Every special occasion calls for a celebration, that's a given. If that occasion calls for a gift, it's not always a cut and dry answer on which gift is best. That is, unless, your gift includes flowers.
Who doesn't love fresh cut flowers, right? I personally am a fanatic for them, although I've got a black thumb when it comes to growing my own. So, I've often relied on others to deliver that perfect bouquet to say congratulations or just to show a bit of kindness for no particular reason at all.
As we all know, Mother's Day just came and went yesterday, and this year I was given the opportunity to try out The Bouqs Co. free of charge, in exchange for my honest review. I am pleased to announce that I have nothing negative to say, for the flowers I received were beautiful and perfect. I had the choice of an array of bouquets to fit any occasion, or just to receive some for myself. Being the unselfish person I try to be, I decided that I should send flowers to my mom for Mother's Day. I chose a bouquet of gorgeous lavenderish-pink roses, a very unique color that you will see here in a moment, mixed with six just as beautiful Calla Lillies in a dark pink-ish hue. The colors are quite stunning together, to be quite honest, very pleasing all the way around.
Before I get into the flowers, let me start with the packaging. Being that I reside with my parents, this left it very easy for me to review the flowers upon their arrival. The box they arrived in was quite lovely. Nothing to flashy and nothing too boring. It had a quiet elegance that is more my style. Upon opening the box, I was pleased to see how well protected the flowers were from possible shipping hazards. Everything was wrapped up nice and comfy to guarantee the flowers arrived undamaged by a oftentimes hostile delivery process. I also liked where the sentiment card was placed, right inside the lid of the box, right in the middle, so there was no missing it, no hunting around, and this also left the message guaranteed to be seen before the actual flowers. This leads to anticipation as to what treasures lie within, and that's a good thing.
Elegant yet not overdone.
Very well protected, and sentiment card right in the center, nice placement!
I cut off the personal details, but here is what I wrote! (What can I say, I love my mom!)
After opening the box, I carefully removed the two sets of wrapped flowers. I appreciate that the flowers types were wrapped separately, as it keeps them fresher, better protected, and it makes it take a little longer to open the gift. Another plus in my mind, as it makes it seem like two gifts in one, yay!!!
Delicately wrapped, yet easy to open...bonus points!
Calla Lillies, so bright and lovely!
A close-up.
The roses...they don't look like much here, but after 24 hours in water, stunning!
Flower food included!
Easy to follow, boldly printed care directions...more bonus points!
As you can see from the pictures, the flowers come with a package of flower food, and the instructions for care printed plainly and boldly right on the box. I often forget the part about cutting the stems under running water, and it's kind of an important step in getting the maximum life out of your flowers. Having that reminder right in front of me, well let's just say I was very grateful for it.
As per usual shipped, boxed flowers, it takes about 24 hours in water for them to fully start to appreciate their new home. The next few pictures will show their transformation over this time period. Before you judge, I'm not the best flower arrange, but I do my best. I do plan on rearranging these into a different vase within the next couple of days, but for now my current arrangement will have to do. So, let's get to the pics!
Here they are right after opening!
Such pretty colors, smell divine, but not yet fully hydrated.
Sage kitty likes them!
24 hours later...see the difference?
Aren't they gorgeous?
The pics really don't do them justice, especially since you cannot smell them...OMG!
After the 24-hour re-hydration period, the roses began to bloom out and the difference was amazing. Every time I walk past them I notice them getting a little bit fuller and prettier. And the scent, it's to die for! These roses smell delicious, no joke. By the way, this Bouq was from the Volcano collection and was the smallest bouquet size available, the one I was offered to review for free. You can purchase larger bouquets depending on your budget. Also, there is another line of flowers from the California collection. Here's what The Bouqs says about their collections and flower freshness:
"We cut on the day you order and deliver straight from the farm so you get the freshest bouq possible! This means delivery just 2-4 days after cut, vs 10-14 elsewhere. We deliver our Volcano stems from the equator,10,000 feet above sea level, which means one thing: sun. And more sun means more color. These Bouqs are fed by pure volcanic snow melt and mineral-rich, ph-balanced soil. And our California cut flowers come straight from eco-friendly farms on the coast! Bloomin' sweet surf!"
The flowers are also eco-friendly, yet another BIG plus in my book!
"We source from partners that respect and care for the environment and their employees.
Our farms practice sustainable, eco-friendly farming, and we cut only what we sell - so we don't waste 1 out of every 3 stems like others.
