I was thrilled that Kichler decided to give away a light from the company’s Montara collection to a reader of The Design File (which in turn includes readers of Lipstick to Crayons, where I do these weekly guest posts).

Click here or on the logo at right to sign up.

Meanwhile, get great tips about how to use lighting in your bathroom below:

The right lighting for your bathroom mirror

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SpaFinder.com’s Deal Daysis a one week promotion running March 8th through the 14th providing spa patrons across the country with discounted spa treatments at 1,500 spas nationwide. Each massage, facial, mani-pedi, and more will cost only $50 during that week. Deal Days will be available across the country, not just in big cities, so it doesn’t matter where you live — a week of relaxation will be close by. And if you’d like to suggest that your favorite spa participate in Deal Days please do so by filling out the recommendation form on the Deal Days page.

SpaFinder, Inc., the world’s largest spa media and marketing company. Deal Days is the first spa event to promote the spa-wellness connection to consumers in every corner of the country from Savannah to Sacramento to Syracuse, unlike spa events that narrowly target major urban centers such as New York City and Los Angeles. According to virtually all financial experts, 2009 was a historically challenging year for most businesses, including spas. However, economic forecasters concur that there is a flicker of light on the economic horizon. Participating spas will offer seven days of $50 massages, facials, mani-pedis, and spa ‘samplers’, but can choose the exact type of treatment they will offer, giving spas the flexibility to highlight their own special offerings. The $50 price point was designed to encourage consumers to try new spa treatments, experiences and venues, a kind of ’spa tasting’.

Let me know if you book something via spa finder (if only to make other jealous of your pampering). Enjoy!

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What I am giving away is an adorable potty chair and a set of two new books by Samantha Berger — Princess Potty and Pirate Potty.

Both books provide a helpful, step-by-step story that introduces girls and boys to the concept of toilet training. Pirate Potty is a pirate-themed, toilet-training book that is fit for the little swashbuckler in your life!  It includes a pirate’s hat and reward stickers! Princess Potty follows the same theme…a toilet-training book that is fit for the Royal Highness in your life and the book also is complete with a tiara and reward stickers! I’ve read the book several times and am preparing to stay home for a few days and try the book/reward system on my rather stubborn 2-year-old (who, I might add, tarnished my mother-in-law’s potty-training success rate over the Christmas holiday). So, I’ll have to let you know how it works for me.

In the meantime, if you’d like to win a set of the books and a potty, see the contest below. The grand prize winner will get  the Boon Potty Bench, valued at $34.99 (pictured to the right) and a set of both books. Two other winners will get a set of both books.

Giveaway Guidelines

Leave a comment below telling me about the little one you are trying to potty train.

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Feb. 19.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winners will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winners do not claim prize by Feb.  22, 2010, they will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

This contest is closed. Congrats to Stephanie V, comment #13 — our grand prize winner. Also, congrats to the winners of the sets of two books: Danielle, comment #32 and Rosey, comment #140.

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Aveeno wants to help with the new Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo.

Specially formulated with Aveeno Active Naturals, Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo has natural oat, wheat and vitamin E to condition as it cleans.  The moisturizing, tear-free shampoo is a lightweight formula that rinses quickly and easily while moisturizing to keep babies’ hair tangle-free.

Here are some other fun bathing facts from Aveeno:

• More than 55% of babies are happy during bath time while nearly 80% of moms view babies’ bath as a time for bonding
• 66% of mothers use baby shampoo when bathing their child
• In a typical day, 71% of mothers use shampoo products on their baby
• 7 – 8pm is the typical time for moms to give babies a bath
• Moms more likely to bath infants, but dads often play a role too, especially when there is more than one child
• After 7 months old, moms typically start washing babies hair more outside of the bath, and after 12 months old they start brushing and styling hair more often.

Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo retails for $4.49 and can be found nationwide at food, drug and mass merchandisers.  To celebrate the launch of the product, Aveeno is offering one of my readers a prize pack with the new product, as well as a host of other Aveeno Baby products, worth about $35 total.
The prize pack for this giveaway will include:

• Essential Moisture Shampoo
• Baby Calming Comfort Bath and Lotion
• Baby Daily Moisture Lotion
• Baby Diaper Rash Cream
• Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo
• Baby Soothing Bath Treatment
• Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash
• Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream

Giveaway Guidelines:

Leave a comment below telling me why you want to win.

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook
8. Enter my GE appliance giveaway here.

