Mamatography Week 17

May 2, 2013 By Amy Leave a Comment

Just eating my snack in mommy and daddy’s bed. You caught me.

Taking pictures of my baby carriers that I’m no longer using. For sale. . . *sniff*

. . . I remember lovingly and carefully crafting this carrier while I was still pregnant with Joe.

Impromptu Family Photo at the park!

. . . and the Silly Pic

The Silly Bears, ready to help, heading to the Home Depot to exchange some drawer pulls. Joe is really into flashlights lately.

Joe’s finished “trash to treasure” sports themed dresser! I painted the dresser and hand painted the new knobs to be sports balls. I say “It’s not perfect” but Joe says “I like it mommy!”

Filed Under: 2013, Abbey, children, creating for the family, family, hubs, Joseph, mamatography, outdoors, Parenting, photography, preschooler, toddler, two children

Mamatography Week 13 – Month of the Military Child (and projects galore!)

April 5, 2013 By Amy 2 Comments

My week started out with a determination to start AND finish a chair re-uppholstery/refinishing project for our four dining room chairs. As you can see, I bought these really nice (but used and scratched/nicked) chairs. I paid $40 for all of them, and set out to make them my own!

Joseph was eager to help! Very hands on, this child!

Watch out, screws! Joe is going to get you!!!!! LOL

We had a couple days of sibling rivalry over the new Tag Reader books. You know you have a preschooler and a toddler when:

you are constantly taping the pages of tag reader books back together.

But they sure do LOVE one another. They love to dance together – Abbey says “Joseph would you like to be the Prince, and we’ll dance!” So cute.

This week I also made my own kolaches. So delicious!

Some more dancing cuteness from the Silly Bears. . .

And whoo hoo! The finished chair re-appholstery/refinishing project!

I love the way they came out. What do you think?

On Friday morning, Abbey’s class had a parade on the Shipyard to celebrate the Month of the Military Child. We picked up daddy for a special break from work to watch Abbey march in her parade.

What are our favorite colors, Rainbow Friends?

“Red, White, and Blue! RED, WHITE, and BLUE!”

That was OUR week. How was YOURS?

This post is part of the Mamatography 2013 Project with Diary of a First Child and Momma Jorje.

We are taking (at least) a photo a day to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!

Filed Under: 2013, Abbey, children, creating for the family, family, hubs, Joseph, mamatography, Parenting, photography, Photography Projects, preschooler, sewing projects, toddler, two children, USCG Life

Homemade Kolaches – Simple and delicious!

April 2, 2013 By Amy 2 Comments

As a Texan transplanted into New England, I get annoyed about several cultural differences. The cult worship of Tom Brady, the awful city driving layout of Boston, and the absence of any even remotely decent mexican food (or, really, ethnic food in general).

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But not until recently did I realize that no one up here knows what a kolache is.

Yummy, soft, fluffy bread covering breakfast foods varying from veggies to eggs and bacon, to cream cheese and fruit? Yes, please! Oh, how this homesick Texas girl has been missing kolaches. . . and to find out that my friends didn’t know what a kolache was!? Oh, no. That had to be rectified.

I had been wanting to have kolaches for breakfast for some time now, and after exhausting myself searching for a bakery or coffee shop that even knew what a kolache was (much less had them for sale) . . . I decided I would make them myself. They wouldn’t be Kolache Factory good, but they’d at least be kolaches.

On Easter Sunday this year, I made them for lunch. We shared them with our friends at the park (who had never ever had a kolache before) and they were so delicious. Making them was easier than I thought it would be, and it was a great joyful moment for me to see my friends enjoy a kolache for the first time.

My homemade bacon, egg, and cheese kolaches

The recipe and tutorial I used for making my own kolaches is this one from Homesick Texan. The kolaches came out so perfect – hard enough on the outside to carry in your hand for a portable breakfast on the run, and soft but well baked in the center, with just enough warmth in the filling. YUM!

I found it incredibly interesting and honestly, a great relief, that someone else shared my “you don’t know what a kolache is!?” grief as a transplant in New England. The author of Homesick Texan is from hill country Texas that lives in New York.

Apparently, ya’ll, kolaches are a Texan thing. Who knew?

Making Kolaches

- I suggest making the dough and preparing your fillings the day before, and baking them in the morning if you want your kolaches to be ready for breakfast. Working with cold fillings (bacon, eggs, cheese, cream cheese, jam, fruit, etc) is so much easier than working with warm fillings. It’s easier to fold them into the dough and they bake to a perfect warmth in the 375′ oven.

-These kolaches can be baked and then FROZEN and reheated in the oven or toaster oven for 5-10 minutes. What a great idea for getting a filling and balanced breakfast on the run, when paired with some milk or juice and a piece of fresh fruit! (and since they’re home made, you can make them preservative free, or organic, or vegetarian, or whatever your food choice is!)

