap and carefully boxed.  The Canvas was in great condition and the quality is excellent.

Oh my cuteness!  Don’t you just want them to stay that huggable forever???

 

Makes me smile in the morning.

And I am sure in 15 years when those cuddly faces are all grown up, it might just make me cry a bit… remembering all of their huggable cuteness!

This is so you can see the sides of the wrapped canvas.  You can choose to have the photo wrap around or get a “mirror image”.  With my picture, Helen’s face was right on the edge of the picture, so I had no “room” to wrap it around.  I was so thankful they offered the mirror effect.

 

Now, just know that a 16x20 canvas sounds big, but think how big your walls are above your couch, dresser, etc.  Unless you have things to go with it to form a grouping, a 16x20 is going to look really awkward on it’s own.   See this Awesome blog post from photographer Amy Ro about always going BIG with photo prints for walls unless you are doing a wall collage.

I think a 16x20 flanked by 11x14 or 8x10s would look nice, or a grouping  of four  8x10s o11x14s would look really cool.  I hope to get a second 16x20 to put up with that one to complete the wall space more.

The one challenge with canvases, while they are beautiful and a great addition to our homes, you can’t just switch them out when the kids take a better picture… so you want to choose an image you love, and can love for years to come.

         

Some thoughts on ordering a photo canvas--

• Consider timeless images
  • Infants, capturing childhood, weddings
    
• Family Shots
  
• Close ups of faces and group together 
  
• Black and whites—simply timeless!  I would decorate my whole house with Black and whites if I could
  
• Landscapes or landmarks of places you have been

 

Ask yourself the questions---

• Would you send this shot out as a card?
  
• Does this image portray the memory you are trying to capture?
  
• Could you see this hanging in your house in 10 years? 
  

If you are thinking of trying out a Photo Canvas, give Easy Canvas Prints a try.  This would be a great Father’s Day gift!

And… to sweeten the deal, Easy Canvas Prints has offered to GIVE one you dear readers your very own 8x10 Photo Canvas with 1.5 inch Gallery Wrap

                   That’s right…..

It’s a Giveaway!!

 

How to Enter the Giveaway

1— Comment Below an name a memory you would like to capture on a Photo Canvas

Extra Entries

2--- “Like” Easy Canvas Prints on Facebook.  And just let me know you did. 
 
3--- “Like” Little Llamas on Facebook


Rules--
-Winner must be over the age of18, and shipping must be within the continental US. 
-Entries will be closed on Friday.

*Disclosure—Easy Canvas Prints provided me a canvas for review and a canvas to give away

All I want for Christmas is…

**Giveaway Closed**

Is my Body Back.

I was recently offered the opportunity to try out a workout program called Mama Wants Her Body Back.  Now, while the name of this workout program might be a little cheesy (I admit it, it totally is) this workout is far from a silly  workout.

Created by fitness instructor Liza Druxman (also the creator of the company Stroller Strides), these workouts are tailored especially for moms.  I was asked to give my honest opinions on the workouts.

And then to offer a chance for one of YOU to win the starter kit to the workout. 

 

My Experience
I was given the starter pack to the workout system.
Included was:
          -2 DVDs
              -Mama Wants her Body Back (3 – 20 minute workouts)
              -Mama Wants her Abs Back (3 - 10 minute Ab workouts)   
           -1 Resistance Band

           -Eating/Diet Plan
           -Workout plan/schedule


My Thoughts

-Love the 20 min workout and 10 min abs.  I feel like I can do that. 
So many workouts are hard to fit in to a busy day.   You can do 1, or 2 or 3 if you have time.  Sometimes I have done 1 in the morning and 1 at night.

-I loved that the 3 workouts were different and I could mix them up and it wasn’t the same workout for 3 weeks in a row.

-Broken into 5 circuit sets of
        -Cardio 
        -Strength 
        -Core
I really like this kind of circuit training. Workout hard for 1 minute and switch it up.

-Love that there is a countdown on the screen…really helps you to feel like you can finish this next 30 seconds and not give up by seeing the countdown.  

-Feel like the exercises are challenging but not impossible.  Some other workout videos leave me feeling hopeless day 1, and not motivated to do it the next day.  This challenged me, I felt it immediately, but didn’t kill me.  

-The resistance bands add immediate resistance to all the workouts.   But a note to consider--- if you are new to resistance bands like I was, it can be awkward at first figuring out how to wrap them around your hands.  Watch the intro part on how to use the bands and practice some.  But I now love the resistance bands.  

-Really enjoyed it so much and felt like it was a workout system that could work for me, that I purchased the next set of videos on my own dime.

 

Cost--

Starter Kit-  $ 42.97 (plus SH)  (You can WIN this!)
     Comes with 2 workout DVDS, resistance band, and Free extra workout DVD. 

