And the Winner is...

The winner of the $35 CSN Stores gift code is...

Comment #39

the Crave to Save

the Crave to Save said: I follow you on GFC

Congrats!  I will be emailing you shortly and you will have 48hrs to respond to the email or another winner will be chosen.

Keep your eyes peeled for a new review/giveaway to be posted soon!

Quick Update

Just a quick update...I finished up my first round of chemo and am home from the hospital.  Thank you so much to everyone (that doesn't even know me!) that said prayers for me!  I will be drawing a winner for the CSN Stores giveaway this evening.  And will hopefully be posting a new review/giveaway tomorrow.  Thanks again for your patience during these tough times for our family, I am really hoping to try to keep some sense of normal for our family during all this.

Merry Christmas & an Update

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Christmas with their families right now.  I am currently writing this post from a hospital bed...I know, I know....such a downer.  But not really.  Last Friday, I was admitted to the hospital for an unknown and pretty aggressive cancer.  Yay me.  Well, it has since been identified (a neuroendocrine tumor that has spread to all my bone marrow) and I am almost done with my first round of chemotherapy (tonight) which seems to be working really well so far.

Anyway, I wanted to assure you that I will be picking a winner of the CSN giveaway, but due to theses unusual circumstances I am again extending the giveaway.  I am not sure when I will end it...SURPRISE...but it will be before New Year's Eve.  So go ahead and spread the word that there's still time to enter.

I also want to let you know that my amazing mom has agreed to help me with all my current reviews/giveaways once we get home (she'll be staying with us to help out with the kiddos), so please be patient while we work out those kinks. 

Ok, time for another nap, this chemo stuff really makes ya tired!

Merry Christmas!

CSN Stores {Giveaway}

Have you shopped at CSN Stores yet? If not, you totally should! They have just about anything you could ask for! Coffee tables, lamps, kitchen supplies, flat screen TV stands and so much more! They have hassle free returns and free shipping on most everything! FREE SHIPPING! That's awesome! So now do you want to try CSN Stores? Well, here's your chance!

So what will 1 lucky reader win? 1 lucky reader will win a $35 gift certificate!

Who can win? Anyone in the US & Canada is eligible.

How do you enter to win this awesome prize? There are lots of ways to enter, but you have to do the mandatory entry in order for any other entries to count. You need to make sure you leave 1 comment for each entry (ie: if you do the mandatory entry and 3 extra entries, you will leave a total of 4 comments). Be sure to leave your email address in each of your comments.

Mandatory Entry:
+1 Visit CSN Stores and tell me one thing you might like to buy if you win.

Extra Entries:
+1 Follow Spoons, Spades & Stitches via Google Friend Connect (in right side bar)
+1 Like Spoons, Spades & Stitches on Facebook
+1 Follow Spoons, Spades & Stitches on Twitter

This giveaway will end on Thursday, December 23 at NOON EST.  Good Luck!

And the winner is,,,

The winner of the American Country Designs wet bag is...

Comment #56

Congrats Erin!

Erin said: I like SS&S on FB

Watch you inbox for an email from me (check spam too!)  If I do not hear from you within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

Also, I promise I will have some awesome giveaways coming up, but my medical issues are keeping me off the computer.  As soon as I am feeling better I will have a giveaway blowout with all the awesome products I have lined up.  Please bear with me, while I try to work though my medical problems,  Thanks!

Be Back in a Few

I know the American Country Designs Giveaway ends today, but I am going to extend it.  I am taking a tiny break from the blog due to some medical and personal reasons.  But I promise it's just a itsy bitsy break.  I'll be back to blogging on Wednesday, SO...

The American Country Designs wet bag giveaway will be extended until Wednesday, December 15 at NOON EST.

Hope you all have a great start to your week!

Fluffy Giveaway Alert {On Another Blog}

Hey fluffy mamas...did you see Danielle at Happenings of the Harper Household has a giveaway up for a Doopsy diaper?  It's part of her...

Be sure to go enter, it ends December 16!  And don't forget to enter my giveaway for a wet bag from American Country Designs...it ends Monday, December 13!

And the Winner is...

The winner of the Wee Can Too edible finger paints is...

