Valentine Gifts!

How is everyone's new year so far!?  It didn't take long for us to get back into the swing of things.  Flower was excited to get back to school on Monday, and popped out of bed bright and cheery.  She had her bed made, breakfast eaten, and was completely ready for school 30 minutes ahead of schedule!  On Tuesday, I darn near had to use a pry bar to get her out of bed!

The daycare is back in full swing, too!  Little Man was glad to have all his friends back, but we will miss the days of just Mama, sister and brother!  I'm blessed enough to have all the same vacation days as the school kids and teachers, since all my daycare mamas are teachers.  The hard part is going that long without a paycheck.  Certainly makes things tight, and gives new meaning to trusting in God's provision!  But, it always works out.

Over the break, I finished up three baby sets for a friend out in South Carolina.  She will be giving the sets to some new mamas who are going through a rough patch, so I hope they will bring a little bit of sunshine into their lives.  I also finished knitting an infinity scarf for Barb Wire Man's grandmother, Nena.  I still need to block it, and sew the ends together, but just the color alone I think is gorgeous!  Once I get it blocked, I will post pictures!

I'm making Barb Wire Man's aunt one also, but it is in a beautiful black, gray and white yarn.  This yarn is divine to work with.  I'm sick about it, though.  I got about 1/4 way through it, then discovered that I had slipped a stitch, just a few inches from the beginning.  I ended up having to frog (rip out) the ENTIRE thing.  I nearly cried, but, today I start it all over again!

I'm excited, too, because there is going to be enough yarn from each of those projects to make some other things with!  I think I see a head covering for myself, and I might even be able to squeak out another infinity scarf!

I'm terrible at remembering holidays other than Christmas and Thanksgiving, but as I was on Etsy today I realized it is getting close to Valentines day!  Around our house, we don't really do much to celebrate the day.  One reason is we just don't like spending money on things we don't really need.  Barb Wire Man doesn't like to send flowers, because he thinks it is silly to express one's undying love by sending flowers that, well, die.  I thought though that I might search and see what cute gifts I could find for the kids, and I came up with some super cute stuff!

I know Flower would love this cross from Nail Crosses!  And really, there is no other love as worthy of celebration as the love Christ has for us.  What a great way to talk with our children about the greatest of all loves!

A bracelet to go with the new necklace maybe?  I love this little charm bracelet full of hearts from Linda's Original Jewels.

Flower loves to teach Little Man to play new games.  She is so patient with him, and he learns things faster from her than from me!  This heart shaped tic-tac-toe game from Twins and Crafts would be a great opportunity for them to learn and play together!

I won't lie...finding things for boys is so much harder than finding things for girls.  Doesn't matter if it is clothes or gifts!  These little gift bags from Black Crow Craft arrrrrr too cute! (Sorry, couldn't help it!)  Little Man loves anything pirate!

But, the only thing Little Man loves more than pirates is super heroes.  At this moment in his life, there is nothing cooler than playing with super heroes, or pretending to be super heroes.  These capes from Just Kidn Designs would be perfect for Little Man!

If Barb Wire Man would carry a bag (which he won't), I would so totally get this bag, from Invisible Crown, for him.  Back when he and I were just barely dating, he was sitting on the porch with my dad.  I walked up, with Flower, after a long day of work and my dad said "You should go make this boy a sandwich.  He's been at work all day and he is hungry!"  Would you believe I actually went in and made the boy a sandwich!?

Do you have any Valentine's Day traditions?  Maybe I should start something at our house, and I would love some ideas!

Smiling Green Apples and Giveaways!

Remember these?

Credit: Smiling Green Apples

They are the super cute clothes pins I featured last night week from a cute shop called Smiling Green Apples!  I also made it quite apparent that these gorgeous clothespins were mine!  They came in yesterday evening, meaning they came in just in time for laundry day!  I'm super excited to get to hang laundry out today!  (Although, if you recall, there isn't a thing on this earth that will get me excited to actually fold the laundry!)

See these black damask clothespins here?   

Credit: Smiling Green Apples

These are the ones Flower thought were the prettiest!  I told her the blue ones were ours, and she informed me that I should have picked the black ones because those were her favorite.  I told her they were for....well, we will get to that in a bit.  I told her they were for something else, so she told me I had to order some of the black ones.  I intend on doing so!

