I Can't Make Things This Cute: Mimi's Babies Giveaway

I shop too much. I went from being an Etsy browser to an avid Etsy shopper with a serious addiction. Luckily I had some money saved in my Paypal account to help with my constant splurging but sadly that money is near depletion and it won't be much longer that I'll be able to hide my addition from my husband. ... Transactions and the fact that I've become very good friends with our UPS delivery man... Blake, may give him a hunch I have a problem.
What am I ordering? Everything from diapers on sale, room decor for the nursery, clothes, oh my!

Mostly things I can't make myself, cause I have a new love for making things, especially when it ends up costing me way less.

One thing I can't do that I want to learn is how to crochet cute little hats and shoes and things. I think I'd officially feel like a nesting mom with my little ball of yarn in my rocking chair.

But until then, I'll leave it up to the pros. Like Mimi's Babies.I LOVE this picture. I can't believe I'm going to have one of these in a matter of weeks. I'm so excited, thrilled, terrified, and in doubt! Oooh, I can't wait!!

The bow on that little girl's head is from an Etsy shop run my Charissa and her mother in law, Mimi. Mimi makes all the sewn and monogrammed items in their Etsy shop including the cutest monogrammed birthday shirts.Crocheting and knitting are Charissa's things. Her Mom to taught her to crochet and for the past 20 years, she's collected, used, and created with yarn. "Now I have so much fun making crochet flower hair-clips, beanies, and baby shoes" she said.
I love these shoes she makes for little ones, she says it's the most time consuming to make, but they're so cute and worth it when they make it on little feet!

Charissa has been married for 9 years to Josh and they have three sons (now all proudly potty trained) ages from 8 to 3."Spending time with family and going to my son's baseballs games are my favorite things to do. My youngest son gets really excited when it is time to put on his 'bay-ball' shirt. This year my oldest two are playing baseball and the games are so much fun!" She said.

{New Mama Advice}

"The best piece of advice I can offer is to relax and enjoy every stage. When I was in a prenatal class before my oldest was born, one of the instructors said 'Remember everything is a stage. It might be a good stage or it might be a bad stage, but they will grow out of it either way.' If it a good stage, enjoy and cherish it. If it is a trying stage, remember this too shall pass."

Great advice!

To find out more about them be sure to check out their Mimi's Babies Facebook Page, follow @Mimisbabiesetsy on twitter and take a peek at their blog Mimi's Babies Gifts.

This is my second to last virtual baby shower giveaway and she's offering a $15 gift certificate to her shop! You can get all of the things I've pictured for under $15!

To enter just leave a comment letting me know your favorite item in her shop. Leave a piece of new mama advice for another entry, or tell me if you're as excited about mail as I am or if you just think I'm weird.

Contest ends May 30th at 11:59pm.
Random.org will choose the winner, good luck!

My next post will be the CLOSE OUT of my Virtual Baby Shower! I hope you've enjoyed it, don't miss my next post tonight, I'll be revealing Spawnie's nursery and having a $155 giveaway!

My Non-Obsession With Baby Toys... Except a Few

I refuse to buy baby toys... Ok not really. I'm already guilty of buying a few that Spawnie won't be able to use for MONTHS. I think my shopping fascination will go in phases. From pregnancy to umm... Ok, maybe forever, I'll be in the clothing phase. Then once she's born I think I'll be way into books. I love books and I love reading to her already, and I think she's going to like my voice. She seems to already (I talk a lot).

Then, when she starts to smile and giggle and actually appear to have a real interest in me or things, I'll get toy obsessed. We did get a goodie box of toys from the family of the boy we babysit which I was so excited about, cause what am I to do with her adorable toybox I made (yes, I refinished this toybox 8 months preggo... This is a picture of it before I added her name!) when there's no toys inside? That's pretty lame! The one toy I've bought for her so far is one of those ring stackers. I would show you but I ordered it, and it hasn't arrived so I don't have a photo yet.

Spawnie's second toy I get her I think will be a rattle. But not just any rattle, a cute giraffe rattle from Bundled.I've been eyeballing these things since before I was pregnant! There's two things Ladybug already has too much of 1. Personalized things (did you noticed I slipped a showed a picture of her name in my last virtual baby shower post? A reader pointed it out to me and is sworn to secrecy) and 2. Pink things. So I'm trying to decide on a different colored rattle to get for her. I'm liking this bluish-green one. They're only $12, and I think if I get it now, it'll make a great decoration on her bookshelf until she arrives.

