Don't go away! Notes From My Nest will return with fresh finds and more exciting giveaways at the start of the new year! Have a very Merry Christmas! May the Lord bless you and keep you.

And the winner is...

I do apologize for the delay with this giveaway. Our little one is all better now! Praise the Lord! It's just taken me awhile to get caught up. Thank you all for your patience!

The winner of the skirt from Bella Blu Boutique is Naomi! Congratulations! To claim your prize, email notesfrommynest@gmail.com with your shipping address by noon, EST, on Friday, October 24th!

Thank you for waiting...

To all of you who are waiting for the drawing for the Bella Blu Boutique giveaway, thank you for your patience. Our baby has had walking pneumonia for a week now and I have not had time to draw a name or post it. I'll announce the winner soon. Thank you so much for your patience. Have a blessed weekend.

Praying for your family...

This Week's Special Offer:

Enter to win this darling cotton
skirt with flower applique from
Bella Blu Boutique! Details and
more about Bella Blu below...

My thoughts...
Recently, I discovered 1 Chronicles 28:8: Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek [to be familiar with] all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever. As I pondered this, I was inspired to begin praying Scriptural prayers over our home, our marriage, and our daughter and it is transforming the way I approach God's Word. These prayers are recorded in a journal given to me by my husband during our college dating days and I hope they will be passed on to my children and to their children, after them. I am regularly praying these prayers aloud during my time with the Lord and adding to them as I discover new Scriptures with special application to the life of our family.

For example, I am praying 1 Peter 5:10: May You, the God of all grace, Who has called us to Your own eternal glory in Christ Jesus, Yourself complete and make us what we ought to be, establish and ground us securely, and strengthen, and settle us.

I am also praying 1 Thessalonians 2:13: Thank You for Your Word, which is effectually at work in us who believe, exercising its superhuman power in us who adhere to and trust in and rely on it.

In moments of vague anxiety, I can pray Proverbs 1:33: May we listen to You and live securely, and be at ease from the dread of evil.

I encourage you to incorporate the Word of God into your own prayers for your home, your marriage, and your children. His Word is our most powerful weapon!

A word from Sara, owner of Bella Blu Boutique:
I am a mother of one amazingly spirited little girl, Isabella. She is the inspiration for the clothing that I create. I wouldn't have started making sewing a passion if it weren't for her. I love to create unique clothing for her. I really love it when I can share my creations with other parents out there that want to give their children the gift of handmade. I love doing custom orders, and welcome them anytime. I am a part time NICU nurse, and love having the best of many worlds. Being a nurse, wife, mommy, and seamstress, it can get a little hectic at times! I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 7 years. He is very supportive of my Etsy business. I couldn't do this without him. Thank you for checking out our shop! See what a difference handmade can make for you, and the artists that you support!

Enter to win this darling cotton
skirt with flower applique from
Bella Blu Boutique!

Just visit the Etsy store and
comment to this post on your
favorite Bella Blu Boutique
merchandise. Winner will be
selected by random drawing.
Deadline to enter is noon, EST,
Friday, October 3, 2008.
Open to US residents only.
This skirt should fit girls, ages
2 to 5 years of age, depending
on their stature.

Here's a sneak peek at
Bella Blu Boutique!
Visit the shop to see the
rest of the collection!

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com
Bag of groceries © Mike Cassell Dreamstime.com
Two Women Drinking Coffee © Bsilvia Dreamstime.com

And the winner is...

Congratulations to janetfaye of Grammy Janet's Place and Lucky Giveaways ! You won the Oopsie Dazie giveaway! To claim your prize, email notesfrommynest@gmail.com no later than noon, EST, Friday, August 29th!

Wise Communication...and another giveaway!

This Week's Special Offer...

Enter to win any two products
(excluding Clip Caddies) from
Oopsie Dazie! Just visit Oopsie
Dazie online and comment to this
post on your favorite merchandise!

Winner be selected by random
drawing. Deadline to enter is noon,
EST, on Friday, August 22nd.

Open to US residents only. Scroll
down to learn more about Oopsie
Dazie!