Our partners offer competitive, living wages and services like on-site child and healthcare, and adult education."
To boot, the also have a Concierge service which saves you money, reminds you of important dates and occasions, and has other options as well...
"Concierge Service is completely optional and completely awesome. Save money (up to 25%) and simplify your life!
NeverForget will email you before a birthday or anniversary to remind you, and so you can confirm or change the order. But you'll never again forget an important date.
JustBecause will surprise her with a bouq on a random day of the week for no reason whatsoever. Just Because.
Or perhaps you want fresh flowers weekly, bi-weekly or monthly? Sign up for Regular Blooms!
Concierge service makes your life easier. Manage them all in one place, and you'll be giving and getting love like a Summer of Love flower child. With as little risk. Yeeeeaaaaahh."
So how's that for service? I like the concept. It's a nice little option and a unique service I have yet to run across anywhere else.
Overall, I am very pleased with the flowers my mom received, and I would definitely recommend The Bouqs them to anyone needing a great flower delivery company. As with most flowers companies, they have a variety of occasional bouquets pre-formed, or you can let them design a special one for you. It really can be a hands-on experience if you so choose, or you can simply leave it up to the experts! Either way, you're going to receive gorgeous flowers and that's what really matters!
And now on to another great thing about The Bouqs...
They were very kind to offer a free bouquet from their Volcano collection as part of one of the prize packages for the All Things Baby Blog Hop and giveaway I am currently co-hosting. How nice is that? The blog hop focuses on everything surrounding baby's first year, including gift ideas for new mothers. I don't know about other mothers, but one thing I received and brought home from the hospital were flowers congratulating me on my new arrival. All the nurses loved the smell of my room, lol. So be it a gift to a new mom while still in the hospital, or a very lovely surprise for when she brings baby home, flowers are a great way to pamper her and show her you care. Plus, they look lovely in a nursery and do add a wonderful, calming scent that new parents and baby should enjoy.
The Bouq Co. has a entire section of bouquets dedicated to new additions to the family called Baby Bouqs. Of course you can go with any arrangement, but I adore their specialized ones for new baby celebrations.
Want to win your own bouquet from The Bouqs? Then simply enter to win through the All Things Baby Blog Hop rafflecopter giveaway below. We have a wonderful collection of mom bloggers participating, and I encourage you to check each and every one of them out. Each day there will be new topics and new chances to win fantastic prize packages. Also, check out our Pinterest board and most definitely keep coming back daily to our main landing page for more amazing posts and more chances to win!
You're going to want to win this giveaway, I promise!
A few weeks ago I received an email from a wonderful company called GooseWaddle wanting to know if I had any interest in writing a review blog and hosting a giveaway for their baby products (blankets and blankies and also a fabulous plush toy, which I will get to here it a bit). As you all may know, I have written review posts before, but never as a specific request from a company. Usually my reviews are written on whims about products I purchase and get excited about. I have seen other blogs which seem to strictly be product reviews blogs, where the writer receives items from businesses for the sole purpose of writing the review. I have always wondered how one got to be so lucky as to actually receive a product to "test" and review. So, admittedly, when I opened the email and saw the request, I got nine kinds of giddy that someone actually wanted my opinion and thought my little blog worthy of writing a review. I think it's a remarkable honor and I'm humbled in so many ways, just so you know. I was even more excited that they also wanted me to host a giveaway to go along with the review. Here's how it works...basically, I receive a product, use it, write a review, and set up a giveaway for the exact same product for one of my lucky readers to win....woohoo!!! I have done a giveaway via my Facebook page before, but never one that I hosted via my blog. I thought long and hard about how to best perform this task, and decided the best way to make it accessible to all is to actually add a page to the blog that is specially set up for the task at hand...and that is where you are now. So, without further ramblings, let me get to the whole point of this exciting adventure for Piper and me, our first official product review and blog-hosted giveaway, featuring the lovely items we received from GooseWaddle! (Giveaway entry form located at end of post)
If you have read any of my previous product reviews, found under the To Buy Or Not To Buy header on the blog homepage, you will know that I like to make my reviews personal and include lots of pictures. I think nothing sells or showcases a product like seeing it in action and/or in use. So, naturally, I wanted to make sure I got lots of pictures of Piper using her new items. After all, she is the critic of all things baby related, not me. If she likes a product, then I like a product. Good news, she loved the items GooseWaddle sent her!
