Celebrating "Momtrepreneurs" - Paper Nook

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

Momtrepreneur Tacy:  Owner of Paper Nook

I'm Tacy, owner of Paper Nook. After 10 years in the corporate world as a Graphic Designer, I made a decision to stay at home to raise my children and start my own business. It sounded way easier in theory than it has been in practice, but spending my days with my three year old girl and one year old boy has been rewarding beyond words. I've worn many hats since graduating from Ohio University with a BS in Visual Communications (Info. Graphics/Page Design), such as Graphic Designer and Creative Director with well-known consumer brands. Transitioning from a professional career to a stay at home mom was a challenge! Over time, I discovered a void. I desperately needed a creative outlet at the end of the day or else I'd go crazy. The result? My third baby - Paper Nook.



The inspiration for Paper Nook came from my name. Tacy isn't common. At novelty shops, my name wasn't on the bicycle license plates or personalized cups, so I'm slightly obsessed with putting my kid's names on whatever I can. Paper Nook gives me the unique ability to personalize products for parents and their children—no matter how unique the name.

A typical day for me:


7am: Kids wake up and we eat breakfast

8am: Try to respond to emails while the kids play or are doing activities


12pm: Eat lunch and then my son goes down for a nap and I answer more emails or package up orders I completed from the night before


3pm: Snack time, errands and more playing the rest of the afternoon
6pm: Make dinner and hubby is home to help with the kids


7pm: Bath time and then bed time for the kids

8pm: The real work time begins


12pm: Bedtime!
I really try to only work 3 of 5 weekdays and only on Sundays, so that I can also have quality time with the hubby a couple week nights and weekends.

Being a SAHM is definitely a very hard job. Being a SAHM while also being a work-at-home-mom is even harder. I opened my Etsy store in June 2010, a month after my second child was born, and my business has grown organically via word-of-mouth. In the future, as my kids get older, I hope to spend more of my daytime hours growing my business, but I'm completely satisfied with my work and the time I get to spend with my children.

My advice to anyone who wants to work from home is make sure you have all the support in the world from your spouse. I couldn't do it without my husband. Secondly, find a healthy balance of time for your work, your family and yourself. It's not easy and it's a moving target that requires re-calibration from week to week.

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Check out all of Paper Nook's great products and become a fan today!

http://www.papernook.com/

http://www.papernook.etsy.com/

www.facebook.com/papernook

www.twitter.com/papernook

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TODAY'S PRIZE:  A $20 credit for any PaperNook product(s)!
 
Remember, one lucky winner will win ALL of the Momtrepreneur Week prizes!!! Check out each post for more details on what you can win. One comment per post allowed for multiple entries (posts on September 22nd, 24th, 26th, and 28th).

Please, don't make me search the world for your contact information - be sure to include a Twitter handle or email address so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner.

Giveaway entries accepted through 9/30 at 9:00 PM eastern time. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Celebrating "Momtrepreneurs" - Mommy Talk Show

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.



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Momtrepreneur Joyce: MommyTalkShow.com

The dream…

When I was working as a TV news reporter, one of my favorite things to do was interview an entrepreneur. They always seemed so passionate about running their business, selling their product or providing a service. Entrepreneurs had no “boss” to answer to and made their own schedules. The minute-to-minute deadlines of TV news were foreign to them. Entrepreneurs moved at their own pace or at least at the pace of their customers.

The reality…

Now that I am an entrepreneur, or momtrepreneur to be exact, I realize I may have idealized them a little too much. Running your own business is hard work. When you’re first starting out, you’re probably working alone. All decisions, good or bad, must be made by you.

The even bigger challenge as a mom running your own business is that you have a little person who is your real boss. Your children and their needs dictate when you can take conference calls, meetings or attend seminars. It’s a never-ending balancing act that I’m not sure any mom ever perfects.

Getting things done…

Thanks to technology, I get an incredible amount of work done while my 18 month old son A.J. is taking a nap or in bed for the night. Thanks to my Macbook Pro, I edit professional videos using iMovie software while I’m in bed watching TV. My tweets and Facebook posts can be scheduled thanks to Hootsuite or Tweetdeck. This way I have a round-the-clock social media presence for me and my clients, when what I’m really doing is playing at the park with my son, running an errand or taking a quick catnap.

When I really need to get things done, I tell my husband ahead of time that he’s “on-duty” and I leave the house so I can work at Starbucks or Panera Bread (where I’m writing this post). A.J. also attends a mother’s day out program once a week so I can rely on that dedicated four hour break. Thanks to a nearby co-work and play space, Bean Work Play Café in Decatur, I can work in a professional environment and A.J. plays nearby. There’s no long-term commitment. Just a membership fee and hourly child care.

Can you do it?

Watch this video to learn a little more about me, my parenting talk show and about an e-book designed to help moms find business ideas that you can win. Most importantly, I suggest a really simple business you can start ASAP. Once you hear it, you’ll think “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Connect with Emmy-award-winning Joyce!

http://mommytalkshow.com/

http://Facebook.com/MommyTalkShow

http://Twitter.com/MommyTalkShow

(And don't forget to enter HER e-book giveaway! After you enter for the Momtrepreneur Gift Pack here first!)
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Today's prize: A $15 Target gift card
so you can stock up on supplies to follow you entrepreneur dreams!