The Recipe:

Kolaches (adapted from recipes found in Texas Monthly and the HoustonChronicle)

(I made my own adjustments in the method section, specifically between steps 7 & 9)

Makes 18-20 4 inch kolaches
Ingredients:
1 package of active dry yeast
1 cup of warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup of melted butter
1 teaspoon of salt

Method:

In a large bowl, combine yeast, warm milk, sugar and one cup of flour. Cover and let it rise until doubled in size.
Beat together eggs, 1/2 cup of melted butter (reserve 1/4 cup for brushing on the pastry) and salt.
Add egg mixture to yeast mixture and blend.
Stir in about two more cups of flour, 1/2 cup at a time. The dough should be soft and moist.
Knead dough for about 10 minutes on floured surface. You will be adding about a 1/2 cup of flour during the kneading process.
Put dough in a greased bowl and let rise covered until doubled in size—about an hour.
After dough has risen, punch it down and pull off egg-sized pieces. In your hands, roll pieces into balls and then flatten to about three inches in diameter.
Flatten/stretch the three inch pieces with your fingers so that the edges are thinner than the middle, and place your chosen fillings in the center of your circle. Fold up the edges of the dough over the fillings, making sure to press slightly to stick the roll together. You can pick up the dough ball after folding in the fillings and roll it gently in your hands like a dinner roll.
Place filled pieces on a greased cookie sheet, brush with melted butter, cover and let rise again for another half-hour.
Bake in oven at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Brush with melted butter when you take them out of the oven and serve warm.

You may also prefer the “thumb press” method for sweet kolaches. These are cream cheese and strawberry preserves.

Filed Under: 2013, adaptability, baking, cooking, creating for the family, Maine, USCG Life

The even BIGGER move: Our next PCS

March 15, 2013 By Amy 3 Comments

Many of you who are family, friends with me in real life, or volunteer with me at Natural Parents Network already know about this announcement. . . but in February, we found out that the Coast Guard is transferring us this summer to:

KODIAK, AK is going to be a major adventure! It’s an island, so we are going to be semi-isolated, and it’s disconnected from the lower 48 states, so we are considered to be transferring OCONUS (outside the continental United States). This has caused us a bit of headache in the past couple weeks, with forms that needed filling out and a frustrating bureaucracy to tangle with at the Navy clinic to get it done.

But, it’s done now. (Whew!) All the paperwork is done, and I’m very relieved. Our housing application is in as well, and even Abbey’s end-of-contract for her preschool has been submitted. We’re going through our things and taking inventory of what we use and don’t use, and what we need and don’t need anymore. It’s exciting, and it’s nerve-wracking. When I met with my husband’s command to resign as the Command Ombudsman in preparation for our move, they asked me how I felt about moving to Kodiak.

“It will be an adventure” I said. “I’m anxious and excited, and have a lot to do and think about.”

Lifestyle Changes for this PCS

We’ll definitely have to get ready for more of this:

and this:

but we will also enjoy more of this:

and this:

. . .because Daddy will no longer be attached to a boat, so there will be far less deployment and absence at our assignment to Kodiak. Yay!

Preparations

We have already started going through and consolidating and donating and selling things that we are no longer using or won’t have the room pr the use for in Kodiak. We’ve gotten our ferry tickets for the Alaska Marine Highway, we’ve planned our trip across the US as well as we can, and hashed out a preliminary time table.

I’m getting ready to repaint our walls back to MilSpec White. . . I figure if I start doing it now in small pieces that it will be less stressful than trying to repaint all our walls between the time that the movers come to get our things and the day that we have our final walkthrough with Navy Housing. Especially with the kiddos to keep calm and steady. I don’t want to have to worry about painting AND cleaning AND parenting at the end.

I’m also replacing pieces of furniture that really needed replacing – like our two dining room chairs that go at the heads of the table. They were falling apart. And in the process, I’ve gotten the bug for reupholstering some of our thrift store pieces and the chairs I got (they’re all sturdy pieces, just need some love and a design upgrade). We’ll see how that goes. LOL!

I need to finish all of my diapers in process right now, and get them posted in a stocking for my Silly Bear Handmade Shop soon. . . so that I can take a break during our move through the summer. I also need to go through my fabric stash, because not all of it can come with me! I’m trying to sell my Cricut expression because I don’t use it anymore (if you’re local, make me an offer!) . . . and I’ve talked to Abbey about some of her things that she would be willing to give up so that we can buy her new things when we get to Kodiak (possibly smaller things, depending on the size of the rooms in our new house).

Exciting and Stressful

This move is exciting because Daddy will be going home to Alaska (he was raised in Anchorage) and we get to see a new place that I hear is beautiful! We also get the privilege of living in one of the nicest Coast Guard MWR areas in the branch of service, so that’s exciting! This is an even BIGGER move than our previous one from Texas to Maine was, though, and I just hope and pray that our transition is smoother than it was coming to New England.

Right now, I’m just counting down the days till the Hubs is back from his trip with the TAHOMA crew to fetch the boat back from dry dock (maintenance) and looking forward to having his help in getting all the final preparations in place for our EVEN BIGGER military move. . .

. . . after we get through a very busy month of April.

But more about that later.