Christy, the creator at Smiling Green Apples, also included these cards in my package!  I sat down yesterday to write a note to my Granny and realized I was out of cards.  I was so excited to see these, and I can't wait to send them to friends!  Thank you, Christy!

Today, I want to share more about Smiling Green Apples, and the owner, Christy!  Make certain you read all the way to the end, because there will be an announcement you don't want to miss!!

Credit: Smiling Green Apples

Christy, tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Christy Cox Mayton, I'm a SAHM with four very individual children, and married to my beset friend.  I'm a born and raised Virginia girl.  I'm an avid reader, crafter, and all around DIY'er.  I left a ten year career in retail management after my youngest son was diagnosed with Autism, and althought I miss the high pace world of reatail, I'm glad I made the decision to be with my family.  Being at home reignited my love of crtafting, which spawned my Etsy shop.

What would most people be surprised to learn about you?

I think people would be surprised to learn that I am a hopeless romantic...(sigh)...maybe that's the southern girl in me.  Oh how I long to live in a world where gentlemen never forget to open the door for a lady (and I so appreciate the ones who still do). The world is so chaotic, and nothing can distract me from it as well as a good love story!

Credit: Smiling Green Apples

If you could eat lunch with any three people, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

The thre people I'd have lunch with would be Mother Theresa (who couldn't learn something from a woman with that much love in her heart), Ree Drummond (and I insist she cook) because I think she would be so fun to have out with, and Sean Conner because I am oddly fascinated with him.  And should any of them call and cancel, I say martha Stewart, because although her presence would both terrify and awe me at the same time, that is one brain I'd love to pick at for awhile.

Who do you draw your inspiration from?

I have to say I draw my inspiration from the women in my family, and I have a VERY big family.  I've learned something from every one of them.  My aunt taught me to crochet, my other aunt taught me to decorate even the simplest things to make them special, my Mom taught me every cleaning and stain removing trick in the book....the list is endless.  I was fortunate to grow up very close to my Grandma and Great-Grandma.  Those ladies are from a generation where you did everything yourself, and you got creative with it.  I remember my great-grandma teaching me how to make braided rugs and weave wool blankets.  My Grandma (better yet, my Nanny) taught me how to do everything from quilt to make jelly and can tomatoes.  I'm blessed.

What is your favorite item from your shop?

My favorite items in my shop, although I love them all for obvious reason, are probably thne felt cake toppers.  I love anything a little whimsical, a little soft, and a lot colorful.  My FAVORITE one is thecloud cake topper with the ribbons rainbow attaching them.  I think I drew a picture that looked just likethat one every single notebook I had from Kindergarten on through high school! hahaha!

Credit: Smiling Green Apples

Where are the other places around the internet we can find you?

Right now, I'm only on Etsy, and I'm considering opening a second shop in the fall with my crocheted items made with quality yarns.

Now....for the fun part!!

Those pretty Black damask clothespins that Flower thought were so pretty?  She wanted them so badly, but they could belong to any one of you, because Christy has so kindly sent them as a giveaway to one of my readers!

I know there are a lot of my readers out there who hang their laundry out to dry like I do.  These clothes pins  are sealed so that are safe to use outside.  They won't run if it rains (not that I have to worry about there here since it so rarely rains!) like many decorative pins do.  Seee?  I hung my laundry out with them today even!

Laundry and so many other household chores are SO mundane....make it a little easier on yourself by using pretty supplies!   Here's what you have to do in order to enter....

1.  You must be a follower of my blog.  Any entries thaat are not will be disqualified!

2. Visit Smiling Green Apples, come back, and leave a comment telling me what your favorite thing in Christy's shop is. (1 entry)

3. Share this giveaway on Twitter, and leave that you did so in a separate comment. (1 entry)

4. Share this giveaway on Facebook, and leave that you did so in a separate comment. (1 entry)

5. Share this giveaway in a Blog post, and leave a link to it in a separate comment (2 entries)

***please make sure ALL comments are on THIS post.  Any comments left on any other posts will not be counted!***

There you have it!  You can enter up to 4 times for the drawing!  The contest to win these:

will end on Monday!!