30 days later $19.99 ($6.99 SH) = $27
     -you get 2 new workout DVDs

60 days later $19.99 ($6.99 SH) = $27
     -you get 2 new workout DVDs

So if you go with the entire system--
$96 dollar investment

-You can buy the system here

-Some of the other workouts in the system are---
     -Mama Wants her Arms back
     -Mama Wants her Booty Back
     -Mama Wants Advanced Workout
     -Mama Wants Cardio Party
     -Mama Wants Advanced Abs/Core

I actually looked recently into purchasing a very popular workout system that is geared towards women, and this is very comparable in price.  But the reason I didn’t buy that one is the workouts were 45- 60 minutes long… and what mom has time for that?

Things to consider
-Personally, I am not a fan of the 3 installment payment plan.  And I think the website is a bit unclear about what you are signing up for.  Know that buying the starter kit is automatically signing you up for the “preview program” where they send you 2 more installments of DVDs and also bill you 2 more times.

-You can cancel at ANY time by calling their customer service line

-Consult your Dr before embarking on any workout program if you just had a baby or are still nursing. 

-I did not do the diet plan.  I think the calories suggested seems a little low and must be adjusted if you are nursing.    Nursing moms should really take in at least 1800 calories, so please consult a dietician or Dr before lowering your calorie intake.   But the diet plan does have good suggestions for healthy meal options. 

The Best Part??
One of you is going to win the Starter Pack and can start off with this workout system.  (you won’t be sent the next installments though)

So how do you win ?

Here’s How to Enter the Giveaway---
1-Leave a comment
Let me know your favorite holiday treat.  Your holiday guilty pleasure!

Extra Entries--
2-Subscribe to Little Llamas or Follow me on Twitter
Just leave me a comment letting me know you did!

~~~~~~~~~
And in case you missed it….

1 more day to enter to win a Label Pack from Mabel’s Labels

AND

2 more days to enter to win a piece of jewelry from
 Happy Little Lovelies

~~~~~~~~~

Rules:
-Giveaway ends in Saturday– winners announced early next week
-No duplicate comment entries.
-This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older.
-Be sure there is a way to contact you in your comment
-Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
-Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

**Disclosure--This post was written for Family Review Network & Savvier who provided the complimentary product for review & giveaway in exchange for my honest opinions.

Mabel’s Labels ~ Giveaway!

**Giveaway Closed**

Have kids, will label.  It’s a motto I like to live by now.

If you have kids, you have stuff, and if you have stuff… it all gets lost all the time, wherever you go.  Lost, I tell you.  If I got paid for every sippy cup I have lost over the years, I might be able to put a child through college…or at least a couple months of Preschool.

So, let me introduce you to
Day # 2 of our

Stocking Stuffer Giveaway

I have loved my labels from Mabel’s Labels.
You can put these durable stickers on

sippy cups

bottles

book bags

diaper bags

lunchboxes

toys

bikes

strollers

floats

shoes

clothes

helmets

sports equipment

You name it… you can label it.

  

I immediately labeled all my sippy cups.
This was great for church nursery and preschool.

 

And the labels can go through the dishwasher

I had some printed with our last name so I could put on our crock pot and casserole dishes for church dinners.  When I take dishes to friends houses or parties I always know which dish is mine.

  

I even labeled the shoes, and this helps a ton.  I also put clothing labels in the kids jackets and on bags they take to school.

One of the label packs even came with these great luggage tags that I attached to diaper bags and their duffel bags we travel with for trips. 

And when I loaned a toy to a friend, and before giving to them I slapped a label on the back and knew it would get back to us. 

 

I just can’t say how much I love these labels.
And Love must be shared…

And that is why 3 of you will win some labels of your very own!

Mabel’s Labels has offered the following label packs for me to give away to 3 lucky readers!

Label out Loud Sticky Labels

45 sticky labels- your choice of colors and icons


Label out Loud Essential Pack

30 Sticky labels, 70 clothing labels, 12 shoe labels, 2 bag tags
(if you don’t win, you can get a great deal on these right now!)

 

and

Custom Neat Freak Combo

30 bin labels, 16 Cannister labels, and 52 spice labels
You customize what you want them to say

 

Also—Great news--- Mabel’s Labels is running an extended Cyber Monday Sale running until December 1st!   

--You can get the Essentials Pack (Sticky Labels, clothes and shoe labels and bag tags) for 35% off. 

--They also have Tag Mates 40% off – these are great labels for clothes, jackets, bags, and stuffed animals or lovies.

So how do you win 1 of the great label packs above??

Here’s How to Enter the Giveaway---
1-Leave a comment

Let me know the last thing you lost… sippy cup, book, keys,
your brains (sorry that can’t be labeled)

Extra Entries--
2-Subscribe to Little Llamas or Follow me on Twitter

Just leave me a comment letting me know you did!

3 – Go show Mabel’s Labels some Love and by following them on Twitter and liking them on Facebook.
Just leave a comment letting me know me know you did it!

And remember there will be 3 winners so the more entries you have the more chances you have to win!

~~~~~~~~~

There’s still 2 more Days to enter to win a copy
of Totally Desperate Mom.  And let’s face it… if you are losing sippy cups, you are totally desperate. 