We’re excited about our move to Kodiak, AK. But nervous, too. I have found that change is transformative and that in my experience as a military wife, it definitely helps build character – for better or for worse! I’m excited about this opportunity, and I just can’t wait to really get started with the move.

It’s the build up that kills me.

Filed Under: 2013, Abbey, adaptability, children, creating for the family, family, hubs, Joseph, Self Awareness, travel, USCG Life

Sewing Leotards. . . a new challenge!

February 12, 2013 By Amy Leave a Comment

Ah, today I ran into Dana’s Tutorial at MADE for sewing your own leotards. Oh my goodness, so PERFECT for my fear of doing so. She made it totally easy to understand. I’m definitely going to have to try this for Abs to make her some beautiful mama-made leos for the dance class she wants to take this spring and for Gymnastics, once we get settled after our move to . . . .

Yep, we found out where our next PCS (Permanent Change of Station) is taking us.

If you are a friend on facebook, you already know, but I’ll be writing about it soon here on the blog.

It’s exciting.

Stay tuned! And try your hand at making leos for your little one and let me know how it goes!

Filed Under: 2013, Abbey, creating for the family, Sewing, sewing projects, USCG Life

Mamatography Week 5

February 7, 2013 By Amy 2 Comments

Lively Garden and SS WM

I have been sewing like mad this week. These fun and vibrant fleece pocket diapers (with snap down rise to make them one-size, fitting NB to Toddler!) have been, like, my life recently. I’m either cutting, sewing, or embroidering them this week. I’m stocking my Silly Bear Handmade shop with fleece pocket diapers and Hybrid Fitteds this Friday!

Shark Diaper WM

For the first 24 hours after I stock the shop, ALL diapers are $10 (Yep! you heard me right! $10). . . so, head on over on Friday and grab a diaper for more than 50% off!!!! You won’t regret it!

Joe at Desk WM

Joseph has been very focused lately, furthering his fine motor skills.

Sewing WM

And like I said, I’ve been sewing like a madwoman this week. But I haven’t JUST been sewing diapers. . .

Snow White Sewing WM

Abbey requested a Snow White dress for her dress up collection, and her wish became a reality this week!

Multitasking WM

I snapped this pic of me multitasking in order to finish her dress before I picked her up from preschool.

Snow White Dress WM

She was super pleased!

Abbey WM

We had a fun week here, although we’re all hoping that it will warm up just a FEW degrees so we can enjoy playing at the park again soon! It’s been wavering between 22′ and 29′ this week. . . with a crazy wind chill.

Abbey and Joe Smily Faces WM

That was OUR week. How was YOURS?

This post is part of the Mamatography 2013 Project with Diary of a First Child and Momma Jorje.

We are taking (at least) a photo a day to keep a record of our year. Join us at any point during the year and start sharing your own daily photos!

Filed Under: 2013, Abbey, children, creating for the family, Joseph, Learning, mamatography, natural learning, Photography Projects, Sewing, sewing diapers, sewing projects, silly bear handmade

Wordless Wednesday: Joetography

February 6, 2013 By Amy 1 Comment

A little bit of Joetography with my iphone while he sat on my lap at the sewing desk.

Filed Under: 2013, children, creating for the family, Sewing, silly bear handmade, toddler, Wordless Wednesday

Mamatography Week 49

December 16, 2012 By Amy Leave a Comment

It’s Week 49! Almost there! January is creeping up on us, and then we’ll start a New Year of fun, family, craziness, and I promise to photograph ALL of it!

Joseph and Abbey LOVE playing in the snow. Here they are catching snowflakes on their tongues! Yummy!

I have been hastily replacing Joseph’s older diapers (those that I sewed at the very beginning of my cloth-diaper sewing journey) with new ones.

While I’ve put the SBH Etsy Shop on Vacation for our Holiday get-away to Texas, I had a bit of extra time to whip up some new and adorable dipes for Joe Joe. The robot PUL print is one of my faves. Too bad I only had a small amount!

We’re saying “so long!” to the snow for a few weeks, as we travel to Texas to spend Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa and my brother, sis-in-law, and family.

Weeks 50-52 will come to you courtesy of my iPhone and Instagram, since we’ll be in Texas vacationing. . . and they actually may post AFTER the New Year.

But, what a fun journey it’s been, documenting the WHOLE year in photos!

Thanks to Luschka at Diary of a First Child for inspiring me to join in the Mamatography fun! And also to all of the other participants, and Courtney of Courtney Kirkland Designs, for inspiring teachings on photography and using my SLR camera!

Filed Under: 2012, Abbey, children, christmas, creating for the family, Holidays, Joseph, mamatography, photography, Sewing, sewing diapers, SLR Photography, two children

Creating for the Family: Crafty Mama Monday

November 12, 2012 By Amy Leave a Comment

I have been a busy volunteer-Ombudsman, full-time-student mama lately. . . and crafty mama has not disappeared, but she’s been slowed down a bit.

Projects have gone on the back burner. Only the really vital projects that I’m creating for my family lately have actually gotten done. And I have a growing short-list of Silly Bear Handmade custom orders from friends. Plus baby and big sister/big brother gifts that I made for my family members that I have neglected to ship. Whoops!

