Etsy Spotlight/Giveaway ~ Wren Willow

The Winner of the $25 Gift Certificate to the fantastic shop Wren Willow is EllyBean! I will be contacting you shortly. Congratulations and I am sure you will enjoy whatever item you choose from the shop!!



It wasn’t too long ago that we found out we were having a little girl. A slew of emotions flew through my mind, landing on mainly that I don’t have any clue what to do with a little girl. I have a son and have grown to know more about trucks and dinosaurs than I do about politics and the economy (what I went to college for). So knowing that in a few months, I will be dealing with ribbons and bows freaks me out, to say the least.

Thanks goodness there is a cute little Etsy shop out there like Wren Willow, my newest obsession, to say the least. With hand-drawn, hand-painted, and hand-dyed hip and colorful tees and onesies, I haven’t been able to stop drooling over each and every new piece this exceptional little shop has to offer. The colors are so rich and vibrant, and the items are SO unique, that your kid will look like even more of an individual than he or she already is.

You won’t find and ribbons and bows here either, and in all honesty, I couldn’t be happier. Knowing that Lily is going to be dressed in a 100%, one of a kind piece of clothing, I just can’t contain myself. Sure there are a few pink items to choose from, but with options like the Winter Tree and the Bright Spring Green Peacock, any color she wears will make her look stunning.

Yes, of course, I also have a little boy who I have not forgotten. And he looks just as endearing in his Tye-Dye Tortise Tee as could be, but I am also ogling over the Peace Loving Robot and the Classic Car Tee as well. My guess is, a few of these amazing pieces of work are going to make their way under our Christmas tree this year, the problem is…will Santa be addressing them to ME or to my little ones?!

At Wren Willow, there is an amazing assortment and variety of pieces to choose from, even with the option to get pieces custom made in a different size, in case you are in love with a print, but it just won’t fit. So mosey on over and check out the shop, you will not be disappointed. And if you are trying to find that perfect gift for a new mom (or mom-to-be), this shop will give you something special to give. But hey, if you just wanna spoil your own little ones at home, that’s okay too.

WIN IT!

Marla over at Wren Willow wanted to make sure that one of my very lucky readers got a chance to get their hands on their very own unique piece of wearable art and is offering up a $25 gift certificate to a random Mommy Instincts winner! All you have to do is check out Wren Willow, and come back here and let me know what you would spend your $25 on.

The fine print:

*Contest ends Monday November 24, 2008 at 11:59pm CDT.

*Contest open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, just make sure to leave an email address in your comment, so I can contact you.

*Winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator and with have 48 hours from initial congratulatory email to respond. If original winner does not respond, and alternate winner will be chosen.
*Don't worry, by entering my giveaway I won't keep your info for any future use!

Etsy Spotlight/Giveaway ~ Diaper Bag Wrangler (updated with winner!)

Congratulations to Stacy (#14) with her winning comment of:

All are really cute and handy. My fave fabric is Double Vision Black and White Geometric.

I will be emailing you shortly regarding your prize!


I am an over-packer. There…I said it. And I fully admit it. I have this thing about packing every…single…item that could ever be needed when we leave the house. Yeah, it’s great to have all those things on hand, but also is quite a pain to lug around such a heavy diaper bag.

With my son being 19 months old, I have learned to widdle down the “necessities”, and have been known to leave the house with a package of fruit snacks shoved in one pocket and a diaper and a pack of wipes in my purse. And not only am I usually scrambling feverishly for one of those items at any given moment, I am doing it with a 30 pound toddler in my arms.

That’s where the Diaper and Wipes Organizer from the Etsy Shop The Diaper Bag Wrangler comes in. A cute, fancy little pouch that keeps all those emergency items in their place, and always within reach, so those seconds that tick by like hours while you are looking for a binky for a screaming child are narrowed down majorly. Not only is the loop addition genius, but it can be attached and hooked to not only a stroller or purse, you can also quickly grab it and go in a hurry. I keep mine hanging on a hook by our front door (pre-packed of course!), so as I dash out in a flash to our next playdate or weekly activity, I know where to find it and it knows where to find me!

Okay, so the logistics of this thing are amazing, but lets talk about the look. A mama is ALWAYS wanting to look her best right, and a cute toddler hanging off the arm is only ONE accessory, the more the merrier, right?? If you are anything like me, accessory is key, so you want even your choice of diaper bag to either compliment your outfit or your personality, or heck…how about BOTH?!?! The patterns and colors offered are to die for, and you can’t tell me that you can’t find at least one (or in my case two, three, four…) that you fall in love with. My personal faves are the Ink Japanese Theme Print and the Midnight Navy and White Flowers.

Which one is your favorite?

WIN IT!

You didn’t think I was going to let you leave empty-handed now did you? One lucky Mommy Instincts reader is going to be the proud owner of their very own Diaper and Wipes Organizer from The Diaper Bag Wrangler. All you need to do it visit the shop, and come back here and tell me what pattern of the Diaper and Wipes Organizer is your favorite! It’s as easy as that! And you just might be the winner and get to sport it around town yourself!

