Home Office Chairs

Hello Neighbors!

You may have noticed we have done some changing around in the home. From re-decorating to removing clutter and re-organizing. Well, with my back injury, that is definitely improving, some chairs are not quite comfortable. If the chair is too hard, or does not give enough back support, I can not sit real long. So, I visited Cymax and began looking at home office chairs. I do spend a lot of time in front of my computer, so I need a comfortable chair.


They do carry ergonomic office chairs which might be a good option as these are designed to give lower back support. Most of them look quite comfortable. I would definitely choose a padded one though as the nerve down the back of my leg acts up when too much pressure is on it. Cymax also carries the ergonomic kneeling stool. I have never tried one of these, and I am not sure how comfortable they would be. Have any of my neighbors tried one? I am open to advice here.




I also need a chair that sits relatively low as I want my feet to comfortably touch the floor. So, what do my neighbors have to say? Which one would you choose? Thanks for your help!

Zip 'n Hang Review and Giveaway

Hi Neighbors!

I have a neat little gadget to share! It is called Zip 'n Hang ($12.99). You can hang items on your door without nails, screws, or sticky residue. It hangs on your door with nylon string. When you order it comes with one original and one Jumbo hook. It goes up easily and can be moved without damaging the door. This will hold up to 20 lbs. You can also purchase extra utility hooks, to layer the hooks. The Zip 'n Hang is adjustable, it can be raised or lowered as desired.




You could use the Zip 'n Hang to hang a wreath on your front door. Maybe you need extra space to hang some sweaters or jackets on the back of a bedroom door. (I do!) They also have a ironing board hanger that can be used, and a multi-hook hanger. The multi-hook hanger requires 2 Zip 'n Hangs with original hooks. You can hang up to 40 lbs! Use this on your children's door for a backpack.


One of my neighbors will win their own Zip 'n Hang.

Mandatory Entry:Visit the Zip 'n Hang website and then leave a comment here telling me which option you would choose and where you would use it. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but you must leave a valid email where you can be reached should you win. This giveaway ends 7/14 at 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond.

Extra Entries:

1.Become a neighbor(follower). Leave a comment to let me know you did/do. 1 entry

2.Subscribe to At The Fence. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/do. 2 entries

3.Follow me on Twitter, At The Fence. Leave a comment letting me know that you did/do. 1 entry

4.Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment with the link.

3 tweets per day. Up to 3 comments a day for tweeting.

5.Do a post regarding this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link. 2 entries, so 2 comments.

6.Leave a comment on one of my review posts(not a giveaway). 1 entry

7. Like Zip 'n Hang on Facebook. 1 entry

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a Zip 'n Hang for this review. All quotes are taken from the Zip 'n Hang website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

"Mom the Toilet Won't go Down!" Who Needs a Plumber

Hey neighbors!

I am going to share one of those stories you usually don't share. As some of you know we travel quite a bit. We usually pull a 32 ft. trailer that we stay in for long periods of time. Normally we move each week to a new spot, but this one time we actually parked in one spot for 6 weeks. Well, about 4 weeks into the stay one of my children yelled out, "Mom the toilet won't go down!". Now anyone who knows anything about travel trailers knows that usually that means you need to use a long stick and push stuff down, or your tank is full and it needs drained. Who needs a plumber? I immediately tried using the pole and instead the bowl kept filling. Next stop, send one of the boys out to pull the drain so the tank will empty! Remember, who needs a plumber!

Next you here me calling out to the boys, "Did you pull the drain yet?" Of course they did, but nothing was happening. Try pulling the gray water too and maybe it will cause the other tank to drain also. No plumber yet! "Mom, it's not working!". Well, let's wait for dad to get home maybe he will have some ideas.

Dad gets home. "Honey, the toilet is not going down." His response was, "Did you try the pole and have the boys pull the drain?" Still no plumber! The next idea was to use a plumbing snake down the toilet. Nope! How about trying it up the drain from the outside. No, that didn't work either. NOW, it was time to call the plumber. They had a super, duper powerful snake that they ran up the drain. Problem solved!

We did figure out that it was from sitting in one place so long and having to drain the tank a certain way, but I sure was glad after the plumber came!

Disclaimer:I am participating in a Blogger campaign by Bucks2blog and was compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions are all mine, and yes this actually happened.

