A few months ago, we had just gotten family pictures done and by chance we were offered the opportunity to try out Easy Canvas Prints around the same time. I couldn’t wait to get a canvas for our bare walls! We’ve lived in our house for over a year and half now and still don’t have much hanging up. Leaning on the wall just waiting for nails? Yes. Frames tucked in the closet begging for pictures to be displayed? Yes. So often, I get professional pictures done and then they just sit on Facebook or on a CD. I have literally hundreds of photos that need to be printed and that I’d love to hang up to enjoy daily, but I just haven’t done it. I’m glad this opportunity forced me to pull out a nail and fill up some wall space with one of my favorite pictures of our little family!

Easy Canvas Prints are just that…easy. 4 steps and you are done! You pick the size canvas you want, upload your image, select your border, then pick if you want any color finishing (such as making it black and white) or image retouching. Then its time to order! I think the hardest part is deciding which photo you want to display. I love that they have a whole idea gallery to get inspired! Or, maybe you don’t want a family photo, but more of an art piece? They have many prints that you can choose from with a wide variety of styles from nature to abstract. There truly is something for everyone here and the best part? It doesn’t cost that much compared to other canvas companies since they are constantly running discounts and contests, like on their Facebook page, that make it even more affordable.

I chose this picture of us in a 11 x 14 with a basic 3/4 inch thickness and a Mirror Image wrap so that it didn’t crop off too much around our heads and feet.

And this is the final product:

I’ll be honest, I’m disappointed at the quality of the print (its hard to tell at this size, click the image to make it larger). The image I submitted was a very high quality, high resolution photo taken with a professional photographer’s camera and yet the print came out very pixilated. It also washed out some of the coloring, especially in our skin tones and Jaxson’s light blond hair since the brightness/contrast/saturation seems to off and unflattering. My hubby and son are already white enough as it is!  This actually is the second print we got, the first one I really thought the pixaltion was a mistake, plus there were issues with the canvas itself because it wasn’t wrapped properly when shipped so it had creases on the print.  Thankfully, their customer service was excellent and they quickly sent a new one that was better wrapped for shipping!

Overall, would I recommend Easy Canvas Prints? Maybe. I really, really wanted to love this company but they clearly have some kind of printer or canvas fabric itself issue going on. Maybe other people have better luck with their prints, since thousands of people “like” them, it seems they do!  It appears that perhaps black and white photos come out looking better if you see their fan photos on facebook so maybe that would be a better choice. I’m glad Easy Canvas Prints as a website itself is easy to use, but the product is lacking in my personal experience.

I think the lesson here is you get what you pay for? This is a discount website, so expect quality that matches it.

Back in May I joined in a great group of ladies to write on The Charlotte Moms which is a local blog where we talk about anything from fun family events to awesome shopping deals to healthy lifestyles. My little spot is Home & Family, where I cover lots of topics too! I’ve done some DIY projects, storage solutions, and talked about local birth options (and birth in general, even if you aren’t local). But today’s post I felt like it was something I would normally post here on O Momma Writes since it bears my struggling-at-times Momma soul, so thought I’d share. And while you’re there, check out the other great writers. You don’t have to live in the Charlotte area to enjoy our posts!

A Real Mom Moment: The Attitude Switch

I broke down and did it. I made a facebook fan page for O Momma Writes.

I resisted doing it for a long time because, I don’t know, it feels weird asking people to be my “fan.” Writing isn’t about that for me, if you like me great! But I write mostly for me and to capture what’s going on in my world and connect with others. And basically, I just like the way it feels to put thoughts into words.

However, I figured in the blogging world it is almost expected now-a-days and I have found that the blog facebook pages I personally follow are lots of fun and you get to know the writers and other readers even more. So, I made a page in hopes to get to know you readers more and be able to give mini-updates on our family and upcoming reviews/giveaways.  I know that with Jaxson due to arrive any time in the next few weeks people are curious how things are going, and especially once he arrives I may not have a whole lot of blogging time, so some times it’s just easier to make a quick facebook update than a whole blog posts.

There isn’t a whole lot over there right now, but that should change soon :-) See you over there!

O Momma Writes

Promote Your Page Too

I know I’ve been missing lately. We’ve been busy with lots of play dates, trips, even a concert and getting to ride the real life Thomas the Train. More on all that later :-)

Right now I wanted to share something special I stumbled on a fellow “rainbow mommy” blog. What is a rainbow parent? Someone who has lost a child due to miscarriage, still birth, failed adoption, etc. and is expecting a new child after the loss. Expecting after a loss definitely is a scary place to be at times, but exciting. It’s a time of hope that this time it will be different, but also a place of vulnerability and fear, just like I experienced during the first trimester. (I can’t help but feel so blessed looking back and reading those scared posts, thank you God for Jaxson!)

