Win It Wednesday

Welcome to Win It Wednesday!! The winner of the Converse Shoes from Spunky Monkey is #17 Anne . Congrats!

This week I am giving away a $30 Gift Certificate to the Andean Collection. You may have seen them on The Gift Closet before & remember their gorgeous jewelry!

Amanda Judge founded The Andean Collection in the fall of 2008 while she was in Ecuador researching rural women’s survival strategies in the face of extreme poverty for her master thesis. The point of her research was to settle on a few tangible projects that an outside agency could do in order to help the community make long lasting improvements in their own standards of living. As it turns out, instead of just writing about these possibilities, Amanda decided to put her own ideas into action.

After discovering the amazing natural materials that were used in native jewelry making, Amanda knew that finding a market for jewelry made out of these natural seeds would be more beneficial than any academic paper could ever be. Amanda then extended her stay in Ecuador to lay the groundwork for The Andean Collection. The first task was to find disadvantaged artisans who had a drive to create a better life for themselves and their families. Next was training the artisans on order production and of course, showing them how to use email. Since the beginning, The Andean Collection has been training the artisans is jewelry design, helping them fortify their supply chains, and let’s not forget the endless cross-continent goose chases to find the highest quality raw materials in South America.

Artisans handcraft their designs from natural seeds that have been sustainably harvested from the rainforests and lowlands of South America. The commercialization of these seeds helps to ensure the survival of the world’s rainforests by providing an alternative income for its inhabitants rather than logging or selling their land to destructive industries. Through a very manual process, seeds are transformed into beads with gorgeous natural irregularities, both in color and form, which truly makes each piece one of a kind.

Want It? Click here to visit Andean Collection.

Win It! How to enter to win the $30 Gift Certificate to Andean Collection:
1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile. Winners will only be contacted via email.
2. For an EXTRA entry, click on the button below, come back here & tell me one of the companies you see listed on my Christmas @ the Gift Closet page.
3. Contest ends Tuesday November 17, 2009 @ midnight.

Now is the time to advertise your business for the Holidays! I am offering Buy 2 months get 1 free on my Right sidebar at this time.....premium advertising space! Contact me today for more info heatherldt@bellsouth dot net

Tuesday's Tip-Craft Ideas

I would like to share some great Craft ideas w/ you that have been sent to me.

I love Vinyl crafts, wall sayings, etc. McKay from Say It On The Wall sent over a couple of ideas. Check them out...
Nativity Story Cube
Each side of the cube has a different part of the Christmas story. Great for sharing w/ the kids.And this 9 piece nativity set makes a nice display...
Another crafty idea submitted from All Things Made By Kelly is this homemade puppet theater tutorial!Here is another Nativity Block Set that is a little different from Vinyl Gifts & More

Thanks to all who have sent me their ideas. :) If you have some great crafty ideas to share please feel free to leave a link to them in your comment here so we can see your craftiness!

Elfing Around Review & Giveaway

I am so excited to share a review & giveaway with you for a fun Holiday tradition today from Elfing Around!

Elfing Around is not just a Christmas toy, but a fun Christmas experience. The 12-inch plush elves “visit” all the children on Santa’s Nice List for the 12 days before Christmas. The elves have to be still during the day, but are very adventuresome at night. Each morning your child will awake with the wonder and excitement of trying to find out exactly what their silly elf was up to the night before. Your child may find their elf is hiding; or had a snowball fight; or was up watching a movie, complete with popcorn; or has taken it upon his/herself to re-decorate the tree!

Each elf comes with all the ideas and letters to complete 12 adventures. The elf will go home with Santa on Christmas Eve.

This tradition started in Norway, Denmark, Germany and Iceland. You can read more about it by clicking here.

What I like about Elfing Around:

1. While I haven't actually started the tradition yet since it's still November, I am really looking forward to this & think it will be lots of fun for the whole family.

2. The Elfing Around package came w/ lots of goodies including a letter from Herbie the Elf personalized to each of your children.

