Mother's Day Buying Guide Gift Recommendation #1 - Help Mom Store Cherished Memories in Style!

Happy May Day Butterflies! Today is the first day of May and our annual Mother's Day Buying Guide is now in swing!

If you haven't today, go KISS your mom, and if you are too far right now, please CALL her immediately. Tell her you love her and thank her for the gift of life, for being there when you were sick, for every warm meal, for every hug, for being your nurse and doctor and for all the wonderful memories of your childhood.

In fact, why not also give her a way to preserve her memories in style?

As you may remember we featured a digital photo frame as our holidays 2010 gift buying guide recommendation (and you even scored a chance to win one for yourself), the CEIVA Pro80 with one year picture plan photo delivery service. Read my original review and first impression of the Ceiva Pro80 HERE.

I fell in love with my CEIVA, and in fact so has everyone who sees it when they come visit, and I still love it, it's simple to set up, and gives me instant gratification when I can send a picture from an event or party while I'm still there, right to my frame and have it already loaded into the frame when I get back!

Features

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Connect by telephone line or by Wifi and receive photos sent from anyone you invite as your guest – from anywhere in the world!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Send pictures to your frame via smartphones, iPhone, email and sites like Flickr and Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Lifetime warranty – as long as you have an active PicturePlanCEIVA will replace or repair the product for free.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Memory Card Slots - Insert a memory card into the back and enjoy an instant slideshow

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Use a media server application to show photos over your home network

Set Up:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Register Your Frame

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Upload Photos

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Connect the frame to your wifi and sync

Nab A Deal!

Mother's Day Sale (Deals Valid through May 7th)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - CEIVA Pro80 Starter Pack (includes one-year PicturePlan Photo Delivery Service and WiFi adapter)- $119.95

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - CEIVAshare Starter Pack (includes one-year PicturePlan Photo Delivery Service)- $99.95 (Wifi adapter optional)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Place an order totalling $99 or more in the CEIVA Store and get FREE economy shipping! Not valid on standard, 3-day, 2-day or overnight shipping.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Purchase any two frames and receive 10% off, Buy 3 or more and get 20% off! (Think, one for your mom, aunt, grandma, Men should add an extra one on for their wife too!)

My Take:

I really love the CEIVA Pro80 Starter Pack! I highly recommend it across the board for anyone on your list. There is nothing more personal or more thoughtful. Whether you and your mom are in the same city or are miles away from each other, imagine her delight when you send this to her, and in 3 simple steps she can not only enjoy the pictures she chooses to put on the frame, but you can instantly send her pictures anywhere, anytime. The grandkids can send grandma pictures right from their phones! Mom never feels like she misses a single moment. And with this frame, everyday feels like Christmas because you can send mom, or your Aunt or your Grandma, a new photo each day and no one misses a milestone.

This year mama butterfly is getting one! (But shhh, don't tell her!)

While I wasn't able to nab an extra one this time for a giveaway, CEIVA is awesome about throwing great giveaways and promotions on their Facebook page and you can also get social with them on twitter too! And don't forget to tell them Ascending Butterfly sent you, maybe we can arm twist them a bit to come back with us again next time! :)

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FTC Disclosure: I received a CEIVA frame and a picture plan for the purposes of this review, all opinions regarding the product are expressly my own experiences. Our full giveaway and disclosure policy can be found at: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Christmas Delights! LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

I'm a total LUSHIE! For those in the know when it comes to the finest handmade cosmetics and skincare, my revelation doesn't mean I need AA, it just means I'm addicted to all things LUSH. Their fresh handmade cosmetics have fun names, smell divine, and make you both look and feel fantastic. It's aromatherapy for the mind, body and soul because their products are so uplifting!

I have been asked quite a bit this week about 'last minute' gifts and 'hard to shop fors' and my recommendation remains the same, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics! Do you have a teacher to shop for? (trust me when I tell you they'd prefer apple scented body treats to an actual apple!) Letter Carrier? Did a co-worker you least expected to give you a holiday gift end up surprising you? I would advise you to stock up year round so you already have these things on hand, but with both an online presence as well as convenient brick and mortar locations you can't go wrong with Lush. There is something for everyone! And better still, they have pre-made gift sets that are delightfully packaged which is a total blessing for last minute shoppers.

Last month I had a chance to check out the launch of the 'Lush Fresh 15' and I posted a review of those products HERE. I gave you guys a sneak peak of a cute holiday gift idea, and now that I've tried it all out I thought I'd give you some feedback!

