Yellow House Candles Review & Giveaway!

I stumbled upon Yellow House Candles while doing my daily perusing on the La Leche League mother to mother forums. The creator and mama behind these amazing products is Becca, and she is also an active member of the LLL forums. I read the reviews of the other LLL moms that I knew and trusted so I knew I was in for testing out an amazing product.

Yellow House Candles are handmade Kentucky soy wax. To quote the website directly "Soy wax burns longer than paraffin wax, giving you a candle that really lasts. It also burns cleaner, leaving the air you breathe purer. We additionally use cotton core wicks for added burn quality."
Not only is this a quality, all natural product, it was made right here in the USA by a hard working mom! That is something I can stand by for sure!
YHC offer an amazing selection of Seasonal, Floral, Fruit, and Home scents. She has so many scents to choose from, and her descriptions of each scent just leave you in candle euphoria! Not only does YHC offer these wonderful candles, they also are in the business of making all natural soaps that feature "either a shea butter or oatmeal base to leave your skin soft and clean."

I chose two candles to test and Becca was kind enough to send me some soap as well. Just opening the box, I knew I was in for a treat! The scents I chose were Coconut Cream Pie and Red Apple. The first thing I loved was the glass jar and color. So bright and beautiful, they add "flavor" to any space in your home! I lit the Coconut Cream Pie first, and oh man...heaven! It smells better than the real thing. I didnt tell my husband I was doing this review, and he walks in the house asking me what yummy food did I make that day! Of course, he was disappointed I hadnt actually baked, but just as impressed with the candle as I was! I sadly blew out the pie scent to give the Red Apple scent a chance to appeal to my senses, and boy did it ever! So sweet, yet tangy-if you can smell tang! I do not know how she does it, but Becca captures the scent so perfectly.
After days of burning both candles, I have yet to see the bottom of the jar. They really do last longer than the average candle. They are strong, but not overpowering like some scents can be. They are warm and inviting.
Im the midst of my candle indulgence, I gave her soap a try. The soap I am testing is the Oatmeal Vanilla. I am a huge vanilla fan in any shape and form, so I was excited to give the soap a try. It really does leave your hand feeling soft! I am cursed with dry skin, and having a toddler to wash up or a babys diaper to change, I am constantly washing my hands. This soap really eased the pain I had from dry cracking skin. Its great for the shower too!! But dont worry, I wont go into my showering details, just trust me when I say it gets the job done!
I'm so impressed with the quality of these candles and soap. I will definitely be giving Becca at Yellow House Candles my business, as well as passing along her great products to my friends and family! I hope you give Yellow House Candles a try, Becca is a super sweet mom and she has a great business going for her.
But it: Head over to www.yellowhousecandles.com and check out the great products that are available, you wont be disappointed!



And now for a giveaway!
Yellow House Candles is offering one lucky reader their choice of scent in a their 6 oz jar!

For your mandatory entry go to Yellow House Candles website and tell me what scent you would choose if you won! Then come back to this blog post and leave a comment sharing your scent choice and make sure to leave your email address in your post.

Extra Entries: To qualify for extra entries, you must also complete the Mandatory entry. Please put each entry in a separate comment in this blog post. (and for example, if you are already a FB fan, just leave a comment stating :i'm a fan on FB ) for each entry/comment, you must leave your email address
* Become a fan of Yellow House Candles on Facebook (here)
* Become a fan of Life with the Stevens on Facebook (here).
* Become a blog follower of Life with the Stevens (right sidebar)
* Become a follower of Life with the Stevens on Twitter.
* Add my button to your blog (on right sidebar). Leave a link to your blog in the comment.
* Blog about this giveaway on your blog. Leave a link to the post in the comment.
* Leave a Twitter and/or Facebook Status update about this giveaway and leave a comment telling me so! You can link YHC or Life with the Stevens in your status.

That is 8, count 'em 8!! ways to enter, not too bad :D
Entrants from the US are eligible. Contest Ends on April 7th, 2010 at 12:00 pm EST. Winners will be chosen by random.org and announced April 8th, 2010. Winners will be notified by email with “You Have Won the Yellow House Candle Giveaway” in the subject line. Winners will then have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Disclaimer/Disclosure: I approached YHC to do this review and giveaway and YHC sent me two candles and one soap to review. Yellow House Candles will be responsible for prize distribution after I provide shipping info of the winner. No other compensation was given. All opinions and views stated are my own.

Happy Tuesday!