My thoughts...
As parents of a small child, my husband and I are still learning to communicate effectively and lovingly in our new environment, which is not as quiet or as private as it once was. These days I often find myself being snappy, impatient and critical, rather than thankful, understanding and encouraging. I think that sometimes the isolation of being a stay-at-home mom sometimes skews my perspective on our relationship and on my expectations. This morning I listened to the teaching of Jenny Detwiler, one of the pastor's wives at Sovereign Grace Ministries, and at the end of the 30 minute segment, found myself starting the whole thing over and grabbing a pen and paper to take notes. If you too struggle in this area, take some time to listen to Wise Communication that Brings Light and Delight . I think you'll be greatly encouraged. You can download it for free!

Kristen,

blogging at
We are THAT Family!

Kristen writes:
I've been blogging for less than a year and have fallen hard and fast for the supportive, loving community of mom bloggers. I blog about my life as THAT family . . . you know the ones. My hubby and I live a topsy-turvy life with our three kids. We spend a lot of time in the emergency room and own stock in Band-aids. I have an unnatural love for old things and a deep addiction to sweet tea. I'm currently seeking help. Thank you. I have fun with a weekly blog carnival called "Sincerely 'Fro Me to You" where I encourage others to share embarrassing photos that won't make the scrapbook cut. I'm also hosting a fun Sizzlin'Summer Vacation Spectacle on Aug. 29th. Visit Kristen and say "hi"!

Oopsie Dazie
Hair Accessories
Enter to win any two products
(excluding Clip Caddies) from
Oopsie Dazie! Just visit Oopsie
Dazie online and comment to this
post on your favorite merchandise!

Winner be selected by random
drawing. Deadline to enter is noon,
EST, on Friday, August 22nd.

Open to US residents only.

A word from Cindy:
Oopsie Dazie Hair Accessories was born when I was desperately looking for cute and unique hair accessories for my daughter. She was blessed with lots of thick, curly hair, and the only clips big enough to hold her hair were for adults....not so cutesy. So, I found some ribbons and toppers, made my own, and the business grew from there. Now we offer baby clips, bows, big girl clips, headbands, headwraps, and pony holders, and the product line keeps growing!

We specialize in creating unique and trendy (often one of a kind!) clips. What makes our clips unique is the endless combinations of ribbons and toppers, plus our unwavering attention to detail with the highest quality standards. We also include a "grip strip" on the baby clips to ensure they will not slip out of even the finest baby hair.

We also understand how easily clips are lost or "used up", so our prices are absolutely affordable! With baby clips for $2.00 and free shipping on all orders, you can afford to have an Oopsie Dazie clip to match every outfit. We also love to do custom orders....our creativity is fueled by your desires! Making the daughter, granddaughter, or niece in your life the object of compliments galore is our mission, so give us a try....we know you won't be disappointed!

Cindy,
Oopsie Dazie

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com
Two Women Drinking Coffee © Bsilvia Dreamstime.com

Share your home organizing tips with the rest of us...

Congratulations to Dallimomma! You are the winner of the Chocolate Lollipop Dress from Kait Emerson Designs. To claim your prize, please email your size preference (6 months to 5T) and your shipping address to notesfrommynest@gmail.com no later than noon, EST, Monday, August 4th, 2008!


My thoughts...

This week's format is going to be a little different and I would LOVE some feedback from all of you. You have proven that you aren't shy about commenting during the giveaways so think of this as another giveaway of sorts. It's your turn to give away your best home organization tips and tricks! Share with the rest of us how you keep your nest in order! Comment to this post with your best tips for home organization! I'll go first!

MY THOUGHTS...
Carolyn Mahaney's book, Shopping for Time, has really changed my perspective on my role as a wife and mother, and has inspired me to give more careful attention to my home. As I evaluated each area, I discovered that it was my lack of discipline in the little things that was eating away at my time and making it difficult to truly minister to my family. A few seemingly small adjustments in my daily routine have had a tremendous impact in a very short time. So much so, that I wanted to share them with you.