Remember, one lucky winner will win ALL of the Momtrepreneur Week prizes!!! One comment per post allowed for multiple entries (posts on September 22nd, 24th, 26th, and 28th).

Please, don't make me search the world for your contact information - be sure to include a Twitter handle or email address so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner.

Giveaway entries accepted through 9/30 at 9:00 PM eastern time. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

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(Deadline to enter to win Joyce's e-book giveaway (visit her site for more info) is Saturday, October 8th at 9 p.m. EST.)

Celebrating "Momtrepreneurs" - Saucy Spirits (yum!)

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

Momtrepreneur Tiffany (and son!): Owners of Saucy Spirits

About the author: Tiffany Wong is a mother of six and co-owner of Saucy Spirits, a gourmet wine jelly business operated by her oldest son, Ryan. They are currently raising funds for Ryan to get his commercial license, check out their project HERE.

I helped Ryan start his Saucy Spirits wine jelly business last summer, as a way for him to make some extra spending money. What was supposed to be a one-day-a-week hobby, quickly turned into four markets a week and lots of jelly making hours! We have now been in business for a little over a year and Ryan is getting ready to take his wine jellies to the retail market. As a mom to six children, I do my best to keep some sort of separation between work and family, but more often than not, it just isn’t possible. I don’t have easy access to a sitter, so 90% of the time I have at least three children home, if not all six. To help juggle the business and family tasks, I have found that the easiest option for my family is to just involve everyone, even the little ones. If you work from home and have trouble finding time for your children, think about trying one or more of the following:

Take your children on business errands with you. If it isn’t an important meeting, load everyone up and head out. When we go shopping for wine jelly ingredients and market materials, my younger two girls love to come. They take turns doing things like holding the shopping list, putting things in the cart, organizing items in the cart, handing things to the cashier, etc. Yes, it takes a little longer than if I just went alone, but they really enjoy helping. It’s also quicker and cheaper than taking them to a sitter, and allows us to have more time together.

Let your children be your assistants. When performing various work tasks at home, let your children help you. My daughters love to help Ryan and I get out the materials he needs to make his wine jellies. Even at three and four, they can hand me sheets of labels, help put jars in boxes, and much more.

Involve your children in business decisions. We often discuss important business decisions around the dinner table. Even though the final decision is ultimately made by me and Ryan, I still let everyone know what the issue is at hand. We usually go around the table and let everyone tell us their thoughts. You may be surprised at the wonderful ideas your children have for your business, if you just take the time to ask!

Something that we often forget as parents is that our children just want to be with us. They don’t care if we are managing a house or running a business, they just want our time and attention. If you struggle with penciling in time for your children, take one day next week and try having them help. You might just be surprised by the results!

Find out more about Ryan's unique jellies on their webpage, http://www.saucyspirits.com/, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/saucyspirits.

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Today's prize: $25 gift box
Includes a mini jar of each Saucy Spirits flavor:
Pear Pinot Grigio
Dark Chocolate Cherry Cabernet Sauvignon
Roasted Red Pepper Chardonnay
Tomato Basil Table Red
Peach White Zinfandel


Remember, one lucky winner will win ALL of the Momtrepreneur Week prizes!!! Custom name sign from Ellabee Papier, $15 Target gift card, $20 to Paper Nook, plus the wine jelly sampler from Saucy Spirits! One comment per post allowed for multiple entries (posts on September 22nd, 24th, 26th, and 28th).

Please, don't make me search the world for your contact information - be sure to include a Twitter handle or email address so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner.

Giveaway entries accepted through 9/30 at 9:00 PM eastern time. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Celebrating "Momtrepreneurs" - Ellabee Papier (and a big giveaway!)

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.


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Momtrepreneur Melissa: Owner of Ellabee Papier

Hello, I'm Melissa with Ellabee Papier and mommy to Ella, an energetic non-stop two year old. Ellabee Papier is my venture back into the world of working. The idea of starting my own business has always interested me. With the encouragement and support of friends and family, I became a mom-entrepreneur and Ellabee Papier came to fruition. I considered an Etsy store, but the start-up seemed daunting. Etsy's market is flooded with invitations and other paper merchandise just like mine and I wasn't sure I would get noticed. I decided to postpone the Etsy store and pursue word of mouth referrals and network with local vendors and so far, it is working. Between Ellabee and freelance print media design I stay quite busy.


Now for the fun part.

How do I manage being a stay-at-home mom turned work-at-home mom?

Most days I wish there were two of me. Ellabee Papier is still very new and I'm trying to figure it all out. I'm sure I jumped in prematurely (no official business plan or website) but I work better under pressure; at least that's what I keep telling myself. I read blogs and see "Super Moms" with multiple kids managing to do more. Not just a little more but lots more. How is that possible? Is it Inspirational? Yes! Am I Jealous? Of course I am! Will I be one of those moms? Fingers crossed.