10,001 Ways to Declutter Your Home On a Small Budget Review and Giveaway

Hi Neighbors!

Since my back is doing somewhat better, we have been doing some spring cleaning! You know removing cobwebs, putting away winter clothes, cleaning behind bookshelves and appliances, etc. But...I have also decided we need to declutter our home! With a family of 8, with varying interests, we have a tendency to purchase things that are not really needed. You know the type of things you see on clearance or as a special buy and you are positive you can not live without them. Or because it is such a good buy you buy extra for later and then never use them. 10,001 Ways to Declutter Your Home on a Small Budget is a great help.


This book was written by Ed Morrow, Sherrie Bykofsky, and Rita Rosenkranz. I have truly enjoyed reading this book. Even the introduction is interesting. They mention how in America we purchase and acquire things because we can. There is advertising everywhere. From television to park benches to barn roofs. "It has been estimated that the average American reaching the age of 80 will have watched 2.5 million television commercials.

Can you tell I started in on my kitchen?


The first chapter "Are You a Pack Rat?" has a quiz to help you determine your clutter quotient. Here is a sample:
Your Laundry
1. Your hamper is clean and nearly empty. Thanks to a sachet of dried apples and spices hanging inside it, it smells like mom's warm apple pie. (4 points)

2. Your hamper is nearly clean and nearly full and smells of apple pie-scented disinfectant spray. (3 points)

3. Your hamper is full and smells like a spoiled apple pie. (2 points)

4. Your hamper is full and you've piled more dirty laundry on top of it. The thing smells like Johnny Appleseed's feet after a 20 mile stretch of his frontier wanderings. (1 point)

When you have completed the quiz, you add your points up to get your clutter quotient. They compare decluttering your home to dieting. How hard it is to get started and to keep going. There are helpful hints and cute quotes throughout the book. One of my favorites was from Miss Piggy:"Always use one of the new-and far more reliable-elastic measuring tapes to check on your waistline."

This area is usually very cluttered!

After guiding you through a few chapters on how to begin, hints on how to avoid purchasing more clutter, and exposing clutter triggers, you begin on room to room hints. One of the most important areas to declutter is your entryway as that is what every individual who visits your house sees first. This chapter even includes how to choose the proper vacuum.


For the living room, along with cleaning things out, they have tips to create a unique armoire and something I am going to try, how to customize utility shelving. The kitchen is the next room covered. Realize this book is not just declutter, it includes how to store things better. A hint here:"When in doubt, throw it out. Never check food for spoilage by tasting it. Even a small quantity of tainted food can make you sick."

Chapter 7 is all about your dining room. There are sections on cleaning and storing your silverware, 5 ways to create dining room storage, etc.

The bedroom is a huge area in my home that need decluttered. We have a tendency to place items in there to keep them out of the way, and then the bedroom becomes cluttered. Or we return an item to someone's room and we just set it down in the first empty spot. Next thing you know, the bedroom is a mess. A closet purge-restrict what gets stored there. One idea is to host a decluttering party. Have snacks and let your friends help you decide which clothing to keep and which ones to get rid of.

After cleaning the bedroom, they cover the Bathroom, Kid Clutter, Home Office, Cyber Clutter, Laundry Room, Reclaiming the Attic, Basement and Garage, and the Yard. Then, not only have they helped you clean up and organize your home, they tell you how to dispose of all the clutter. The last chapter is all about keeping it in the proper perspective. You will have ups and downs, victories and losses. Just keep going, don't become discouraged and quit.

If any of my neighbors have been thinking about doing a thorough house cleaning, this just might be the book to get you going. 10,001 Ways to Declutter your Home on a Small Budget has helped encourage me to do a deep cleaning.

You can find this book through Skyhorse Publishing. Check it out here.

One neighbor will receive their own copy of this great book.

Mandatory Entry:Visit Skyhorse Publishing and leave a comment telling me of another book there you find interesting. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but you must leave a valid email where you can be reached should you win. This giveaway will end 7/13 at 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond. (USA Only)

Extra Entries:

1.Become a neighbor(follower). Leave a comment to let me know you did/do. 1 entry

2.Subscribe to At The Fence. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/do. 2 entries

3.Follow me on Twitter, At The Fence. Leave a comment letting me know that you did/do. 1 entry

4.Do a post regarding this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link. 2 entries, so 2 comments.

