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!)

Spread Eagle Float

And "Hi" daddy....

I have been so busy the last couple of days (weeks) preparing for our move that I have been lacking some quality time with my kids. I hate hearing myself say, "not now," "I can't," "I'm busy," "tomorrow", etc. Well, since the movers DIDN'T come yesterday like they were supposed to (long story) the girls were able to spend some time in the pool with papa.

Watch Momo try to swim. She's 2 years and 4 months - she can bob, blow bubbles, kick, paddle, hold her breath, jump into deep water, float and even swim a very short distance. She hasn't figured out how to lift her head up for a breath yet. As you can see in the video clip she dunks her own head under. It's my father that is holding her back (can you blame him?) She is fearless!

Did you hear my dad say "SKEERED?" Ha!





Momo wants to do everything big sister does!

As you can see I am not one of the moms that has the luxury of lounging in a chair when at the beach or pool. I am THAT mom that doesn't get to sit down for a second! But I'm totally okay with that as I am thrilled (relieved) that my girls love the water. After all the years I spent teaching swimming this has got to be one of the best rewards!

Hawaii.....here we come!

MIA

Shhhhh.....I really shouldn't be here....I've got so much to do!

But I wanted to pop in and say "hi!"

Yesterday I had my moving sale and did okay - but the heat drained me to pieces. It would've been nice if today could be a recovery day but nooooooo. My movers come TOMORROW! I've still got things to sort through, clothes to wash, things to pack, etc. etc. I'm trying to be as ready as I can be but I think that around midnight I will probably end up tossing whatever is left in a box and call it a night! I would just make it an all-nighter but since I woke up at 4:00 this morning and have been going-going-going rest is definitely in order!

Wish me luck! I'll be back somewhat regularly after my movers come and go!

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!

Our Trip to Virginia....

Lots of catching up to do and so little time to do it! Let me start off with our trip back to Virginia.... We had a wonderful time. The Virginia schools were still in session and we were invited by Kailani's previous 1st grade teacher to join her class for a reunion/party. I was literally teary-eyed when we walked into her classroom. Such fond memories even if was only six months ago that she attended school there. Her teacher is fabulous! We also ran into her reading teacher, kindergarten teachers, and even the school principal. It was a great reunion for all of us!

While in Virginia I also collected some donation items from my best friend for the Barium Springs Home for Children as well as some beautiful handmade blankets from my friend Dawn. Pictures to follow in a separate post!

We also spent a lot of time with friends:
And family: But not all was good. There was the meltdown (or two or three) and tears:

(Those would be MY glasses that she decided to throw on the ground....)

On our way back to NC we stopped in Virginia Beach to visit with one of my girlfriends from Hawaii. She had the fabulous idea of eating at a fairly new restaurant, Aloha Hawaiian BBQ.

I walked in and felt like I was back home. Not to sound like a big sap but I felt teary-eyed (again!) I've been totally without "local kine grinds" for almost three years now so I had a difficult time choosing what I wanted to eat! One of everything? Is there a sampler platter?
I decided to order three different plates to share between myself and my girls. Spam moco, barbeque chicken combo and the barbeque chicken & chicken katsu combo. As I paid for the food the girl asked, "Would that be all?" My answer? "For now."

Fork? Who needs a fork?

If you looked at the customers in the restaurant you would think that there were all from Hawaii. These boys look like local boys but they are not. They did mention wanting to go back to Hawaii with me. :) The girl in the picture is from Kalihi of all all places!


I'm so glad my girlfriend recommended eating there!

We also stopped by my favorite peanut store - "The Peanut Patch" where they sell Feridies peanuts. I have never had peanuts as good as these!


Now that we are back in NC and the movers are coming a few days I've got to get busy!