Win a Happy Hapa Apron!

(Happy Hapa? What is that? Well, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for friends of mine that had no idea that I sew) it is my Etsy shop! I also have a shop Facebook page too. Come say "hi!" Keep reading to see how you can win something from me!)

My girlfriend from Sew Fierce Boutique and A Pocket Full of Buttons is celebrating her shop anniversary with a giveaway! Several shops have donated items to win, including myself! Here is your chance to win not one, but possibly several beautiful, handmade items!

Here's what you can win from my shop: 

 

Other items up for grabs include beautiful dresses, headbands, gift certificates and much more!

The giveaway is open until Monday, August 6th so go enter! Be sure to read the rules first, then start commenting to win! Good luck....and congratulations to Sew Fierce Boutique!

PS - Planning on updating my own shop very soon. Have a bunch of stuff to sell but still need to upload pictures! ACK!

Blog Design....Batman.....Spiderman......

And I am Wonder Woman (more like a wandering, wondering woman.) Wondering how 2012 got here so fast! 

Yeah, 2012! So I guess this is my first blog post of the year!

And what a great way to start off blogging - with a blog makeover!

You may have noticed some MAJOR changes to my blog. Now it is much more cohesive, with a lot more style and definitely has a lot more *BAM! HERE I AM* to it. :) I have to thank my talented friend, Stephanie, from A Pocket Full of Buttons for the blog makeover! Having known me for years she TOTALLY got my vision and created exactly what I had in mind! I was totally BLOWN AWAY with the outcome and am beyond grateful! Now every time I log on it brings a great big smile to my face! Thank you, Steph!

So back to 2012. Still hard to believe it is here! This is our last day of Christmas vacation as my kiddo goes back to school tomorrow. I am sure that tonight and tomorrow morning will be full of drama and tears. We've already had the "Wednesday is going to be the worst day of my life!" speech. I am bracing myself!

The good thing about school being back in session is that I can get back into some sort of routine, which of course, includes sewing. I have a bunch of projects that I need to finish AND start. Most recently I made a reversible Batman/Spiderman cape for my soon-to-be 4-year old nephew. Here's Momo, my youngest modeling it (and REALLY wanting to keep it!):

Masked Batgirl

Cape back: Batman

 

Cape Front

Cape back, reverse: Spiderman

I think Momo has the right attitude to be a super hero. Or a super-something, if you know what I mean!  

Hope my nephew likes his cape! Happy early birthday, big guy!

Happy Blogiversary, A Pocket Full of Buttons! Giveaway Time!

Happy 3-year blogiversary to my girlfriend, Stephanie from A Pocket Full of Buttons! Three years of blogging about motherhood, sewing, photography, bento, cooking, baking, traveling, dogs, etc! It's been an awesome couple of years and I (along with her loyal followers) are looking forward to many more! 

In celebration of this milestone event I have offered up a kawaii crayon purse to give away on her blog:  

  

Kid not included. ;)

I'm really not sure if I'll carry any of these purses in my shop so be sure to enter the giveaway if you want one! (Think Christmas!!!) For more details on the giveaway and to enter click here: A Pocket Full of Buttons

Congratulations, Stephanie! I am looking forward to many more years of happy blogging! :) 

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Bento Box Giveaway!

There are SO many great giveaways out there in Bloggerland but I rarely post about them.....UNLESS it's something that I really want (and need to increase my chance of winning!) Well, folks....here is something that I REALLY want:

It's a Zojirushi Stainless Steel Bento Box!

Stephanie from A Pocket Full of Buttons is giving one away! Go check out her blog but DO NOT...I repeat....DO NOT enter. Because if you do it decreases MY chances of winning! Just being honest here. ;)

Contest ends June 24th. Good luck! Tell her Sharon sent you!

My dear friend Stephanie of Sew Fierce and A Pocket Full of Buttons is having a week long anniversary party to celebrate one year of being in business and blogging! I'm a bit late announcing it (sorry Steph!) but it's not too late to sign up to win some fabulous prizes!

It's hard to believe it's been a YEAR! Congratulations Stephanie! I'm so proud of you! :)

I'm a Winner!

Awhile back I entered A Pocket Full of Buttons' All Modern Baby JJ Cole Tactic Changing Purse giveaway. I never win anything so I was totally floored to find out that I actually won!