The fine print:
*Contest ends Sunday November 9, 2008 at 11:59pm CDT.
*Contest open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, just make sure to leave an email address in your comment, so I can contact you.
*Winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator and with have 48 hours from initial congratulatory email to respond. If original winner does not respond, and alternate winner will be chosen.

*Don't worry, by entering my giveaway I won't keep your info for any future use!

Etsy Spotlight ~ "Lil' Peeper Keeper's"

UPDATED WITH WINNER!

Congratulations emcmenemy! I will email you shortly for your shipping info so I can get your gift certificate out to you shortly! Congrats again and thnks to everyone who entered.

When it comes to babywearing, I am still quite the novice. My one and only child is only 17 months old and aside from the few times he falls or is tired, isn’t quite the fan of being held or carried. His new found freedom of walking keeps him from wanting to be tied down to anyone or anything for an extended period of time. Now, that does not mean I have not been exposed to a large number of various sling and carriers by hanging out with the group of mama’s that I do. I am pretty sure that every mama in our tribe has a sling of some sort, so I have seen many, many designs and styles in the last year or so. Yet, I began babywearing kind of late in the game, and the little guy wasn’t quite the fan. But, luckily I am pregnant with Baby Number Two, so I am getting a second chance! There is a plethora of slings, wraps, and mei tai’s that I so desperately want, so I can start wearing the new baby from day one.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to get a chance to try out a gorgeous wrap from a cute little Etsy Shop called Lil Peeper Keeper’s recently, and seriously, I am now begging for this baby to get here sooner than March of 2009. Rebecca, LPK’s owner and creator sent over the Lightweight Chocolate Reversible Wrap and from the moment I opened that package and laid my eyes of the print and touched the ever so soft jersey cotton fabric I was hooked! I couldn’t wait to pop in the instructional DVD (since this is my first wrap) and find out exactly how this long piece of gorgeous fabric was going to securely hold my baby. The DVD was SO informative and the greatest tool in me quickly mastering the art of the baby wrap! There is no way I could have figured all that out by written instructions, or even still frame pictures. Within minutes, I was ready to try it out, and after seeing Rebecca use a wrap with her own toddler in the video, I decided to toss the baby doll I was going to test it out on to the side and hoist my 28 pound baby boy right on in. It held him so safely and securely as I jiggled him this way and that to see just how strong it was. He was content to stay in there for a bit and I felt as though I could walk around the block with him in it with both hands free to swing. I couldn’t believe such a simple piece of fabric could hold my big boy! And the fact that when not in use, it is no bigger than a folded up t-shirt, so tossing it in the diaper bag is something I may actually do since it won’t take up too much room.

Aside from the amazing wraps you can find in a plethora of colors (with elegant new fall colors, like Cranberry, Pumpkin, and Truffle), prints, and fabrics over at Lil Peeper Keeper’s, you can find Ring Slings and Pouches, and Blankies and Burp Clothes (as well as a MAJOR SALES section, I mean seriously, who doesn’t love a sale?!?!). I love on so many of them; I absolutely cannot choose what my next selection from LPK will be!

WIN IT!

You didn’t think I forgot about you did I? Of course not! Rebecca wants to make sure that one of you gets your hands on one of her custom made baby carriers and is offering up a $25 Gift Certificate to one lucky Mommy Instincts reader! All you have to do it check out Lil’ Peeper Keeper’s and come back here and tell me what you would spend your gift certificate on (don’t worry, you can change your mind later if something strikes your fancy at a later time). The winner will receive the gift certificate via snail mail with instructions on how to go about using it. With the variety of items and prices, you are sure to find something to spoil yourself (and your baby of course) with.

And if you aren’t the lucky winner, you can still enjoy a little savings! Receive a 10% OFF your entire purchase by using the code “Mommy Instincts Blog” at checkout! One time use coupon code, but don't worry, it never expires, so if you are as indecisive as I am and it takes you days or weeks to commit to the perfect carrier, this code will still be waiting here, just for you!

The fine print:
*Contest ends Wednesday September 10, 2008 at 11:59pm CDT.
*Contest open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, just make sure to leave an email address in your comment, so I can contact you.
*Winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator and with have 48 hours from initial congratulatory email to respond. If original winner does not respond, and alternate winner will be chosen.
*Don't worry, by entering my giveaway I won't keep your info for any future use!

Etsy Spotlight ~ Amplify Me (**UPDATED WITH WINNER!)

Congratulations to Lynette for winning the Amplify Me Giveaway! I will be contacting you shortly for your mailing info so I can get your winnings out to you ASAP!!

I have found myself being a little smelly lately. I know, kinda gross right? Well, with the first trimester of my pregnancy, sheer lack of energy to spend any time on myself and not my son, and well, not caring too much what I look like (or smell like), my personal hygiene has sorta been lacking. Well luckily, an awesome little Etsy Shop called Amplify Me came to my rescue.

Amplify Me isn’t just your normal soap-making company, it came out of the ingenious minds of two 11 year old girls who wanted to make some dough, and some soap of course! I mean really, who wants to get a REAL job when you can tap into your creativity right there along with your BFF. Luckily Ash and Pait’s Mom’s were pretty good friends too, and besides approving to the great idea of making some money, they thought it would be the perfect way to spend some quality time together.

