Madsen Cargo Bike Contest

Oh, I would love to win this super awesome MADSEN Cargo Bike. I hope I win, I hope I win! They are giving away one bike a week!!! Check it out!

Climbing at PB Teen

Since we own a climbing gym, I was especially interested to see this rock climbing decor on sale at PB Teen! Click here for the wall mural, marked down to $99 from $199. And this Carabiner Rope System, marked down to $19, from $59. Climb on!

Bean Skirts for Girls

Here's another etsy seller you should really check out before February 10. A friend-of-friend (remember Kate from The Bachelor?) started a line of little girl skirts on etsy called...Bean! How adorable! Hopefully, she'll be able to stay around after February, but who knows what this law might do! Click here for more from Bean.

If you have ever bought a smocked dress, handmade blanket, baby hair bows, embellished burp cloth, etc., you really need to be concerned about this new law! It requires manufacturers to spend upwards of $20,000 to make sure their clothing (100% cotton...Hello!) doesn't have lead. Isn't something wrong here? Have you taken action? Are you tired of hearing me talk about it?

Buy Before February 10!

I meant to share this "I Spy Bag Travel Toy" that I bought for our long Christmas road trip, from etsy seller aebaby. It's fun and very easy to pack away to buy you some quiet time on your travels. There are a variety of different fabrics, we have a dinosaur pattern.

Thanks to that nasty CSPIA law, you will no longer be able to buy awesome gifts like this, or a number of other cute handmade products and clothes for children.

Remember when I told you about these cutie shoes? This etsy seller is already closing up her shop!

If you want to buy handmade clothes, toys, and gifts, do it soon!!!

Thinkin' About Cars

I'm thinking about Christmas, and Ethan's birthday, coming up soon. Plus, the move back into our house, which will come...Someday. So I've been scouring the internet to find some of the best car-related gifts & room decor.

I typed in "Car" on etsy, and have just finished scouring the 356 pages of results. Here are just a few of my favorites: Car Activity Table
Wooden Cars
Car Mug
Cruisin' Cars Announcement
Pillow with Chalkboard
Light Switch Cover
Pillow
Red Truck Pillow
Bucket Toy Organizer
Gift Tags
Car Stationary
Hanging Magnetic Board
Car Painting
Cars on Vacation Bowl
Race Car Switchplate
And if I had a car-obsessed girl, she'd for sure get this little car coin purse.

Bento Boxes & Mabel's Labels

I've already blogged about these, but I'm loving my new Bento boxes! Perfect for packing healthy lunches. I was inspired by the pretty food at the Vegan Lunchbox. Also lovin' labels from Mabel's Labels. Customizable for every child, even those with food allergies!

Fondue Plates, Awesome for Tots

Another awesome shower gift for KB that E's already tried out (shh! don't tell!). These porcelain divided plates are AWESOME! It made the roasted chicken, baked squash, roasted potatoes, corn & tomatoes tons tastier, I'm sure. Oven & microwave-safe, I no longer have to feel guilty about microwaving plastic plates! Thanks Jen & Felicia! (Okay, that's the last of her gifts that we're going to test out before-hand!)

Etsy Prints from Sarah Jane

I'm very excited about the prints I received from Aunt Renee, Aunt Libby & Minama, from etsy.com seller, Sarah Jane Studios. There are so many adorable ones - here are just a few of the precious prints she has available, which would look adorable in any little girl's bedroom. Etsy's so much fun!

Do You Skype?

If you don't, you definitely should. Especially if you have out-of-your-area friends you don't get to see often. Skype works like a FREE computer-to-computer phone. If you have a video camera on your computer, you can see your friend live in action! So this means if you have an updated Mac, it's super-easy since the audio/video part is built-in. You should most certainly check it out if you have someone you want to talk to & see! (It can also make calls to cells/land lines for a fee.) We have friends in Germany, and it's nice to have a free way to talk to them now!

Goods for Girls

Have you seen the commercials that address the problem of young African girls who can’t go to school when they are having their period? Granted, I think it’s a bit too simplistic. There are LOTS of things preventing African children from getting an education.

But this is one thing that maybe you can do to make a big difference in a young girl’s life. Goods 4 Girls is donating handmade pads to areas where it is culturally appropriate. I've never made a reusable pad before, but they say it's really easy!! If you don't sew, they also take donations.

Read more about the problem here. Photo by Vince Cook

Web Baby Shower

My friend (and old boss) Hannah sent me a link to this cool website, WebBabyShower.com. It's perfect for a business colleague or out-of-state friend, who you can't throw an in-person shower for. You can post pictures, have a guest book, and more! And it's not just a one-day shower. You can keep it up for a while!

Safe Plates & Bottles

I've been looking for these! I'm so excited to find these plates and these bottles on Ohdeedoh.com. Is there anyone else nervous about all this talk about harmful plastics? Anyway, I'm going to be looking into these options!

Chickin Feed

Addie sent me a link to a great product, called Chickin Feed. The main product is this Tracking Board, which tells you how much protein, veggies, calcium, etc. your "little chickins" need every day. They also have a book coming out with meal ideas, along with some other cool products in their future. I'll take one!

Bento Boxes

I'm very excited about my new Bento Box for E. These make it easy to take out certain sections and microwave them, or keep dips separate from other foods. I got mine from Laptop Lunches.

Gift Bag Reuse

Do you have gift bags that are just collecting dust? I'm taking all my saved bags to the gym next week for free pickup to someone who will use them. If you, like me, have a big old closet full of gift bags you'll never use, please let me know! It's a good feeling to pass these along, without sending them to the dump. Thanks!

Christmas Stockings

I finally ordered Ethan his own Christmas stocking. I've been looking for hand knitted woolen stockings for a year and a half now. They are actually quite hard to find, but I finally found a few I liked. My favorites are these above from Pottery Barn Kids, these below from Warm Biscuit Bedding.

I decided to go with these from these from Annie's Woolens. I like the size and designs. Plus, I spoke with the knitter herself on the phone! I love small businesses.

Julia Roberts, Modern Housewife

Julia Roberts wants my life. Go figure. She wants to cook & do needlepoint. And all these people want to be movie stars.

Changing of the Seasons

The changing of the seasons reminds me of the work of artist Andy Goldsworthy. His work is 100% natural. No dyes, no glues - all items from nature. Isn't it gorgeous?

Free Breakfast at Whole Foods

I'm not sure I want to add to the crowd, but Ms. Cheap says that breakfast is free at the grand opening of Whole Foods tomorrow. Check it out if you are in town!

Etsy.com

Speaking of handmade items, do you know about Etsy.com? I could get lost on that website for hours. Like eBay, but they are all beautiful handmade products, made by folks like you. Here are just a few pretty items: framed initials for a little one's room, cute little onesie with vines on it, or a cute city bird print to show off in your house, or handmade cards to send off for Christmas.