5.Leave a comment on one of my review posts(not a giveaway). 1 entry

6. Share in a comment which room in your home could most use decluttering. 1 entry

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a 10,001 Ways to Declutter Your Home on a Small Budget for this review. All quotes are taken from the Skyhorse Publishing website, the book itself or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Cocoa Latte Machine (Plow and Hearth) Review and Giveaway

Hi Neighbors!

Beautiful day here At the Fence! I finished some work around the house and thought I would take a quick trip out At the Fence to visit with my neighbors. I have a really neat product that my daughters love! It is a Cocoa Latte Machine ($39.95) I received from Plow and Hearth. My two older daughters are really enjoying using the machine. See they love iced coffees, so they do up their favorite flavors, use the froth button on the machine and serve it over ice. I am sure when the cold weather returns they will be doing hot drinks!


This Cocoa Latte machine makes cocoa, coffee and tea, and you can add mixes and syrups. You can make up to 32 ounces of your choice of beverage. (Do not fill past the 32 ounce maximum fill line.) To make the 32 ounces, pour in water or milk and 8 tablespoons of your favorite instant mix. Put the lid on making sure that the lid covers the spout. Plug in the machine and press the on switch. The Drink Maker will begin to mix and heat. It will automatically idle when the drink reaches the perfect temperature. When the appliance goes idle you may dispense the beverage into your cup. There is a froth button you may press before dispensing and it will make a rich layer of froth in your cup along with the beverage. Make sure you turn the appliance off when you are done or the container has less than a cup left. The Cocoa Latte machine will keep the left over beverage at the perfect temperature by automatically restarting the motor and mixer when the beverage starts to cool, as long as you leave the switch on. You may at any time hit the switch off.




There are recipes in the instruction manual for all sorts of hot drinks. My daughter made the Cafe Au Lait and added vanilla flavor, and then dispensed it over ice. They also tried the Mochaccino which is made with milk, chocolate syrup, water, instant coffee and whipping cream. Needless to say we are getting a lot of use out of this machine and I know it will be used even more this fall and winter. You can make coffee based beverages, including a coffee float, Espresso style Beverages, Steamed and Flavored Milk, Hot Wassails, Punches, Ciders, Chai Lattes and Hot Teas. And as I stated earlier, my daughters are experimenting with pouring them over ice!


I love to browse the Plow and Hearth website. They have so many nice products! I could seriously re-decorate my home with many of their items! They also have sister stores, Magic Cabin, Problem Solvers, Wind and Weather and Winterthur store. You have seen a couple of them mentioned on my blog. You can also find Plow and Hearth on Facebook.

Plow and Hearth is going to give one winner a Cocoa Latte Hot Drink Maker of their own.

Mandatory Entry:Leave a comment here describing your favorite latte, etc. that you make at home. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but you must leave a valid email where you can be reached should you win. This giveaway will end 7/12 at 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond. (USA Only)

Extra Entries:

1.Become a neighbor(follower). Leave a comment to let me know you did/do. 1 entry

2.Subscribe to At The Fence. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/do. 2 entries

3.Follow me on Twitter, At The Fence. Leave a comment letting me know that you did/do. 1 entry

4.Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment with the link.Feel free to copy and paste this to twitter: Enter to win a Cocoa Latte Machine At the Fence http://bit.ly/iWoHWX @Atthefence

3 tweets per day. Up to 3 comments a day for tweeting.

5.Do a post regarding this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link. 2 entries, so 2 comments.

6.Leave a comment on one of my review posts(not a giveaway). 1 entry

7. Tell me something else you like on the Plow and Hearth site (take a few minutes and browse). 1 entry

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a Cocoa Latte Hot Drink Maker for this review. All quotes are taken from the Plow and Hearth website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Winners! Winners! Winners!

Wow neighbors!

These are the announcements I like to make. Here are some of the most recent winners:
Inching Along Game (Educational Insights)-Steph
Stopain-Melanie
Lovable Labels-Kerrie
Omron Heart Rate Monitor-Donna
GeoSafari Talking Electron Microscope-Deborah
Reach and Rembrandt-Niecey
Joy of Birding-Tanya
Core Ball-Andrea
Weighted Walking Vest-Tawnda

I think this catches all the giveaways up. If I missed listing you with something you won At the Fence, please let me know and I will add another winner's post. Sorry for the confusion being in the hospital and then the pain medication sort of messed things up for awhile. Thanks to all of you great neighbors!

