Christmas GIVEAWAY 2 - Let your little light shine!

Note: * Christmas Giveaway #1 - Little Eva Charlotte is closed, click HERE to see who the winner is!*

Are you ready?  I said, ARE YOU READY?

"Why are you shouting at me?!"  you ask?

Well, because it's time to announce our CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #2!

I'm sure you've been checking back daily, in anxious anticipation of what the next prize could be.  This one's a goodie.  I've been trying to find a nice way to say it's for grown ups not kids and well, this was the best I could come up with - It's for grown ups, not kids.  Since it requires the ability to either work a child lock bbq lighter (those can be slightly tricky sometimes) or a match (again tricky, I hate using matches..)

Did you guess yet?  I bet those of you who know me did.

If you didn't don't feel bad, just get with the program.  You see, if you think back to what my other, other job is, I am a PartyLite Consultant.  Which means I sell candles at home parties and online.  So it would only make sense that in these winter months, when candle light seems to add warmth to an otherwise chilly day that I would be giving away some candles that I purchased!

That's right folks,  the prize for our CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY week #2 is...

1 Box of French Vanilla Tealights and 1 Box of Ginger Pumpkin Votives

That's hours of candle burning bliss and together they are a great pair.  And the best part about this contest, THERE IS NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  That's right, you don't have to spend a time to win some wicked awesome products.  (Now if you felt like you wanted to go over to my website and place an order, I would never stop you.  Especially with the fabulous deals we have this month, and the fact that it will be shipped to your door.  But there's NO PRESSURE!) Ok, plug done. :)

Anyways, want me to stop talking and start telling you how to enter?  Sure.

Christmas Giveaway Week #2

Prize: 1 Box of French Vanilla Tealights and 1 Box Ginger Pumpkin Votives

How to Enter:  There are 3 ways to get your name into the draw

1. Leave a comment here on this post telling me your favorite room in the house to burn candles. (1 entry)

2. Blog about this comment on your own blog, linking back to this post and then come comment telling me about it (2 entries)

3. Write a Facebook Status about it (linking back here, why not share the great blog and Wonderful prizes with all your friends) and then comment and let me know you did it!  (1 entry)

4. Twitter about it.  Again twitter about this contest and then comment to let me know and you'll have another entry. (1 entry)

So if you pull out your calculator and add that up that's a total of 5 entries! To win some great candles for FREE!

Contest opens Monday December 7 2009 and Closes Sunday December 13 2009 at 12:00am!

Christmas GIVEAWAY #1 is ending today!!!!!! Don't forget!

Ok everyone!  Here's the finally reminder that our CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY #1 is coming to an end!  Don't miss out on your chance to win a great prize from Little Eva Charlotte and enter right now!!!

ENTER HERE

They've got some really awesome stuff over there

So, go enter over Here now!  The contest closes December 6 2009 at 12:00am!

Anybody for Breakfast?

I'm not a breakfast eater. I've never really been a breakfast eater. I don't feel actual hunger very often and when I do, it certainly isn't before at least 11am. Which at one time was still morning, now with two kids that's like mid to late day, depending on when we get up.

Anyways, I struggle with the consumption of food. Not only because I worry about calories etc, but because I really don't enjoy eating. I make sure I eat the rest of the day but the breakfast meal usually gets skipped for me. If I have to eat something (and Starbucks isn't an option, because everybody loves Starbucks, don't you?hint) a banana is the best I can do.

Anyways, I've always done my best to not pass on my dislike for breakfast on my children. It is the most important meal of the day (so I'm told) and I make sure they have some. If they decide when they are 16 that they don't want to consume it anymore, then that's up to them. But at 2 (3 in less than a month, ah!) and 10 months they are required by household law to eat it!

My Audrey is always up for a meal, although now she refuses baby food. Because in her Non verbal communicative way she's saying "I can do it BY MYSELF!" a phrase I'm totally getting sick of. Anyways, I don't have to worry that she'll eat, she's a good eater.