The woman who makes them, Heather, has twins boys and he decided to take her "I can make that myself" attitude and put it to use in making modern, stylish boy things.

Although her experience is different because she has TWINS she still gave me some new mama advice for my virtual baby shower (which by the way I'm loving all of your tips, and I'm hoping to print them all out and put them in a little book so thank you for offering!)

{New Mama Advice}

"I think, that being sure to have plenty of help the first few weeks is vital no matter how many babies you may be bringing home."

Heather grew up in a small town in Alabama in an active family with a super fun, crafty momma who taught her how to enjoy the crafting process and not take it too seriously. She met her husband in college and they've been together for 14 years, married for 8. "We have two wild and crazy 5 yr old boys who keep us laughing and busy at all times and one super adorable yet slightly grumpy french bulldog who loves when the boys are at preschool and he can rest peacefully in the warm Florida sun."

To learn more about Heather and her shop be sure to check out her Bundled Shop, and Twitter page @Bundled.
She's also offered to giveaway this adorable Chocolate Chip Giraffe Rattle to one of my mini virtual baby shower participants! I'll make it easy for you... Just comment with your favorite item in her shop. You get an extra entry if you tell me another baby toy you love (I need to start getting bookmarks) and/or leaving a piece of new mom advice.

I'll use Random.org to choose a winner June 2nd, so you have until June 1st at 11:59pm to enter. Good luck!

What's Up Homies?!

WELL WELL WELL... I'm being featured today on the SITS Girls site and I'm suppose to tell you all about me, blah blah blah.... Truth me told, I've been waiting on this day for A YEAR AND A HALF... No lie my friends (Ok, more like a year and 3 months). Now, finally today is the day and I don't know what to say!!

First off, if you peek in say hi! I'm going to make an effort to visit EVERYONE who leaves a comment today!

I'm LDS, and I'm in an interracial marriage. Translation: I'm a black Mormon married to a whitie. That unique enough for ya? I'm very curious to see what flavor our baby will be.

My blogging life here has been my journey toward motherhood. And boy has it been quite a journey!... From contemplating motherhood, to reading up on fertility and trying to conceive to being PREGNANT... I'm 7 freaking months pregnant now!! My first baby (it's a girl) is due June 25th. My new favorite post is probably when I wrote about finding out I was pregnant.

Miss the back story? You can catch up quick by reading my Baby Makin' Story.

I've been going through a lot of changes, physically, emotionally and mentally, and my blog has too!

Every week I write a letter to Spawnie (that's what I'm calling my baby girl for now) and I'm doing a Full Term of Giveaways. I also have awoken a strange desire to CRAFT and COOK so Mondays will soon become "Look What I Made Mondays." I hope you'll show me what you made so I can try to make it too (and link back to you when I do of course!)

So browse around... Or if you're in a hurry, become a homie, click the little "follow" button to the side and come back later. Actually I made it easy for you, you can click the link there, or here.

Be Nice Prenatal Giveaway

Did you miss my show today? If so, shame shame!! We talked about the importance of drinking LOTS of water while pregnant, and the importance of getting your vitamins.

I've had a few fainting spells myself cause I've been dehydrated and it's been pretty scary. Water can be a little bland but Be Nice Prenatal drink mix is a yummy way to get your water AND your prenatal vitamins.

It's an ALL NATURAL drink mix.

"Each packet of Be Nice contains 25% of the doctor recommended supply of folic acid, vitamins, and minerals, along with DHA. When you take the packets throughout the day, your body can better retain and utilize nutrients, while you and your baby stay hydrated. Be Nice uses life'sDHA, a plant-based DHA that is free from ocean-borne contaminants, mercury and hexane. Be Nice contains all the best for you and your baby."

Cynthia was a guest on my show and once I figure out how to get the replay up I'll post it. I basically shared why I drink it. I've been drinking it since before we were trying to get pregnant to help stock up on my vitamins! So this is great for people who are TTC or soon to be TTC as well as for women who are breastfeeding, and of course, women who are pregnant.