How do I plan to get there? A comfortable chair and the television are my weaknesses. I am most productive at my desk. I try to limit my time on social media sites and I take advantage of naptime. I also work several evenings a week after Ella goes to bed. Is this working for me? It does most of the time, but occasionally I stress over deadlines. What am I learning along the way? To hopefully be a little less OCD and realize it's okay not to be a perfectionist. The most important lesson so far is not to procrastinate. I enjoy having time with Ella and being a mommy is my first priority. Too soon life will change and she will be off at school. Maybe then, I can be "Super Mom". One thing is certain, being a stay at home mom, work at home mom, or working mom makes no difference, raising a child is the hardest job of all.

You can view more of my work at http://www.facebook.com/EllabeePapier.

I would be happy to help create a memorable birthday party for your superstar!

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Prize #1 in the Momtrepreneur Week prize pack:
A custom name sign!
Designed to compliment your child's bedroom, be it whimsical, beautiful, or just plain fun!

To enter, simply leave a comment on one - or all - of the Momtrepreneur posts this week (I will have a new post every other day through 9/28). If you comment on each post this week, you get four entries! One tweet per day, with a link back to this post, also allowed as bonus. Just be sure to leave an extra comment saying "I tweeted!" with the link.

Please, don't make me search the world for your contact information - be sure to include a Twitter handle or email address so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner. 

Giveaway entries accepted through 9/30 at 9:00 PM eastern time. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. 

StinkyKids - new adventure book & giveaway

In this family, books are as beloved as toys. As an infant, Amelia cooed and giggled as she flipped page after page of colorful, cute, touch-worthy books. As she got older, she loved nothing more than to cuddle in Daddy's lap as he read magical or funny stories from her bookshelf. Now, she likes to flip through books on her own. She likes to invent unique and creative stories from the pictures. But once in a while, she turns those bright blue eyes to us and asks, "will you read this one to me?".

The latest book to join our growing collection?
StinkyKids and the Runaway Scissors

Right away, Amelia approved of the title. She grinned and laughed. She pointed at the inside cover, which portrays all of the StinkyKids charatcers, and wanted to learn each of their names.

StinkyKids and the Runaway Scissors tells the story of a little stinker (hence, the name StinkyKids) who has an issue with bubblegum. Her friends, also little stinkers, jump right in to help. In their own special way.

I really love the illustrations in this book. Each little stinker has his/her own style and personality. They are quite adorable. It is an enjoyable story and a great new book. You can buy a copy (and pre-order the next adventure, StinkyKids See a Full Moon) today at BN.com.

Does Amelia like her new book?

What do you think?

• Love those cute StinkyKids? The dolls are available for purchase at Amazon.com


• Great news! StinkyKids just won a 2011 Mom's Choice Award for StinkyKids and the Runaway Scissors


• Another great idea: StinkyKids donates a percentage of its profits to Books, Bears, Bonnets, Inc., a charity founded in honor of Britt’s aunt who died from uterine cancer.

Visit the StinkyKids website for more information about the book, precious plush dolls, an e-mail newsletter, and more!

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Giveaway is now closed.
Congrats to Lori!
(Random.org selected comment #3)

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Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book for the purposes of this review.
Opinions are 100% mine.

Classical Cradle (with a #giveaway!)

A couple years have passed since my baby was a... baby. She has blossomed into a fiercely independent and fantastically creative little girl.

Bedtime used to consist of rocking in the cozy chair, listening to soft music, and patting her little bottom. Now, it is a 30-minute event. Playtime, books, funny giggling games, prayers, and back rubs.

When I received the Classical Cradle CD, I was excited to test it out. Amelia's cute little pink and white flower CD player is broken, so I hauled the ancient big black "boombox" into her room. She laughed at me and my contraption (circa 1990). But when the simple soothing piano melodies began to play, she was enthralled. In fact, she did not want to go to sleep - she wanted to wait and listen to every single song!

Classical Cradle is really a lovely bedtime album, featuring some well-known classical medleys via acoustic piano. Unlike some other children's classical albums I own, all of the songs on Classical Cradle have a calm feel and even tempo. It is a fantastic lullaby selection. Even though bedtime means a bit of play these days, we have been turning on the music every night. The entire family enjoys it.

I may want one for the office too! I certainly need some stress relief now and then.
Just as long as I don't fall asleep at my desk...

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I want you to experience this lovely lullaby album too!

To buy: Visit ClassicalCradle.com

You can also enter this BEDTIME COMFORTS GIVEAWAY!

Prize pack:

• Relaxing Classical Cradle CD


• Cozy Sammie the Pup plush dog


• Soothing Bedtime Bubble Bath & Wash

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations to Heather!!!

Thank you! Happy sleeping!


Disclosure: I received two Classical Cradle CDs for the purposes of this review. One to review and one for the giveaway. Despite receiving this item for free, all opinions are 100% mine. Other items in the giveaway are not endorsed by the manufacturers... I just like them too.

Monster in the house

My little girl is a monster!

A pretend one, thankfully.

She has been practicing her "rooaar!" ever since reading the new children's book, Rufus' Roar.

Rufus is a very large red monster. He is gentle and always polite, but whenever he speaks, the humans only hear his "rooaar!". When he sets out for a treat to calm his rumbling tummy, Rufus quickly finds himself in lots of trouble. All because of a teeny misunderstanding.

