Santa's elf at work...

The holidays are fast approaching.... shh... don't tell me how many days! I don't want to know! :)LaLaLaLa... picture me covering my ears!:) I know the time will go way too fast!! I have already started collecting the few store bought things that Santa will be bringing and am starting to get to work on a few handmade presents from Daddy and I too....

And then, just now, I happened on to a blog giveaway on my dear friend Robin's site that would put Santa's elf a bit ahead of the game ! They are the cutest little things and you really should see them! :) After having real little hermit crabs, I guarantee these will live longer! lol



Go check out this adorable give-a-way now!

And the winner is...

Brianna!!!

If you can send me your mailing address I will get your Nutella goodies out to you this week!!

Sorry this post is a day late!! I've been working like mad for a craft show coming up and two birthdays this weekend!! Yikes! Pictures to follow soo... as soon as I get it all done! :)

Breakfast bliss~ Nutella review/giveaway!

A few weeks ago, I entered to host a Nutella party via MommyParties. You never know if you're gonna get picked for these kind of things so I was super excited to get the email confirming my party and then I was over the moon when just two days later I had a big box of  goodies delivered to my door!!!

The timing couldn't have been better! Before long, I had a house full of family and friends visiting from all directions! Everyone was so excited to try Nutella. It's funny, we'd all heard of it but never really had it! Boy were we in for a treat! Our box of goodies included coffee mugs, samples, a knife/spreader and recipes!! We tried them all but our favorite was eating it spread on a tortilla and slicing strawberries! Yum!! And if you really want to win Mom of the Year? Spread some Nutella on a slice of whole grain toast and place banana slices on top... definately an award winning breakfast... my kids are still talking about it! lol

Not just going to take my word for it? Let the facts speak for themselves!!

~Nutella does not contain any hydrogenated oil or trans fat.

                                     ~It is low in sodium compared to other popular nut butters.

               ~Contains no artificial colors or preservatives.

                                      ~Does not contain peanuts or peanut ingredients, nor does the product come in contact with peanuts during manufacturing

 

 

Can't wait to see if you win? Then start saving your proofs of purchase and get your own Nutella products!

Win it!!

Even with a house full of guests, I ended up having one set of giveaway items left over! SO.... I thought I would offer it up to one of you!! I love to tell people about my favorite things and Nutella is definately one of my new favorite things!! The drawing will remain open for the next week and I'll randomly draw a name and announce it on April 8th!

Mandatory Entry- You must be a public follower (I will check) of this blog and then tell me if you've ever had Nutella and if you have then what's your favorite way of serving it? :) I'd love to try it in a new way!

Extra Entries

1. Go to my other blog Books2BridgeMiles and become a public follower

2. Become a fan of my fan page (for my handmade toys) on Facebook

3. Blog about it and come back and share the link!

disclosure:  I was provided with samples for the purpose of this review.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.  All nutritional information was provided by the sponsors.   All opinions expressed in this post are my own. 

A cute collection for better eating!

Last night I happened onto this blog and fell in love with all their ideas! The one that hasn't left my mind all day tho, I'm afraid is going to be to blame for my newest obsession!!! Have you ever heard of Bento? I know I hadn't but boy am I enjoying learning about it! Little containers, and nifty kitchen gadgets geared to making lunch fun... sounds like a definite hit in my house! So I quickly went looking for stores so I could get my hands on those little egg molds! And then, as if that wasn't enough, another fellow blogger wrote this!!! I think it was a sign don't you? :)



In an effort to get entered in a giveaway over at Bentobloggy, I went and checked out the store that they linked to.... boy oh boy am I in trouble!!! :) I now have an order of goodies that I just can't wait to get my hands on! Not only was the selection AMAZING but the shipping wasn't bad either! So, go check out the give away and just try to resist all the cuteness!! :) I bet you'll be in just as much trouble as I am !!!

The week got away from me!

Ooops! We 've been having so much fun here visiting family that I forgot about announcing the give-a-way winner! :) Sorry about that!  I was thrilled to see all the entries and enjoyed reading all the ideas for next months' books! I have one in particular on order and am already plotting out the crafts to go with it! You'll have to be sure to check back and see which one I picked!

Now, I know you are all just waiting to hear who won...