1. I am purposefully nourishing myself with the God's Word throughout my day. Each morning, I write a few verses of Scripture on a large index card and place it on the kitchen counter where I will see it every time I walk by. By meditating on just a few verses, phrase by phrase, throughout the day, I'm finding that memorization comes easily. I was also pleased to discover that rather than my idle mind turning to anxious thoughts as I go through the more mundane tasks of the day, instead, I find myself almost subconsciously turning His Words over and over in my mind, effortlessly. Who knew that such a seemingly small act could make such a difference!


2. I am systematically straightening my house, back to front (there is method to the madness!) each morning. The reason I begin in the back of the house (our bedrooms and bath) is that those were the rooms most often neglected. Most days I would somewhat straighten the living room and kitchen but never quite make it down the hall. Then our bedrooms became the dumping grounds for all the clutter and laundry collected elsewhere because I could just shut the bedrooms doors and forget about them. By cleaning those rooms first, I'm less likely to discard clutter and unfolded laundry in the bedrooms from the rest of the house. I'm finding that this simple routine, requiring about 30 to 45 minutes each day (including loading/unloading the dishwasher and doing at least one load of laundry), is making a huge difference in our home. By maintaining order, I don't spend hours trying to dig out of the chaos and mess and I have more unhurried time to spend with my family. It also makes hospitality much easier since the house stays fairly presentable all week!

Ok, now it's your turn!

Week of July 19th

This week's special offer:

Enter to win this Chocolate Lollipop Dress from Kait Emerson Designs! (Available in sizes 6 months - 5T). To enter, read more about Kait Emerson Designs, below. Visit the shop online and comment to this post on your favorite merchandise. Winner will be selected by random drawing. Deadline to enter is noon, EST, Wednesday, July 30th. Open to US residents only.

My thoughts...
This week, My Thoughts, Fresh Finds, and Coffee With... are combined here because much of what the Lord has shown me this week has been through a wonderful little book I've been reading titled Shopping for Time and the blog, Girl Talk, by the same authors. Don't let the book title fool you. This is much more than just another time management book. This easy read, by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters, is packed full of Scriptural truth and gave me a fresh perspective on caring for my family, caring for myself, time management and setting priorities.

The most beneficial part of the book for me was the section on "personal retreat". Yesterday I was able to carve out some time for this and I can't even begin to tell you how much it refreshed and renewed me. (You can find an abbreviated version of her personal retreat guide on her blog, Girl Talk, but I highly recommend purchasing the book and reading it through.) As a first-time mom, I've been struggling to maintain the balance between nurturing my relationship with the Lord, caring for family and juggling my daily "to-do" list. This book finally helped me get a handle on it. If you're a frazzled mom, I encourage you to check out Shopping for Time. I was tremendously blessed.

A note about Coffee With...
As my daughter grows and changes, I am frequently reassessing my priorities and shuffling things around, particularly my hobbies (including this blog). Beginning this month, the Coffee With... feature will not run every week, but rather once or twice a month. I have been overwhelmed by the response of those of you wishing to have your blogs featured in this section and I look forward to working my way through the list. Please be patient. I have not forgotten!

About Kait Emerson Designs...

Owner, Feanna Otta, says it best: "Kait Emerson Designs, honors the modern mother's desire to express her individual style by offering bold, chic, unique apparel and accessories that are hand sewn just for children and babies. I pride myself in offering a stylish alternative to the typical chain store fashions by providing a line of goods that are unique, full of life and personality."

The talented mother of two created Kait Emerson Designs after the birth of her first daughter, Kaitlin Sofia, in 2006. Soon after she began sewing dresses and blankets for her daughter, the venture grew to include special orders from friends, family and eventually the general public. Today, Feanna lives and works in Huntington Beach, California, but her designs are on display in boutiques throughout the United States and Australia. Each of her designs are crafted from the finest designer fabrics and professionally finished. I love her bold, whimsical fabrics and her unique Euro collection.

My favorite things...

Floral Charm Dress

Euro Tunic in Pink Coriander

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com

This week...