Bethany on the other hand is a different story. While we face the challenges every parent faces with trying new food, Beth has always eaten well. She loves veggies and fruit, doesn't beg for sugary treats (except a love of chocolate that her father has fostered) and will generally eat what she's given. Except at breakfast.

She hates to eat it. I mean seriously hates to eat it. I don't know if it's because she doesn't want it or if it's because she's just gotten up and wants to play after 8 hours in bed but either way, I dread mornings. It's a battle that I hate fighting and it's something I've hesitated to blog about.

We deal with tough kid moments like every other kid, there are temper tantrums, tears and screaming (and sometimes, so does her Momma), but those occasions aren't an everyday thing. I would say 89% of the time she's an excellent little girl. Good manners, sweet, loving and kind. She remembers to pray for anyone and sometimes everyone who's sick. She will remind me through out the day to think of someone else, by asking to pray for them or do something for them. Without being just a gloss over it parent, she really is a good kid.

Until it comes to eating breakfast. Every morning we approach breakfast with matched trepidation. She's afraid I'm gonna make her sit at the blasted kitchen table and I'm afraid she's going to do what she inevitably does.

She beings to WAIL, loud and whiny. Not very often does the wailing produce tears but once in awhile. She'll plead for her Daddy to come home from work, tell me she's mad at me, she doesn't like it, she has to pee, "I'm not gonna eat it", she'll shove her bowl away, she'll try to launch herself backward from the table. It's like the battle of the century. Every. Single. Day. All I want is for her to "Eat your breakfast already!"

(I don't have a picture of Bethany wailing, but this one of Audrey makes me laugh.  She was crying because I said "No Audrey. You can't eat the newspaper"  In about 30 seconds from then she was smiling again.  Kids.)

We've tried everything I can think of, I let her chose her breakfast, I don't let her chose. She helps make it, we set the table together. We've tried Cheerios, and Alphabets (because she loves the Letter B), special toast (whole wheat toast with jam) and regular toast, yogurt, oatmeal, hot cereal and eggs (she HATES eggs). Nothing works. I am at a loss. We even tried making homemade Popsicles with a yogurt smoothie so that she was getting the nutrition in a "treat" form. Two licks and the inevitable "I don't like it!" started. I know that's not true, it's all about getting her way.

See

The odd time she'll eat without complaint or will drink a part of a smoothie. But I don't know what to do to make it better. If I don't make her eat she's begging for a snack my 9am. "Not ok, you need to eat your breakfast kid!"

I fear that one day I'm going to lose my temper completely (each morning usually consists of me "changing" some laundry very aggressively to avoid the absolute wail of a scream, that only a frustrated mother can make. I refuse to be that mad at her) and dump her bowl of Cheerios on her head. "There you don't like it? Try that!"

Anybody else with breakfastly challenged children? Any words of earth shattering wisdom? Please share! I'm in a desperate state to start our usually good days of nicely!

Don't Forget!

Don't forget to enter the FREE Christmas GIVEAWAY over HERE!!!  There are new things up over at Little Eva Charlotte as of last night, better go check it out!

And stay tuned, you never know which day I'm going to announce next weeks FREE Christmas GIVEAWAY and please not, some prizes will not be kid oriented.   That's right, there's something for everyone, even the Big Kids!

Christmas GIVEAWAY #1 of 4! Little Eva Charlotte

*Update: This contest is now closed!*

And the winner is (chosen by using random.org)...

#3 - Jen said...
I think "soft as a cloud" is really cute!

E-mail me Jen ashleystone7(at)hotmail(dot)com
I will pass on your contact info to Melissa and you can choose your Free Item!!





I can't believe tomorrow is December. Can you believe tomorrow is December? Maybe you can. Maybe where you live there is snow and it feels more like December and less like October. But here in the Rainy Fraser Valley, it just plain feels like a very cold Fall. I hear that snow is coming, but I heard it from the unreliable source that is the weatherman, so... we'll see.

Anyways, in honor of December and it's pending giving season (which I have so very much to say at later date!) I have decided to host a GIVEAWAY A WEEK until CHRISTMAS!

Lemme here ya say HO! and Hey!