My three-year-old daughter loves books, but many fall to the bottom of the book bin if they just can't hold her attention. The bold and colorful images and emotion-filled story of Rufus captivated her from the start. It was wonderfully age-appropriate for her, but may also be enjoyed at much older ages when they can read for themselves. We read Rufus' Roar together three times that afternoon. And we've read it daily ever since.

I'm pretty certain Rufus will stick around here for a while.

Rufus' Roar is the creation of James Novy, an award-winning cartoonist and art director out of New York City. It is his first children's book.

See Rufus now:  Rufus' Roar is available for purchase on his website, RufusTheMonster.com. Both a print and downloadable PDF version are available. You can also learn more about Rufus and find fun FREE activities for your kids like coloring pages, T-shirt iron-ons, and Shrinky-Dink charms. An iPhone app is in the works, and I can't wait to see it!

*Giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Samantha!*

Second winner is Rachel H. Congrats to you too!

You could WIN Rufus and a treat!

Two winners will be chosen:

• Grand prize = A copy of Rufus' Roar and a $10 ice cream gift card (so you don't get yourself into trouble like Rufus!)
• Second winner = A copy of Rufus' Roar

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The fine print...

I received a free copy of this book to review (and two to give away). All opinions are 100% mine. Ice cream gift card will be winner's choice: Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone, or McDonald's. Entry period for the giveaway is 6/20/11 through 6/28/11 (10:00 PM EST). Grand prize winner and the additional winner will be selected via Random.org. Entries will be verified - so don't say you did something if you didn't! If I cannot contact the chosen winners within 48 hours, new winner(s) will be selected.  

Scholarship Opportunity

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
I can't imagine my little princess going off to college. I also can't believe she is already three years old. Potty-trained. Intelligent. And, well, a bit bossy. The light of my life is growing up, and I can barely keep up.
She will be in college before I know it.

I remember the excitement I felt during those last two high school years. Independence, new experiences, and new friends were just around the corner.

My parents were probably less thrilled. College came with a pretty hefty price tag.

Today, I am thrilled to be able to help spread the word about  Parent’s Choice Infant Formula Savings Sweepstakes.
The sweepstakes, created in partnership with PBM Products, LLC, a Perrigo company, will provide one lucky winner with a $10,000 college scholarship in the form of a College Savings 529 plan.
The Parent's Choice Infant Formula Sweepstakes was launched on June 15th and will run through August 1st, 2011.
More information, rules, and an entry form are available by clicking HERE. It is never to early to start saving!
Parent's Choice Infant Formula is Walmart's private brand formula. It is available exclusively at Walmart locations and on the Walmart website.

Rainy Day Fashion (and GIVEAWAY!)

Some things never fail. You get your car sparkling clean, and it rains. You forget your umbrella at home, and the clouds appear out of nowhere. Then... it rains.

You get an adorable new rain jacket for your daughter? No daytime rain in weeks! (Plenty of night rain. And hail. And tornadoes, oh my.)

Amelia is thrilled with her brand new Hatley kids rain jacket from HearthSong. At the first sign of a sunny day sprinkle, we're going out to play!

I am in love with this jacket - such incredible quality. The outer shell is rain-proof, yet soft and pliable. The cotton/ poly lining is cozy and warm. I selected the next size up; now she can wear this jacket for a long time! It is light enough for spring rains, but the liner provides the perfect amount of insulation for our southern winters.


Have you shopped HearthSong in a while?
(Keep reading for a $50 giveaway!)

In addition to this super cute jacket (see boys Hatley jackets and matching umbrellas also!), HearthSong offers unique and creative gifts, quality wooden toys, arts and crafts, and fun cooking activities. These are not your average plastic toys.

I recently won this wooden play kitchen from blog Our Kids Mom. It is the perfect size for our house and came with adorable accessories like an oven mitt, wooden pots, pans, and spoons.

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Do you want this quaint mini kitchen for a favorite kid in your life?

Or perhaps one of the best quality rain jackets out there?

Maybe some Connectagon sets?  Art supplies?

*** Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered! ***
.

HOW TO ENTER:

• Mandatory - visit http://www.hearthsong.com/ and tell me (besides the kitchen and/or jacket) something a child in your life would love to receive. Don't forget to leave your email address and/or Twitter handle so I can contact you if you win.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
Once you have left the mandatory comment above, you can add more entries. Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry. 

• Mention this giveaway in a blog post or on your blog's giveaway linky
• Follow @BalancingMama on Twitter
• Follow @HearthSongToys on Twitter
• "Like" 3 Moms In 1 on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway - include @BalancingMama and a link to this post. Or, simply copy and tweet the following:
  
  Check it out! $50 giftcard #giveaway from @BalancingMama and @HearthSongToys http://bit.ly/jAfSxd 

Giveaway rules: Entries accepted through 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, 5/19. Winner must have a U.S. mailing address. Gift card will be mailed to the winner directly from HearthSong. If I do not receive a response from the selected winner within 72 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

Some fine print:  I received the Hatley kid's rain jacket free of charge from HearthSong. All opinions in this review are solely mine.

I ♥ you guys

I love the readers I know in real life. Like my mommy, my friends, my online mother's group.

I love the readers I feel like I know through their own blogs and tweets.

I love the readers I really do not know at all.

You guys make blogging fun.