And the winner is...Little Miss Sunshine!! Please contact me at wpooh_9 at hotmail dot com so I know where to send your kit! :)

Thanks to everyone who entered and all the people that I know are spreading the word about our new blog . I know that we are really enjoying the books we've been reading and the craft ideas we've been sharing with all of you! I have os many fun ideas planned for in December and I may even have another give-a-way or two! So be sure to check back...now go read a book to your kids and get crafty! :)

American girl

For as long as I can remember, I have loved learning about history....in books, in movies and eventually with toys too like those from American Girl. I can remember getting my Kirsten doll and the magic that came from having a "friend" to go with adventures on. Oh sure, it's another doll and I know I had plenty, but this doll was different....she was a child like me, not a baby, and the books that told her story struck a cord with me.



I so look forward to the day that I can pass this doll on to my girls, although I don't know how I will ever expect them to share this one doll! Just moments ago I discovered a blog that might make it possible for me to give them each a doll!! MomsBestBet is offering up a Felicity doll to one lucky reader!! How amazing would that be to win!? Not only could we learn about fronteir life with Kirsten but we could learn about colonial life with Felicity!  And oh the clothes and things we could make for them! lol I have been plotting already how we would use American Girl to learn about history and even lucked onto some curriculum to go with it! Now it's just a matter of waiting for the girls to be ready for it!

So, as much as I would like to keep this giveaway secret and win it for myself...I feel compelled to share it with all of you (plus I get extra entries for doing so! lol)...so go enter! Even if you don't want it for yourself...there has got to be a little girl in your life you could give this treasured doll to...or you could just send it our way! lol :) Just kidding....kind of ! :)

Books2BridgeMiles give-a-way!

I am so excited to be announcning a new blog called  Books2bridgemiles.....

"In the wee small hours of the morning....two moms were chatting from almost 2000 miles apart. They were seperated by two times zones, 30+ driving hours, a very large mountain range and more rivers than you want to count...but connected by good friendship and four little girls who adore each other.... "

One of my very best friends, Jackie and I are starting this blog as a way of staying connected, both for us as adults and for our girls who miss each other terribly! So, in the spirit of the book "A Year of Mornings" , we are going to have a book club of sorts...via our blog! Each week, we will post a book for everyone following us to read with their kids and then at the end of the week, we'll post about what we did and have a linky for our followers to do the same! What a great way to get ideas, don't you think?

So, to really kick off our first week of blogging, I am offering a give-a-way!


 

This kit contains everything you will need to make a winter hat! NO sewing required!

There are lots of ways to enter...this give-a-way will be open until Sunday November14th and I'll announce the winner on Monday morning!

Mandatory entry- Go over to Books2bridgemiles and tell me one of the books we'll be reading in November!

Extra Entries

1. Become (or tell me you already are)  a fan of Our Broken Road (1 entry)

2. Become (or tell me you already are) a fan of Books2BridgeMiles (1 entry)

3. Blog about this giveway and come back and leave me a link! (2 entries)

4. Add a linky at Books2BridgeMiles (5 entries)

5. Tell me what book you'd like to see us do for December! (1 entry)

Gone batty

Go here to check out the giveaway! Wouldn't he be just perfect for our fairy house? :) I think Elder needs a friend don't you? Oh how we love our wooden critters so!

A new friend stopped by...

A while back I entered a give-a-way on facebook for a doll from KD Doll Shop

I enter giveaways all the time, on a daily basic really, and while I have been EXTREMELY fortunate on the things we have won (I have so many posts to still write about them!) I usually enter them and forget about them figuring I don't stand a chance! Well, this particular give-a-way was one of those times, I didn't think I stood a chance so I was SOOO thrilled to get an email stating that I'd won and that I had the pick of her shop!!!

Having made dolls similar to these, I know the time and love that goes into them and how hard it is to part with one even if it's for sale, let alone GIVING it away! I can't imagine! But I can tell you how amazing it was to win one! PURE JOY!! I fell in love with "Heidi" at first site and quickly made my pick...then it sunk in that my girls were going to have issues...oh my...who to give this doll too? DH and I talked about it and he insisted that the doll is MINE! What? I get a doll? lol At first I thought he was crazy! Pure crazy! But then, I was having a crappy day (nothing major just life getting in the way of a long needed break I had planned) and I escaped into town for a bit of quiet time to myself...only to find "Heidi" waiting for me in the mail. I have to admit, I felt a bit child-like as I opened the box and carefully pulled her out...The pictures don't do these dolls justice! She is so beautiful and so soft and perfect...my entire mood changed due to this little doll and I knew that DH was right to call her mine!



