Giveaways - 6/7 - Views From the Ville

I love accessories. They’re kind of a weakness of mine when I go shopping. Shoes, jewelry, handbags – it’s enough to make a girl swoon.

If that sounds at all like you, you might want to be seated. Maybe even have a fan and a glass of water nearby. When you see these beautiful bags from PonyUP! Kentucky you may just swoon, yourself.

Before I start gushing over the bags let me share with you a little about the company. Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH, founded PonyUP! Kentucky to raise money for horse rescue operations. As she was searching for the perfect fundraising product, she was also searching for a handbag that reflected her love of horses and equestrian gear. One day as she was carrying a leather halter slung over her shoulder on the way to get her horses, she thought, “Wouldn’t this be a great shoulder strap for a handbag?”

She searched for a handbag with the halter strap and when she couldn’t find one, she spent a year designing one and creating an entire line of handbags. She donated the first 20 bags to Old Friends: A Kentucky Facility for Retired Thoroughbreds. The proceeds of those bags support the horses at Old Friends. So when you buy a bag you also know you’re helping to support equine causes.

Now for the bags themselves. There are oh so many choices! I had such a hard time choosing one. Some of top contenders were these:

PonyUP! Kentucky Chilled Chocolate

PonyUP! Kentucky Stable Safari

PonyUP! Kentucky Pink Passion

The one I finally chose, though, was this one, called Sweet Alfalfa.

PonyUP! Kentucky bag in Sweet Alfalfa

Mine says PonyUP! Kentucky but you can have the brass name plate on the strap personalized with up to 20 characters.

Personalized Straps

I love so many things about these bags. First, they’re made in America and I always try to support local (or national) companies when I can. Second, they’re versatile. Because you can purchase the bag without a strap, once you buy your first one with the strap attached ($125) you could buy a few others to change up your look ($65 each; they also have some on sale for $45). And third they’re really roomy. I could easily fit all my own stuff and Baby C.’s accessories in there with room to spare.

Where to Buy

You can purchase the bags directly from the PonyUP! Kentucky website. They also have a book, “Riding for Life”, that talks about diet and fitness.

Want to Win?

PonyUP! Kentucky has generously offered to provide a handbag (winner’s choice!) to one of you! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance! Note: Rafflecopter does occasionally take a moment to load. If you don’t see it after a minute, try refreshing your browser.

I received products in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% mine.

DreamWorks Pictures’ “The Help” opens next week on August 10th. This is definitely a movie that I would love to take A1 and see (she’s a book-lover like me). We’ll have to see if Baby C is willing to let us go without her, though.

DreamWorks Pictures’ “The Help”

For those that have not read the #1 New York Times best-selling book of the same name (which I admit includes me. I plan to download it to my Nook over the weekend, though.), “The Help” stars Emma Stone as Skeeter, Viola Davis as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny. These three characters are all very different women in Mississippi during the 1960s. Together they form a friendship around a secret writing project that puts them all at risk. At it’s core, “The Help” is a story about the ability to create change.

Whether you have or have or have not yet read the book you might want to consider a “The Help” book group with your friends. I’ve never actually joined or started a book group and probably wouldn’t have the first idea where to start. Fortunately DreamWorks Pictures have put together a great free book club kit with recipes and a guide to get you started. You can download it here.

I also have an awesome prize pack to give away to you all! One winner will receive all these:

Please enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Please note: Rafflecopter does occasionally take a few extra seconds to load, so if you don’t see it right away, please give it a moment.

I love gift baskets.

I love receiving them, I love giving them, I even enjoy putting together that perfect basket on occasion. I very vividly recall what is probably the best gift basket I ever had. It was during my senior year of high school, when I went to Walt Disney World with my math class. My family is all well aware of what a “Disney freak” I am and so my Mom wanted to do something special for us. She also knew that one of the people sharing my room was a friend who had never been to Disney (hadn’t even been out of state, if I remember correctly), so she wanted to start us off right.

So when we got checked into our room we discovered this huge refrigerated bag (printed with Mickey & friends) filled with all kinds of snacks and drinks and other goodies. It couldn’t have been a more perfect way to sprinkle our trip with pixie dust. Funny how a basket of food can get four girls all excited.

