Add your blog hop to the Blog Hop Master List!

If you've been wondering why I haven't posted much in the past few days, it's because I've been busy tinkering! I've been reading tutorials online and trying to figure out how to give my own blog a (small) makeover! I'm not at all proficient with HTML, so it's been a slow process. I made a test blog, though, so hopefully there will be as little "dust" on this page as possible.

Don't worry, it'll still be the same Twee Poppets you know and (I hope) love - just with a few minor changes. I'm working on widening the usable space on the page as a whole, adding a second sidebar over on the right, including space for sponsor ads, perhaps making a few stylistic improvements, and - best of all - adding a...

Blog Hop Master List!

This list will be just for follower-based blog hops - that means that it will include blog hops that specifically focus on increasing followers ONLY. It does not include not those that are meant for posting giveaways, answering questions, sharing photos, writing to a certain theme, etc. Those types of blog hops are fun, too, but this particular list is for follower-based hops only.

This list may include blog hops that focus on getting followers of any type (blog followers/Google Friend Connect, Twitter, Facebook, Networked Blogs, email subscribers, RSS feed subscribers, etc.).



If you would like your blog hop added to the list, please email me with the following information:

• Name of the blog hop
• Which blog(s) host it
• Direct link to the blog hop
• Which day(s) it runs
• What time the linky opens and closes (include time zone)
• Which type of followers it aims to increase (blog followers/Google Friend Connect, Twitter, Facebook, Networked Blogs, email subscribers, RSS feed subscribers, etc.). Please remember that this list is ONLY for blog hops that are geared toward increasing followers!
• The code for your blog hop's button, if you have one. (I'm not entirely sure if I'll include these in the Blog Hop Master List or not yet, though.)
• Any other pertinent information

Please feel free to pass this info along to any blog hop host(ess) you know, as I would love to make this a completely comprehensive list! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me (TweePopACap@gmail.com)!

Giveaway: Sunglass Warehouse (CLOSED)

In these summer months, it's especially important to protect your eyes and your little one's eyes from the harsh sun. Sunglass Warehouse offers a wide variety of stylish sunglasses to suit every individual's style! There is a huge selection in all trends and styles. Check out some of their great pairs of sunglasses!

 

 

Stylish, geek-chic, wild, colorful, simple, even novelty - this great website has just about every style you can think of! They even have sunglasses for children! Best of all, every pair of their sunglasses sells for just $20 or less! If you or someone you know wears reading glasses, Reading Glasses Shopper is the place to go for all your purchases!

Buy It!

You can purchase a wide variety of sunglasses online at sunglasswarehouse.com for under $20 each!

Win It!

Sunglass Warehouse has been kind enough to offer one lucky US or Canadian winner a $20 gift certificate to www.sunglasswarehouse.com OR the winner's choice of any pair of sunglasses on the website!

Please be sure to leave your email address in at least one entry; I will do my best to find your email address if you're the winner, but if I have no way to contact you, you cannot win! For complete giveaway rules, please see the "Giveaways" section under the "The Fine Print" page. Winning entries WILL be checked to ensure qualification, so please be honest! :)

Mandatory Entry (Must be completed before any other entries will qualify!)

• Publicly follow Twee Poppets with Google Friend Connect. (Click the "Follow" button under the "Followers" section at the top of the main page.)

Bonus Entries (Please leave a separate comment for each entry! If it's worth 3 entries, please leave 3 separate comments!)

• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Subscribe to Twee Poppets via email (must be activated to count). (Enter your email address under the "Subscribe Via Email!" section on the left hand side of the main page and click the "Subscribe" button.)
• 1 Extra Entry: Visit http://www.sunglasswarehouse.com/ and tell me which reading glasses you think you might choose!
• 1+ Extra Entry: Enter another one of my current giveaways. You may have one extra entry PER contest entered (please leave a separate comment for each). This applies only to current giveaways. Giveaways that have already ended (before 7/30) do NOT count.
• 1 Extra Entry: Follow @TweePoppets on Twitter. (Include your Twitter ID with your entry.)
• 1 Extra Entry: Follow @SunglassWarehse on Twitter. (Include your Twitter ID with your entry.)
• 1+ Extra Entry: Tweet about this giveaway (may be done once daily for one entry per tweet). You may use this tweet: #GIVEAWAY: Win a $20 GC to Sunglass Warehouse! Affordable sunglasses in all styles! Enter @TweePoppets. http://tinyurl.com/WinSGW (8/13)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Become a fan of ("like") Twee Poppets on Facebook. (Click this link or the button under the "Follow on Facebook!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Grab my button and add it to your blog or website. Let me know where I can find it! (Copy and paste the code that is in the "Grab My Button!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Blog about Twee Poppets. Leave a link to the blog entry in your comment. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Twee Poppets (http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blogs entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post). Please include a link to your blog post in your comment.
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Pledge to blog about what you won if you are the winner of this giveaway. This is based on the honor system - if you promise to blog if you win, please do. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Twee Poppets (http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blog entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post).

Contest will end at 11:59pm PST on August 13, 2010. Winner will be chosen via random number generator. Winner will be contacted by me (tweepopacap@gmail.com) and will have 48 hours to respond before he or she forfeits the prize and a new winner is chosen. Open to mailing addresses in the US and Canada only.

WINNER! Brugo Giveaway

The Brugo giveaway has officially ended! There were 238 entries, and the winner was...

