With so many festive scents to choose from you can fill your home with the smells of the season! Yankee Candle Festive Fragrances come in a variety of sizes and make the perfect gift for anyone on your list. A Yankee Candle is perfect for coworkers, teachers, Holiday hosts, and of course for yourself! You can shop their gift set section with thoughtful gifts priced from $9.99 all the way up to Deluxe Gifts priced up to $99.99.

Yankee candle has always been known for their wonderful scents, which I change in my own home throughout the year, and are known for their high quality and clean burning. I’ve made the mistake a couple times of buying a second rate brand only to end up with smoke stains on my walls. Thankfully, I’ve never had that issue with Yankee Candle and it’s why I love to give (and receive!) Yankee Candles as gifts.

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RedEnvelope Deluxe Wall Gallery Frame

 

The Deluxe Wall Gallery Frame from RedEnvelope is the perfect gift for those who tend to accumulate VIPs (very important photos). Exclusively from RedEnvelope, their generous set of elegantly arranged frames is just the thing to corral treasured photographs. With its white mats and artfully skewed symmetry, the Deluxe Wall Gallery Frame lends the effect of a collage created over time, rather than in a snap. It holds thirteen photos, is available in black, espresso or white finishes, and the frames hang from a 33″ nickel-plated brass bar. The seven frames that hold the 13 photos come in two 5×7 frames , two 4×6 frames, three 3×3 frames, four 3 1/2×5 frames and two 8×10 frames. Overall it hangs 33″ x 27 1/4″ when assembled, and comes with screws and easy-to-follow assembly instructions.

To really make it personal, add your own photos to the frames for a thoughtful gift from the heart! It’s a great gift idea that is sure to melt the hearts of parents, grandparents, spouses, etc! Or give the frames empty to your favorite photographer and let them choose their own treasured memories to display! Either way, the Deluxe Wall Gallery Frame is a gift that will be a treasure for years to come!

There are also other similar items like the (standard) Wall Gallery Frame and the Hall Gallery Frame to help fill various spaces in your home or office. RedEnvelope also offers one of the largest selections of unique, high quality gift items on the web. You can shop by occasion, browse gifts for women, gifts for men, Babies and Kids, for the home, Jewelry and more! If you need a gift, for any occasion, Red Envelope is sure to have something to fit your needs. In addition to the Deluxe Wall Gallery Frame, we’ve purchased the Family Handprint Frame (which was a hit with my parents), and you may remember last year’s Holiday Gift Guide where we featured the Beer Lovers Gifts. I also own several of their garden items like the Italian Herb Garden . Each of my RedEnvelope items has remained in great condition, was exactly as described on the site, and arrived quickly.

Be sure to visit the RedEnvelope website for unique and awesome gift ideas this Holiday season! They also have great deals and promo codes, and don’t forget to “like” them on Facebook for the latest savings and items! Don’t miss my other RedEnvelope item this year, the fabulous Channel Birthstone Bracelet.

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BedVoyage Eco-Luxury Linens

I had the extreme pleasure of reviewing some new bed linens from BedVoyage, maker of Eco-Luxury Bamboo Linens. Bamboo fibers are naturally hypo-allergenic, thermal regulating, moisture wicking, odor resistant and mildew resistant. As soft as silk, yet highly breathable, bamboo fiber is three to four times more absorbent than cotton due to its unparalleled micro-structure. This allows the sleeper to stay more dry and comfortable than they would with any other natural fabric. BedVoyage bamboo linens are thermal regulating as their insulating properties keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The bamboo that BedVoyage uses comes from a certified eco-friendly textile plant in an unpolluted region in China.

The average person spends about 1/3 of their life in bed, but because I am a mother to three small children, my time in bed is significantly less in duration but even more important to me. I try to make my bed a place where I can relax and recharge for the next day. I typically buy sheets that have no less than 600 thread count and my softest set is 1000 thread count and made from cotton. Imagine my surprise that the set of BedVoyage bamboo sheets were significantly softer than my 1000 count set! I have been using them for over two months and they have also not shown any signs of pilling or fading. These super soft sheets are a dream to sleep on, and in warmer weather still helped me feel cool, and now that our nights are colder, I am enjoying the warmth they provide. They have a heavier feel which I think just goes to the quality of the sheet, and the only thing I need to do differently as far as care is change the heat settings in which I wash/dry. To keep the sheets looking and feeling great it is advised to wash on cold and dry on low. A warm iron can be used, but I’ve found that as long as I remove them from the dryer as soon as they are done, any wrinkles fall out on their own. Oh, and I should mention we were able to receive the travel set of sheets with a patented one piece system where the flat and fitted sheets were sewn together. I was a little unsure how I’d feel about this, but it is easy to put on the bed, and has also kept me from searching for my top sheet on the floor in the middle of the night! The travel set also comes in a super soft bag to store your linens (flat & fitted sheet plus two pillow cases), and a laminated sign for housekeeping if you are using for travel in a hotel letting them know these are your personal sheets and not to take them (clearly, they’ve thought of everything). The sheets for my bed were in a King size, and we were also sent a one piece set in twin for Joey to try out. Unlike myself, Joey hasn’t yet had the pleasure of luxury sheets…until now. I’m not sure whether to thank or curse BedVoyage because Joey seems to be sleeping better, but complains if I put any other sheets on the bed. He asks for the “pillow” sheets which in Joey speak, means he thinks they’re soft and comfy. For his twin set the only difference was that it came with one pillow case instead of two. One thing I have noticed, aside from Joey generally sleeping better, was that I have seen an improvement in his allergies as well. Often times he would wake and be sneezing in the morning, and I had even recently tried vacuuming the mattress, buying a new mattress pad and washing his curtains to kill any dust mites. I think these sheets may also be aiding his allergies, so for that I am extra thankful.

