RME? Tired of Paypal? Try Something New!

Are you fed up with Paypal's fees, bad customer service and unwarranted disputes where they hold your money for what can seem like forever? I am, so I decided to check into other ways to receive payment from customers through my Etsy site and other ventures.
I recently signed up for Revolution Money Exchange. This company doesn't take any fees out of your money and they will even give you $25 if you sign up before May 15! Plus, you can get $10 just for referring a friend.
When I signed up the $25 showed up in my account immediately! I plan to use it on a fun Etsy purchase. You can even withdraw your $25 immediately and they'll send you a check!
RME is becoming very popular and lots of people are talking about it. Feel free to research it before you join - I did! I read many blogs, forum posts from Etsy members who love it - and even those who have their concerns. After researching, I made a decision that the pros outweighed the cons, and decided to take the leap!
Here are some websites that might help you make a final decision:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/revolution_money_to_take_on_pa.php
http://www.profy.com/2008/02/14/moneyexchange/
http://geek-news.net/2008/02/revolution-money-exchange.html
If you decide that RME is for you, please click on my button above to sign up. You will get $25, and I will get $10!
If you accept RME and have anything to add about this great new service, feel free to post a comment.

Product Review - Use It for groceries, clothes, beach towels and so much more!

My Toshi Cloth Grocery Bag from Mimsi-Bags.com is so much more than just a grocery bag! This is one amazing, versatile, functional bag. It is large enough to tote your groceries out of the store, instead of using a ton of plastic bags, or to carry your beach towels on your next trip to the ocean!

I most recently used this bag during a trip back to my college alma mater for a reunion. The large, padded straps on the bag made it so comfy to carry around campus the entire day! I stored my Canon DSL camera, small purse, a t-shirt, my cell phone, another tote bag (something I picked up at school), and a bottle of water in it, and I still had tons of space.

I plan to take it with me to the beach in two weeks to use as a beach bag/carryall! And I'm sure I will end of using it to tote my 3-year-old son's books, toys and emergency clothes too.

The Toshi has slightly padded handles that make carrying it comfortable wherever you use it. I had my bag custom made to include inside pockets for my credit cards and cell phone.

The bag is large at approximately 16.5" wide x 14" tall with a 4" deep gusseted side. It even comes with a really cute storage bag with a zipper, ribbons, a button or no closure. The storage bag is made in the same pattern as that used on the Toshi and makes a great place to hold your keys, wallet or other small items when your Toshi is in use.

At Mimsi Bags, just about everything is customizable! You can choose the fabric type and pattern, style of inside pockets, type of storage bag, and much more.

In celebration of Earth Day, Mimsi Bags is offering a free gift card with the purchase of the reusable Earth Day Tote Set. Or if you'd just like to order the Toshi Bag, use coupon code earth-day to get free shipping! These discounts are good until the end of April.

Please feel free to leave a comment here, and visit http://www.mimsi-bags.com/ to check out all of their fabulous bags!

Spring Fling Giveaway!

My Little Monkey Boutique has partnered with http://www.mymommysbracelets.com/ and other fabulous WAHM's (Work At Home Moms) to bring you another great giveaway from some of our favorite Mommy and Baby boutiques just in time for spring! I am so excited to be participating in this giveaway...it's bigger and better than ever! There are over 30 prizes available and all you have to do is visit mymommysbracelets.com and leave a comment about your favorite prizes - I hope that you will pick mine as a favorite!

My Little Monkey Boutique is giving away a personalized Name Meaning Print using a photo that you submit! This product makes a wonderful Mother's Day gift, new mom present, scrapbook keepsake or Grandparents gift!

And when you comment over at mymommysbracelets.com tell them that LivingaMomsLife sent you!

My Little Monkey Boutique offers a great variety of gifts for mom that would make unique and fun Mother's Day gifts - stop by my boutique to see my custom Mother's Birthstone necklaces, Mother's Photo Pendant Necklaces and Bracelets, and other beautiful custom jewelry. I also offer decorative items Mom's love, customized Mommy Calling Cards and Mommy Notecards and Hand and Foot Print keepsakes!

Disco Ball Earrings Winner!

Congratulations to Mrs. Kwitty! She is the winner of the disco ball earrings created by me. Mrs. Kwitty, I will be in touch through email.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my jewelry blog post. I appreciate your comments and support! Mrs. Kwitty is a fellow Estian - check out her shop at http://misseskwittys.etsy.com/!

Fun With Beads and Wire

For the past few months I have been trying my hand at creating various pieces of jewelry. It started with necklaces, then ventured into earrings and just this evening I delved into creating coil bracelets.

It is amazing how much fun creating jewelry can be. I really love picking out beads and then stringing them by their colors, sizes or shapes. I am most in love with my photo necklaces which are perfect for new moms and grandmothers. However, creating the coil bracelets is fun too. I even combined the bracelet with my photo pendants and created a coil bracelet featuring two photo pendants - one on each end.

I currently have most of my jewelry listed in my Etsy shop - http://mylittlemonkey.etsy.com/. I have a few of my pieces of mother's jewelry at my online boutique - http://mylittlemonkeyboutique.com/.

My next step is to create enough jewelry that I can showcase it at a craft fair or festival. Please take a few moments to check out my shops. Feel free to leave a comment about my jewelry. I will choose one person who leaves a comment before the end of the day on Tuesday, April 2 to receive a free pair of disco ball earrings!

My Etsy Favorites!

Well in one of my most recent posts I talked about becoming absorbed in all things Etsy. So I thought it only appropriate to show you some of my most favorite findings and shops in the online shopping community.

First, a shop that provides a variety of handmade items, including my most favorite lampwork beads, is http://sheltie19.etsy.com/. It only took one purchase of Sheltie's lampwork beads to fall in love with them. Her beads are beautiful and versatile - I have created earrings, bracelets and more with them. In addition she also specializes in glass dragons, even one named after me! I can't wait to receive my dragon - it will be my first - and may cause me to become addicted to them like I have become to Sheltie's beads.

Another favorite Etsy seller of mine is http://heatheralexander.etsy.com/. I received the most beautiful wrap bracelet - Imagine - from Heather. Made from a variety of vintage beads and buttons, this bracelet is named after John Lennon's song, Imagine. It is a beautiful bracelet.

If you're looking for baby items, you will want to check out http://girliemomma.etsy.com/. Don't let the site name fool you, this shop also creates some wonderful items for boys too! I recently received an adorable safari security blanket perfect for a little boy! It will be a gift for my brother's baby. The material is beautiful and fabric is soft. In addition, I was lucky enough to get a very nice yard of fabric featuring zoo animals from girliemomma. I can't wait to use this colorful fabric in my next creation.

I definitely suggest taking a few moments to check out these Etsy sellers and Etsy itself. It is a wonderful community of talented people who offer some unique and very cool items. And if you stop by my shop - http://mylittlemonkey.etsy.com/ - I will give you 10% off any purchase over $10 when you mention this blog post.

Come Join the Party!

Living a Mom's Life and My Little Monkey Boutique are partying with 5MinutesforMom at their annual Ultimate Blog Party. But the party ends tomorrow, Friday, March 14th.
Be sure to get on over to 5MinutesforMom to sign up for the chance to win a ton of cool prizes!