Want to try it? You can request a free sample here. Or order it here on sale for $12.99.

OR you can also WIN some a few different ways! Cynthia gave away a BIG prize during my show and two box prizes. There's still 3 more ways you can win.

To win a box of Be Nice Prenatal with 10 packets (you get to choose the box flavor either Berrylicious or Lemonade) be the 100th person to tweet: "Tweet to win some all natural prenatal vitamin drink mix from @beniceprenatal and @futuremama ReTweet #100 wins!!"

OR... You can win a box by clicking "Like" to my Fan page status update about Be Nice Prenatal. You have until Wednesday night 2/17 to enter that one.

Or, win a BIG prize pack including a box of each flavor, or two boxes of one flavor, PLUS a BPA-free bottle to drink it in! To enter to win that: Leave a comment on this post! That's all!

For extra entries:

-Follow my blog

-NEW: Vote for which stroller I should get on TheRealMomTV

-Comment on one of my posts on The Real Mom TV (2 entries!)

-Follow @BeNicePrenatal on Twitter
-Become a Be Nice Prenatal Facebook Fan
-Follow me on twitter and tweet "I'm trying to win an all natural vitamin drink mix from @BeNicePrenatal! Check it out on @FutureMama's blog. " (2Xs per day)

-Give me a pregnancy tip!
-Comment on non-giveaway related post of mine during the duration of this giveaway (1 entry per comment)
-Become my Facebook Fan
-Add my button to your blog!
-Add my Full Terms of Giveaway button to your blog.
-Post about this giveaway on your blog.
-Email Subscribe to my blog (don't forget to confirm your email!) OR Subscribe to my blog through one of these feeds (let me know which one in comments).
-Vote for me on Top Baby Blogs (per day/computer) (just click the link)
-Vote for Baby Makin(g) Machine as top 50 Mommyblog on Babble (once per day)
-Tell me how you heard about this giveaway (you read my blog regularly, saw it on Twitter, etc.)

You have until Feb 24 11:59pm to enter for this prize! Good luck!

*Opinions expressed in this post are my own. I was not compensated by Be Nice Prenatal for writing this post. I have been given samples for the purpose of conducting the reviews*

Spawnie Wants to Call You!

When I found out I was pregnant, and again when I found out Spawnie is a girl it was hard for me to strategize who we were going to call in what order, for how long, together? Separate? I knew if I called my mom or my dad first, as soon as they hung up the phone with my they'd probably call the other to see if they knew yet. I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings so I tried to be quick and precise with everyone.

When I found out Spawnie was a girl I sent a mass text message to our parents and friends who I knew were waiting... Many of which were calling me during my appointment. But some didn't get the picture text I sent (or were in the middle of calling me and didn't see it) and some just needed a phone call (such as my great-grandpa).

I'm not sure who all in our family will be in town the day we have Spawnie, but I'm expecting most people to show up shortly after, which means a lot of phone calls will be going out. ... Especially those not following my play by play on a possible #twitterbirth (though I'm leaning more towards not doing one at the moment).

A company called Baby's First Phone Call contacted me and told me about their service. It's a message system that you program with numbers before birth. When your baby is born you record a message of any length and it sends it to everyone on your list! What a great way to save time and not forget anyone! I'm sure our moms won't want a recorded message but it's a great system for extended family and friends waiting for the new of our daughter's arrival!

"Our system places calls to each of the phone numbers in your account. If the person answers the phone they hear your happy message. If they don't answer, the message is left on their voicemail or answering machine. In either case, there is an option for them to leave you a return message that you can pick up at your convenience."

My husband seems to think a text message to everyone in your contacts list does the trick but to me this just seems like more fun! Besides, you can only say so much in a text, and you can still send a text message to casual friends if you want but some people just want to hear the sound of your voice and the baby crying in the background.

Now obviously I haven't gotten to try it yet (though I was tempted to use it before we found out the gender) but I will try it in June! But along with one to try, they're also giving me several gift certificates to give away!!

TWO of you will win $50 gift certificates to Baby's First Phone Call! With it you can get to:

"Notify an unlimited number of people in your network. Each call package comes with a convenient luggage tag intended to mark the bag you take to the hospital. The luggage tag includes the toll-free phone number to call and record your personal message when the baby arrives."

