We're Hip, Earthy, and LUSH! (And We Have a Giveaway!)

Happy Friday Everyone! I am so happy it's the weekend! Hubby and I are off for a weekend without the kids and I am almost giddy about it! I am also almost giddy about today's post - we are Hip, Earthy, and LUSH... And we have a giveaway to boot!

First up, is a teriffic site that offers Shopping for Earth Loving Fashionistas!

 Hip to be Green offers stunning jewelry, hip accessories, delicious skincare products, and fine cosmetics - and the best part?  Everything is eco-friendly.  And vegetarian - in fact, over 75% of her items are vegan. And Canadian made. Take a look:

 

Jewelry is one-of-a-kind and never, ever includes leather, suede, or bone.

We are so happy to announce that Hip to be Green is currently offering one of our readers a chance to win a 30% off coupon code for anything in their store.  Enter to win by going to  our Facebook Page AND Hip to be Green's Facebook Page.  Once you become a fan of both of our pages, make sure you comment here or on the facebook pages, and you're set!  We'll announce the winner next Friday (March 25).

Do me a favor - click on over to Hip to be Green and their Facebook Page and enter to win their giveaway.  :)

Our second divine find is Earthly Remedies by Erin. 

 If you are looking for quality hand-made, all natural hand salves, hand creams, baby products, and pet care products, you have got to check her out!

She is incredibly busy making all sorts of goodies, like Basic Salve, which is a protective salves that works wonders on cracked hand and feet.

Her Baby's Butt Balm seems to be a huge hit with her customers, so if you have little ones in diapers, you should really check this out!

And, I'm happy to say that she has a giveaways going on as well at Cranky Cat Studio Baby and Toddler Fashion, so head over there and check it out!

And last but not least, I am happy to announce the winner of our second Great LUSH Giveaway!

Michelle C. will be receiving a $25 LUSH gift card so she can order some pampering to treat herself.

And that wraps up another episode of Friday Finds!  Have a terrific weekend!

 

What is Your Favourite Parenting Book?

There has been a lot of bruhaha lately over a certain parenting book declaring that a certain type of mother is superior. I'm not even going to name the book because I have come to realize that the specific excerpt from said book is being printed and put out there for a reason - that is simply to create a whole lotta controversy and thus sell more books. Mission accomplished I'd say. Nothing like making everyone else feel inferior in the name of the almighty dollar. But, I digress.

The whole sh*t storm over this particular book though has gotten me to reflect on all the parenting books I have read in the last 8 years. And oh.my.goodness there have been A LOT. I mean, A LOT.

I strive in my efforts to be and stay connected with my children. I practice an attachment style of parenting because I believe in it. I endeavor to discipline in the gentlest but firmest ways possible (even though some days I fail quite miserably because it doesn't come naturally to me). I care deeply about my childrens self esteem and I'm convinced that raising my children with a strong character, good morals and values combined with a powerful dose of self confidence, is creating human beings who can accomplish anything they put their mind to when they go out into the world.

There have been a lot of books that have helped me on this journey, but a few in particular. One of them specifically is "Connection Parenting: Parenting Through Connection instead of Coercion, Through Love Instead of Fear" by Pam Leo. This book is short, easy to read and as far as I am concerned should be given out to every new parent within the first week that they become one.

When I am feeling lost and having one of those rare days where I am trying to remember why I even freakin' wanted to be a mother to begin with (and we all have them), this book brings me back to my heart. This book reminds me to get over myself and to just remember that it is all about the love and connection with my children. It doesn't mean that I am permissive (not all). It just reminds me that these little people are human beings as well, who deserve to be shown around this big world that is new and fun and fascinating to them, in the most loving and respectful way possible. Wouldn't you agree?

Now, when you are in the midst of taming a massive tantrum and constantly battling siblings who can't seem to get along (as my week has been going so far :Þ) and you're wondering how in the heck you are going to show them this 'big world that is new and fun and fascinating in the most loving and respectful way possible' (feel free to add the sarcasm if you need to there, I get it! ;o) ), then you need to read another favourite of mine by Judy Arnall. Judy wrote the book "Discipline Without Distress: 135 tools for raising caring, responsible children without time-out, spanking, punishment or bribery"

If there was ever a fantastic book on gentle discipline that actually lays it out and gives you the best tips and tricks on how to handle almost every situation, it is this book. She reminds us that the purpose of discipline is to teach, not hurt. I've met her and she truly practices what she preaches. I am so excited to take one of her parenting classes and go to a few of her seminars this year, she is truly a wonderful role model.
I have at least 20 other great parenting books in my library, but I will stick with those two for now because they are my all time favourites. Runners up would be Alfie Kohn's "Uncondtional Parenting" and Barbara Coloroso's "Kids Are Worth It!"

I could write all night about so many others but in keeping with the spirit of staying connected with our kids, I have to run. I have my sweet little 6 year old boy waiting ever so patiently to read with me. ♥

Tell me, what are your favourite parenting books? Which ones help you keep your sanity?


