Gourmet Gift Baskets Has Baked Goods!

Hello Neighbors!

How are you all?  We went to the park this morning and played Kickball!  It was alot of fun.  We brought a couple of snacks and drinks.  One thing we brought was some Brownie from Gourmet Gift Baskets.  I have worked with them many times but I never realized they had Baked Goods.  Gourmet Gift Baskets sent me a sample of their Brownies Sampler Bakery Gift (1 of each flavor).

There are six flavors.
White Chocolate Macadamia Blondie
Belgian Chocolate  Chunk Brownie
Cheesecake Brownie
Butterscotch Blondie
Peanut Butter Brownie
Fudge Walnut Brownie

I opened a piece of Peanut Butter Brownie and cut it into smaller pieces (these are big!) and let everyone take a piece.  They were all oohing and ahhing over it right away.  It was really good!  Peanut Butter and Chocolate is a favorite in our family so we really enjoyed this one.

Another thing we like is Chocolate and Nuts.  That is why I grabbed the Fudge Walnut right away.  That was my personal favorite...

One member of the family thought the White Chocolate Macadamia was good.  She said it tasted a little different than most White Macadamia but she thought it tasted good.

Gourmet Gift Baskets is going to send the same sample (of of each flavor) I received to a Neighbor in the lower 48 states!

IScentU Mini Lamp

Hi Neighbors!

I received a really neat item for review recently.  I have to tell you ahead of time though that I like it just as much for how beautiful it is as I do how well it works.  This mini lamp from buy IScentU is simply gorgeous.  I love how dainty and feminine it looks, but not only is it pretty, it is useful.  This little bottle is a fragrance lamp.  Now, with three dogs, one cat and 6 children, I often have odors in my home that I need to deal with. (Like wet dog, a litterbox that is due for a cleaning, dirty socks, etc.)  So, I tried the IScentU Lamp and Fragrance.  Apple Splash is the scent I received.  It smells wonderful.  Light and crisp.

So, Here is how this little lamp works.  You fill it approx. 1/2 to 2/3 full of the Scentier Lampe Parfum (This is the fancy name for the fragrance oil.).  The lamp came with a little funnel to make filling easier.  Also it is recommended that you put a plate or saucer under the lamp while filling the lamp as spills could damage finished surfaces.  Insert the Platinum Wick into the lamp.  Allow the lamp to sit about five minutes with the cut-off cap on so the wick has time to absorb the fragrance.  Now, you can light your IScentU Lamp.  This lights differently than a stone burner as it heats up without a visible flame.  Remove your cut-off cap and hold your flame to the side of the Platinum Wick. Not the top.  If a flame is seen, gentle blow it out.  Place your decorative Crown Cap on top and enjoy. Here is a youtube video from IScentU on lighting your lamp:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcLT3hDIHEI&lr=1   Always make sure that the lamp is set in a safe place.  It only took moments for my family to notice the fragrance filling the room.  They do recommend that you do not use longer than 1/2 hour at a time as the fragrance can become overwhelming.

I was very pleased with my experience with the IScentU Lamp.  As stated previously, it is not only pretty, it is functional. I could no longer smell damp dog after using the IScentU product.

IScentU Lamps  come in many colors and designs.  There will be a match for just about any decor you have in your home.  There are also many fragrances to choose from.  I am hoping to try some other fragrances in the future!  Maybe Lavender Fields or Eucalyptus Mint.  Take a glance around the buyIScentU website and leave a comment here if you find one you especially like!

Disclosure:I received no monetary compensation for this post.  I did receive an IScentU lamp and fragrance for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Do You Walk Your Dog At Night? Illumidog!

Hi Neighbors!

Do you have a dog, that you like to walk at dusk or after dark?  You might want to check out the IllumiDog website.  They have many products to help your dog be seen at night.  Here is how they got started:

"We have Buddy to thank for illumidog. He was a jet-black spunky pit-mix that we fostered from Lane County Animal Shelter (LCAS). We both had full time jobs and couldn’t find the time to walk Buddy during the day, so most days we would take Buddy out for a stroll after dark. Neither of us felt too safe ourselves, or for the dark black pooch in our care during those walks.
We googled and searched local stores for reflective collars to make our trips a little safer, but each collar we found left a lot to be desired, as none of them were very bright. That is when we discovered SOLAS reflective tape, which looked like glowing liquid silver when we tested it with our headlights.
Since we made our first collar, Buddy found his forever home, we found two perfect pooches for us (Cheddar and Kaiya) who have one of our collars and a Photon X-Light around their necks at all times."