The sun is shining for the first time in days! I know in our house, it sure makes the day so much better when we can go outside and get some fresh air. Cooper is on spring break (from preschool, makes me laugh a little...)so I'm making sure he has an extra fun week!
I have just two great freebies for you all today, so I'll get to it :D

**Arm & Hammer is offering you a free sample of their Advance White Clean toothpaste. I guess it's an older link but it still works, and their still giving out samples! javascript:void(0)Go here for the link!

**I think I posted this one already, my mommy brain has no memory of it though. Dove Hair Care Daily Treatment conditioner, go here to pick from two different samples.

Friday Featured Blogger-Pamela, outnumbered mama at The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood

I "met" Pamela on one of the blog networks I frequent. Her blog, The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood, is fantastic! Shes does what I hope to do with mine!! She was looking to feature other blogs on hers so I contacted her and she wrote up a great feature of Life With the Stevens and myself (go here if you want to check it out) So I was happy to return the favor and introduce Pam to all of my readers!




1. Tell us about yourself-family, job, things you like to do
I am a sort of stay-at-home mom of three boys aged 4.5, 3 and 1.5. I teach water aerobics classes a few days a week. I love to blog, read, scrapbook, garden and cook. Our family is very active, we are constantly go-go-going! And I know it is only going to get more and more as the boys start having their own activities to do.

2. What is your blog about?
Every Mom needs a little guidance - my blog is full of tips, tricks and fun stories about surviving the jungle called MOTHERHOOD! I also like to throw in a lot of product reviews and giveaways, because everyone loves free stuff! Really the soul of my blog is about supporting real woman who are also mothers! I think it's so important that to remind people that you don't have to choose between being a Mother or a Woman - you can 100% be both!

3. What inspired you to start your blog?
Actually, a very good friend of mine told me that I was really good at giving advice and that I should start a book. So I started writing and it all just poured out of me. But once I really started looking into what it would take to get published, it was so daunting. So I decided to start a blog instead. I am awed by the positive responses that I have gotten with my writing and hope to grow along with the site!

4. How do you fit your blog into your schedule? Do you set aside certain times of the day to blog?
I have actually given up some of my reading time to blog but it has proven worth it. Each day I get up, get the kids dressed and going on breakfast. Then I sit down and blog away at all the daily chores of maintainence (responding to emails/comments/questions, listing giveaways on blog sites, facebooking/tweeting, and a little bit networking.) Then it is just a matter a checking my email throughout the day and doing what needs to be done as it comes up. I have found that doing things as soon as they come up, makes it all less burdensome. I also limit myself, only 1 hour at a time.

5. What do you hope to achieve in the future with your blog?
I hope to create a community atmosphere where other moms can feel comfortable coming to find answers to some of the tough questions, or get a laugh or free stuff. I started the blog back in September of 2009 but have really been pushing on it since January 2010. I was able to grow my followers from 38 to 107 in a three week period, so I am just going to keep plugging away at it and try to stay consistent.


Thanks again to Pam for doing this!! Check out her blog, become a follower, you wont regret it!

Wordless Wednesday-Butterflies and Bunnies!

and todays freebies are...

I've come across some good freebies today!

**Everlast Energy bars!! This sounds like a good one :D You can choose from three different flavors : Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch, Dark Chocolate Crunch, and Oatmeal Raisin Walnut. I think the Dark Chocolate is calling my name! Go here to get yours!

**Click here to request your free samples of Baby Barn Organic baby lotion. Each sample will come with sample sized Baby Body and Hair Wash and our Soft Skin Baby Lotion.Their products are all-natural, organic, vegan, cruelty-free, and extremely effective Thanks Sweet Deals 4 Mom!

**Today is Free Ice Cream Cone day at Ben and Jerrys! Stop in to particapating stores between 12-8 pm and get yours today!

Enter this fun giveaway at Sarah's Deals!

I'm a big fan of Sarah's Deals, we actually went to the same high school so I feel the need to support her even if I dont know her!! She is having a super cute giveaway featuring Bellas Boutiques letters! I entered, and you should too, she has a lot of cute designs!
Check out Sarah's Deals and enter her giveaways!

Monday Freebies!

I've been away for a few days up north visiting family, but I'm back to blogging and have a few freebies for you all today!!

**Go here to get a free sample of BORBA skin care age defying concentrate-they will notify you via email when your sample has shipped!

**Tomorrow (March 23rd) is Free Pastry Day at Starbucks! Go here to get your coupon, and when you buy any handcrafted beverage just give them your coupon and pick out yout pastry!! Yum!!

