December Sponsor Giveaway!

Happy December everyone!

All of the following shops and blogs are my large sponsors, and they are each offering one or more items for this huge, one winner giveaway! Last month I did multiple winners but in the spirit of the holidays I thought it would be fun for one person to win it all.

All you have to do is the following:

Leave your name and email address in the comments.

*and see below for a way to get one additional entry too!

Yup! That's it! On Monday, December 20th I will pick ONE winner at random.

To get one additional entry, you can blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave an additional comment with a link to that blog or tweet, along with your contact info again.

So overall you can put your name into the drawing twice.

Be sure to check out my sidebar for all of the new, wonderful buttons I have displayed there, and give each one a little click and say hello!

And now, without further ado, below you will find a small description of each shop, as well as the item or items they are graciously giving away. Have fun exploring and clicking around, and good luck!

1) Hello lovelies! Delightfully Lovely is a little shop filled with pretty things for your house and home. Everything in my shop in handcrafted and made to order. Most of my time is spent daydreaming about life and how to glitterize the world. My blog and shop are where I share my life, idea's and inspirations.


Etsy site: http://etsy.com/shop/oliviadru
blog: http://delightfullylovely.blogspot.com

Giveaway item: Geneva Cupcake Tree and whoever wins can pick out the color they would like.

2) Mountain Girl Soap & Sundries is my handmade vegan soap studio which is nestled between the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada in Northern California. I love creating luxurious bath and body products that are kind to our skin and environment. If you are interested in seeing for yourself the superiority of handmade products over commercially made ones, then check out my portfolio of handmade soap, sundries, and gifts.


http://www.mountaingirlsoap.com/

Giveaway items: A set of 3 premium handmade vegan soaps. Russian Winter (Irresistibly cool & clean: Siberian Fir needle, tart green apple, frosted jasmine & glacial woods), Arabian Spice (An earthy and mysterious caravan of flavors: Sensual myrrh, comforting cardamom, warm cloves, caraway seed, and vanilla), and Peppermint (Exhilaratingly fresh and pepper-minty sweet).


3) Husband and wife fronted band, Bird and Rocket, makes ambient indie folk-rock in Portland, Oregon. They create a dynamic sound that juxtaposes delicate vocals with powerful guitar, haunting melodies with soaring choruses, and simple yet thick instrumentation. After months of doing their own recording in basements and bedrooms, the band released their first EP, 'And The Wind' in July 2010.


facebook.com/birdandrocket

Also, check out a sample song from the EP: The Coming of the Ship by clicking here.

Giveaway item: our first EP, And The Wind.


4) Eileen Josephine (named after my late Grandma - one of my favorite people, ever) is Lindsay Széchenyi, an ex-hairstylist and retail manger turned work-at-home-mom to an almost 18-month-old little girl named Vada. I love blogs, coffee, friends, music, magazines, decorating and making things, which I sometimes sell in my Etsy shop. Follow along on my blog as my little family grows and watch us turn our fixer-upper 1925 American Foursquare into a home.

Blog: http://eileenjosephine.com

Etsy: http://eileenjosephine.etsy.com

Giveaway item: $20 gift certificate to spend in my Etsy shop - Eileen Josephine.



5) Hi everyone, welcome to rockentot home of handmade goodies for little ones...and moms too! I am a wife of sixteen years to my husband Jeff and a homeschool mom of five in sunny Florida. I am so grateful to have this giveaway with Sometimes Sweet.

Also as an additional treat, I'm offering a 15% coupon code for everyone: the code is SOMETIMESSWEET


http://www.etsy.com/shop/rockentot

Giveaway item: Anything your heart desires from my shop!

6) Hello Sometimes Sweet readers! Here's the part where we tell you about us...we're the super fantastically awesome (soon to be married!) owners and runners of Funk Off! A supreme handmade Vegan bath and body product business based out of Northern California...to keep you fresh, not funky!