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Nov. 20.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States and Canada residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Nov. 23, 2009, she/he will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

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In case you missed them or would like to see them all in one place, here are some of the beauty tips from last month:

• Loose, wavy hair is a hot trend. To create the laid back style of loose waves; disperse Dove Curl & Sculpt Defining Mousse through hair and braid into sections. When hair is dry, undo the braids and finger comb through it for a free, effortless look.
• Getting home late from the party and too tired for your normal makeup removal routine? Stash Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelette in your bedside table for fast and easy makeup removal…you don’t even need water.  They have an exclusive cleansing system, with oil- and dirt-trapping fibers, that works like a magnet to remove up to 40 percent more make-up than other leading towelettes to keep you looking your best.
• It’s important to take care of your underarms just like the rest of your skin.  Dove deodorant is introducing a new at-home beauty treatment to help care for your underarms– The PitiCure™.  Simply put, a PitiCure is to your underarms as a pedicure is to your feet.  It is a simple three-step process that cleanses and keeps underarms stubble free for longer. Go to the videos tab and find out how to give yourself an at-home PitiCure.
• Treat eyelashes with a dab of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly every day.  It conditions while giving lashes an attractive gleam, and makes the tips of the lashes look darker.
• Simplify your beauty routine and space – stick to five beauty essentials:  tinted moisturizer, a multi-purpose makeup stick for eyes, cheeks and lips, concealer, one tube of mascara and one of Q-tips® cotton swabs four new beautifully designed Vanity Packs help apply your makeup.
• Q-tips® cotton swabs are the ultimate beauty tool.  Made from 100% pure cotton, Q-tips® cotton swabs have more cotton at the tip* than any other swab so they are soft, gentle and safe for delicate skin around the eyes.  *From the end of the stick to the top of the swab.
• Trying to fit in that evening workout class and short on time?  Throw a pack of Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes in your purse to help remove make-up before your workout and wipe off sweat afterwards.  Their oil-and dirt-trapping fibers work like a magnet to remove dirt and oil, removing up to 40 percent more make-up than other leading towelettes, even waterproof mascara.  Your skin will stay looking fresh while on the go.
• Blow dry hair outside of the bathroom. Steam from the shower creates humidity, which leads to frizz.
• If you have flyaway hair strands, use an extra toothbrush to tame them. Dab Dove Frizz Control Therapy Taming Cream on the brush and smooth through problem areas.
• When packing for your vacation, leave the bulky big cleanser bottles at home and learn to pack lighter.  Throw Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes in your bag– they’re portable and fit conveniently in your carry-on so you will breeze through security in no time.
• Cuticles toughened by chores? If so, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly can come in handy.  Just massage a small amount of the jelly into your cuticles each morning and night to keep them soft and looking healthy.

Now, as a thanks to Lipstick to Crayons for hosting the beauty tips widget, Dove is offering one of my readers a package of beauty products valued at $30.  The pack will include a product from each of the following brands:

• Vaseline
• Pond’s
• Dove
• Q-tips

Giveaway Guidelines:

Leave a comment below telling me what beauty tip from above or from the widget in my sidebar is your favorite.

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook
8. Enter my GE appliance giveaway here.

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Nov. 4.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Nov. 7, 2009, he/she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

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Votre Vu Anti-Aging products:

Votre Vu  is a line of high-quality skin care  including facial care, body creams, and hair care.  During a time when many consumers are giving up expensive spa and salon treatments, Votre Vu provides affordable at-home indulgences for the even the most cost-conscious consumers. I’ve been using the Mal-Ligne Wrinkle Eraser serum (which sells for $56) around my eyes and mouth, and the Portrait Collar Restorative Neck Creme (which sells for $49) on my neck for about six weeks and I’ve definitely noticed a difference. Those pesky fine lines are less noticeable on my face, and the skin on my neck seems to have more elasticity. Through Votre Vu’s successful E-commerce and consultant opportunities, the company offers customers multiple channels of convenient shopping.

Babor:

Babor HSR Platinum products provide a high concentration of active ingredients and each product is offered in a regular and a rich consistency. I’ve been using the Cell Reactivating Cream Rich as my night cream and really love the moisturizing effect it has had, especially as we head into the colder months. I’ve also noticed that my foundation goes on much easier since I’ ve been using the Babor product. You can purchase a 50 ml size here for $150.

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So I wanted to share with Lipstick to Crayons readers that Country Living magazine is launching a new line of home fashions with “heirloom appeal” at more than 1,200 Kmart and 500 Sears stores across the country.

The collection includes a comprehensive assortment of over 700 home products “that re-define country style,” the company says. They include bedding and bath, tabletop, furniture and home décor — all priced accessibly from $3.99 for candles to $349 for dining furniture.

The Country Living Collection features a fresh mix of modern and traditional design focusing on quality craftsmanship and comfort, the company said.

The line takes its inspiration from the pages of Country Living magazine and marries old and new in a variety of textures and patterns. Rustic dinnerware, quilted bedding and Egyptian cotton looped towels (see photo at left) are some of the featured items that will add a classic country feel to any modern home.