But be sure to let me know how it goes! A couple of months ago a friend of mine tested it out and it didn't work but they say there was a glitch but it's all working now! I can't wait to hear how it works for you, and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes for me come June! Oh, and if you'd like to be on my list let me know! You can email me your number to babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com and don't worry! I won't think you're weird! The more the merrier! :)

Here's how to enter:
Tell me your due date or why you'd like to win this prize!

Want extra entries? Comment again if you:

-Follow my blog

-NEW: Vote for which stroller I should get on TheRealMomTV

-Comment on one of my posts on The Real Mom TV (2 entries!)

-Follow @FirstPhoneCall on Twitter
-Become a Baby's First Phone Call Facebook Fan
-Tweet "I'm entering a contest to get my baby's @FirstPhoneCall sent to my family and friends! Check it out on @FutureMama's blog. http://bit.ly/b1d3vR" (2Xs per day)

-Give me a pregnancy tip!
-Become my Facebook Fan
-Add my button to your blog!
-Add my Full Terms of Giveaway button to your blog.
-Post about this giveaway on your blog.
-Email Subscribe to my blog (don't forget to confirm your email!) OR Subscribe to my blog through one of these feeds (let me know which one in comments).
-Vote for me on Top Baby Blogs (per day/computer) (just click the link)
-Vote for Baby Makin(g) Machine as top 50 Mommyblog on Babble (once per day)
-Tell me how you heard about this giveaway (you read my blog regularly, saw it on Twitter, etc.)

Contest ends February 21st at 11:59pm There will be TWO winners chosen by random.org!

****
Winner of the Lullabelly Prenatal Music Belt: Random.org says Commenter #190! Brie H! Congrats and email me your address so I can get it to you!

I Love Baby Stuff and $50 Giftcard to Baby Laylah Boutique

Wow... I suck lately. But I promise it's not my fault. Really, I'm already learning how to blame things on my child. Spawnie made me do it... Spawnie has been sucking the life out of me... Literally. And I'm just now getting around to writing the post that I had been meaning to post Thursday.

Oh but before I get into cute baby stuff let me tell you... Tuesday I'll be answering your questions from the "Ask me anything" post on my MomTV Show. What I don't answer there I'll type out and post here. I'll also figure out if there's a way for me to embed the show into a post on my blog so you can watch it if you miss it. I'll be LIVE Tuesday at 10:30am EST!

Now on to cute baby stuff. I LOVE looking at it, but I CAN'T STAND not knowing if I should buy the cute little sporty blue shoes, or the adorable flowery pink shoes. It's weird that I even like looking at shoes in the first place cause I HATE shoes. I wear a size 11 and it's nearly impossible to find adorable cute shoes in my size (and I'm praying my feet won't get bigger during pregnancy though I hear that's a symptom).

If I have a girl I want her shoe collection to look like this:They are from Baby Laylah Boutique, and some are as little as $5 a pair!! Cute, AND a bargain!

It's so weird how it could go either way (obviously) and according to the Chinese lunar calendar I rely so much on, it really depends if the DOC was September 31st or October 1st... And it could be either.

I had a dream I was having a girl, and I can't help but think/hope I am, so I'm naturally looking at more girl things, but I can't help but feel a little guilty in case Spawnie is a boy.

Baby Laylah Boutique is a cute little shop with unique and chic fashion for babies and children. Their boy stuff makes me excited to have a boy... In case that's what Spawnie is. I really like this adorable beanie.. Though I must admit I think the cute little boy model is part of the reason I like it. I can't help but wonder if my son would look a little like that. Yes... I tend to shop from people with cute baby models. Hint to companies: Hire biracial and ethnic babies!Same with this cute tutu from the same shop and the kid modeling it.My little girl will have a collection of tutus.. I'm not sure why but I'm obsessed with them. Where do little girls even wear these things anyway? I'm such a girlie girl so I think these things are just the epitome of girlie. The tutu's from this shop start at $15!I've chatted with Danielle, creator, via email a few times. She first got the idea of starting an online boutique when her son Rasean was born. He was born in the month of January (like me, woop!) and living in Wisconsin where it was cold and they spent a lot of time in the house.She spent a lot of time shopping online for unique clothes and special things for him. Last year she and her husband were blessed with a little girl, Laylah Rose. Again, being the shopping mommy that she is spent a lot of time online looking for those one of a kind finds. She especially loves to find things that are unique and will make someone ask "Where did you get that?"