One day we were sitting around thinking of all the things we could do so we didn't have to work for "the man"...after a serious brainstorm we needed a shower (you know the funk that can come with some hard thinking, its like a slight burning smell)...we were out of soap and frustrated, "how are we gonna get the funk off now?"...and thus "Funk Off!" was born (I mean, not right then and there...there's a gestation period you know...but shortly after). We're fans of all things natural and good for us and the environment...so we wanted to make sure that whatever product we were offering the world had our sincere stamp of approval...and it does! Double stamped even! We took our sniffers for a magic carpet ride of scent sensations and came up with 8 perfect smells that we know you'll love! Then we wanted a little more softness for our sensitive skin and we came up with our Later, Gator! lotions...and when we wanted to get the funk out and the fresh on to every single thing we own (you name it: skin, clothes, furniture, dogs, car, backpack, shoes, carpet...) we popped out a line of Keep It Fresh! sprays!! after that (and after paying $3 for a crappy tube of blistex in a lip balm emergency!) we had thought bubbles of a smooth (not at all gritty), all natural Vegan lip balm that we could make in all the flavors of our wildest dreams...and BAM! Kiss This! Vegan lip balm...in all kinds of flavahs! and just in time for the holidays we've released 2 new scents and two new products! now all up in the mix are Peace, Love, and Soap Suds! shower gels (available in all 10 amazing smells!) and Bust A Move! travel kits!! we're always thinkin up new ideas and products to pull out of our magic hat...so keep checkin in on us cause we always keep it fresh!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/funkoffbrand

Giveaway item: We're giving away one Peace, Love, and Soap Suds! shower gel and one Lator, Gator! lotion in scents of your choice...and one Kiss This! Lip Balm in any flavor you want!


7) Hey there, my name is Jess and I'm a boho momma who is committed to not giving up my style from bump to baby and beyond. On my blog, BohoBabyBump.com I scribble about the crazy ongoing adventures that befall a free spirited newlywed, first time pregger, and brand new mommahood. I love to create fashion that has an earthy-chic flair with a kiss of vintage sweetness.


http://bohobabybump.blogspot.com/

Giveaway item: I'm so excited to sponsor a set of my "lock and key earbobs" and antique "key on a string" necklace. They are always a cherry on top for my favorite duds! I've had a ton of requests for these creations so, here ya go! Enjoy lovelies!


8) That Vintage cracked its own egg in the warm month of February 2008 and fell into the hands of Sophie Hill, a Launceston based bird-obsessive artist and lover of all things handmade. That Vintage pieces are created using the beautiful Tasmanian Myrtle timber that we are lucky enough to have on offer in our own backyard. It began with a Tasmanian Blue Wren and a Common Sparrow, dancing together in the warm sunlight of an early Summer morning – from this friendship, the illustrations were hatched and then turned into wearable pieces of artwork – a tribute to the diversity of friendship. In Sophie’s nest of inspiration you will find cups of tea, synth folk music on repeat, a menagerie made of porcelain and her fair share of fabric swatches. The view from Sophie’s nest is a Native Australian garden, growing with the hopes that the Bottle Brush and Kangaroo Paw will evoke new feathery friendships. That Vintage designs are made with love and really, that is all that’s needed.

http://www.thatvintage.com.au/

Giveaway item: That Vintage Deer Darling Friend Ring: To all those "deer"... "deer" and darling and sweet! This deer darling friend design is beautifully engraved onto Tasmanian Myrtle wood, complete with adjustable ring. Wooden Disc - 2.2cm diameter. Strongly adhered to a fully adjustable ring base - can be tightened/loosened freely!


9) We are Vicki & John, A husband & wife badge making business based on the Cornish coast in the UK. We started Kool Badges in july of 2006 and hand make button badges for our customers. When we aren't badging we can be found listening to live music, sampling teas & coffees from around the world, watching obscure foreign movies & eating good food.


http://www.koolbadges.co.uk

Giveaway items: Two button badge packs - One is a crafty set with a sewing machine, scissors & a craft diva badge. The other is a cute woodland animal set with a hedgehog, a foxy fox & a sweet fawn. The winner will also be able to pick and 10 loose button badges from our site.


10) Creativ*Bee began in 2003 as the creative outlet of Raleigh artist & graphic designer Brandi Bowen. Her designs vary from hand painted silk scarves to one of a kind original oil paintings and illustrations to reworked vintage pieces into original and unique jewelry. When Brandi is not designing, she is blogging for Ever So Lovely her art and design blog dedicated to all things lovely.


http://creativbeedesigns.com/
http://eversolovely.com/

Giveaway item: Fly Away To Paris vintage butterfly necklace


11) Hi Sometimes Sweet readers! I'm Onjoli, one part of Rainy Day Story (the other part is my fiance Jesse). We're from lovely Arizona, despite our hot summers it really is a great place to live. We've been running our own business for 4 years now and it is my full time job. I'm a mom to a smarty pants little boy, I run a few Etsy shops (handmade and vintage) and a small shop-in-shop in Downtown Glendale.

