Special thanks to Style Lush for introducing me to blonde birdie by which I mean, I will be sending you lovely ladies a framed copy of my bankruptcy report.

The children have been angling for the various giveaway items. I know, I was shocked too. Last night the oldest grabbed the Noticeable and told me he was putting it in his room. I had to stop him and explain it was going to someone else. He looked at me like I had three heads. I explained I would buy him a replacement for him if he wanted. The one in his room ran out awhile ago and I haven’t replaced it. I’m guessing this means it’s time. I kind of avoid their room except for a quick tuck in at bed time and moment to flip on the light in the morning and yell, “Time to get up.” Okay, truthfully, it’s more like a couple of shouts over a period of 20 minutes. Still, see: AVOID.

Dylan asked to spray the air freshener all over because he looooves the smell. I vetoed that. Still, I may have to check the weight of the can when it’s time to send it out and possibly replace it first. Who knows what they do when I’m not around. I’m guessing this means I can’t just leave the box lying around like I’m wont to do. I will have to pack it up and hide it.

Now, enough about me,

hahahaha. Sorry. It’s all about me.

Seriously though, Tide is selling t-shirts to help raise cash for a project they’re doing called Tide Loads of Hope. From their website:

“Tide Loads of Hope helps in the aftermath of a natural disaster by providing clean clothes and a sense of comfort to families in need. Partnering with Feeding America, we travel to disaster affected neighborhoods with the Tide Loads of Hope truck or vans, our free mobile laundry service.”

You can find out more about their work here.

I’m not sure I could fit one breast into one of their shirts but I’m thinking the 2 older boys might dig them. So support disaster relief with a tee and you can be as cool as my teen & almost teen. Come on, you know you want to.

One last thing I have to mention, every time I look out the window it is doing something else. One time – snowing. Next – sun. Next – snow. Next – cloudy and gray but no snow. For reals people. It’s a little freaky.

Edited to add: The coughing child was fine once it came time to ask if a friend could come over to play basketball. In the snow.

Go on over to Chocolate and Steel and enter for a ring from her Etsy shop. Or rather don’t because you’ll decrease my chances to win. I have to say I’m really digging her shop. I love her poppies. Think she’d work up something (either the necklace or ring) with four poppies? With the boys’ birthstones? I’ve been looking for the perfect Mother’s ring and/or necklace type thing. I think I’ve finally found it. You may not realize the significance of this but I’ve been looking for almost NINE YEARS.

I may have to send a link to the husband in time for Mother’s Day.

I love them despite them not producing my request of them as detailed here. I’m thinking if you also think it’s a good idea you could maybe blog about it or write them a letter because I am totally serious about it. WANT.

Also, I review here because I want to share my bounty with you by telling you what I think. I, a real person with real kids and a dog. Also, sports equipment. Which btw, Febreze people, how about sending me some of your new sport odor eliminator? Seriously, baseball, track & lacrosse seasons are starting soon. I neeeeeed that stuff. Although I suppose I could just go out and actually buy it myself.

Note to self: buy sport odor eliminator

I’m guessing you can see where this is all leading. While dropping off one of the boys at one of their many activities the other night I ran into a friend. She stopped to tell me about how her daughter and gotten a hold of some cheap kid perfume that smelled of sickeningly sweet vanilla. She then proceeded to spray it in her brother’s room. Everywhere.

My friend could not get the smell out. She tried everything, open windows, washing of bedding and clothes. She thought it was probably in the carpet. Now you can probably tell she isn’t a real CLOSE friend as she hadn’t heard of Febreze. No really. I think she must be living in a cave. (Ok, not really. I’ve been to her very nice house. But still – not heard of Febreze?)

I went on to educate her in the ways of Febreze. Don’t worry, I didn’t tell her all I knew but gave her the basics and sent her on her way to purchase some on her way home.

In a cosmic sort of coincidence, I returned home to a box on my front porch. A box containing Febreze’s new line of exotic scents packaged as a crate with a feather boa, floral lei and a shimmery piece of cloth. I’m guessing to represent each of their new lines: Brazilian Carnaval,  Hawaiian Aloha, and Moroccan Bazaar.

As documented here and other places I’m sure exist but cannot find now, I have an aversion to strong scents. I love the fresh & clean and even natural scents. Strong scents give me a headache. I don’t wear perfume. I don’t do scented candles. I do however love the feather boa!

I gave the Brazilian Carnaval Air Effects a small squirt. I’ll admit, I liked it. But it was too strong. The Hawaiian Aloha candle looks lovely but again, scents and me don’t go well. The Moroccan Bazaar Noticeables are intriguing but I haven’t tried them yet. I so want to use this stuff but don’t want the impending headache.

So, all this very wordy words to say…

How would one or three of you like to try one of the above products? If you do, leave a note in the comments letting me know which one you want and I’ll contact you by e-mail for your address to send it to you. I’d say I’d use a random number generator to pick the winners but let’s be real… I don’t have that many readers anymore. Too much neglecting my blog over the years.

So leave a comment by Monday, March 16 at 7:30am and you’ll get a little treat in the mail too. One thing – I want you to report back how you liked it. Deal?

Me and Febreze making the world smell better one room at a time.