I’m not really what you’d call a high class woman, but I would describe myself as pretty effing Awesome. Being the Awesome person I am can be time-consuming and cost money, but because I’m pretty effing Awesome, I spend time looking for deals to make it LOOK like I spent money.

That’s where places like Tiny Prints come into my life. Pretty effing Awesome stuff for not a lot of monies.

Tiny Prints is one of those online stationery stores your friends send you to with a link saying, “Check out THIS cute baby photo announcement!” and “I totally want this for my Xmas card this year!” and “Mama must have this personalized gift tag or I will die 1000 deaths.” I know it’s not just me sending these messages to my friends because Tiny Prints has been on my radar for at least the last year as a must-shop for stationery and photo cards. When I was approached to do multiple reviews for Tiny Prints, well, HELLO? Am I going to turn away the opportunity to send out that “Oh Em Gee, this design is PERFECT for us this year” message to my bloggy friends? Heck no. Bring ‘em on.

The first two items I ordered are the personalized gift tag stickers for our Christmas gifts and matching personalized thank you cards. Being the silly, snarky mo’fo I am, I picked out the cheeziest design I could find and personalized them with my own punny snarkasm.

Having the personalized gift tags ready to go for any gifts we give out really applies to my “Aiming Low” philosophy of living: no need to think; just stick & give. I must say, I was surprised at the quality of the stickers considering they’re only $7 for an entire personalized set of 24. You can’t even find an embroidered Christmas sweater for $7, much less find anything personalized for $7. Bonus: you’ll look pretty effing Awesome to your gift recipient with a personalized gift tag. They’ll think you paid much more that you did for the scented candle you found on sale at the $1 store that’s inside the box you’re giving them. WIN/WIN

The first thing my husband said to me when I told him our thank you cards arrived: “Are you actually going to send them this year?” Pshaw. Of course I’ll be sending the personalized thank you cards this year. They say “Awesome” right on the card. How can I NOT send them out? Plus, they make me look pretty effing Awesome because they’re printed on such high-quality card stock. (Like, the nice stuff.) Just like the gift tag stickers, the personalized thank you cards are priced well to help you look like you’re the pretty effing Awesome person you are.

I urge you to send a gift to Messy Semi Clean House this year. You’ll get a pretty effing Awesome thank you card in return. Even if it is just to spite my husband for doubting me.

Also, we like presents, and we have no shame.

If you’re extra lucky, you’ll get a $1 store scented candle with a pretty effing Awesome gift tag sticker on the outside. You’re welcome.

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This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints. I received the products shown in return for this review.

I was recently hired as a hotel blog writer (thanks to Britt!) for UpTake. It’s kind of kismet cause I likes me some hotels. You could have guessed that if you knew that I have a Bachelors in Hospitality Management and have worked at Disney’s Yacht Club, but I bet you didn’t. It’s OK. I’ll give you a pass on this one. But, did you know that I have a Masters degree? Why, yes I do. (shocking, i know)

Quiz: In what subject did I earn my Masters?

Anyhooters, I wrote my first post for UpTake complete with pictures of my kids and 4 others in a bathtub. I’m awesome like that.

Please visit, Stumble, Digg, Technorati, Delicious, email, Twitter, and generally pimp out my post. Pretty please? Show them I’m a mediocre deal on the internet. I’ll hump your leg hard for more than 15 seconds if you do.

Need to relax? Drink tea.
Feeling under the weather? Drink tea.
British? Drink tea.
Are you my mother? Drink tea.

I’ve noticed that there seems to be a recent popularity surge of tea drinkers and tea shops. One reason? Heath benefits. Another reason? It’s darn good.

My mom and my husband have both been long-time tea drinkers and appreciate good, quality tea. Inexpensive, quality teas are not hard to find – they’re on the shelves of your local grocery store. If you haven’t already noticed Celestial Seaonsings teas, stop next time and check out their HUGE selection of specialty bag teas.

I’ve learned a bit about teas the past few years because of some health issues I’ve had, particularly having to do with my digestion. Rooibus teas are MADE for people with bad guts. Caffeine-free, loaded with natural antioxidants, and easy on the tummy, this tea-you’ve-never-heard-of needs to be in your cabinet. (Even lions drink it when you’re not looking.)

In celebration of Earth Day, now through the end of April (yeah, only 2 more days, but hey – it’s still do-able), visit the TREES section of the Celestial Seasonings website and plant a virtual tree. (In the words of Bob Ross, “It’s a pretty little tree.”) For each virtual tree planted, Celestial Seasonings will sponsor the planting of one real tree in a developing country by Trees for the Future.

Celestial Seasonings teas were “green” before “green” was cool. “Celestial Seasonings is an eco-conscious company so it’s a tie that makes sense. Because we’ve have worked with many of the same farmers for more than 30 years, we’ve been able to establish sustainable harvests and support ethical trade practices. Additionally, Celestial Seasonings’ use of minimal packaging, including a unique tea bag that requires no strings, tags, staples or individual wrappers, saves more than 3.5 million pounds of waste from entering landfills annually.”

Full disclosure – Sponsored post: I received a nice assortment of these great teas (which, by the way, I was already a customer before I agreed to review) in return for publishing this editoral/review. Have questions/comments/issues with Celestial Teas? Contact them.