~~~~~~~~~

Rules:
-Giveaway ends in Thursday– winners announced later this week.
-No duplicate comment entries.
-You can only win 1 prize, not 2 or 3. 
-This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older.
-Be sure there is a way to contact you in your comment
-Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
-Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

**Disclosure—Mabel’s Labels provided me with a Combo Pack to review and 3 label packs to giveaway. 

Swiffer Sweeper Vac – Review and Giveaway

When My Blog Spark asked me to review
the Swiffer Sweeper Vac, my response was…

Hello?  Do I not live with 3 crazy little llamas? 
Who leave a LOT of crumbs in their wake?

They sent me the neatest package… with canisters of all the samples to lay out on the floor and test out the Swiffer Sweeper Vac.   As if my floors weren't dirty enough!

So if you guessed in yesterday's post what was in those nifty canisters… below is the answer. 

I also received the Swiffer Sweeer vac
and the dry sweeper wipes that attach

 

Here is some information from the Swiffer site about the
Swiffer Sweeper Vac

The new Swiffer SweeperVac has a textured Swiffer Dry Sweeping Cloth to trap and lock fine dirt and dust plus a powerful cordless vacuum for grabbing larger pieces of crumbs, leaves, pet hair, and cereal. It's an amazing all-in-one tool for getting a clean you can feel.

Lightweight and compact, the new Swiffer SweeperVac works great on virtually any surface in your home and cleans better than a broom and dustpan. Plus it doesn't require any vacuum bags. You can easily dispose of dirt, dust, and particles from the see-through dirt cup with just one push of a button.

First—I assembled it… it was super easy!

Then plugged it in and being the impatient me that I am,
I did not give it much time to charge…
I was so eager to test drive this baby.

But within an hour (or less)  it was charged enough to begin sweeping… (Swiffer does recommend a full overnight charge to get the battery fully juiced)   

I then enlisted the help of my little llama

Super plus of the Sweeper Vac is that it is light enough for little ones to help do the sweeping.

    

Check out the swivel head action..
I always have crumbs hiding under the legs of my table and my broom and electronic sweeper just don’t get it.  But this Swiffer Sweeper Vac just sucked the crumbs and dirt right up.

Then, you can just detach the canister and toss the contents.

So how about seeing this little baby in action?  My little llamas helped me film a little video review for you!

Thoughts on the Swiffer Sweeper Vac

Pros--
-Light weight
-has a vacuum action
-can fit in tight spaces
-picks up a lot of dirt and crumbs, dust, hair, craft debris
-can fit in between your fridge and cabinet/counter if you have space there
-you can also use the Swiffer wet cloths on the Sweeper Vac (though not WHILE vacuuming!  And I would do that AFTER I did the vacuuming…but it is the same holder for cloths as the regular swiffer)
-I charged mine completely and left it out in my kitchen unplugged for a few days and it continued to work well for 3 days straight without charging…but I was just sweeping up my kitchen and DR.

Things to consider--
-Needs a plug to charge.  This can be tricky if you are keeping in a closet
-It didn’t do great at picking up the big big items.
                   (but for me, that is stuff I can grab by hand easily)
-Does not work well on carpet.  Though I did run it over a thin floor rug and it picked up some paper scraps.   I think it depends on how thick your carpet it is…but not recommended for carpet (the pad makes it get stuck)
-If you are needing to sweep your entire house it may not hold the charge

Overall Thoughts--
I was impressed with the vacuum ability.  I will admit at first I wondered how much it could really pick up.  But this little Swiffer Sweeper Vac really surprised me.  I have been using an electronic sweeper…and while I like it,  it (my current sweeper) has no vacuum ability. 
              So I either use my electronic sweeper, or I have to drag out my HUGE vacuum.   The Swiffer Sweeper Vac is a great addition to my cleaning, especially to pick up the crumbs, dust, dirt, and hair.  I think this is a great option for anyone with small and messy children and hard floors.

This Mama Llama gives the
Swiffer Sweeper Vac 2 thumbs up.

So--- here is the exciting news! 
Swiffer wants to give one my readers a chance to
try the Swiffer Sweeper Vac out for themselves! 

They are providing one of YOU with a
$40 gift card to Walmart
so you can purchase your own Swiffer Sweeper Vac!

How can you win?
1-Leave a comment
Just leave a comment letting me know the room that most need the Swiffer Sweeper Vac

2- Tweet about this Giveaway!
“I just entered to win a $40 Walmart Giftcard for a Swiffer Sweeper Vac from @Littlellamas”
   -- Come back and leave a comment that you did!

3- Subscribe to Little Llamas or Follow me on Twitter
Just let me know you did!
4- Join the Facebook Page for Little Llamas

Winner will be chosen Wednesday by Random.org!

Rules:
Contest Ends Tuesday at 11:59\
Only 1 comment per entry (leave a comment for each entry you do)
This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older.
Be sure to make there is a way to contact you in your comment
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.  
Winner has 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.


**The Swiffer SweeperVac, refills, information and Walmart gift card to give away were all provided by P&G through MyBlogSpark.  The opinions stated above are my own.