Gift Basket & Delivery Box

Putting a gift basket together can be just as fun. But there are times when you want to do something special for someone but need something faster and easier while still looking great and showing some thought. GourmetGiftBasket.com can help you with that.

GourmetGiftBaskets.com just sent us this Classic Snack Gift Basket to check out. I have to say, it was awesome. My husband loved it because there were so many items that contained nuts and he loves every kind of nut there is. Just seeing the box it was delivered in was enough to get everyone excited. The box was printed with their logo and colors.

Once we opened it we were even more excited. The basket was tied up in a festive raffia bow and came with a personalized gift card. And while I appreciate a nice bow and packaging I didn’t get to appreciate them for long; everyone wanted to hurry and try all the yumminess it contained! There were:

Dipping pretzels: These were great; even my husband who says he’s not a big “pretzel person” liked them.
Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip: I loved this stuff. It definitely has a little kick to it, which I enjoyed.
Key Lime White Chocolate Chip Cookies: These were by far my favorite product. Kind of a shortbread/butter cookie with a touch of key lime taste and white chocolate chip chunks mixed in. SO good (and addictive!).
Almond Pecan-dy Crunch: Toffee-covered popcorn, whole almonds and pecans. Quite tasty.
Petite Cheese Biscuits: Nice cheesy little bites of goodness.
Metropolitan Trail Mix: Everyone in the family loved sampling this. I loved the dried pineapple, especially.
Buttered Peanut Crunch: I didn’t get to try these because hubby commandeered them and they disappeared. Guess that should tell you that they were good!
Peanut roll: Another thing that hubby snatched and disappeared with. He said it was pretty good.
Snack mix: This appears to have been replaced by peanuts in he current basket. They’re by the same company so I would guess they are also tasty.

You know how sometimes you get a gift basket or sampler and there are a few things that you’re, like, “eh”? Definitely not the case with these. There honestly wasn’t one thing that at least one of us loved. Everything from the delivery time (a couple of days) to the packaging (everything arrived intact) to the product itself was above expectations. And the basket the goodies came in is now being used to corral all the things that used to get tossed on the end of our counter (keys, etc.).

Snack Gift Basket from GourmetGiftBaskets.com

My brother has been asking for suggestions on what to get his groomsmen as thank-you gifts for participating in the wedding. I could definitely see suggesting this basket to him as their gift. Or even this golf-themed “Hitting the Range” basket (love the cute ball-bucket they use as the basket!) as they’re all avid golfers.

Then I started thinking that these would make great care packages for A1 while she’s at college this year. I was pleased to find they have an entire section on their site just for college care packages! The Exam Cram Care Package (the included ramen is a nice “college-y” touch) and the Junk Food Care Package (she loves Easy Mac) are my two faves.

I was surprised to learn that GourmetGiftBaskets.com started back in 1940! That’s a testament to their great products and service. But if for some reason you’re not 100% happy, they do have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They’ll make it right or refund your money.

Where to Buy

The Snack Gift Basket sells for $59.99. You can purchase it (or any other product) online from GourmetGiftBaskets.com or you can place your order over the phone by calling 1-866-842-1050.

Want to Win?

Snack Gift Basket from GourmetGiftBaskets.com

GourmetGiftBaskets.com is giving away a Snack Gift Basket (like the one pictured above) to one lucky Shopping for Savings reader! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. (Please note: Rafflecopter sometimes takes an extra moment to load. If you don’t see it right away, please give it just a moment.)

Are you traveling this summer? We don’t have any trips planned until we head to Maine in October for my brother’s wedding, but we are already looking forward to a family vacation next summer and making plans for a bigger trip in either 2013 or 2014. Finding ways to save on travel has always been my M.O. and with the economy still not doing all that well, I know that people are looking for ways to save more so than ever before.

Wilderness Lodge

One option that you may want to consider is a timeshare rental. Timeshare rentals are typically up to 50% cheaper than hotels and can allow you to stay at luxury hotels or resorts that you may not have found to be inside your budget through regular retail. Not only can they be less expensive but you’re getting more space; timeshares have separate bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, a kitchen and either a balcony or a patio.

