CSN Winner

And the winner of the $80 CSN gift certificate is: #20 traciet

Who said: I would to get paula deen cookware in red!

traciet, you have 2 days to claim your prize! I'm sending you an email right now. So please email me back our I'll have to choose a new winner.

Thank you CSN for providing a great prize and everyone who entered.



I had one duplicate comment (actually someone who posted 2 comments). So I ignored one of her comments and skipped it when I was counting to get the winner.

(I really need to figure out how to do the screen capture thingy of the random.org site)

CSN Stores, Extra Seating, and a Giveaway

*Contest Over - Winner is traciet*

Now that the Holidays are here and we have more family gatherings, I find that we need a few more places for people to sit. The floor is always good and that is where I tend to sit when there are no chairs left but not everyone can sit on the floor. Another option might be to use home bar furniture like bar stools. CSN has a great selection of bar stools and pub tables from modern to traditional to outdoor styles.

I really like the shape of this bar stool. It's fun.


I have a few friends that have pub style tables and I really like them. I like their height. This would be the table and chair set I'd choose. I think my style leans more towards simple clean lines with a bit of traditional in the mix. Actually, this set looks similar to our Amish made table and chair set we have now.



You can find so much more at CSN's 200+ stores than you'd have imagined. I'm really loving this sandbox and think that we need to upgrade our plastic ladybug sandbox to this much larger and nicer box.



Buttercup and Pony would adore this vanity and the standing mirror would go great in their room near their dress-up center.




And I think that every kid should have an easel for maximum art production.




If you remember, I reviewed a toddler bed last year and found CSN a great company to work with. They have quality products and great service.

Giveaway

I have a great surprise for you. CSN Stores has allowed me to offer my readers and guests an $80 gift certificate to their stores. I'm going to make this giveaway really simple to enter with just one mandatory entry question (which gives everyone one entry into the giveaway).

Rules and How to Enter

• Mandatory Entry: Visit CSN stores and leave a comment on this post with something you found that you think makes a great gift for a friend or family member.
• giveaway ends December 19, 2010 at 11:59 pm est.
  
• winner will be chosen using random.org sequence generator, first number listed is the winner according to comment order on blog post.
• winner will be contacted by email shortly after giveaway ends (or the next morning) and will have 2 days to respond (from time/date stamp on email) in order to claim their prize or a new winner will be drawn.
  
• please have your email available in your profile or leave it in your comment (if I can't send you an email, you can't win).
• one entry per person (please don't leave multiple comments. The first comment will be your entry and all others will be thrown out)
  
• giveaway is open to US and Canada residents (anyone may enter even if you know me in real life or have never met me as long as you live in the US or Canada. Random.org picks the winners)
  
• shipping charges may apply
• rules and dates subject to change
• sponsor is responsible for prizes
  

And just because I'm curious, what do you use for extra seating?




***********
disclosure:
I was not paid to write this post and did not receive any compensation; however, I am a CSN preferred blogger and have received review products in the past. CSN stores offered to provide my readers with a giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Fall into Cooking with Skin MD Naturals

Skin MD Natural is hosting an amazing Fall into Cooking giveaway. You can win a ceramic cooking set and a years supply of Skin MD Natural. I don't know about you, but my skin is already starting to feel the cold snap of the wind with dry, itchy hands. And I could use some new pans. These are gorgeous! I'm heading over right now to enter, are you?

The giveaway starts Oct. 23 and ends Nov. 20. To enter, visit the giveaway page at Skin MD Natural.

In addition to a fun giveaway, Skin MD Natural is offering 20% off unitil Nov. 30. Just enter the discount code FALL10 during check out at www.skinmdnatural.com

(I'm not hosting this giveaway. To enter, you need to visit the link above)

Babywearing Love

Have you heard that your choice of how you carry your baby might be in danger? That is your choice on using carriers (ring slings, mei tais, pouch slings etc). The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commision) is going after all carriers warning that they are unsafe.

The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) is working to create standards for carriers and promote education on the proper usage of slings. You can read the BCIA's mission statement and position here.

My love of babywearing began early in the year 2007. I didn't know anyone who used slings and didn't know of any classes in my area to learn from. I researched lots of information and styles of slings to see what was the best. I still wasn't sure if it was for me so I looked up patterns to make my own figuring if I didn't like it, I was only out some material and time. I created a pouch sling from a pattern I found at Karma Baby. A few months after that, I won a ring sling from Posh Papoose and I was hooked! My next purchase was a mei tai from Bloo Kangaroo which I love. I've made a couple more pouches for friends and received a few more pouches and ring slings.

I can't imagine not using slings with babies and toddlers. I'm able to do so much:

• keep them close while in public.
  
• get things finished.
  
• offer comfort and a cozy place to sleep.
• a ride when their legs get tired from walking
• a different point of view
• safety
• snuggles
• love
  

and so much more!

Anyone can use slings. I'm an aunt and use them to carry my nieces. My Mom has used them to carry her granddaughters. I've used them with friends' babies I was caring for. My Dad has even used them once or twice. Sadly, my babywearing days are currently on hold since the girls are getting so big. We've used the mei tai only a few times in the last year.

If you have any questions about babywearing search the internet for any local classes near you. I would have loved to attend some classes and might in the future. I'd love to try wrapping next.

