I love the fact that both of my dogs are fairly energetic. They are large, active and a lot of fun. Sometimes that energy and excitement leads them to pull when they’re walked on a leash – especially if they see a c-a-t. (We can’t even say the word “cat” around them, or they go crazy looking around for one.)

Although my dogs are both fairly well-trained, I was happy to test out the Instant Trainer Leash to see if it made a difference in their pulling when they were super excited. The product website claims the leash uses “gentle but firm resistance to discourage your dog from pulling,” and it does exactly that.

The main thing I liked about the Instant Trainer Leash is that it is gentle. There is nothing sharp poking your dog if he misbehaves. Instead, the leash attaches to the collar then loops around the dog’s midsection, where he feels a little pressure if he pulls.

Guinness, our larger and older dog, is always the first one to get his leash on for walks, so he was the first furbaby put to the test. Once the leash was in place he tolerated it, but he kept looking back as if to say, “What in the world is this, and why is it back there?” Our other dog, Rogue, seemed a little less concerned about the new leash.

Guinness and Rogue try the Instant Trainer Leash

We never ran into a situation where our dogs tried to pull excessively on the leash. It could be because the leash kept them from pulling at all in the first place. Or they simply might not of have been inspired by anything they saw on the days we tested this product.

While the Instant Trainer Leash is gentle, it doesn’t feel as if you have as much control over the dog because you’re basically leading the dog from his midsection. However, it seemed to work well as a way to discourage pulling. I would use the leash again for training but not necessarily for every day walking.

I wish we had this leash when we first got Rogue. She was scared of everything and would pull out of her collar and also out of a couple of different harnesses. Because the Instant Trainer Leash attaches to the collar then wraps around the midsection, there doesn’t appear to be a way for a stubborn, frightened dog to wiggle out of it. I think this would have been a wonderful tool for her.

The Instant Trainer Leash is available online at www.buyinstanttrainer.com, and at about $18 ($10 for the leash and $7.95 for shipping and handling), the cost is comparable to other leashes and harnesses. If you’re training a new dog, or brushing your furbaby up on his leash manners, this product is worth a try.

Win It!

One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win an Instant Trainer Leash for their furbaby!  Entry is easy via the Rafflecopter widget below.  Simply comment on this post and tell me the name of the furbaby in your life that you are anxious to try out the Instant Trainer Leash on.  Don’t forget to check off on the Rafflecopter widget that you completed this action or your entry won’t count.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This review was written on behalf of The Instant Trainer Leash and a complimentary product was received in order to facilitate a candid review.

I am a stay at home mom, of two a Jr. high boy and a kindergarten girl, and also wife to a busy office manager hubby.  I do a lot of volunteer work at my daughter’s school and am a member of her school PTA, so I’m pretty busy as well.

I don’t have a lot of time for laundry, even though it never ends!!  It has to get done one way or another!  When I heard about MyClothingHelper I instantly knew that I wanted to give it a try.  I have to admit that at first sight of this product I was a little bit of a snob about it and I’m not a snob.  I just thought how are these things going to help me with my clothing,  however once I hung them in my closet and on my husband’s suits, I was so grateful and pleased with this product!!

MyClothingHelper reduces over-washing and encourages you to get more wears out of your clothes in between washes. That translates to less laundry and less dry-cleaning, which in turn means reduced use of water, electricity, and harmful detergents and dry-cleaning solvents.

By reducing over-washing, you cut back on time spent doing laundry and you save money. Consider this: if normally you wear a pair of pants three times before washing but with MyClothingHelper you wear them four times, you’re reducing the amount you wash those pants by 33%. Ultimately that means you can save 33% on laundry and dry-cleaning bills.”

• Our starter pack is shipped with 7 trackers for only $9.99.
• FREE shipping when you order 3 or more.
• 30-day Money Back Guarantee.

How they work is pretty simple;  you hang it on the hanger with the clothing you want to wear without over washing,  (it has a very nice, sturdy ribbon attached throughout the product. On the ribbon, there are numbers and one letter, the letter “c” (it stands for clean), this is where you would start out on your garment, as the days progress you move down the egg shaped counter by number, 1-7    (you can use the numbers as how many times the item has been worn, or as what day it was worn, whichever is easier for you.