I have, however, still been making progress at being crafty!

Here’s what I have been up to lately.

Knitted Wristwarmers

I have been enjoying knitting these wristwarmers (aka fingerless gloves) for about a month now, and they are finally finished! I started and ripped out the project three or four times before I chose a pattern that I loved and made the correct alterations to it to make it work for me.

I ended up using the Fetching knitting pattern to make these wrist warmers, and I added a few inches to the cabling portion to extend the length of them. I have long arms and none of my coats hit my wrist where they should. This used to not matter when I lived in Texas, but now that I am a transplanted New Englander, it matters so much! Cold wrists and blustery wind going up your coat sleeves . . . yikes! Not ok!

Next, I’m planning on knitting a coordinating hat for the winter ahead, using the same yarn that I used for the wristwarmers. Now, I am knitting a coordinating slouchy cabled hat. More on that in my next Crafty Mama Monday.

I’m also planning on knitting the Silly Bears and nieces and nephews some wool gloves using the Easily Adjustable Knitted Glove Pattern from They Are All Of Me.

But for now, $1 mittens from the Joann’s dollar section work just fine.

Night Time Diapers

This summer, I ordered some Maiden Mills Windpro fleece from a destash album on Facebook, with the intention of finally taking the advice of my fellow diaper sewers and making Joseph a FLEECE night time diaper instead of one waterproofed by PUL or using wool at night (neither of which were working for us).

The diapers I made work fabulously through the night, and I fully intend to make more and list them for sale in my Silly Bear Handmade shop. (Stocking is coming SOON and there will be a $10 diaper sale for the first 24 hours. . . so watch the SBH Facebook Page for sneak peeks and updates!)

Joseph used to wake up smelling like ammonia and having wet PJs and a red butt from contact with all the pee during the night. The fleece night time diapers I created for him eliminate these problems. It’s so wonderful!

I am in the process of writing a photo tutorial on how I made these fleece night time pocket diapers, so that those of you who would like to sew one for a Silly Bear in your life can do so with ease and enjoy the benefits.

They are wonderful! It’s one of those “why didn’t I do this sooner!?” moments. You can view a detailed description and all the photos of the diaper here –> Introducing the Silly Bear Handmade Night Time Fleece Pocket Diaper!!!!!!

I am so thrilled that I finally have a diaper that hands down works for nights. Wish I could have sewn it sooner!

Bedroom Curtains

Back in the summer, I made blackout curtains for Abbey and Joseph’s room, and wrote a photo tutorial to teach you how to make them yourself.

A dear friend asked me to help her with curtains for her 7-year-old’s room. She couldn’t find anything in the stores that thrilled her, so she gave me the free reign to come up with what I could to please her daughter’s taste and coordinate with the quilt that she had. She didn’t need black out curtains, so I sewed some simple cotton curtains for her that her daughter loves!

What have YOU been creating for YOUR family recently?

Is there anything you have been eye-ing or keeping on a Pinterest page that you’d love to create, but you’re slightly timid to try?

I’d love to connect with you about sewing, knitting, and creating for the family. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Filed Under: 2012, cloth diapers, creating for the family, knitting, Sewing, sewing diapers, sewing projects, silly bear handmade, WAHM

Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier from Cashmere Cuddles – $25 ARV {US/CAN}

October 26, 2012 By Amy 25 Comments

This is a joint giveaway between Natural Parents Network and many other natural parenting sites. You may enter for all of the giveaways at one site only. Please find the section marked “Win it!” for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.

Welcome to the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide!

Natural Parents Network, Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work, and 24 other natural parenting bloggers are giving away 89 items perfect for gifting for the holidays as part of the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide. The combined total value of all of the items is $2,550.

Have you finished your holiday shopping? The NPN Holiday Gift Guide is a great opportunity to complete your gift-giving purchases for family and friends, while supporting many naturally-minded small businesses. The companies who have provided items for giveaway are almost exclusively made up of small businesses or work-at-home families.

The Rafflecopter System where you can enter to WIN YOUR OWN Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier is live as of November 1 on this post (and on every post participating in the Gift Guide). Please visit some of the other review posts listed below and read about the fabulous companies offering giveaways in the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide.

***

Photo Courtesy of Cashmere Cuddles

This is a joint giveaway with Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked “Win it!” for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.

Cashmere Cuddles is offering our readers a giveaway of a Cuddles For Kids Doll Carrier, a value of $25.

About Cashmere Cuddles

Cuddles for Kids are simple and adorable x-shaped carriers made for kids to carry baby dolls or stuffed animals. With no buckles or ties, Cashmere Cuddles’ Cuddles for Kids Doll Carriers are easy to put on, fun for pretend play, and encourage nurturing skills and responsibility between little ones and their cherished toys!

Teri, the owner and crafter behind Cashmere Cuddles and Cuddles for Kids, is a woman after my own heart: a wife and mom to two, she is also a historian, a childbirth educator, a birth doula, and a La Leche League leader.