PS We have a winner from our first LUSH giveway! Stay tuned tomorrow (Thursday) for details on who the lucky person is! Remember too, you still have another chance to win! We are aiming to get our new baby blog to 100 fans on Facebook and we are getting sooooooo close! If you haven't joined us there, please do! It's easy, pop on over to our fan page and click "like"! Be sure to tell your friends too! The more the merrier (and the faster you can be entered win that extra $25 LUSH gift card we have waiting to be sent out). This contest is for our fans only!

With love and light ♥

Great LUSH Giveaway

Welcome to our Great LUSH Giveaway!

We are giving away TWO (count 'em - 2!) $25 LUSH Handmade Cosmetics Gift Cards.

If you're one of the (very unfortunate) people on our fair planet who has not heard of LUSH, you can read Laila's rave review here. Or, you can read about them on the official LUSH website.  But really, their icon below says it all:

LUSH Handmade Cosmetics are just that - luscious and handmade. And they smell fabulous, they are environmentally friendly, and they work amazingly well. 

Giveaway #1 - will happen in conjunction with our friends at Fingerprints on the Fridge this coming Sunday, January 15. To enter, you need to head over there. UPDATE: You can read about the winner here!

Giveaway #2 - This giveaway is exclusively for our Facebook Fans. Pop on over to our Facebook Page and click 'like'. That's your entry - easy peasy! Once we reach 100 fans, we'll draw for the LUSH gift card. The more people you 'share' our page with, the sooner we'll make the draw, and the sooner you'll be soaking in a fabulous bath.

Hurry!  Don't delay - share us with your friends today!

*Gift Cards valid in North America only.*

Friday Finds for Dec 3!

Oh my, oh my, oh my! Did I ever find something last weekend when Heather and I were out shopping at the new Cross Iron Mills Mall here in Calgary!

Have you ever heard of Lush? OMG people, you MUST TRY LUSH! They are all handmade soaps, lotions, potions and skincare and everything I have tried so far is d.i.v.i.n.e!!!!

I had actually heard of Lush before and I thought "meh, sounds like another Body Shop" but boy was I wrong!

The Godiva Shampoo Bar. Photo Courtesy of Lush Cosmetics

For so long I have been allergic to sooooo many different shampoos/conditioners etc, so I tried their Godiva Shampoo Bar and I think I actually got one step closer to heaven - it is amazing! My head/scalp isn't itchy, my hair smells like jasmine and looks even better if I do say so myself! I was so shocked that this little itty bitty round disc shaped thingy even worked, let alone is so rock solid it feels like it will last forever. I followed it up with their Jungle Solid Conditioner (which is a bar by the way, not a bottle of conditioner - who knew?!) which actually tamed my thick and wild locks (I'm not bragging either, my hair is thick and crazy and drives me to the brink some days...) All in all $80 later between their shampoo, conditioner, skin cleansers and bubble bars I've been smelling purty all week!

The Jungle Solid Conditioner. Photo Courtesy of Lush Cosmetics

What I also love about Lush, is their lack of packaging. If I buy a bar of shampoo or a bubble bar for example, it is handmade in Vancouver, BC Canada AND it doesn't come in any unnecessary plastic packaging!! WOOOT! I love that. A few of their products need packaging but I love that only the products that *really* need it are in plastic bottles or tubs.

You have to try it out, you will be sooooooooooooooo glad you did!

'Pop In The Bath' Bubble Bar. Photo Courtesy of Lush Cosmetics

For our Canadian friends simply go to http://www.lush.ca/, for our American friends pop on over to http://www.lushusa.com/ and all our other international friends you can click your way to http://www.lush.com/ and they will help you get to the right place.

Moving right along...  :o)

I have also become a HUGE fan of Laurette Lynn aka The Unplugged Mom. I dream, no actually I drool over the thought of becoming an unplugged house (which will never happen because my husband is a sports and HDTV addict - *sigh*), so I live a lot of the time, vicariously through her. She has a truly informative and inspiring blog radio show as well every Sunday night at 10pm Central (thats 8pm PST, 9pm MST and 11pm EST). Laurette has a fabulous blog and radio show and I think you should go and check her out! For more information about Laurette's show just click here!

Speaking of fabulous ideas and wonderful blogs, I found this little gem on Spearmint Baby and fell in love!

Photo courtesy of Spearmint Baby

They are fabric alphabet fridge magnets! I was always nervous of the little plastic fridge magnets so I never kept them in the house. But these are great and I can't wait to make some for my little Noah this month and tuck them under the tree! :D

Now I found this on Spearmint Baby, but this is what I love about blogging - we all share the love! Spearmint Baby found this on the Daily B. So going to either site will give you the instructions on how to make these wonderful little letters.



What have you found this week that you want to share? Make sure to comment and let us know!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! ♥

With love and light,