Sunny Beadz Review and Giveaway

Sun + Skin = Tan...or Sunburn depending on skin type and hours in the sun. If your kids ever disagree with you about whether or not to wear sunscreen, get them the Sunny Beadz. Sunny Beadz are made by the makers of Sunny SleeveZ. I had a chance to test out this super neat color changing jewelry. The sol beads change color in the sun! It's so cool! I chose this cute little octopus necklace to test out.

I wore it as I biked to work and as I biked, I realized that since it was a necklace, I couldn't see it change color which defeated the whole purpose! As the day went on and the sun got hotter, students and colleagues noticed that the beads on my necklace had changed colors when going from inside the classroom to outside. This gave me a chance to tell them about how the necklace works.

The ultraviolet light detection beads change color instantly in the sun to alert the user of harmful UV rays. The stronger the UV rays, the deeper the beads color. The beads turn off-white when there is no UV light to shine on them. This is a really neat product to help teach kids about wearing sunscreen and as well as remind them to wear it. You don't even have to wear it, you could attach it to a baby stroller, surfboard, golf bag, lunch box or purse! As you do your daily routine out in the sun, it's a cool color-changing signal to protect your skin!

I don't usually wear sunscreen but after wearing this necklace, I will definitely (attempt) to put sunscreen on more often. Even when I thought the sun wasn't that "hot" or "bright", the beads still changed color which shows me that there is a need to protect my skin.

If I had a chance to do this again, I'd change my choice of jewelery, I think I would choose a bracelet instead, this way I get to SEE the cool color change (and go put sunscreen on) and I can also put it on my family's wrists when they go outside. The necklace itself was difficult for me to determine if the beads had changed color but it was a good visual for others around me to see the color change.

Did you know that just ONE blistering sunburn doubles the risk of skin cancer in later life?

FACT: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the USA today

FACT: UV rays cannot be felt and are present whether or not it is hot outside.

FACT: It takes less than 11 minutes for the sun to irreparably damage your skin

I'm assuming we all love our skin and wouldn't want to develop skin cancer so let's all minimize our risk and get some Sunny Beadz to help remind us, especially our little ones, to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves.

SHOP: Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, all Sunny Beadz necklaces have been discounted (from $14.99 to just $12.99), come with a free bracelet and FREE SHIPPING. 

View the selection HERE.

WIN:  You can win a Sunny Beadz necklace of your choice by liking Sunny Sleevz (the makers of Sunny Beadz) on Facebook and then leaving a comment below telling us you've done so.  This is the mandatory entry for this giveaway and must be done before all of the additional entries.
   
To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
4. Follow Sunny Sleevz on Twitter. 
5. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following: #win a Sunny Beadz necklace of your choice from @sunnysleevez and @moanasaves ends 6/1 http://bit.ly/ipTx1b

6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on 6/1 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas a Minneapolis SEO and Web Design firm. 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.

NOVICA Review and Giveaway

Working with both visual (painters, sculptors, photographers) and performing artists (musicians and actors) on a daily basis at my job has helped me develop a sense of appreciation for the creative process, beauty, and value of ART. 

When I came across the mission of  NOVICA, I was impressed and felt fortunate for the opportunity to review one of their products.  The mission of NOVICA is: "We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow."

NOVICA has a beautiful, wonderful, colorful assortment of home decor, handmade jewelry and apparel, paintings, and is just a great place for unique gifts!  Plus Novica has started a consultant program at Novica Live where they can help folks celebrate world culture and fair trade in homes across the nation.

I chose to review a pair of sterling silver dangle earrings, named 'Tiger Lily' created by an artist named Wadarat Supasirisuk from Thailand.  My cute earrings came by FEDEX express mail in a beautiful gift box with a handwritten note from the artist!  I was very impressed by the quick delivery, presentation of the product, and happy that it was exactly as pictured and described on the website.  My daughters were most impressed of all and they can't wait for the day when mommy lets them "borrow" her (my) jewelry.

SHOP: Earrings are probably the easiest accessory to buy as a gift as they are practical, take little space, thoughtful, and one of the accessories that I don't believe I'll ever have "too many" of. Check out NOVICA.com for awesome gifts for Mom!!

WIN:  You can win a Novica $30 gift certificate by going to the Novica website and then leaving a comment below telling us what you love at Novica.  This is the mandatory entry for this giveaway and must be done before all of the additional entries.
 

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.

4. Follow Novica on Twitter.

5. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following: #win a $30 GC from @novica and and @moanasaves ends 5/30 http://bit.ly/kKv1iY

6. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

8. Like the Novica Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on 5/30 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a free product in exchange for my review.  Any and all opinions here are my own.

Red Envelope Review and Giveaway for Mother's Day

If you haven't checked out Red Envelope, then (with Mother's Day looming) you really should!  Red Envelope offers gifts for all occasions.  Does your loved one adore flowers?  Yes, you can order them at Red Envelope.  What about some gourmet treats?  Or an at-home spa treatment?  Red Envelope has it all including jewelry for Mom.  Not only does Red Envelope have everything you need to spoil mom, the site has gifts for all occasions! 

For Mother's Day, I ordered the Family Pearl Stacked rings.  I've always wanted to have a jewelry piece that reminded me of my connection to my daughters and I loved the simple-yet-tasteful look of these sterling silver rings and freshwater pearls.  Red Envelope shipping is incredibly reliable, fast and efficient--even to Hawai'i!  I love this set of rings.  I put them on immediately -- you know, since I believe I shouldn't have to wait until Mother's Day to be pampered.  They are exactly like the photo except even better on my hand.  They even pass the generational approval test--both my daughters want to wear my rings.  I told them they have to earn it like I did and then ignored them when they asked what I meant.

SHOP: Check out Red Envelope's fabulous selection of Motherhood jewelry HERE or go to their Mother's Day bestsellers page HERE.  They have everything you need to make that special mom in your life happy!

WIN: Red Envelope is offering one lucky Moana Saves reader a $50 gift code! For your mandatory entry to this giveaway, go to Red Envelope's Mother's Day bestsellers page and tell us what you would get for yourself or that special mom in your life. 

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Google Friends Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
3. Follow  Moana Saves on Twitter.
4. Follow Red Envelope on Twitter
5. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates (in the sidebar).
6. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page. 
7. Like Red Envelope on Facebook.

6. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following: #win a $50 GC from @redenvelope ends 5/6 http://bit.ly/gnPxzQ

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway. He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. This giveaway ends on 5/6/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time). One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org. I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.

 I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a free product to facilitate my review.  Any and all opinions here are my own.

Sunny Beadz Review coming your way

Hello! Coming soon is a review of this cute piece of jewelry from SunnySleevez.com! I chose the octopus necklace because it would be a fun way for me to test the product and see how hot it can get when I bike to work or play outside with the kids.

I was not compensated for this post although I will soon review a SunnyBeadz piece of jewelry.  Any and all opinions here are my own.


Anna's note: Carol, our newest reviewer on Moana Saves, wrote this.  Stay tuned for her bio and fun reviews!