A little about myself: I like chocolate and coffee too much, should probably go to the gym more then I ever do and I can be kinda shy and awkward in person (not the cool kind the uncomfortable kind). I start way to many projects (luckily I finish most) and I make goals to last me years and years:)


Shop link: www.rainydaystory.com
Blog Link: http://rainydaystory.blogspot.com/

Giveaway Item: Set of 6 Block Printed Note cards, your choice of print and color.


So don't forgot, just leave your name and email to enter once, and you can come back and enter a second time by leaving your name/email again in that second comment, along with the link to a blog post or tweet about this great giveaway!

Good luck! :)

p.s., If you'd like to get a jump start and reserve your spot for January, email me at sometimessweetblog@gmail.com and be sure to check out my ad info page here.

Henry: Week 1

Well, one week has passed since I gave birth to our beautiful son. It's so surreal to me to look at him, and hold him, kiss him, and just lay with him sleeping on my chest. This is our son! Wow! It's so, so neat. I also feel incredibly lucky that my c-section recovery has been relatively easy. I've been up walking and feeling pretty okay from day one, and now, a week later I'm probably at a 90%. I've still been taking it completely easy- not lifting anything heavier than Henry, and not going crazy getting things done, but I have no problem moving around, sleeping, anything. My incision is healing well. I know this is not the case with most c-section patients so I am feeling very fortunate my body is reacting well and bouncing back quickly. My post-op check up is next week so I'm looking forward to that.

Emotionally at first I was pretty up and down for the first couple of days. Not sad per say but just super emotional about everything. Henry would yawn or do something adorable and I would start to cry about how beautiful he was, or I'd start thinking about how scary it was to be a parent, all of the things that could go wrong. Lots of tears in those first days. But now I'm feeling back to my normal self and although I still have all of those fears, I'm not crying at the drop of a hat! Oh, hormones! I will say that it is pretty scary to be a parent. I feel like Hank and I are constantly checking to be sure Henry is breathing, and even if I get 3 hours of sleep, I spend a bit of that time checking to be sure everything is okay.

As far as Henry...gosh. What a darling, darling boy. He is the sweetest baby I've ever met. Granted, I'm sure I'm biased because he's my son, but I can just feel the kind, wonderful energy he puts out. I can't wait to see what he's like once he can start communicating more with us. He sleeps for about 3 hours at a time, he wakes up and I change him, he eats (I'm breastfeeding), then at night he'll go right back to sleep (last night he slept for 4 hours in a row!) and during the day we'll hang out a bit before he falls back asleep. I've had NO issues breastfeeding. He took to it from the first moment in the hospital and will usually eat for at least 20 minutes at a time. I've experienced no pain and no discomfort from it and I am so, so thankful for this. The boy loves to eat! At night he is sleeping in his pack n' play next to our bed, in his sleep sack, and like I said he will sleep for about 3 hours straight before he wakes up. If he needs to be changed he will wake up sooner but for the most part he sticks to about a three hour sleeping time. It'll be interesting to see how this changes as time goes on. We swaddled him at first, but after a few nights we found that he actually enjoys his sleep sack more. While he's sleeping he makes these cooing noises, and sometimes it even sounds like a little high-pitched yip. Seriously heart-melting.

I always imagined what it would feel like to meet my son and look into his eyes, but nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming emotions I'd feel. I've never been happier. Hank and I are just beside ourselves with this deep, deep love for him, and for each other. We've been having the best time getting to know Henry. He's a very calm baby. Hank and I have had numerous moments where we'll catch ourselves doing something kind of funny that we wouldn't have ever imagined before. Case in point: high-fiving after successfully sucking a stubborn booger out of Henry's nose with the nasal aspirator. Yup. "Did we really just high-five to that?!" We've been laughing a lot and having a blast. We'll be getting our first professional photos of him done next week and I really can't wait for beautiful pictures of his tiny hands, and feet, and that little face.

My Mom has been here for the past week and it's been so nice to spend everyday with her, and learn all of her baby tricks and gain some knowledge and wisdom from her. Her and Hank are as close as can be, and we kind of want to keep her hostage so she can never leave! I'm so thankful for her.

Some other things I'm loving this week:

• nightly story time. Hank reads Henry a book every night before we go to sleep. I know he's only a week old but we've done this every night and I know he's taking it all in! :)
• breastfeeding. I love it. It's just the most amazing thing to know that my body makes everything that our baby needs. It's just so bonding and the way he snuggles up to me after he is done seriously kills me every time.
• sleep smiles. All of Henry's little facial expressions are adorable, but he makes this little smile in his sleep that is just super cute.
• watching Hank be a Dad. He's an amazing father and the love he has for our son is really, really beautiful.
• Henry's little koala hold. He loves to lay right on my chest, head in my nook and legs tucked up really tight.
  