Comment #20

Congrats Nina!

Nina Said: Like Spoon Spades and Stitches on facebook

 

Watch for an email from SS&S in your inbox soon (check your spam box too, just in case).  If I do not hear from you within 48 hours of sending the email, a new winner will be chosen.

Don't forget to enter the American Country Designs wet bag giveaway (ends on Monday, 12/13).

Cheating on Christmas Cookies

I've been pretty disappointed lately that I haven't really been able to do a lot of Christmas activities with Girlie due to my back issues.  This is the first year that she can really get into doing things and making things.  So on Sunday, when I was feeling a little better (thanks to some different meds from an ER visit the day before), I decided we would make and decorate cut-out Christmas cookies.  But I totally cheated.

I had the hubby run to the grocery store and get me a few things...a sugar cookie mix, a tub of plain vanilla frosting (that I colored with food coloring), and some red and green sprinkles.  To some of you this may not sound like cheating, but I pride myself in my baking, especially cookies.  So for me to use a mix and use store bought frosting is way out of character.  I knew as good as I was feeling, that I shouldn't push myself to much, and so after lunch I mixed up the cookie dough and rolled it out.  Girlie and I cut out stars and Christmas trees, which I baked while she was napping.  Then I divided the vanilla frosting into 3 bowls and with food coloring made red, green & yellow frosting.

 A mommy cookie

*Tip: When decorating cookies with kids put the frosting into a plastic baggie and snip off a small corner with scissors.  This way kids can squeeze out the frosting onto their cookie and you don't have ridiculously messy hands, or cookies with 6 inches of frosting on them!

A daddy cookie

After Girlie woke up from her nap, I had everything all set up and ready to go.  So Mommy, Daddy & Girlie all sat around the kitchen table and decorate cookies (Mister Man hung out in his high chair munching on cheerios).  She had so much fun!  This was the first time she had decorated cookies and she loved using all the different colors of frosting and putting sprinkles on the cookies...although I am pretty sure more sprinkles got eaten then put on her cookies!  Haha!

Some Girlie cookies

I was so excited to start a new tradition of cookie decorating!  I love that Girlie is to an age where she can now start participating in these traditions. 

Do you have any cookie decorating traditions?

American Country Designs {Review & Giveaway}

*This is a fluffy giveaway, but even if you don't cloth diaper KEEP READING!  If you have kids, this item would be great to have no matter their age!

When I switched to cloth diapers, I wasn't sure how many of the different cloth diaper accessories you actually needed.  I figured all you really needed was the diapers (and cloth diaper friendly detergent) and that was it.  I was kind of wrong.  I mean, sure you can do it with just the diapers, but there are so many other things that help make cloth diapering even easier!

One of the first accessories I got was a wetbag.  A wetbag is a bag that is waterproof (and smell proof!) to put soiled diapers in.  At home we have a small plastic trash can, but when we would leave the house I hated having to carry a noisy (& not too eco-friendly) plastic grocery bag to put wet diapers in (not to mention the hubby accidentally threw a bag of them away one day!  Digging through a trash can for diapers is not fun).  I was excited when I found American Country Designs!

Peggy is the owner of American Country Designs and is a SAHM to 2 kiddos.  She loves being able to stay at home with her kids and still be able to be creative and do something she loves.  She got interested in making wet bags about the same time she started cloth diapering her oldest (now 3 years old).  Peggy sent me an 11x11 wetbag to review and I love it! 

It's the perfect size to take out when I'm running errands or spending the afternoon at grandparents houses.  It folds up nice and small to slide into the diaper bag when we leave and then as it gets used it has a snap strap to attach it to the outside of the diaper bag (or a stroller or just about anywhere else).  It can hold 2-3 of my BumGenius diapers (usually all the more we use when out and about).

I love that I now have a reusable option for wet diapers when we're out of the house.  I also love that the outside is an adorable owl print!  It looks really cute and most people don't know that it has wet diapers in it!  It has a great waterproof interior and it's so easy to clean.  Simply turn it inside out and throw it in the wash with your diapers.