One of Piper's and Waddles first encounters, while chilling on the large blanket!
Before I get too far along, you may be wondering exactly what Piper received from GooseWaddle. We received their gift set which included a full-sized baby blanket, a smaller "blankie" for easily toting around (I'll get to our uses of the blankie here in a bit), and an absolutely adorable plush goose whom we named Waddles. In all, the gift set retails at $105, which I think is totally reasonable based on the high quality of the items, but Piper got to try it all out for free, what a fabulous bonus! I do want to make it completely clear right here that receiving the items for free by no means swayed my opinion of them. My praises of a product cannot be bought. Had I disliked what we received, I would have most likely returned them unused, for I don't feel it would be fair to keep them and then write a negative review. I like positive things, negativity is not part of this blog, and I will diligently fight to keep it that way. I just think that is important for my readers to know, just so you all know exactly where I stand regarding requested reviews. And I sure wouldn't host a giveaway for a product I was not 100% behind, that would be wrong on so many levels! Anyways, let's get back to the fun!
We received the pink blanket set, and it is awesome! (Giveaway winner will receive the white set, wanted to keep it gender neutral)
The gift set arrived very nicely packaged. The shipping box had the company's logo featured on the outside, and all items inside were delicately tied with a beautiful yellow ribbon, as you can see in the picture. Best thing about the yellow ribbon, Piper will be able to use it as a hair ribbon whenever she finally decides to grow some hair. I adore multi-use items, and ribbons are always one of those in some way, shape, or form. But honestly, even though the packaging was well thought out, the logo adorable, and the shipping box cute as could be, I know what people really want is to hear all about the actual products contained within. I could spend all day writing about the attention to detail and thought that was obviously put into the GooseWaddle branding, but using the products is where all the fun is at! Here are some pics so you can see what I'm talking about regarding the packaging, it really is nicely done and obviously not a fly-by-night thrown together idea. Someone took a lot of time to put special touches on everything, and that I highly respect.
Love the little goose feet tags, such a great idea!
Another view of the packaging, minus Waddles. Very cute, right?
Upon receiving our items, we of course immediately ripped into the package and immersed ourselves in all the goodies held within. The softness of the blankets was more than expected, and we rubbed our faces and hands along the fluffy main areas while yumming the satiny outside edges. Okay, here comes necessary story time...
Piper checking out the goodies!
Both my older brothers, as babies and toddlers, had to have satin edges on all their yum blankets. My oldest brother was actually so particular about this that my mom had to break open blanket packages while shopping in stores so he could determine which blankets had exactly the right texture to fit his yumming needs. Yumming, by the way, is a term my family uses that refers to the monotonous rubbing motion one uses to put oneself to sleep. My brothers used the satin edges of their baby blankets, I used a variety of different things, and Piper has her own yum habits, too. She likes to rub Pig's ears (her #1 lovey), if she is nursing she uses the opposing breast and/or nip (not so comfortable at times), and she has now taken to using the satin edges and soft middle of her GooseWaddle blankets, too. I'm very happy to report that the satin edges passed the yum test, even my oldest brother said so when he examined them at the office...that's some high praise right there!
Lovely logo, awesome satiny edges!
Now, let me get back to the softness of the inner area of the blankets. Oh my goodness! I am in no way exaggerating when I say that their blankets are like fluffy little clouds to the touch. I think the best endorsements for this are the statements that came from my mom and grandmother. They both wished GooseWaddle also made blankets in adult sizes so they could have their very own to wrap up in. Are you listening GooseWaddle? We need adult sized versions! I swear if I had one I would be found curled up in it all the time. I constantly keep a cuddle blanket on the sofa, and none of the current ones even come close to competing with the softness of the GooseWaddle ones! I love nursing Piper on the sofa so that I can wrap her up in the GooseWaddle blanket and subsequently huddle underneath it with her. I'm serious folks, they're remarkably soft, I'm actually yumming the "blankie" (smaller sized one) right now as I write this. Yes, yumming it helps me concentrate and stay focused on the task at hand, and serves as a constant reminder that I do truly adore this blanket.
Totally cozy to the max!
She adores this blanket!
Perfect blanket to wrap up in while swinging and watching her stories!