Restruction General Contractors Chicago Land!

Hi neighbors!

Beautiful day here today in Chicago. Yes, we are back again! While I am here, thought I would tell you about a local company here called Restruction General Contractors. With all the rain lately, one of my neighbors might just need their help.

RGC was founded in 1971 under the name of Scott Brite Inc. It did not become RGC until February 3, 2009. RGC was begun by the Weitzman family in response to the growing desire of families in the Chicago area who had need of property repair (due to fire, flood, and wind damage), restoration, remodeling and maintenance needs. They wanted to make these available to the community through a one trusted provider. RGC does approximately 500 renovations a year. When asked if they do small remodeling jobs, the reply I received was a big YES, as that is often how they start a relationship with their clients. They have a 5 person management staff and 5 Project Managers, who each have a five man crew. They also have hundreds of trades professional on retainer.

They specialize in service for all of Lake, Cook, DuPage, and McHenry counties. They do offer services to Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa. How soon can they be out for an emergency call to the local area? They are available 24/7. After you call their information center a RGC personal Project Manager will be in contact with you within minutes. They guarantee to have one of their fleet of trucks dispatched within 2 hours. And another great benefit is RGC works hand in hand with your insurance company to simplify disaster recovery and to make the process as stress free as possible.

With all this rain, have you had any basement flooding? RGC handles problems like this for you. RGC says that most basement flooding occurs due to foundation cracks, poor lot drainage, overflowing gutters, leaking/blocked downspouts, and sump pump failure. And since water will always seek the lowest point, your basement is the target area. Another concern with your basement flooding, or any other leak is mold growth. The World Health Organization (WHO) found that simply living in a damp indoor environment where mold is often present can lead to upper and lower respiratory illness and infections in otherwise healthy children and adults. Other risks include Syspnoea, Asthma development, Allergic Rhinitis, Bronchitis, reduced lung function, wheeze and cough. Mold remediation can take a few hours up to a few days depending on the amount of contamination.

When it comes to smoke and fire damage RGC is the company to call. They start with boarding up the damaged area. They then proceed to removal of smoke residue and cleaning the contents. And last but not least is the rebuilding.

What do they charge for an estimate or consultation? Nothing! Zero! Zilch! Not bad, to receive an estimate or consultation.

You may ask me what type of jobs do they do? This was their response:

It would be easier to list what type of renovations we don’t do, which would be none. We can handle any type of build or renovation, from a studio apartment to a multi-unit building. A short list of all our property services would be:

• Design
• Remodeling
• Additions
• Historical Renovations
• Basements
• Painting
• Maintenance
• Handyman Services
• Exterior Renovations
• Board-Up Services
• Temporary Fencing
• Temporary Power & Generators
• Temporary Heat
• Winterization
• Fire-Related Electrical & Plumbing
• Water Extraction
• Equipment Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Water Damage Mitigation
• Structural Dehumidification & Drying
• Structure cleaning
• Structural Stabilization/Shoring
• Roof Cover
• Controlled Debris Removal
• Mold Remediation
• Property Maintenance:
• initial lawn maintenance
• bush hogging
• recurring lawn maintenance
• tree/shrub trimming
• interior debris removal
• exterior debris removal
• personal property eviction
• vehicle removal
• hazardous materials removal
• janitorial clean
• securing construction materials
• gutter cleaning
• power washing
• recurring pool maintenance
• snow removal
• water removal due to flooding
• mold remediation
• administer utilities
• animal removal
• pest control
• erosion control estimates
• roof repair estimates
• leakage repair estimates
• cosmetic repair estimates
• winterization
• changing locks on exterior doors
• board up for open entry points
• window and door installation
• garage door installation
• securing HVAC units
• security fence installation
• pool security

I also wanted to mention the maintenance program they have. For a fee, they will take over any maintenance you need on your home. Even owners of single family homes can live maintenance free with this program. Anything from semi annual safety and maintenance to honey do lists.