The quality of the wetbag is amazing!  I fancy myself a decent seamstress, but if I made a wetbag, it would not look this good...haha!  Peggy makes wetbags in 3 different sizes (11x11, 14x14 & 17x17).  But wet bags aren't the only things available at American Country Designs!  You'll also find pacifier clips, diaper & wipes bags and yoga mat bags.

Ok, non-cloth diapering mamas, why should this giveaway interest you?  Because wet bags aren't just for diapers!  Does your kiddo take swimming lessons and you hate putting their wet bathing suit in the bag to go home?  This would be perfect to bring wet swimsuits home in.  Potty training?  This would be awesome for those accidents while out & about.  It would also be great if you have a baby that spits up a lot, you'd have a water/smell proof bag to put items in until you get home.  If you're out and baby has an "explosive diaper" that requires a whole new change of clothes, this would be great to out the messy clothes in.  There are lots of uses for wet bags (cloth diapers is just one!).

I know you all want a wet bag now, so you can go here to purchase one OR you can win one!

GIVEAWAY

So what will one lucky reader win? an 11x11 small wet bag!

Who can win this prize? Anyone in the USA

How do you enter to win this awesome prize? There are lots of ways to enter but you have to do the mandatory entry in order for any other entries to count. Please be sure to leave one comment for each entry. Be sure to leave your email address with each comment or I cannot contact you if you win!

Mandatory entry

+1 Visit American Country Designs and tell me which wet bag is your favorite.

Extra entries
+1 Follow Spoons, Spades & Stitches publicly via GFC (in right side bar)

+1 Like American Country Designs on Facebook
+1 Like Spoons, Spades & Stitches on Facebook

+2 Grab my button and leave a link to where I can find it

+1 Follow Spoons, Spades & Stitches on Twitter

This giveaway will close on December 13, 2010 at 11:59PM EST.  December 15, 2010 at NOON EST. Good Luck!

*I was sent a wet bag to review in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way.

Never Enough Fluff & Stuff

Danielle over at Happenings of the Harper Household is having a cloth diaper event this month, "Never Enough Fluff & Stuff".  She has lots of great reviews and giveaways lined up for cloth diapers, wetbags, laundry detergent, cloth wipes and more!  I wanted to participate along with her, but unfortunately, just haven't had a lot of blog time lately, so my participation is going to be more of a supporting role with a some posts about what I've learned during my short cloth diapering time and a few fluffy reviews & giveaways of my own, as well as links to Danielle's great giveaways.

I know not all my readers are cloth diapering mamas, so that won't be all I post this month!  I also have some Christmas recipes, links to some great Christmas gift tutorials, some non-fluff giveaways (CSN Stores & more!), and lots of other things planned.  My first fluffy giveaway will post later today, BUT it's not just for the cloth diapering family...it can be used by any family!  So be sure to check it out :o)

*CLOSED* Wee Can Too {Review & Giveaway}

Being a former teacher, I love to attempt to "plan" activities for Girlie.  Sometimes we'll play learning games I make up, and sometimes we work on letters or numbers, and sometimes we do little crafts.  But I tend to fall short on art activities that are just plain old messy fun for her.  Why?  Well, she's still 2!  She's still learning and some days I just don't have the patience for a learning curve.

I'm sure you moms all know what I mean.  The days you want to let them do something fun like paint, but you really just don't have the time to sit there and be sure they don't do something crazy like eat the paint.  Maybe the dishes need done, or dinner needs made, but there's just those times.  I am excited to say you CAN let them paint even when you do dishes or cook!  Thanks to Wee Can Too.

Wee Can Too makes edible finger paint!  Edible as in the ingredients are all totally edible and are not harmful!  Here's a little bit about how Wee Can Too came about (from their website):

Sarid Ditton founded Wee Can Too in 2007 as her then, only daughter, Savannah, turned 6 months.  As an artist, she sought out finger paints that would endure the curiosity of an infant.  Many companies claimed to be safe and non-toxic, but still contained dyes that made her feel unsettled about “feeding” them to her baby.  She started tinkering in the kitchen and finally came up with a product that is completely edible, organic and most of all, safe for babies and toddlers.