I'm not really into numbers and the whole business-aspect of blogging these days. But I want to host another giveaway. A freebie for you guys - just because I love you!

My real readers are the ones who come back time & time again. Who leave comments or keep in touch via Twitter. Who share opinions of information on the 3 Moms In 1 Facebook page.

Those people? Are the ones eligible for this GIVEAWAY!

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GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Congrats to LeAnn, Jenilee, and Samantha!
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If you have left a (real!) comment on any post since February 1st, you are already entered!

Bonus entries or need to enter?

Comment, comment, comment! Not just "I want to win!" And don't make me gag with "Follow me and I'll follow you back!" pleading. Tell me something about YOU or what you think of a post. Would love to get to know you better.

Tweet tweet! @BalancingMama I am a  real reader! Would like to be entered in your #giveaway on 3MomsIn1.com

The LOOT: Decided to have three winners!

• Grand prize: One $5 Target Gift Card and TWO Little People music CDs (I love these!)
• 2nd and 3rd prizes: One $5 Target Gift Card each

Winners will be selected via Random.org on 2/18 from a list I compile. I will gather all post comments and tweets from 2/1 through 2/18. Will notify winners quickly; winners will have 3 days to respond before I select another winner.

Thank you, thank you! Blogging is fun because of YOU.

Sniffle sniffle

Here is a GIVEAWAY to celebrate the big southern snow/ice storm! 

You love Boogie Wipes for your kids, right? The soft and lightly scented saline wipes are a must-have for runny nose season.

What do you do when that nastly school virus comes home to you? Do you get a painful, red and raw nose like I do? Well, guess what? Boogie Wipes have grown up! Have you tried Achooz?



Achooz are gentle saline, vitamin E, + aloe nose wipes for adults. Available in convenient sealable packages, either unscented or cool menthol. I am a huge fan of the cool menthol scent when suffering from a cold. No tissue could ever be this soothing!

Achooz are available in the tissue aisle at Walgreens and many other drug stores, as well as online via Amazon.com and Drugstore.com. Get a $0.50 off coupon HERE when you sign up for Achooz Newz.

You can also follow Achooz onTwitter: @chooseachooz

***GIVEAWAY!***
(Giveaway is now closed. Winner selected from Twitter and comment entries. Selected via Random.org. Congratulations to Angie!)

One lucky 3 Moms In 1 follower will win Achooz this weekend! Simply leave a COMMENT (don't forget to leave a method of contact!) or TWEET about the giveaway (be sure to inclue @balancingmama in the tweet so I can count your entry).

Winner will be selcted via Random.org from a compilation of all tweet and comment entries. Winner will be selected on Sunday evening, December 16th at 8:00 p.m. EST. Winner will be notified via email or Twitter. COMMENT ENTRIES must include a method of contact. Winner should respond with mailing address information within 36 hours or a new winner will be chosen. 

Treat your back

Long car rides.
Pregnancy.
Lifting kid(s) in and out of the car.
Standing on your feet all day.
A bad office chair (or for me, working from home on the couch).
Bad posture.

Many things cause back aches and fatigue. And very few things actually help relieve it. But today, I'm excited to share the Back Sac with you. (Keep reading for a GIVEAWAY!)

The Back Sac is an air-filled back support cushion, designed by a physical therapist and certified pilates instructor (also a real-life friend of mine!) for back support and comfort in any resting position.

Unlike a regular pillow, the air in the Back Sac can move, supporting only where you need it.

I use my Back Sac while working from home and while sitting on the couch writing blog posts. I used it in the car on our long ride for Thanksgiving. I've even used it as a pillow while laying on the floor playing games with Amelia. The beauty of the Back Sac is that it is inflatable. I can put more or less air in it depending on the type of seat I'm using. For the car, only a tiny bit of air. For computer work on the couch, maybe a little bit more. It is totally adjustable and fits anyone - and any situation.

For more information, visit BackSac.com. For a 10% discount, enter code 3MOMS upon checkout.

*** giveaway is closed. Congrats to Becky Jane! (selected via random.org) ***

One lucky reader will win a Back Sac of their own!
"Treat your back to the Sac"


TO ENTER:


Simply leave a comment below, telling me why you'd like to try the Back Sac. You must provide an email or Twitter handle so I can contact you if you win.

Bonus entries:

• Tweet (up to 2x/day) about this giveaway. Include @BalancingMama and a link to this post so I can count your entry.
• Like 3 Moms In 1 on Facebook - leave a comment to let me know (1 bonus)
• Follow @BalancingMama on Twitter - leave a comment to let me know (1 bonus)
• Follow @BackSac on Twitter - leave a comment to let me know (1 bonus)
• Blog about this giveaway - leave a comment with a link (5 bonus)
• Become a Google Friend Connect follower (if you are not already) - leave a comment (5 bonus)

Entries accepted through Thursday 12/9 at 7:00 AM eastern. One winner will be selected via Random.org. The prize will be sent via U.S. Postal Service - to a U.S. address ONLY. If I have not made contact with a winner by 8:00 AM on Monday 12/13, I will select another winner from the remaining entries.  I received a BackSac to review. Opinions are solely mine.