Ok, so I totally know that it should be HoHo HO! but seriously, how exciting is that?

And just in case you were wondering what a giveaway is (because you've lived in Fraggle Rock for the past decade and haven't had the privilege of being part of another Bloggy Giveaway), I will clarify. A blog giveaway is a contest to win something for FREE!!! That's free, no purchase necessary, absolutely free.

"Sign me up!" you shout!

"How do I enter?" you plead!

It's easy, it's simple and it's awesome. But first, let's talk about what you can win.

Our first GIVEAWAY is fantacutlar (like my new word?)! A good friend of mine has opened up her very own Etsy shop (a place to buy and sell handmade things. Little shops and businesses created by home crafters and collectors.) She's a talented seamstress, a Mommy of two (Noah is a few months younger than Bethany and Eva is only a few days younger than Audrey). and a Pastor's wife. Those are things she does, who she is, is Melissa a good friend and a really great lady to know! She and her friend have launched their site and you MUST go over and check it out!

Little Eva Charlotte

There are tons of great products over there for kids and mommies a like. I'm not going to tell you too much about what's over there, you need to go, check it out for yourself. But what I am going to do is tell you about my favorite thing!

Stroller Seat liners! We purchased a Phil and Teds double stroller a few months back (best thing EVER) and love it! Actually, we purchased it on the recommendation of Melissa and her family, because they had purchased one and it was wicked awesome! Anyways, I love it but it has one flaw. When your children fall asleep and pee their pants and it leaks through to the bottom and all over your stuff have an accident it's very difficult to clean, because the cover doesn't come off. We have had soapy rags out there and have resorted to putting receiving blankets under the girls to preserve our very precious stroller. These liners are great for all kinds of strollers as you'll see in the photos over at the shop. I am even contemplating trying mine in our carseats for long driving trips.

Until now, that is. With these new seat liners we can put them in, plunk the girls on top and go without a care. Somebody pees? We throw it in the washer. Somebody spits up? Washer again. Somebody dumps smarties and doesn't mention it to Mommy and sits on them for the duration of 2 hours? Any guesses? That's right, we can throw the liner in the wash, stroller looks good and everything is clean! Yay! I'm super excited to buy our liners.

"Great!" You're thinking. "I've already checked it out, I think it's snazzy, but what about the GIVEAWAY?" You ask. "How do I get something for FREE?! And What can I win?"

Melissa is donating the prize (everybody say "Thank You!"), if you win the GIVEAWAY you will be able to go over to Little Eva Charlotte and chose one item (Whichever your heart desires) for FREE!

THE PRIZE: Any 1 Item of your choice from Little Eva Charlotte!

Ready to enter?

It's easy. All you have to do is this:

1. Go over to Little Eva Charlotte. Look at all the products, then come back here and comment, telling me what your favorite one is! (Entry 1)

2. Not enough? Want more chances to win? Blog about it, link back to this blog. And then comment leaving me a link (Entry 2)

3. Want more still? Go over to Facebook and become a fan of Little Eva Charlotte on Facebook, and then come back and comment on it! (Entry 3)

Pretty simple. Now while you are doing all those things and checking out the shop more than once, drooling over the fabulous items notice what it says in their introduction.

**We are currently offering FREE SHIPPING on all our products for a limited time, so please take advantage of this shop opening promotion!**

Take advantage of the free coming at your from every which way and place an order right away!

This contest closes December 6 2009 at 12:00am The winner will be chosen at random and announced Monday December 7 2009 on this blog!

So don't wait, look, comment, blog, Facebook, WIN

A special thanks to Melissa and Little Eva Charlotte for donating this awesome prize!

Disclosure: This blog and writer are not receiving any financial compensation for the above noted contest. All prizes have been donated by the craft creator and reviews written from personal opinion and experience.

To my dear Buddy!

I received a phone call today that I have waited years to get.  While enjoying lunch in The Old Spaghetti Factory with Bethany, Audrey and my Mom, a very dear, friend of mine called.  She wanted my mailing address for our Christmas card, and Oh, by the way, "I'm pregnant" 

What?!!!!!!