I am taking a few days off from posting to get caught up around my house, but I'll return at the end of the week with my ramblings, some fresh finds and, of course, a fun Sweet Shoppe, so be sure to drop in!

Week of July 3rd - 9th

Due to the holiday weekend, this week's post will be short and sweet. Very sweet! As soon as I discovered The Polka Dot Tot Spot, I was smitten with Heather's whimsical designs. Hope you enjoy!

The Polka Dot Tot Spot was created by Heather, a stay-at-home mother of two, from Central Illinois. Discouraged by all the toy recalls after the birth of her daughter, she set out to make her own safe toys, creating a set of Jingle Balls and Cloth Blocks. They were such a hit with her little girl that she began making them for friends and eventually started selling them. The Polka Dot Tot Spot has provided a way for her to earn money working from home, while doing something that she loves. She jokes that it also helps her support her fabric addiction! Her favorite aspect of the job is hearing how much her young customers love playing with her handcrafted toys. In addition to her Jingle Balls and Cloth Blocks, be sure to check out her colorful banners and appliqued shirts.

Enter to win a Cloth Jingle Ball or a set of Cloth Play Blocks from The Polka Dot Tot Spot! Just visit the Etsy store and comment to this post on your favorite merchandise! Winner to be selected by random drawing. Deadline to enter is noon, EST on Wednesday, 7.9.08. Contest open to US residents only.

My favorite things...

~ Cloth Play Blocks ~

~ Cloth Jingle Balls ~

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com

And the winner is...

Congratulations!
The winner of the Pink Lemonade Bags giveaway is Katie Matteson! To claim your prize, please email your shipping address to notesfrommynest@gmail.com no later than noon (EST), Sunday, 7.6.08!

Week of June 23rd - July 2nd

This Week's Special Offer:

Read below to learn more
about Pink Lemonade Bags!

My thoughts...
The Lord has been speaking to me over the past week about our relationship and how it plays into the everyday moments of life. What I have discovered is that much of my lack of peace and my struggle with worry stems from a lack of "currentness" (Is that a word?) in my relationship with Him. I spend a lot of time dwelling on the past or the future, which makes living in the present quite a challenge. I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for future events (many of which will probably never even happen), with the spiritual insights and grace He has given me in the past, rather than walking with Him, day by day. His Word says:

It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord. Lamentations 3:22 - 26.

...As your day, so shall your strength, your rest and security, be. Deuteronomy 33:25.

In her blog, Girl Talk, Carolyn Mahaney writes, "So often we ignore the awesome displays of God’s faithfulness to people in trials and instead imagine ourselves in their situation, minus the grace of God. We would do well to heed Elisabeth Elliot’s wise reminder that there is no grace for our imaginations. None. It’s simply not available. God is not waiting in the wings to help us through whatever horrible imaginary trouble we can conjure up today. But His goodness is stored up and will be abundantly poured out whenever we walk through a real trial."

I've started a new practice this week to give physical expression to developing a DAILY walk with the Lord. I bought a daily planner. Mine has lines for each day, rather than a blank space (although that would work as well). The purpose of the planner is not to set my weekly agenda though. It is a place for me to chronicle my daily interaction with Him. Each day, I'm recording the most significant "event" of my journey with Him. It may be a verse that jumped off the pages of Scripture for the first time, a quote from a Christian author that holds relevance to my life, or just a few sentences of my own thoughts. What it is not, is a frantic pleading for Him to give me grace to get through whatever I fear might happen next week, next month, or next year, which is how I have approached journaling in the past. The calendar format is serving as a daily reminder to me that He promises sufficient grace for today...every day. That is why each page beyond today will remain blank until that day comes. I am so thankful for mercies that are new every morning.

Mahaney, Carolyn. "Grace When We Need It." 2008. http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2008/04/where-there-is.html (June 22, 2008).

Jennifer at Quiverfull Family Blog

My husband and I have been married for 6 years, seven this Fall! This is sort of funny, but my husband and I met each other online on a vegetarian dating website! We are no longer vegetarians and now raise our own livestock for meat, do all of our own butchering etc. Thankfully we’ve grown together through the years! My oldest is 5, then a 2 year old, and we are expecting our third towards the end of the month! I live in Canada, in the province of Alberta.

