Merry Christmas!!!!!!

We wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.!!!!!!!

Love,

Sarah, Marshall, Tyler & Emma

rock'n babies upscale resale

I was so excited to discover that we finally got a really GOOD resale shop here in Northwest Tucson. A friend of mine told me to visit Rock'n babies upscale resale at 3951 West Ina and I am so glad she did.

On the day that Emma and I went in to visit we were greeted by the lovely co-owner, Ginger Switzer. She was so sweet and made my visit very enjoyable. Ginger and her friend and business partner, Emma Holland just recently opened Rock'n babies so there wasn't a ton of inventory on the day that we shopped. However, I have heard from some friends that the inventory is growing on a daily basis so I can hardly wait to head back in to check it all out!

If you are one of my favorite Tucson readers then you really must head over to Rock'n babies upscale resale to experience a boutique like atmosphere that caters to busy moms. Your child will surely enjoy the very clean and neat play area that the girls have set up so moms can shop without having to try to entertain their little ones at the same time!

Having shopped at other resale shops I was so impressed with how nice and organized this store was. I also really appreciated the friendly service that I received while while visiting Rock'n babies.

If you are in Tucson you really need to stop by Rock'n babies and check out the variety of gently worn, stylish, brand name children's clothing available from sizes newborn to 10--you won't be disappointed!

Cake Vintage Table & Home

Do you love all things vintage? If so, then I have a site that you absolutely must visit. Cake Vintage Table & Home is the perfect place to find vintage inspired pieces for your home. While browsing around this lovely site you are going to find so many beautiful things for your home.

Check out these gorgeous kitchen notes.

This unique note pad has an actual vintage spoon tied with black ribbon. The artist's rendition of vintage silver plate adorns the green-certified paper. Don't you think this would make just the perfect hostess or housewarming gift?

I am also totally in love with this amazing magnet board.

The 20" x 34" magnet board in covered in hemp fabric with the artist's interpretation of a fork, knife, and spoon. This would be an amazing statement piece for a kitchen.

If you are looking for a fun way to help teach your child how to properly set the table then look no further than Cake Vintage Table & Home. They have these completely cool paper placemats available in a package of 50. The placemats are on 30% recycled paper and provide a fun way for children to learn proper table etiquette. According to Tyler and Emma they also are fun for coloring!=)

If you want to really make a statement with your table setting you might want to check out the gorgeous vintage silver plate 5 piece flatware set.

This is an elegant and eclectic mixture of vintage silver plate flatware in a 5-piece place setting. Each setting is hand-selected by Cake Vintage Table and Home to create a unique assortment.

If you are looking for something special for your home take some time to visit Cake Vintage Table & Home. You will most certainly find a new favorite thing during your visit.

Thank you to Cake Vintage Table & Home for providing products for the review. No other compensation was received. This post is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.

Stella and Dot

What is your jewelry style? Is is classic, fun, or maybe even bold? Whatever your style may be, I am pretty sure that after reading about my new favorite place to buy jewelry you are going to find something you just have to have!

Have you heard of Stella & Dot?

Stella & Dot is a direct sales company featuring boutique-style jewelry and great accessories. It is high quality jewelry without the high price tag. Stella & Dot is quickly becoming a favorite among fashion editors. Their jewelry has been featured in InStyle, Lucky, Redbook, Cosmo, Better Homes & Gardens and more. It has even been seen on celebrities like Barbara Walters, Debra Messing, and Paris Hilton. You may remember last season's Bachelorette wearing these lovely Stella & Dot earrings.

The thing about Stella & Dot is that you won’t find them in stores. Stella & Dot is offered exclusively through Stylists across the U.S. and Canada. The lovely Ericka Martinez is my Stylist.

Ericka is a stay at home mom who had a dream of opening a boutique. With Stella & Dot she is now able to sell beautiful jewelry, hand-crafted from quality materials such as sterling silver, 14kt gold vermeil and semi-precious stones, yet still stay home and focus on her number one priority, her family!

Ericka provided me with the amazing opportunity of being able to review a piece of Stella & Dot jewelry. Trying to decide which piece I wanted to review was really difficult---there are just so many incredible pieces available. I am pretty classic when it comes to my taste in jewlery so I decided on these beautiful Deco Rings. I have to tell you that I fell in love with them as soon as I opened the shipping box. Just look at the fabulous way that Stella & Dot ships their jewelery.

The back of the box says, "Of course you deserve it"----don't you love that?

When I opened the box I was immediately impressed with the classic beauty of these stacked rings. They truly sparkled. You can wear these alone, but I think that wearing the three of them stacked really makes them glitter and shine.

I know that these rings are going to become a staple accessory for me.

I asked at the beginning of the post what your jewelry style was. Have you thought about it?

Are you bold?