Love thy mother

The weather is really bi-polar these days. We officially turned on the heat to combat the cold nights. But in the afternoon, I'm stripping off my long sleeves and jeans and opting for my trusty capris and t-shirts. Then as the sun goes down again (a little too early for my liking), my favorite fuzzy PJ pants are in regular evening rotation.

I am trying to eat healthier these days. Less fast food, less pre-prepared, high-sodium, frozen meals and snacks.

We are also potty-training.

What do these have in common, you ask?

Skin torture!

The dry weather and insanely fluctuating temperatures wreak havoc on my skin. And when the cold weather is combined with more frequent hand-washing from cooking and many, many child potty breaks, my hands pay the price - big time.

I recently tried the Green Salve from Motherlove Herbal Company (keep reading to enter the giveaway!). Motherlove creates safe and natural body care products for pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. And they generously sent me a sample of their Green Salve to try at home. (Note to personal friends and family: No, I am not pregnant. Nor giving birth or breastfeeding any time soon. One crazy kid is enough right now.)

The salve is truly all-purpose. I used it religiously on my hands this week. The constant washing is still a challenge to my skin, but overall, my hands are much softer and less damaged/red than they were before. I love the ingredients in this product: olive oil, beezwax, marshmallow root - all certified organic products. It is safe and effective. It is also great for itch and discomfort associated with bee stings, insect bites, and poison ivy.

Because I felt so comfortable with these natural ingredients, I also used the green salve on Amelia's damaged skin after bathtime. Her belly eczema rash cleared up overnight, and she woke in the morning telling me, "Mommy! I'm not scratchy anymore!". Her hands were chapped to the point of cracking & bleeding, and they healed after only 3-4 applications of the Green Salve. She now loves "Mommy's Green Cream". I think this needs to become a wintertime staple in all of our bathroom cabinets!

Motherlove offers many products such as nipple cream for breastfeeding moms (Good elsewhere too - I tried this on my cracked and dry elbows last night. They are so smooth today!), pregnant belly oil, sitz bath, and baby oil. All made from similar natural and gentle ingredients. Added bonus? They give 10% of all their after-tax profits to the Nurturing Life Foundation.

This would make a fantastic holiday gift for the pregnant family members or friends in your life! Pregnant mamas go through a lot... they deserve (and appreciate) a little pampering.

Check out MotherLove by visiting their WEBSITE.


(Giveaway is now closed. CONGRATS to Tara & Shelby!)
And... TWO lucky readers can win a jar of Green Salve this week!  I have a feeling they will love the results like I did.

TO ENTER:
Simply leave a comment below, telling me which body part(s) need some damage control.
OR
Tweet (up to 3x/day):  I want to #win a jar of soothing Green Salve from @MotherLoveHerb and @BalancingMama! http://bit.ly/b71xE9 #giveaway

Bonus entries:
Like 3 Moms In 1 on Facebook (1 bonus)
Follow @BalancingMama on Twitter - leave a comment to let me know (1 bonus)
Follow @MotherLoveHerb on Twitter - leave a comment to let me know (1 bonus)
Blog about this giveaway - leave a comment with a link (5 bonus)
Become a Google Friend Connect follower (if you are not already) - leave a comment (5 bonus)

Entries accepted through Friday 11/19 at 7:00 AM eastern. Two winners will be selected via Random.org. The prize will be sent directly from MotherLove Herbal Company - to a U.S. address ONLY. If I have not made contact with a winner by 8:00 AM on Monday 11/22, I will select another winner from the remaining entries.



Motherlove provided me product samples to review. However, all opinions expressed about this product are solely mine. The company had no input in the writing of this review.

Country Girl

I may be in a city of 6 million+ population now, but I grew up a small town girl. Where people were chatty, traffic did not exist, and food was especially yummy.

When I was recently introduced to a sauce called "Country Bob's", I just knew I had to try it. The name alone conjures up images of friendly people who know how to cook - and enjoy - good, hearty food.

I received two bottles of Country Bob's to try. I first did the fingertip taste. It was pretty good! Reminds me of a cross between BBQ and steak sauce, with maybe some worcestershire sauce thrown in. All really good flavors for meats and other savory meals. Then I discovered the Country Bob's website, chock full of recipes and ideas. It may sound silly, but I was so excited to cook with this newly discovered sauce!

I made three things in the past week, all using Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce:

 Hamburgers:
Lean ground beef
Onion hamburger buns
Country Bob's All Purpose sauce
A tiny bit of lite mayo




Glazed chicken tenderloins:
Fresh chicken tenderloins
Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce
Dash of salt
Shredded cheddar cheese for topping

And my favorite experiment so far (inspired by recipe on the website)...

Smoky Nachos

Ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
Tortilla chips (I like Tostito's Multigrain)
Onions
Garlic powder (or garlic salt)
Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce
Salsa
Cheddar Cheese
Can add beans and jalapenos, if desired

These were so good! I call them "smoky nachos" because the sauce adds a bit of a smoky/BBQ/beefy flavor that upgrades these from a typical southwestern/salsa flavor to something new and exciting. There's also a sweetness that pulls from the sauce, contrasting perfectly with the salty chips and ground beef.

My husband was beyond excited to get nachos for dinner that night. And they were so simple to prepare! We'll be having them again soon.