If you're baby is eating solid foods (strained or pureed) they can paint!  All the finger paints are made of organic fruits & vegetable powders, rice cereal & rice flour.  They come as a powder and you just add water!  I loved the idea that if paint ended up in Girlie's mouth it was made from things like spinach and rice (green) or squash & pumpkins (yellow).

With natural & organic ingredients I could even let Mister Man paint!  Although he was not a fan and I didn't even get a picture of him with the paints at all.  Girlie painted while hubby & I made dinner one night and it was so nice to have an entire counterful of pictures when she was done.  Although she is not a fan of finger painting, the paints work perfectly with brushes and other objects as well.

(She had a thing for the green & yellow and refused to even use the other colors...haha!  I had a dozen green & yellow pictures that night!)

Another great feature, is that the paint lasts a long time!  You mix the paint with water in a provided bottle and then it can be stored in your refrigerator for up to a month.  As the paint stands, it thickens.  You simply add a little more water each time you use it.  It seems almost like a never ending supply...almost :o)  Girlie really likes it and asks to paint every few days.

Wee Can Too just launched their newest products...crayons and chalk!  Both are made from all natural and safe ingredients so there's no fear of your kiddo ingesting something nasty. I am simply in love with the idea of art supplies that are completely edible and safe for my kids!

So, are you ready to get some of your own edible finger paint?  You can visit here to get some OR you can win some!

GIVEAWAY

So what will one lucky reader win? Some of your own edible finger paint!

Who can win this prize? Anyone in the USA

How do you enter to win this awesome prize? There are lots of ways to enter but you have to do the mandatory entry in order for any other entries to count. Please be sure to leave one comment for each entry. Be sure to leave your email address with each comment or I cannot contact you if you win!

Mandatory entry

+1 Visit Wee Can Too and tell me which of the finger paint colors is your favorite.

Extra entries
+1 Follow Spoons, Spades & Stitches publicly via GFC (in right side bar)
+1 Follow Wee Can Too's blog publicly via GFC

+1 Like Wee Can Too on Facebook AND thank them for the giveaway.(Against new Facebook policy).
+1 Like Spoons, Spades & Stitches on Facebook

+2 Post about the giveaway on Facebook tagging Spoons, Spades & Stitches & Wee Can Too (Sorry folks, apparently it is now against Facebook policy for me to offer this to you as an entry...If you already did this it will still count as an entry).
+2 Grab my button and leave a link to where I can find it
+1 Follow Wee Can Too on Twitter

+1 Follow Spoons, Spades & Stitches on Twitter

This giveaway will close on December 10, 2010 at 11:59PM EST.  Good Luck!

*I was sent finger paints to review in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way.

Handmade Christmas Gifts for Your Little Ones

I make homemade Christmas gifts every year.  If you're a follower of my family blog you may know that I've made fabric dollhouses, felt food, hats, scarves and more for all the kiddos in our life each year.  This year, I have yet to decide what to make for my own kids.  So, I went where all moms go when they need inspiration...the internet! I've complied a quick list of some great online tutorials for easy to make Christmas gifts for the kiddos in your life.  If you have ever wanted to make homemade toys and gifts then check these out! (Click each gift's name to go to the tutorial)

Fabric Dollhouse- UK lass in the US

I actually made these for my neices and nephew 2 years ago for Christmas and they were adorable!  The girls all got dollhouses and my nephew got a barn for his tractors.  They are great as a quick take-a-long toy.  If you can sew a straight line you should be good to go!  I wish I had taken pictures of mine, but I didn't have a blog back then :o)

Wooden Memory Game- Candace Creations

I haven't made this, but Girlie is getting to the age where this is totally something she'd love!  We play matching games with shapes and colors all the time and I think you could make this super adorable!  I would probably sew a cute drawstring bag for storage to go along with it.

Washcloth Puppets- Running with Scissors

I think these puppets are awesome!  Every kid loves puppets and especially soft fuzzy ones.  I haven't made these either, but reading through the directions they seem pretty basic (and there's a printable template for them!).  As an extra bonus, since they're made of washclothes they can actually be used as washclothes in the bath tub!  Super!