Need some work done? You can contact RGC at 800-708-4160. RGC is located at 1363 Shermer Road Suite 220 Northbrook, IL 60062. You can also check them out on Facebook and Twitter. Or you can visit their blog.

Dragon Tail Hybrid Sunglasses ($99 value) Review and Giveaway

Hi neighbors!

I love visiting with all of you At the Fence, and today I have have a really great pair of sunglasses to share with you. They are from J. L. Childs Outfitters and are called Dragon Tail Sunglasses ($99 on sale for $75). The Dragon Tail Sunglasses are designed for extreme sport enthusiasts. From snowboarding, skiing, windsurfing, even motorcyclists can use these sunglasses. These sunglasses come with a 100% money back guarantee. J. L. Childs donates 10% of each purchase to the World Wildlife Fund.


This is a view of the cushioning.

I am actually sharing these glasses with my son. I use them as sunglasses, and he uses them for sports and other activities. I love that you can remove the arms and attach the elasticized band when you are more active. There is a soft cushion on the back of the glasses for comfort and to prevent anything from getting in your eyes, this is also removable. There is a small button you push to release the arms, and the padding you push up and they pop out. This makes them perfect because as soon as you are done with your activity, you can swap the band for the arms and continue on with your day. You don't have to carry an extra pair of sunglasses, just simply pop the band off and replace the arms. Super easy! I can see how these would be great on the slopes or on the water. They are also great for biking, because you can use the strap instead of the arms and you don't have to worry about them slipping or falling off. The glasses are wrap around, so they protect your eyes from all directions, along with looking great! And they come in a very nice zippered case with a clip on the side that you can attach to a belt loop, gym bag strap, purse strap etc.


Above is how the arm piece or elasticized band goes on.

This is the cushioned piece popped out.

So neighbors, if you are looking for that perfect gift, whether for the sport enthusiast in your life, or you just want a very flexible pair of sunglasses, make sure you take time to check out J. L. Childs Outfitters Dragon Tail Sunglasses. You can connect with them also on Facebook or Twitter. They also have a newsletter you can sign up for.

Here is the removable strap.


Now the really great news is that one of you will receive a pair of these glasses.

Mandatory Entry:Visit the J. L. Childs Outfitters website and sign up for their newsletter. In a comment let me know that you did this. Please be honest about this. You do not have to be a blogger to enter this giveaway, but you must leave a valid email where you can be reached should you win. This giveaway will end 7/11 at 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond. (USA Only).

Extra Entries:

1.Become a neighbor(follower). Leave a comment to let me know you did/do. 1 entry

2.Subscribe to At The Fence. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/do. 2 entries

3.Follow me on Twitter, At The Fence. Leave a comment letting me know that you did/do. 1 entry

4.Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment with the link. 3 tweets per day. Up to 3 comments a day for tweeting.

5.Do a post regarding this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link. 2 entries, so 2 comments.

6.Leave a comment on one of my review posts(not a giveaway). 1 entry

7. Leave a comment letting me know if you are involved in an extreme sport, or if you would just like these for casual wear. 1 entry

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a pair of DragonTail Sunglasses for this review. All quotes are taken from the J. L. Childs website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

My Trainer Fitness Six 30 Minute Workouts Review and Special Offer

Hi Neighbors,

I am starting to feel so much better. Began very slow treadmill workouts. Between that and the change in diet, I am beginning to lose some weight. Yeah! Anyway, here is a great way to interest your children in working out, and there is a program for you too! My Trainer Fitness is a program that has exercises laid out for you on laminated cards. It is like receiving training from your own personal instructor. The cards can be placed in a 3 ring binder or attached together with a Carabiner. The My Trainer Fitness For Kids is recommended for ages 9-14.The workouts were created by Le Aura Alderson and Robyn Holland. The first cards introduce you to some different terms such as drills, cardio, endurance, plyometrics, etc.



Location:You need an area approx. 25 meters or 25 paces in length. You should if possible have a timer or stopwatch, however you can do these workouts without one. As far as food and water go, remember to drink lots of water before, during and after your workout. You should not workout on a full stomach, but a light snack might be recommended. When you are finished your body needs good fuel from healthy foods. Make sure to read the Run and Rest; Work and Rest section before starting a workout and as always consult a physician before beginning an exercise program.