Possibly you are like me and are drawn toward a more classic style.

Maybe you are the fun jewelry wearer who enjoys wearing big pieces that really get people's attention.

Whatever your style, Stella & Dot has what you are looking for.

You can shop directly online for Stella & Dot jewelry. Or if you are as excited about this great line as I am you may consider hosting a trunk show. If so, simply click here to find out how. If you would like to take your love of Stella & Dot even further and are thinking about becoming Stylist you need to go here to read about how you too can earn up to 30% commission selling this incredible jewelry.

I am so thrilled to be able to host a giveaway for Ericka and Stella & Dot. Ericka has been kind enough to offer one of my favorite readers their very own Stackable Deco Rings!!!

Be sure that you enter this great giveaway as many times as you can by leaving a separate comment for each entry. I will draw a winner on Monday, Dec. 28th using Random.org.

1. Head over to Stella & Dot and look at all of the incredible jewelry that they offer. Come back here and tell me your absolute FAVORITE piece.
2. Become a Facebook fan of Ericka's Stella & Dot page so that you can be informed about all of the great sales and such.
3. Become a Follower of Brown Paper Packages...(let me know of you follow).
4. Grab My Button (let me know if you have it).
5. Blog about this great giveaway (be sure to send me a link).
6. Become a Facebook Fan of Brown Paper Packages (let me know if you already are one).

Thank you to Ericka Martinez for providing products for the review. No other compensation was received. This post is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.

Label Giveaway

I found a great giveaway to share with you all!!!

Giant School Combo Pack Holiday Giveaway

ID Me Labels, home of the Binky/Bib Button, ID Me Photo Labels, and one of the most innovative children's label company with the fastest turnarounds in the industry (24- to 48-hours!); the very things that distinguish us from all other children's label companies! ID Me Labels are specially laminated so they’re UVA-resistant, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, colorful, indestructible, easy to use and fun. Our research proves that millions of childrens’ untagged personal items end up lost or in the lost-and-found departments of daycare facilities, schools, camps, and swim schools annually. And with a relatively small investment in ID Me Labels, most loss can be prevented. ID Me Labels are perfect on baby bottles, backpacks, bibs, binkies, bowls, clothing, craft supplies, lunch boxes, school supplies, sporting goods, toys, toothbrushes, pencil boxes, water bottles, and much more.

They take customizing labels to a whole new level! ID Me Labels offers over 70 icons, 10 fonts, 9 colors, and 6 different shapes. Visit www.idmelabels.com to view our complete line of designs.

Want to win ID Me Labels Giant School Combo Pack Giveaway! Enter at:

http://www.idmelabels.com/blog/category/giveaways/

1) Tell us what are you most thankful for this year.

Bonus Entries:

2) Become a fan of ID Me Labels on Facebook (3) extra entries

3) Twitter about this giveaway (3) extra entries

4) Blog about this giveaway on your blog-page and link it back to www.idmelabels.com (10) extra entries

Make sure to leave your email so that we can contact you if you win.

Contest is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Must be 18 yrs or older. Begins November 25 11:59 pm and ends December 18th, 2009 11:59 pm. GOOD LUCK!

Old Dutch International Wine Bottle Buddy

Are you looking for a totally fun and unique gift for someone this Christmas? I have a great find to tell you about. Have you heard of a Wine Bottle Buddy? These fun bottle holders are handcrafted of metallic steel. They really are a cool way to display a 750-ml wine bottle. Check out the adorable Cat design one that Old Dutch International was kind enough to send me.

Wouldn't these be a fun way to spice up your home bar or to give as a hostess gift? They look great on the counter and are such unique conversation pieces. Old Dutch International has Wine Bottle Buddies available in a variety of styles. I know that had my husband been able to pick our Wine Bottle Buddy he would have chosen either this fun Elvis one or the Frustrated Golfer.

Old Dutch International also has a variety of other unique and interesting products available. If you like copper in your kitchen then Old Dutch International is a must visit site for you. They have a large selection of items available.

I am loving all of the trivets that they have. Just look at a few of the beautiful ones that they carry.

Old Dutch International is the home of the finest in imported kitchenware, giftware and decorative accessories since 1950. Take a few moments to visit them and check out the large variety of quality items available at very reasonable prices.

Old Dutch International has been kind enough to offer my favorite readers a 10% discount on orders $50 or more placed between December 13th -February 27th 2010. Simply use "Sarah" in the promo code at checkout.

Thank you to Old Dutch International for providing products for the review. No other compensation was received. This post is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.

Charm Factory

I have always wanted a charm bracelet so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to review a charm bracelet from Charm Factory. Charm Factory offers thousands of unique sterling silver charms, charm bracelets, beads and more. The charms are made in the USA, which is important in my book!