House of Card...Board Boxes- Michele Made Me

Not a sewer?  Then this little playhouse is for you!  I have wanted to make a playhouse of sorts for Girlie for a while now and this one has totally caught my eye :o)  I love that it is made out of cardboard boxes (something I have a ton of thanks to all my reviews...I wondered what I'd do with them) and is reusing supplies.  I think you could totally make this personalized to each specific kiddo.

Didn't see something you want to make as a gift this year?  Don't worry, I am planning at least one more post filled with handmade gift ideas!  Do you have a handmade gift tutorial or idea you'd like to share?  Leave me  a link in the comments for send me an email and I'll include it in the next handmade gift post! :o)

Another CSN Stores Giveaway: Coming soon!

Being the holiday season, just about everyone has gifts to buy. Gifts for children, spouses, parents, nieces, nephews, teachers, mailmen...ok, maybe not mailmen...but you get my point. My hubby and I don't buy each other Christmas gifts, we tend instead to buy something we both want. In October, we finished (I'm using the term finished very loosely...haha!) our family/playroom remodel. It's not a very big room, well its long, but only about 11 feet wide, so furniture placement is a little tricky.

We have a small flat screen TV to put back there, but no stand for it. I want something stylish but also very sturdy and kid proof. Where did I head? Of course to CSN Stores! With over 200 different stores I knew there'd be lots of flat screen TV stands to choose from. And of course there were. We've decided to wait until after the holidays to buy a stand, but there's no need for you to wait on your CSN Store purchase! I will be giving away another CSN Stores gift code within the next week! Use it for holiday gifts or splurge and buy yourself something fun.

Be sure to keep your eyes open for the giveaway! And don't forget to enter the Wee Can Too edible finger paint giveaway and the American Country Designs wet bag giveaway, both open right now (click on "Giving It Away" above)

Green Toys {Review}

One of the areas I am having the hardest time being greener in is toys for Girlie & Mister Man.  I know you can find greener play options but more often than not they are expensive.  Expensive is not a word I like to associate with toys, especially because they get played with & often broken, and as a one income family, they are one of the areas we don't want to waste money.  I was so excited when I found Green Toys and they sent us a few toys for the kiddos to review!

Some of the things I like about Green Toys:

• Made in the USA (California)
• They're made from recycled milk jugs
• Their production uses methods to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas & they use local supply chain for fewer carbon emissions
• They're BPA free, no phthalates, no PVC, and they meet FDA standards for food contact
• They come in 100% recyclable cardboard packaging with no twist ties or plastic

In addition to those great eco-friendly features, they are cute and tough!  Girlie was sent their dish set to review.  I love the fun colors and how sturdy they are!  Some of her other play dishes can be bent and twisted and are really flimsy, but not these!  The dishes are food safe which is awesome since Girlie is into using her play dishes to eat snacks and drink "tea".

The set came with 4 plates, 4 bowls, 4 tea cups, 4 forks, 4 spoons & 4 butter knives.  That's a lot of dishes!  Girlie's dishes are usually found in her kitchen sink because she has to wash them after she uses them :o)

Green Toys also have a Tea Set, a Cookware & Dining Set and a Chef Set for little homemakers.  They're all adorable!

Mister Man was sent their new firetruck, which was a huge hit with the whole family since Daddy is a firefighter/paramedic.  even though it is for children slightly older than Mister Man, I don't have any hesitation letting him play with it.  There are no metal parts, its all safe to be chewed on and there aren't any really small pieces.  The ladder on top can raise and pivot and both side ladders can be removed (although this takes some skill-I know he won't be pulling them off any time soon).

Girlie even loved the firetruck and it is usually found sideways in the playroom surrounded by lots of other toys.  It gets played with on a daily basis.

They have other great trucks too...a Recycling Truck and a Dump Truck.

Green Toys has a great variety of different toys for both boys & girls and for a wide range of ages.  And remember my concern that eco-friendly toys tend to be pricey?  Not Green Toys!  The firetruck and dishes set can be found for $25 or under!  That's great for a budget conscious family.  If you're still looking for some Christmas gifts for a special boy or girl this year, I would definitely recommend checking out Green Toys!  You can click here to find out where you can get some.

*I was sent a firetruck and dishes set from Green Toys in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not compensated in any other way.