I resisted blogging for some time. I could never really understand the appeal (little did I know!). Then this Spring I was somehow lured in – maybe it was all of the contests, but there was also a sense of camaraderie between bloggers that I loved. Then I noticed the entire Christian, homeschooling mom blog sub-culture, and that is really what inspired me to begin my blogging journey. I always have new book reviews coming up on my blog – I focus on Christian literature and try to give a good feel of the book for conservative Christian parents who are trying to discern what the best reading material for their children (and themselves) should be. I have just started doing product reviews of interest to parents and families – this is pretty new for me, but I have some exciting reviews coming up. I also have contests running from time to time, though they aren’t regularly scheduled.

The rest of my blog is dedicated to my musings on faith, homemaking, homeschooling, parenting, frugal living, homesteading, gluten free recipes and my family! I love to read, sing (particularly psalms, scripture songs and hymns) and play with my children. I also enjoy knitting and various handcrafts, though the time for them seems limited since I’ve been blogging! My husband and I came to know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour in the fall of 2006, so we are fairly new Christians. Our lives have become so rich and exciting since our conversion – there is so much to learn and so many ways to grow in Christ!

Stop by Quiverfull Family Blog and visit Jennifer!



My name is Caroline and I am the designer for Pink Lemonade Boutique Bags. I design and professionally create my bags from my home sewing studio. I am happily married to my wonderful husband and raising my two children. When my daughter was born five years ago, I made my first diaper bag for myself. I wanted a custom bag that would stand out in the crowd and look different from the generic store bought bags that everyone else was carrying. A self taught seamstress, I started making my diaper bags as gifts for my friends who were starting their own families. I always got so much joy out of the positive feedback from everyone who received a bag or gave one as a gift... one of the reasons I decided to sell them!

Shortly before my sons' first birthday, I decided to leave my career of 15 years in Retail Sales Management and Pink Lemonade Boutique Bags was officially born. I opened my own website last spring. Now going into my third year of business, I have stores on eBay, Etsy, WinkElf, and eCrater. One of my favorite things about selling on the Internet is being able to make beautiful bags and share them with you. I can't wait to see where 2008 will take me!

I professionally construct my bags in a smoke-free, pet-free sewing studio. I take special care in the construction of each bag to ensure that it will last as long as my own. I sincerely hope you will enjoy your bag for years to come. I have done several custom orders so please email me and we can work together to create your custom bag. I am very picky about selecting the fabric I use and the trim I add to ensure that everything coordinates perfectly. I love vibrant colors and experimenting with different fabric combinations. If you are looking for a stylish bag (or two, or three...one really cannot have too many bags, don’t you agree?), please visit www.pinklemonadebags.com! I am so thankful to everyone on Etsy for the opportunity to share my bags with you. Thank you for your support and allowing me to be a work at home mom to my two children! I give daily thanks to the Lord for giving me the gift of having an eye for color and design and the ability to create beautiful bags.

My Favorites...

Pink Chocolate Paisley Stripe

Spa Chocolate Retro Dots

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com
Bag of groceries © Mike Cassell Dreamstime.com
Two Women Drinking Coffee © Bsilvia Dreamstime.com

Week of June 12th - 18th

This Week's Special Offer:

These easy to make butterflies from Martha make perfect Summer party decorations.

Add a little fun to bath time with these Soap Buddies. Tutorial provided by Plum Pudding.

Have you checked out Letterfu? Your kids can send letters without envelopes, cutting or glue!

Genny

Genny shares...

I live in California with my husband and two kids, ages 7 and 9. I've been married for 12 years, but my husband and I have been together since we met in high school swimming class.

I started my blog at the end of March, with the hope that it would become a place where others could stop by and “fill their cup”. My Cup 2 Yours is a place to share stories and insights, have a few laughs, and maybe even cry a few tears. I write articles focused on encouragement and inspiration, and share parenting stories and various tips. I also have a place in my sidebar where I share “green” products and ideas I've discovered. I typically posts 1 to 3 times a week and hope you’ll stop by for a “cup of coffee” soon!

