Wordless Wednesday & Winner

A few words first. I want to announce the winner of the $15 EcoMom.com ~ #86 Sara S!

Form Entry - ok, I got all your opinions. Most of you liked it BUT didn't like the fact that you couldn't see how many entries there was. And my Etsy mama's or companies can't see the comments about their products. The negative for me was counting them! Awful! And I like to see them when they come in and I had to keep logging in to find out. Soooo....not sure if I will do that again. Or if there is an easier way?

Enjoy some more photos from our pumpkin patch trip!

The Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin patch has become a family tradition at our house. I don't think my boys even know you can buy pumpkins at regular stores because each year we pick our own!

Every DAY O'Bear would ask, "When are we going to the pumpkin patch," until I finally pinned down a date for him. From then on he was counting down the days and then the hours. Was he excited or what?

We decided not to go to the one closest to our house and instead got into the car for mini trip about an hour away. We wanted an adventure!

The whole way there the boys were planning what size pumpkin they would get, how many we were going to pick, and how we would decorate them.

I had one rule. You pick it. You carry it.

C'Man instantly tried to find the BIGGEST one. He would find one and set into his pile. Go find another and size it up to the first one. The bigger the better for him!

O'Bear's strategy was a bit different. He wanted to find the best LOOKING one.

It had to have be perfectly round with a good stem.We tried to explain to him that dirt brushes off!

And baby P'Diddy? He was just mad that he was stuck in the stroller! I finally took him out to play with the pumpkin we picked out for him. A cute little one!

Now how did the boys decide to decorate them? Stay tuned! We'll let you know by the end of the month :)

Do you visit a pumpkin patch to get your pumpkins?

Lauren with Wee Expressions Cloth Diaper Giveaway

Homemade + Cloth Diaper = Happiness for me

I am thrilled to get to introduce Lauren to you today. She just opened a new store in Etsy called Wee Expressions. I can't wait to tell you about the cloth diapers she makes!

She makes Fitteds out of flannel with 2 layers of Zorb for the soakers plus an extra layer at the front for the baby boys! They are SUPER soft!!

They come in 5 sizes - newborn, small, medium, large, x-large with some of the weight classes overlapping a bit for longer use. Every baby should fit into a Wee Expression!

We got our package in the mail the other day. I love it when seller's have that extra touch with my order. It came wrapped in cute ribbon with two safety pins attached to use. Here is P'Diddy posing with it.

Lauren is a stay at home mom to four girls (busy mama!) aging from 11 to 13 months. In order to save a bit of money she began sewing her own diapers and just recently began to sell them! She also makes cloth wipes, burp cloths, bibs, and nursing pads out of her store. She loves to sew clothes too so maybe watch for that in the future!

I couldn't wait to try the diaper on P'Diddy. Remember these are fitteds, so you'll need to use safety pins (provided by Lauren) or a snappi to hold it together. Though for a $1 extra you can add hooks and loops. Snaps coming in the future! And you'll have to add a cover on top and hide the cute fabric.

Aren't the dinosaurs adorable? Did I tell you got a matching wipe in my package too?

This diaper fit EXTREMELY well! There were no gaps whatsoever and fit him as snug as a bug.

We LOVED it!

We even did the ultimate test ~ Night time!

He had the diaper on for a stretch in the night and FILLED it with you know what. Not one drop overflowed on to the cover. Wahoo!

Do you know the best part? They are affordable! Prices range from $8.60 - $10.35 depending on size. So go and grab yourself a few! She'll make what you need :)

Well I know you want to know if Lauren is a Crunchy Mama. Here is what she said...

I see myself as being on my way to a full blown crunchy mama! I breastfeed, use cloth diapers, the baby still sleeps in our bed, partly b/c there's nowhere else for her right now, but also b/c I feel she is safer. We had an organic garden for the past 2 years now. Now, homebirth, I can't say I've done that! I support it, though! I love the idea of gentle discipline too.

Would you like to try and WIN one?

Visit Wee Expressions and tell Lauren what your favorite item is

AND

Be a BeachBum Follower

That was MANDATORY ~ if you'd like EXTRA entries then you may do the following...

Show Lauren your love by...

