Shhh! LOOK Who was Checking Out Our Tree! {Quick Giveaway - Ends 12/21 Open WW}

Last year, I was lucky enough to have won a custom iCaughtSanta.com photo. What is this? It is a very cool way to surprise your kids with a photo of Santa in their very own home. I simply took a photo of out living room (I choose where Little Guy stashes his toys since that's a very familiar area to him) and then uploaded it to the site. Once it was uploaded, I was able to choose from a ton of different Santa poses to find the right one for my photo. What I really love about this is that you can change the size of Santa, you can change the hue of his clothes and lighting to match your photo. It really looks as if he's there:

In my last post, I told you how Santa replied to Little Guy's letter with a wonderful box of goodies. We hung the "hangable" stuff on our "Tree Wall" and it looks great:

When I learned that I'd have the opportunity to review iCaughtSanta.com this year, I was so excited! I uploaded the above photo and added the PERFECT Santa pose:

Santa in OUR LIVING ROOM, checking out Little Guy's Santa's Nice List Certificate!

Once I finished creating the photo, I was able to print it out, share it on my social networks, and even email it to friends and family. I also downloaded my photo so I always have it (just like I did with last year's.) Wouldn't it be cool to have a photo every year to add to our collection? I'm imagining eventually making a garland with each photo on it to hang along with out other decorations!

So, on Christmas Eve, I'll have Little Guy help me set up our digital camera to see if we can try to get a picture of Santa when he stops by!

Would You Like A Chance To Win One?

iCaughtSanta.com has offered to give away FIVE CODES to my readers! You can make your very own Santa photo. They also have other characters to chose from, such as the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy that you could use it on. AND, if we can get 30 different entrants, they're going to double the giveaway and I'll have TEN WINNERS! So, take a minute and enter in the Rafflecopter form, below! This giveaway is a quickie so the winners will have time to make their photos. And, if you don't win, you can still use the code: SAVE25 to receive 25% off your order! Just think of the wide-eyed look on the kids' faces when they wake up Christmas morning to see a photo of SANTA in their own living room!  

Great Prizes and An Awesome Discount When You Like Melissa and Doug on Facebook

Melissa and Doug are very close to having 100,000 Facebook fans. For a while now, they've been giving away a Trunki to one fan every time they gain 1,000 new fans. When they reach 100,000 fans, they'll be giving away some VERY awesome prizes. They also promise a "Special Offer" to all of their Facebook fans when they reach their goal. I don't know what this offer will be, but this is a pretty generous company, so I can only imagine that it will be great! So, if you don't already "like" them on Facebook, head on over and do it now to get in on the fun!

*I'm not getting anything for this post. I just thought that you might be interested in learning about this offer!

Small Business Saturday is HERE!

Here it is, Small Business Saturday! I'm not really sure it's as big as many make it out to be, but give it time - new ideas always take a while to really take effect. So, for my part in this new movement, I'm doing two things: First, I'm urging you to hit the small, non-corporation businesses this year to shop for gifts and services. Next, I'd like to share with you some of the small online businesses I've had the pleasure of doing business with. I've checked for discounts and deals on each site - some had them, some didn't. Don't assume that there won't be any sales, etc. if I haven't listed them. I'm sure that many are probably waiting for Cyber Monday (and a few I came across had Black Friday-only deals.)

I can update this list, so if you know of a great small business please let me know. I'll need the name of the company, the URL, and a description of what they sell. And if they have any sales going on, let me know - what the sale is, when it ends, and if there's a discount code I'll need that, too! If your shop is listed and I haven't represented your discount properly (or completely missed one!) let me know ASAP. The fastest way to get my attention is via the Contact Me page.


Kids 

ElJay Plushie Hand-cut original appliqué cloth baby books, original soft fleece baby rattles and stuffed animals.

 Laugh Rabbit Jr.  Hand-sewn children’s items. From pillowcases to tooth fairy pillows to baby blankets and toys.

 Olive and Ollie  Modern quilts, chenille bibs, handmade appliqué tees, chenille blankets, lounge sets and pants, dresses, custom birthday shirts, custom birthday lounge sets.