Oh, and yesterday I also submitted my official resignation letter to the school district and now I am truly and officially a stay-at-home Mom. I am beyond excited for this chapter in life, and I'm looking forward to being able to be home with Henry every single day. A week in and I absolutely cannot fathom leaving him. I feel very fortunate to be able to do this. After sending the letter I got a little sad though because I do miss my kids a lot. It's hard not to see the people that brought so much joy to my life everyday. I've mentioned it before but this year has been the best teaching year of my life, with the sweetest kids in the world. I definitely miss it. But, life changes and goes on, and this is where I'm at now, happily.

Before I go, I wanted to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who left such lovely comments and congratulations about Henry! My little family appreciates it so much.





my Mom picked out this onesie of course!


sprawling on Daddy's lap


Daddy/Henry nightly story time

jaguar 89

jaguar 89

Important Message from Operation Grattitude: Please Read and Forward!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      OPERATION GRATITUDE TO HIT UNPRECEDENTED MILESTONE DECEMBER 11 Organization Celebrates Shipment of 600,000 Care Packages to Troops Volunteers and Supporters: All across the country, we will have cause to celebrate on Saturday, December 11, 2010 as the 600,000th Operation Gratitude Care Package rolls off the assembly line at the National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California! Director of Operations Charlie Othold expects the milestone 600,000th package to hit the assembly line around 11:15 a.m. PST, to the cheers of up to 1,000 volunteers, Military members, legislators, and celebrities. In addition to standard items and personal letters provided by more than 250 Corporate donors and by all of you, the 600,000th Care Package will include a classically American surprise generously donated by one of our Corporate Partners. A special delivery of the 600,000th Package is being arranged.  Five previous Operation Gratitude milestone packages contained the keys to new vehicles. The five winners of the online Halloween "Guess the Candy Weight 2010 Contest," will also be announced and awarded their great prizes.  The contest remains open to enter through December 5. Military and political dignitaries, along with representatives from many of the organization's Corporate Sponsors, will join the Operation Gratitude volunteers to assemble thousands of troop gifts in addition to the 600,000th Care Package.  Delicious product samples and a hearty lunch will be provided by Corporate and local business donors. Volunteers (ages 12 years and up) are invited to assist in the on-site care package activities.  Financial Donations are still needed to pay the assembly and postage costs of $15 per care package.  Please ensure that every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine deployed in harm's way, far from home, feels loved and appreciated this holiday season.   Every tax deductible donation of $15 sends another care package, personally addressed to an American hero, and filled with 50+ assorted snack, entertainment and personal care items valued at $100 or more.  Online donations can be made here: Donate Donations by check can be made payable and mailed to: Operation Gratitude 16444 Refugio Road Encino, California 91436 WHAT:  Operation Gratitude Volunteers assemble the 600,000th Care Package WHEN:  Saturday, December 11, 2010             Care Package Assembly starts at 9 a.m.             The 600,000th Package Assembly and Celebration will occur: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. WHERE:   California National Guard Armory                17330 Victory Boulevard                 Van Nuys, CA  91406                 Corner of Victory and Louise; parking available on adjacent lot For additional volunteer information: Volunteer  To learn how you can help:  Support Activities Donate while you shop: Great Ideas To Request Care Packages for Deployed Troops: Request Packages   ### About Operation Gratitude Operation Gratitude annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with snacks, entertainment items andpersonal letters of appreciation addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in harm's way. The organization's mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and express to our Armed Forces the appreciation and support of the American people. Each package contains donated product valued at ~$125 and costs the organization $15 to assemble and ship. For safety and security, assembling of packages occurs at the Army National Guard armory in Van Nuys, California. Since its inception in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 595,000 packages to American Military deployed overseas.  The 600,000th package will be assembled and shipped on December 11, 2010. Learn more about Operation Gratitude by visiting: Web:          http://www.OperationGratitude.com Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/OpGratitude Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/OperationGratitude Blog:          http://OpGrat.wordpress.com YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/OpGrat   Operation Gratitude Pam Campeau pam.campeau@gmail.com  805-559-8191                                            Visit our website         Facebook      Twitter       Videos        LinkedIn          Blog    Or text "fan OperationGratitude" to 32665 (FBOOK) from your mobile phone to be added as a fan on Facebook. Standard charges may apply.