**Go here to get a sample of Glowelle! An age defying beauty boost (it seems you just add it to water, like a flavor packet)

**more Kotex samples! They now have a page set up where you can pick from 4 different sample packs! Head over here and pick which pack would suit you!

I've been featured!!

I'm so very excited about this. I've been in contact with an awesome mama and she has featured myself and Life with the Stevens on her blog! Pam at The Busy Woman's Guide to Surviving Motherhood wrote up a great feature, graciously taking me on even though I'm a new blogger. If you want to read it, and follow her and her amazing blog, check out my blerb here :)
Look for our exchange on my blog on Friday!

So whats been in your mailbox this week?

So what freebies have shown up at your house this week??
I took this picture the other day, and since have received a few more items like more shampoo and diaper samples!
I got Crest White strips, Clean perfume, Pampers and Huggies diapers, Tide Laundry soap, Metamucil, and Fekkai shampoo! What about you?

Todays free samples!

I have a few more freebies for all of my awesome readers.

**Go here to get your free sample of Dove Hair Care Daily Conditioner.

**Redbook is offering the frizz-fighting HUSH Time-Out Treatment. Fill out and submit this form and they will send you the deluxe sample of the leave-in treatment that not only fights frizz but repairs and revitalizes the hair.
(Thanks to Yellow Tennessee for the tip!)

**Have you tried Better Oats? No?? Well here is your chance to try it! Go here to read all about how to get your free sample of some delicious oatmeal!

Wordless Wednesday-what brings me joy!

More Monday freebies!

I have a few more freebies that came across my desk (or email) that I wanted to share!!

*Get a free sample of Ritz munchable pretzel crisps just by becoming a facebook fan of theirs here! Just click the become a fan button and then the square halfway down the page that says get a free sample. I know you all could figure that out, but just in case :D

*For the ladies: get a free sample pack of U by Kotex here! Your sample will include :
1 U by Kotex Cleanwear regular pad
1 U by Kotex barely there liner
2 U by Kotex Click regular tampons

*Free Ebook (here) of St Patricks Day crafts, recipes, and decorations! I cant wait to do some crafts with Cooper, he loves to make art!

Hey! It's Monday!

I just had to share...just in case you didnt know (insert eyeroll ;D) Well I hope you do not have a case of the mondays. Although, if you're like me, you're still struggling to catch up on sleep after the time change this past weekend. I think that DST is a cruel joke for mothers who are already struggling to enough sleep!! But I do enjoy seeing the daylight well into the evening.
Anyway, here are some freebies I found for you today!

*Another Lever 2000 soap freebie, this time from Costco. You do not have to enter a member ID to sign up for the sample! Go here!

*Sign up for emails from Pillsbury and get a coupon book worth $10! If you've never hear of www.coupons.com head over there and sign up for the coupon book (here)! And while you're there, check out all of the coupons they have for you to print off for free! This is where I find a lot of great savings!!

*Walmart has Tide with Febreeze samples! I love Walmart freebies!! Sign up here!
It is through the P&G site, so if you've signed up for their freebies in the past, you should be able to sign in w/ no problem! (I think I posted this one before, but if you didnt sign up for it then, here is your chance!)

*Free soap jewels!! Check out this blog for more info, seems like all you have to do is leave a comment on one of their blog articles and you get a free 1.5 oz sample of soap!

*A great savings opportunity! I was just at Old Navy yesterday, and learned about this promotion! Go here to print off a coupon and save 30% on any purchace at Old Navy, Gap, Gap outlet, Banana Republic and BN outlet stores. It is good for their friends and family weekend of March 18-21st, and a portion of the proceeds go to a charity of your picking!! Its called the Gap give and get program!

Fridays Featured blog-Being Me!

Since I missed out on posting this last week due to my giveaway, here is this weeks featured blog and blogger (one day early)-Alison at Being Me! I'm excited to be posting this interview as Alison is a friend of mine. She and I have a lot in common, I think-she has two darling little boys, she is a stay at home mom, and she loves Attachment Parenting!

Without further ado...



1. What is your blog about?
My blog is kind of a mixed bag. I write mainly about the freebies and savings I find. As well as contests, and other various things. With a dab of my life as a mom and other things. I'm going to slowly try to integrate a whole lot of stuff in there. Oh and don't forget about reviews and giveaways! Those are the most fun to do for me!