Make sure to visit Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing before Oct. 10, 2010 to see more stories of babywearing, get more information about the BCIA, and share your own story to be entered for a Sakura Bloom Ring Sling (which are amazing and I'd love to own).

feisty frugal & fabulous and natura world mattress

Sorry about the last minute notice but I'd really love to win this twin mattress from Natura World (and I'd like the extra points from telling you about it)

Feisty Frugal & Fabulous and Natura World are giving away a twin Moonbeam mattress. Enter by tonight at 9pm cst.

The oldest doesn't fit on the toddler bed anymore and she complains every time she has to sleep on it. We've taken to putting the mattress on the floor so that she has a bit more room to move around and boy does she move around.

Wordless Wednesday: Goodwill Refashion

Before

After

Want to see more Wordless Wednesday: WW at 5minsformom or WW

Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Welcome to my piece of the internet. Pull up a hammock or a swing, which happens to be our favorite places to sit, and grab a handful of M&Ms. I'm currently working on several handfuls now so grab another handful and catch up. (I just looked back at my UBP post from 2009 and I was eating M&Ms then as well. Those were fancy Spring colors. Today you just get the regular colors.)

My name is lace and I started this blog back in March of 2007 on a whim. I focused on giveaway listings in the beginning and slowly worked a bit more personal stuff in. Now I mostly blog about days with Buttercup and Pony (my nieces). And the giveaway listings I post are at Prizey where I am the Assistant Editor. If you've submitted a giveaway listing to Prizey, I'm the one who edits them and posts them to the site. Hi!

Speaking of prizes there are tons to be won at the UBP 2010!

These are my top choices:

The Grand Prize - Toshiba Laptop
USC17 - $200 apple gift certificate
US3 - $150 A Rocking Horse to Love
Us63 - Razor Rip Rider 360
US1 - $150 Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles

Or any of these: us: 10, 51, 75, 112, 89, 73, 74, 87,
usc: 57, 8, 3, 15, 37, 61, 60, 39, 35,

Actually, I'd be happy with anything really.

Good Luck everyone and have a great time at the UBP 2010!

Dam, Who Lives Here?

I don't know about your kids but the girls love playing on the computer. Some of their favorite activities are:

• Typing their names using Word

• Listening to music on grooveshark (because you can pick which songs and how often you hear them) in our rotation is: Gotta Pebble in my Shoe - Ella Fitzgerald and That's How you Know (Enchanted) - Amy Adams (that's it over and over and over)

• Watching various Youtube videos

• Playing games at PlayhouseDisney, NickJr, HighlightsKids, Peep

This post is about one particular game they like to play at Peep and the Big Wide World. Have you seen Peep? It's a really cute cartoon about a chick (Peep), a bird (Chirp), a duck (Quack) and various animal friends.

On to the game, it's called House Hunt. It's basically a memory matching game where you match an animal with its house. When you click on a leaf it tells you the name of the animal or what kind of house is on the leaf. Along the way, you get some questions and encouraging words like "Who lives here?," "Rabbit," "Good Job!," "Nice going!" "Where does this animal live?,".

One animal friend that lives here is a beaver and the beaver lives in a dam. And I can't help it. I laugh every time I hear the girls play this game (yes I am easily amused). "Beaver, Where does this animal live? Dam! Good Job!" or "Dam, Who lives here?"

You really should play the game to hear how it sounds. So funny.


*I had a .wav file I created of the game but I don't know how to put it here and it's really late and I'm too tired to try and figure it out. I'll try again later. In the meantime, go play the game. It's really fun.

Bedtime Conversations

Pony: I can't reach my water (said with a pitiful fake cry)
Me: I guess you better grow
Pony: I don't wanna grow. It's smarter to be a kid. Buttercup (older sister) will freak out if I grow.

P: It's too hard to sleep in a bed (sitting up)
M: lay down and try (slightly annoyed voice)
P: But grandpa sleeps up
M: Yes, he does sometimes. Lay down.

Other conversations that took place:

Why Puff the Magic Dragon song doesn't have a girl in it (the book version has the lyrics changed to 'A dragon lives forever but not so little girls and boys'. We were listening to the original version by Peter, Paul and Mary)

Wondering where a cardboard house went that was on display at the library and if she could get her grandpa to make her one.

And a few complaints and questions:

Can't find my pillow, can't reach my pillow, it's too dark, the lights too bright, I don't like my bed, I don't want to be here, where's mommy, daddy, grandma, grandpa, what's that noise, where's my water, I'm hungry, I don't like covers

and finally she pulled up the covers; snuggled closer to me and was quiet.

The Crazy Cycle of Hair Ties

I think I've been on a break long enough. I just realized I haven't posted anything here in over a month. That's the longest break I've ever taken. I'm sure I've lost all of my readers (all 2 of them that aren't actually related to me or a great friend) If not say Hi and let me know you are still here.

Nothing profound to post about today just an observation I made a few weeks ago. I have a lot of hair things and they all end up on my bedside table. Often through the day, I pull my hair back or at least part of it to get it out of my face. Then I go to bed and take it out and put it on my table. The next day, I go looking for another hair thing and usually get a new one out. I also have 2 little nieces that contribute to the hair band clutter on my table. Well I cleaned my table and found:

4 headbands
18 bands (elastics)
10 little girl bands
5 cloth bands
7 barrettes
3 bobby pins
4 clips

I was going to take a picture but one of the girls got into them all and scattered them on the kitchen table so I just scooped them all up and deposited them in the bathroom cabinet.

I looked today and there is a new pile growing on my bedside table. It's going to be a never ending cycle of cleaning up hair ties.