Canvas4life Stretched Canvas Print Review

I've been wanting to get my 2011 family Christmas photo hung on my wall ever since I got my Christmas cards done up with it. The picture just turned out so well. So when I was approached by Canvas4life I didn't turn them down. They let me get a custom 20"x16" stretched canvas print. It was so simple to order on their website.

All I had to do was upload the photo I wanted to use. They have quality detection software that will automatically detect the resolution and pixel dimensions of your photo and only allow you to choose sizes compatible with your image quality, ensuring top quality canvas prints each and every time. Once my photo was uploaded to their Canvas Builder I could select the canvas layout (single panel, split panel 2, split panel 3), size, print finish (uncoated, matte or satin), depth (.75" or 1.5 deep frame), bleed (bleed, no bleed, mirror bleed or gallery look and/or border/edge color), virtual frames (a number of them to pick from if wanted at all) and if I wanted PhotoPerfect (if checked yes Canvas4life can adjust the photo to help enhance end result). These choices did not cost any extra no matter what selection I chose. I could see every change made by me also done to my photo in real time in the virtual preview.

Then I could also click on the Advanced Editor and fix the image positioning, cropping, depth, bleed choices, photo effects (black & white, sepia, etc.), adjustments (brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, blur), and/or add text.

You can also click the Living Room Viewer and add in furniture, people, pets, etc. then change the color of the walls and floor so you can view your canvas all in a virtual room setting. I kinda wish they had more variety of things you can put in the room because my virtual living room turned out kinda boring and really didn't look anything like my living room. You could also view the canvas in 3d and have it rotate 360 degrees so that you can see how it would look from front to back and all around.

After playing a bit with the settings and getting the canvas exactly how I wanted it I was ready to order. It was fun creating this work of art! Once I received it in the mail I saw that it was expertly packaged so that it would arrive to me safely. Once I opened it up I saw the same exact work I created virtually come to life. The canvas they use is 100% cotton and weighs in at 400gsm and the inks they use for printing are HP Vivera inks which are archival standard guaranteed to last over 75 years. Every canvas from Canvas4life arrives stretched over real artists' stretcher bars and has corner wedges in every corner on the back to ensure the stretch does not sag over time and lasts a lifetime. Also their SuperSaver shipping is absolutely free and they have a 100% money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied. When I opened up my canvas print I also found two $10 gift cards for their store and information on how to care for my canvas. Wow! That is great customer service!!

BUY IT
Canvas4life is giving an introductory 10% discount offer to my readers. Try it out, just click on the link to access the site. http://bit.ly/N2AxAe OR put in PROMO CODE: eclecticwoman25 and get 25% off!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Canvas4life for sending me product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

The Okee Dokee Brothers Can You Canoe? A Mississippi River Adventure Album Review and Giveaway

Can You Canoe? A Mississippi River Adventure Album by The Okee Dokee Brothers is a great album for the summertime or really anytime you want to get into the spirit of camping, canoeing, and the great outdoors. The songs in this CD and DVD are wonderfully lyrical with fun play on words. In this their first CD/DVD in The Okee Dokee Brothers' Adventure Album Series Justin Lansing on Banjo and Joe Mailander on the guitar paddle down the Mississippi in a canoe singing and camping along the way. I love their bluegrass, country, folk feel to their songs. This album is my favorite of theirs so far and I can't wait to listen to their next CD/DVD in the Adventure Album Series. Includes a CD, DVD and field journal.

Here is the Trailer to the DVD:




The DVD takes you up close and personal to see Justin Lansing and Joe Mailander and some of the other crew having boat barge loads of fun doing what the two do best...adventuring outdoors. The Okee Dokee Brothers are superb lyricists. In just 30 days while camping, canoeing, filming and writing they created this album containing 15 outstanding songs. The music videos and footage taken for the DVD are of their grand trip. My favorite parts are where they try to make a sail for their canoes and where they talk with Kenny Salwey, the self proclaimed "Last River Rat" who shares his wisdom with them.

Track Listing on the CD:
01. Can You Canoe?: A great song about canoeing and how the simplicity of it is grand.
02. Haul Away Joe: Based on a traditional song this version is about being a raftman.
03. Mr. & Mrs. Sippy: Such great play on words and personification in this one about the Mississippi River :)
04. Bullfrog Opera: Great song about comparing New York to camping outdoors in the South.
05. Rosita: A little bit of a Latin beat to this one about a mosquito.
06. Campin' Tent: Camp living in style.
07. Memphis Town: About a train going to take him to Memphis Town and all around.
08. Along for the Ride: About having a friend or companion to be there by your side.
09. Muddy River: Fun song about the countdown of going fishing on a muddy river.
10. Boatman's Dance: Upbeat song about the boatman's dance.
11. King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O: Based on a traditional song that I remember singing at camp. I love this nice song that brings back memories.
12. Thousand Star Hotel: A great song about sleeping under the stars. You can see the making of this song on the DVD.
13. Brother: Upbeat song about being brothers.
14. Small and Simple: A slow song, singing me to sleep.
15. Roll On River: “The Mississippi river splits America in half, so to speak. And yet, it joins it together.” – Kenny Salwey – The Last River Rat