Lucky number 107 - Christina Andre!

Congratulations to our winner, who has won a choice of ANY Brugo Mug! The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen.

Mega Swag Bucks Friday! 7/30/10

Today is Mega Swag Bucks Friday! That means that odds of receiving large amounts of Swag Bucks are increased - all for doing the same easy things you always do! You can get Swag Bucks in multiples of 10, 100, or if you're really lucky, even 1000! And with that, you could get some awesome prizes.

In case you haven't learned about Swag Bucks yet, here's how this terrific program works! On Swagbucks.com, you earn virtual dollars called "Swag Bucks" which can then be traded in for REAL prizes! They have all sorts of things you can win, including gift certificates to Amazon, Target, Paypal, and more. There are also plenty of prizes besides gift certificates - almost anything you could think of. There's something for everyone!

How do you earn Swag Bucks? It's easy - just search the internet from their site, answer fun polls, find freebie codes online, and more. Basically, interact with Swagbucks.com and be rewarded with free Swag Bucks for prizes. It's SO EASY.

If you're already a member of Swag Bucks, be sure to search on Swag Bucks today for your chance at winning some major Bucks! If you're not a part of Swag Bucks yet, now would be a terrific time to join!

It's completely FREE and oh-so-simple to sign up! Plus, you'll automatically receive 30 Swag Bucks just for creating your free account! So what are you waiting for?

Sign up for Swag Bucks - Click HERE!

Disclaimer: This was NOT a paid post or a sponsored post. I wasn't working with Swagbucks.com in any way whatsoever. I just wanted to share this fantastic program with you all!

But if you do decide to sign up, PLEASE (Pretty please! With a cherry on top!) sign up using one of the links or banners in this post!!! These are my referral links, and if you sign up using them, it gets me some extra Swag Bucks (and doesn't doesn't have any negative consequences for you whatsoever!). I would be so appreciative! Thanks!

WINNER! The Wishing Elephant Giveaway

The Wishing Elephant giveaway has officially ended! There were 242 entries, and the winner was...

Lucky number 227 - Gail!

Congratulations to our winner, who has won a choice of ANY single-item listing in the Etsy shop for The Wishing Elephant! The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen.

Potential Winner: Brugo

Hello, everyone! If you've been waiting patiently (or impatiently!) for the winner of the Brugo Mug giveaway, my apologies! A winner was selected, but there is some question as to the validity of his or her entries. Remember that I do check to ensure that you've completed the entry requirements, so please be honest!

An official winner should be posted by tomorrow. For the sake of courtesy, I will not note whether or not the winner I post is the one I originally drew or a new one. The potential winner has been contacted and I am currently in the process of verifying the entries.

Keep your eyes peeled for the winner tomorrow!

Tuesday Tag-Along 7/27/10

Ever wish you had a Tuesday Tag-Along reminder each week? 

The solution is simple! Just subscribe to Twee Poppets via email! You'll receive a brief email on each day that I make a new post (including my weekly TTA post) - but no spam, ever! It's also a great way to learn about my new giveaways.

Psssssst! While you're here, why not enter one of my great giveaways? Here's what you can win right now on Twee Poppets:
 

• An $80 GIFT CERTIFICATE to any of CSN's 200+ online stores! (Ends 8/16)
• The innovative Brugo Mug - never get burnt by your coffee again! (Ends 7/28)
• Winner's choice of ANY single-item listing from The Wishing Elephant! Cute onesies! (Ends 7/29) 
• An adorable Dream Companion stuffed animal from Dream Snager - similar to Uglydolls! (Ends 8/1) 
•  A $25 gift certificate to KnitStyle! Cute cloth play blocks and more! (Ends 8/4)

Don't miss out!
 

Welcome to this week's Tuesday Tag-Along blog hop, hosted by Twee Poppets Review and Giveaway! This is a great way to discover new blogs while increasing the number of followers for your own blog. Please feel free to grab the TTA button for your blogroll to help bring more bloggers to this blog hop!

<a href="http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com/search/label/tuesday%20tag-along"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/Weezarrgh/TTAButtonSize-1.jpg" alt="Tuesday Tag-Along" width="150" height="150" /></a>

Tuesday Tag-Along button art adapted from the "Follow the Leader" illustration by Diana Jones. I encourage you to visit her at her blog, Sketch & Jones, and her online shop to see more great illustrations and all sorts of wonderful crafts!


Without further ado...
Here's how it works:

• Create a new Tuesday Tag-Along blog post. Include the Tuesday Tag-Along button by copying and pasting the code above. (You are also welcome to copy and paste these instructions in their entirety, or any portion of this Tuesday Tag-Along blog post!)
• Add your blog name and the URL of your TTA post to the MckLinky below.
• Follow Twee Poppets, the hostess blog listed in the first slot. Twee Poppets will follow you back! (Note: If you want Twee Poppets to follow you back, you MUST leave her a comment saying that you are a new follower and leave a link to your blog!)
• Follow the Blog Hopper of the Week, listed in the second slot. To learn how to be chosen as the Blog Hopper of the Week, read the red text below.
• If you can, please follow the blogs in the three slots before you (e.g., if you're number 20, follow numbers 19, 18, and 17). This is not mandatory, but it will help ensure that everyone who signs up gets a few new followers!
• Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! Be sure to tell them that you're following from Tuesday Tag-Along! You may also want to leave a link to your blog so they can return your follow more easily.
• When you get a new follower through Tuesday Tag-Along, be sure to follow them back! It's just common courtesy. :)

The weekly Tuesday Tag-Along MckLinky opens every Monday night at 8:59pm Pacific Standard Time (that's 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time), and the TTA blog post will be posted well in advance of that time. The MckLinky will be open to add your blog until 11:59pm Tuesday night. You then have all week long to visit blogs and return follows!