My husband has to wear suits to work, and you know the dry cleaning bill is ridiculous.  I was so happy to utilize the Clothing Helper, and in turn it helped me in the sense of not taking them every other day to the dry cleaners, they really didn’t need to go that often!

The next best part, is that they are affordable, they are $9.99 for a package of 7. They also come in different colors, so it brightens up your closet as well. You can go to the website www.myclothinghelper.com, and purchase it right from the website.  Oh yeah, one more added bonus is that they offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so if you are unhappy at all, you can return it for a full refund.

With this product I was able to keep track of when the items were worn and when they were good to go get cleaned!  It was a lot less headache and stress.  Thank you so much to the makers of the “MY CLOTHING HELPER”!  You truly helped my stress levels!

To stay connected with My Clothing Helper be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter too!

Win It!

TWO lucky Pretty Pink Momma readers will each win a MyCLothingHelper so they can stop over-washing their clothes!  Entry is easy via the Rafflecopter widget below.  For the mandatory entry comment on this post and tell me what you like best about the MyClothingHelper.  Don’t forget to check off on the Rafflecopter widget that you did this step or your entry will not be counted.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This review was written on behalf of MyClosetHelper and a complimentary product was received in order to facilitate a candid review.  Reader Giveaway was also provided by MyClotherHelper.

Baby Einstein has just announced that they offer new customizable photo e-cards and wallpapers!  This is great way to make any mom smile on Mother’s Day

Start your card today by simply uploading your photo, choosing a greeting and adding in your special message.

Special Baby Einstein Discount Offer

The Baby Einstein Company is currently offering 20% off any product from their online store.

This special offer is valid through June 30, 2012.  To redeem the discount, be sure to enter the assigned code on babyeinstein.com: “PARENT2012”.

Warner Bros. Pictures is proud to announce the release of the hit romantic comedy New Year’s Eve on DVD and Blu Ray May 1st! This all star comedy stars Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Katherine Heigl, Sofia Vergara, Hilary Swank, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zac Efron, Jon Bon Jovi, and Josh Duhamel!

April is a perfect time to think about all those resolutions you made that may have been placed on the backburner. With the New Year’s Eve Resolution Reset Blog App you can double check and make sure you are on the right path to making your resolutions come true!

Did You Take the Quiz?

I did!  I am a Resolution Renegade!  When you are finished taking the quiz there is a PDF file that is available for download that shares tips and advice for helping you to make your resolutions come true.

Win It!

One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win their very own copy of New Year’s Eve on DVD!  Entry is super simple via the Rafflecopter widget below.  For the mandatory entry just comment on this post and tell me what one of your New Year’s Resolution’s for 2012 is.  Just remember to check it off on the Rafflecopter widget or your entry won’t count!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Some of my favorite gifts of all time have been personalized gifts. A lovely couple I have known for several years will be tying the knot early this summer and I wanted to get them something special.   Something personal was the only way to go gift wise but I was struggling to come up with ideas.  No tea towels and spatulas for this couple.

The opportunity to review the company Etching Expressions came across my lap at the perfect time.  Etching Expressions is a company that specializes in custom etched wine bottles for any occasion.  I had a solution to my creative gift block!  I ordered a bottle of wine with the couple’s initials, names, wedding song title, and wedding date etched into the glass of the bottle.  The etching work is beautifully done and then topped of with hand painted detail.  It is gorgeous and sure to make a grand impression.

Etching Expressions wine bottle wedding gift

The wine I was given is a California Merlot but the company emphasizes that they can source just about any bottle of wine, champagne or liquor.  Gifts start at $65 plus shipping and are truly great for a number of occasions.  Birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and graduation are just a few of the special occasion designs that are available.  They are also able to do custom bottles for things like bridesmaid or groomsman gifts!

Bottles generally ship within 24 to 48 hours of ordering and my bottle arrived via UPS carefully packaged and ready for me to present to the couple.

I’m very pleased with the product I received.  I can’t wait to give it to my friends and to see their reaction.  I plan to present it in a pretty bag with some ribbon to match the foil on the bottle and I expect them to be very pleased with the uniqueness of the gift.  It is a fantastic, creative way to commemorate this special occasion or any special occasion.