 Beanie Designs  Handmade baby and children’s hats Always free shipping to US. Facebook fans get 10% off (look for code in the “About” section on FB sidebar)

 Freckles Crafts  Freckles Craft Kits offer convenient, safe, educational and fun craft projects for children ages three and older. Each craft kit contains everything you need to create a cute, fun, gift quality craft with your child and includes simple detailed instructions. With a wide range of materials to make paper crafts, wood crafts, and beaded crafts, Freckles Craft Kits can offer something for everyone's interest and ability. Free shipping on orders over $25 with code SANTA

Memorable Children’s Books and Gifts  You can receive a discount of 10-15% on the items listed on the page that I have linked to. Additionally, you will get a free place mat of your choice with every order! Sale ends 11/26. Also, look for Cyber Monday deals!

 Gummy Lump  Melissa & Doug, ALEX, and many other toys at great discounts! 40% ALL Toys sale!!! Everything in store marked down until Tuesday.

Frozen Creek Woodworks Quality handcrafted wood toys, home decor, and bookmarks made with reclaimed, repurposed and other woods that might otherwise be discarded. Prices reflect mark-downs for holidays.

Home 

4th Street Candle Co.  Handmade dye-free soy candles  (The scents are wonderful and last!)

8daysOfTreasures  Moss Terrariums, Nature Photography, Wall Decor, Vintage items, Jewelry Through Dec. 6, the code: BLACKFRIDAY will get 25% off  at checkout.

Amore Vivo  Unique Gifts, Speciality Florals, Peacock Feather Wreaths, Wine Ark, Cork Wall Art, Upcycled Cork Decor, Heart Wreaths, Summer Wreaths, Fall Autumn Wreaths, Handmade Heart Wreaths, Silk Everlasting Rose Arrangements, Home Decor, Italian and Wine Art and Wine Gifts for the Wine Lover,Wine Bottle Toppers and More! Looking to send Flowers? Make them last all year with realistic silk arrangements, I can ship right to your recipients door! *Also - Fresh Michigan Evergreen Centerpieces available for the holidays!*

Camp Honeybelle  Mid-century mod design, campy 1950's housewives, kitschy kitchens, atomic decor, retro school supplies, old books, vintage clothing. If someone on your list likes vintage, you've got to check out this shop!

The Peaceful Housewife  Safe, natural handmade cleaning products, bar soaps, and candles. 35% off all Peaceful Housewife products (all prices reflect discount – no code needed!)


For Her

MelJoy Creations  Hand-woven beaded jewelry at very affordable prices. You can request custom orders, but you may be pushing it if you wait too long! You can get a huge 25% discount with the code: SBS25 Today only!

 Party in My Pants  Mama cloth! If you’ve never tried cloth, you can request a free sample – just pay shipping! I held onto my free sample for months before I finally had the guts to try it out. I'm in love! (If anyone wants to send me a Christmas gift, this is it! LOL)

Cynical Redhead Creations  Handmade jewelry and accessories. For sales, coupon codes, etc. become a FB fan http://www.facebook.com/CynicalRedheadCreations

 Khara Ledonne  Amazingly small paintings inside lockets – unique! She will do custom orders, so make sure to get in touch ASAP if you have something special in mind.


Paper Goods/Cards

 Scrapin’ Sara’s Gifts  Great handmade greeting cards, gift tags, and gifts. Sara ALWAYS includes free surprises with every order, which amazes me since her prices are already so low! Get 20% off through the month of December with the code: THANKYOU

Budugalee Cards  Vintage handmade cards. You won’t find anything like these anywhere else! Cards are made with vintage photographs that have been altered – with colors, sparkles, even random objects. You’ll find cards from hilarious to serious. And, if you can’t find it – just ask! Custom orders are a specialty!

Now that's I've got my list together, I just know that I'm missing some shops. It's now 3:42am and I'm done thinking for the day (night? morning?) PLEASE don't hesitate to let me know about any sales, discounts, or great affordable small businesses that I should be sharing here! I will try my best to update this list (or maybe even write another post or two) throughout the day on...

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY!