I have had work published in magazines and newsletters, and some of my articles have appeared on various websites. I'm also a regular contributor at Faith Lifts, over at 5MinutesForMom.com. In addition, I'm an aspiring children’s writer and some of my children’s manuscripts have received awards. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, taking Pilates or Piloga classes, dancing, and reading good books.

Modern June is a collection of original designs by Kelly McCants. Please read on to learn more about Kelly and be sure to visit Modern June!

Meet Kelly...
I have been sewing for 27 years. I would have to say that my career started against my will. It started when my father would not let me take art class in 7th grade. Instead he took me to Sears, bought me my first sewing machine and insisted I take Home Ec. I am still so amused that got a D the sewing part of the class. I still can’t draw but I sure can sew. Later I started drafting my own patterns so I could make my funky 1980's wardrobe. I was in 10th grade and I could not afford to dress like Madonna.

I received a degree in Technical Theater and Fashion Merchandising and spent my twenties as a costumer for film and theatre. I enjoyed the fast pace of freelancing at some of the best regional theaters on the east coast. What I most enjoyed was being on a movie set. Doing wardrobe in that creative and chaotic environment was a blast - times I will never forget.

Today I am the stay-at-home mom of two great kids. I homeschool our children and strive everyday to create a balance between teaching, motherhood and my business. I have a great old home and a very cute husband.

Modern June started out as a simple creative outlet for a semi-desperate housewife. I had become anxious to do something that was just for me. I had also become obsessed with vintage aprons so I started selling my growing collection at the local farmers market. I could not bear to see them go so I drafted patterns of my favorite vintage aprons. By Christmas of that year I was making totes and a few aprons but everyone wanted more Modern June. Those patterns went to work.

Modern June is now sold in over a dozen brick and mortar shops across America and Canada, as well a few online boutiques. The best place to find Modern June is on Etsy!

Although we have left the days of June Clever behind, I believe there is a bit of housewife in all of us. Our homes ground us. It just sounds charming to have a nice, lovingly decorated home and to create wonderful meals for our happy family. This may not be our reality but we can dream.

Put on your apron and be creative!

My favorites from Modern June:

~ Polka Dot Oilcloth Splat Mat ~

~ Doggie Dish Mat ~

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com
Bag of groceries © Mike Cassell Dreamstime.com
Two Women Drinking Coffee © Bsilvia Dreamstime.com

The winner of the accessory from Cascade Lemonade is Jen at Jen Stitches! To claim your prize, please email notesfrommynest@gmail.com with your shipping address and your prize selection (up to $10 in value). Your prize must be claimed no later than noon, EST, Wednesday 6.18.08 or another winner will be drawn.

Week of June 5th - 11th

This Week's Special Offer:

You can read more about
Cascade Lemonade
in the Sweet Shoppes

feature, below!

My Thoughts...
I am reading Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis before seeing the film, and as with the other books in The Chronicles of Narnia , I am amazed at how he manages to weave deep spiritual truths into children's fiction. One instance in chapter ten, The Return of the Lion, particularly spoke to me. Lucy has just encountered Aslan face to face for the first time since her return to Narnia...

"Welcome, child", he said.
"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."
"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.
"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."

I love watching our daughter see things for the first time or rediscover things she was too young to appreciate only a few weeks or months ago. As I read, I was struck by the realization that it has been quite a while since God suddenly appeared "bigger" to me. I am hoping and longing for fresh eyes to see Him as He is.

C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian (New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1979), 148.

Here is another pattern for darling baby booties from Heather Bailey.

Entertain your little ones outdoors with one of these ideas from Kid's Craft Weekly.

Send your gently used toys to an Iraqi child...details from BabyCenter.


Plan a "kid date" with your child. Ideas provided by Babble.

Kailani

Kailani shares:
I have 2 wonderful daughters. "Girlie Girl" is six going on sixteen and "Baby Bug" is two. They bring so much love, happiness, and a fair share of chaos into my life. I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Hawaii.