There is a new list every week. The link you enter one week will not carry over to the next week's MckLinky. Please link up again each week to join in the fun!


Tuesday Tag-Along Blog Hopper of the Week:
Note: To be eligible to be Blog Hopper of the Week, you MUST place the Tuesday Tag-Along button somewhere on the main page of your blog or website (and since I'll be checking for it manually, I must be able to actually find it). If the randomly-drawn winner does not meet this condition, a new winner will be randomly selected. If you do not want to place the TTA button on your site, you are still more than welcome to join in the blog hop, you will just not be eligible to be the Blog Hopper of the Week.

Each week, one blog will be chosen randomly from all the links, and that lucky blog will be placed in the desirable second slot for the following week's MckLinky!

This week's lucky blog hopper is #176 - Adventures of the Domesticated Mama. Congratulations!


(Linky removed after one week.)



Thanks for being a part of Tuesday Tag-Along! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chelsea from Twee Poppets directly, at TweePopACap@gmail.com. Have fun!

Giveaway: CSN Stores ($80 Gift Certificate!) (CLOSED)

Note: I am issuing a SMALL extension for this giveaway! You may enter until a draw a winner! But hurry, because you don't know when that will be! Contest has ended.

I am so pleased to tell you that today I am offering an amazing giveaway for an...

$80 gift certificate to CSN Stores!

One lucky winner will receive a promotional code that will be good for $80 at ANY of the 200+ stores on CSNstores.com. Wow! With over 200 different websites to choose from, you're sure to find something that you love! Really, CSN Stores offer just about anything you can think of - just take a peek at their list of websites and you will begin to see the huge scope of products available.

Here are just a few of the thousands and thousands of items available on CSNstores.com!

These great items don't even begin to scratch the surface of what CSNstores.com has to offer! How awesome would it be to be given a $80 shopping spree to buy nearly anything your heart desires? Well, that's just what one US or Canadian winner will receive - a $80 gift certificate to ANY of CSN's over 200 online stores!

Win It!

Please be sure to leave your email address in at least one entry; I will do my best to find your email address if you're the winner, but if I have no way to contact you, you cannot win! For complete giveaway rules, please see the "Giveaways" section under the "The Fine Print" page. Winning entries WILL be checked to ensure qualification, so please be honest! :)

Mandatory Entry (Must be completed before any other entries will qualify!)

• Publicly follow Twee Poppets with Google Friend Connect AND subscribe to Twee Poppets via email (must be activated to count). (This counts for ONE entry only, please.)

Bonus Entries (Please leave a separate comment for each entry! If it's worth 3 entries, please leave 3 separate comments!)

• 1 Extra Entry: Visit CSNstores.com and tell me what you think you might use your gift certificate on if you are the winner OR which of CSN's 200+ stores you think seems most appealing.
• NEW!!! 1 Extra Entry: "Vote up" this giveaway on Prizey. Just click the heart icon that says "Vote up" and confirm your vote - easy! This entry will only be available until this giveaway is chosen as an Editor's Pick, so hurry!
• 1+ Extra Entry: Enter another one of my current giveaways. You may have one extra entry PER contest entered (please leave a separate comment for each). This applies only to current giveaways - giveaways that have already ended (before 7/26) do NOT count.
• 1 Extra Entry: Follow @TweePoppets on Twitter. (Include your Twitter ID with your entry.) Psssst! I'll follow you right back! :)
• 1+ Extra Entry: Tweet about this giveaway (may be done once daily for one entry per tweet). You may use this tweet: Win an $80 GIFT CERTIFICATE to any of CSN's 200+ websites! Enter to win @TweePoppets: http://tinyurl.com/Win80 #Giveaway
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Become a fan of ("like") Twee Poppets on Facebook. (Click this link or the button under the "Follow on Facebook!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Grab my button and add it to your blog or website. Let me know where I can find it! (Copy and paste the code that is in the "Grab My Button!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 5 Extra Entries (Leave 5 Comments): Blog about Twee Poppets and this giveaway. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Twee Poppets (http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blog entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post).

Contest will end at 11:59pm PST on August 16, 2010 when Twee Poppets draws a winner - hurry! (Winner was drawn 8/19/10.) Winner will be chosen via random number generator. Winner will be contacted by me (tweepopacap@gmail.com) and will have 48 hours to respond before he or she forfeits the prize and a new winner is chosen. Open to mailing addresses in the US and Canada only.

Review: Econobusters

I recently came across a fantastic website that I wanted to let you all know about: Econobusters.com! This site is focused on helping its readers save money and maintain a positive attitude toward thrift, even during these challenging economic times. It features all sorts of wonderful blog posts on the topics of saving money, coupon finds, freebies, deals, recipes, and how to live a more frugal lifestyle in general. A few of my favorites so far have been one that explains how to make homemade laundry detergent, one that tells how to extend baking mixes, and the weekly freebie posts - every Friday, they post a huge list of freebies that they have scoured the internet to find! Plus, this site features guest posts from The Hillbilly Housewife and more.

