Review - Brookstone Universal Phone Holder

Brookstone Universal Phone Holder

Normally, I carry my huge hobo handbag which has a pocket for my iPhone as well as a slew of other items including...  Wait!  A women doesn't disclose what's in her handbag!  But sometimes I just want to travel light.  The Brookstone Universal Phone Holder is the perfect solution.  I can take my phone, my license, and my credit card and go without the extra weight of every store card from my area, hand sanitizer, dental floss (I'll stop here).

The description on the Brookstone site states that the Universal Phone Holder fits the BlackBerry® smartphone and Android™-based phone. But I can tell you that it fits my iPhone perfectly, even with a thin hard shell case. There is a slick pull tab on the backside to pop the phone out quickly.  It is made with quality leather and is minimalist yet stylish.

If you're looking for the perfect gift for a gadget-obsessed mate or friend, the Brookstone Universal Phone Holder will not disappoint.

Special thanks to Brookstone for providing the Universal Phone Holder for review as part of the Brookstone Review Crew.

Review - Brookstone Compact Rolling Traveler Suitcase

Brookstone Compact Rolling Traveler with Removable Laptop Sleeve

Having to travel a fair amount for work, I have settled on a routine using a rolling carry-on suitcase for my clothes and shoes and a large backpack for everything else.  The backpack contained my laptop, separated liquids and gels, books and magazines, iPod, noise cancelling headphones, sweater, food, water, and anything else I needed for the flight. The rolling suitcase went in the overhead bin and the backpack went under the seat in front of me. I was an expert at looking the part of the hip professional traveler. Little did I know there was a much better way.

When I first received the Brookstone Rolling Traveler, I was apprehensive about having to pull two rolling suitcases.  But it turned out to be much easier than I thought.  In fact, my back and shoulders were suddenly liberated from the often crushing weight of my backpack.  Sure, I could piggyback my backpack onto my rolling suitcase, but that often made the suitcase tippy and I was always wary of dragging it through puddles. Now with two rolling suitcases, I was able to whiz through airports and parking lots with ease.

The size of this compact rolling suitcase is designed so that it can fit under an airline seat.  It fit even on a small commuter jet with plenty of foot room.  The suitcase held everything that my backpack used to hold, but with much more flair.  There is a perfectly sized magazine pocket in the back and the side zip pockets are great for accessing smaller items.  The front top pocket is perfect for holding essential items such as your wallet, passport, cell phone and boarding pass.  It is a bit tight to pull out the whole suitcase in the middle of a flight (especially if you're in the middle seat), but it is doable and all items are fairly accessible.

The laptop sleeve worked well for pulling out and replacing the laptop quickly during the security scan.  On my outgoing flight I put the laptop sleeve in the back of the suitcase, which left some dead room around the retractable handle, and on the return flight I put the laptop sleeve in the front of the suitcase.  Leaving the laptop in the front left much more usable room in the suitcase as whole, but it did make reaching the items behind it more difficult during the flight.

The construction of the suitcase is top notch and has survived a cross country flight as well as an overnight stay without a scratch.  Now this hip traveler has finally graduated from the backpack to this Brookstone Compact Rolling Traveler.  Hooray!

Special thanks to Brookstone for providing the rolling travel suitcase for review as part of the Brookstone Review Crew.

Giveaway - Propel Zero Gift Pack (10 Winners)

Through April 24th, Propel is giving away more than 3 million samples of the new Propel Zero at participating Walmart stores. Propel Zero has no calories while keeping the same great, natural fruit flavor. Propel Zero offers a great way for active women and men to replenish (vitamins C & E), energize (B vitamins) and protect (antioxidants) their bodies.

Propel Zero is also holding an online sweepstakes where one lucky winner and their referring blogger will each win a year’s supply of Propel Zero. The winner will be selected at random from their Facebook page.

Here is what you need to do to enter their sweepstakes:

• Find Walmart sampling locations and dates here
• Snap a photo of yourself with your favorite Propel Zero flavor at a sampling event (or wherever you happen to be)
• “Like” Propel Zero on Facebook
• Upload your photo to the Propel Zero Facebook wall and answer the question: “I stay active by… ” (running, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, taking my dog for a walk, etc.)
• Tell us the name of the blogger you heard about the sampling from – (in this case “Stretching a Buck”)
• Check back on April 29 for the lucky winner 

In the meantime, I have 10 Propel Zero gift packs to give away!  The gift packs consist of:

• Two 20 oz bottles of Propel Zero
• A Propel Zero t-shirt 
• Three coupons for a free single-serve Propel Zero 
• All in a drawstring backpack.

*** If you'd like win one of the 10 Propel Zero Gift Packs, like Propel and mommy bytes on Facebook and leave a comment below. Please include your email address in your comment. ***

For extra entries, promote this contest by tweet (using @mommybytes and #propelzero), Facebook, StumbleUpon, or other social media and leave a separate comment for each with the URL or username. Up to five entries per person.

This giveaway ends April 15, 2011 at 11pm EST and is open to US residents.

Special thanks to Propel Zero for sponsoring this contest.

Review - Donsuemor Valentine Hearts

Looking for a way into your Valentine's heart? These Donsuemor Valentine Hearts will be sure to please. These heart-shaped madeleine cookies are dipped in chocolate and are beautifully presented in their own gold-embossed gift box.