I've been blogging for about 2 years now. It all started when I received a Palm Treo Smartphone as a gift. I wanted a free download of an alarm app and needed to blog about it to get it. I had no idea what a blog was at the time. With the help of a fellow Treo user, I signed-up with Blogger, published my first post, and had no intention of continuing with it. Who knew I'd get so addicted? LOL!

Kailani has quite a presence in the blogosphere! She shares a little about each of her features:

An Island Life: I blog about my daily life as a full-time Mommy, part-time flight attendant, and overall life in Hawaii. I also host giveaways throughout the week with some amazing sponsors donating cool prizes. I host a weekly meme called Aloha Friday and run various blogging events such as goody swaps, photo contests, blog awards, and other fun stuff throughout the year.

An Island Review: Daily listings of contests & giveaways around the Blogosphere. I also include product reviews and my own giveaways as well.

Island Baby Boutique: It's still in the construction phase but it's up and running. Here you can find homemade Hawaiian print items for babies and children.

5 Minutes Around the Blogosphere: I write a weekly column at 5 Minutes for Mom that highlights various events going on around the Blogosphere. If you have a giveaway or event that you'd like listed, just let me know! I've been told that since I already have a decent following, new visitors are a little reluctant to leave a comment. Please stop by and say "hi"! There's always room for new friends!

Cascade started Cascade Lemonade in early 2007 as a label for her line of travel, home, and clothing accessories for all ages. Each of her original designs are functional and are made with lovely, cheery, and often vintage materials. Cascade Lemonade was Cascade's
childhood nickname. She loves to try new things and has taught herself and taken classes in sewing, quilting, knitting, spinning, embroidery, printmaking and bookbinding. During the day, she works full-time as a marine biologist. She goes to "work" on Cascade Lemonade in her sun room studio from 8:00 to 11:00 pm after putting her son to bed. She is also finishing up her PhD, focused on the impacts of global climate change. Cascade melds her artistic and scientific passions by donating at least 15% of Cascade Lemonade's profits for carbon offsets (see carbonfund.org) and renewable energy (see sterlingplanet.com).

Even though she is constantly dreaming up and experimenting with new Cascade Lemonade designs, her main priority is her family. Her husband is also a marine biologist and her son is two years old. Together, they enjoy music, hiking, camping, and travelling - especially to visit Cascade's family in Oregon (where she grew up an hour from the Cascade Mountains), her in-laws in Alaska, and their most recent home in Sonoma County, California. Since August, the three live (and Cascade Lemonade is based) on Boston's North Shore in Massachusetts. To learn more, please visit Cascade's blog, Materials & Methods, and her shop at cascadelemonade.etsy.com.

My favorites...

Sofia Art Case & Bag

Mylarkey Lunch Bag

Pick-Up-and-Go Blanket

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com
Bag of groceries © Mike Cassell Dreamstime.com
Two Women Drinking Coffee © Bsilvia Dreamstime.com

Join the Street Team!

If you enjoy the giveaways here at Notes From My Nest and would like to increase your own chances of winning, join the Notes From My Nest Street Team! At some point I will limit the number of team members so sign up now if you are interested! Street Team Members must be US residents!

THE PERKS:
1. Earn additional entries in each of the giveaways that you promote, thus increasing your own chances of winning.

2. A link to your blog or Twitter account in the sidebar under the Street Team Members header. If you are blogging and Twittering about the giveaways, only your blog address will be listed.

3. Backlinks to your blog. To see an example, click here and scroll to the bottom of the post. The backlinks are listed under "Links to this post". If you aren't familiar with backlinks and have questions about them, you may find answers to your questions here.

There are a couple of ways that you can participate.

1. Twitter - I'm looking for some faithful Tweets to help spread the word each time a new giveaway is posted. In return, you will receive additional entries in each giveaway. To participate, you must have a minimum of 25 followers on Twitter. If you meet this requirement and would like to participate in this manner, email notesfrommynest@gmail.com, [subject: "I Twitter"] and I'll contact you with the details.