The Okee Dokee Brothers are fun to watch perform as well! With their beards, flannel shirts, overalls and instruments they're sure to be fun listening to around a campfire or even in a canoe :)

BUY IT
Go HERE and you can buy The Okee Dokee Brothers merchandise.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a copy of  Can You Canoe? A Mississippi River Adventure Album by The Okee Dokee Brothers CD and DVD set

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Beth Blenz-Cluc​as of Sugar Mountain PR for sending me a free The Okee Dokee Brothers - Can You Canoe? A Mississippi River Adventure Album CD/DVD to listen to and review. This giveaway is also provided free from Beth Blenz-Cluc​as of Sugar Mountain PR. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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Mohawk Home Rug Review and Giveaway

Since we have moved into the home we live in now we have made a lot of upgrades to our home. We have redone both front and back doors, made a cement doorstep that is wheelchair friendly, re-rocked the driveway, repainted the house, re-roofed and upgraded the skylight in our kitchen, put in a large stainless steel double sink in the kitchen, remodeled both bathrooms, etc. When we moved in our backyard looked like a jungle. We had to go through and rip out all kinds of thorny locust bushes and raspberries that were taking over. I have since had a lovely garden back there with vegetables and herbs growing in it and the grass is lush and green now.

One thing I didn't have though was a lovely doormat to welcome guests to our home. My doorstep was very bare until I received the Mohawk Ocean Doormat to test and review for free on my blog. It was just the right touch that it needed.

If you have read this blog for long you know that I love the ocean. This doormat has wonderful sandy browns, aquamarine blues, and grassy greens. I think my favorite square on it is the Sandpiper because it reminds me of my father-in-law who used to own a business with the same name. The sailboat is a close second because it reminds me of a dream my husband and I wanting to build a large sailing vessel someday to sail the ocean in. This Coastalhome Snapshot is the perfect thing for my front doorstep.

This Mohawk doormat is made of 100% polyester facing and 100% recycled rubber backing. It is a good size, 18" x 30", for welcoming and is very durable for all weather types. It is also functional as well as beautiful since it removes dirt and debris from shoes and feet as you come in and can be easily cleaned with a vacuum or shaken out. You can also rinse as needed with a garden hose and then let it air dry. My rainy weather here in Oregon sure makes cleaning this doormat easy.

Mohawk Home offers more than just doormats. They have a wide selection of area & accent rugs, indoor/outdoor rugs, kitchen rugs, bath rugs and rug pads with different patterns, color, and style. You are bound to find one that you just love. Watch this video to find out more. Mohawk Home makes safe and sustainable products. Just look for their GreenWorks symbol on their items and you will be getting something using recycled rubber and/or fibers, ecocotton, and/or natural fibers.

BUY IT
You can find Mohawk Home products online at retailers like Home Depot, Kohl's, Lowes, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, & Sears, Walmart and JCPenny.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a Mohawk Home item valued up to $19.99 (includes doormats, kitchen rugs, bath mats, and rug padding).

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Mohawk Home for sending me product for free to review and one to give away for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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Pick Punch Review and Giveaway

We are a musical family. I have been teaching myself and the kids piano for part of their music homeschool lessons and we all love to sing. Both my husband Brian and I played instruments in high school too. He played the tuba and I played the violin. I would also love to learn to play guitar someday.

We recently got my 10 year old son Jaedan a mandolin for his birthday and he has been loving learning on it so far. He has quickly been learning the chords and some easy songs that he plays by ear. I am going to be trying to find him some mandolin music, but in the meantime enjoy this little video of him strumming his first chords on it. This video was made the day after he received it.



I just cleaned out my purse and my husband cleaned out his wallet and we had a stack of old: credit cards, bank cards, gift cards, insurance cards, ID cards, gym passes, bus passes, and drivers licenses that needed either shredded or destroyed somehow. I saw this great product online for any stringed instrument played with a pick that recycled, reused and re-purposed the very stack of plastic I had at home for an ingenious purpose. I was then sent one to review for free.

The Pick Punch is a great tool for making your own picks. You can buy and use sheets of thin plastic that are made for the very purpose of crafting picks and other things or you can use your own thin plastic that is lying around the house no longer being used for its previous purpose. It is similar to craft punches for scrapbooking, but bigger for punching out guitar picks out of old credit cards, gift cards, plastic bottles, plastic lids, plastic place mats, and other thin plastics. I love how you can flip it over and precisely place the plastic where you want it and see exactly what you are about to punch out. I also love that it comes packaged with a 4 stage sanding block so you can shave the outer edges of the picks smooth if they come out a bit rough. Jaedan and my husband loved punching out picks for Jaedan's mandolin.

The Pick Punch is great for those that misplace picks a lot or just love making handcrafted picks for their instrument. You can get really creative making your own picks. I have seen some created using stamping, image embedding, stenciling, airbrushing, inkjet printing, spray painting, etc. The Pick Punch definitely rocks!

BUY IT
The Pick Punch is great for music lovers and enthusiasts. Wonderful for Father's Day too! It costs $24.95 and comes in two different sizes: standard 351 style picks and Jazz style which is smaller and pointier. You can also buy plastic sheeting, sanding blocks and Stazon ink and stamping products on the Pick Punch website.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a Pick Punch (351 style) of your very own.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Pick Punch for sending me product for free to review and one to give away for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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