She opened Baby Laylah Boutique to help other people find unique and chic fashion and accessories for their little loved ones and to put a smile on someone's face.
Her favorite thing about what she does is searching for product lines to carry that will make her store unique and different from the rest. "Right now...starting out...a lot of what I have is similar to many other online boutiques..but I am determined to find a niche and make it the online boutique of choice! Even if I have to get crafty myself!" she said.

I know it's crazy but one of the things I REALLY REALLY want to dress my little boy up in is suits, and little girls in dresses (once again, with the girlie thing). I bought one of my friend's little boys a complete suit set when he was first born cause I think it makes them looks so stylish!

I KNOW kids just get it messy, and they grow so fast, but they look SO CUTE all dressed up! I love vests, and ties, and dresses and bows! Oh I can't wait to know what you are Spawnie!

The shop has adorable products for boys and girls, and mom! There are things from diaper bags to tutus to diaper cakes! And there's something in every price range of shoppers. Danielle also is just starting out so be sure to check back to see what designers she's adding.

I'm really jealous about this cause one of you... My lucky readers, will get a chance to win a $50 gift card to Baby Laylah Boutique. Here's how you enter!

Mandatory:
1. Be/become a follower of my blog
2. Visit Baby Laylah Boutique and let me know another item you love from there.

Extra entries:
-Join Baby Laylah Boutique's Mailing list (2 entries)
-Become my Facebook Fan
-Tweet "I just entered @FutureMama's giveaway for a $50 gift card to Baby Layla Boutique http://bit.ly/8drEZp."
-Add my NEW button to your blog!
-Post about this giveaway on your blog.
-Email Subscribe to my blog (don't forget to confirm your email!) OR Subscribe to my blog through one of these feeds (let me know which one in comments).
-Vote for me on Top Baby Blogs (per day/computer) (just click the link)
-Nominate me for Best Pregnancy Blog

Contest ends November 30th at 11:59pm! Good Luck!

Disclaimer: I was not given compensation for doing this giveaway! The feature is based on my own honest opinions of the shop!

*****

Winner of Color Consultation from iBaby Interiors: Commenter #11: Jessie.

The Design Girl: March of Dimes Sponsor #38

Short story: I.. The self-proclaimed "Baby Makin' Machine," found making a baby isn't as easy as I had hoped. So to take my mind off baby makin' I'm spending a month raising money to help March of Dimes babies. Read the long story about how this fundraiser got started here!
Read my latest TTC update here.

And this is it... The last sponsor feature of my fundraiser for March of Dimes, and your last chance to hop into this great contest and effort we're doing!

I couldn't think of a better blogger and friend to tell you about than my blog designer and friend... A friend who actually inspired this fundraiser idea because she's always doing her own for charity... My friend Danielle aka The Design Girl Studio.

Everyone is always asking me who designed my blog and I'm always happy to point you to her.

Danielle is a 20-something girl that majored in Sociology and fell in to graphic design.

"I have always loved art and design, so when I started a blog back in April 2007, I was determined to make it over on my own," she said on her "About page." "After 4 months of studying HTML and Photoshop, I started 'Blogs by Danielle.' I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but over 600 blogs later, here I am. It has been an incredible journey, and I am excited to see what lies ahead in the years to come."

In 2008, she took a graphic design course at a local art school and simultaneously spent four months in a graphic design internship. She learned so much about design, and was able to apply a great deal of what I learned to my little business.

With this expansion, I realized that I needed a name change, and in February 2009, I became "The Design Girl."

Her most recent expansion includes designing her own line of digital scrapbook kits."I have set up shop at Polka Dot Plum, and am enjoying every moment of it," she said. "This is something I have wanted to do for well over a year, so it is very exciting to see this dream come to life."

She also makes freebies for people to download.

StationaryInvites

She pretty much does it all! On a more personal note, she has a heart for children and animals {she have a few cats and a dog -- all rescues}, and has been fortunate enough to be able to give back through raffles, giveaways, and donations. She lists the organizations that she gave to on her blog, and she's always open to suggestions for new organizations to work with.