2. Blog - I'm on the lookout for some well-established bloggers who are interested in giving a "shout out" about the giveaways. In return, you will receive additional entries in each giveaway. If you would like to participate in this manner, email notesfrommynest@gmail.com, [subject: "I Blog"] and I'll contact you with the details. There are different levels of participation. All blogs are subject to approval.

Week of May 29th - June 4th

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
One of the prizes for the Mother's
Day Blog Bash was not claimed
and a new winner has been selected.

The new winner of the $30 gift
certificate from Uniquely U Boutique
is stevenbrycesmom!

My thoughts...
I have struggled with what to write this week since I haven't been feeling particularly "spiritual" and I've allowed the enemy to steal my joy more days than I'd like to admit. Still reading Beth Moore's Breaking Free and it is not exactly a walk in the park. As I have shared before, I am fighting to break free from the stronghold of fear in my own life and to leave a legacy of faith (and faithfulness) for my daughter.

I have discovered that my prayer life has grown very weak. These days when I am struggling, prayer is more often my last resort than my first line of defense. I know this is not as it should be. Philippians 4:6-7 says, Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition [definite requests], with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace], which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Beth Moore really drove the point home with her negative paraphrase of the same passage. She writes, "Do not be calm about anything, but in everything, by dwelling on it constantly and feeling picked on by God, with thoughts like, 'and this is the thanks I get,' present your aggravations to everyone you know about Him. And the acid in your stomach, which transcends all milk products, will cause you an ulcer, and the doctor bills will cause you a heart attack, and you will lose your mind."

Hmmm...kind of sounds like a no-brainer when you put it that way, doesn't it?
[Beth Moore, Breaking Free (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2000), 71.]

Not sure what to give at your next baby shower? Make a diaper cake with these instructions from my little family in the BIG woods.

Make coffee filter butterflies with your little ones using this tutorial from Sycamore Stirrings.

Your kids can hunt for frozen treasures on a hot day with this fun idea from Let's Explore.

Turn your baby wipes container into another nursery decoration with this tip from Mama Sheg.

Coffee With... is a new feature of Notes From My Nest. The purpose is to introduce you to other mom bloggers. If you're interested in having your blog featured in Coffee With..., click here for more information. This week's guest is:

Laura Williams

Laura shares:

I am the mother of 7 children (4 boys and 3 girls). They are 20, 9, 7, 5, 4, 2.5, and 19 months. I live in the beautiful state of Tennessee.

I started blogging in April 2007 as part of a challenge on a scrapbook forum, but I quickly lost interest and sometime in late June or July of 2007, I saw the Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveawaysthat Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer was hosting. I started entering those as well as held one of my own. Blogging just sort of took off from there.

My blog is about reviews (books, products, websites, services), giveaways, daily contest roundups, recipes, homeschooling, and so much more. I share a little bit of everything about our daily routines with gardening, scrapbooking, and other stuff thrown in. You just never know what you may encounter. Pop in each day and you may find us working in the garden, shoveling out a chicken coop, mowing the yard, homeschooling, and other stuff. Plus you'll find book reviews, giveaways from time to time, and of course the daily edition of Contests Galore.

To learn more about Laura, visit her at Laura Williams Musings!

Comfy Crawlers are Marina Westerdahl's claim to fame. When her children were born, she left her career as a wildlife biologist to become a full time mom. When her son started crawling, she designed her first pair of Comfy Crawlers, complete with foam knee and shin pads, to protect his tender little legs. Her idea quickly gained popularity with family, friends and the moms she met at the local playground. When she hired a seamstress to sew the first twenty pair, they all sold in two days! Her business grew and she welcomed several other seamstresses (moms and grandmas) into her venture. Together they began Gissy Bella Baby Boutique, a business she runs today from her home office. Visit Gissy Bella online at www.gissybella.com!

My favorites from Gissy Bella:

Loopty Loops Sling Style Travel Seat

Pink Swirls Comfy Crawlers

City Street (Scenes 1 & 2) © Roberto Giovannini Dreamstime.com
Bag of groceries © Mike Cassell Dreamstime.com
Two Women Drinking Coffee © Bsilvia Dreamstime.com