U Stripe Paint Designer Tool Reveiw & Giveaway

Spring is finally arriving! At least it is in my neck of the woods! That means time to clean up the house and fix it all up! One fun project to tackle is painting! And one thing I like to do is adding stripes! They give your walls dimension and looks so nice! But it can be really difficult to get them straight and even.  That is why I love the U Stripe It design tool!

They sent me one of their tools to use.  Truth be told, I am not the family handyman, my husband is.  And since he has lots of experience painting I thought I would let him check it out!  What was really cool is that you can make any kind of stripes, including diagonal.  I haven't seen anything like this, and on other painting jobs my husband has always had to meticulously measure the stripes and tape them off.  This tool allows you to get the perfect size and make the job a lot easier. They even sent us 2 rolls of the blue painters tape! That gave us the tools we needed to get the job done-all we had to do was get the paint!


This video shows how the tool works, much better than I can explain it to you!!:

The U Stripe Design tool is only $27.95 and right now you can get a free roll of painters tape when you buy it! This a great deal for the tool because you can use and reuse it so many times! The tool was created by John Menendez, a painter for the last 30 years.  He used it on his jobs, and when others saw it, they thought it would be easy for anyone to use and convinced him to market the product. This turned the work of the professional look of stripes into a job for the average person! His son Phillip Menendez is the distributor for the tool.  

Phillip Mendez with the UStripe It tool

I love this product because it reduces the time it takes to have a great design, and it saves a TON of money! Doing it yourself is almost always going to be cheaper, especially if you have the right tools to do the job.  And since this tool is easy to use, anyone can do it!  And you can do every room in the house, with really cool designs.  Click here to see what others have done with the UStripe It tool!

If you would like to purchase a U Stripe Design tool and accessories for the project, click here!  To win your own tool, keep reading!!:


MANDATORY ENTRY 2 PARTS MUST BE DONE FOR THE ENTRY AND EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT:

PART 1: Go to ustripeit.com  and then come back here to tell me something you learned!  Leave your answer in your comment!

PART 2: Follow me via Google Friend Connect
You must put both parts in the SAME comment and include your GFC name for the entry to count. Also must include an email to contact you to win, unless it is visible on your blogger profile.
 No email=no prize!

For all other entries, leave a separate comment for each entry, and if it says more than entry for doing something, leave an individual comment for each of those entries and label them #1 #2 and so forth.
Have questions? Email Frugal Family Fun!

Extra Entries:

  Like Frugal Family Fun on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment 1 extra entry 

Like  Ustripeit and Design on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment 1 extra entry

If you get a friend to like us on Facebook, you get an extra entry! One entry per friend that likes my page!  THIS IS AN UNLIMITED ENTRY  Just say in your comment that you got a person to like and what their name is! 1 extra entry each

Follow @USTRIPEIT on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry
 

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry 
 

Follow @BriansWifey05 on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment 1 extra entry

Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Your Tweet Must include @FrugalFamilyFun @ustripeit and the link to this contest.  tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each
Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments!

Enter any of our other giveaways! Gain an extra entry in this contest for each contest you enter! Leave the name of the contest in your comment!

Contest begins now and ends April 15,2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Winners will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize.  Open to US Only!

I was not compensated for this post. I did receive the above mention products in exchange for a review on my blog.  All opinions are honest and 100% my own.  Photos from U Stripe It Design

Giani Granite Paint Kit Review & Giveaway!!

Have you ever wanted to redo your kitchen counters, but just cannot afford pricey granite counter tops? Me too! Well actually right now I am renting, so I don't want to invest my money on their house! So I found a way to help redo my kitchen for a very low price!! I came across Giani Granite recently.  They offer an amazing product-a granite paint for counter tops!!  What is that you say? It is a paint system to "paint on" your own beautiful granite counter tops, easier and cheaper than real granite!


I was thrilled to get the chance to review this product! I figured if other mom bloggers could do it, so could I! I enlisted my hubby to help, since he is the diy guy and painter in the family!  The kit comes with a great step by step video, detailed instructions, and the entire kit is labeled by number so you can get it right without a problem!  This makes it easy to use and will end with beautiful results!


The process is simple! You clean the counter tops well with a degreaser.  Fill in any chips with wood putty so that the surface is smooth.  Then after you tape off the edges (like around the back splash and sink) you are ready to prime! The primer is black and you apply it in 3ft. strips for an even coating.  I recommend doing the primer before bed, so it can dry over night and you can get started on the rest in the morning!  