The workout starts with drills to help your body warm up for exercise. Then each day for 6 days you have 1 card to complete with the exercises listed, how many, and pictures showing how the exercise is done. At the back of the 6 cards is a list of stretches to be done. You can really turn the workouts into fun by doing them with your child/children. With the way children today are becoming couch potatoes, either in front of the TV or computer, this is a wake up call to parents to encourage their children to be active.


The other set of workout cards I received are My Trainer Fitness For At Home. These were created by Le Aura Alderson and Jill Coleman. This set includes six 30 minute workouts. These workouts are considered intermediate, but you can adjust them to your own level, by lowering weights, decreasing intensity, reduce the pace, etc. As stated earlier consult a physician before starting an exercise program. These workouts are "circuit training" style, which is a system of exercising that maximizes fat burning and cardiovascular training by keeping the heart rate and breathing up throughout the workout. You should warm up 5 minutes before each workout.

My Trainer Fitness for At Home requires 2 sets of dumbbells: 1 heavy and 1 light. For most women heavy would be between 8-15 lbs. Light for most women would be between 3-10 lbs.

Day 1 focuses on Lower Body and Cardio. There are squats, squat jumps, hip lift, just to name a few. Day 2 centers on Upper Body and Cardio, with chest press, chest fly,
dip, etc. Day 3-Core and Cardio including ab crunch, alternating leg drop, high knees, bicycle etc. Day 4 is back to Lower Body and Cardio, but with different exercises. Day 5 is Upper Body and Cardio and Day 6 is back to Core and Cardio.

Now, I am going to be totally upfront with everyone here. My youngest daughter has done some of the My Trainer Fitness for Kids, as you will see from the pictures, but I have been unable to do the At Home because of my back injury. Wouldn't you know that just as I am setting out to do more exercise, I would injure myself before even beginning. From looking through the six 30 minute workout cards though it looks like you get a good workout.

There are a few other My Trainer Fitness 6 packs available. They are:100 Calorie Workouts, for Outdoors, for Guys at the Gym, and for at Work. And here is what My Trainer Fitness is willing to do for neighbors At the Fence: If you order from their site you will receive one free 6-pack.

1. Order something from the MTF website (not Amazon as we cannot monitor referrals and giveaways from there).

2. At the shopping cart where it asks 'How You Heard of Us' they need to enter both of these:

- Your blog's name

- The free 6-pack they want sent with their order

Disclaimer:I received no monetary compensation for this post. I did receive 2 My Trainer Fitness 6-packs. All quotes are taken from the My Trainer Fitness website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

SMENS Gourmet Scented Pens Review and Giveaway!

Good day Neighbors!

It is so beautiful outside today, and I am so glad you chose to stop by At the Fence. I have another great item from Educational Insights. They are called SMENS ($24.99). They are made from 100% recycled newspapers and biodegradable plastic. There are 10 SMENS that each come in a gourmet scent. The tube that each pen comes in is made from biodegradable plastic. SMENS are guaranteed to keep their scent for two years.


The 10 scents include:
Pink Lemonade
Black Licorice
Creamsicle
Banana Fo Fana
Aloha
Caramel Corn
Red Licorice
Mocha
Ninja Berry
Passion Fruit


They are really nicely scented. I am having my daughters keep them in the tubes when they are not in use. These will be great for school! They are recommended for ages 6-14. Once again these would make a great gift idea for a teacher! Or you could give them as a gift with a journal. My 10 year old loves writing and getting to use pens with gourmet scents only makes the writing more enjoyable.


One neighbor will win a set of SMENS.

Mandatory Entry:Visit Educational Insights and tell me in a comment one product they carry that you would like to see reviewed. You do not have to be a blogger, but you must leave a valid email where you can be reached should you win. This giveaway will end 7/6 at 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond. (USA Only)

Extra Entries:


1.Become a neighbor(follower). Leave a comment to let me know you did/do.

2.Subscribe to At The Fence. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/do.

3.Follow me on Twitter, At The Fence. Leave a comment letting me know that you did/do.

4.Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment with the link. 3 tweets per day. Up to 3 comments a day for tweeting.

5.Do a post regarding this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link. 2 entries, so 2 comments.