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

I know that many of my readers prefer to give their children wooden toys and toys powered by their children's own imaginations. So, I'm going to assume that many of you will be checking out Melissa & Doug this holiday season. If so, here's a very fun and easy way to get a whopping 25% off your order!

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Baby Nari Hip Hugger Giveaway Winner!

The winner of this giveaway is one lucky person! I have been using my Hip Hugger for Little Guy often and it sure has made a difference in how I feel after going for long walks. And you can be sure that I'll be using my Hip Hugger for Trick-or-Treating tonight, too!
So, without further ado - CONGRATULATIONS to Shirley! I'll be sending you an email soon...

 I'd like to thank Baby Nari for sponsoring this great giveaway. What a great and useful product!!! If you didn't win, you can still get a deal: Sign up for their newsletter and receive $15 off your order with the code: BABYNARI15 plus, you can get FREE shipping on orders over $50! If you consider how much a storller costs and remember that the Hip Hugger pretty much eliminates the need for one, the cost of this product is a great investment. (Plus, you can use it for many kids, pass it on to someone else, etc. without worrying about it breaking or needing to have replacement parts - wear & tear is minimal!)

MelJoy Creations - Review and Extra (Easy) Entry {#MadeInMichigan}

This is a review for one of my sponsors of the Made in Michigan Blog Giveaway Hop, which will take place from October 28 – November 2. I will be offering my readers the chance to win a (Hand)Made in Michigan prize package worth nearly $200! Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Etsy shop and then fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a very easy extra entry into the giveaway.


MelJoy Creations is located in Sebewaing, MI - right in the "thumb" on the edge of Saginaw Bay. I've been to the general area just a few times and it's just beautiful! It is the perfect inspirational place for the gorgeous pieces of jewelry that the mother-daughter team (Melissa & Joy) create.

I can't tell you how excited I was to hear from Melissa that she would be interested in participating in this giveaway hop. Just one look at the thumbnail images at MelJoy Creations will tell you how much creativity goes into each piece. I'm finding it hard to resist showing you each and every bracelet, necklace and set of earrings! Each piece of hand-woven beaded jewelry is made with such craftsmanship using quality beads, crystals, and gemstones. You'll be able to find the perfect item for any occasion - from wedding to everyday - here.

For this review, Melissa created a beautiful bracelet for me. She asked me what colors I like and I just didn't know what to say. My reply was something along the lines of, "Natural colors - green, brown, blue. Just anything natural." Um, yeah. THAT certainly must have given her a lot of help! But, somehow, she managed to send me something that is perfect. This bracelet goes with just about every piece of clothing I own - no kidding! And I absolutely love the Flat Spiral Weave because it looks casual enough to wear with jeans and a T-shirt, yet it would also fit perfectly with a formal dress. Oh, and I feel confident that I'm not going to break it while playing Hot Wheels - LOL!

This is my bracelet!

I just cannot fathom the amount of time that must go into a single bracelet, let alone a necklace! It turns out that each piece can take anywhere from hours to several days. And, when you consider the materials, time, and concentration that must go into each, it's hard to believe that the prices are so low. And, until October 31, you can use the discount code: BOO20 to receive 20% off your entire order from MelJoy Creations. Just look at this gorgeous Woven Spiral Bracelet with Swarovski Pearls and Crystals below and consider that it is only $24 ($19.20 with discount!) And, then, consider how much time it must have taken to complete and try to think of the cost of the materials added to that. Someone is getting short-changed here, and I don't think it's the buyer! I cannot imagine anyone who wears jewelry would not be able to find a piece that suits her at MelJoy Creations. Customizations are welcome and they will work with you to find the perfect piece, almost always at *no additional cost*! So, if you see a color combination that you like, but not in the patter you like (or vice-versa), just ask.

And one more thing before this post gets too long! You can order children's jewelry, too. Made with Fireline, the kids' pieces have added strength to keep the bracelets in one piece and looking pretty. Sizes for children range from Newborn to Teen, so you're sure to be able to find a bracelet that is the perfect fit!

You can also find MelJoy Creations on Facebook and their Blog. Make sure to follow both to keep updated on discounts, new pieces, and to learn about how the business of jewelry-making and bead-weaving works (check out this really interesting post!)


