Bow Sweet Bow Magnetic Hairbow Giveaway [CLOSED]

I've done many hair accessory giveaways, but this one is the most unique! The Etsy shop Bow Sweet Bow offers you a customized and thrifty way to get the most out of your hair bows: magnetic centers so you can change the bottle cap in the middle. How innovative!

The bottle cap options are endless.

One of you lucky readers will win any bow you want, pre-made or custom!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Bow Sweet Bow and tell me what pre-made bow or bow and bottle cap combination you would get.

1 entry each (5 total possible): Pin a bow to Pinterest. You can pin up to 5 bows.

1 entry: Like Bow Sweet Bow on Facebook. Leave your name.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your name.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Post this giveaway to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

1 entry: Enter another giveaway. See left sidebar for current giveaways.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. MST on Tuesday, December 11. The winner will be announced Wednesday, December 12. Please leave your email address in one of your entries so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open worldwide. Good luck!

WINNERS!

The winners of the Farm Rich appetizer coupons giveaway are comments #138 by Sarah Buki and #6 by Elizabeth Boese! Enjoy your yummy prizes!

The winner of the Tara's Dinos 'N More 2 dinosaurs giveaway is comment #56 by Marija. Thanks to all who entered!

Thanksgiving in California

This year we went down to California for Thanksgiving, something we haven't done since 2008. Our new place is too small to have had all my family come here. It was nice getting away from Arizona for a few days. I was worried about the road trip, but Caden did great! He did not fuss or complain at all; he enjoyed it thoroughly, both there (night driving) and back (afternoon driving). He found a new favorite food, too, unfortunately: french fries.

He warmed up to my family right away (it usually takes him a day or two). At Costco Grandma bought him a giant stuffed monkey, which he dragged around their place and slept with the whole time we were there. It's bigger than him!

I went thrift store shopping with my mom (of course!) and found lots of great things at great prices for my shop. That same evening we toured my family's new house they will move into next month and then Justin and I went on a date to see a movie. We had planned on Here Comes the Boom, but it was no longer showing contrary to their website and outdoor sign, so we saw Skyfall instead. It was intense, but I liked it. I don't know if I like it more than Quantum of Solace; I have to see the latter again. I just know I like it better than Casino Royale.

Thursday we spent some time with my brother and his family and then had Thanksgiving dinner at my parents'. My mom and I simplified the meal for less cooking, and there were still lots of leftovers! I wish we could have taken some turkey home. And I do wish I had made my own pumpkin pie. The Costco one was really mushy. After dinner, Caden rode his bike and cousin's scooter outside, we played Apples to Apples, and we did our traditional "Turkey Wobble" dance.

I never do Black Friday, but my brother and his wife wanted me and Justin to tag along Thursday night so we could get some deals for them. We didn't get the deals we came for but we did find some other great stuff on sale, including new movies we wanted!

Friday morning we played Apples to Apples Junior (better than the original!), walked down to the lake, and went to my brother's for his wife's delicious chicken taquitos, which I learned how to make, to both my and my husband's delight. It was a great Thanksgiving!

Caden dancing to his cousin's pretend music.

The Ultimate Printable Christmas Planner Giveaway [CLOSED]

I am so excited to present to you the ultimate Christmas planner made by the Etsy shop Printables by Phanie. Phanie sent me one to review and I am in awe in what it includes!

1. Binder cover
2. Monthly calender
3. Weekly planner
4. Daily planner
5. Master to-do list
6. Wish list
7. Notes page
8. Card organizer
9. Gift organizer
10. Thank-you card list
11. Advertisements page
12. Coupon organizer page
13. Coupon organizer cutout
14. Potluck planner
15. Menu planner
16. Grocery list
17. Recipes
18. Holiday baking list
19. Party invitations
20. Thank-you cards
21. Advent calendar
22. (Advent calendar continued)
23. Gift tags
24. Cupcake toppers
25. Spine label for binder

That's 25 pages, 2 of which you print more of for weekly and daily needs. How crazy awesome is that? This planner is perfect for you super Christmas fans!

Smiles
*Simple and super cute design. Ideal for printing. She even included space for hole punching the sheets.
*Great value! The planner is $20 for over 25 pages!
*Encourages organization, creativity, gratitude, efficiency, and thinking ahead, and discourages procrastination.
*Excellent customer service from the seller!

Frowns
*I wish one of the recipe cards was a little bigger for longer recipes.

One of you lucky readers will win this amazing printable planner just in time for the holidays!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Printables by Phanie and tell me what other printable would help you "tame the chaos," as Phanie puts it.

1 entry: Heart Printables by Phanie on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like Printables by Phanie on Facebook. Leave your name.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your name.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Post this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. MST on Friday, November 30. The winner will be announced Saturday, December 1. Please leave your email address in one of the entries so I can contact you if you win and you can be sent your prize. This giveaway is open worldwide. Good luck!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals on Etsy

Here are links to lists of Etsy shops having sales and their coupon codes. Happy shopping!

insignificantatbest.com/2012/11/24/exclusive-small-business-saturday-deals/
growingslower.com/2012/11/black-friday-cyber-monday-deals-etsy.html
etsy.com/teams/7400/treasury-island/discuss/11309648/
etsy.com/teams/14254/etsy-shopping-club/discuss/11209631/

WINNER!

The winner of the Family Inspired Fashion $25 shop credit giveaway is comment #68 by Priscilla Benavides. Congratulations and have fun shopping!

Easy Thanksgiving Decorations

With all the fuss of Christmas starting the day after Halloween, it's easy to forget about Thanksgiving. But it is such an important holiday and deserves attention. Here are simple decorating ideas for creating a nice autumn harvest atmosphere in your home:

1. Search online for "free Thanksgiving subway art." Once you find one you like, print it out and frame it. Embellish the frame with buttons, fake leaves, or ribbon.
2. Collect pine cones and clean them. Display them in a bowl, place them on the mantle, or make a garland by super-gluing them to string or ribbon.
3. Gather leaves, put them under paper, and color over them with crayons in fall colors. Frame the paper or cut out the paper leaves and tape them to the walls.
4. Make a paper bunting banner saying Gratitude, Give Thanks, or another thankful phrase to remind your family of the true reason for Thanksgiving.
5. Display any crafts your children made at school.