I had so much fun browsing around the website picking out which charms I would want on my bracelet. I probably spent close to 45 minutes checking out all of the categories of charms and deciding the perfect ones for me.

Here is the final result.....

My charm bracelet from Charm Factory has the following charms...

The letter T and a boy profile for my son, Tyler,

The letter E and a girl profile for my daughter, Emma,

Mom for my most favorite job in the world,

Leo for my sign,

Live, Laugh, Love because we all need to remember to do this a lot more often,

and finally a sun because I live in AZ and I can't function without it!

I am just thrilled with the quality of the bracelet. It really did exceed my expectations. I always wondered if wearing a charm bracelet would be bothersome because of the weight, but my bracelet is lightweight even with eight charms on it. The charms are all sterling silver and are really well made.

If you are looking for a very special Christmas gift for someone in your life take a moment and check out Charm Factory. I think you are going to be as impressed as I have been with the variety and quality of available charms.

The great people at Charm Factory are giving one of my favorite readers a custom bracelet of their very own. You get to choose the eight charms that you would like on your bracelet so let your imagination go wild.

You have six opportunities to enter this great giveaway.

1. Head over to Charm Factory pick out the eight charms you would like on your bracelet then come back and tell me which ones you want.
2. Become a follower of Brown Paper Packages... (let me know if you already follow).
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Charm Factory.
4. Become a Facebook Fan of Brown Paper Packages...
5. Grab My Button (let me know if you already have it).
6. Blog about this great giveaway (be sure to send me a link).

I will draw a winner on December 26th using Random.org

Thank you to Charm Factory for providing products for the review. No other compensation was received. This post is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.

Simply Soles

If you see me standing on the corner with a sign that reads, "Will Work For Shoes" it is all to be blamed on the most magnificent site ever......Simply Soles!

Kassie Rempel is the founder of Simply Soles and the creator of the lillybee shoe line. Lillybee is named for Kassie's daughter, Lilly, and her son's favorite insect, the bee! This fabulous line of shoes is designed for the woman who wants a luxury in her life at a price that won't break the bank.

You need to know that I am a stay at home mom who tries to find sales, cut coupons, and find a great deal whenever it is available. However, I read something in a press release from Kassie that really stuck in my mind and made total sense. She said, “On a cost-per-wear basis, shoes are one of the best investments in your wardrobe. Besides the perfect black dress, classic white shirt and flattering pair of jeans, a pair of timeless shoes will last several seasons and transform your current wardrobe from fair to fab,” This is so true. How many times has the perfect shoe been the whole inspiration behind an outfit? Making an investment in a great pair of shoes that will last for years, is in my mind, an investment worth making.

I was given the amazing opportunity to review a pair of Kassie's lillybee shoes. I was sent the

Salma in Orange.

If you knew me and my love of shoes you would know that I was absolutely giddy upon receiving these amazing shoes in the mail. I was stunned to see that the shoes do not arrive in your typical shoe box but rather are sent in this beautiful black quilted bag. I love that you don't have a box to throw away or store.

It was love at first site when I opened the bag and found these spectacular pumps that reminded me of the old-fashioned spectator. The color orange is so bold and rich that I knew immediately that these would become a favorite in my fall wardrobe. The Salma has an ostrich-print patent leather at both the toe and heel. The suede is very soft and the 3 inch stacked wooden heel is quite wearable.

Here are a few pictures of me in my new fabulous shoes from lillybee.

When you visit Simply Soles your eyes will feast upon a smorgasbord of unbelievably beautiful shoes. I honestly found myself trying to figure out the next gift giving holiday after Christmas so I can start dropping hints to my husband!

I wanted to share something else that I found really cool about the Simply Soles site. There is a page on there called Kassie's Closet. On this page Kassie has actually given us full access to her closet and it's contents! She shows her outfits along with shoes, accessories, and handbags. The best part is that you can actually click on each item and find out where she got it.

Now, if only I could be Kassie's BFF and size so I could come borrow some of her fabulous stuff I just know I would be the happiest girl alive!=)

I realize that these shoes are all investment style pieces, but again, if you think about the cost per wear then they really are an investment worth making and LOVING!!!

Thank you to Simply Soles for providing products for the review. No other compensation was received. This post is based on my own personal opinions and experiences

Toy boxes

Where do you store your kids toys to keep them out of sight? I have some bins and such in Tyler and Emma's closet but I am always on the look out for great storage solutions. I think I found where I want to purchase my next toy chest from. Have you ever visited Woodtoybox.com?

They have some really beautiful handcrafted oak, cherry and espresso wood finished toy boxes and toy chests.

There are so many options available that I can't decide which is my favorite. You can tell from the pictures of these beautiful toy boxes that the quality is outstanding so the toy box should last for years.

They also have really pretty hand painted manufactured toy boxes.

