Giveaways

Let's try this again shall we.

I've had the pleasure recently of making the on-line acquaintance of Rachel Wolf from LüSa Organics. LüSa Organics is a small family business that makes and sells natural soaps and bodycare products. 

Why a giveaway? Well mostly I wanted to draw your attention to this sweet little company. Since I'm unable to sell my own soaps at this time I'd like to support other small businesses who are giving it a go.

measuring oils for handmade soap in my kitchen

I love making my own soap but realize that not everyone has the opportunity or desire to craft their own bodycare products (though you really should consider it, it's easy and adds touches of loveliness into everyday life). If you love handmade soap and aren't making it yourself maybe you'd consider buying from this small family business, literally a mom & pop (and two kiddo) shop.

I can't vouch myself for having tried any LüSa Organics products; I make all our skin care products after all so don't need to purchase any. I was the one who approached Rachel about hosting this giveaway because I want to support what her family is doing and also because I love to give away quality goodies on my blog. Who doesn't want or need a bar or handmade soap?

Lavender Lemonade: my latest batch of spring soap

So this is how it will work. LüSa Organics will giveaway two bars of soap (one a piece) to two lucky readers. Please visit their site and scroll through to see what bar you would like best, I know it's hard to choose from a such a wonderful selection.

I personally love the look (blue is a color I have yet to experiment with, need to get some natural ultramarine oxide for coloring) of Gaia's garden and use those three essential oils - lavender, mint and rosemary in many of my own soaps.

Come back here and leave a comment with the name of the soap you'd like to win. Giveaway closes Sunday night, April 11th. I will randomly draw two names and LüSa Organics will mail out your soap. Congrats Bridget & Michelle.

Giveaway is open to all North American residents (I asked Rachel specifically about being willing to ship to Canada since I know some of you live there).  Since others of you visit from overseas I'd like to include you too but if you win and for some reason shipping is too difficult for LüSa Organics because of customs and what not I will mail you a bar of my own latest creation, Lavender Lemonade. Sound ok?

I also recommend Rachel's blog, Clean. She shares tidbits of her family life that I identify with and appreciate - raising kids, cooking, using herbs, living creativity, and of course... making body care products. 

Oh, I almost forget. If you decide to place an order with LüSa Organics use the coupon code "hello" and receive a free lip balm with your first order! (Add a lip balm of your choice to your basket.)

A couple giveaways wrapped up here in the last week. So I need to announce the winners of those and get the goodies out to you.

But first I'll share this photo, because the first giveaway was food related.

My kiddos rinse and soak beans each morning as part of their household chores. One morning when Brienne was on bean duty she exclaimed "mama, you have to come see the beautiful beans!" She insisted I take a photo. Unfortunately, it doesn't do them justice but she was right, they were beautiful. Inky black purple with teeny white dots. Washing black beans reminds the kids of the night sky. I'm so thankful for their imaginations and these little moments of beauty in our everyday.

Anyway, now to announce the winners.

1. The winner of the Vegan Cuisine DVD is: nicola@whichname

(Congrats friend!)




2. The winner of Steady Days is: Bodie, who wrote "I am grateful to my mother for encouraging me, every day, to be who I am, to be who I want to be, to pursue my dreams, and to live life the way I want to."

I read and appreciated each comment left on that post. The loving ways that you all wrote about your mothers (birth mamas and otherwise) was very touching. I loved reading what you all had to say. Thank you for sharing.

I should also add I have NEVER gotten so many comments on one post. Gotta say, it was kind of a thrill! I can only imagine what it feels like to be a big name blogger and how do those bloggers manage to read all those comments anyhow?

If you still want a chance to win a copy of Steady Days you can check out the giveaway Erin has going on at exhale. return to center.

If you read any of the blogs I read regularly, most of you are probably already in the know about the release of Jamie Martin's new book Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood. Since the official launch two weeks ago reviews of Jamie's book have been featured at Small Notebook, zen family habits, and Simple Mom. Now I'm adding my voice to the chorus of mommy bloggers in praise of this book.

A few months ago I had a conversation with a friend about baby schedules, the toddler years, setting the tone in your home and general at-home mommyhood. I shared with her all I could remember of those years; establishing a routine, how to get stuff done around the house, toddler friendly activities and my overall mothering philosophy. But I was wishing I could recommend a book to her. Something that could encourage her in her career as a mother and give very practical tips for making it work. This, my friends, is that book.

Book Review

If I was going to write a book with a "you can do it" message and "here's some hands-on ideas to help you" this is what it would look like. Having been a mother for almost 12 years myself and choosing from the beginning to make this my profession, I have already learned and applied many of the organizational principles Jamie discusses. But I was very encouraged by her overall message and especially appreciated the wisdom found in the retaining enthusiasm section of the book.

Jamie wrote this book in forty, very short, easy to read chapters that are divided into 4 overall sections:

• Getting Organized
• Retaining Enthusiasm
• Learning Together
• Making Memories

In each of these sections she generously gives both inspiration AND very practical tips for becoming a better mother, regardless if you are a SAHM, work outside the home mother (don't know the short hand for that one) or some combination thereof. If you are a mom getting started on this exciting journey, wanting to know how to mother in a more joyful, organized, and meaningful way I highly recommend this book.

One of the messages I took away was the reminder to feed my own intellect and creative spirit. To seek those things that inspire me as a person and professional, that I may then inspire these three beautiful people whose education and upbringing I am largely responsible for. Another thing I really appreciated about this book was the affirmation that I am the expert in my home; not a magazine article, a parenting book or my favorite mommy blogger.

To conclude this short review, that doesn't quite do the book justice, I'd like to leave you with a quote from the book, "Professionalism is not about achieving a desired result but is about living with purpose and focus. When we live with intention, we invest in our future and the future of our children."

If you want to be purposeful about motherhood I think this book is a great place to start.

Giveaway!

Want to get your hands on a copy? You can buy one at Amazon (I don't make any money if you do), or you can enter a giveaway here for one signed copy of Steady Days.

To enter your name please leave a comment saying one thing you appreciate about your own mother. Mothers, fathers, children; anyone is eligible to enter and this book would make a great gift for a mother of young children in your life.

Giveaway ends Sunday, January 31st at 9pm E.T. Comments will be closed then and I will randomly draw a name.

PS. I forgot to mention that Jamie blogs (on the same themes as she presents in her book) at Steady Mom. Good stuff, you should check it out.