I have to laugh, because in her true fashion (she hasn't given the ok for me to announce this fact on here, so for now she will remain annoymous, being referred to only as "buddy".  Then when I get the ok, you will be able to find me atop Hope Mountain shouting from the top of my lungs "_____is pregnant!  Whoot!!") she announced her coming baby as if she were saying, "Oh by the way, I bought that awesome leather jacket last weekend."

And I'm sure, her knowing me as only she does, she knew I'd be excited for her.  But I'm not sure she was prepared for me to choke on my bread when she told me.  It wasn't heimlich maneuver worthy, but it was embarassing enough.

We pretended to be Mommies when we were young, we talked of being parents as we grew up and she has watched me grow and change into the world of mommydome over the past years.  And while our journeys have been indivdual and perfect for our respective lives I have anxiously awaited the day that she joined me in yet another phase of our lives.

As tears filled my eyes and I heard tales of how rotten she is feeling (I know it Buddy, I know it!) and how she wound up sick with something else right in the middle of her first trimester, my mind filled with the millions of things I wanted to say to her.  The hundreds of emotions that coursed through me and the words that due to the fact that I was struck dumb (NO Comment!), in the middle of a restauarant, and trying to keep my children from throwing food on the floor or choking on their napkins, did not come out.  Her number is changing this weekend, so I have to wait to talk to her more till next week but my soul longs to share things with her, and so, for now, I can only hope she'll log onto her computer and read this, because Buddy, this is for you...

I can't believe you are pregnant!  It feels almost more surreal to me than my own pregnancies did.  I can't believe after all these years, all your pining, all our dreaming you are going to be a Mommy!  And a darn good one too!  I have no doubt that you will be to this sweet baby, perfect.  You will be her (or his, but I'm used to her for now) best friend, her worst enemy and shelter from the storm.  

You're in the stage that for most women is the hardest, you feel like you're going to barf most days.  The smell of your husband's morning breath is probably enough to make you think of separate beds (just wait until you're almost ready to pop, I promise there will be moments that all you can think of is SPACE!).  Every commercial you see brings tears to your eyes and you will gravitate to the baby department of every store.  Some moments you laugh yourself silly and then the next you are ready to scream at the guy in front of you at Tim Horton's "CHOSE Your donut already, I'm pregnant here, I haven't eaten in like 15 minutes and I'm hungry!  If I don't eat now I'm not going to want to and it will be ALL YOUR FAULT!"  You're probably feeling bloated, not really looking pregnant but not really feeling like your old self, don't worry, you'll pop soon enough, and when you do, you'll have the sweetest baby bump!

In a few months you're going to need maternity clothes, call me!  I want to go shopping with you, come visit for the weekend, we'll make a girls weekend out of it, and make you feel as special as you are.

The time is going to go slow.  Sorry.  I know you don't want to hear that, but it does, 10 months is a long time but when you look back it'll seem fast.  You'll talk names, you'll make a list, you'll love some, you'll hate some and in the end you'll pick the perfect one.  Just take my advice, before you share that special name with anyone think it over, once it's out there, before the baby is here, it can get spoiled by someone's unwanted opinion or story, "Oh!  You want to name your daughter Ellie, we'll I knew this girl she had a cow named Ellie when we were in school....." Thanks.

You will have times when you are absolutely amazed with what is happening to you, your body and your family.  You'll see your first ultrasound and a whole new emotion starts to warm your insides.   It'll spread from the center out and will only increase with time.  You will have times when it frustrates you, not that you don't love it but sometimes, it's down right frustrating that you can't see your feet, or that when you bend over to attempt tying your shoe for the fourth time you have to concentrate really hard on not letting 'er rip, (ahem).  

Bethany 2 days old, in Papa's hands

The doctors will give you information and books, you'll read online, you'll get advice from your family, your friends and strangers.  Oh don't get me started on strangers, they will want to touch you, rub your belly, ask how you are feeling, tell you their stories.  Listen when you have to, call me if you need a bodyguard and whenever possible cut people off before they get to their "birth story".  Everyone has one, they are all magical, but sometimes, people lack tact and it just comes out wrong.  The information will abound leaving you feeling confident and confused, much like you'll feel sometimes as a parent.