Speaking of the "blankie" blanket, this is simply a smaller scale version of the full-sized baby blanket. Piper and I have found many uses for it. First off, we keep it in the bed with us at night so it absorbs my scent. That way, when she carries it with her on outings where the big blanket is just too much to handle, she has a yummy, mommy-smelling version to tote along. Also, Piper is moving into the wanting-a-pillow-to-sleep-with stage. I have yet to purchase her a baby pillow, but since she shares my bed at night, I let her use part of my Snoogle to rest her head on until she falls fully asleep. I lay the GooseWaddle blankie under her head and on the top portion of the Snoogle, that way she has a very soft place to rest her head, as the Snoogle doesn't have anything but the standard feeling pillow case on it. I like knowing Piper if comfortable when she sleeps, so it is definitely a bonus item that now I wouldn't want to live without. We also use it during pretend play. Her baby Daisy can use it as a blanket, Waddles also does the same, and I'm sure she's put Pig in the blanket at some point. It's also great for games of peek-a-boo. It's handy when traveling in the car, as she can yum and cuddle with it and use it as a head rest in her car seat. Believe me, the smaller "blankie" is wonderful and I'm positive we will continue to find new ways to use it as time passes. I see it as a future Barbie comforter, too. Barbie would kill to have it on her Dream House bed, I'm sure of that!
Perfect smaller sized blankie for all sorts of uses!
Now let's get to Waddles, the plush goose who is the GooseWaddle mascot. First off, Piper is a stuffed animal fanatic. She comes by it honestly, as I was exactly the same way growing up. I, as a matter of fact, still have my three favorite loveys from childhood sitting right here in my room, the oldest and best being my teddy bear Pede whom I've had since I was three years old. But that's getting off track. Piper, upon first seeing Waddles (the name we gave the goose), immediately gave him a big hug and kiss. She kisses all her loveys, so he was adopted into the fold and became part of her much revered lovey family upon first sight. Now I will admit, he didn't stand a chance of taking Pig's top honored place as her best and most loved lovey, but she adored Waddles nonetheless. And let me tell you, that Waddles is a cutie-pie! I love the fact that he has two different colored feet, one orange and one yellow, and wears a big pair of navy blue glasses. Piper was instantly fascinated with his glasses, since she is always trying to play with her Nana and Papa's glasses, along with any other people's glasses she comes across, so she immediately recognized them for what they were and tried to steal them away. Good thing they are on securely, because Waddles would have been sans glasses very quickly. If she ever happens to get them off of him, however, he'll be just as adorable without them, so no worries.
I just love him!
And so does Piper!
I should state now that Waddles is no ordinary goose in this family. Everything we do has some sort of educational purpose mixed in with the fun. Since he had glasses, we of course read a book that night about a little girl who got her first pair of glasses. We use Waddles to learn about birds, their body parts as compared to mammals and other types of animals, their habitats, their noises, he gets to be a part of old MacDonald's farm a lot, and we also use him to learn about colors since he has different colored feet and blue glasses. I believe that every toy should be educational in some way, so we are still discovering ways in which Waddles can help us teach Piper things. Oh, and by the way, by us I mean my mom and dad since we live in a multi-generational household by choice. I'm looking at Waddles right now, and he looks so cute with the big yellow ribbon tied around his neck in a big bow. He's a cutie-pie!
Did I mention he's helping her learn to walk?
He fits in her stroller perfectly!
And he can carry the blankie, too!
She's pushed him for miles now, it seems!
Don't get me wrong, we aren't a stuffy overly educating family to the point where we don't know how to have a good time. Fun is our main goal around here. As you will see from the following pictures, we can pretty much create a game out of anything. Throw a GooseWaddle blanket into a laundry basket for padding and cuddly softness, add in a goose and a "blankie" just for fun, tie a yellow ribbon on it, and next thing you know you've created a wonderful baby playpen that musters up uncontrollable giggles for the whole family! At one point, we even put Waddles under the basket like he was in a cage, and don't you know Piper went to the rescue with much gusto.
Can't get any happier than that!
Well, maybe a little happier :)
And if you cuddle real close...
You get even happier!
Such a cute pair!
See how she looks at him with so much love!
And the blanket makes for a cozy makeshift play area!
She likes to study Waddle's features!
Blankets can be like capes, too!
And induce lots of giggles!
Flying air kisses!
How is he floating in mid-air?
Oh, it's Nana!
Smiles all around!
We were playing toss and catch Waddles...great shot!
Doesn't she look cozy and happy as can be?
Waddles is awesome! Everyone needs to enter the giveaway to get their own!
Best buds!
Piper's excitement levels were off the chart!
