Gussy Sews – Show and Tell and Giveaway

March 7, 2011 By 56 Comments

Every once in a while, you are so blown away by someone’s talent that you simply can’t help but stop people on the street just to share.  That’s what this is…..  this is me, virtually stopping you on the street to say, “LOOK AT THIS!”

I’m talking about Gussy Sews, the delightful brainchild and brilliant handiwork of Maggie Whitley.  Tote bags, makeup cases, laptop bags…. even the e-reader case I have been DYING FOR. (Yes, I’m dramatic) I first encountered Gussy through my friend Heather. Despite my best efforts, Heather was unwilling to allow me to pilfer any of her Gussy Products.  Rude, I think. :)  But I will let it slide as I am now a proud owner all.by.myself.

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Smiling Makes It Better – New Bliss TV Episode + Invisalign Giveaway!

January 18, 2011 By 4 Comments

Insecurity may well have been my middle name when I was in middle school and high school. For those current High School Facebook friends stopping by – the picture you see here definitely looks like the ‘Danielle’ you knew then – certainly not the ‘me’ I see in the mirror now, but it doesn’t take much to remember how it felt to have BAD teeth, BIG HAIR and well, the shoulder pads and the polka dots?  I have no excuse.  And in that picture?

OH THE BRACES!!

I simply had no other options.  My teeth were a mess.  Not to mention, one of my front teeth had been knocked out in a ‘I-can’t-believe-the-bar-just-collapsed-gymnastics-accident’…. my temporary tooth was not pretty.  So my smile? Even WITH braces? Not pretty.  And yet, there I am – all of 13 years old – smiling.

But  after the braces came off….  when my teeth were fixed?  I simply. couldn’t. stop. smiling.  My teeth were smooth.  They were together – and nothing to be self conscious about.

I am a smiler.  At anyone.  At everyone.  At you…And you.  It is in my nature.  I think smiling brings us together, brightens our days and encourages us to be kinder and gentler with each other.

Smiling is important.  It is the self-confidence builder I intend to instill in my children.  I’m delighted to share our latest episode of BlissTV – where we talk about just this: self confidence, your smile and our kids. (You remember to stick around for the outtakes, right?)

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Pledge To Love Your Kitchen Campaign

November 18, 2010 By 25 Comments

When I was a little girl, I had a list of chores I had to do every Saturday morning.

Weeding the flower beds was my LEAST favorite.  It took forever.  I was positive the weeds multiplied as I worked.  And no matter how many I pulled, there were always more to get.

But, dusting was the best.  It was the smell.  Pledge.  That Lemony scent always made me feel like I was cleaning.  And even as I kiddo, I delighted in watching the dust disappear.

Even today, that yellow can makes me smile.  Especially now that I know I can use it for more than dusting. (Did you know that?  Did your mom tell you that?  It can clean marble…stainless steel….even leather.  Mark it down)

And that yellow can is getting ready to make someone smile A WHOLE LOT. With the Pledge to Love Your Kitchen Contest, one lucky mom is going to get a brand new Kitchen.…  the contest offers moms the chance to win $15,000 in retailer gift cards to update their kitchen – we’re talking granite, marble and stainless steel…as well as a year’s supply of Pledge…..

In order to enter, you need to download 2 pictures and provide a 75-word essay on why your kitchen could use a little love. The “Pledge to Love Your Kitchen” contest runs through December 10, 2010. The winner of the “Pledge to Love Your Kitchen” will walk away with $15,000 in kitchen improvements.

You heard me! $15,000!

And just for fun – we’re doing a little giveaway right here too….  no – not the $15,000 kitchen – you have to go here for that.  And I suggest you do….  because, really?  Who wouldn’t want a kitchen make-over?

One lucky winner will receive a prize pack full of Pledge product (ARV: $40)

In order to enter:

  • Tweet the following: Enter the “Pledge To Love Your Kitchen” Contest for a chance to win a $15,000 kitchen upgrade. Visit http://bit.ly/bMhDSU #pledgecontest
  • Leave a comment sharing what you would do if you won $15,000 in kitchen improvements from the “Pledge to Love Your Kitchen” contest.

