How About A Collapsible Picnic Basket?

When was the last time you went on a picnic? I love going on them, and enjoy every aspect of them. There's something about being in the fresh air, enjoying the people you are with and the simple meal you share.

I am blessed to have my Mother's picnic basket and I love it! I can't tell how many years she used it. I remember being allowed to carry it as a child and feeling special. Well I have a new picnic basket (no, I am not getting rid of my Mother's), and this picnic basket is pretty nifty!

AspenBox has the Sprucebay Insulated Picnic Basket and the neatest thing about this basket is the fact that it collapses, making it easy to store when you aren't using it. Let's face it, picnic baskets can take up a lot of room in storage.

The picnic basket has an aluminum frame with soft grips on the handles, and is insulated so it will keep your foods inside nice and cold, or hot depending on what you take along with you. The basket is 17"x9"x9". It's a good size for taking along pretty much everything you need. When it is collapsed it is about 2" thick, so it won't take up a lot of room at all. This thing will hold up to 65 pounds of food & supplies! That's amazing and if you take that much food on a picnic you have enough to feed a small army!

The material is waterproof, so it is super easy to clean and keep clean. I like the grey and white chevron pattern of the material. It's distinctive and very much "in" right now. The lid has a nice zipper that goes around three sides of the basket making it easy to get to everything inside. There are small metal frame pieces to help hold the basket shape when you are using it and they fold down to collapse it.

I think this is a really nifty idea and I am pleasantly surprised at how much it holds. I think it is a great idea and will enjoy using it for a long time. Now to plan a picnic with my husband!

You can purchase the AspenBox Sprucebay Insulated Picnic Basket HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Aqua Notes Waterproof Notepad Giveaway

AQUA NOTES WATERPROOF NOTEPAD GIVEAWAY


  Hosted By:
Holiday Contest and Sweeps

Co-Hosted By:
Tom's Take On Things
Simply Sherryl 
Michigan Savings and More 
Java John Z's 
The Ministers Wife Stamps and Saves 
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Finding Sanity In Our Crazy Life 
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Romania and Missions

Presents 
The Aqua Notes Waterproof Pad Giveaway

  2 - Winners

  Holiday Contest and Sweeps along with a great group of fellow blogs is pleased to work with AquaNotes to bring you the AqauNotes Waterproof Pad Giveaway. 

Two lucky winners will receive a 5-Peice Gift Pack of Assorted Aqua Note 

Waterproof Pads

  AquaNotes® are made of waterproof paper that is totally recyclable, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic. Each pencil is water resistant and is made with Incense Cedar wood, a responsibly harvested renewable resource meeting stringent environmental requirements. Even the ink used to print the logo and company information on the notepad is soy based. The product is designed to withstand exposure to wet environments. Water simply beads up and rolls off AquaNotes. Each 3.5 by 5.25 inch pad has 40 sheets of paper and each sheet is perforated for easy removal. AquaNotes easily and quickly attaches to any smooth surface with two suction cups that are secured with a stem-based cap. Pencils are secured with a suction cup pencil holder that provides convenient access whenever the need arises to write down an idea while you’re in the shower. AquaNotes pads, pencils, and all its components are entirely made and assembled in the USA.

  Let's Take A Look at the 5- Piece Prize Package:
  2 Pads - Original Plain Aqua Notes

If you find that some of your best ideas and insights are generated in the tranquility and solitude of the shower...then AquaNotes® is for you! These waterproof notepads help you capture and preserve your ideas before they're forgotten! Families are on the go more than ever! AquaNotes® provide a way to use the shower to organize your thoughts, to-do-lists, and errands for the day ahead. Leave reminders and messages for family members or relax by drawing, sketching, or doodling in the shower! Give your favorite student a fun gift that can help put their long showers to good use! They can use AquaNotes® to preserve those great term paper or class project ideas, organize thoughts and tasks for the day ahead, or to leave messages in the shower for roommates! Or they can draw, sketch, or doodle in the shower!

  1 - Pad of Aqua Love Notes



  Leave a note for that special someone! A fun way to leave romantic messages, encouraging words, or appreciative sentiments. Shower Your Loved Ones With LoveNotes® Great Bridal Shower or Wedding Gift.

1 - Pad of Aqau Boat Notes

 

  This tear resistant, waterproof notepad and pencil have special suction cups that easily attach to any flat surface and make writing in rain, high-surf, or other wet weather conditions a breeze. These notepads are so tough, you can even write on them underwater. Keep AquaNotes® on deck to jot down notes about fishing conditions, marine reports, trip logs, or navigational information. Also great for writing down check-lists, to-do-lists, tournament notes, and other marine information.

  1 Pad of Aqua Fun Notes Word Search



  Or Maze



  Everyone loves to solve puzzles! Now, the Aqua Notes® line of puzzle pads provide a unique way to enjoy this favorite past-time in the shower or bathtub. These waterproof puzzle pads are guaranteed to provide brain building fun for young and old alike. Aqua Notes are recyclable and non-toxic. Even soy based ink and wind energy are used in the printing process. These fun pads mount to bathtub walls. 