On top of all these great posts, Econobusters also offers a couple of free E-Books. First, when you sign up for their free Minute With Molly newsletter, you will receive a menu planning E-Book that is full of recipes, help topics, and menu planning forms. Second, there is a free, no-strings-attached recipe E-Book called Molly Green Fresh that may be downloaded straight from the main page of the website. Both of these E-Books are very helpful resources!

Econobusters also has a member program that costs just $3.95 per month. This price includes their monthly Digest, which is an online magazine that goes into depth on a particular monthly topic (July is Summer Fun From A-Z). On top of the Digest, members also receive tons of other valuable resources that are not available anywhere else on the site. I encourage you all to visit Econobusters.com, and if you like what you see, you should definitely consider becoming a member!



Disclaimer
I was not paid to write this post. In exchange for my post, Econobusters will be writing a post about Twee Poppets. This did not affect my opinion and my post was completely honest.

Review: O-Cedar

 

O-Cedar has created a fabulous new wet/dry mop system, and I was lucky enough to have a chance to review it! This was perfect timing, because I recently realized that we don't even have a proper mop - I've been scrubbing on my hands and knees with paper towels! This isn't quite as labor intensive as it sounds, as we have a relatively small non-carpeted area, but nevertheless, this method was neither economically- nor environmentally-friendly. So when O-Cedar sent me their new ProMist Wet or Dry Floor Cleaning System, I couldn't wait to try it out!

The ProMist includes a reusable microfiber pad that is designed to lock in dirt and can be washed up to 100 times, making it an excellent way to keep the budget in check and help protect our environment all at once! The mop can also be used with convenient semi-disposable pads, and it also includes one of these to try out. The semi-disposable pads can also be washed to allow for multiple uses, but are not designed to last as long as the durable microfiber pad. The semi-disposable pads are great for those extra big messes that you don't want to deal with in the wash later, or for anything that might stain; the reusable pad is an excellent choice for everyday use.

One of my favorite features of the ProMist is the removable, refillable bottle that can be filled with a cleaning solution or plain water - when you squeeze this mop's handle, it will spray a heavy mist of whatever liquid you have used to fill the bottle. This is perfect for me, because for most of my cleaning, I prefer to use a simple water/baking soda/vinegar mixture, and it's nice to be able to fill and refill the bottle easily, and to not have to be restricted to using the harsh and potentially harmful chemicals found in many commercial cleansers.

As a bonus, here's my homemade, easy, cheap, green, natural, effective cleaning solution recipe (feel free to change the amount, keeping the ratios the same):

• 1/2 gallon water
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup baking soda

So easy! Just add the vinegar and baking soda to the water and give it a quick stir or shake. It can be stored and used whenever. I found it to work wonderfully in my new ProMist!

Photos provided courtesy of O-Cedar.

Overall, I am thrilled with the ProMist cleaning system. In addition to the features listed above, this mop is very easy to use and seems quite well-made. It is quite lightweight and has a swivel head, which makes it very easy to maneuver. This maneuverability combined with an easy-to-grip handle ensures that I don't get tuckered out from using it. Plus, with its sturdy metal frame (a few parts are plastic, but these seem to be the ones that are most likely to get wet, like the bottle and the swivel head), I know that it will last a long time. The ProMist is safe for use on all sorts of floors, including vinyl, linoleum, wood, laminate, ceramic tiles, marble, and stone. If you're looking for a great wet and dry cleaning system, I would recommend the ProMist!

Buy It!
Look for the O-Cedar ProMist Wet or Dry Floor Cleaning System coming soon to a store near you!

Review and Giveaway: KnitStyle ($25 Gift Certificate!) (CLOSED)

Browsing through Etsy listings a while back, I was immediately struck by a beautiful cloth play block from KnitStyle. It's made with three different bold, fun, modern patterns and it has a gorgeous color palette of green, blue, greenish-blue (my favorite!), light yellow, and white.

 

I went to explore the rest of the shop and found lots of wonderful cloth blocks, as well as a few other goodies. I was so pleased when Megan from KnitStyle agreed to team up with Twee Poppets for a review and giveaway! Here's what Megan has to say about KnitStyle:

Please introduce yourself and your shop.

My name is Megan and my Etsy shop name is Knitstyle.

How did you decide on your shop name? What does it mean?
My Etsy shop was created with the intention of selling my hand knit baby booties, hats and scarves and that is where the name Knitstyle came from. The full name is "Knitstyle by MMC". The cloth play blocks were introduced to my shop after the first year and are what I primarily sell now. However, I do still sell a few knit items from time to time.

How did your business get its start?
My friend Jess from Moderncard introduced me to Etsy shortly after she set up her shop. She knew I did a lot of knitting and encouraged me to create a shop to sell some of my items. It's been fun so far, but with a full time job I have kept it small and manageable for me.

What is your personal favorite item in your shop?
I would have to say that I have 2 favorites: The SYDNEY Cloth Play Block (Set of 3) because it was the first block I created and I named it after my newborn niece at the time. I really like the fabric combos with the Heather Bailey fabric. My other favorite are my hand knit SNUGGS(c). I created the idea and pattern on my own and absolutely love the finished products. I have made and sold several pairs and am now selling the pattern in my shop.

What is your favorite crafty activity? Are there any particular crafts you'd love to learn?
Knitting and sewing are my 2 favorite crafty activities. I enjoy them both equally and would say I put a lot of personal touch into every item I make. I would love to learn more sewing techniques. Right now I do all my sewing on a 50-60 year old Singer Featherweight sewing machine and hope to purchase a more advanced sewing machine someday.