"I love my job and all the wonderful people that I have met through the blogging community," she said. "I never get tired of receiving emails full of joy from clients who have just seen their blogs for the first time."This generous designer and blogger has offered to donate her services to one of you! She's great to work with, fast, and a wonderful communicator! She's designed hundreds of fabulous blogs! She's donating one of her beautiful Premade Designs to one of my donors. EVERYONE who donates is entered to win this prize! You can choose which one you want, and customize parts of it. There's lots of cute templates to choose from.If you donate just $1 to the charity I'll give you 1 free ticket to win this prize from The Design Girl Studio! Not only are you helping a charity but you get 1 ticket in our GIANT drawing! You can donate by clicking the "chip in" button to the right or by clicking here. (Paypal is NOT associated with the drawing, just with donations. Questions about the drawing? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com)

This is just one of more than 40 prizes (worth over $1500) that's up for grabs in the drawing! See the full list here. 100% of the funds raised are going to March of Dimes, to help save babies!

Read how this got started here!
Check out all of the prizes here!
Have a giveaway? List it here! Offer extra entries to your peeps for donating!

L and S Designs Sponsor #37

Short story: I.. The self-proclaimed "Baby Makin' Machine," found making a baby isn't as easy as I had hoped. So to take my mind off baby makin' I'm spending a month raising money to help March of Dimes babies. Read the long story about how this fundraiser got started here!
Read my latest TTC update here.

Looking for holiday gifts? This next sponsor has a little bit of everything, and I'm pretty sure if you look though the L and S Designs shop, you can find something for everyone! They are a cute mother daughter team from out in the country who always need to be busy :)

They are introducing some new products this week and hope they'll be a hit. She's hoping to jump back in for the Christmas season. She makes all sorts of crafts, from rings, necklaces, and signs, to key chains, dog collars and chew toys!She's offered to donate a Clipboard Magnet with a Matching Photo Frame to one of you donors! And get this... ALL OF YOU DONORS will be entered to win this! If you donate just $1 to the charity I'll give you 1 free ticket to win this prize from L and S Designs! Not only are you helping a charity but you get 1 ticket in our GIANT drawing! You can donate by clicking the "chip in" button to the right or by clicking here. (Paypal is NOT associated with the drawing, just with donations. Questions about the drawing? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com)

This is just one of more than 40 prizes (worth over $1500) that's up for grabs in the drawing! See the full list here. 100% of the funds raised are going to March of Dimes, to help save babies!

Read how this got started here!
Check out all of the prizes here!
Have a giveaway? List it here! Offer extra entries to your peeps for donating!

Meli Faif Life's Canvas Painting: Sponsor #36

Short story: I.. The self-proclaimed "Baby Makin' Machine," found making a baby isn't as easy as I had hoped. So to take my mind off baby makin' I'm spending a month raising money to help March of Dimes babies. Read the long story about how this fundraiser got started here!
Read my latest TTC update here.

Today is the last day of features and donations! Can you believe it's been a month already? I can't! I'm going to introduce you to my last two sponsors today. I hope if you haven't donated already you'll chip in even just $1 to help save a March of Dimes baby.

What first drew me to our first sponsor today... Melissa, wasn't her spunk or her cute writing style... Those were great too, but what REALLY caught my eye was her adorable daughter and her red curls. Sometimes look at pictures of my husband from when he was young and just stare as his red hair wondering if our kids will inherit any of that.

Melissa's little girl's hair was just as much of a shock to her as it would be to me, so she named one of her blogs after the phenomenon Black, White, and Red Curlz All Over. Melissa also blogs at Meli Faif Life.