Hearting Wee Expressions on Etsy

Liking Wee Expreesions on Facebook ~ tell her Crunchy Beach Mama sent you!

Purchase from Wee Expressions ~ free shipping on some items & 10% off FB followers ~ 5 extra entries!

Show CBM love by...

Liking me on Facebook & stay up to date & have fun ~ use new sidebar widget ~ easy peesy ~ free feel to put giveaway in status for extra entry too!

Following on Twitter and Tweet

" #Win #Cloth Diaper from #Etsy Wee Expressions @crunchybchmama http://tiny.cc/qexfz #green #giveaway"

Subscribe to RSS Feeds & Email ~ one each ~ links above

Grab My Button ~ show me link so I can thank you!

GOOD LUCK! Even if you don't win you need to try one and support your Etsy Mamas!

Wee Expressions sent me a cloth diaper to review for this giveaway but I was not compensated in any way for the post. This giveaway will end on Oct.22, 2010 at 11:00pm ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to anyone in the US & Canada and you must be 18 years of age or older.

I Am Being Featured & More News

I am the featured blog this week on Cookies & Clogs Blog. Come check it out and be sure to tell TerriAnn that I sent you! :)

I want to annouce the Winner for the Etsy Lil Bopper's giveaway...

Lindsey Galvez said... 65 Daily Tweet

http://twitter.com/lindseygalvez/status/25680071935

Yay for her! She picked the Crinkle Toy with the cupcake pattern for her little girl..:)

Did you notice my new button on the top left? I am having an Upcycled Week! Everyday of that week will be info, feature, or giveaway about upcycling. My first event and I am excited so please be on the lookout!

Cloth Diaper Giveaway....coming tomorrow....I know you are EXCITED :)

Deb with Springvale Soaps Giveaway

If you haven't noticed by now...I LOVE Etsy. All these crafty people with all these wonderful items. I feel very honored that I get to know these wonderful women on a personal level as we chat back and forth. And I get double excited as I'm writing out their info and giving you a chance to win one of their products. I hope you enjoy these features as much as I do!

Today, met Deb. She is the creator of Springvale Soaps. What makes these soaps so unique is that they are made from GOAT'S MILK, and other simple, natural ingredients, using the old fashioned cold process method.

What makes goat's milk so special I ask Deb...The pH level (acidity) of goat milk is close to that of human skin. Your skin will not suffer the abuse of harsh chemical detergents and have to readjust back to normal after bathing. There is natural exfoliation due to the alpha hydroxy acids found in goat milk. It also contains many healthy ingredients such as vitamins A, C, E, and some B vitamins, as well as amino acids, citric acid, enzymes, unsaturated fatty acids, and zinc. Quite often, people with sensitive skin or even eczema find they can use goat milk soap without irritation and may even find relief.

Deb creates MANY different scents. I couldn't pin myself down to one so I choose the sampler pack which contains 3 different soaps. I chose Honey Almond, Mint Coffee, and I was nice and let Hubby choose one. His choice was Strawberry. Don't those sound yummy?

My mom was in town visiting when they arrived so she was lucky enough to get to try them out with us. Her initial comment before trial were 'They smell nice but I bet they don't foam well.' Boy, was she wrong! We were both pleasantly surprised at how well they lather! And it makes your skin extremely soft. I think my mom will be one of the first new customer's Deb will have when this article goes to post!

Do you see those specks in the coffee soap? I love love them! It feels like an exfoliator with the coffee grinds! Did you know that using real coffee in there helps remove odors, like if you've been cooking with onion or garlic? I'm a mint girl so that was definitely my favorite of the three ~ though I use them all and love every minute of it!

I asked Deb how she got started making goat's milk soap... I stumbled across a blog that mentioned goat milk soap and had never heard of such a thing. I ordered a bar immediately because I was so curious, and then started poking around the internet and was amazed by how many people made their own soap. After using my newly purchased bar I was hooked. And I was so intrigued by the idea of making it that I gave it a shot….and haven’t stopped since.