Disclosure: I received one custom flat spiral weave bracelet for the purpose of this review. No other form of compensation has been received. All opinions are my own.

8daysOfTreasures - Review and Extra (Easy) Entry {#MadeInMichigan}

This is a review for one of my sponsors of the Made in Michigan Blog Giveaway Hop, which will take place from October 28 – November 2. I will be offering my readers the chance to win a (Hand)Made in Michigan prize package worth nearly $200! Please take a moment to read about this wonderful Etsy shop and then fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a very easy extra entry into the giveaway.




 This Etsy shop is very aptly named. 8daysOfTreasures is filled with a variety of amazing items! What first caught my eye in this shop, based in Mount Pleasant, were the Moss Terrariums. If you know me, you know my inclination toward anything that has to do with nature. But these aren't just any old terrariums. Their containers are beautiful and come in just about every shape and size imaginable. The shop's owner, Stephanie, up-cycles jars, pitchers, and even salt and pepper shakers into little ecosystems that you can watch grow and flourish. The moss is collected from her own yard, then layered in the containers with carbon, small pebbles, and soil. The carbon works to keep everything clean. All you have to do is mist with water once or twice a week and enjoy your own little bit of Michigan!

But that's not all you'll find at 8daysOfTreasures. You'll discover some beautiful handmade jewelry and scarves, too! I especially love the eclectic mixture of glass, bone, shell, and wood beads used to make the bracelets. Each one is unique and the mixture of different textures and colors all come together to create a one-of-a-kind work of art. 

 
And I cannot forget to mention the huge assortment of Vintage and Antique items that Stephanie has collected for your shop-at-home pleasure! You'll find everything from glass candy dishes to antique books, vintage jars to candy dishes. I swear, this portion of 8daysOfTreasures reminds me of my grandmother's house! I used to drink "coffee" (hot cocoa with a few drops of decaf  sprinkled on top) in a cup just like the one on the right!


And I've saved the very best for last: Stephanie is a very talented photographer. She's managed to capture some wondrous bits of Michigan that I could look at for hours. She has beautiful photos of forests, trees, and amazing autumn leaves. Then there are those shots of wildlife that I could wait a lifetime for the opportunity to come across (then somehow manage to blur into obscurity!) I mean, you have got to check out this Frog - the colors almost make him (?) appear to be metallic! And don't even get me started on her abstract photos - simply breathtaking! And here's the great part - you can order her work in just about any size/form imaginable. From a basic 4" x 6" photo to a large 20" x 24" canvas print to a jigsaw puzzle! You can see the many other options at the shop policies page. Check out the beautiful photos that I had the pleasure to receive for this review:

 "8daysOfTreasures", as I said before, really describes Stephanie's Etsy shop better than any other name I could think of. I mean, really, you could probably get the majority of your holiday shopping done all at once. And her prices are so low... PLUS, she's currently holding a sale - you can get a whopping 20% off your entire order simply by entering the code: AUTUMNSALE11 at checkout until November 30! And, to stay informed of new items and sales (plus to get ahead on the Made in Michigan entries), you can find 8daysOfTreasures on Facebook!

  I received a set of 4"X6" photographs for the purpose of writing this review, which will become part of the giveaway prize. I received no other form of compensation. All opinions are my own.

Too Big for a Stroller, BUT... {Review & #GIVEAWAY - Ends 10/30}

If you've read my blog often enough, you know that we don't have a car for many reasons. This leaves us a few alternatives: ride the bus, ask a friend for a ride, or walk. The bus is nice, but the schedule and routes aren't always convenient, plus it costs a dollar each way (when we all go, that means $6 just to get there and back - more than gas!) Once a month, we carpool to the grocery store with a friend to get our frozen, bulk, and heavy stuff, but asking for a ride every time we want to go somewhere becomes annoying to friends with cars! Plus, we don't have a car because we chose NOT to drive everywhere in the first place. So, we walk more often than not.