We were in the midst of moving so when the email from All Modern Baby came in requesting my choice of bag it either went directly to my Spam box or I simply overlooked it. YIKES! Thankfully Stephanie (hostess of the giveaway) was also sent a copy of the email and forwarded it to me. I emailed All Modern Baby apologizing for not getting in contact sooner and lucky for me they still honored my win!

So which one to choose? I really liked "Cocoa Tree" but thought something lighter in color would be better since we are now living in the land of never-ending-summer! ;) Instead I went with "Pink Daisy."

When the bag arrived (quickly I might add!) I opened up the box and was surprised at the size of it! Even though Steph had posted pictures and even mentioned how small it was for whatever reason I was still expecting something bigger. While it might've been smaller than anticipated it was BETTER! It is so cute and compact but large enough to carry my wallet, phone, diapers, wipes and a few other things. Great for those quickie errands when you don't want to lug your big diaper bag around!

Now if only I can get the chance to use it. Momo loves the bag and has claimed it to be her own. "MINE!"

Just enough room to carry diapers, wipes and my wallet.

Or one dearly loved stuffed animal.

Matching changing pad included.

Getting ready to go (where?)

Diaper changing time!

Guess what? All of the JJ Cole Tactic Changing Purses are currently on sale at All Modern Baby! Some at 50% OFF!

Thanks to A Pocket Full of Buttons and All Modern Baby for this FANTASTIC giveaway! I'm so happy to have won!

Stickers!

On Saturday Kailani received some mail all the way from New Jersey! While Lulu and Emme didn't sign up to be a part of the "Sticker Exchange" out of pure kindess they mailed Kailani some stickers! Kailani was TOTALLY stoked! It was fun watching her open the envelope addressed personally to her:

Opening her letter....

"Mom! They put a "K" on it!"

STICKERS!!!

Apparently the stickers were left within Momo's reach. Momo was being a little too quiet and here is why.....

She was so darn proud. Thankfully the stickers were easy to remove from the wall. I was able to put them back onto it's original paper without Kailani ever knowing!

Thank you Lulu and Emme for the stickers! Because you were so nice we're sending some back! Check your mail in a couple of days! :)

PS - If you would like to be a part of the "Sticker Exchange" it's not too late! While we finally have six people to send letters to my girlfriend Stephanie at A Pocket Full of Buttons is looking for people to participate!

Award Time!

Having just moved across the continental USA and the Pacific Ocean I am justified in being a bit behind in blogging, right? :)

Awhile back I was given two different and new awards. Take a look!

Super Comments Award

From Mama King of 4 Crazy Kings I was given this cuuuuuuuuute (as Momo would say) award! She is such an inspiration I can't help myself but leave comments on her - she is constantly leaving me in awe with her projects and ideas! Thanks Mama King!

The Humane Award

From Stephanie of A Pocket Full of Buttons I was given the Humane Award. "The Humane Award honors certain bloggers that I feel are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn’t for them, my site would just be an ordinary blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. I thank them and look forward to our growing friendships through the blog world. Link back to the person who gifted you with the award and share the love with other bloggers.”

Since I am quite a bit behind on blogging and catching up with everything and everyone I am going to give an honorable mention to some of my favorite blogs. If you are a follower of mine you will notice that this is not the first time I have mentioned some of these ladies! Take a moment to check out their blogs and let them know I sent you!

Stephanie at A Pocket Full of Buttons

Mama King at 4 Crazy Kings

Katie from Katie's Nesting Spot

Sandy at Momisodes

Jennifer at It's a Beauty Filled Life

MaryAnne at Thrifty Craft Mama

Thanks again to Stephanie and Mama King for the awards! And thanks to the other ladies that are constantly inspiring me and/or making me laugh! :)

More catching up to do.....

Mama's Empty Pockets - Blog Launch!

Do you love to enter giveaways? Leave a comment, blog about it, Tweet about it and you can win something fabulous without paying a dime? How great is that?

My BFF Stephanie (A Pocket Full of Buttons) and I were talking about this awhile back. As you know to increase your chances of winning products one option is to blog about it. However Steph and I both don't want giveaways to dominate our current blogs. We decided to come together and create our own place that is soley for giveaways and everything giveaway related!