Want to win TWO bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce for yourself?

If you are already a Google Friend Connect follower, do NOTHING! A winner will be chosen from my followers. (Must have a U.S. mailing address)

If you want some bonus entries, Tweet!
@BalancingMama I want to win two bottles of Country Bob's sauce from 3MomsIn1.com!


Entries accepted through Sunday 11/7 at 10:00 PM eastern. Followers & bonus tweet will be compiled & shuffled, and one winner will be selected via Random.org. If I have not made contact with the winner by 11:59 PM on Friday 11/12, I will select another winner from the remaining entries.


Country Bob's provided me with two free bottles of sauce for review. However, all opinions expressed about this product are solely mine.



Number generated by Random.org

Counting to 19... 
The 19th follower listed in my Google Friend Connect is Avant Garde Parenting! You won the Glee Gum prize!

I will contact you with your selection of prize. Choose from a Mini Glee Variety Pack (21 4-piece packs) or a case of Wee Glee Gum (8 1-oz. packs).

Didn't win?

Try some Glee Gum for yourself! For a store locator, click HERE.

Chew on this

It seems allergies are a really big deal these days. We have to be really careful what we bring into Amelia's school because of a few student allergies. Recently, my friend at A New Kind Of Normal posted a gluten-free Halloween candy list. She made me realize that an exciting holiday like Halloween could easily become a bit of a misery for kids with allergies. That's why I made sure to select gluten-free nut-free treats for our neighborhood trick-or-treaters. I want to make sure they can actually eat what I give.

I recently received a few samples of Glee Gum. As I delved deeper into their history and product information, I was pleased to see that Glee Gum is gluten, dairy, soy, and nut-free. It has no artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Glee Gum is also eco-friendly, made with rainforest chicle that is sustainably harvested. You can see the "tree to Glee" process in a neat photo slideshow here.

I enjoyed the little square pieces of Glee Gum. And the tiny Wee Glee Gum was even more fun! The flavors were enjoyable - tangerine is my favorite. And when I wanted that minty flavor, spearmint was just the right option. But you can try them all for yourself - Glee Gum comes in six mouth-watering flavors.

Glee Gum can be found at Cost Plus World Market and similar stores. Want to find the store closest to you? Visit their STORE LOCATOR.  You can also follow Glee Gum on Twitter: @GleeGum or find Glee-Gum on Facebook.

Verve, Inc., the company brains behind Glee Gum, also offer make-your-own-candy kits. When Amelia is older, we're definitely going to try these! What a fun idea for Christmas or birthday gifts. Kids and parents can make their own gummies, chewing gum, and chocolate. All wrapped up in a cute and entertaining kit.

FREE GLEE!
Super simple giveaway. One of my Google Friend Connect followers is going to win a free case of Glee Gum! Choose from a Mini Glee Variety Pack (21 4-piece packs) or a case of Wee Glee Gum (8 1-oz. packs). Glee Gum can only ship within the continental U.S., so only those followers are eligible.

Not a GFC follower yet? Just click 'follow' (look down the left sidebar) and follow publicly.

Want extra entries?

You can tweet (3x bonus - tweet once per day): 
I want to win a case of yummy Glee Gum from @BalancingMama! http://bit.ly/bK3RDl

Or comment (1x bonus):

Comment below and let me know why you want to win a case of Glee Gum

New GFC followers/entries accepted through Wednesday 10/27 at 10:00 PM eastern. Winner will be selected via Random.org and notified. If I can't find a way to contact you off your Google profile, Twitter, or blog, I will post the winning name on Thursday 10/28. That winner will have 4 days to contact me with a mailing address (remember, must be continental U.S.). If I have not made contact with the winner by 11:59 PM on Sunday 10/31, I will select another winner from my GFC followers.

Glee Gum provided me with free samples of their gum. However, all opinions expressed about this product are solely mine.

Artisans (giveaway!)

The holidays are fast approaching. Stores are squeezing the witches, ghosts, and pumpkins on their shelves to make room for the accumulation of holiday lights, cards, and ornaments. But as I look at the store shelves, I have such a “ho hum” feeling.

It’s all the same. The same old holiday stuff.

I learned recently about a fabulous online shopping site called Novica. In association with National Geographic, Novica’s mission is to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity.

Want to know what this means for you?

It means you can find unique, quality, handcrafted ornaments and home décor for the holiday season. And unique, thoughtful gifts! Novica offers handmade jewelry, gorgeous handbags, home décor, and more. Even corporate gifts for those hard-to-shop-for business people.

About a month ago, I won a Novica giveaway from a fellow blogger. I was so pleased with the experience and the items, I am excited to spread the word. And happy that the good folks at Novica were willing to let me do so.

The first item to arrive at my doorstep? The adorable and fuzzy alpaca wool finger puppets, crafted by Virginia Apaza Ticona from the Andes.




They came packaged in a charming bundle with complimentary gift wrap.



Amelia loves her new animal puppets! Considering she puts socks on her hands on a regular basis, I knew these would be well loved right away.

  

I had a difficult time deciding what to select for myself. The jewelry is really lovely. The handbags are colorful and fun. But in the spirit of the upcoming holidays (and a desire to fight the same-old, mass-produced blahs), I selected these precious celadon horse ornaments from craftswoman Duangkamol Srisukri from Thailand. Seeing them online, they made me smile right away.