Here is what the reflective vest looks like up close.

Can you see the orange?

At the top of the post you see Lady Grace modeling her Illumidog Reflective Dog Vest.  She actually wore it around for awhile in the yard and inside to get used to it.  As you can see by the other pictures the vest really helps people see your dog at night.  The vest is an eye-catching orange, trimmed with black, and all over the vest is a pattern of reflective dashes.  It attaches with 2 quick release buckles, one around the neck and one around the body of the dog.  It has been designed for comfort and durability.  The vest is available in various sizes so I are sure you can find one that will fit your dog.

A little blurry.  I am learning!

I also used one of their pictures because I am still learning night shots on my camera.

IllumiDog also has some really nice reflective collars.  I am hoping they come out in a size soon to fit our dogs!  Especially since one of our dogs is an escape artist!

So if you like to walk your dog in the evening be sure and visit IllumiDog.  You will be able to relax knowing your dog is visible!

Disclosure:I received no monetary compensation for this post.  I did receive an IllumiDog reflective vest for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Tropicana Pure Premium Brings Back Memories!

Hello Neighbors!



Tropicana Pure Premium 100% Florida Orange Juice sure brings back memories.  I was born in Florida, and although we moved around quite a bit, my family always returned there.  So, I grew up around Florida orange groves.  I can remember as a family going on the weekend to the local orange grove and spending hours picking oranges.  Other than babysitting, it was probably my first paying job.  One day while out picking we had an exciting experience.  We usually stayed together around one tree as a family and then moved on to the next tree.  We usually picked the lower oranges and then someone came after us with ladders and did the ones higher up.  On this day just minutes after moving on to another tree, we heard the pickers behind us give a shout.  One of them raced to his truck and grabbed a shovel.  We went back to see what was happening and they had just killed a rattlesnake.  Right near where we had been picking.  It didn't scare us enough to leave, but I sure was careful the rest of the day.  It was amazing to me how many oranges we could pick in a day and yet there was always more. Which leads right into my next thought!

Let me tell you a little bit about Tropicana.  Tropicana is the single largest buyer of Florida fruit and the Tropicana Pure Premium is 100% pure Florida orange juice. They purchase approximately 11.6 billion oranges from Florida each year!  Not hard to believe since oranges have been grown in Florida since the 1560s.  Tropicana uses groves in 22 different Florida counties, mainly southern and central Florida.  Who knows, maybe an orange or two I picked made it into Tropicana Orange Juice!  There are two major types of oranges used in Tropicana Pure Premium.  They are Valencia and Hamlin.  The Valencia being more intense in color and flavor, while the Hamlin tends to be sweeter. 

And neighbors, would you like to know something else great about Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice?  Right now they have a sweepstakes going on where you can enter to win 100 Florida prizes, including a one year supply of Tropicana Pure Premium and a trip to Florida to visit an orange grove. Are you interested?  I thought you might be!  Just visit the Tropicana Facebook page, be sure to "like" it.  And then click on the "sweeps" tab for the official rules and regulations. https://www.facebook.com/Tropicana

So hurry up enter Tropicana"s Perfect Pick Sweepstakes.  Then be sure to pick up some Tropicana Pure Premium for breakfast..or lunch....maybe dinner...or just anytime you want the fresh taste of Florida oranges.

 Disclosure:I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Tropicana blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here

PhotoPad is Fun!

Hey Neighbors!

Do any of you like to design with photos and then share them with your friends?  There is this really neat App on Facebook called PhotoPad where you can change your Facebook photo albums into a scrapbook.  It features, different backgrounds, picture layouts, text, shapes, and stickers.  You can design and redesign until you get exactly what you want, and then you can share with your friends on Facebook.  Have any of you tried this app?

It is really quite simple to use, so I was pretty excited to get to try this out, especially since I have been using my new camera and sharing the pictures on Facebook!  This makes them look even better when you share them! You can see one of my designs above!  We had so much fun that day! 

If you would like to try your hand at designing on PhotoPad just visit the link:https://apps.facebook.com/photopad/  Hopefully my neighbors will enjoy PhotoPad as much as I did.  I do hope they add some more features.  I would love to see more shapes for the photos, and of course more stickers!  If you use PhotoPad be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Disclosure:This is a sponsored post.  All thoughts and opinions are entirely mine.

Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler

Greetings Neighbors!