Our blog will be called, "Mama's Empty Pockets." Sound familiar? That's because it's a fusion of "Mama's a Mess" and "A Pocket Full of Buttons." How perfect is that? With the current state of our economy mama's pockets aren't quite as full as they used to be (or ever were!) So let's try and win some stuff - without having to pay for it!

Tomorrow, July 1st is the big launch and we thought it would only be appropriate to start it off with our own giveaway! THREE winners (yes, I said THREE!) will be selected to win something FIERCE from Stephanie's shop "Sew Fierce". Winners will be chosen on July 15th! Wanna know what it is? You'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out! Wish us luck! And good luck to you!

(PS Thanks to Stephanie for jump starting this all! While I have been busy preparing for our move she has been the brains and the creative director for "Mama's Empty Pockets". In other words she's been doing all the work!)

From Stephanie, Amanda, Dawn and Stephanie....

As I mentioned before we spent a little over a week in Virginia saying our final goodbyes to family and friends. While there my BFF Stephanie loaded up my van with bags and bags of stuff to give to the Barium Springs Home for Children!


Then another friend of mine, Dawn, who I know from the Peninsula Mommies and a local baby wearing group gave me two blankets that she had made. These blankets are AMAZING. Just as amazing as the baby slings that she makes! (I am the proud owner of one of her slings! Okay, two? No actually three!)

From Dawn - Hampton, Virginia

Then, when I arrived home there were two packages waiting for me.....

Another one of my BFF's, Stephanie (yes, I have two BFF's named Stephanie!) from A Pocket Full of Buttons and Sew Fierce donated 12 bibs that she had made! YES! TWELVE! They are unbelievably soft and well made! How cute is the little pocket she puts on the front?

Bibs from Stephanie - San Diego, California

Thank you Stephanie! I knew I could count on you to send me something fabulous! :)

The second package came all the way from Hawaii! Amanda from Patchwork in Paradise sent three precious handmade receiving blankets! Amanda and I have been chatting online via the Honolulu Mommies and our blogs - we have yet to meet in person but I am so looking forward to it!

From Amanda - Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Thank you Amanda! I am so happy to have received something from my home state! See you (meet you) soon! :)

So what is next? The deadline has come and gone (although if you are nearby and want to still donate something you can!) I actually have a couple of bibs to finish up myself and will post a picture when I am done. Tomorrow (Friday) I am expecting a confirmation call of what day next week our movers are coming. Once I know the day I can schedule a time to drop off all the wonderful goodies to Barium Springs. I will keep everyone posted!

Thank you SOOOOOO MUCH to everyone that has helped out!

A Pocket Full of Buttons Giveaway!

Okay - if you've noticed I'm not one that regularly posts about giveaways. I may enter some but rarely will I post about them. Unless I see something that I REALLY-REALLY want! And I'm really-really wanting something right now. :)

My girlfriend over at A Pocket Full of Buttons is celebrating the BIG 100 times two! She just blogged her 100th post AND she now has 100+ followers! CONGRATULATIONS STEPHANIE! To celebrate she is giving away a $30 gift certificate to her boutique, Sew Fierce. I would love to get my hands on the "Cross My Sweetheart" dress for me....I mean for Momo! ;)

Rules on how to enter are on her blog. No that I really want YOU to enter because that lessons MY chances of winning! *sigh* Okay....I'll play nice! The giveaway runs from May 6th -20th. Tell her Mama's a Mess sent you!

I WON!

Whoo-hoo! I won a giveaway! What did I win? The Zojirushi Mini Bento from Firefly Shop! Here's a picture of it, courtesy of the Zojirushi website:


Now as I stand at the podium and accept this gracious gift I will share with you my speech....

*Fumble in my pocket for my speech*

"Thank you, thank you! Oh my gosh, I don't know what to say. I was not expecting to win. There were so many other well-deserving people that should've received this mini bento....which makes me that much more grateful to have won....."

"I'd like to thank Zojirushi and Firefly Shop for an awesome gift! And I can't forget my friend Stephanie over at A Pocket Full of Buttons for clueing me in on such a great giveaway! And thank you to all that did not enter...which only helped increase my chances of winning such a fabulous prize."

:)