She started making baby carriers when her second son was born. She needed to have a carrier that worked for her family, so that she could care for both children at the same time. Teri researched and tried different carriers until she decided to make her own – she adapted the traditional design of a Japanese Hanamuguri carrier to offer more support across the sit bones, and she loved it!

And it wasn’t just her family that loved the carrier.

“Cashmere Cuddles was born because strangers would stop me on the street and ask where I got it.” Teri says.

Eventually, customers started asking if Teri could make matching carriers for their children to carry their beloved baby dolls and other toys. And, thus, Cuddles for Kids was born! Now, moms and dads can order a Cashmere Cuddles carrier and a matching kids’ carrier all at the same Etsy site. Teri also sews and sells other beautiful children’s whimsy items.

My Experience with the Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier

When I received the Cashmere Cuddes Cuddles for Kids soft X-shaped Doll Carrier, I was so excited. My 4-year-old Abbey has been carrying dolls and stuffed animals to the park, on playdates, and errands for almost a year now, and now she has a functional and very cute way to carry them hands free! She loves her new Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier!

Ease of Use

Abbey has used the Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier inside the house and outdoors. It is light, comfortable, and easy to use. She can put it on, tuck her baby doll or stuffed animal in, run and play, and take it off with ease. The 4T-5T sized carrier is a great size for her, even though she is on the slight side. The greatest benefit of this is that she will be able to use it for at least another two years, if not three, until she starts to outgrow it. All of Abbey’s playthings and baby dolls that she likes to play “mommy” with are small, but if she had a larger lifelike newborn-sized baby doll, it would have plenty of room to fit in the carrier comfortably.

Quality & Construction

I especially love the quality of materials and construction of the Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier. You can tell that Teri of Cashmere Cuddles really takes pride in creating each doll carrier carefully and with lots of love. The instruction card that was included gives specific information on how to wear and wash the doll carrier, which is very helpful, because at first glance, I thought that the beautiful felt flower was sewn on. It turns out that it is cleverly attached with velcro in order to be able to remove it for washing!

Cashmere Cuddles doesn’t only make children’s play Doll Carriers. Her shop features children’s whimsy items in addition to fashionable, functional baby carriers for moms on the go. Tara’s unique x-slings, wraps and mei tais can be special ordered in custom colors and patterns to suit your personal sense of style.

Get Your Hands on One!

I wholeheartedly recommend the Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier as an excellent and fun addition to your child’s life. It’s practical, making lost loveys a thing of the past in our household! Plus, it encourages and inspires nurturing and responsibility in our young children, a quality that is so important to the emotional growth and success of our next generation!

Teri of Cashmere Cuddles shares this desire to encourage a nurturing society - she not only makes doll carriers to inspire nurture in our children, but she is also an advocate for the Continuum Concept, and she hopes to bring a sense of normalcy to what our culture calls “babywearing.” Girls and boys who have carriers for their toys will hopefully be drawn to want to wear their own babies when they grow up.

Hows that for an educational toy!? Here’s how you can get your very own doll carrier for your little one:

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier at Cashmere Cuddles on Etsy. Both ready-to-ship and made-to-order doll carriers are available, in a variety of sizes and patterns ranging from $17.50 to $25.00.

Remember that Cashmere Cuddles also makes x-shaped baby carriers for moms! How adorable would a matching mother-daughter or mother-son set of carrier and doll-carrier be for a big brother or big sister gift!?

WIN IT!

For your own chance to win a Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier from Cashmere Cuddles, enter by leaving a comment and using our Rafflecopter system below.

The winner will receive one Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier in the size of your choice. Contest is open to the US/CANADA.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Cashmere Cuddles and tell us one thing you have learned about the company! You must enter your name and email address in the Rafflecopter entry system for your entry to count, after leaving a comment on this blog post.

Leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses in Rafflecopter are not made publicly visible. Please leave the same valid email address in your mandatory comment so we can verify entries.

This is a joint giveaway with Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only, and we’ll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy both sites!
BONUS ENTRIES:
See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email or leave a comment if you have any questions!

Our Rafflecopter entry system is now open.

MANDATORY ENTRY: In the box provided in the first Rafflecopter entry, tell us where you would have your prize shipped if you are one of the winners. You must enter your name and email address while leaving a comment in the Rafflecopter system for your entry to count.

This is part of a larger giveaway hosted by Natural Parents Network. You may enter the whole giveaway at one site only, and we’ll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy all of the participating sites!

Please note that each entrant can win only one prize, and NPN will be randomly assigning prizes to the winners. One of the giveaway questions asks which are your top five prizes so we can try to match winners to their preferences.

BONUS ENTRIES:
See the Rafflecopter entry system for bonus entries to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry. All bonus entries are entered directly into Rafflecopter. Give it a try, and email sponsorship {at} naturalparentsnetwork.com or leave a comment if you have any questions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Thank you for your interest in the Natural Parents Network Gift Guide! We invite you to read the reviews of other participating bloggers and return to enter the giveaway between November 1 and 25. Many of the giveaway items are open worldwide!

