Putting a new twist on good old fashioned.

I have been blessed with an amazingly wonderful best friend. The kind you meet when you are six years old and 24 years later have become like sisters to each other. Distance & time nothing can break this bond. She is not only an incredible friend, but she possesses such a beautiful talent. Jennifer is an incredibly talented artist and my children and I have been lucky enough to receive several of her lovely creations over the years!

{i mean really…we were the cutest, right?!}

I am an artist who loves making things and I happen to be married to a pretty handy fellow! Between the two of us, we’ve developed a unique line of gifts for all ages. We enjoy knowing that our products will bring a smile to people’s faces and become some of their most treasured possessions! ~jdavissquared

When you first visit jdavissquared, you will instantly fall in love with the distinct style and items. The shop is full of art that is whimsical, creative, & even personalized. There is just something very special about getting a gift that has been personalized for yourself or your child. When Ava was born, Jennifer sent her an adorable sock monkey, which she loves and it is among her collection of bedtime toys each night. Jennifer also sent an adorable personalized piggy bank {one of my favorite gifts of all time} and Ava has always loved putting her money in her bank! She has saved so much money because she thinks it’s so fun dropping dollars and change inside! Hollis received his special piggy bank a few months ago. It’s absolutely perfect for his mechanic, vintage car, tool man bedroom! Ava aslo has the most incredible growth chart from jennifer. It is so cute and made to match her room decor perfectly. It is also wonderful that we can always have it with us…unlike if we were marking her growth on a wall in the house. jdavissquared is the perfect one stop shop for all of your gift giving needs {even for yourself!}.Christmas is right around the corner and you are sure to find something anyone on your list would absolutely treasure. You can find fun items from festive brooches & silhouette chalk boards, to several different personalized items that Jennifer can create to match any room decor or theme! This shop is full of some major eye candy!

Today, jdavissquared will be giving away one personalized piggy bank! {a $28 value}

Want to enter to win? Here’s how!

1st entry {mandatory} visit jdavissquared and take a look around this adorable shop! Come back and tell us your favorite item…if you can pick just ONE!

1 entry each: “like” jdavissquared and Real Moms Real Views on Facebook!

2 entries: Follow the jdavissquared blog!

2 entries: Follow jdavissquared on twitter and tweet the following:

We are giving away one personalized piggy bank @agiveawaydaily from @jdavissquared!

2 entries: Add our button to your blog and leave us the link!

5 entries: Make a purchase from jdavissquared!

You have until September 10th @ 11:59 AM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only. Winners will be chosen by random.org and will be contacted by email after the giveaways close. The winner will then have 48 hours to claim their giveaway by email. If the winner does not claim their prize within their 48 hour period, a new winner will be chosen. *All entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to choosing a winner. Opinions expressed in this post are strictly our own. We were not paid for this post.

DURABLE & AFFORDABLE CRAFTY KIDS PLAYHOUSES NOW PERFECTLY PINT-SIZED

Sometimes less is more as parents will appreciate with Crafty Kids Playhouses two new a-durable cardboard craft models – a pint-sized space shuttle and cozy cottage. Award-winning Crafty Kids has scaled down its playhouses to about 1/3 their original sizes and about 2/3 their price tag!

Designed by dads for their sturdiness, these smaller white cardboard structures are perfect to play with dolls or Whiskers (meow) for hours of endless creativity and imagination. Both the Creation Cottage and Shuttle Imagination are made of 100% recycled material and await a child’s finishing touch of crayons or markers to make it a one-of-a-kind playhouse. Each Craft Model will come with six washable, non-toxic, jumbo markers to get the creative juices flowing.

Crafty Kids Playhouses was previously known as Kids Craft Playhouses and has just been renamed to emphasize the fun eco-friendly craftiness of their full- and mini-sized playhouses.

Playing with a cardboard box is nothing new, of course. But three fathers from Atlanta created Crafty Kids Playhouses products with the hard work already completed … flaps, slots and doorways are built in while leaving the exterior blank for kids to customize — at their own pace.

Crafty Kids Playhouses have been featured on The TODAY Show and several regional news segments. Since its spring debut earlier this year, the company has proudly earned three industry prizes – Tillywig 2010 Top Fun Award. Creative Child 2010 Seal of Excellence in the “Creative Play” category, and The National Parenting Center Spring 2010 Seal of Approval. Once the “mommy bloggers” tested the products, the blogosphere heated up with adorable testimonials from grateful moms.