Like I said, the creations of Amplify Me aren’t just some run of the mill boring soaps and body frostings, the gals have come up with all sorts of scents and smells to chose from, like Coffee Mocha Cupcake, Island Orchard, and Hawaiian Breeze just to name a few. And the Body Frostings produce the most luxurious lathers I think I have ever seen. Let’s just say that no one could complain about me smelling bad after last night’s bath! And for those of you wondering exactly what they put into their products, natural ingredients and pure essential oils top the list. But for more info, you can check out their listings, as they do list all of the ingredients used in each and every product.

With the superb variety and extremely reasonable prices to be found over at Amplify Me, there is no reason why you shouldn’t stop by and grab yourself a few Gourmet Bath Bars or Body Frostings for yourself (or perfect for gift giving too). The girls will treat you right, as will their amazing bath products.

WIN IT!

You want to get your hands on some of the Amplify Me Goods?!?! Here’s your chance to win the items listed here: One bar of Snickerdoodle & Cappuccino, one bar of Hawaiian Breeze, one bar of Decadant Coffee Mocha, and one Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Frosting (Approx. $15 Value!) To enter, just visit their shop and come back here and tell me what favorite product is. It’s as simple as that!

The fine print:

*Contest ends Tuesday August 26, 2008 at 11:59pm CDT.

*Contest open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, just make sure to leave an email address in your comment, so I can contact you.

*Winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator and with have 48 hours from initial congratulatory email to respond. If original winner does not respond, and alternate winner will be chosen.

*Don't worry, by entering my giveaway I won't keep your info for any future use!

Etsy Spotlight ~ BreeLeeD's (update with winner!)

Congratulations to molly for winning the BreeLeeD giveaway! Thanks to all who entered and check back often for more giveaways!!

A few weeks back, on one of my many “window shopping” adventures on Etsy, I came across a really cool shop, “BreeLeeD’s”. Her shop houses a wide variety of neat and eclectic items that are sure to make you want to add them straight to your cart. And with the reasonable prices on everything she’s got there, you won’t feel like you have to break the PayPal Bank in order to score yourself a fancy piece or two. From charming little zipper pouches [$11-$15] to upcycled journals to fun little headbands [$8], Bree is bound to have something you “just have to have”.


The headbands that Bree self-constructs are absolutely amazing (I own three, I should know! lol). She uses some of the coolest fabrics I have ever seen and not to mention she takes pride in every one she hand stitches. With the professional top-stitching and use of interfacing within the headbands, these funky hairpieces will stand the test of time in regards to quality AND fashion. But the one deciding factor, that made me fall head over heels for them, was that they are literally the PERFECT size. They stay on my head no matter what, and keep all the hair out of my face, all day long. And did I mention the comfort? Because, I seriously forget I am even wearing it, until someone gives me a nice compliment or I catch a glance of myself in the mirror!


WIN WIN WIN!


Bree has generously offered up 2 of her headbands (the ones pictures here) to giveaway to one of my readers (a $16 value). All you have to do is go check out her shop, and come back here and tell me what your favorite item is in her store, it’s as simple as that!



The fine print:
*Contest ends Sunday July 20, 2008 at 11:59pm CDT.
*Contest open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, just make sure to leave an email address in your comment, so I can contact you.
*Winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator and with have 48 hours from initial congratulatory email to respond. If original winner does not respond, and alternate winner will be chosen.
*Don't worry, by entering my giveaway I won't keep your info for any future use!

Etsy Spotlight ~ Creative Cat Creations (updated with winner!)

The Winner of the Giveaway is....anavarre1331 with her comment "I am a lavendar freak! So, naturally, I think Fresh Lavender Petals sounds lovely. I'm also quite interested in what Beach bum baby smells like. If it smells like my girls i'll buy you out ;)"

I will be emailing you shortly for you candle choices and mailing address. Congrats!



One day, I decided to get crafty. Okay, maybe that’s not so true, BUT I will say that one day I got bored, and decided to take up a hobby. That hobby led to some pretty cool results. Those results are Soy Wax Candles. Now, I know there are lots of people out there who make Soy Wax Candles, but personally, I think mine are pretty cool too. Once I got the hang of the art of making candles, I decided to open up a shop on Etsy (see previous post if you still don’t know what Etsy is!) and call it Creative Cat Creations. I sell all my goods there, have made some amazing friends on there, and have found a community of folks who have a knack for making some pretty cool stuff and want to share them with the world.

Now here’s the fun part, a GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am giving away one 8 ounce Soy Wax Jar Candle and one 4 ounce Soy Wax Tin Candle of the winners choice (one winner will win both candles!). All you have to do is comment on this post about which candle in my shop you like best!

*Contest ends Sunday July 6, 2008 at 11:59pm CDT.
*Contest open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, just make sure to leave an email address in your comment, so I can contact you.

*Winner will be chosen at random by a random number generator.
* Don't worry, by entering my giveaway I won't keep your info for any future use!