Here are the participating sites and companies. (Reviews go live between October 25 and October 31, and all links will be live by November 1.) We’ve included any coupon codes the companies have offered so you can get your holiday shopping under way!

Publishing on Thursday, October 25, 2012

From Ergobaby via A Little Bit of All of It — Win one of two Ergobaby Doll Carriers (ARV $25 x 2)
From Poppy Soap Company via Fine and Fair — Win 1 of 3 a Mix & Match Organic Soap Sets (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code delilah and get $10 off your purchase through November 25, 2012!
From Wild Arbutus via Anktangle — Win a Handmade Baby Hat or Plush Crocheted Toy (ARV $25)
Shop now with coupon code NPNGIFTS10 and get 10% off all orders through December 31, 2012!
From Lucy Locket Creations via The Artful Mama — Win a Dragon or Dinosaur De-tachable Tail (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADE and get 15% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!
From Job Description: Mommy via Code Name: Mama — Win 3 Pairs of Handmade Earrings (up to $45 ARV)
Shop now with coupon code NPNJDM and get 15% off your purchase through December 15, 2012!
From A Mother’s Boutique via Hobo Mama — Win a $75 Gift Certificate for Nursing & Maternity Wear
Shop now with coupon code HOBO10 and get 10% off virtually any item in the store (certain exclusions apply) through November 25, 2012!
From Terramor via ourfeminist{play}school — Win a jewelery gift set (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npn10 and get 10% off your Etsy purchase through November 25, 2012!

Publishing on Friday, October 26, 2012

From Kid Culture via ourfeminist{play}school — Win a Superhero Cape for your Lil’ Superhero! (ARV $20)
From Soapie Skyes via Living Peacefully with Children — Win a bottle of All Natural Balancing Shampoo (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code NATURALCHRISTMAS and get 25% off all orders through January 5, 2013!
From The Babywearing Workout via MomeeeZen and True Confessions of a Real Mommy — Win 1 of 5 copies of Mama’s “Little” Personal Trainer (ARV $10 x 5)
Shop now with coupon code NPN2012 and get 15% off your purchase between November 5 and December 24, 2012!
From Wooly Topic via Our Crazy Corner of the World — Win a set of 6 Wool Rock Pods (ARV $36)
Shop now with coupon code celebration10 and get 10% off your purchase from October 26, 2012, until December 30, 2012!
From Yellow Elm via Mothers of Change — Win a handmade felted flower headband (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code HANDMADEHOLIDAY15 and get 15% off your purchase until December 31, 2012!
From Intuition Physician via Mommying My Way — Win a Set of 2 Attachment Parenting-Related Children’s Stories (ARV $34)
From Cashmere Cuddles via Amy Willa: Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work — Win a Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier (ARV $25)
From Sacred Rose Tea via A Little Bit of All of It — Win 1 box of Holiday Blend Organic Tea and a Tea Infuser (ARV $27)
From Rock Paper Tree via Vibrant Wanderings — Win a $50 gift certificate good toward handcrafted items made with precious metals, crystals, and gemstones
Shop now with coupon code TEN10TEN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!
From Two Pink Hearts via Code Name: Mama — Win a $20 Gift Certificate for a fashion camera strap cover
Shop now with coupon code holiday10 and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!
From Kangaroo Care via Firmly Planted — Win a Nursing Necklace (ARV $25)!

Publishing on Saturday, October 27, 2012

From The Enchanted Cupboard via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to spend on wooden toys and dolls, custom wedding cake toppers, and more!
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!
From Jupiter’s Child, via Downside Up and Outside In — Win a beautiful hand dyed, hand spliced rainbow colored jump rope (ARV $25)
From Born at Home Toys via That Mama Gretchen — Win a Fishing Set (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code THATMAMA and get 10% off all orders through November 25, 2012!
From Monkey Mama Necklaces via I Thought I Knew Mama — Win a twiddle buster or twiddle teether pendant nursing necklace, a safe and distracting necklace perfect for little nurslings (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code ITIKM10 and get 10% off your purchase until November 30, 2012!
From Averylee Kids via That Mama Gretchen — Win Baby Booties and an Owl Taggie (ARV $35)
Shop now with coupon code FREEKIDS and get Free Shipping through November 25, 2012!
From Knot Genie via Living Peacefully with Children — Win a Knot Genie Detangle Brush (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code living and get $4 off all orders through November 25, 2012!
From Raising Green Kids via very, very fine — Win a $25 gift certificate to purchase green and eco-friendly items from bathtime to home decor!
From BirchLeaf Designs via Hobo Mama — Win 2 Hand-Dyed Playsilks (ARV $26)
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off through November 25, 2012!
From SoRad via ourfeminist{play}school — Win a Ninja Sleep Set (ARV $40)
From The Sugar Cone Shoppe via A Little Bit of All of It — Win a Mei Tai Doll Carrier (ARV $32)
Shop now with coupon code 2012NPN and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!
From LeoandLola via Firmly Planted — Win a $50 Gift Card to spend on custom onesies, t-shirts, dresses, and many upcycled items!
Shop now with coupon code NPNFREE and get free domestic shipping through November 25, 2012!