Now wait to hear how long it takes to make a bar of soap....I do the old fashioned cold process method, which is probably the longest. Mixing the ingredients and getting the thick soap ‘batter’ doesn’t take long, but once you pour that into the molds the long part of the process begins. I usually leave mine in the molds 12-24 hours, depending how busy I am with work, etc. Once it comes out of the mold I let it sit another few days before I cut the bars. And then the bars sit on my shelves ‘cure’ for a minimum of four weeks. The long the cure time, the harder and longer lasting your bars will be.

In short, if you custom ordered a bar today it would be a *minimum* of one month before it was ready to go.

Would you like to Buy a bar from Springvale Soaps? Only $3 for a 3.5oz size. Isn't that a great price?

Would you like to Win a 3.5oz bar of the scent of your choice right now? Let's go!

Mandatory Entry: I can't decide what my next scent will be. Help me pick one! Visit Springvale Soaps and choose one for me and the scent with the most votes will be my next order. :) You must also be a BeachBum follower to win!

Extra Entries - one comment for each entry please...

Like Springvale Soaps on Facebook ~ Tell her Crunchy Beach Mama sent you!

Follow Springvale Soap Blog ~ See what other NEW items, besides bars of soap, she's making!

Purchase from Springvale Soap during the course of this giveaway ~ 5 entries!

Like CBM on Facebook ~ use easy sidebar widget!

Follow CBM on Twitter and Tweet and/or FB status ~ "#Win Goat's Milk Soap #Etsy Springvale Soaps @crunchybchmama http://tiny.cc/cd5jm #green #giveaway" ~ an entry for each tweet/status per day up to 2 entries

Subscribe to RSS Feeds and/or Emails (links above) ~ one each

Grab My Button ~ leave link so I can thank you!

Springvale Soaps sent me a sample set of soaps to review for this giveaway but I was not compensated in any way for the post. This giveaway will end on Oct. 18, 2010 at 11:00pm ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to anyone in the world and you must be 18 years of age or older.

Jenelle with TNT: TrashN2Tees Giveaway

I first "met" Jenelle through this blog. She contacted me because she was excited to show off her products. She knew that I would love her ideas and concepts and what she has built for herself. And you know what? I do!

What does she make? She creates clothing and other misc items using upcycled materials. But what does Upcycled mean you ask? Let's find out what my favorite Urban Dictionary has to say:

The process of converting an industrial nutrient (material) into something of similar or greater value in its second life.

Or in simpler terms:

using ordinary objects to make something extraordinary - which is exactly what she does!

She only uses reclaimed materials out of tees, sheets, blankets, towels, dresses, pants, curtains or any other fabric that catches her eye. She has even cut up a pair of shoes! She finds items at thrift stores, yard sales, ebay, some of her friends even donate their old stuff.

She makes appliqued tees for anyone from itty bitty babies to big burley men. She makes lounge pants, skirts, tee totes, reusable grocery bags, produce bags, and she recently made herself a hobo bag. And from all from the scraps that are left over when she's done hacking up tees, she make fuselets (bracelets) and those can be custom ordered in any colors (lets say Hawkeye colors or the Cubs or whatever!). She can also made some for Halloween with spiders!!

As I was checking out her new online store - http://www.trashn2tees.com/ - I knew I wanted to get P'Diddy a Halloween shirt to wear for the month of October. Jenelle was awesome enough to send one to me...look at how cute it is...

That werewolf is made from the inside material of a sweatshirt. It's fuzzy and soft!

All of her designs are original hand cut and no two will ever be the same! Jenelle says "I have alot of fun upcycling. I love that there are no rules or boundaries. It doesn’t have to look perfect or even make sense. Whatever it looks like, it’s better than it would've looked in the landfill" ~ totally agree!

Thinking about something custom? Go ahead and ask for it - I did! She is going to make me a Knight/Dragon shirt for O'Bear. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

I wanted to ask Jenelle some questions ~ you'll see what a fun silly mama she is!

