Computer Giveaway LIVE!

SWEET! I'm so geeked about this great giveaway! Here's hoping I win - Gypsy Jewels could really use a new computer!!!

http://www.hp.com


Hosted by http://www.jollymom.com/

Good Luck!

Gypsy Jewels is MOVING!

That's right, folks. Thanks to Amy - the past owner of gypsyjewels.blogspot.com who came across me and my blog on one of the fabulous blogs that hosted a Nursing Clips giveaway. She contacted me and asked if I was interested in taking that URL over and of coarse I said yes! So, we are in the throws of creating a whole new vibe and environment for ad even more fantastic experience. Cassie and I are officially teaming up and coming up with fantastic ideas to blog about - like a "that's what she said" of the day and recipies and products of the week!

Should be fun! Make sure to subscribe!! :)

www.gypsyjewels.blogspot.com

Sweet Giveaway coming up!

Win an HP TouchSmart 600 Computer on Jolly Mom next week!

http://www.jollymom.com

I could REALLY use a new computer.....

cross you fingers!

Buddy Blankets and the Best Model EVER.

Aren't I a lucky mommy to have made such a cute model? I'm having so much fun taking pictures of the little Z man with our stuff - and I'm also having fun making it!

Cassie and I have a goal this weekend to get as many Buddy Blankets as we can made and ready to be put on Etsy. I'm personally extremely excited about the Buddy Blankets because I think that they are so damn cute and because Z genuinely seems to love his. I can picture him carrying around his Buddy Blanket everywhere and it possibly one day being a hard thing to let go of. I think it's good for kids to have a security item and the idea of making something that can be that meaningful to another child's life is truly touching. I'm eager to make them and perfect my approach to marketing them along with the Nursing Clips. It's a fun journey though, and the journey is the best part. :)

We went to an event called "The Breast Sublime" last night and it was a fun experience. The nursing clips didn't sell but I got my name out there. My theory is that this sort of event, which featured art, photography, dance and even cake inspired by breasts and breastfeeding attracted the more feminist type of women who are proud strong breastfeeders. I don't think many of them were interested in the idea of covering up. As a matter of fact one woman read an essay all about not covering up which made me kind of uncomfortable for being there trying to sell stuff specifically designed to cover up. Honestly, I didn't make Nursing Clips so that other people would be comfortable - I made them so that even modest moms could have something to make them comfortable enough to feed thier babies wherever they needed to. I know women who have quit nursing early because they were not comfortable enough to nurse when needed. I feel like there is no reason a woman should have to cover up - but there is also no reason that she can't choose to use a cover. The point is, she's breastfeeding. I don't care what she's got to do to be comfortable enough to do that. Honestly, I hardly ever use mine because I rarely feel like I need to cover up. But I did see a need and I'm proud to be making them.

I heard that some of the ladies there recognized the clips from Hop Scotch - a local children's store. I thought that was encouraging! I should stop in there and see how they are doing. Maybe bring in a couple of Buddy Blankets to show her too...

I'm a winner. Things are gonna change I can feel it.

That's right! Ever since I started entering blog giveaways - which was about 3 weeks ago - I have actually been winning! This is a miracle of sorts because I simply don't win anything. Seriously.

Check it out...

www.simple-momreviews.com
LL Bean Raincoat (143.00 value <- and that's the SALE price!)

www.supermomreviews.com
Organic Baby Shampoo & Wash, Organic Baby Bubble Bath and Organic Baby Lotion ($24.00 value)

www.Fabulousfunfinds.blogspot.com
Pettiskirt ($75.00)

www.ithodeyouso.com
Happy Baby Foods (no idea how much it is worth - but a lot I'm sure...espeically with the cans of formula!)

www.minnesotamamasmusthaves.com
Pop A Tot ($50.00 value)

Cute Baby Shoes ($30.00 Value)

Bravado Body Silk Nursing Bra ($50.00 value)

That's $372 worth of stuff - not even counting the baby food!

Hopefully this is the signal on my life path that my luck is changing!!! :)

It's official. I'm addicted.

When I started making the Nursing Clips and posting them on my Etsy site, a woman contacted me and asked me if I might be willing to send her a clip for her to try out and then write about it in her blog. I thought, "what a great idea!" and was drawn in right off the bat. So, I began actively looking around for blogs written by mothers who were breastfeeding. On my search I found many - and a LOT of them did these reviews and giveaways. Once I started contacting them I also got drawn into entering these fabulous giveaways and it quickly evolved into it's own addiction.

You see, I'm broke. No, really...Shawn and I may appear like we have money, but the truth is we are both serious bargain people. The nice Intrepid I drive around that is all pimped out and on super sweet rims? Shawn bought it totaled for $700.00 and fixed it up for around $500. The nice clothes that we wear are all found by my super thrifty skills. The furniture and decor of my house almost all came from garage sales and goodwill - and I have some REALLY sweet stuff. I almost never buy anything full price. So, finding out that there are places on line where I can enter giveaways and win free stuff is flippin' sweet.

Then I won something. I won a nice L.L. Bean raincoat from www.simple-momreviews.com. This only fed my interest and so I have been entering them like a mad women ever since. This was probably around 2 or 3 weeks ago and thus far I've won the raincoat, a complete organic skincare set (for baby) and a whole bunch of coupons for free organic meals for Zander (which also came with a sweet packet of recipes!).

Through this "addiction" though, I actually have found many blogs and contacted many women who are willing to do reviews on my Nursing Clips. I've sent off about 15 of them so far to various ladies and am looking forward to see if it helps my sales at all. I know the clips are pretty sweet, I think people just need to become aware of them....at least that is what I'm hoping for. I've invested pretty much everything I have in them in the past few months and I need to see some kind of pay off. I'm not worried about it though, I really believe in the clips and believe once people know about them they will sell themselves. Us women are smart and we LOVE a practical buy. ;)

Here are links to two of the blogs that have already done review/giveaways on the Nursing Clips:

http://cavanjenleah.blogspot.com/

http://www.breastfeedingmomsunite.com/

Zander Patrick is a super hero.

Zander is what we named our son. The name is taken from Alexander, which means defender of the people. I wanted something strong, something that gave me hope for our future. It needed to be different, but not too different. It is very hard to name a boy, I think. You can't go too crazy, but you don't want him to be a Jim, John or Joe either (no offense). When I saw the name Zander, 3 days before he was born, I instantly knew that was his name. After about 6 months of seriously searching and feeling almost helpless in finding a name that struck either of us.

So, here he is. Zander Patrick. He was born September 7th. The delivery was insanely fast - from the time on my phone that I had called the midwife to tell her we were on our way to the time he was actually born was 40 minutes. I had been in labor all day, but was sent home from the hospital because no one was sure that it was real labor, so in a sense it was never treated like it was. In hindsight that is the only thing that bums me out. I know it may sound crazy, but I really wanted to enjoy the experience. To really put to use all the things I have learned in my Doula training. Instead it ended up going down in record time. I still essentially did it my way. No drugs and I ended up having him on all fours. It was a pretty great labor, and things couldn't have turned out better. My 8#13oz. boy was healthy and beautiful. He latched on right away (before they weighed him or anything) and has been a dream as far as breastfeeding goes. I've had little to no discomfort this time around.

All in all, I am a very happy woman. I am blessed with a beautiful family and I am also feeling my mojo coming back around. I've been more motivated and inspired than I have been in a very long time. I am starting on exciting new adventures and hoping to expand my business and begin working as a Doula as well. Things are fantastic!!