Stephanie is the artist of Beyond Words Designs and she wants to share her gift of art with other rainbow parents in hopes that the art will bring healing and excitement for the new little one. Her daughter Amelia was stillborn this past March and so she knows the pain and grief all to well (you can read her story her). Thankfully though, she has taken her gift and used it to help her through her own grief as well as other parents, resulting in beautiful and meaningful artwork!

And, she is helping us small-budget rainbow parents by offering 50% off her Fanciful Collection for rainbow parents until August 7th. Visit her website for examples and promotion rules. I normally wouldn’t buy something like this since I’m kinda artsy myself and had plans of doing my own letter J for Jaxson’s room (using fabric, not paint) but I really wanted to support a fellow rainbow mom and her talent :-) I can’t wait to see what she comes up with for his room! Of course, I will share the results when I receive it.

(Note: I am purchasing with my own moo-lah and was not paid to promote Beyond Words Designs)

I’ve mentioned before that now that we’re getting serious about moving out, I’ve been collecting furniture as well and finding inspiration online.  I’ve been finding amazing deals on my local Mommy Board and Craiglists that are just too good to pass up. However, sometimes I find things that are a great deal but will need some work to become our style.

Take for example, this kitchen table and chairs I just scored for $50!  The table is exactly what I’ve been looking for, well, shape wise, I plan to either stain (or paint) it an espresso brown to match our other furniture or paint it white. But the chairs?  I’m not loving the chairs at all. And while I could go out and by brand news chairs for $50 a pop (bringing me up to over $200, which I might as well buy a new table set for) I asked for some help over on Better After to generate ideas.  I’d rather take these chairs and make them into what I fits our taste.

So far I’ve heard great things like painting them a contrasting color, adding slip covers, sanding down the extra bumps on the backs for smoother lines, remove the seats and make them padded fabric cushions (if I can?). So, so many great ideas that my head is buzzing with the opportunities to create something! I’ll take pictures once I get a game plan together and finish the project. I can’t wait to see what it’ll turn out looking like!

What would you suggest?

(Also, head over to Better After to at least give her some love. A “Troll” has been attacking her amazing blog and we all remember how frustrating that is!)

I realize it’s been a while since I’ve posted. It’s just been busy. Through in a vacation, midterm exams and papers due, and now we’re all sick–again. Well, you understand.

Since there isn’t anything here to read…why not hop over to Experiencing Motherhood where an oldy-but-goody post is being featured of mine?  It’s guaranteed to make you chuckle.

Things should settle down later this week and hopefully then I can update on all we’ve been up to. Until then, enjoy!

Ya know those outlet plugs that every parent buys to “childproof” their house, in hopes to limit electrical shock? Just like my house that’s covered in them?  Well, they may eliminate shock but that also are choking hazards. Yes, what we parents thought were safe…isn’t.

George, the founder and creator of SafetyCaps, found out the hard way. In short: his one year old daughter got a hold of one and nearly suffocated to death until he was finally able to save her life.  This obviously prompted George ask for change in the safety industry, but they did nothing (typical…).  So,  he improved the design based on the standard plugs, but made them (duh!) bigger!  They meet the safety requirements of a pacifier, with two vent holes (for IF the child did put on in their mouth, it will not block the air) and are wider so that it cannot completely fit in a child’s mouth.  If it doesn’t fit in a mouth, they can’t choke on it. Simple concept, huh? See the safety tests here. And? They don’t cost a lot! (He’s got great deals, too)

Yet, many companies (even Consumers Product Safety Commission (CPSC)) are still refusing to see the obvious hazard of the standard plug outlets even when hospitals, parents, and thousands of other professionals are saying that this is the product parents should be using to eliminate both electrical shock and choking. So, my goal is to be one more person to spread the word and to be added to the list to stand up and say YES, I love SafetyCaps!

George is looking for other bloggers to review and blog about SafetyCaps, so if you’re interested please email him at george@safetycaps.com. His goal is to have a blogger from each USA state, so see if YOU can be that state linked.  He also wants to get Oprah and Ellen‘s attention on the matter for more support, so I will be emailing this blog post to them and my 2 cents worth after I post this.