I chose the museum gift box as well. I knew it would give me an extra grin when I opened my package.

  

How pretty is this? I’m definitely keeping this box.

The horses even came with a story:




Unlike the stores, I have restraint when it comes to pulling out the holiday décor. So I don’t have my sweet little horses hanging on a tree yet. For now, they get to enjoy the view from our family room mantle.

I look forward to these horses being part of our Christmas tree decorating festivities for years to come. Hopefully Amelia will have them on her tree one day. If I agree to let her grow up, that is.

To experience the beauty and craftsmanship of handmade products from around the world, visit Novica.com.

Want to shop Novica.com for FREE?
Enter for your chance to win a $35 gift code to use on the site.
(But I warn you… you will have a really hard time deciding what to buy!)

----------------------------------
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!

Congratulations to our friend @JunkFoodKids!


Winner was chosen with Random.org from my spreadsheet of entries. GFC follower entries = x3.
----------------------------------

NOVICA provided a gift code for my purchased items. All opinions about the experience and products are entirely mine.

Achoo...Z!

Do you know Boogie Wipes?


If you don’t, you should. The kids are back in school, and those nasty viruses will start coming home with them. (So get some! And save your UPCs – then receive a free plush Boogs here!)

I discovered Boogie Wipes several months ago. I love how well they get those crusty boogies off my pretty girl’s face. The saline makes Boogie Wipes more effective at dissolving boogie residue than baby wipes. And the grape scent is divine. Like grape-flavored Bubble Yum from back in the day.
This week, I was glad to test out Achooz, the soft saline nose wipes from our incredible mommy friends at Boogie Wipes.

Because two opinions are always better than one, I tested the Achooz myself and appointed my husband to serve on my one-person focus group.
ME: Love them! I used to get a nasty cold about two times each year. With Amelia in school last year, I was perpetually sick. And embarrassed by my red, raw nose. I tried to mask the irritated skin with makeup and soothed it with Vaseline at night. But now, with Achooz, maybe I won’t have to conceal & heal anymore. Why treat the red, raw nose when you can PREVENT it? The next time I feel that scratchy throat or those sniffles coming on, I will stock up on Achooz. The 15-count packs are perfect for my purse or to throw in my drawer at work.
HUSBAND: He’s not a flowery/descriptive kind of guy, but when trying the Achooz, he called them “soothing” and “soft”. He preferred the unscented variety but suggested “the mint would be good if I had a stuffy nose.” (He acted as an official Boogie Wipe sniffer too. The fresh scent was his hands-down favorite. “It smells like clean laundry!”)
Here is the solid proof that my dear husband liked the Achooz and Boogie Wipes:
Monday morning, two days after product testing/sniffing. Amelia climbs into our bed for a little TV time before getting up for the day. She has something on her face. Daddy, thinking it’s some kind of boo-boo, reaches out to investigate. Off comes a big crusty boogie!
“Oh, yuck,” he says “do we have any of those Boogie Wipes in here?”
Oh, yeah. He’s sold.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
Do you want to try Achooz for yourself? For FREE?
Enter here to receive two 15-count packs of Achooz. Be prepared when the next virus hits your house.
To enter, simply do one (or more) of the following:
(1) Leave a comment here.
(2) Follow @ChooseAchooz on Twitter, then comment here and let me know. You must include your Twitter name in your comment.
(3) Follow @BoogieMom on Twitter, then comment here and let me know. You must include your Twitter name in your comment.
(4) Join the Boogie Bunch here, then comment on this post to count your entry.
(5) Like Boogie Wipes on Facebook, then comment on this post to count your entry.
(6) Follow @BalancingMama on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Be sure to include @BalancingMama in the tweet so I can count your entry. You can tweet up to 3 times per day for extra entries!
Important: With entries 1-5, make sure to leave your email and/or Twitter name in your comment so I can contact you if you win.
Entries accepted through September 19th.

CSN Stores congratulates...

Elissa L.!

You are the lucky winner of the $20 CSN Stores e-gift certificate. CSN will email the certificate to the gmail address you used to enter. Enjoy browsing all the wonderful items CSN has to offer!

Didn't win? No worries! Visit CSN Stores the next time you need, well, just about anything. Furniture, toys, pet supplies, fitness equipment, home decor, cookware, and MORE.

Want another giveaway? Visit next Thursday, 9/16 for my review of Boogie Wipes' new product, Achooz. You can enter to win two packs of brand-new Achooz.

How today's winner was chosen:
Entries were listed in an Excel document as they were received. The number of entries per person was based on the rules as listed in the post. Email-only entries were also included on the list. I then used the Random.org random number generator to pick a line in the Exel document.

3-day weekend - giveaway reminder

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Just a friendly reminder to enter the $20 CSN gift card giveaway HERE. Entries accepted through 9/9.


Since I know you will kindly enter the CSN giveaway first, I'll point you to two more awesome giveaways in blog land:

Scary Mommy - custom flip cam

Bargain Mom - $100 Visa gift card


I'll be back tomorrow with a new post. I'm ready to admit...