From Darkness to Light: March of Dimes Fundraiser

It hurts worse than I thought... A lot worse actually. And I don't know why it's taken me by surprise. I'm not sure what I was expecting, what I am expecting. I just know it doesn't feel good at all.

It's hard to imagine what it's like standing on the other side of the fence if you've never been there. I underestimated this side. I thought I'd be happy to be making progress, but I'm apparently a lot less patient than I thought I was. My over-prepared, over-zealous self has been slapped in the face with a brutal reality check. ... Yea, this thing called life, it's not always fair, and I won't always get it.

It was so easy for my friends. So easy for my mom. I know I'm not one for good luck, but I couldn't imagine why couldn't this be "easy" for me too. But that's not the case, at least not for now, and I'm beginning to feel ok with that, but still fear the unknown of how long this wait may be.

I feel pathetic knowing so many people have experienced so much worse than me, for such a long time, and here I am disappointed after a matter of weeks. Who am I to complain? I guess anyone couldn't help but feel a little let down, no matter what the time table.

After testing twice only to see a single line I expected the aunt I forbade to return. Then my temperatures dropped and I knew it would be another month of excitement, waiting, and most likely disappointment.

During my emotional roller coaster a few thoughts came to mind, one: "Sometimes you've gotta experience sadness to truly know joy." Maybe I'd never understand the true joy of success if it wasn't for failure... At least once. I imagine it will only make accomplishment feel that much better.

I tried to relax. I've been doing yoga, I've been meditating, praying, and listening to Circle+Bloom. I was trying to find a way to cope with disappointment month after month if need be--Something I could look forward to every month of my stupid aunt kept coming back. ...And even though I was in, what felt like, a state of pure confusion, all of a sudden a clear thought came to mind: "Serve others."

I know I've heard this concept over and over at church... And it's a rule that's always sure to blow my blues away.

First I thought I could donate extra hair bows I have to a children's hospital. It's a small token, but something that would put the smile on faces of little children, and hopefully brighten their day. That was a plan. But then my plan grew... I thought "what if I make hair bows and raffle them off on my blog and do a fundraiser?"

I remembered the many generous fundraisers my friend Danielle has done on her blog, and my idea blossomed more and more, and the support I've gotten just a couple of days has blown me away!

Not long after starting this blog I was re-introduced to the remarkable charity, March of Dimes, fighting for the births of healthy babies. Their message to women after, during, and even BEFORE pregnancy about prenatal care is priceless, and they do so much for mothers and their babies, both before and after they're born. I can't think of anything that could lift my spirits more than contributing to a charity like this, and getting support from fellow bloggers like you.

Depending on how this one goes, my goal is to try to raise money for a charity every-other month I have an unsuccessful cycle. So I'll start the first fundraiser today, and run it for a full month, donate 100% of the funds raised to March of Dimes in October, and November we'll see what happens :) I figure it's a win win if I can keep this going.

So what's in it for you... Amazing prizes from OUTSTANDING sponsors, who are generous enough to donate a product to this cause. I will be featuring each of them through the month so you have a chance to get to know more about them, and what they do.

You can enter the drawing by donating to the March of Dimes fundraiser.

$1= 1 ticket
$5= 5 tickets
$10= 10 tickets
$15= 15 tickets
$20= 20 tickets

(Paypal donations are not associated with the drawing, just with the donations. Questions? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com)

Again... 100% of what's collected will be given to March of Dimes! It's for a good cause and it can be a tax write off ;)

I really hope you'll participate and tell your friends! If you don't need these prizes, remember, Christmas is around the corner, and all of these make for great gifts! Either way, you're donating to charity!

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 the donations. Paypal does not participate in raffles. That is a seperate thing. Questions about donating for the drawing? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com.

I'm excited to see the power of my bloggyworld, and see what we can do! If you can't chip in, I understand, but please help me spread the word!

There are more than $1000 worth of prizes to win, and with $20 you are entered to win all of them anf with $15 you get a GUARENTEED PRIZE from me!