Ava has truly enjoyed decorating her Creation Cottage Craft Model from Crafty Kids USA! I had an inkling it would be perfect for her when I saw it; she loves to color and draw. It arrived and took a minute or two to put together, not difficult or complicated at all and is also very sturdy! Then she started decorating! She is three, so, for her “decorating” is a little bit like scribbling her favorite colors all over it and making lots of circles, but she had a ball and I loved watching her get so into it! I am always reminding her that we only write on paper, so this was a nice change from the norm around our house! She thought it was extra special she got to write on a little doll house! after she finished her decorating, she moved in her princesses and horses and continued to play…and decorate some more! Love that is is made of 100% recycled material and it’s such a fun activity for children. Perfect for those hot or rainy days when you are cooped up indoors! Tomorrow we might even bust out the paints and paint a little bit on it! So fun!

Today, Crafty Kids USA is giving away one Craft Model of the Winner’s Choice!

Want to enter to win? Here’s how!

1st entry {madatory} visit Crafty Kids USA and find what product is “coming soon” OR name something else that Crafty Kids sells.

1 entry: “like” Crafty Kids Playhouses on Facebook!

1 entry: Follow us by google friends connect, reader, or email!

1 entry each: Like AGE on Facebook & Follow AGE on Twitter

5 entries: Make a purchase from Crafty Kids!

You have until September 6th @ 11:59 AM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only. Winners will be chosen by random.org and will be contacted by email after the giveaways close. The winner will then have 48 hours to claim their giveaway by email. If the winner does not claim their prize within their 48 hour period, a new winner will be chosen. *All entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to choosing a winner. Opinions expressed in this post are strictly our own. We were not paid for this post. Thanks Crafty Kids USA for providing the sample Creation Cottage for this review.

It has been raining cats and dogs here in Texas the past few weeks. With the heat, humidity, and rain, the mosquitoes and other pesky buggies have been out in full force…and they are TEXAS SIZED!

We are very proud of Buzz Away natural insect repellent and our related outdoor protection products, Itch Nix and Sting Soothe. Since its introduction, Buzz Away has become the leading repellent in natural product stores and the second most purchased natural brand in America. The reason is simple; it’s an extremely effective alternative to DEET based chemical repellents. It repels mosquitoes for 4 hours or more, ticks for 2.5 hours. It won’t harm the body or the environment. It doesn’t melt plastic or fishing line like some DEET repellents. It’s great for families and especially for kids whose sensitive skin and low body weight makes DEET absorption more risky.

Independent testing and years of customer satisfaction have made Buzz Away America’s leading natural mosquito repellent choice. Our line of Buzz Away mosquito repellent and outdoor protection products will provide you and your family with the most effective chemical free way to repel mosquitoes, ticks, flies, gnats and no see ums.

Our new Buzz Away Extreme is the most powerful natural mosquito repellent available. This DEET-free formula, in the spray bottle or handy towelette wipe, combines our essential plant oils with soy bean and geranium oil for the longest lasting natural protection available. Our mosquito repellent works for up to 4 hours against mosquitoes, up to 2.5 hours on ticks, and also repels fleas, gnats and flies. Non-greasy, pleasant aroma, great for families. Fisherman – did you know DEET repellents repel fish too? It’s true – but not Buzz Away.

• Up to 4 Hour Protection from Mosquitoes
• Up to 2 1/2 hours Protection from Ticks
• The Buzz Away Extreme Formula repelled mosquitoes for up to 8.5 hours
  in USDA test.
• University of Guelph found the Buzz Away Extreme formula to be 92% effective after 3 hours (Compared to Off! Skintastic’s 79%).

We opened our doors in 1981 with a simple philosophy – produce and market the most effective natural products available. For more than 25 years Quantum has offered the public high-quality, effective products and high-quality, responsive service. Quantum currently offers more than 60 scientifically formulated products designed to help you look and feel your best. Our products are sold throughout the United States and Canada in health, drug and food stores.

We market products that work. Quantum has funded scientific, published, peer-reviewed clinical studies proving the efficacy of many of our products. Studies are available in the Library.