So good to see you out At the Fence today.  We have beautiful weather here today, and as a matter of fact the family is heading out for volleyball soon.  I have this really great product from Rubbermaid to share here with my neighbors!  It is a Hidden Recycler.  (Suggested retail $15.99).  I LOVE IT!  We recycle here.  My youngest daughters get to collect the bottles and cans for recycling, and they get to keep the money.  The only problem is, I get tired of bottles and cans sitting around the kitchen waiting to make their way out back to the shed where they store them until we turn them in.  In comes Rubbermaid to the rescue.  Did I say I love this product?

The Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler attaches easily to your cabinet door with hooks (included) or screws, neatly hiding your recyclables. Yeah!  And the girls like like it because it is so easy to use.  There is a convenient handle, so when you fill the 5 gallon bag, that will hold up to 36, yes I said 36 12 ounce cans, you can just grab it by the handle and carry it to the shed. (Or wherever you keep your recyclables.)  It is also wide enough to fit a gallon jug.  Super great!

The bag has a leak-proof liner that is machine washable, so you can clean it if you should have any spills or leaks from cans.  It is a soft-sided bag so it should easily fit under any cabinet.  And the bag and packaging are all made from recyclable material.  You win all the way around! And I win because it cuts down on my counter clutter.

Any one of my neighbors who like to recycle would enjoy one of these Rubbermaid Hidden Recyclers.  So, not only can you purchase them online and at Meijers, but one neighbor will be receiving their own Hidden Recycler for winning this giveaway! This one is open to US and Canada!

An adorable and useful apron

Guest post written by Mary White I've been collecting cute kitchen utensils for years now. I haven't' always used all of them. For years I much rather preferred to just look at all of them and admire them than actually use them. But I've actually been getting my hands dirty in the kitchen this year and haven't looked back. But I've been looking down a lot at all the flour and ingredients that I've spilled all over myself. So it's time to finally invest in an apron and I was looking through some possible purchases for them when I saw the websitedebtsettlementfamily.com/procedure. After I looked through it a little bit I decided to get some more info on it and possible use it to help with my debt issues. I saw this cute ruffled apron online that I instantly fell in love with. Just because it's protecting my clothes doesn't mean that it can't be attractive itself! From my cute kitchen stuff, you can tell that I'm not against something cute that also performs a necessary function too. Actually, I love those things even more!

Good News Neighbors! Children's Claritin Mom Crew!

Hi Neighbors!

With spring here allergies are beginning to kick in.  My son and 2 of my daughters each suffer from seasonal allergies.  So do I!  3 of us are allergic to dust and mold, and I personally react to pine.  Then of course there are perfumes and such.  Since we suffer from allergies I am happy to tell you that I have been accepted to the Children's Claritin Mom Crew!  What does that mean to my neighbors here At the Fence?   Well, it means that I will be able to give you updates, hints and tips, and sometimes product received directly from Children's Claritin.  Not to mention all the other Mom Crew Members!

We already use Claritin, so this will be great actually working with them and the rest of the Claritin Mom Crew.  So keep on the lookout for updates on Claritin and  ways to help beat your children's allergies.

As a matter of fact, let's start with some tips from the "Free to Play" March Newsletter:

Spring Allergy Tips
It's not surprising that in the season notorious for allergies, we have the most tips to share! Beginning as early as February, invisible pollens from hardwood deciduous trees are big troublemakers for many allergy sufferers. But there's no reason to be miserable. These tips can help you minimize your exposure to allergens, and be prepared as possible for the pollen storm that's on the horizon.

• Start taking Claritin® allergy products as soon as symptoms start.
• Having medication on hand will help you prepare for allergy symptoms.
• Know your nemesis.
• When you understand what triggers your allergy symptoms, you can make an extra effort to avoid them. For example, grass pollen levels rise when grass is disturbed, so if that's one of your triggers, wear a mask when mowing or avoid mowing altogether.
• Beat the clock.
• Peak pollen production can occur in early morning, so try to plan outside activities at other times of the day.
• Check the forecast.
• Avoid going outdoors when pollen counts are high. Also, heavy rains wash pollen from the air, making post-shower outings more comfortable. Beware of dry, windy days when pollen can be particularly intense. (Get the pollen counts and weather forecast for your area and sign up for the Claritin® Allergy Forecast.)

Neighbors, do any of you have children who suffer from allergies?  If so, be sure to "Like" the Claritin Facebook page so you can stay posted on Claritin news and to save on Claritin.


As a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit.  No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

Vet Depot and K9 Advantix II

Hi Neighbors!