3. Plenty of instructions & ideas for you as the parent to do w/ the elf or elves.

4. I got a girl elf for my daughter, a boy one for my son. They are really cute & 12" tall.

5. Several other letters from the Elf to the kids including an "I'm here" & "See you next year". Also, a nice Wish list & cute envelopes for the kids to send their wish lists to Santa!

What I didn't Like about Elfing around:

1. Honestly, nothing. It was comparatively priced & I was pleasantly surprised with all you get w/ it.

Want It? Click here to visit Elfing Around.

Win It! How to enter to win a boy or girl elf from Elfing Around!

1. Leave a comment here & be sure to include your email address. That is the only way I contact winners.

2. For an EXTRA entry, tweet about this giveaway & come back here letting me know you did so.

3. For another EXTRA entry, link to this post on Facebook & come back here letting me know you did so.

4. Contest ends Sunday November 15, 2009 @ midnight & is open to US residents only.

Click here to enter to win a pair of size 2 (infant/toddler) punk girl bling converse from Spunky Monkey!

New Arrival Coming Soon

Hey Gift Closet readers! Just wanted to let you know that while I am not due until December 23, our little baby is trying to make an early arrival already. I am on modified bedrest & they expect him to arrive within the next few weeks. So, if I fall off the face of the earth, don't blog, don't answer your emails for a few days, you can guess I'm at the hospital! Please say a prayer he will be healthy no matter when he arrives! Thanks & God Bless! :)

Friday's Feature

The winner of last week's Polka Dots N Pacifiers giveaway is #8 April V . Congrats!!

This week's feature is Pocket Full of Posies. This is a unique pocket meal planning system that is designed to save you time & money.

How it works:

The monthly pocket system is divided into 4 weekly pockets. The first pocket represents week 1 of the month, the second pocket represents week 2, and so on.

Each pocket will be filled with a recipe pack to be used that week.A recipe pack includes 5 recipes and 1 ingredient list.An ingredient list categorizes every ingredient from each of the 5 recipes in the recipe pack.Also, on the back of each of those recipes is an individual ingredient list.

How to Use the Monthly Pocket System:

With any of their packages you order, you will receive How To instructions with 2 different options on how to use the pocket system.

Option 1:
1. Create 4 recipe packs:
-Choose 4 ingredient lists and the corresponding recipes.
2. Put 1 pack in each pocket.
3. Each week:
-Pull that week’s ingredient list
-Create a grocery shopping list
*remember to buy everything from the ingredient list that you don’t already have, plus anything else you would need for the week.
*For example, I wouldn’t put spaghetti sauce on my list if I already have it on hand.
4. Do your grocery shopping.
*you will then have everything you need to make 5 meals for the week.
5. Each day:
-Choose a recipe and make it!
*There are 2 open days a week reserved for leftovers, eating out, etc.

Option 2:
Option 2 is a little different. Instead of using their pre-made weekly ingredient lists as your meal plan, you create your own meal plan using the individual ingredient lists on the backs of the recipes.
1. Choose 20 recipes for the month.
2. Group 5 recipes for each week and put in pockets.
3. Each week:
-Create your grocery list using the ingredient lists on the backs of the recipes.
*remember to buy everything from the ingredient lists that you don’t already have, plus anything else you would need for the week.
4. Do your grocery shopping.
*you will then have everything you need to make 5 meals for the week.
5. Each day:
-Choose a recipe and make it!
*Unlike option 1 where there are 2 open days a week reserved for leftovers, eating out, etc., option 2 leaves room for adding recipes if you don’t feel like having left overs or eating out.

The inspiration behind Pocket Full of Posies:

"Cammie was looking for a way to gather her favorite recipes from all of her cook books into one spot and to take the work out of making meal plans. She hated meal planning and weekly grocery lists and ended up cooking breakfast for dinner three times a week instead of planning ahead.

Emily also wanted her recipes in one spot, but really wanted to save large amounts of money. Her goal was to cut her grocery bill in half while still making the meals she wanted every week. She needed a structured plan so she would stop buying extra stuff.