Next is the fun part! You get to start doing the different minerals.  The dvd shows how to do this and the kit comes with a black paper to practice the technique on so you get the right effect.  Once you get the hang of it on paper, go ahead and tackle the counters! There isn't a right or wrong way really, and you can experiment with mixing the minerals on the paper plate as you go along to create more depth in the granite.  The results are just beautiful.  After allowing the "Mineral" paint to dry, you are ready for topcoat(s).  The top coat will need 72 hours to dry before replacing appliances, and 2 weeks to be completely dry.  It is very important not to scrub down the counters or use anything harsh or abrasive on the counter tops, or it will ruin the job!  The finished counter tops look amazing!

I used the Sicilian Sand kit, and here is a picture from the Giani site of  counter top that has used this kit:

I chose this color because my kitchen would look best with the lighter color, and I liked the mix options I saw on the site. 

Some info:

• Unique blend of polymers and minerals create a   countertop that locks out moisture - while showing off the beautiful Sicilian granite of southern Italy!
• Great for upgrading Formica*laminate, Corian*ceramic tile, butcher block, cultured marble and traditional granite countertops and vanities     
• Covers 35 square feet or 16 running feet of standard 24" wide counters 
• Quick, fun and easy 'paint-by-number' process  for beginning painters
• Project time - 4 hours of painting and 16 hours of drying
• Water-based safe and low odor 
• Hides any existing stains, scratches or burns
• Granite color is adjustable to your decor 
• Durable automotive grade clear polyurethane topcoat
• 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
• Complete Kit  -
      -12 Oz. of IronCore^TM Primer-Base Coat
       - 6 Oz. of Brown Feldspar Mineral
       - 6 Oz. of Inca Gold Mineral
       - 6 Oz. of White Limestone Mineral
       - 16 Oz. of Automotive Polyurethane Topcoat
       - 6" GIANI^TM roller arm and two roller pads
       - 4" GIANI^TM granite paint sponge
       - 2" Foam Brush
       - Black Practice Poster Board
         - 'Paint-by-Number' DVD for beginners     
       - Illustrated Instructions

You can see great customer photos and testimonials by clicking here!
 This is a great way to spruce up your kitchen for the holidays!! The kits are available in six different colors!! Find out where to buy Giani by clicking here to find a store!  Or buy online here! 
Lucky you!! Giani is going to give one of you a kit in your choice of color!! Here is how you can win!   

MANDATORY ENTRY 2 PARTS MUST BE DONE FOR THE ENTRY AND EXTRA ENTRIES TO COUNT:
PART 1: Tell me which Giani Granite Kit you like the most!!
PART 2: Follow me via Google Friend Connect
You must put both parts in the SAME comment and include your GFC name for the entry to count. Also must include an email to contact you to win, unless it is visible on your blogger profile.
 No email=no prize!

For all other entries, leave a separate comment for each entry, and if it says more than entry for doing something, leave an individual comment for each of those entries and label them #1 #2 and so forth.
Have questions? Email Frugal Family Fun

Extra Entries:
Like Frugal Family Fun on Facebook leave me your Facebook name in the Comment

If you get a friend to like us on Facebook, you get an extra entry! One entry per friend that likes my page!  THIS IS AN UNLIMITED ENTRY  Just say in your comment that you got a person to like and what their name is!

Follow @GianiGranite101 on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter and leave your twitter name in the comment

Tweet about this giveaway up to 5 times daily for entries. leave me the link to your tweet- Your Tweet Must include @GianiGranite101 @FrugalFamilyFun and the link to this contest.  tweets must be at least 1 hour apart for entry. 1 extra entry for each tweet.

Subscribe to our email updates, via google reader, or via RSS feed , 1 extra entry for each

Put our button on your blog, leave me the link to the blog THIS WILL BE CHECKED. 3 extra entries

Blog about this contest, including a link back to this giveaway worth 5 extra entries. Leave me the link to the blog post in your comments

Like Giani Granite on Facebook!  and leave me your Facebook name!

Enter any of our other giveaways! Gain an extra entry in this contest for each contest you enter! Leave the name of the contest in your comment!

Contest begins now and ends December 9, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be selected via Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or forfeits prize.  This is open to U.S. only!! Good luck!

Giani Provided my blog with product to review, and also one to giveaway. I was not under any obligation to write a positive review. Photos from Giani

Making Baby Food at Home

I would like to thank my good friend at Imallshoppe.com for showing me this article from Webmd.com

Homemade Baby Food: Is It Right for You?

A step-by-step guide to making and storing food for your baby.
By Gina Shaw

When you begin feeding your baby solid foods, it’s time to think about what foods you’re going to be feeding him. There are many healthy premade options, including organic baby food. But homemade baby food is a popular option for parents who want to know exactly what goes into their baby’s mouth -- and making it may be easier than you think.

Homemade Baby Food: Advantages of Making It Yourself

Parents who prefer homemade baby food have many reasons for their choice.