The kitchens are one of the things that make timeshare rentals such a great value. You have a full-sized and fully-stocked food prep and storage area available 24 hours a day. Instead of having to get up early and try and get your group showered and ready for the day in time to have breakfast you can sleep in an extra few minutes, grab an inexpensive breakfast at the rental, and then start your day.

Nassau, Bahamas

Most resorts also have great entertainment for the kiddos (and adults!). Pools are pretty standard and most have waterpark features, hot tubs, playgrounds, tennis courts and arcade rooms. Some rental properties also have mini-golf, volleyball, and bocci ball tourneys. If you’d like to get a little social and meet new people while you’re traveling, some rental resorts host arts and crafts classes, ice cream socials and BBQ cookouts.

So how do you find a rental? Well, you can start by searching a site like RedWeek.com. RedWeek got it’s name from the term “red week”, which in the timeshare industry refers to a prime time to own a timeshare. Relating the term to their company, RedWeek feels they are the best in the business. They are the largest online timeshare marketplace with more than 1.5 million registered users and they have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.

Honolulu, Hawaii

I searched around their site and one thing I found really excited me. There are rentals listed for Disney properties! And not just at Disney World, but also in Hawaii and Hilton Head. I’ve always wanted to stay in a DVC property, and this site would allow me to do that. Prices for Disney rentals start at about $100/night which is very reasonable. If you don’t have a set destination in mind like I did, just check out their main page; it has a quick-look at the top rental destinations (Bahamas from $57/night? Hmm…..)

If you’re considering a timeshare vacation, or you’d just like to learn more about some of the resort locations, a paid membership to RedWeek.com allows you access to reviews, contact information and more. And one of you will win a free 2-year membership!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Disney*Pixar’s Cars 2

It’s an exciting summer for a Disney fan like me. First the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Now Disney*Pixar’s Cars 2 which revs into theaters in Disney 3D tomorrow, June 24th! And right around the corner are a number of other Disney films that I’ll be sharing with you as we get closer to the release dates.

Disney*Pixar’s Cars 2

Cars 2 has star racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and tow truck Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) taking their friendship to exciting new places. They head overseas together to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car. The road to the championship is filled with potholes, detours and surprises when Mater gets caught up in international espionage! Mater has to decide between helping Lightning McQueen or helping with the top-secret mission led by master British super spy Finn McMissile (voiced by Michael Caine) and the stunning rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voiced by Emily Mortimer). The journey leads Mater on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe being watched by the whole world.

The folks at Disney have put together a huge collection of great free activities for Cars 2 fans, as well. There are crafts, recipes and activity sheets. Check out the samples below and then download the entire collection here.

Tow Mater Cookies

Lightning McQueen Air Freshener

Tire Track T-Shirts

For more fun Disney*Pixar’s Cars 2 information, text CARS to DISNEY (347639), check out their website, “like” them on Facebook and follow their updates on Twitter!

Now for the giveaway! Win a Cars 2 prize pack including a t-shirt, puzzle and 2 sheets of temporary tattoos.

Disney*Pixar’s Cars 2 Prize Pack

Please fill out the form below and tell me what size youth t-shirt you’d like (sponsor will try their best on sizes). You can do as many or as few of the other optional entries as you would like.

Quick links to:

“Like” Shopping for Savings on Facebook

Follow @LMC502 on Twitter

Subscribe to Shopping for Savings by Email

Giveaway open to those residents of the US ages 18 and older. The giveaway will end at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, July 3rd. I will select a winner with Random.org and the winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be selected.

Views From the Ville

PonyUP! Kentucky Handbags – Review & Giveaway ($125 value) – ends 9/21

DreamWorks Pictures’ "The Help" – Giveaway & Free Book Group Supplies

GourmetGiftBaskets.com Review & Giveaway!

Traveling This Summer? Have You Considered a Timeshare Rental?

Disney*Pixar’s Cars 2 – Racing Into Theaters Tomorrow – Giveaway & Freebies!