Click Here To Visit The Aqua Notes Website

Make Sure To Follow Aqua Notes On Social Media! Facebook , Twitter , Pinterest 

  A Big Thank You To Our Sponsor Aqua Notes


  This giveaway is in no way endorsed, associated or affiliated with Facebook,Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid in the Continental United States only and entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway will end at 12:00 AM (EST) 7/26/16. Holiday Contest and Sweeps and The Minister's Wife did not receive any compensation for this giveaway. Aqua Notes will be solely responsible for the awarding and shipping of the prizes directly to each winner. If you experience any issues with this giveaway please email holidaycontestandsweeps@gmail.com

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A Very Practical Blanket With So Many Uses

I'm so excited! Spring is almost here. The weather has vastly improved and soon I will be walking the beach of Lake Michigan and enjoying the water, finding treasures in the sand, and relaxing. One of the best things to do is sit on the beach and just enjoy, but it often involves the sand being just a little damp.

I was thrilled when I got the Practico Outdoors All-Purpose Outdoor Blanket! This is such a nice blanket and I know it will come in handy in a multitude of places, including the damp sand on the beach.

The blanket comes in two sizes, small like mine, that are 48" x 58" and large, 58" x 84", and come in black and grey in both sizes. The blanket has two distinctive sides. One features a reinforced polyester nylon backing for superior water and wind resistance. The other is made with extra soft 100% polar fleece that is fantastic at providing warmth and comfort. By super soft, they mean super soft. This is a very comfortable blanket to sit on or to cover up with.

Both sizes come in a nifty nylon carry bag that has a handle to carry it with and a toggle closure. Inside the blanket has a strap on it that also has a handle to carry it with that has a buckle hook that opens up. I also love that the blanket is completely machine washable and can go in the dryer. So easy to take care of that way! It takes literally seconds to open and use the blanket. it does not take too much longer to put it back in the carry bag either.

The uses for this blanket are super numerous. Since one side is waterproof and the other warm, it can be used to sit on or to cover up with. You can place half on a stadium seat and the other half over you to keep warm. You can keep this blanket in your car for an emergency. If you get stuck somewhere in the cold you can stay warm and dry. It's the perfect, compact blanket to carry with you to all kinds of outdoor events and activities, and if something gets spilled on it, you will know it is easy to clean.

We enjoyed trying this blanket out and know we will get a lot of use out of it. Many a picnic will be held on it. I think this is a great blanket to add to your wish list or to give to someone as a gift. It's very practical and useful!

You can purchase the Practico Outdoors All-Purpose Outdoor Blanket HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

Traveling With Our Newfoundland and Keeping The Car Seats Clean

I love to travel around with my dog along. Our Newfoundland, Bender, loves to go for rides, but he's really rough on the upholstery! In fact, he pretty much fills up the entire back seat of our car. Some days I miss our van.

But I still like to have him with me. He's a good passenger and enjoys seeing the sites and barking at the occasional creature he sees along the route. I also love seeing the shocked faces of people when they see how big he is. When was the last time you saw a 120 pound dog in the back seat of a sedan? LOL! But he does leave a lot of hair and once in a while, okay more than once in a while, he leaves some drool. Have you ever had to clean up lots of long black fur from cloth seats? Not fun!!

I was excited to try out something to help protect the upholstery in our car recently. I had very high hopes for it. It's the Zitriom Seat Cover for Dogs & Pets.

The seat cover is made from weatherproof durable heavy duty quilted polyester material. It comes in a neutral beige color with brown trim and is get this, machine washable! That's wonderful! And I do suggest washing it when you first get it. it has a new plastic smell to it when you open the box and washing it takes that away some.

We had a little trouble getting the cover installed. Our back seat has different headrests than shown in the pictures on the box the cover comes in. It took us a bit to figure out how to keep the strap around the headrests to stay in place. We got them to stay for a while, but do have to fix them after having the dog in the car for very long. Unfortunately even the extra bit of strap and hook that come with the cover didn't seem to help either. The side elastic straps held the cover for the most part, although it would hold much better on bench seats in a van, CRV, or SUV.

What did help keep the seat cover from going too far were the Stay-put devices. There are two of them and they tuck into the back seat crack and holds the cover still on the seat. There are also several openings in the cover to accommodate seat belts so both your fur babies and your human babies can be safe in the back seat!

I love how it is much easier to clean the hair off the seat cover than the seats, although we still get some on the backs of the front seats. After all we are traveling with a ginormous dog! You're bound to get hair somewhere with him around. LOL!

Both my husband and I are not sure if we will continue using the cover. We love the idea, but it just does not stay put enough with our big dog. Now when we travel with the little Chorkie, Scruffy, who weighs a mere 10 pounds, we have no trouble with it. I think it would do great even for medium sized dogs. But for a large dog, if you do not have a bench seat it is not as easy to use.

You can purchase your own Zitriom Seat Cover for Dogs & Pets HERE!

We received samples of the products for the purpose of review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed here are those of the author.