About Christmas Delights

Christmas Delights is a super cute gift tin created by the elves at Lush, the gift tin includes: 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Angel's Delight Soap 3.5 oz - This one uses Tangerine Oil, which gives a nice pick me up on a cold winter morning!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Candy Cane soap 3.5 oz - This soap is a perfect blend of English Peppermint Oil and sweet almond oil, if you want your body to smell like Christmas or for your spouse to want to lick you, this soap is it! ;-)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Heavanilli Massage Bar 1.9 oz - I'm a total addict of Lush Massage Bars, they go on like silk, your skin will drink this without ending up all greasy feeling and you will want one for your purse, desk at work as well as home, I can tell you that whoever you gift this set to, will love it for this alone! With natural shea and cocoa butter, it emits a warm scent of jasmine, vanilla and tonka. And as they only use Fair Trade Shea Butter, it's a double delight! The only complaint most people have regarding this product is that they don't make it BIGGER, it's that awesome!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Snow Fairy Shower Gel 3.3 fl. oz - A sweet bubblegum and cotton candy scent mixed in with iridiscent glitter, lather up in mounds of sparkly pink bubbles, you can wash your body or hair with this, and if you like to layer, do both!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sugar Babe Sugar Scrub 3.5 oz - Scented with perfume from Ylang Flowers and mimosa blossom and made with Coconut Oil (reduces symptoms of psoriasis and eczema, this oil also provides natural balance to the skin) and Beeswax absolute (known for it's soothing, protective and antiseptic properties)  your skin will probably send you a Thank You Letter. Seriously.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vanilla Delite Body Lotion 3.5 oz - So everytime I use this I get the over-whelming urge to sing 'Groove is in the Heart' by Deee Lite (since I'm always thinking music my nickname as 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ totally fits), This smooth blended Vanilla Moisturizer contains Illipe Butter (moisturizes and restores skin flexibility), Hawaiin Tamanu and Monoi Oils, and Organic Coconut Water, this body lotion is a perfect follow up to the Candy Cane Soap!

The aromatherapy will lift your mood and who can resist the tin? While I was not able to nab a reader giveaway this time around, the LUSH Christmas Delights Gift Tin is definitely a holiday gift guide pick!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post. A gift tin was provided to Ascending Butterfly Free of Charge for editorial consideration. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

{Kids Corner} Good Habits SoapTime® Review and Holiday Reco!

While my holiday recommendations in my annual buying guides are always review with giveaway, this product is an exception to my rules. Mostly because I received the evaluation unit way before Christmas. But if after reading this, you guys decide you love it, and just 'gotta have it', let me know by posting a comment here and I'll reach out to the powers that be and see if a giveaway is still possible.

I actually received the first unit months ago, but it didn't quite work well and I was un-sure of what to do. Normally I wouldn't be, when I work with a brand directly I would just let them know, be it a damaged item, ill-fitting item etc.

But this review came to me via BSM Media and I didn't want to make waves. I didn't want to put BSM Media in a bad position. But I also realized that I would never be comfortable being less than honest. (In fact it took us almost a year of being approached before we opted for becoming a 'PR friendly' blog.) So I wrestled with what to do and ultimately decided honesty was the best policy.

I let BSM Media know that the first SoapTime® I received did not work, and they couldn't have been more understanding about it. I was given the option of having a replacement sent out, or if I didn't like the idea, not to post.

But when I got my first SoapTime® I immediately fell in love with it, I thought it was a fantastic idea, and I couldn't wait to share it with you guys. So when it stopped working I was really bummed. Glad however, that I had not yet tried it out on my younger nieces and nephews. I opted for a replacement, and have tested the replacement a little over 30 days to make sure it was working properly before I posted about it. As you all know I'm 'cool auntie' and so I put this in the bathroom and everytime little ones come over they can't wait to use it! My nieces, nephews and godchildren all love it!

About SoapTime®

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - SoapTime uses a multimedia "Edutainment" experience of lights, music and fun facts to keep kids at the sink for 20 seconds, the proper time to ensure clean hands.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SoapTime's Elephant, ABC & Earth shaped soap bottles snap onto the SoapTime Smart Base®.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SoapTime's Smart Base provides 6 unique songs & factoids for each bottle, which play during its custom LED light shows.  (You do have the option of turning off the sound, which is good during the day when the kids are not home or if you have pets and are afraid they'll activate it to hear the sound all day long)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SoapTime products were created to give children of all ages a fun & engaging experience at the sink, while providing parents a tool for teaching healthy habits for life.

About Elephant

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SoapTime’s Elephant Bottle creates a positive sink-side experience with wild-kingdom flare!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sing along to An Elephant Never Forgets to Wash His Hands!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Learn about Elephants, Zebras, Tigers, and Birds.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Elephant’s soap is purple in color, non-toxic, with a light lavender scent. (Lavendar is known to be very calming and soothing!)

About ABC

 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SoapTime's ABC Bottle plays a lively mix of songs and facts centered around learning and language.

 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dance along to salsa beats, banjos, and sing alongs!!

 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Learn how to say "hello" and "goodbye" in Spanish, French, and Chinese!

 

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - ABC's soap is orange, non-toxic, with a light citrus scent.

 

About Earth

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - SoapTime’s Earth Shaped Bottle engages children with fun knowledge of our planet and nature.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Listen to “worlds” of details about the sun and blue whales. (I was so into whales as a kid, I have to admit I enjoyed the whale info!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sing along and count to 10 in Spanish! (My Nieces and Nephews got a kick out of this!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Earth’s soap is green, non-toxic, with a light apple scent

My Take

I am so glad that I opted for a replacement unit. I honestly wish I could take on an additional giveaway right now, and I wish I had the time to make a video of it so you could see it in action! SoapTime® instills good habits in a way that is fun and totally engaging. My nieces, nephews and godchildren totally loved it! They liked the soap scents, the songs and factoids! I love the LED light show too (perfect if you are in the bathroom at night and don't want to turn on your overhead light.)

You can follow @mysoaptime on twitter and keep up with them on Facebook too!

I wonder if there is a way for them to tweak this product and utilize a no touch sensor technology too? That would be perfect!

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FTC Disclosure Info: I received a Good Habits Soap Time unit for editorial consideration from BSM Media. However this is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.