The Waddles in a cage game :)
Piper to the rescue! No loveys left behind!
Rescued at last!
Big hugs!
Besides all the indoor fun and cuddles we've had with all our GooseWaddle goodies, we've also taken them to the great outdoors for some neighborhood adventures! The blanket is perfect for wrapping up in on the colder days when going out for a stroll, and of course stroller buddies are always a necessity, and Waddles is a great stroller buddy.
This was a particularly warm day, so it was just the loveys and Piper... look at them kisses!
The glasses fascinate her!
And encourage more kisses...I think Pig was jealous in this shot!
New friends are good!
So now that you've all seen all the GooseWaddle goodies in action, let's get to the nitty-gritty! Overall, I would rate this gift set a five out of five star set if I was inclined to use stars as a rating system. I think the most important thing to remember, is that the blankets were very well made, soft as could be, allowed two different textures for yumming, had an adorable logo embedded into one of the corners, and Piper has now adopted them as her favorite blankets to use when traveling in the car, when taking her naps, when cuddling during our breastfeeding sessions, and as an all around yum-buddy to carry along as a soother. As for Waddles the goose, he's also very well made, is cute as a button, is unique in design and color scheme (remember the two different colored feet), and he is easily portable. While he did not replace Pig as the #1 lovey in the household, I doubt any lovey could do that, it's just an impossible standard to live up to. I do know Waddles grows on Piper every day, and I can see him being on the VIP guest list of future tea parties.
I know my reviews are atypical in nature, as I like to give my readers a true look into our everyday lives and how we make use of items in our household. We like to get creative and take a multi-purpose approach to using everything we come across. I am sure your family could discover many ways to use the items provided in the gift set we are giving away in conjunction with GooseWaddle. With that said, I think it's time to cover some pointers about the giveaway and get you all to the entry process, because you truly don't want to miss out on the opportunity to win this amazing stuff!!!
The prize for the giveaway, as stated before, is the GooseWaddle gift set valued at $105! That's a great value, wouldn't you say? The set includes: 1- Full sized baby blanket in white
Here's a pic of Piper under her blanket :)
1- Cuddle sized "blankie" for easy toting and yumming (also in white)
Here's a pic of Waddles on the cuddle "blankie"
1- Stuffed goose, whom you may name whatever you wish, Waddles was simply our own made-up moniker. I do give you permission to use the same name, as it is quite fitting, at least we think so.
Here is a pic of Waddles with the whole shebang in white!
FYI- I chose the giveaway to feature the white blankets because I wanted it to be gender neutral. I'm sure you all understand this choice.
Before I get to the actual entry form, I promise it's coming soon, I would like to highlight one very special thing that GooseWaddle does for needy children everywhere. They have a Buy 1, Give 1 Campaign. This taken directly from their webpage:
GooseWaddle’s “Buy 1, Give 1” Campaign
Everyone knows GooseWaddle Blankets and Blankies are the perfect way to warm baby. But did you know we’re also warming hearts? With our “Buy 1, Give 1” campaign, we’re doing good and making a difference. For every blanket we sell, we donate a receiving blanket to a child in need. Children everywhere deserve to feel loved and be nestled in cozy softness. So we’re doing our part. By buying a GooseWaddle Blanket, Blankie or set, you’re playing a part, too, and helping us share the warmth of GooseWaddle — worldwide. From all of us at GooseWaddle, thank you!
I am in awe of this type of contribution they are making to children across the globe, and I think regardless if you are a winner of the giveaway, you should consider this campaign when choosing a blanket for your own little bundle of joy. I love when a company makes it easy to give back, that is what it is all about...paying if forward!
One more thing, please also take a moment to check out GooseWaddle's Facebook page and become a fan. It's actually one of only two mandatory steps to entering the giveaway, but I wanted to give an additional shout out anyway.
Okay, now let's get you all entered! As you will notice, not every entry is counted equally. Some entry types are worth more entry points than others. The more points your rack up, the better chances you have at winning.
One last thing, please be understanding that this is my first official giveaway via my blog. I am learning the ropes and hope you all will bear with me if there are any glitches or hiccups along the way. If you have any problems with any of the entry types, please do not hesitate to let me know via comment or email at ashley@singlemoderrnom.com!
Now let's get this party started! Everyone has till April 9, 2014 to enter and the winner will be announced on April 10, 2014, Piper's birthday! Her gift to you on her special day!