What do you love to do? What makes you smile?
I love the outdoors and being on the ocean; swimming, sailing, kayaking and walking the beach with 1-1/2 year old black lab. My nieces & nephews and my dog make me smile all the time.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Where do you see your business in ten years?
Good question ... If you asked me that 10 years ago, I don't think I would have said where I am now! Well, 10 years from now, I hope to have my own family that I can make lots of hand made items for!

For my review, Megan sent me the medium-sized cloth play block in the "Ashley" pattern that originally caught my eye, with the add-on for bamboo fiberfill (instead of regular Poly-Fil). She was even kind enough to surprise me by including a terrific burp cloth in coordinating fabric! How generous of her! Plus, the items came neatly wrapped, which not only kept them clean, but also made them ready for gift giving (not that I have any intention of giving these beauties away!). Aren't they just lovely?

The block had become slightly misshapen during shipping, so I was very pleased to see that with a little fluffing, it snapped right back into shape! Plus, its edges are sewn over twice for extra durability. That's so important in an item meant for little ones, because with all the rough handling they put their toys through, the toys have to be quite resilient. This block has already proven that it is!

I have to admit that, as well-made as this block is, my favorite part about it is simply how pretty it is. I am in love with the fabric Megan used! The cloth is 100% cotton, and the pattern is from the Amy Butler Midwest Modern line. I tend to love anything Amy Butler puts out, so it's no surprise these three fabrics caught my eye.

Another thing I love about the block is that it is interesting to the sense of touch. I was surprised to find that the bamboo fiberfill actually provides an incredibly interesting, stimulating texture; the best way I can describe it is that squishing it feels just like forming a big snowball! I can't stop squeezing it!

I'm so happy that my block is filled with bamboo fiberfill. Safe, natural materials always win over synthetic ones in my book! Here are a few more reasons why bamboo fiberfill is a great choice (taken from KnitStyle's shop):

• Bamboo is Earth friendly and made with renewable resources.
• Bamboo is the fastest growing timber plant on earth and requires no fertilizers to grow.
• Bamboo in naturally antibacterial and antifungal with great mildew resistance.

Sounds good to me! The bamboo fiberfill option is only $1.50 extra (for small and medium size blocks), and well worth it to me! But if it's not at the top of your priority list, you can always opt for the less expensive version with the normal Poly-Fil. With these great options, everyone is sure to be happy!

Overall, I am very pleased with my beautiful cloth play block! It boasts durability, natural filling, a great texture, fun features, and stunning fabric. It's the perfect soft toy for any tot!

Buy It!
You can purchase your own medium-sized Ashley cloth play block from the KnitStyle Etsy shop for just $9 (add $1.50 for bamboo fiberfill). KnitStyle also offers tons of other great cloth blocks ($6-12 for individual blocks, $16-32.50 for sets of three to six blocks), as well as several other items.

Win It!
Megan of KnitStyle has been generous enough to offer one lucky winner a $25 gift certificate to the KnitStyle Etsy shop! Since shipping will come out of the winner's gift certificate, this giveaway is open worldwide!

Please be sure to leave your email address in at least one entry; I will do my best to find your email address if you're the winner, but if I have no way to contact you, you cannot win! For complete giveaway rules, please see the "Giveaways" section under the "The Fine Print" page. Winning entries WILL be checked to ensure qualification, so please be honest! :)

Mandatory Entry (Must be completed before any other entries will qualify!)

• Visit the Etsy shop for KnitStyle and tell me what you might spend your $25 gift certificate on if you are the winner!

Bonus Entries (Please leave a separate comment for each entry! If it's worth 3 entries, please leave 3 separate comments!)

• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Publicly follow Twee Poppets with Google Friend Connect. (Click the "Follow" button under the "Followers" section at the top of the main page.)
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Subscribe to Twee Poppets via email (must be activated to count). (Enter your email address under the "Subscribe Via Email!" section on the left hand side of the main page and click the "Subscribe" button.)
• 1 Extra Entry: Add KnitStyle as a favorite shop on Etsy.
• 1 Extra Entry: Mark your 3 favorite KnitStyle listings as favorites on Etsy.
• 1+ Extra Entry: Enter another one of my current giveaways. You may have one extra entry PER contest entered (please leave a separate comment for each). This applies only to current giveaways. Giveaways that have already ended (before 7/21) do NOT count.
• 1 Extra Entry: Follow @TweePoppets on Twitter. (Include your Twitter ID with your entry.)
• 1+ Extra Entry: Tweet about this giveaway (may be done once daily for one entry per tweet). You may use this tweet: #GIVEAWAY: Win a $25 GIFT CARD to KnitStyle! Cute cloth  baby blocks and more! Enter to win @TweePoppets: http://tinyurl.com/WinKnit (8/4)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Become a fan of ("like") Twee Poppets on Facebook. (Click this link or the button under the "Follow on Facebook!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Become a fan of ("like") KnitStyle on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall letting them know that Twee Poppets sent you! (You MUST comment on their wall, or this entry will not count!)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Grab my button and add it to your blog or website. Let me know where I can find it! (Copy and paste the code that is in the "Grab My Button!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Blog about Twee Poppets. Leave a link to the blog entry in your comment. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Twee Poppets (http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blogs entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post). Please include a link to your blog post in your comment.
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Pledge to blog about what you won if you are the winner of this giveaway. This is based on the honor system - if you promise to blog if you win, please do. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Twee Poppets (http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blog entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post).
• 10 Extra Entries (Leave 10 Comments): Make a purchase from the KnitStyle Etsy shop. Be sure to let them know that Twee Poppets sent you!