Don’t forget to follow Etching Expression on Facebook and Twitter too for all the latest promos and info.

Cheers!

Win It!

One lucky reader will receive a $100 gift certificate to spend at www.etchingexpressions.com!  Entry is super simple via the Rafflecopter widget below.  For the mandatory entry leave a comment on this post telling me what you would like to spend your $100 gift certificate on if you are chosen as the winner.  Just remember to also check off that you completed the entry on the Rafflecopter widget or your entry won’t be counted.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This review was written on behalf of Etching Expressions and a complimentary product was received in order to facilitate a candid review.*

When it comes to playing games I am an extremely competitive person.  I honestly prefer to play against live players versus a computer or AI competitor.  So when I heard about adpropo that combined the competitiveness of playing against several players at once to win a cash prize I had to learn more about it.

Adpropo is actually committed to providing a fun and interactive way for players to get to know brands better and help a charitable cause all at the same time!  I wasn’t sure about how it would work, but after going through the process and experiencing it first hand, I have to say it was a lot of fun!  Plus I learned a lot about brands and charities alike that I hadn’t been introduced to do before – which was a total bonus!

The only downside to playing a fast online game like this is that I didn’t want to stop playing when my kids needed something.  I think I lost a lot of time because I needed to tend to my kids. So far the hunts have all been scheduled in the evenings which is my busiest time of day because we are doing homework, baths and dinner.  I would like to see them eventually add hunts that take place during the day when its easier for me to concentrate – and hopefully kick some butt!

I think that adpropo has a very unique concept and it will be really popular among social media freaks like myself.  If you like playing online games and have a competitive nature like myself its definitely worth checking out.  Plus you could win cash, gift cards and more just for playing!

 

Don’t miss your chance to win up to $1500 in prizes!!!

Adpropo is a brand new social and entertainment site that allows consumers to have fun, receive value, and collaborate with brands – when and where they expect it.

Adpropo asked consumers how YOU feel about ads, something that doesn’t show up very much in all the research around online ads!

Adpropo is in its beta phase, testing out some different ways to provide fun & games with brands.  There are four main elements of the site:

PLAY: Live online Treasure Hunts for cash and prizes, games, contests and more.

SHARE: Idea Labs encourage consumer interaction and collaboration with brands.  A Message Center allows consumers to sign up for the brands that matter to them and then receive info within a designated on-site Inbox.

WIN: Incentives include virtual points, cash prizes, gift cards, and support of great charities based on participation.  As the site expands, so will the prize and support opportunities.

CHANGE:  adpropo is all about changing how consumers learn about brands (to a better way for the consumer).  Plus, by tying cause support to activity, adpropo would like to change the world!

How can you check it out?

• Sign up for adpropo at www.adpropo.com.
• Check out the list of Treasure Hunts by clicking on that tab – those are the most interactive and have the biggest prize opportunities!  Sign up early for any that you can make – they all happen LIVE and online, and registration closes at Go time.

• Go onto the detail page and click the red Register button (you have to be logged in to the site)
• Read the information provided
• Show up a couple minutes early to make sure your clock isn’t different than the site clock – and to review details and make sure you are set to go.

• The next Treasure Hunts are scheduled for:
• May 2nd at 9 PM ET for $1,500 in giveaways “It’s the Guys’ Turn”
• May 16th at 9 PM ET for $2,500 in giveaways 

(Keep your Facebook  page open to adpropo because some trash talk / updates might just break out during the events!)

Go to the Games section and try out the picture puzzles and trivia challenges.  The Idea Lab is the place for sharing ideas and feedback – the site is brand new, so help get some conversations flowing.

*The founder is looking for feedback and ideas, so feel free to email her at consumerconnection@adpropo.com.

*This promotional post was written on behalf of adpropo via the Role Mommy Writers Network.  All thoughts and opinions expressed are based on my honest experience of the site and its service.