Lastly, I was sent an adult travel blanket. My intention was to initially give this to my son Jake who has several blankets that he uses each night. Now that he’s three years old, I was hoping to swap out his “Pooh Bear Blanket” which is actually part of his nursery bedding. After feeling how soft this blanket was however, and not wanting a battle over his “blankie,” I decided it would be best if I just used it. I feel like a kid again…I originally had the blanket in my family room and was using it as a throw, but the super soft blanket was soon discovered and was being hogged by the rest of the family. Now, in addition to my soft sheet set, I have this wonderful blanket in my room at night as well…and I don’t even feel bad about it. Every once in a while I think it’s okay to take something just for me! So join the club, Moms! No matter where you are, how bad your day was, sleep like a queen night after night on these fabulously soft and absolutely luxurious sheets! Personally, I can’t wait to get a matching duvet…although if I do I may never get out of bed! Check out BedVoyage‘s website where you can order products directly (they also offer towels in addition to sheets, duvets and blankets) http://www.bedvoyage.com/. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.

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Sh*t My Kids Ruined:

An A-Z Celebration of Kid-Destruction

 

Sh*t My Kids Ruined: An A-Z Celebration of Kid-Destruction , written by Julie Haas Brophy, makes the perfect gift for any good-humored parent, parent-to-be, teacher, nanny, or anyone who has been a child! The book, whose pages overflow with the realities of parenthood, will no doubt make any reader laugh, cringe, and maybe even cry!

I’ve always said that parenthood isn’t all Hallmark Moments, and if there was ever a written testament to that statement, it is Julie Haas Brophy’s 160 pages of ultimate kid destruction. I find it’s the perfect book to pick up when I’m having a particularly challenging day as a parent. Personally, I find Sh*t My Kids Ruined a great way to feel better about the messes my own kid’s make. Sure, someone (who will remain nameless) who puts five matchbox cars in the toilet is gross, but it’s better than one of the entries with a toilet clogged with clothing. I use the book to feel better about my own situation, or, on days where my kids make a total mess of something, the pages welcome you like that of a club that I’d prefer not to be a part of- but at least I’m not alone.

Overall, just the perfect gift this Holiday season. Give parents something to laugh at (or with), show parents-to-be what they’ll be in for in the near future, or better still give it to your teenagers to reinforce that talk you gave on abstinence!

You can purchase Sh*t My Kids Ruined: An A-Z Celebration of Kid-Destruction on amazon for just over $10.

For more Sh*t My Kids Ruined fun, check out the official website and Facebook page too!
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Canvas 4 Life

Canvas 4 Life takes your favorite photos and turns them into fabulous pieces of canvas art! You may have heard about taking pictures and putting them onto canvas, but please don’t just go anywhere for this. Canvas 4 Life is the place you need to go if you want to get the job done right…and it’s so easy! First you upload a photo to their website and they run it through their quality detection software. This awesome software only displays the sizes that will be appropriate for your image. This helps ensure every canvas comes out perfect. I experienced this myself when I ordered three canvas prints, one of each of my kids. My intention was to order three 12×16 prints, but the picture of Jake did not pass the quality check for that size. For his canvas we ended up getting a 12×12 which worked out perfectly.

One you determine what size you want to order, you will select what type of canvas you want. To do that you’ll decide next of you want your canvas in the original color, blank and white or sepia. Decide next on the depth of your canvas (I selected 1.5″), and then choose the bleed which is if you want the image to wrap around the canvas (I chose to have the image wrap and I loved the visual effect it created). When all is said and done you’ll be able to view a real time image of your canvas before you order. Better still, Canvas 4 Life has a 100% money back guarantee which means that if you are not completely satisfied with your order, they will either re-do it for you or offer you an immediate refund.