To see the current list of sponsors (it keeps growing!!) click here

<a href="http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/2009/09/from-darkness-to-light.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww115/jborget/BMM-Raffle.jpg" alt="March of Dimes Fundraiser" border="0" /></a><br />Again, Paypal is NOT associated with the raffle, just with the donations. Questions about the raffle? Email me at babymakingmachine{at}gmail.com

Kathleen Cavalaro: Cutest Pet Contest Sponsor

Some people have been asking how to get their photos in this contest... I took pictures for cutest kids/pets all last week BUT if you REALLY want, let me know. And perhaps I'll do one more contest as a closing bang to the fundraiser... and run it the last week of the fundraiser!

My laptop has been sent off and I CAN'T WAIT for it to get back! Oh, and if you're missing my TTC rants... Go here, for today's new update.

If you're wondering how all of this cutest kids contest and fundraiser got started and how you can win too read this.

I've been having a blast looking through all of the cutest photos! Remember to tell your friends the polls are to the left! That's where I'm taking tally of the votes, not in the comments section.. Though you can still represent and tell who you voted for if you want!

Also, you don't have to choose one, you can choose multiple cuties!

Now, on to some of the prizes. I told you the winner may get a prize right? Well I found the BEST sponsors for you proud parents. First, for those who entered the cutest pet contest. You are competing not only for an adorable button for your blog that says you have the cutest pet, but also, a set of earrings from an amazing jeweler!

I want to introduce you to Kathleen, who has the beautiful self-titled jewelry shop called Kathleen Cavalaro. I can't believe she's not on Twitter but this is her Facebook fan page.
She got into jewelry making because she was a stay-at-home-mom of 2 under 2. And as she put it "There was a LOT of napping and not much time out in the evenings," she said, "I am one who cannot just sit still and watch tv. So, I went through all sorts of crafty ventures like knitting/crocheting, needlepoint, etc. Then I walked into a bead store and was floored by the amazing stones. I was immediately addicted. I took classes at the local bead store here and there until I just took what I learned and modified things to fit my own style." And now here she is with a full shop! Not only that... But I found out she's made necklaces like this for celebrities! Yep, that's right, we have a celebrity jeweler on our hands!Her kids are Sophie - age 8 and Michael - age 6. They are both in school and she spend her days making jewelry and trying to make her Etsy shop work (which she said, seems like a full time job!).

Fitting with the cutest pet contest, she has two cute pets herself. Two 1-year-old chihuahuas - Carly and Gizmo.

Kathleen gives to a lot of charities. She says she can't always contribute financially, and her children keep her busy but she helps that way when she can.

She's already helping my March of Dimes fundraiser by donating a beautiful set of french hoop earrings to the winning pet-mama! Just look at some of these choices!So if you weren't excited before, get excited now! Tell your friends to vote for your furry child, and remember... Tell them to check your number box to the left!

Also, remember to let them know about the fundraiser! This is all for a good cause! 100% of donations are going to the March of Dimes charity. I started this because I realized making a baby isn't as easy as I thought, so I'm raising money to help save other babies. Please let them know that March of Dimes is a great charity spreading awareness about prenatal care... EXACTLY what I've been studying and what I'm all about!

Thanks and good luck!

A Nickname to Remember

Decorating my daughter's nursery was no freaking joke. To some it may look like a pink dragon threw up all over the room but to me it's awesome! I've never completely decorated a room like I have her nursery. From finding cheap bedroom furniture to making curtains, I did it all on a budget. And there's so much to look at, I can tell she LOVES her room. She really does. She laughs at the mobile I made her, and smiles at her name on he wall above the diaper changer.

I also have a special spot for my favorite nickname. We started with Spawnie. That was her first nickname. Then came Ladybug, Junebug (born in July). Little , Lil' J and here at home I call her a slew of other things.

My husband likes to call her poopy. I sometimes call her Baybee, Little J, Chunky Cheeks, and Cranky Butt. But somehow the nickname I call her more than anything is a name I didn't see myself using for my daughter--fearing it would cause her to be some sort of Diva. Oh, she is a Diva already. Anyway, I call her my Pretty Pretty Princess.