Last summer, we took our stroller everywhere with us - to the park, outdoor concerts, the store... Little Guy would run alongside it for a block or two at a time, then ask to sit in the stroller. The stroller was a pain, though. You couldn't push it through grass easily, taking it into stores was sometimes impossible, someone had to always be watching it so no one would take it when we were at our destination and taking a child into crowds with a stroller can be dangerous! People tend to hold cigarettes at the eye-level of a child who's sitting in a stroller. We had a couple of near-misses at the River Raisin Jazz Festival last year.

This summer, we pretty much ditched the stroller. I can't tell you how free it felt to leave it at home. Little Guy was able to walk farther distances (actually, he runs everywhere), but he still needed to be carried sometimes. We live a mile away from our favorite park, the post office, and downtown - the three places we go most often. That means 2 miles round-trip, plus whatever walking/running we do while we're there. I almost always end up carrying Little Guy the last 1/2 mile home, oh, along with whatever we happened to take with us and/or buy while we were out. I have arthritis in my hands, elbows, shoulders, and knees. Plus, I get nice little flare ups of sciatica from time to time. Carrying him usually results in some major pains for me later on!

So, what's the solution? Baby Nari's Hip Hugger! I cannot give enough praises to this wonderful product. It is basically a fanny pack with a little seat for little ones. If only I'd had this for the past two summers... Well, can't go back and change time - I have one now and love it! There is a nice-sized storage pocket where I can keep an extra pair pf pants and underwear, sunscreen, snacks, etc. The Hip Hugger also has storage pockets on the inside of the waist strap for keeping money, an ID, etc. safe. PLUS, there is a mesh pocket on the outside where we keep Little Guy's water (or whatever car he's decided absolutely must go bye-bye with us.)

The Hip Hugger isn't just a fancy fanny pack, though. The waist strap is very wide 5 inches and padded so it distributes the weight evenly. It has both Velcro and a safety strap to ensure it will stay on and stay snug (Baby Nari recommends that you keep the belt tight to stay comfortable.) And, it's easy to change the size of the belt buckle, so two parents can use the Hip Hugger without having to go through a huge mess of trouble changing the size (it fits waists up to 40 inches.) The seat has a little heart of non-skid material to keep a wiggly child from slipping and constantly needing readjustment.

There are two versions of the Hip Hugger: Infant and Toddler. We, of course, have the toddler one, which can hold a child up to 40 pounds! I has an angled seat which tilts the child closer to your body, making it easier to carry them. The baby version can be used as support for a tired arm when they are tiny. As soon as baby can sit on his or her own, you can use it in the same way as the toddler version. It can be used from 5 months old (15 lbs.)

Oh, and did I mention that they come in a ton of COLORS?!

I can't wait to use this in the winter. We were pretty much stuck at home last winter because strollers aren't made for snow and ice and Little Guy couldn't go very far - snow take a LOT of hard work to walk through! Carrying him with all of the bulky clothes between us was nearly impossible - he was constantly slipping, making him pretty much dead weight. We'll be able to go so many more places this year - no cabin fever for us!

Baby Nari Hip Huggers are available to buy HERE. With the code: BABYNARI you can get $20 off your order. Oh, and shipping is free for orders over $50!

So, would you like one? Maybe you know someone with a baby or toddler who could really use one? Fill out the Rafflecopter form and give it a shot!

WINNER of Syrendell giveaway!

I was so happy to see those last-minute entries for this Silk Ribbon Streamer Stick! It really is a great toy. I remember, when I was younger, and the 1984 summer Olympics was on all of my friends' parents' TV's - we used to pretend to be the gymnasts in the backyard, and no one had one of those really cool ribbon sticks like we saw on TV. We made our own with sticks and long pieces of grass! This is so much better!

So, congrats to #78 Stacy, it goes to show that, sometimes, those late entries really do pay off! Whoever you give this to (or maybe you'll use it yourself!), will be very lucky!

Stacy said... 78

Syrendell fb fan gingeroo616 at ______dot com oursafehaven

Yes, there's a coupon code! And, let me tell you, it's the coolest code ever!!!

Just used the code KARMA1 through June 30
at Syrendell to receive 15% off your order! 

You really have to check out 

all of the really cool stuff they have. 

I really love the wood people -

perfect for painting or felting!