As parents we need to stand up for what is right in our world, and letting industries get away with fooling us that we’re “childproofing” when infact we are only endangering is just plain wrong.

How often as parents do we find that simple toys are often better?   Our house stuffed with Savannah’s toys, every room has been taken over  it seems.  There are so many toys that get pushed aside and rarely played with, and often they are ones that are flashy and singy (who would have thought?).  Sometimes, simple items are better and they seem to stand the test of time of any kid in any generation.  Like, doll babies and play kitchens, even good ol’ couch cushions, baby food containers, paper towel rolls, boxes, or packages. And any kid’s favorite: Blocks. The common theme of the items? Encourages imagination! I think that’s just what kids want, and need.

Savannah asks daily to build something so she can knock it down, it’s her favorite right now.  I just found Cardboardblocks.com and it reminded me of how awesome these time-tested blocks are as we consider birthday gifts for the girl (see! A whole list of why they’re awesome) .  Do you remember these big blocks from when you were little? I sure do!  Building houses and things, knocking them down. I used to play with them in elementary school, so if they can be the hit of class and stand up to tons of kids pounding on them, they can stand up to one toddler.  I’ve raved about Melissa and Doug products before, so I’m thinking about the Jumbo Castle set because Savannah is obsessed with building houses right now. She would love this (as would her kid-at-heart daddy).

And? If I had known about this birthday party idea of letting kids play, build, and crash to keep them entertained I totally would have bought some sooner (since her party is in 2 days, ah!).  Oh well, maybe next year when we have more kids at our party anyway.

Did you have these when you were little, or do your kids now?  What do you think of them, is it worth the price? I’m thinking yes.

1) Winners of the Land’s End and Cleaning Products are announced over on the Review blog! Is it you?

2) Snapfish is having an awesome deal today if you’re looking for cheap Christmas presents. 50% off collages! I ordered 3…but I shall not say for who since they all read this blog. hehe.  The site is having a new deal each day so sign up for the notifications if you haven’t already.  (I know, I just dissed Snapfish, but this redeems them in my book. Cause the code actually worked for once and it’s a great deal!)

3) My complaining to Blurb (again) paid off!  They still maintain that their promotion isn’t misleading (what?) but they created me my own code to take $10 off my order no matter what I spent. Which basically only paid for their ridiculously high shipping price of $10 (for a softcover book?!). I won’t ever use them again, not just because of my experience but I didn’t like their design program. It was very limiting design and layout wise.

4) It’s getting that time of the year, folks. School is attempting to make me go insane with all the projects, papers, speeches, and exams that are all due in the 2 weeks. So, I probably will be lacking in real blogging content and very sporadic until it’s all over.  Unfortunetly all my writing will be focused on Brit Lit right now. Ick.  Don’t miss me too much.

Are you kidding me?! I decided to go with Blurb since that was what people most recommended and they had a $10 off promo code for flickr.com members.  Here is the link to the code, and an image of it:

Now, do you see anything that says a total amount that you have to spend before you get the $10 off? Nope. Do you seen an asterisk or a link (trust me, there isn’t) that explains further details of the offer? Nope. Do you see ANY find print? Nope? Me neither.

So, I spent ALL day. Procrastinating from my homework in order to create this cute little book for a Christmas present for some one special.  I finally get it done hours later and go to check out…only to find that the code doesn’t work.  “Sorry, this promotion cannot be applied to this dollar amount.”

WHAT?  So I email tech support about it and they email with this sloppy excuse:

“Thank you for contacting us at Blurb. I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience, the fine print on that promo should read as follows. “Purchase $29.95, get $10.00 off your product total. Share this promotion among 100000 friends. Each customer can use this promotion 1 time. Offer valid between 2008-11-09 and 2008-12-06. Promotion only valid for books created by the customer.”

Some one PLEASE tell me where this fine print is located?  Am I being totally ridiculous by simply wanting want this coupon SAYS not what is SHOULD say?  Isn’t it faulty of Blurb to leave out important details of the promotion? Shouldn’t I still get what exactly what the promo SAYS, since it’s their fault they left out the details? (And did you notice that the date he gave me is a different date than the promo image?)

Are you kidding me?! This is now THREE photo sites that have wasted my time in trying to create a photobook. Why do I have such rotten luck in this area? Or really, why do these sites just suck?

Seriously, tell me if I’m being ridiculous about this. And what to would do about it. Do I keep fighting for “justice”? It’s just not right.