As it turned out, this special little doll would become even more special in the next few days. While she resides in my room most of the time, gathered with a bunch of new friends from my childhood, she gets to go on special day trips into the girls' rooms when they have done something extra nice for someone else! One day, R wasn't feeling good, and J ended up voluntarily waiting on her hand and foot...it really was so sweet to see her be so caring and nurturing...so that night I asked if she would like to sleep with Heidi. She was so excited and quickly welcomed her into the warm covers...until a few minutes later when she came out very concerned that she would lose her hat in bed or what if J slept upside down (as she usually does) and messed Heidi's hair?....she was so concerned because she knew how special Heidi is! So, a bed for Heidi was made on the floor next to her bed and she was fed breakfast the next morning and put back into my room without even being reminded...

I know it sound crazy for me to keep this doll all for myself, but I must admit I do love knowing she is mine and I find that sometimes I just go in and pick her up to hold her. She just looks like such a sweet friend to have and I love that the girls think she is so special.


So, if you are looking to purchase a doll for a special little girl in your life, please consider skipping that plastic doll requiring batteries (for noises you will dread before the toy is even brought home)... and consider purchasing a Waldorf doll....

These dolls are made with love in every stitch (not lead or other toxic chemicals) here in the good ol' US of A (not CHINA!).....these dolls are carefully made of love and natural materials and give the opportunity for a child to receive the gift of imagination and joy from a simple doll....

And to KD Dolls....a heartfelt THANK YOU!!

And the winner is...

Sorry for the late posting! My weekend got away from me!

I'll pop this in the mail to you later this week!! Hope your weekend was a great one!

Back to our regularly scheduled broadcast...

yep...we are definately settling into our new surroundings. We have found our local library (and LOVE IT!), made many a visit to the quilt shop in town (now if only I had time to sew the fabric that is piling up!lol) and we found our local thrift store...those are the true signs that we are getting comfortable and braving the new area we call our stomping ground! lol

While I still miss our old haunts...the Goodwill just off the freeway, the spouses thriftshop on base and the antique store downtown....we are finding new favorite places...the kind of places that make a place feel like home....

We have made a number of visits to this particular thriftstore and have found treasures everytime but for some reason I felt compelled to share our finds with you this time... Keep in mind, my total came to a mere $7 and change!! Gotta love that kind of bargain!

A new fairy story, Lands End shoes for J, yarn that I had just been looking for at the store but they were out of! and the cutest little camel...bought for pattern making but got quickly whisked away to the fairy house!

Readers for J that were obviously from a library...if these were in the thrift store, just what are kids reading these days? I'll take a vintage book over the junk they make now anyday! :)

More books...cause you know we need them! lol NOT!

Clothes pins and ribbon for a project I have planned (having them already painted will save me time! woo hoo!) and these BEAUTIFUL potholders!! There was a huge stack of them and they are simply wonderful!!! The ones on the left are for me (and I use them daily) and another set I gave to a friend...which leaves the third set for one of you!!

Mandatory entry- Just leave a comment telling me your favorite second hand find and what you'll be baking to go along with these potholders!! Easy right?

Want extra chances? Become a follower (or remind me already are) and let me know (+1)

Blog about it and let me know (+1)

These pot holders are new... when I saw the pile sitting there it made me sad...I could just picture some little old lady making these, perhaps making a ton of them and having them pile up in her closet or something and upon her passing, her ungreatful children just dumping them at a dumpster for the thift store...so I bought three sets (wishing I'd bought more now)...later I found out that some ladies from the senior center donated them which made me feel so much better that some ol' granny hadn't been unappreciated but I still bought them just the same! lol They are so thick and work wonderful! I hope you'll enter to win a set too!!

I'll throw all the entries in a hat (literally) and draw a name out on Saturday, Oct 9th (my little bros birthday!).

Oh, and if you look closely in the last picture, you'll see a sneak peak of a little guy I've been working on for a swap with Bits of Goodness! Lots of creative juices flowing and ideas for Christmas coming...couldnt' we have a few more hours in the day? :)