We will continue to follow the principles that have made so many of you loyal Quantum customers. Our on-going mission is to create natural products that make a difference.

Why risk using chemical products when our effective natural repellent is equal to the job.

Buzz Away Extreme, an amazing all-natural insect repellent made from natural plant oils and soy bean oil. ~Quantum Health

With all those Texas Sized bugs buzzing around, we were so excited to try out several different products from Buzz Away! With small children, it’s such a good feeling to use a bug spray that is safe and natural, made from natural plant oils and soy bean oil; no chemicals! Even better because it works keeping those pesky buggies away, no bites and endless itching for you or your little ones or yourself. I usually hate using bug spray because of the strong smell, and always have to take a shower immediately after going inside! Not with Buzz Away! You will be totally comfortable outside, no strong odor for hours! So nice! I love the towelettes we received, so easy to toss in the diaper bag or keep in the car for unexpected outdoor play or activities and it works so well! We will surely be replacing all our old chemical filled bug spray with all natural Buzz Away!

My husband went on a business trip recently, where he and his colleagues were planning to go rowing in a lake (yeah right…business trip). My package from Buzz Away had just arrived and I asked if he wanted to bring some with him for the lake. He took some Buzz Away Extreme Towelettes. They are individually wrapped so he could take them on the plane with him. He shared them with his colleagues and he said the towelettes were a hit! We also received the Extreme Towelette Pop-Ups, which we bring with us when we go out, and when we’re going outside to the yard or taking a walk around the neighborhood, we quickly spray ourselves with Buzz Away Extreme. We’re glad to have these Buzz Away products that are natural and safe for our whole family to make outdoor activities fun without having to worry about bug bites!

Living in Idaho we have a lot of bugs to say the least. Every time we venture outside in the evening hours we are eaten alive if we don’t have bug spray on. We are also avid campers and love the outdoors so when we were introduced to a safe and natural bug spray I was thrilled. I only want the best for my family and if we can steer clear of chemicals in our bug spray that is Fabulous. Introducing you to Buzzaway is my pleasure because I love to stand behind outstanding products. Buzzaway is an all-natural insect repellent made from natural plant oils and soy bean oil. When we used it there wasn’t a nasty odor and it lasted for hours. I highly recommend Buzzaway to any mom with kids that will be outdoors this Summer. I will definitely be buying more Buzzaway in the future as it will now replace all of my other bug sprays in the cupboard.

I don’t get to spend too much time in the great outdoors but when I do I want it to be enjoyable.  When bugs are annoying you, you can spend more time trying to keep them away then enjoying what you are doing.  This last weekend I went to my families cabin.  The weather was perfect and we wanted to spend time sitting out on the porch breathing in the fresh air and watching the wildlife.  After spraying on Buzz Away Extreme my entire family was able to be outside worry free.  I like that it didn’t smell gross and that it repels mosquitoes, flies, gnats, AND ticks…perfect for the woods! The wipes last just as long as the spray and will be perfect to keep in my purse.  I look forward to using Buzz Away when I go to outdoor concerts, plays, and movies this summer.  Buzz Away is already packed in my bag for this week’s 4 1/2 day camping trip.  Thanks Buzz Away for producing an all natural repellent and making my summer time outdoors more enjoyable!

Today, Buzz Away is giving away a large size 4 oz spray and the new 25 count towelette package.

Want to enter to win? Here’s how!

1st entry {mandatory}: Visit Buzz Away and take a look around. come back and tell us a product you would like to try!

2 entries: “like” Buzz Away on Facebook and leave them a note on their wall!

2 entries: Follow Buzz Away on Twitter!

3 entries: Subscribe to the Real Moms Real Views emails

5 entries: make a purchase from Buzz Away.

You have until August 9th @ 11:59 AM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only. Winners will be chosen by random.org and will be contacted by email after the giveaways close. The winner will then have 48 hours to claim their giveaway by email. If the winner does not claim their prize within their 48 hour period, a new winner will be chosen. *All entries received after the cutoff time will be deleted prior to choosing a winner. Opinions expressed in this post are strictly our own. We were not paid for this post. Thanks Quantum Health for providing the sample Buzz Away Extreme Products for this review.