6.Leave a comment on one of my review posts(not a giveaway). 1 entry

7. Tell me in a comment if you will save these for school, use as a gift, or if you will use them right away. 1entry

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a set of SMENS for this review. All quotes are taken from the Educational Insights website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Gold Canyon Candle Review and Giveaway!

Hey neighbors!

I am centering on the home, through decor, appliances, etc. Things to help you Spruce up for Summer. And I have a really great Candle and Shade to share with you. The scent is a very summer fragrance! I received the Heritage Sliced Watermelon. My whole family loves the fragrance. We could really smell it all over. Gold Canyon Candles have two wicks and it burns the candle more evenly. I really believe the Gold Canyon Candles are more fragrant and it lasts longer than most candles. All you have to do is remove the cover and the fragrance fills the room.





I also received a gorgeous shade. It is the Scrolling Shade! It is a beautiful white shade with scroll work on it, that looks like vines. The shade will fit the 26, 16, and 8 oz. candle. It comes with a stainless steel adapter for the Bella.





For my neighbors not familiar with Gold Canyon, they are more than just candles. Gold Canyon has Body and Bath products. They are called the Emerge Total Response Therapy line. My daughter has tried some and really liked them. Then they have other Home Scents. The Home Scents line, Homeology, is aromatherapy cleaning supplies.

If you really like Gold Canyon you can also host a party. Contact your friends and share Gold Canyon with them. Or you could even sign up to sell Gold Canyon.

Gold Canyon History:

"Gold Canyon began in 1997 with Karen Waisath‘s pursuit for the ideal home fragrance candle. Experimenting in her Gilbert, Arizona kitchen, she developed a clean-burning candle that permeated her home with a rich fragrance and warm ambience. Her husband, Curt, soon joined in the quest and together they established a thriving business. Their creation quickly found a loyal and passionate following.
In creating Gold Canyon, Karen also found a way to pursue a career that would allow her to be home with her children. She wanted Gold Canyon to offer this fulfilling opportunity to other women, and in doing so, Karen established an Independent Demonstrator sales force. Soon, Karen and Curt discovered people not only loved their exquisitely fragrant candles but also the opportunity that came with it—the flexibility of a home-based business and selling a quality product they could believe in. Today, more than 25,000 Independent Demonstrators have fulfilled their own dreams thanks to the opportunity created by Curt and Karen.
The mission of Gold Canyon has continued to evolve while remaining focused on family, charity, community and friendship. This dedication has been the driving force behind the company‘s commitment to research and has resulted in many of the company‘s most ground-breaking innovations including its cool wax and self-extinguishing wicks. Hundreds of new products, such as room sprays, sachets, candle holders and accessories for home décor, have been introduced over the years including EMERGE™ – a line of renewing body care products and Homeology™ – all natural biodegradable home cleaning products. Even as the company‘s product line has expanded, every item continues to be developed with great care and meets the high standard that Gold Canyon established in its early days.
With more than 200,000 square feet of production space, Gold Canyon operates a state-of-the art manufacturing facility with a capacity to produce and ship over 75,000 units daily. Gold Canyon also relies on a visionary executive team of professionals with diverse backgrounds in direct sales, operations management, finance and marketing. Today, Gold Canyon also offers its products and opportunity in Canada.
The method for success is the same as it was in the beginning. This formula includes the dynamic and passionate community of Independent Demonstrators, the expert Coworkers that have become masters of their craft and the hundreds of distinct fragrances and unique products that remain the soul and spirit of Gold Canyon. Each fragrance is still carefully approved by Karen today to ensure Gold Canyon delivers on its brand promise as ―The World‘s Finest®‖.
Enriching products ... enticing opportunities ... all realized through the courage, humility and passion of a dream—truly the essence of living well®."


Wouldn't that be perfect for a nice romantic dinner at home?

Gold Canyon is going to send the winner of this giveaway a 16 oz. Sliced Watermelon Candle! Do I have your attention?

Mandatory Entry: Visit the Gold Canyon website and then tell me in a comment one candle scent you really think you would like to try. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but you must leave a valid email where you can be reached should you win. This giveaway will end 7/4 at 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond. (USA Only)

Extra Entries:

1.Become a neighbor(follower). Leave a comment to let me know you did/do.

2.Subscribe to At The Fence. Leave a comment to let me know that you did/do.