Tell me about yourself and your family

Hi! I'm Jenelle. Though these days I am most frequently referred to as Mommy, I used to hold such titles as President, Waitress, Preschool Teacher, College Student, Mud Bog Racer, and I even donned a big furry cat suit in high school as Suzy Stateliner- the school mascot! Between crushing cars with Monster Jam trucks, judging silly dance contests, and those other less fun household chores... I hack up clothes that have been thrown away, I also love sports, nature, and long walks on the beach. (and I have no time for any of them) We call Kentucky home sweet home, but I am still a Jersey Girl at heart. Imagine horses, cattle, tall trees, front porch rocking chairs and strangers who always wave- that's my town. I live here with my hunky soul mate, Nick, who is a washed up BMX rider and genius metal fabricator. Together we have two charming and mischievous little boys (Sam 4, Tristen 17m) , who will always be my greatest creations.

How did you get started doing this?

Have you seen boys clothes lately? I think that clothes should be a reflection of your personality. Year after year I would hunt down original and cool clothes for Sam leaving no stone unearthed. Sure I would find some awesome stuff from time to time with price tags more than my monthly electric bill! So one night I decided to cut out a monster truck and attach it to a shirt. (This is called appliqueing- though I didn't know it at the time) I used some old clothes that were laying around the house- stained onesie, thermal, and a pair of boxers (unworn I promise)! No template, no stencil just me and my pair of hair stylist snippers. A friend saw the picture I posted on my facebook page and suggested that I make custom shirts for other people. So I did. TNT emerged from my thriftiness and desire for awesome clothing- and I continue to hold true to that. More importantly, I am given the opportunity to share with others the benefits of recycling/repurposing/reusing to make sure we leave a clean, safe world for the future.

What items do you want to do in the future

Great question! With upcycling the possibilities are endless. I have a long list of things that I can't wait to try but there aren't enough hours in the day. I hope to get some more items out there for adults- Yoga pants are #1 on my list as well as a couple appliqued tees. Skull caps, purses, dresses, raglans are just a few other ideas I have floating around.


My items arrived in an upcycled bag, ribbon & this cute beach card on recycled cardboard - does she know me or what!

Are you a Crunchy Mama?

I'd say I'm pretty crispy! I am a cloth diapering, sometimes still co-sleeping, retired baby wearing mama who breastfed for a total of 32 months. I support my local organic farmers. I am very passionate about environmental issues and I do a little recycling from time to time (in case you haven't noticed)

Isn't she great?
Another great item that I want to give a HUGE shout-out about is Produce Bags! I got a pink one!

Pretty soon she'll be implementing a Trash into Cash program where others can send in clothing and things to be upcycled for TNT shop credit.  Cool!

Ok, who wants to WIN $15.50 store credit* to TNT: TrashN2Tees?! You can pick out WHATEVER you want and use your credit!!! You'll have soooo much fun!

Mandatory One Entry: Jenelle's products are at:

Her Picasa Album of her work...HERE

Her website... http://www.trashn2tees.com/ (you can Sign the Wall for extra entry!)
Her Etsy shop...www.etsy.com/shop/tntees (heart for extra entry!)
Tell us what item catches your eye the most

AND

Be a BeachBum Follower!!

Extra Entries:

Tell me 2 things you learned in this post about Jenelle or what she does! How easy is that!

Like TNT on Facebook ~ post that @Crunchy Beach Mama sent you and tell her what design you would like to see her make.

Visit TNT's Website and Sign the Wall

Heart TNT on Etsy

Purchase any item ~ 5 entries!

Like CBM on Facebook (use my new easy plug-in on sidebar!)

Network with CBM on Twitter, Emails, RSS Feeds ~ links above (one each)

Tweet and/or FB Status about giveaway (one entry daily) ~ "#Win an #Etsy Upcycled Kids T-Shirt & more $15.50 GC from TNT:TrashN2Tees #Giveaway #Green @crunchybchmama http://tiny.cc/k369m"

Grab My Button

_____________________

TAKE NOTE - TNT will also be giving away a $25 GC for the Mama & Ruby Halloween Event (check it out from my banner on left sidebar)

I have a lot of exciting Features & Giveaways coming this month so be sure to stay up to date with me ~ Facebook is a great way to do that so you don't miss out!! :)


*store credit must be used by Nov. 18th, 2010.

TNT sent me a shirt & produce bag to review for this giveaway but I was not compensated in any way for the post. This giveaway will end on Oct. 15, 2010 at 10:00pm ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to anyone in the world and you must be 18 years of age or older.