When I was growing up, charm bracelets and necklaces were a hot item and we all had to have them.  Back then the bracelet and charms were plastic and very colorful, totally 80s.  I was beyond excited when I found out that CHARM IT! has breathed new life into charm bracelet phenomenon for the trendy girls of today.  Having the chance to share a bit of my childhood with my daughter really made me smile.  Ruby will be 4 in just a couple of months and The Princess Fairytale Gift Set from CHARM IT! could not have suited her better!  She is all about her tiara, fairy wand, unicorns, and all things special and girly.

The Princess Fairytale Gift Set comes packaged in an adorable keepsake box and I love that the 7.5″ bracelet is fully adjustable for a perfect fit.  Each little charm can be clasped anywhere on the bracelet to make it your own creation.

Once we placed the charms and put the bracelet on her arm Ruby just ooohed and ahhhd over each little charm.   It was so cute!  ”Mama, it’s a unicorn!”, “look, it’s a tiara!”.  Like I said, this particular set seems like it was made just for her!  She just loves the keepsake box, too.  She just loves to collect “special boxes” so that she can keep her favorite pretties safe.  When she’s done wearing her CHARM IT! bracelet she puts it right back into her keepsake box that even has a handle for her to carry around.  I just love when Ruby says, “Mama, I want to wear my special charm bracelet!”.  It just makes my heart smile.

I think the CHARM IT! gift sets are great because of their versatility with styles and charms to suit many different personalities and girls of any age.  The quality of  materials is excellent, making this set beautiful but also durable.  I also like the ability to either choose one of the 8 gift sets or purchase the accessory and charms separately from the vast selection.  The charms you will find range from cupcakes and animals to Disney and Hello Kitty.  Every girl can have a charm bracelet that really is made especially for her!

To keep up with everything CHARM IT!  be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter too!

Buy It!

You can find the CHARM IT! gift sets ($28), accessories, and charms online at www.shopcharm-it.com.

Pretty Pink Momma Readers Exclusive Promo Code

Get free shipping valid from 4/30 – 5/14 using the promo code PPMFREE

Win It!

CHARM IT! is graciously offering one lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader a CHARM IT! Gift Set of their choice!

Entry is super easy via the Rafflecopter widget below.  For the mandatory entry simply comment on this post telling me which CHARM IT! Gift Set you would choose if you were drawn as the winner.  Don’t forget to also check off on the Rafflecopter widget that you commented or your entry will not be counted.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This review was written on behalf of CHARM IT! and a complimentary product was received in order to facilitate a candid review.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Composite Decking giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

This year, just like last year, Macy’s has decided to team up with five charities to honor moms this year for Mother’s Day through the Macy’s Thank a Mom Movement.  By visiting Macy’s Facebook page you can send a free Mother’s Day eCard to the moms in your life!  For each eCard that is sent Macy’s will donate $3 to one of the five charities of your choice, up to $400,000.

The five charities available for donations this year are:

• American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Movement
• Futures Without Violence
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
• National Park Foundation
• Reading is Fundamental

These are all absolutely wonderful charities!  For the eCards that I’ll be sending I will be choosing the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Movement.  Heart disease is still the number one killer of women and I want my donations to go towards saving as many womens lives as possible.

My grandmother died of heart related problems and every Mother’s Day I think of her and how much I wish she was still with me.  Especially since becoming a mother myself, I often think about how much I wish that she could have known me as a mother and had the opportunity to meet and know my children.

If you don’t have an attachment to a particular charity listed above I urge you to please choose Go Red for Women.  Hopefully the women saved through donations and research will live long enough to meet their great grandchildren one day.

Win It!

We all know that Macy’s has tons and tons of Mother’s Day gift ideas – I know that Macy’s is my go to store!  This year in return for your support of the Thank-A-Mom Movement Macy’s is happy to offer a choice of purse hanger, butter LONDON Top and Tails Set or Jones New York pashmina to one of Pretty Pink Momma’s lucky readers.

Mandatory Entry:  Comment on this post telling me which of the five charities listed above that you would like Macy’s to donate to on your behalf when sending your Mother’s Day eCard.  After you have commented please don’t forget to check off that you completed the requirement on the Rafflecopter widget below or your entry will not be counted.

Thanks so much and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*In thanks of my support for spreading the word about the Macy’s Thank a Mom Movement I received one of the prize options mentioned above. Both my gift and the giveaway prize were provided by M80 on behalf of Macy’s