“Country Living’s readers are passionate about their surroundings and how they entertain,” said Editor-in-Chief Sarah Gray Miller. “They value attainable luxury, quality, authenticity and comfort – all of which are reflected in our new home collection.”

The Country Living Collection will offer four distinct looks: Modern Countryside (see photo above), Blue & White, Red & White, and Faded Antique. Each will span traditional and modern country sensibilities.

Highlights from the collection, as described by the company, include:

Fashion Bedding

• The largest category features comforter sets, quilts, decorative pillows, throws, and 400 thread count sheets made of 100% Egyptian cotton with fine detailing including eyelet and crochet trim or 600 thread count sheets made of 100% Egyptian cotton. (priced $14.99 – $169.99)

Kitchen Textiles

• Table runners, table cloths, placemats, chair pads, napkins, aprons and kitchen towels which are thoughtfully completed for durability and design with rick-rack trim, reversible patterns, and crocheted edges. (priced $2.99 – $16.99)

Tabletop collections

• A range of aesthetics including traditional and non-traditional patterns, as well as four core groups designed to mix and match with the fashion dinnerware. Plus, elegant oven-to-table serving pieces. (priced $3.99 – $24.99)

Bath collection

• Towels, bath sheets, washcloths, and hand towels in a wide range solid colors and patterns. All are made of Egyptian lopped cotton to ensure they are both soft and absorbent. (priced $6.99 – $14.99)

Furniture

• All furniture is ready to assemble and created with sturdy wood construction, antique nickel hardware, nail head tacking, and linen upholstery showcasing intricate moldings and fluted details to give each piece an heirloom presence. (priced $79.99 – $279.99)

“The addition of Country Living to our portfolio increases the options available to our Sears and Kmart customers in both look and style, and in a broader rang of products that our customer has already told us she wants,” said Doug Wurl, vice president for home fashions. “The magazine’s reach, coupled with the accessibility of our stores and online channels, create the potential for a true national brand with elevated design sensibilities and enormous appeal.”

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This blanket is one of the many unique and practical items available at The Vermont Country Store. You can use this blanket to ease aches and pains, relieve stress or to shake off a chill. Filled with natural herbs such as chamomile, lavender, lemongrass, and yarrow, it heats up in minutes when placed in the microwave to provide deep, penetrating moist heat along with aromatherapy to relax both you and your muscles. It also can be placed in the freezer when cold therapy is needed to treat sprains or reduce swelling or bruising. Other details:

• Holds heat or cold for about 45 minutes
• Ultra-soft 100% Sherpa Polyester Fleece cover
• Machine washable.
• Approximately 44” x 17”

The Vermont Country Store was established in 1946 when Vrest and Ellen Orton printed their first catalog – just 12 pages and 36 products and mailed it to the folks on their Christmas card list. Sixty years later and promoting itself as Purveyors of the Practical and Hard to Find,   the Vermont Country Store has become  “Nostalgia Central” and continues its catalog business, manages a thriving e-commerce Web site and operates two retail stores in Weston and Rockingham, Vermont. Because they’d like you to get to know them better, they’re offering one lucky reader of Lipstick to Crayons one of these herb-filled fleece blankets, which sells for $39.95,  for free.

Giveaway Guidelines

To win, visit The Vermont Country Store and then come back here and tell me in the comment section below about a product you like on their site. (Be sure to check out the toys!)

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Sept.  16.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by September 18, 2009,he/she will forfeit the prize to alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

USA and Canada residents only please.

This contest is closed. Congratulations to the winner — Tawanda, comment #22.

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Epsom Salt can repalce a lot of of bath beads and exfoliating scrubs. Consider these tips:

· To exfoliate: Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches.

· Facial: Mix 1/2 TSP of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.

· For a relaxing soak: Add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent.

· For a simple hair volumizer: Combine equal parts of warm, deep conditioner and Epsom Salt. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse.

· For a foot scrub: Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub the heels and dry, rough patches on the feet. Repeat every few days.

Epsom Salt (which is  magnesium sulfate) also can be useful after exercising because it helps people maintain optimum levels of both magnesium and sulfate.  Sulfate helps form joint proteins and helps keep joints healthy, flushes toxins and improves absorption of nutrients. Magnesium regulates more than 325 enzymes in the body, performing more functions than almost any other mineral. Among the benefits: magnesium helps reduce inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps, helps muscles and nerves function properly and helps prevents artery hardening and blood clots.

Here are tips for using the product after exercise:

· To ease muscle pain and fading bruises. Add two cups of Epsom Salt to warm water in a standard-sized bathtub (double the Epsom Salt for an oversized garden tub) and bathe three times weekly, soaking for at least 12 minutes.  Also can be used to make compresses.

· To soothe feet aching from a tough workout or a long day, create a balm by adding a cup of Epsom Salt to a tub of warm water.

If you’d like more tips on using Epsom salt, go here.

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