Publishing on Sunday, October 28, 2012

From Anointment via MomeeeZen — Win Baby Balm, Baby Oil, Calendula Soap and a Soap Scrubbie (ARV $30)
Shop now with coupon code npnreview and orders over $50 get free shipping to US/Canada and a free gift through December 31, 2012!
From Dirty Diva Soaps via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win a set of three soaps (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code Hybridrastamama and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!
From KR Dyeworks viaDownside Up And Outside In — Win a $25 gift certificate to purchase handpainted yarn, knitting patterns, or handknit shawls and scarves!
Shop now with coupon code NPN20 and get 20% off your order November 1-30, 2012!
From moksa organics via ourfeminist{play}school — Win a $30 gift certificate to purchase a wide variety of organic soaps and body care products!
Shop now with coupon code naturalparenting and get 30% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!
From Sophisticated Play Apparel via Living Peacefully with Children — Win a Matching Set of Toddler Wrist Warmers and Cowl (ARV $34)
Shop now with coupon code livingpeacefully and get 15% off all orders through January 5, 2013!
From Dominna via Code Name: Mama — Win a $30 Gift Certificate toward handmade Latvian toys
From Easy Lunchboxes via Firmly Planted — Win a Set of Food Storage Containers and a Lunch Bag (ARV $22)!
From Anktangle Creations via A Little Bit of All of It — Win a $20 gift certificate to spend on handmade gifts including baby leggings, wool dryer balls, wool diaper covers, ear warmers, and more!
From Howells Natural Wood Products via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win a set of solid, natural building blocks (ARV $33)
Shop now with coupon code HRM10 and get 10% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!

Publishing on Monday, October 29, 2012

From Bent River Bobbins via Firmly Planted — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to buy high quality, reusable bags and sandwich wraps, baby toys, and more!
From Serious Puzzles via Momma Jorje — Win a Jumbo Numbers – 20pc Wooden Puzzle By Melissa & Doug (ARV $20)
From Hybrid Rasta Mama via Diary of a First Child — Win one of three copies of the eBook ‘Coconut Oil For Your Skin’(ARV $7 x 3)
From Libre Tea via The Hippie Housewife — Win a Libre glass ’n poly Original Tea Glass (ARV $24)
From Texture Clothing via very, very fine — Win a Comfy Skirt (ARV $72)
Shop now with coupon code veryfineship and receive free shipping on all orders November 29, 2012!
From Presence Parenting via Anktangle — Win a 60-Minute Nurturing Presence Session(ARV $50)!
Shop now with coupon code NPN50 and receive 50% off your own Nurturing Presence Sessions through November 30, 2012!
From Dionna Ford via I Thought I Knew Mama — Win 1 of 2 copies of For My Children: A Mother’s Journal of Memories, Wishes and Wisdom, a beautiful way for a mother to pass along her memories (ARV $15 x 2)
From Nushkie via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win a 54 piece Jigsaw Puzzle of your choice (ARV $24)
From Barefoot Books via Downside Up And Outside In — Win a book of your choosing from independent children’s book publishers, Barefoot Books! (ARV $25)
From Prima Princessa via Hobo Mama — Win one of 3 copies of Prima Princessa Presents: The Nutcracker kids ballet DVD (ARV $7 x 3)
From Wise Daughters Craft Market via ourfeminist{play}school — Win a set of wooden play money! (ARV $20)
From Wooly Moss Roots via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win your all natural Tooth Powder, Magical Healing Salve, and a Smudging Bundle (ARV $34)
Shop now with coupon code HYBRIDRASTAMAMA15 and get 15% off your purchase through November 25, 2012!
From Glass Dharma via Living Peacefully with Children — Win a $25 Gift Certificate to purchase beautiful, reusable glass straws and straw sets.
From Earthslings via Code Name: Mama — Win a $35 Gift Certificate toward pouch slings, dolls, dress-up costumes, and more
Shop now with coupon code KIDS2012 and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!
From Moby via A Little Bit of All of It — Win a Mini Moby Doll Carrier and Knot Hat (ARV $21)
Shop now with coupon code blogger2012 and get 10% off one item through November 25, 2012!
From Yarns and Storys via Our Crazy Corner of the World — Win a store credit worth $30, for an item of your choice at Yarns and Storys, including hand spun and hand-dyed fibers, hats, scarves and other clothing items.
Shop now with coupon code NPN and get 10% off your purchase until November 25, 2012!