So between the two of us we came up with the Perfect Pocket Meal Planning System. We combined Cammie’s lack of cooking and Emily’s over buying and created a plan that fit both our needs. We’ve been perfecting our system for almost a year. Cammie now cooks and Emily cut her grocery bill in half!

Our system was working so well for us we started telling our friends and family. It turned out many of them needed the same help we did in meal planning and grocery savings and wanted in on the meal planning success. We thought if our friends and family were this excited maybe more moms like us would want a little help too."

Sounds like a great way to get organized, save money, & time to me!!

Want It? Click here to check it out.

Are you interested in being a Friday's Feature on The Gift Closet? Please email me at heatherldt@ bellsouth dot net for more info! Have a blessed weekend!!

Thoughts for Thursday

Drill Sargent
by Guest Blogger Emily Farmer

As I am rushing around getting the older boys ready for school with chaos hanging overhead, I find myself shouting orders like a drill sargent. Now, I ask you, how is a mother supposed to act when she only had a few hours sleep because the little one is up several times and it takes him awhile to fall back to sleep. If you are like me once you are awake, no matter the hour, you're awake for good and can't go back to sleep. So I toss and turn, toss and turn. Praying Heavenly Father PLEASE let me go back to sleep. Finally after several hours of being awake and praying I drift into dream land. This is where the crazy dreams start. Then once again my little one is up again at my bedside. Good grief as Charlie Brown says. Can't a mother sleep. Back to bed again and I am wide eyed once more. Forty five minutes later yep, you guessed it the little fellow is back up and can barley keep his eyes open and says he feels sick. I put him back to bed once again. As I type this , he is sleeping and the house is quiet. Thank you Jesus!

Now is it any wonder that I am a grumpy drill sargent barking orders to my older boys? That's not a good morning attitude to have now is it? God gently nudges me and reminds me of Phi. 2:5" You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus has." OUCH! In a good way. What a message to myself.

So today when things are not going your way and you find yourself like me, a yelling orders drill sargent. Remember Phil. 2:5 and be filled with HIS attitude the " attitude that Christ Jesus had."

Press On Challenge:

Ask someone to hold you accountable to change your attitude.

Press On Verse:

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you O Lord my rock and my redeemer." Ps.19:14 NLT

"The spirit who lives in you is great than the spirit who lives in the world" 1 John 4:4 " NLT

"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love." Eph. 4:2 NLT

Win It Wednesday

The winner of last week's giveaway ($40 Gift Certificate to Bumbletees!) is lucky #52 Donna . Congrats!!

This week I will be giving away a pair of size 2 (infant/toddler) punk girl bling converse from Spunky Monkey! Spunky Monkey has given away several cool items on the Gift Closet, so let's add this one to the list...too darn cute!
Value $79.95

Why settle for crystals only on your clothes when you can sparkle down to your toes with an extra burst of bling? The Girly Punk Skull & Crossbones, Swarovski Crystal Converse Shoes are all the rage, great for girls from tiny toddlers to girls!

Caress your feet with style and snappy fashion in these embellished Chucks, perfect for Back to School, special occasions, certain holidays, or everyday wear! The Girly Punk Skull & Crossbones, Swarovski Crystal Converse Shoes feature

• Black, authentic Converse sneakers from the All-Star collection: Choose high top or low top
• White swarovski crystals covering the toes, accented by a skull and crossbones with a girly bow in your choice of crystal color
• Coordinating shoe laces

Because each crystal Converse shoe is embellished by hand, no pair is ever exactly alike.

Spunky Monkey offers a wide variety of trendy & hip items. Some fabulous shower & gift items for sure!

Don't you love this little crown??


And what a unique adorable hooded towel!

Want It? Click here to visit Spunky Monkey.


Win It! How to enter to win:
1. Leave a comment & be sure to include your email address if it is not on your profile. That is the only way I contact winners.
2. For an EXTRA entry, click here to visit Spunky Monkey. Then come back here & tell me what your fav item is.
3. For another EXTRA entry, leave another comment telling me what your favorite Fall activity is!
4. Contest ends Tuesday November 10, 2009 @ midnight.

See you tomorrow for Thoughts for Thursday!