It is that time of year again.  Springtime means the return of pests.  Including the pests that bother your dog, like ticks, fleas, mosquitos, biting flies and lice.  So I am really excited to find that I can purchase K9 Advantix II through Vet Depot, right online!  We have never yet had a problem with fleas and ticks, and I don't want to!

This is our youngest.

Vet Depot brings discount pet supplies directly to your door.  Talk about convenience.  The K9 Advantix II is available for all size dogs, but the ones we received are for dogs 11-20 lbs. and it is a 4 pack.  The price is $48.67.  It is a topical prevention and treatment for the pests that most bother your dog. The K9 Advantix II is easy to use.  Just open the foil package and remove applicator and tip.  Hold applicator tube and remove cap and follow directions to break seal.  Apply evenly in two to three spots on the dog's back, between the shoulder and tail.  Be sure to part the fur to apply the K9 Advantix II.  Apply evenly.  Remember as with all medications, please follow all directions.

They have to have her out on our long lead for play because this little stinker escapes our chain link fence!

They were watching volleyball here!

Knowing about Vet Depot is going to be a great convenience since we have 3 dogs, a cat and 1 bird.  I can shop online since there is no nearby pet store here.  We have to drive an hour or more to find anything other than Wal-Mart.  Vet depot carries more than just flea and tick control.  They carry a wide variety of pet supplies.  Be sure to visit their site and see if they can help you out any.

Disclosure:I received no monetary compensation for this review.  I did receive K9 Advantix II for review purposes.  All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Kids Exclusive Shopping Experience

Hello Neighbors!

I received a $25 GC to Kids Exclusive!  They have some of the cutest clothes for children! I went in and registered with them and then started browsing.  Not only do they have regular priced items, they always seem to have sales going on.  My daughter was with me and helped me to pick out several dresses she liked.  Then we had to narrow it down to just one.  She chose the Vibrant Red Dress.  It was $19 and the extra covered our shipping.  After placing the order I received a confirmation email.

We were on the road in Florida at that time, so imagine my surprise to discover another email stating that they could not find the dress in the correct size.  They offered a refund, and a coupon for a percentage off on my next purchase.  Before I could respond, I received another email from Kids Exclusive letting me know that they did have the dress and could ship it if I still wanted it.  I emailed and let them know we would still like the dress.  I ordered a size 14.  Now, my daughter is 11, so I was pretty sure that it would fit.  It looked long enough in the picture, so, now we just had to wait.

When the dress came in, I realized, I had another problem.  There was no way this dress would fit my 11 year old.  Fortunately, we were visiting a church where I know several young ladies and was able to have one of them wear the dress for the pictures.  I allowed her to keep it!  She was so excited.  For the pictures she was a little shy, but could not wait to take her dress home.

The dress was well made and very beautiful.. I would be sure and verify that the sizing is right before ordering.  Shipping was quick after we solved our initial problem.  They do have some really adorable baby clothes!  So if you are looking for a new outfit stop by Kids Exclusive and see if they might have something to meet your needs.

Disclosure:I received no monetary compensation for this post.  I did receive a $25 GC to use at Kids Exclusive.  All thoughts and opinions are entirely mine.

Char Crust Dry Rub Seasoning and Grilling!

Oh Neighbors!

I just have to tell you about Char Crust Dry Rub Seasonings!  They are super!  We decided to grill some steaks over the weekend and wasn't it just great that I had just received Char Crust Dry Rub Seasonings.  We tried 2 different ones today.  We tried the All American Barbecue and the Roasted Garlic Peppercorn.  We LOVED them!

The packages will do several pieces of meat.  You simply rub the seasonings into the entire surface of the steak.  The seasonings seal in the juices and taste!  Delicious!  Char Crust is a simple way to add flavor to your meal, whether it is beef, poultry, fish or pork.  I am looking forward to trying it on chicken next.  After applying the seasoning you can bake, broil, pan sear, roast, saute, or grill your meat. 

  Roasted Garlic Peppercorn features the robust flavor of roasted garlic and onions with the zing of peppercorns and a hint of Worcestershire and lavender. Its versatility has made it a best seller. It complements steaks, lamb, seafood, pork, poultry, and potatoes.

• Ginger Teriyaki is a balance of sweet teriyaki, fragrant ginger, plus a tingly touch of wasabi that lends a new dimension and creates a modern teriyaki interpretation. It complements chicken, fish, and steak.

• Amazin’ Cajun is a spicy-sweet blend of piquant cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and a mélange of other Mardi Gras flavors. It brings the sublime heat of New Orleans to catfish, chicken, shrimp, and even “dirty” rice.