I think I am going to have to start saving my pennies so I can get each of the kids one of these for their rooms!

Woodtoybox.com is running a few holiday specials so if you are in the market for one of these lovely boxes you might one to consider getting one now.

Shipping is free on toy boxes and you can save 15% from now until December 31st by using the discount code toybox4u at checkout.

Merry SITSmas

The girls over at SITS are celebrating SITSmas today! If you are unfamiliar with SITS then click here. Today the girls are having a a holiday lovefest with comments galore! There will be prizes every hour for the entire day beginning at 9am Eastern time. They've got amazing stuff to give away so head over there.

I wanted to take a minute today to wish each and every one of my favorite followers and readers a wonderful holiday season.

This is my absolute favorite time of the year. The joy and excitement that come with the Christmas season make each and every day a blessed one. I hope that everyone slows down during the hustle and bustle and takes the time to enjoy this magical time of the year.

Family Pastimes Games at Kidbean

Kidbean is a company that sells earth-friendly, labor-friendly vegan products. They sell a wide variety of great products for you and your family. I would like to tell you about the line of games that have have available. These co-operative board and card games are made by a small business in Canada named Family Pastimes. The games are categorized by age range, but many of the games offer more than one level. Because of this, games in the 3-7 range may also contain a version for older children.

I was lucky enough to be able to review one of these great games called, Granny's House.

Granny's House is co-operative adventure game designed to encourage children to think and use their imaginations. You work together as a team to get past obstacles in order to reach Granny's House. Along the way, you and your children will encounter many "OH-OHs" such as sleeping bears, dark woods, running water, and more. You and your children will have to brainstorm ways to use the "Good Things" that are provided in the game to move past these obstacles and get to your final destination.

My kids and I had a great time talking about how we would use our "Good Things" so we could hurry and get to Granny's. It was fun to listen to the kids try and decide how we would get through the challenges that we faced. I was very surprised at how well the kids worked together and took turns (maybe that is because they are trying to be extra good for Santa=).

We are getting to the time of year that parents have to try and find some fun indoor activities for their children. Why not head over to Kidbean and check out the great variety of Family Pastimes Cooperative Games that they have available.

The great folks at Kidbean have generously offered to give one of my favorite readers a Family Pastimes Game in the Ages 3-7 category .

Entering is easy. Simply leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Head over to Kidbean and check out the variety of Family Pastimes Games and then come back and tell me which one you would like to win.
2. Become a follower of Brown Paper Packages (let me know if you already follow).
3. Become a Facebook Fan of Kidbean
4. Blog about this giveaway (be sure to send me a link).
5. Grab my button (let me know if you already have it).

I will draw a winner using Random.org on Dec. 18th

Thank you to Kidbean.com for providing products for the review. No other compensation was received. This post is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.

***Congratulations Katy--you won!!***

The Next Chair

I am so excited to tell you about my latest review. Have you heard of The Next Chair? It is definitely one of my MOST FAVORITE of my favorite things! The Next Chair is exactly what is says it is. It is the perfect next step after the highchair. After Tyler outgrew the highchair I used a booster seat. I am not sure about all of your children, but mine are not exactly neat eaters so I was constantly having to take the chair off of our chair, wash the towel that I had under it to protect our furniture, and take apart the seat to clean it. This was not one of my favorite jobs to say the least. When Emma outgrew the highchair we used the booster for a bit but I was got sick of it sooner and just had her sitting on her knees at the table.

When the VERY talented Alistair Hawker sent Emma her very own Next Chair you could almost hear the angels singing hallelujah! (I know that is a bit dramatic but I am telling you I LOVE this chair!) With the The Next Chair Emma can actually sit on her bottom (and stay there) comfortably at the table.

The Next Chair is designed for children 2-9. It really is their chair because Alistair carves your child's initials or name in to the back of the chair.

You could have your last name carved in to it, and because of the outstanding quality and craftsmanship, this would become an heirloom piece to pass on to future generations.
The Next Chair details are as follows...

seat height: 21 inches

seat width: 14 inches

back height: 35 inches

arm height: 27 inches
It is available in three different finishes: cappucino, dark cherry, and antique white.

Emma is almost three and Tyler is almost five and as you can see both of my kids fit in the seat very comfortably with room to grow.

I just love the fact that The Next Chair looks so good at my kitchen table.

I really can't say enough about the quality of this piece of furniture. It is so well made and is perfect as the next step before having your child sit in an adult sized chair.

You can purchase The Next Chair by clicking here. The chair sells for $275 and Alistair has offered to send a $25 Target gift certificate to you with your paid order. I realize that these chairs are a bit pricey but it is a really well made piece of furniture that is going to be used by your child and others for years. You are making an investment, but it is one that is well worth the price.

Thank you to The Next Chair for providing products for the review. No other compensation was received. This post is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.