Our contest will run until Monday, November 29th at 12:00amCST.

ExtraordinaryMommy.com is not responsible for prizes that are shipped from outside vendors or sponsors. All entries will be pooled together and one (1) winner will be drawn. The winner will have two calendar days to reply via email. Unclaimed prizes will be placed for availability to newly chosen winners after that time. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents only, must be at least 18 years old to enter. One entry per person, entries accepted through November 29, 2010 ending at exactly 11:59 CST. This contest is sponsored by Pledge. I was compensated for my participation in the Pledge to love your Kitchen campaign

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Performance Bike Giveaway for 4 to 8 year old

September 29, 2010 By 100 Comments

Watching my husband teach my daughter to ride her bike was easily one of the greatest joys of my past year.

(And if you watch the video – you will see it was also one of his greatest and one of her greatest!)

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A shopping trip with my Girl (or how you can win $150 to JCPenney)

September 24, 2010 By 288 Comments

When she was just this little blinking heart beat on a screen…..from the moment the doctor said, “you are having a girl!”….I began to have admittedly superficial Mother-Daughter dreams.

You know….like girl talks, lunches, giggling about boys and, naturally, shopping.

Now that my small girl is 6, she is both sweet and sassy. She is hard at work developing a strong personality of her own and that includes taking ownership for her sense of style.  For the first time, we embarked on a Mom-Daughter Shopping Excursion (courtesy of JCPenney) during which I allowed her to pick EVERYTHING she wanted to try on…..

And this, my friends, was the posing that resulted and
the outfits she chose:

The goal of this shopping trip was to help Delaney discover her style….and, of course, for her (and I suppose me too) to have fun while doing it.  She is not super-girly….she turned up that cute little nose at anything that was too ‘sweet’.  She’ll do glitter.  She will embrace glitzy, but seems to think that a ‘rocker’ edge is more appealing.  And hats?  And ties?  Bring.It.On.

This was such a new experience – she said no to at least half of my ‘what do you think of this?’ displays.  And no amount of , “but I think this would be adorable….” was going to change that stubborn little mind.

I’m not sure where she gets her conviction. But I am proud of her.

Can you stand the smile?  I have to confess I really had so much fun.

To encourage you to help your kids discover their Back-to-School style- we are giving away a $150 shopping spree to JCPenney….

To enter this giveaway:

  • Visit JCP.com and tell us one thing you think your child, tween or tween might love to wear….
  • For an additional entry – subscribe to this blog (very top of the site) or to our newsletter (in the sidebar)

ExtraordinaryMommy.com is not responsible for prizes that are shipped from outside vendors or sponsors. All entries will be pooled together and one (1) winner will be drawn. The winner will have two calendar days to reply via email. Unclaimed prizes will be placed for availability to newly chosen winners after that time. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents only, must be at least 18 years old to enter. One entry per person, entries accepted through October 4th,  2010 ending at exactly 11:59 CDT. This contest is sponsored by JCPenney.

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Nintendo DSi (Plus GAMES) Giveaway – a $210 Value!

September 16, 2010 By

A few weeks ago my small people suckered me into buying a particular box of cereal – it wasn’t the crazy-sugar-filled-swinging-from-the-chandeliers-kind, but it was a bit sweeter than normal.  Either way, (sucker) I said yes.

The next morning, I came downstairs to find half the box on the kitchen island.  Why, you ask?  There was a picture of a DSi on the outside of the box….so the small girl was CONVINCED there was one inside.

It wasn’t the cereal she wanted at all. So now that DSi is on her Christmas list.

(P.S. She isn’t alone, now is she?)

You want one?

Normally, the Nintendo DSi is $169, but right now Gamestop is offering it for $149. Cool, yes? (Holidays on the mind?)

I have one to give away.  PLUS, BONUS – it will come with TWO Games.

screen-shot-2010-09-15-at-95145-pm

Nintendo DSi + TWO GAMES = a $210 Value.

