We have to make a confession, we love to get take out! We especially love calling our favorite restaurants to get food to go. It is so easy, and we don’t have to deal with crowds or waiting very long for our favorite foods. The only thing that we didn’t love? Having tons of take out menus with nowhere to keep them.

Well, Tatutina offers a great alternative to this problem with the hand painted menu box! We got one to review, and just love it! It’s well made, and does it’s job like a dream. Now we don’t have to search through our kitchen drawers trying to find a menu. All we have to do is open our box, and they are all inside, neat and tidy!

Tatutina offers a lot of fun, hand painted gifts! From treat holders for your favorite pooch, to recipe boxes and bookends, there is something for everyone on your gift list. And, since they are hand painted, no two will ever be exactly alike! Something we really love.

They are a mother-daughter team based in Massachusetts, who love to design and make fun, functional items. Another great thing to note is that Tatutina items are designed and tested to meet the requirements of the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). All of our products use certified non-toxic, lead free paints. So, not only are you going to get a fun product, but a safe one as well.

We really love our menu box, and now that we have it, we don’t know how we lived without it for so long! If you, or someone you know loves to get take out, then this is one item that should be on the wish list for sure! You can order them online, and they come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Visit the Tatutina website to learn more, and to see all the fun products and designs they offer.

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If you want to give a gift that your recipient can use all year long, then our next gift guide item is for you! The Envirosax La Boheme are not just functional, they are stylish too. Inspired by Bohemia and the Art Nouveau movement of bringing art into everyday life, this sophisticated new Envirosax style creates ecofriendly art (find the reduce-reuse-recycle symbol hidden in the design).

Envirosax La Boheme is printed with ecofriendly inks and dyes via a sublimation process which ensures the design will not fade when washed. Each La Boheme bag holds 44 lbs of weight and is made from 100% ripstop polyester. The matching wristlet carrying pouch measures 9″ x 6″ and features snaps to keep 5 rolled up bags inside. Envirosax La Boheme Bags measure 19.5″ x 16.5″ when open and roll up and snap shut to a very compact 4″ x 1.5″ when closed. Handwash recommended to extend the life of the bag.

We think these would make perfect gifts for the stylish, ecofriendly, person in your life. Or, buy some for yourself! Another fun thing that you can do is buy a set and then use them as great gift wrap. We have a set of Envirosax ourselves and love them for reducing the waste that comes into the house after shopping. We take them everywhere, and wouldn’t mind finding a few more under our tree either. Order yours online at Bright and Bold, $37.95 for a set of five bags with the wristlet carrier.

This time of year (fall and winter) makes my skin extremely dry. My skin, especially on my hands, gets so bad that they actually crack and bleed. I often sleep with cotton gloves on (after applying lotion) to try to help them heal.

So of course when we got the chance to sample some Dr. Hess Udder Ointment, I was very excited. I had heard great things about it, and even though it was originally made for udders, it works wonders on hands! It does seem to do a great job, being a bit thicker than a regular lotion. It has a different, but pleasant smell, that is hard to describe. It’s somewhat minty, but not really minty. Also, it doesn’t take much ointment to cover the area. This is a plus since it means a little will go a long way!

We also really liked the story of the product:

One of the best known products ever produced by Hess & Clark was Udder Ointment. Originally developed for treating chapped teats and udders of dairy cattle, farmers were soon remarking as to the healing effect it had on their own hands. Chronic dryness and cuts were quickly healing on both cow and farmer. Udder Ointment was widely used as both a veterinary remedy and a home remedy all across the country.

With each buyout of the Hess & Clark product line, Udder Ointment became more and more of a tangent product with each business focusing more and more on chemical production such as pesticides and powder treatments for agricultural use. Finally, in 1999 ( approx.) the production of Udder Ointment was discontinued completely. When the formal announcement was made, pleading calls from around the country riddled the company with testimonial after testimonial of Udder Ointment healing not only skin abrasions and dryness but burns, bruises, and especially effective on diaper rash!

After hearing of the discontinuation,  I began to purchase from local dealers over 200 cases of Udder Ointment product to ensure that I had enough for generations of my family and extended family members to use.  Word spread that I had a generous supply and soon I was turning down callers from anxious customers keeping the remaining 4 cases for myself.

The idea thus was born to recover the original formula and begin remanufacturing Dr. Hess Udder Ointment.  Tyler and I began the company organization and the manufacturing process in the Fall of 2006.  First sales of the product began in January 2008 with Dr. Hess Udder Ointment and Dr. Hess Udder Ointment for Baby Butts.  During the Spring of 2008 we also developed the Udder Stick, our healing lip balm, after the request of several consumers who wanted the original formula in a more solid form.  Our sales during 2008 were minimal, relying mostly on word of mouth from past users who had been familiar with the earlier Hess & Clark Udder Ointment.

Those customers who rediscovered us, however, were elated to see its return.  Story after story of this “miraculous” healing ointment used many years ago came to us by letter, email and phone calls. In fact, just recently, I received an email from a son of a thankful elderly mother who has used Udder Ointment for the past 50 years.  He even included pictures of her old Udder Ointment jar which she keeps by her bedside revealing only the slightest amount of the treasured ointment remaining.

Dr. Hess Udder Ointment was part of my childhood.  It was what we relied on for skin dryness to cuts and burns.  When I began having children myself, it was the instant remedy for diaper rash, chafing, as well as my own tired and cracked feet.  Simply put, it was hard to imagine my children and their children not having the benefits of Udder Ointment that I and thousands of other users have enjoyed for over 100 years.

As Dr. Hess Products, LLC, we are continuing in the tradition of our fathers and believe in the American spirit of hard work and giving back.

Made in the USA (in Utah), and by those who really care about the product! It has been great for my poor, cracked skin, and I can see why they were so passionate about trying to save the product. I for one am glad they did. You can buy Dr. Hess Udder Ointment online at the Dr. Hess website. They also offer a free sample (including shipping) so you can try it for yourself before you buy! Very wish list worthy indeed.

We recently got the chance to try out one of the Glade Scented Oil Candle Tins. They have special holiday scents, and the one we tried was Bayberry Spice. It smells a lot like a real pine tree! And, not only does it smell really good, it’s a strong scent that easily fills the house. In fact, even without lighting it, you can smell it. Very good indeed!

The way they work is really unique, not like a regular candle. Because it’s oil, once you light them, they melt quickly, which means the scent goes into the air quickly. The tin is a nice alternative to the usual glass, and also it’s unbreakable! Each candle will burn about 2-3 hours, and when the oil is gone the flame just goes out. They offer refills as well, so you can reuse the container again and again.

Would you like a chance to try one for yourself? Glade has offered one lucky reader a surprise holiday tin scent, just in time for the holiday season. Just leave a comment on this post before midnight on December 10th for a chance to win. You may comment daily until the deadline. This is for readers in the USA only.

This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and SC Johnson, who provided the product for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary product.

*this giveaway is now closed, congrats to Kristi*

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Looking for a gift for an animal lover in your life? What about a gift that also gives back to animals? And is cute?

Then our next gift guide participant is for you! Shaggy Dog Slippers from the Humane Society’s Humane Domain shop.

Nothing beats the cold and warms your heart like a pair of fuzzy friends cuddling at your feet!  These adorable shaggy dog slippers are a great gift to bring a smile and soothe the tired feet of dog lovers in your life.  Not only will the recipent love the slippers, but they will feel good knowing that proceeds help real animals too.

They are soft and comfy, one size fits most, and feature non-slip bottoms. The Shaggy Dog Slippers cost just $19.95. I know that I would love to find a pair of these adorable doggies under my Christmas tree!