Publishing on Tuesday, October 30, 2012

From Desert Dye Works via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win a $30 Gift Certificate to spend on playsilks in all sizes and colors, silk dress-up items, or prayer flags!
From Playful Planet via Presence Parenting — Win a Storyland Yoga DVD (ARV $15)
Shop now with coupon code NPN20 and get 20% off of your purchase through November 25, 2012!
From Stubby Pencil Studio via Vibrant Wanderings — Win $60 worth of Eco Friendly Art Materials. (ARV $60)
Shop now with coupon code SAVE15 and get 15% off of your purchase through November 30, 2012!
From Earthfaeries Homebrewed Soap via Firmly Planted — Win a $20 Gift Card to buy home-brewed soaps and perfumes as well as other handmade goods!
From Dysfunction Designs via The Hippie Housewife — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to buy handmade necklaces and bracelets for women and men.
Shop now with coupon code NATGIFTS and get 5% off all orders through December 31, 2012!
From MonCherPug via The Artful Mama — Win a Organic Miniature Pug (ARV $45)
From doTERRA via MomeeeZen — Win a $20 gift card to spend on essential oils & a free phone consultation with Patti Tinholt to help you learn which Essential Oils are right for you!
Shop now and for any purchases over $100, receive $50 towards your next purchase.
From Snapdragon Fortress via Anktangle — Win a Knit Wool Kitten (ARV $20)!
From Pip & Bean via Hobo Mama — Win a Superhero Kit: Reversible Cape, Mask, and Arm Bands (ARV $25)
From The Tea Spot via A Little Bit of All of It — Win a Steeping Cup and an Organic Tea Sampler (ARV $44)
Shop now with coupon code naturalparents and get 15% off their order from November 1-25, 2012!
From Kid Culture via ourfeminist{play}school — Win a family set of Play Me Mama Crafts’ organic hankies! (ARV $24)
From Z-Man Games via Living Peacefully with Children — 2 Winners will receive a copy of the board game Mondo (ARV $40 x 2)
From Mama May I via Code Name: Mama — Win a Story Starters Game (ARV $25)
Shop now with coupon code NPNHOLIDAY and get 10% off through December 31, 2012!
From Maggie’s Naturals via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win a 6-pack Variety Food Coloring Package (ARV $60)

Publishing on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

From Olive Shoot Institute via Firmly Planted — Win Extreme 18X Soap Nut Liquid Concentrate and a Guinea Pig Doll (ARV $40)!
From Flying Bird Botanicals via very, very fine — Win a $25 gift certificate to purchase artisan tea blends, rich drinking chocolates, or organic body and baby care products!
From Lauren Wayne via ourfeminist{play}school, win 1 of 2 copies of Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years (ARV $10 x 2)
Shop now with coupon code SAP84AYJ and get 20% off all orders of the trade paperback at the author’s store through December 31, 2012!
From Elemental Handcrafts via Hybrid Rasta Mama — Win a personalized wooden ball/spoon set with a magnet (ARV $33)
From Worts and Cunning Apothecary via Living Peacefully with Children — Win a Happy Homestead Remedy Kit (ARV $20)
Shop now with coupon code NATURALWORT and get 10% off all orders through November 25, 2012!
From Destany Fenton Fine Art via Code Name: Mama — Win an original 12×16 portrait (ARV $220)
From RainbowSouffle via A Little Bit of All of It — Win a $20 Gift Certificate to spend on a doll ring sling, handmade toys, costume items, and more!
Shop now with coupon code FREESHIP and get free shipping on any item through November 25, 2012!

Disclosure: Our reviewer received a sample product
for review purposes.
Some links are affiliate links.
We try to seek out only products we think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If we don’t like a product, we won’t be recommending it to you.
See our full disclosure policy here.

Filed Under: 2012, Abbey, babywearing, children, creating for the family, Holidays, Imaginative play, natural learning, preschooler, Reviews and Giveaways

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That was OUR week. How was YOURS?

Homemade Kolaches – Simple and delicious!

Making Kolaches

The Recipe:

The even BIGGER move: Our next PCS

Lifestyle Changes for this PCS

Preparations

Exciting and Stressful

Sewing Leotards. . . a new challenge!

Mamatography Week 5

That was OUR week. How was YOURS?

Wordless Wednesday: Joetography

Mamatography Week 49

Creating for the Family: Crafty Mama Monday

Knitted Wristwarmers

Night Time Diapers

Bedroom Curtains

Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier from Cashmere Cuddles – $25 ARV {US/CAN}

Welcome to the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide!

About Cashmere Cuddles

My Experience with the Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier

Ease of Use

Quality & Construction

Get Your Hands on One!

BUY IT!

WIN IT!

Meet Amy

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Recent Posts

Carnivals and Challenges

Connect with Me

Read it From The Beginning!

I’m a Natural Parent

Share this:

That was OUR week. How was YOURS?

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Making Kolaches

The Recipe:

Share this:

Lifestyle Changes for this PCS

Preparations

Exciting and Stressful

Share this:

Share this:

That was OUR week. How was YOURS?

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Knitted Wristwarmers

Night Time Diapers

Bedroom Curtains

Share this:

Welcome to the Natural Parents Network Holiday Gift Guide!

About Cashmere Cuddles

My Experience with the Cuddles for Kids Doll Carrier

Ease of Use

Quality & Construction

Get Your Hands on One!

BUY IT!

WIN IT!

Share this:

Meet Amy

subscribe via email

Grab a Button

Recent Posts

Carnivals and Challenges

Connect with Me

Read it From The Beginning!

I’m a Natural Parent