Contest will end at 11:59pm PST on August 4, 2010. Winner will be chosen via random number generator. Winner will be contacted by me (tweepopacap@gmail.com) and will have 48 hours to respond before he or she forfeits the prize and a new winner is chosen. Open to mailing addresses worldwide.

Tuesday Tag-Along 7/20/10

Ever wish you had a Tuesday Tag-Along reminder each week? 

The solution is simple! Just subscribe to Twee Poppets via email! You'll receive a brief email on each day that I make a new post (including my weekly TTA post) - but no spam, ever! It's also a great way to learn about my new giveaways.

Psssssst! While you're here, why not enter one of my great giveaways? Here's what you can win right now on Twee Poppets:

• The innovative Brugo Mug - never get burnt by your coffee again! (Ends 7/28)
• Winner's choice of ANY single-item listing from The Wishing Elephant! Cute onesies! (Ends 7/29) 
• An adorable Dream Companion stuffed animal from Dream Snager - similar to Uglydolls! (Ends 8/1)

Don't miss out!
 

Welcome to this week's Tuesday Tag-Along blog hop, hosted by Twee Poppets Review and Giveaway! This is a great way to discover new blogs while increasing the number of followers for your own blog. Please feel free to grab the TTA button for your blogroll to help bring more bloggers to this blog hop!

<a href="http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com/search/label/tuesday%20tag-along"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y26/Weezarrgh/TTAButtonSize.jpg" alt="Tuesday Tag-Along" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Tuesday Tag-Along button art adapted from the "Follow the Leader" illustration by Diana Jones. I encourage you to visit her at her blog, Sketch & Jones, and her online shop to see more great illustrations and all sorts of wonderful crafts!


Without further ado...
Here's how it works:

• Create a new Tuesday Tag-Along blog post. Include the Tuesday Tag-Along button by copying and pasting the code above. (You are also welcome to copy and paste these instructions in their entirety, or any portion of this Tuesday Tag-Along blog post!)
• Add your blog name and the URL of your TTA post to the MckLinky below.
• Follow Twee Poppets, the hostess blog listed in the first slot. Twee Poppets will follow you back! (Note: If you want Twee Poppets to follow you back, you MUST leave her a comment saying that you are a new follower and leave a link to your blog!)
• Follow the Blog Hopper of the Week, listed in the second slot. To learn how to be chosen as the Blog Hopper of the Week, read the red text below.
• If you can, please follow the blogs in the three slots before you (e.g., if you're number 20, follow numbers 19, 18, and 17). This is not mandatory, but it will help ensure that everyone who signs up gets a few new followers!
• Follow as many other blogs as you want. The more you follow, the more that will follow you back! Be sure to tell them that you're following from Tuesday Tag-Along! You may also want to leave a link to your blog so they can return your follow more easily.
• When you get a new follower through Tuesday Tag-Along, be sure to follow them back! It's just common courtesy. :)

The weekly Tuesday Tag-Along MckLinky opens every Monday night at 8:59pm Pacific Standard Time (that's 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time), and the TTA blog post will be posted well in advance of that time. The MckLinky will be open to add your blog until 11:59pm Tuesday night. You then have all week long to visit blogs and return follows!

There is a new list every week. The link you enter one week will not carry over to the next week's MckLinky. Please link up again each week to join in the fun!


Tuesday Tag-Along Blog Hopper of the Week:
Note: To be eligible to be Blog Hopper of the Week, you MUST place the Tuesday Tag-Along button somewhere on the main page of your blog or website (and since I'll be checking for it manually, I must be able to actually find it). If the randomly-drawn winner does not meet this condition, a new winner will be randomly selected. If you do not want to place the TTA button on your site, you are still more than welcome to join in the blog hop, you will just not be eligible to be the Blog Hopper of the Week.

Each week, one blog will be chosen randomly from all the links, and that lucky blog will be placed in the desirable second slot for the following week's MckLinky!

This week's lucky blog hopper is #205 - Me, Him & the Cats. Congratulations!


(Linky removed after one week.)



Thanks for being a part of Tuesday Tag-Along! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chelsea from Twee Poppets directly, at TweePopACap@gmail.com. Have fun!

WINNERS! PicPocket Books and Reading Glasses Shopper

The PicPocket Books/KidsMathFun giveaway has officially ended! For this giveaway, TWO winners will be chosen! There were 72 entries, and the first winner was...

Lucky number 29!
#29 Christina Andre said...
"follow @TweePoppets on Twitter @moe92582"


The second winner was...

Lucky number 23!
#23 tiny reynolds said...
"I subscribe by email 2/3"

Congratulations to our winners, who have each won their choice of a PicPocket Book AND a KidsMathFun app! The winners will each have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen.





The Reading Glasses Shopper giveaway has also ended! There were 174 entries, and the winner was...

Lucky number 103!
#103 Terrymac said...
"FB FAn of Twee Poppets as Terry M. 2nd entry"

Congratulations to our winner, who has won a $20 gift certificate to Reading Glasses Shopper OR a choice of ANY pair of reading glasses on the site! The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen.