Then you have to give birth.  No, you get to give birth!  You know that for me, and my body pregnancy wasn't so good, that's not the case with many women, but I will tell you the best part of having a baby is the end!  Yes it hurts, but you can tell yourself, whether you have drugs or not, "This will not last 9 months! In a matter of minutes, hours, I will be holding my precious son/daughter and this world will change forever."   I vote drugs, but didn't get them the second time and you know what, I was ok!  Let your body do it's job, the rest, drugs, positions and labour coaches (That's right Buddy's husband, you get to be a coach!  Take off your wedding ring, I promise it makes your hand hurt less when she squeezes the snot out of it) are all the coping tools, God has created your body especially for this awesome job.

Bethy's ride home from the hospital

Once she's here my friend (or he) nothing will ever be the same.  You will want to cry, maybe you will right away, maybe you won't but I promise you, there will come a moment (and sometimes it takes a little while, don't be surprised if it does) that you all of a sudden are overwhelmed with love.  I can't explain to you how that love feels, but trust me when I say, that the way you love your parents is nothing, NOTHING in comparrison to the way you love your child.  And the feeling of that child loving you back, is more than anything you've ever felt you deserved.

You're going to have tough times.  Not just at the beginning when everything is new and you and BH (buddy's husband) are trying to figure out life and a routine for you, but after that.  You'll wonder if you've made the right choice, asked enough questions or done enough.  Trust your gut.  I cannot ever stress enough God has given you the heart for your child and He has given you the ability to "know" what to do.   If something feels wrong, really wrong it is.  It might take time to figure out but you will.  If something feels right, then it is, know that you and BH are the only ones who know what is truly right for you and your new family.

Audrey's ride home from the hospital

We're all going to have words of wisdom for you.  Some of it useful and some of it worth filing under G for garbage.  Take what you need and discard the rest and if some give too much advice (like yours truly) tell them (me) to shut up.  They (I) won't be offended for long :-).  

Sometimes, you're going to do something or say something as your sweet one grows up and think "Oh my gosh!  I am so my mother!  What happened?!  How did that come out of my mouth!!! "  You'll say things you never thought you'd say and do things you swore you wouldn't do.  Because, quite simply, you turned out pretty good so your Mom must've done something right.

Bethy's first time holding Audrey

Other times, you're going to pick up the phone and call that Mom, (a woman who has done a wonderful job raising you Buddy.  A woman whom I love very much and next to my own mother has always, always made me feel loved.  And I know has made you feel the same, and 10 fold because um hello, she did the work to get you here, you're her precious gift.) and plead "Mom, help I don't know what to do!  BB (Buddy's baby) .....crying uncontrollably and I don't know what she/he needs...is having the temper tantrum of her life and I can't deal with it (it'll happen, they all have tempers, but trust me when I say.  Ride it out, who they really are amisdt the difficult emotions and reactions is waaay better than the attitude you're facing in that moment)....has a broken heart and I don't know how to mend it"  Your Mom will listen, she'll pray for you and with you and then she'll share her stories.  And then, she'll say, "Buddy.  You can do this!  I know you can!  You are a great Mom!"

Oh, my dear friend!  My heart is so full of joy for you and BH.  All the things you've done in this life until now, your accomplishments and accolades, your triumphs and failures, your good days and your bad ones will pale in comparrison to what's to come.  You will love like you didn't know you could, you will have moments of fear because now, that child is yours to take care of and protect, you will hand that baby back to God because He's the one who gave you that baby and He is the only one who can take care of him (I leave my children in the hands of my Father on a daily, hourly, minutely basis and it's the hardest thing I have to do.  Because while I want to control it all, I have to trust with all my might.)  You will feel a peace that is unsurpassable because God is in control. 