• All American Barbecue takes the best flavors of American barbecue and blends them into a tangy-sweet, slightly spicy rub. It has rich molasses from Memphis, tangy tomato from Kansas City, mustard, pepper and vinegar from the Carolinas, plus a wisp of smoke from Texas.

We chose to grill ours!  And they were great!  My daughter wants to try one of our other Char Crust Dry Rub Seasonings (Amazin' Cajun) on some fish.  We also have a Ginger Teriyaki.  I highly recommend the Char Crust Dry Rub Seasonings to my neighbors.  You can purchase the four ounce packages of Char Crust, which retail for $5.49 online at www.charcrust.com or perhaps you can find them at your local butcher shop, gourmet food store, or grocery store.  Or  perhaps you could win some to try for yourself and your family.

The winner of this giveaway will receive the same Char Crust Dry Rub Seasonings that I did.  So be sure and enter the giveaway!  Be sure to check them out on Facebook and like their page!

No Cost Blogger Event

Hey Neighbors!
Any of you bloggers out there interested in boosting your Facebook followers?  How about helping out by posting this event on your blog and you will get a free Facebook link!  FREE!  All you have to do is do a post about the Rainy Day Facebook Frenzy with a link to this page: Sign up http://blog.ultimatebaby-shower.com/2012/03/no-cost-blogger-event-sign-ups/">HERE!  and then complete the form.  You will receive a reminder to post the giveaway, around 4/2  to go live on 4/4 then sit back and relax.  The $100 is being provided by Cute Ecakes, and all you have to do is help out in announcing the giveaway!  So hop to it.

Looking For Modest Clothing? Kosher Casual!

Hi Neighbors!

I am so loving spring!  We really didn't have a bad winter, but spring is simply gorgeous this year!  We already have flowers blooming and birds visiting our feeders! (As you can tell by some recent pictures!)  Anyway, we have been spending quite a bit of this month on fashion, and I just have to share Kosher Casual with you!  While researching their site I found several denim skirts that I would LOVE to own.  And their prices are great too!. Most of their denim skirts are right around $30.  Of course denim skirts are not all that they carry.  They also have other skirts along with shirts, tops for layering (another favorite of mine), and of course they carry clothing for men, children and babies.

Front view.

Back view.

 Kosher Casual is best in Israel.  Surprised!  My children were when the package arrived.  Especially the piece of gum that was included.  One comment was, "I didn't know they had that type of gum in Israel!"   I had to laugh.  Below is a little information on Kosher Casual and how they were started.

The gum that made them laugh!

Bazooka Joe!

Kosher Casual:
"Kosher Casual is owned and managed by Israel Marketing LLC and Gary Swickley, an American immigrant to Israel with a Harvard MBA. Gary has been working for over 15 years with manufacturers in Israel producing garments for export. He also owns and manages Blue and White Kids, a company that manufactures clothing made in Israel for schools, camps, and youth groups in U.S., Canada, and Israel. (http://www.blueandwhitekids.com/) He also developed and owned the popular clothing retail chain "The Machsan" in Israel.

 Kosher Casual is a manufacturer of its own line of modest clothing. We follow fashion trends in both the modest fashion and general clothing industry and reinterpret the styles to the modest clothing marketplace. Not just frum clothing or tznius clothing, but modernly, modest clothing. We add an inch or two here to the skirt length or the top opening. Our styles parallel the trendy fashion houses including pencil skirts and tiered skirts. We sell primarily casual modest clothing for everyday wear for both girls, teens, and women. We also supply many schools that have modest clothing school dress codes."

Although Kosher Casual is based in Israel they do not just design for the Jewish clothing market.  Their clothing is appropriate for all women who wish to dress modestly.  Modesty, comfort, and style all in one.

Kosher Casual

We received the Long Denim Skirt Tiered for Women.  It is a long denim skirt, all the way to the ankles.  It is a full A-line skirt, with Lycra added for flexibility and comfort.  At the back of the skirt, the waistband is elasticized and includes a small zipper for a comfortable fit. The denim is sturdy and should hold up well.  Perfect for your everyday needs, yet pretty enough that you could pair it with a dressier top for a special occasion.  I personally love the tiered look, and how crisp and sharp the white thread looks against the blue denim.  This skirt will definitely be a favorite in our home!

Zipper in back.

She loves it!

I would love for all me neighbors here At the Fence to visit Kosher Casual, take a look around and tell me what you think.  And, Kosher Casual will be giving a $25 GC to the winner of this giveaway.  So be sure to enter!