Melissa is a full time professional business woman, a full time mommy and a full time wife, daughter, sister and friend! Wow!! I wonder if I'll be able to do it all!"I adore all things related to babies, toddlers and children," she said. "From fashion to interior design to the latest trends and to, well, obviously, creating one of a kind designs for their walls!!!" Things like this:She began painting in the Winter of 2005 when her little niece, Sweet P, inspired her to create a special one of a kind piece of wall decor for her bedroom. The rest, they say, is history. She has been painting and creating unique designs ever since!
Melissa will make a basic custom canvas name sign for one special donor! Theme or color choice can be selected by winner. Something like this: If you donate just $20 to the charity I'll give you 20 tickets to win this prize from Meli Faif Life! Not only are you helping a charity but you get 20 tickets in our GIANT drawing! AND you get a GUARANTEED prize from ME! One of which can be two of these cute baby headbands and bows! Look I made these!! (Or you can get a custom doggie bandanna instead) You can donate by clicking the "chip in" button to the right or by clicking here. (Paypal is NOT associated with the drawing, just with donations. Questions about the drawing? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com)

This is just one of more than 40 prizes (worth over $1500) that's up for grabs in the drawing! See the full list here. 100% of the funds raised are going to March of Dimes, to help save babies!

Read how this got started here!
Check out all of the prizes here!
Enter my 2nd Cutest Baby Contest here!
Have a giveaway? List it here! Offer extra entries to your peeps for donating!

My Favorite Shop: March of Dimes Sponsor #35

Short story: I.. The self-proclaimed "Baby Makin' Machine," found making a baby isn't as easy as I had hoped. So to take my mind off baby makin' I'm spending a month raising money to help March of Dimes babies. Read the long story about how this fundraiser got started here!
Read my latest TTC update here.

This next sponsor is very special, and March of Dimes has a special place in her heart. Amy, is not only the owner of My Favorite Shop, she has a special life story.She is a 28 year old living in Virginia. She was born with spina bifida which left her in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down.

"As a child I was very much a part of the March of Dimes, as I was the regional poster child for a few consecutive years from approximately age 3 to age 7," she said. "I remember attending March of Dimes events such as the Walk of America and other social events. Today, I occasionally attend meetings and social events of our regional chapter."

As for her art, she has always had an interest in art and crafts.

"I would say I started out liking crafts more so than drawing or painting," she said. "But as I got older I developed more of an interest in the fine arts, taking drawing and painting classes throughout high school and college. My interest changed back to crafts when I accidently happened upon an online forum centered around the art of Needle Felting. As I read about the craft and looked at photos of the many great needle felted works, I knew that I had found my direction."

Before this, she had dabbled in many different art and crafts not really liking one over the other and not really a master of any. Not that she feels that she is a master of needle felting (though she's REALLY GOOD!).
"I am still growing in my skills but I feel that this craft is one that I will never tire from," she said. "I have always had an interest in sculpture but when I thought of sculpture I always envisioned hard materials, not soft wool sculptures! Soon after I found the art of needle felting, I found Etsy! 'How could I have not known about this wonderful site for two years?' I wondered. At that time I was feeling kind of empty inside, like something was missing, like I had no real desires in life nothing that I was truly passionate about and that made me want to greet the day in the morning with a smile. But Etsy did this for me!"

She could now create her works for other people's enjoyment not just her own. And she could now create a greater amount of work because they would be sent out into the world rather than piling up in a room.
"It is a great feeling when someone purchases an item that YOU loved creating! I would soon like to expand my shop inventory to include other crafts besides needle felted item such as knitting, weaving, colored pencil drawings, acrylic paintings, and mixed media sculptures."

The item that she is donating is one of her Lil' Felper dolls. She do not have a photo of it yet but it is blue, white, and light gray - the colors in the March of Dimes sash she use to wear.

"The saying on the Lil' Felper's tummy patch will read, 'No Child Stands Alone' based on the saying 'No man walks alone' and 'No man is an island'. The point is that we all need help at some point. We all need someone to be that person who will help us along to get healthy, strong, and back on our feet!"

Yo ucan learn more about her by following @CRAFTeReporter on Twitter!

If you donate just $10 to the charity I'll give you 10 free tickets to win this prize from My Favorite Shop! Not only are you helping a charity but you get 10 tickets in our GIANT drawing! You can donate by clicking the "chip in" button to the right or by clicking here. (Paypal is NOT associated with the drawing, just with donations. Questions about the drawing? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com)

This is just one of more than 40 prizes (worth over $1500) that's up for grabs in the drawing! See the full list here. 100% of the funds raised are going to March of Dimes, to help save babies!

Read how this got started here!
Check out all of the prizes here!
Have a giveaway? List it here! Offer extra entries to your peeps for donating!