• They know exactly what they’re feeding their baby.
• It’s more economical than buying pre-packaged foods (although some parents note that this is not always the case).
• They can choose their own fruits, vegetables, and other foods for purees, instead of relying on the flavors chosen by manufacturers. You’re not going to find melons or avocados in the baby food section of the supermarket.
• It gets the baby used to eating the same food as the rest of the family -- just in puree form.

Myra Bartalos, the mother of a 20-month-old daughter in Brooklyn, N.Y, found that making her own baby food was easy and appealed to her concern for her daughter’s nutrition.

“What sealed the deal for me was finding out that jarred food is cooked at extremely high temperatures to kill bacteria for longer storage, at the same time taking out many of the food's vitamins and nutrients and taste,” says Bartalos. “I would roast, steam, or boil veggies or fruit on the weekends and puree in a mini food processor. I'd make three or four different fruits and veggies at a time, so I had a month's worth of food with each cooking weekend.”

“Making your own baby food does help you think more about what you're feeding your child,” says Erika Radtke, the mother of a 4-year-old boy and newborn daughter in Carlsbad, Calif. “And it seems to pave the way for making healthier meals, even as he or she gets older.”

Making Baby Food: Disadvantages of the Homemade Approach

Some parents who’ve tried and given up on homemade baby food point out these disadvantages to making it:

• Time. It takes time to make and prepare lots of little servings of homemade baby food. It’s much faster to pick up prepackaged servings.
• Convenience. Prepackaged baby foods come in measured amounts and ready to serve.
• Storage. Homemade baby foods may spoil more quickly and require refrigeration, which may take up room in your fridge or freezer if you make a lot of servings ahead of time. Prepackaged baby foods don’t need refrigerator storage until they’re opened.

Although Radtke made some of her son’s baby food, she admits, “It was a pain. I used to take a whole weekend to cook the foods, portion it out into ice cube trays, freeze them and store them. I didn't have a problem using Gerber's or Earth's Best when I ran out, though.”

Making Baby Food: Disadvantages of the Homemade Approach continued...

If you’re daunted by the idea of making your own baby food, don’t feel that you’re neglecting your baby. “Foods intended for babies are so pure to begin with,” says Jennifer Shu, MD, a pediatrician in Atlanta and co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality and Food Fights: Winning the Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed with Insight, Humor, and a Bottle of Ketchup.

“If you’re really concerned about what your baby’s eating and don’t have the time to make your own baby food, focus your attention on what they’re eating once they begin table foods,” Shu tells WebMD. “It’s really a very short window of time when they are eating purees.”

Making Baby Food: What You’ll Need

If you decide to make your own baby food, says Shu, it’s not that difficult: “All you need is a food grinder and a way to steam the food.” (If you’re taking the time to make your own baby food, steaming is the best way to cook ingredients because it preserves the most nutrients.)

There are plenty of baby food makers on the market, from a French product that combines steaming, blending, warming, and defrosting, to simple baby food processors, mills, and grinders. But you don’t need to buy any of these products; your own food processor will work just as well for making baby food.

Many popular books offer hundreds of recipes for baby food purees, including Blender Baby Food, Top 100 Baby Purees, and the Petit Appetit Cookbook. These books can help you come up with new ideas to try with your baby and remind you of important nutrients to include, but as with baby food makers, they’re not a requirement for making your own baby food.

Healthy Homemade: How to Make Baby Food in 6 Easy Steps

• Wash and rinse your hands and equipment.
• Scrub and peel fruits and vegetables.
• Bake, steam, roast, or microwave until tender (steaming and microwaving preserve the most nutrients).
• Puree in a food processor with a little liquid (water, breast milk, or formula), or mash if your baby can handle more texture.
• Store in the refrigerator or freezer, in airtight containers. (Packaged baby foods can be stored in the cupboard until they’re opened; because they’re fresh, homemade baby foods can’t.)
• Rewarm when it’s time to eat and allow to cool.

There are a number of storage containers sold specifically for refrigerating and freezing small serving-sized amounts of baby food; you can also just use an ice cube tray.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, you can puree foods such as cooked meats (fully cooked, with no pink, and remove fat, skin, and connective tissue), beans, and cooked eggs.

Homemade Made Easy: 1-Step Baby Food

When you’re preparing some foods, you can actually cut the steps down to one. “Cutting up a very ripe pear, mashing a banana, mashing an avocado—that’s making your own baby food,” Shu tells WebMD. “Or, for example, when you make mashed potatoes for the family, set aside some that don’t have whole milk added. You can add a little butter or salt -- the baby can have mild spices. As long as you’re eating healthy, you can give your baby a modified version of what you’re eating.”