You might think this sounds too good to be true, or that you’ll have to spend hundred and hundreds of dollars for such a great service. Think again! Get your own custom canvas starting at 32.99 (plus they have free shipping!). You won’t be sacrificing quality either. Every canvas is made with 100% cotton canvas – no imitations! Their canvas weighs in at a massive 400 grams and is 21 mil thick which is the best there is on the market! They also use real artists’ stretcher bars to make up every frame to order which is the way it should be done! You have your choice of two depths either slim frames which is 0.75″ deep or opt for their chunky frames which is 1.5″ deep. There is no difference in price, so the choice really is yours! Finally, don’t worry about what your print will look like in a year; Canvas 4 Life only uses genuine HP Vivera quality inks. These inks are guaranteed for over 75 years and are the absolute best on the market!

I cannot say enough about the three canvases I received. I will be placing additional order for holiday gifts for family, and will be adding more to my own home soon as well. Having treasured photos put into canvas brings your picture to life and makes them a work of art. Start making treasured art of your own! These are great gifts for anyone for the holidays or anytime of year! Visit Canvas 4 Life’s website http://www.canvas4life.com/ where you can upload your photos and see what they’ll look like on canvas for free, chat live or call them 1-88-407-6277. You can also find them on Facebook. Here is a picture of my canvases (which truly does them no justice):

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Amber Shader Photography

 

I, myself, am not artist. I am, however, someone who appreciates art in its many forms. I have always had a passion for photography, but would never dare call myself a photographer. Perhaps it would be better stated, that I am an admirer of photography. My passion lies in what photos can bring, the gift that they can continue to give.

Look upon some photos and they evoke a wave of emotions. Gaze upon the moments, forever captured, and remember the feelings. Allow yourself to slip away and recall the even more from that sliver of time like the sounds and smells or the feeling of an embrace. Photos can be powerful.

I could spend hours looking through photos from my childhood, pictures from my younger years, photos from the last decade with my husband, and of course, all the thousands of memories made with my children. It’s hard to believe that time can go by so quickly, and days that feel like yesterday were actually many years ago, but with pictures, you can bring them right into the present with you.

Photos are such a treasure, and having an artist to capture the special moments is also a gift. I tried my own hand at family pictures (which of course is always a disaster), was disappointed with portrait studios, and have finally be blessed with someone to help me capture the moments on film that I cannot.

Amber Shader is a friend and artist. She is a photographer who specializes in portraiture photography. Amber captures emotional reminders of love, life and laughter in each photo. Her art is so moving, and I’ve literally been brought to tears by some of her images. The look of unconditional love between a parent and child, the endless possibilities of a life together for a newly married couple, the forever-bond between siblings, or the love still burning bright for a couple celebrating a golden anniversary.

Amber recently captured some wonderful pictures at the Brandywine Battlefield in Chadds Ford, PA of my family. Here are just a few of the photos she took:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Air & Water’s

NewAir 12 Bottle

Countertop Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

Air-n-Water.com are your portable appliance experts. Whether you are looking for small appliances, vacuums, air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioning, heating, thermostats, water dispensing, wine cooling (my favorite), or more, you’ve got no better place than Air-n-Water.com. They offer fast shipping, great prices, top brands, and great guarantees (like free shipping both ways and no restocking fees). Their website is easy to navigate, they have Live Chat Help available, shipment guaranteed within 24 hours, and products feature customer reviews. They also offer great discounts and sales (even one special for Domestic Diva readers at the end of this post).

Recently, I had a chance to review the Air & Water’s NewAir 12 Bottle Countertop Thermoelectric Wine Cooler. This thermoelectric wine cooler features a premium stainless door trim with double paned, tempered glass. It also has a soft light (which you can leave on or turn off) that illuminates your wine collection. The wine cooler runs quietly thanks to its thermoelectric cooling system with no compressor which also creates minimal vibrations (I haven’t noticed any). The temperature display on the front is easy to read and adjust if necessary, and it keeps your wine stored under your best designated conditions. On the interior of the wine cooler, the premium chrome plated shelves not only look great, but also prevent excessive vibration and sediment accumulation.

Aside from it’s sleek modern design, quiet running, and cooling of up to twelve of my favorite bottles of wine, I love the compact nature of this wine cooler! It’s small enough for a table or counter top, and have I mentioned the price? Totally affordable. The Air-n-Water.com price the day this was written was $161.95 (with free shipping), and that’s a great discount considering that the list price is $210! Even better, Air-n-Water.com are offering you an extra $15 off when you use the promo code DIVINEWINE through 12/31/11.

For more specifications and information on the NewAir AW-121E 12 Bottle Countertop Thermoelectric Wine Cooler, visit the Air-n-Water.com website.

Aside from this perfect gift for any wine enthusiast, check out their other fabulous items perfect for the Holidays! You can also keep up with their latest and greatest products and deals by “liking” them on Facebook, and don’t forget to follow them on Twitter too!