3.Follow me on Twitter, At The Fence. Leave a comment letting me know that you did/do.

4.Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment with the link. 3 tweets per day. Up to 3 comments a day for tweeting.

5.Do a post regarding this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link. 2 entries, so 2 comments.

6.Leave a comment on one of my review posts(not a giveaway). 1 entry

7. Tell me if you really love candles? I have a major collection going, do you? 1 entry

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I will receive a Sliced Watermelon candle and a Scroll Shade for this review. All quotes are taken from the Gold Canyon website or email. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

New umbrella for my mom

Guest post written by Cassandra Mathers

Last time I was home a few weeks ago to visit my parents, it rained the whole weekend. But my mom and I braved it for a lunch out and a day out shopping anyway. The thing was though that her umbrella looked so pitiful that I tried to convince her to let me buy her a new one just as a treat. But she wouldn't, so I'm shopping for one to give her anyway. If I hand it to her, she can't turn it down, right?

I thought I would be able to find some really cute umbrellas online, so that's where I started my search. As I was looking, I ran across some http://www.get.wildblue.com and even though I wasn't looking for them, I checked them out and ordered one of them for my home internet service.

My mom's a pretty cheery person and loves bright colors, so I thought that it would be important to find her an umbrella that reflects that. So I picked out this really pretty floral pattern that I'm pretty sure she's going to love. Plus, it also folds up really small so she can stick it in her purse and carry it around with her everywhere.

Murals Your Way

Hello Neighbors!

I just have to share this with my neighbors At the Fence. I wish I could invite everyone of you into my house to see this. I was approached by Murals Your Way and offered the chance to try one of their products. When you visit their site and see all the available choices you will be amazed! It took me awhile to decide. I chose one called Golden Times (EM4001), and I wanted it for my bedroom. I chose a 4x6 ($254) as it was going above a dresser and bookshelf. Well, after ordering there is a short wait. Approx. 8-10 business days.

The picture above is the full mural. I apologize for the items on the top of the dresser.

It came in while we were in Chicago and I injured my back. Anyway, while dealing with that and trying to lower my blood sugar it took a little time to actually get it up. So, one day this past week my two sons decided to help me apply this to the wall. First we made sure to remove any nails and make sure the wall was clean and dry. Because it was so high up we had to use a small step stool. My son was on the stool making sure we kept the top even. They tell you to measure and dry a line if needed, but mine ran right along the trim. Anyway, he did the top while I worked at the bottom. My daughter came in and held the roll (when it arrives it is rolled), while my other son slowly removed the backing for us. It went up pretty fast and easy once we all were co-ordinated. We did have to pull it up a little a couple of times when we noticed a wrinkle, but overall it was quick and easy to apply. It did run over a little, but we just wrapped it around the door frame. I wasn't able to take pictures of us putting it up as we were all working.

The color of the sun setting on the water is beautiful!

This is the cabin with the old truck parked beside it and a canoe. The line is where we wrapped it around the door frame.

This is the mother bear and one of the cubs.

Here are two cubs on the ground.

Here is another view of the lake.

It is gorgeous! Now every morning I wake up to a beautiful lake scene with a cabin and bears. It is very relaxing to look at. The mural itself is very well done. The picture is clear and sharp, and the colors are so beautiful! My pictures do not do it justice. I took a full picture and then some smaller pictures of different areas of the mural. My whole family was impressed with the finished product.

The murals by Murals Your Way are repositionable. So if you make a mistake you can peel it back and correct the problem.

Murals Your way has been in business for more than 40 years. They work with 3 different types of materials, mine was the Smart Stick. They even do customized work, and print your own picture, or even more amazing, they can add someone's name to a design, or add your dog on the sidewalk in front of the cafe. Their in-house designers can, within reason, handle a variety of customization requests.

Below are just a couple of pictures that they do as murals that I know other members of my family would enjoy. One son would love to have the helicopter and the other the horses. And anyone of my daughters would love the garden scene!

If you are looking for a way to change the way a room looks, or just add some color, you need to look into Murals Your Way. I definitely recommend them to my neighbors! Please take a minute to visit their site and see what they have available. If you do, leave a comment here telling me one of your favorites. See you At the Fence! Check back as I will be posting a discount here for my readers.