If you are feeling particularly lucky (enter the contest here first) but then visit my friends over at TodaysMama….why, you ask?  Because they have the Mother-of-all-Nintendo-DSi-lovers-Giveaways going on right now.

5 DSis + 10 GAMES = all to one crazy-lucky-game-loving-family-time-having-family.  **dousing you with good luck spray**

To enter here, you have to jump through some serious hoops.

Just kidding…..Here’s the dealio:

To enter the Giveaway:

  • Leave a comment here telling me your FAVORITE way to indulge in ‘FAMILY TIME’
  • For an extra entry – Subscribe to ExtraordinaryMommy.com – (Top Right Corner)
  • The Contest Runs until Sunday, September 20th at 11:59pmCST

ExtraordinaryMommy.com is not responsible for prizes that are shipped from outside vendors or sponsors. All entries will be pooled together and one (1) winner will be drawn. The winner will have two calendar days to reply via email. Unclaimed prizes will be placed for availability to newly chosen winners after that time. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents only, must be at least 18 years old to enter. One entry per person, entries accepted through September 20, 2010 ending at exactly 11:59 CDT. This contest is sponsored by Gamestop.

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Dreams, Wishes and a Special Giveaway for Expectant Moms

September 1, 2010 By 8 Comments

Driving with my small dude tonight – he was sharing the dream he plans to have when he goes to sleep…

It involves him, a soccer ball, a break away, a BIG KICK and, naturally, a goal.

The small girl, of course, wanted to chime in with her big dream too….though, she claimed, she was a bit frustrated, because this dream is one she has been thinking about for A LONG TIME.

A BABY SISTER.

(Cue screeching tires.)

And to combat my attempts to reason with her…. ie: Mommy and Daddy are happy with our little family of four, she responds: BUT ALL OF MY FRIENDS HAVE LITTLE SISTERS.

While this effects my desire to have another child NOT AT ALL, she is right about one thing – there are lots of babies and soon-to-be-babies in our world – and, I will admit, it is just a little slice of heaven.

I simply adore anything that celebrates the joy of this time.

Not that long ago I received an email from an old friend – sharing news about a woman who was doing just that – finding the fun and celebrating the joy in pregnancy…. AND doing good in the world.

Sign of Labor is the brain child of Ingrid Moriarty – a photographer and mother. As an expectant mother, she wanted other drivers to know she was on the road with them. Her special touch behind the lens was to encourage women to see the beauty in this time.  And when she was in labor, she most definitely was hoping she could get where she needed to be (and in time!)

screen-shot-2010-08-31-at-102543-pm

The Sign of Labor decals and car flags are the result.  The decals and car flags let other drivers know there is extra-precious cargo on board. Darling as a shower gift….perfect to remind women of the celebration of their pregnancy as an active time.

Naturally, the decals are not safety devices and are not intended to promote driving while in labor.

As if I wasn’t already drawn to Ingrid, as part of her company’s mission, she donates 5% of all proceeds to a non-political, non-profit organization that supports the awareness and improvement of pregnancy in the U.S. and around the world.  Their June donation was made to the March of Dimes.

Giveaway

Now, here is the fun part….   I have SIX – that’s right – SIX Sign Of Labor Bundles of these decals and car flags to give away!

screen-shot-2010-08-31-at-103153-pm

  • Two Blue – Boy
  • Two Pink – Girl
  • Two Green – Surprise

In order to enter, leave a comment here – share your favorite labor story, or (if you don’t have one) tell us who you would give this to if you could (and we have to know if you would like blue, pink or green!)

For extra entries

Contest runs through Labor Day week – until Sunday, September 15th at 11:59 CST.

ExtraordinaryMommy.com is not responsible for prizes that are shipped from outside vendors or sponsors. All entries will be pooled together and six(6) winners will be selected. The winner will have two calendar days to reply via email. Unclaimed prizes will be placed for availability to newly chosen winners after that time. Giveaway is open to all U.S. residents only, must be at least 18 years old to enter. One entry per person, entries accepted through September 15, 2010 ending at exactly 11:59 CDT.
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