Just look how beautiful they are! They have a delicate taste that everyone in my family loved.  If you're adventurous and would like to try making a madeleine parfait, check out this video with Jennifer Bushman.



Special thanks to Donsuemor for providing Valentine hearts for review.

Giveaway - Check out MasterCard Marketplace and Win a $100 MasterCard Gift Card from BlogHer

This is a sponsored review from BlogHer and MasterCard MarketPlace.

Have you heard of MasterCard MarketPlace?  It is a one-stop place to get up to 50% off on top brands and stores.  Brands you and I trust like Barnes & Noble, Children's Place, Home Depot, Scholastic Store or even upscale stores such as Brookstone, Saks and Sephora. If you're into travel, you can get discounts from  Expedia and Priceline, as well as many cruises and rental cars.

My husband would love to receive some Omaha Steaks.  For me, maybe it's time to get that Shiatsu neck and shoulder massager from Brookstone (hint hint).  With deals like that, you can afford to splurge a little.

For this holiday season until December 24th, MasterCard MarketPlace is offering Holiday Overwhelming Offers that you can register for every day at 1pm EST (excluding holidays). Overwhelming Offers are year round, but this holiday season is a great time to get started.

Signing up is easy, you simply register with your email address and add your MasterCard number. If you've missed the Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals, there are plenty of deep discounts still available at MasterCard MarketPlace.

Check out MasterCard MarketPlace - A smarter way to shop online.  

*** If you'd like win a $100 MasterCard gift card provided by BlogHer, visit MasterCard MarketPlace and leave a comment below with an offer that you'd take advantage of.  Please include your email address in your comment. ***

Rules:

No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry
methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment
on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on
this post

d) Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

Sweepstakes ends 5 PM PST on December 31, 2010.  This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.  Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.  You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here. There are 19 other chances to win located on the BlogHer round-up page.

For more offers check out the BlogHer.com exclusive offers page.


Note:   Overwhelming Offers (OO) are limited in quantity, reservation only and limited in time. Participating merchants and offers are subject to change. The OO discount is provided as a statement credit. See www.mastercardmarketplace.com for restrictions and complete terms and conditions.

Giveaway - Zodiworks Book and Story Bag

Zodiworks publishes early reader books that were designed to meet a need for the Montessori classroom - books with entertaining stories, easily decodable vocabulary, and that looked like books so children would feel like they were really reading. With beautiful artwork by co-founder Jenn Howard, aka Montessori Mama, Zodibooks appeals to children, and their parents.

With Zodibooks, children have more than just books to read, they have books to play with. Each book has a companion story bag of the key objects in the book, so the child can act out each story. Each bag also contains word cards for every word in the book (including punctuation) so children can reproduce any page, match words to objects, create their own sentences, or other activities with the book and objects.



Check out this video which shows exactly how Zodibooks helps children learn to read through the variety of tools that come with the books.



Co-founder Robin Jettinghoff is a personal friend in real life.  She is also seeking funding through PeerBackers to publish the next set of books.

*** If you'd like win a Zodiworks book and story bag, visit Zodiworks books and leave a comment below with your choice of book.  The accompanying story bags can be seen at the Zodiworks store.  Please include your email address in your comment. ***

For extra entries, promote this contest by tweet, blog post, StumbleUpon or other social media and leave a separate comment for each with the URL or username. Up to five entries per person.

This giveaway ends December 24, 2010 at 11pm EST and is open to US and Canadian residents.

Winners - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Congratulations to Melissa, Klara and Harli who correctly answered the quiz on Asian symbolism in Harry Potter.

Here are the correct answers.  More information on Asian symbolism can be found at this Harry Potter Asia wiki page.

• The Kappa, a water demon, is native to what East Asian country?

The Kappa is a Japanese water demon. It resembles a scale-covered monkey with webbed hands and a water-filled depression on top of its head. The water in this hollow is the source of the creature's strength. Kappa is native to Japan, though Severus Snape said in a lesson it was native to Mongolia, something Harry and Ron quickly pointed out.

• The Toyohashi Tengu Quidditch national team represented what Asian country?

The Toyohashi Tengu are a Quidditch team based in Toyohashi, Japan. They are the most successful Japanese team, and narrowly missed a win in 1994 against the Gorodok Gargoyles. Their practice of burning their broomsticks after a defeat was frowned upon by the International Confederation of Wizards' Quidditch Committee as a waste of good wood.

• The extremely rare plant Mimbulus Mimbletonia has it’s main origins in what Asian region/country?

The Mimbulus Mimbletonia is a small grey cactus in a pot, except that it was covered with what looked like boils rather than spines. Assyria is where Neville's great-uncle Algie found his Mimbulus Mimbletonia.

• What is the origin of Chomping Cabbage?

China is home to the Chinese Chomping Cabbage.

• Acromantulas, a species of giant spiders exist within what Southeast Asian island?

The Acromantula are a species of giant spider, native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, particularly Borneo.

• The “Phoenix” is not only featured in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”, but also has it’s origins in the mythologies of which East Asian country?

The Phoenix is a large swan-sized scarlet bird with red and gold plumage, along with a golden beak and talons, black eyes, and a tail as long as a peacock. China is the native range of the Phoenix.

Have you seen the movie yet?  We went yesterday and it was awesome.  Check out my review of the movie on mommy bytes.

Special thanks to IW GROUP, INC. for providing the questions and promotional items for the contest.