I have had many jobs, I have done many things but nothing I have done, no one I have been is anything when I think about who and what I am as a mother.  Somedays I feel like I'm super Mom (when I work all day, done 2 loads of laundry, make dinner AND do the dishes...I triumph) and somedays I feel like a super flop (when Kraft Dinner's what's on the menu, we're down to the last pair of big girl panties, and I just had a melt down along side both of my children.  Who now have tandum tantrums, on rare occasion).  Then I tuck the girls into bed and Bethy says "love you Mommy" as her little eyes flutter shut and her tiny hand brushes my cheek.  Audrey smiles and sighs when I snuggle her in a little closer and I know, that I am that feeling for her.  Just like you will be for your little one.  You know the feeling, being wrapped in your Mother's arms, safe in her embrace - peace, contentment, safety and love, in one small gesture. 

*Hug my buddy!  Great, freakin' big HUG!*

So, everybody, please join me in wishing Buddy and BH CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Wahoo and yeehaw!  I can't wait to shop with you, cry with you, laugh with you and hold BB.  You will be a wonderful Mom, he'll be a great Dad and together you'll become the family God's made you to be!

Christmas Trees

This is the first year that decorating for Christmas has been a truly exciting event for me.  All the years I have lived away from home I have put up a Christmas tree out of obligation.  I have played Christmas tunes that leave me feeling relaxed, festive and blissful and baked up a slurry of treats that I can not eat but love to watch others enjoy.  But the actual decorating for the season felt tedious.  Why take all that time to put out all those lights, garland and a tree that even though artificial still leaves dropping all over my carpet, who's gonna notice anyways?

The last 2 years I've had Bethy who would notice, but I spent the majority of the season telling her to "Don't touch the tree!"  It kind of killed whatever was left of the enjoyment for me. 

But this year, well this year is a totally different story!  Bethany is all over Christmas.  Everywhere we go she happily points out Santa - Santa Claus if you ask her his full name.  She talks to the light reindeer that move and squeals at the sight of Christmas lights in the mall.  She's a little confused as to why crazy people put lights on the outside of their houses, but still finds them mesmorizing.  She'll tell anyone and everyone she sees that Christmas is Jesus birthday and we are going to have a party for Him!  (If you asks where he lives, she will always point to her chest and say, "In my heart") And her favorite part?  Well, it's when we go somewhere that has a Christmas tree.  She stares with this serene look on her face, a look that has made me anxious for the day we pulled out our decorations.

That day was yesterday, after spending hours in the car searching for a new truck for Corey, because the dough-head that was going to sell us his truck decided to sell it to someone else while we were at church (I know God's planning but still, I'm gonna call him a dough head), we told the girls we'd come home and make Christmas.

I've never had more fun stringing lights, hanging decorations or telling the stories of the ornaments as we pulled each one from the box.  Audrey helped hang an ornament or two but subsequently wound up wailing because Daddy made her leave it on the tree.  She was much better suited playing with the empty boxes and watching the pretty lights.  But Bethany, she dug in with both hands.

She carefully hung each ornament on the tree, telling me about it's perfect spot or about the one from her "real first Christmas".  It was wonderful, and well worth it.  Then, while she was having her dinner I snuck into her room and decorated my old little Christmas tree, complete with non breakable ornaments and pretty lights.  When she walked it, I could have cried.  She was so excited!  Jumping up and down and telling her Daddy about her "really own Christmas tree!". 

Then, she helped string some lights in Audrey's room so she too would have her own Christmas. 

She pleaded to keep her tree lights on while she fell asleep and they were her first request when she was allowed up at 7am.  She's spent the morning running from room to room, checking on the lights and showing off her tree to her Gram.

Christmas is around the corner, and while the shopping is fun, and the music is awesome.  Christmas through the eyes of my children is the reason this season, it's awesome purpose aside (you know the whole birth of Christ, salvation of the world part) holds magic beyond measure!

Ps.  We took these and can't decide which one we like best, leave a comment and vote.  You can vote for your favorite photo or vote that we try again!

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Kid Kadoodle Krafts - Foil Christmas Card!

Here's the first of a few Christmas crafts up over at Kid Kadoodle Krafts.  Go over and check out our Foil Christmas Card Craft, and then come on back and tell us what you think!