$aving Toward a Better Life Giveaway Alert

The wonderful blog $aving Toward a Better Life is currently holding a giveaway that I think you should all know about! The prize is a forty dollar gift certificate to any of CSN's 200+ online stores!

I loved hosting my own CSN giveaway (and I'm excited to host the next one!), but I have to admit that I'm super jealous of the winners - so I'm going to try to be the winner this time! Wish me luck.

Oh, and you can enter, too, I guess. But just don't win, because that would bum me out. Just kidding. The more the merrier! :)

Enter here! The giveaway ends tonight, though, so don't dilly dally!

Review and Giveaway: Dream Snager (CLOSED)

A while back, I came across an Etsy shop called Dream Snager that sells stuffies that caught my attention in a way that most others simply cannot do. These stuffies are called Dream Companions, and they look similar to bats or dragons or monsters, only about a million times cuter. If you don't believe that this type of creature could possibly be cute, just take a peek at the adorable little Dream Companion I was sent to review, and you'll be an instant believer:

Am I right, or am I right? This little guy is named Slimtail and he stands at just five inches tall from head to toe. His light green fur is made of a soft fleece, and dark purplish cotton batik accents his ears, wings, and tail rings. Since he does have some small parts that could come loose, he is recommended only for those who don't like to put things in their mouths (if given to those who do, please exercise careful supervision). He is the perfect size for a child to carry just about anywhere, and he really does make a terrific companion. In fact, that's what he's here for! Have a look at the background Sarah of Dream Snager has provided for her Dream Companions (punctuation/spelling edited slightly; meaning not changed):

As the name suggests, these little guys eat the things that cause nightmares. See, when people stress, worry or release negative vibes in general, they produce something that mimics greatly the Dream Companion's natural food source. Food in their homelands is becoming very scarce, so the ambassadors between our worlds have come up with an ingenious plan. The overwhelmed parents of the young Dream Companions can now send their babies to a new life in our world, where food will always be plentiful and the young can befriend the young of the humans.

Now wouldn't that be a wonderful story to send your child off to bed with, alongside his or her new Dream Companion friend? Little ones might take some comfort in the idea that these stuffies can eat their negative thoughts and help keep bad dreams away. This could prevent many tearful, sleepless nights!

Dream Companions are full of good messages. They remind me a lot of the popular Ugly Dolls, in that they're not actually ugly at all - just cute in a different way. It's so important to teach our children that there is more than one type of beauty, and that different doesn't mean bad! Dream Companions are a shining example of this notion.

He may not be a typical stuffed animal, but how could you resist that face?

While well-constructed and sturdily sewn, my Dream Companion has some minor quirks in construction. For example, his two legs are slightly different shapes. But believe me when I say that I am truly and completely happy that he is built this way! It adds so much charm, character, and personality. I'm glad he's not a cookie-cutter type of stuffed animal! Every Dream Companion is different, and that's part of what makes them so wonderful.

His quirks make him all the more lovable!

Dream Snager sells all sorts of wonderful Dream Companions. They come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes, so there is sure to be one that catches your eye - but even if there's not, Sarah offers custom Dream Companions! Plus, she includes a cute description of each companion in every listing, which really makes them feel like buddies.

Buy It!

You can purchase a young Dream Companion similar to mine for about $8 from the Dream Snager Etsy shop. Custom young Dream Companions are $12, adult Dream Companions are $20, Dream Companion finger puppets are $4.50, Dream Companion figurines are $12, and Dream Companion art is $17.

Win It!

Sarah from Dream Snager has been generous enough to offer one winner the winner's choice of ANY Dream Companion-related item in her shop: a young Dream Companion, an adult Dream Companion, a Dream Companion finger puppet, a piece of Dream Companion art, or a Dream Companion figurine. Open worldwide!

Please be sure to leave your email address in at least one entry; I will do my best to find your email address if you're the winner, but if I have no way to contact you, you cannot win! For complete giveaway rules, please see the "Giveaways" section under the "The Fine Print" page. Winning entries WILL be checked to ensure qualification, so please be honest! :)

Mandatory Entry (Must be completed before any other entries will qualify!)

• Visit the Etsy shop for Dream Snager and tell me which Dream Companion-related item you might choose if you are the winner!

Bonus Entries (Please leave a separate comment for each entry! If it's worth 3 entries, please leave 3 separate comments!)

• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Publicly follow Twee Poppets with Google Friend Connect. (Click the "Follow" button under the "Followers" section at the top of the main page.)
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Subscribe to Twee Poppets via email (must be activated to count). (Enter your email address under the "Subscribe Via Email!" section on the left hand side of the main page and click the "Subscribe" button.)
• 1 Extra Entry: Add DreamSnager as a favorite shop on Etsy.
• 1 Extra Entry: Mark your 3 favorite DreamSnager listings as favorites on Etsy.
• 1+ Extra Entry: Enter another one of my current giveaways. You may have one extra entry PER contest entered (please leave a separate comment for each). This applies only to current giveaways. Giveaways that have already ended (before 7/18) do NOT count.
• 1 Extra Entry: Follow @TweePoppets on Twitter. (Include your Twitter ID with your entry.) Psssst! I'll follow you right back! :)
• 1 Extra Entry: Follow @Snagerdra on Twitter. (Include your Twitter ID with your entry.) Please note that @Snagerdra is Sarah's personal as well as business account, so you may see updates that are not directly related to her shop.
• 1+ Extra Entry: Tweet about this giveaway (may be done once daily for one entry per tweet). You may use this tweet: #GIVEAWAY: Win ANY Dream Companion stuffed animal from Dream Snager. CUTE! Enter to win @TweePoppets: http://tinyurl.com/WinSnager (8/1)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Become a fan of ("like") Twee Poppets on Facebook. (Click this link or the button under the "Follow on Facebook!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Post a link to one of your favorite Dream Snager items on your Facebook account.
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Subscribe to Snager80 on YouTube. (Include your YouTube username with entry.)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Watch (follow) Snagerdra on Deviant Art. (Include your Deviant Art username with entry.)
• 2 Extra Entries (Leave 2 Comments): Grab my button and add it to your blog or website. Let me know where I can find it! (Copy and paste the code that is in the "Grab My Button!" section on the left hand side of the main page.)
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Blog about Twee Poppets. Leave a link to the blog entry in your comment. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Twee Poppets (http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blogs entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post). Please include a link to your blog post in your comment.
•  3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Blog about Dream Snager and your favorite items in her shop. Leave a link to the blog entry in your comment. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Dream Snager (http://www.etsy.com/shop/snager). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blogs entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post). Please include a link to your blog post in your comment.
• 3 Extra Entries (Leave 3 Comments): Pledge to blog about what you won if you are the winner of this giveaway. This is based on the honor system - if you promise to blog if you win, please do. Please be sure to mention this giveaway and link back to Twee Poppets (http://tweepoppets.blogspot.com). Your blog must have at least 10 followers on Google Friend Connect to be eligible. Blog entries must be at least 50 words long to count; must be a dedicated post (not just part of another post).
• 10 Extra Entries (Leave 10 Comments): Post some Dream Companion fan art on Deviant Art (or a similar art site). The art may be in any medium (drawing, sculpting, painting, etc.). In Sarah's words, "it doesn't have to be, like, OMG, INCREDIBLE quality or anything, even just a sketch or a nice doodle would be cool." Be sure to include a link to the art!
• 10 Extra Entries (Leave 10 Comments): Make a purchase from the Dream Snager Etsy shop. Be sure to let them know that Twee Poppets sent you!

Contest will end at 11:59pm PST on August 1st, 2010. Winner will be chosen via random number generator. Winner will be contacted by me (tweepopacap@gmail.com) and will have 48 hours to respond before he or she forfeits the prize and a new winner is chosen. Open to mailing addresses worldwide.

Mega Swag Bucks Friday! 7/16/10

Today is Mega Swag Bucks Friday! That means that odds of receiving large amounts of Swag Bucks are increased - all for doing the same easy things you always do! You can get Swag Bucks in multiples of 10, 100, or if you're really lucky, even 1000! And with that, you could get some awesome prizes.

In case you haven't learned about Swag Bucks yet, here's how this terrific program works! On Swagbucks.com, you earn virtual dollars called "Swag Bucks" which can then be traded in for REAL prizes! They have all sorts of things you can win, including gift certificates to Amazon, Target, Paypal, and more. There are also plenty of prizes besides gift certificates - almost anything you could think of. There's something for everyone!

How do you earn Swag Bucks? It's easy - just search the internet from their site, answer fun polls, find freebie codes online, and more. Basically, interact with Swagbucks.com and be rewarded with free Swag Bucks for prizes. It's SO EASY.

If you're already a member of Swag Bucks, be sure to search on Swag Bucks today for your chance at winning some major Bucks! If you're not a part of Swag Bucks yet, now would be a terrific time to join!

It's completely FREE and oh-so-simple to sign up! Plus, you'll automatically receive 30 Swag Bucks just for creating your free account! So what are you waiting for?

Sign up for Swag Bucks - Click HERE!

Disclaimer: This was NOT a paid post or a sponsored post. I wasn't working with Swagbucks.com in any way whatsoever. I just wanted to share this fantastic program with you all!

But if you do decide to sign up, PLEASE (Pretty please! With a cherry on top!) sign up using one of the links or banners in this post!!! These are my referral links, and if you sign up using them, it gets me some extra Swag Bucks (and doesn't doesn't have any negative consequences for you whatsoever!). I would be so appreciative! Thanks!

Review: Snikiddy Snacks

Recently, I was given the opportunity to try a free sample of Snikiddy Snacks by a representative from Smile.ly. Snikiddy strives to create great tasting snacks from wholesome ingredients. They have all sorts of different snacks to try: six flavors of baked fries (original, classic ketchup, cheddar cheese, southwest cheddar, bold buffalo, and parmesan garlic) and four flavors of cheese puffs (nacho cheese, grilled cheese, mac n' cheese, and pizza). For my review, I was sent a small trial-size bag of their baked Cheddar Cheese Fries.

What I love most about these is that they are a much healthier option than traditional potato chips. Other snacks are fried and full of saturated fat, but not Snikiddy Snacks. I'd love to tell you all about it, but, well, Snikiddy says it best of all! Just check out these awesome nutritional facts:

So they're healthier than other brands, but how do they compare when it comes to taste? Well, I found them to be quite tasty! In fact, I'd have to say I like them even better than regular potato chips. They're light and crispy, and the cheddar cheese gives them a little something extra. Yum!

Buy It!

Visit http://snikiddy.com/index.php/where/ to find out where you can purchase your own Snikkidy Snacks!