2. Tell us about yourself-family, job, things you like to do.
I am 24 (I do not feel like it) whom will have been married 2 years on March 8th. (Come to my blog and congratulate me on Monday. :P) I am also a SAHM to my 2 boys. Hunter who will be 3 in May and Landon whom was just born this past September. My job is Mom, Maid (I really would like a robot maid please!!), Cook, Booboo kisser, and now I can say Blogger! Which I really want to go out and be social so when someone asks me what I do I can say BLOGGER! Woot. I also love to read on my kindle and listen to music

3. What inspired you to start your blog?
Well I was finding all these great freebies and coupons for just myself. I would tell people about all the great stuff I got for free and they were amazed and asked how I got it! So I decided to make a blog so I can just direct people to the blog and they can get all the freebies and discounts that I get! Same deal goes with making money from survey sites, though I haven't been doing them because blogging takes up a ton of time.

4. How do you fit your blog into your schedule? Do you set aside certain times of the day to blog?
I can do some blogging stuff while nursing my youngest at the computer or if he is sleeping on me, like he is doing right now. My oldest is watching tv and it's almost nap time for him. I try to do alot in the morning when we first wake up because Landon is a happy baby than and will sit and play for abit by himself before he needs to cling to me. I try to just fit in some time to blog or work on it here and there throughout the day.

5. What do you hope to achieve in the future with your blog?
I just hope to get to know alot of new people, but also help out a ton of people. Make the move one day to Wordpress, and also do some great reviews and giveaways for my readers! It would be nice to be great enough one day to test out a washer or something. Maybe they will let me test out a maid robot? I would maybe jump through hoops to get to do that. Robot developers out there reading this!! LET ME TEST MAID ROBOTS! I will love you.

If you want the latest updates from Being Me, head on over to facebook and become a fan of Alisons blog here! And dont forget to follow her blog as well, you dont want to miss her giveaways and all of the great deals she finds!

Tuesday freebies :D

**Sams club is offering a free Glad Forceflex trash bag (yay trash, lol)
I've signed up for freebies from Sams club before, and have had no trouble with not entering a member ID so you shouldnt either (if you're not a member that is, if you are enter it!) Go here to get your trash on ;)

**Free Huggies snug and dry diapers from Costco. You can select from sizes 2-6. Again, you should be able to sign up w/o a member id number (I did) so go here!

**Dunkin Donuts Turbo coffee-get your sample here! Just click free sample at the top of the page.

**Walmart is sending out free samples of Lever2000. Walmart always sends their freebies in a timely fashion, so sign up here for yours today!

I havent been posting much lately, but hopefully will be back to where I wanted to be a few weeks ago. My giveaway was a success, even with a small turn out. But hopefully there will be bigger and better giveaways in the future!!

And the Winner is...

Congrats to:


Laura Burns
rubymum26@gmail.com

Now a fan of babylegs on FB

You are the winner of a $10 gift certificate from BabyLegs! I will be emailing you with more information, look for this in the subject line (in case it goes in your spam) "You Have Won the BabyLegs Giveaway!"
Thanks to all who have entered!

Catching up-friday freebies

**Visit the Dove website & watch a short video about Dove Body Wash with Nutrium Moisture. Then let them know what you thought about the product after the video is over & you’ll then get a coupon for a FREE Dove Hair Care product (up to $6.25 value).

Thanks to Thrifty NW mom for the tip

**Free Loreal Everstrong shampoo (go here) you'll have to register with the Loreal site to get it, but if you've signed up for their freebies in the past, just enter you're user name/email. I cant wait to try this product, I'm always searching for the perfect shampoo!

**Become a Facebook fan (here) of Nescafe USA and get a free sample of Nestles Tasters choice

**Free (while supplies last) I <3 Bacteria shirt from Culturelle probiotics

**another chance to get samples of EmergenC, they have new flavors! Go here! I just used my samples from the last time I posted about it, and man did it work. I felt something brewing, and I drank EmergenC and couldnt believe that 'feeling' of a cold went away.

Monday Freebies!

Sams club is sending out samples of the new Bounce 4 in 1 dryer sheet-go here to sign up, and remember you do NOT need to be a member to get the freebie, so you can leave the member info blank :) I've never tried this dryer sheet, but I'm anxious to give it a try! I feel like most of my days as a SAHM is spent doing laundry, so this freebie is something I'm (oddly) excited about :D :D

Thanks to Alison at Being Me, for posting about this freebie: a free Arm and Hammer Baking Soda Shaker-go here to sign up!

Get a free package of Nabisco cookies when you purchase one package and a gallon of milk by becoming a Facebook Fan of Nabisco (go here) the coupon should appear after you become a fan. Limited to the first 500,000. Coupon must be used by 3/4/2010
Thank you to Sweet Deals 4 Mom