I was inspired by a saying for little girls: "Princess: Daughter of a Heavenly King". What better way to remind her of who she is and where she came from?

My friend Danielle sent us the book "Gigi: God's Little Princess." It was the first book I read to her outside the womb and I want to read it to her often.

I decided I wanted something to remind her of her divine nature so I asked Inspire Your Walls for a favor. I needed my princess quote in a size perfect for above her entryway, and the one blank space left on her wall. I wanted a crown to dot the "i" in Princess, and I wanted it all in a pretty white font. They did it all, fast!

If you're obsessed with vinyl like I am, check out Inspire Your Walls.

When I got it in the mail I was head over heals excited. I didn't want to just put it on the wall since we won't be living here forever and this was something I want to take with us. So I bought and painted a wood panel, and stuck the vinyl on after.

Now, over her doorway hangs a saying I hope she'll look at and reflect on for years every time she leaves her room. The true meaning of her nickname, and who she really is.

Do you use a nickname?

Everyone who comments on this post will be entered to win a $75 gift certificate to CSN Stores--Where you can buy pretty much anything. I got our baby motion monitor from there, and some nursery bookshelves. Blog followers/subscribers get an extra entry.

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on September 21. Random.org will choose the winner.

My Cutie Pa Tutu

Oh how I dreamed if the days long before having my daughter. I saw myself dolling her up and snapping photos. And now here I am, living that exact scenario almost daily. It's addicting. And the nice thing is she loves it too, and when we're done she's so pooped and ready for a long nap!

People joked with me before having my daughter and said she wouldn't get to wear all the clothes I was getting for her. Little did they know me! Lil' J has a new outfit on every day, and sometimes we do outfit changes midday, just because. We're getting use out of these clothes, that's for sure!

I'm a girlie girl and I imagine she'll grow up to be a tomboy because of all of the bows and dress froofroo I'm putting her in, she may be sick of by the time she's old enough to pick her own clothes.

Yesterday evening I took her out in the front yard and snapped a few photos in one of our favorite tutus.

I make a lot of her tutus myself, but I can't make them this cute, filled with the bright adorable little pom poms inside (so she can't eat them), and a bow facing correctly. This one is by Cutie Pa Tutus and it was specially made for her. The Ladybug theme goes perfect with her quilt, made by Lil' J's great-grandma, and her nickname.

Cutie Pa Tutus also recently launched their new adorable pa tutu onesies line with bling like this one, and they're just as affordable as their tutus. You can also get 20% off right now through the 15th by using the code: "babymakin".So here we were, my daughter in I. Lying on the grass, and playing. The sun was setting so the lighting was great, and I snapped a photo capturing this beautiful moment between my daughter and I. My eyes teared and my heart swelled when I looked down at my camera display showing my sweet little girl.

It blows my mind how fast my she is growing, and how much time we have yet to experience together, I pray, in this life, and know in the life to come.

I've always heard people say children are a blessing but I didn't realize exactly what they meant until I had my own.

I am so blessed. I'm living the dream.

Everyone who comments on this post before October 14th at 11:59pm will be entered to win a pa tutu of choice from Cutie Pa Tutu. For an extra entry follow them on Facebook and/or Twitter.
*Thanks Cutie Pa Tutu for sponsoring the review/giveaway!

White Cloud Rate the Rolls Challenge

I'd never put so much thought into how my toilet paper felt, and where it came from until today.

I'm Participating in the White Cloud Rate the Rolls Challenge and I was sent two toilet paper rolls to test out. Both are made from 100% recycled fibers like paper etc (I know, it sounds weird but hear me out!). One was White Cloud Green Earth, the other is the leading competition. But I don't know which is which.

Lil' J and I tested both of the rolls and picked a favorite. Watch the video to see our experiment and see which one I picked!

What do you think? Tomorrow I'll find out which one is White Cloud Green Earth and let you know if I picked it.

Everyone who leaves a comment on this post by before 11:59pm Tuesday will be entered to win a $20 gift card to Shutterfly.

And here's a coupon for some TP and/or paper towels!




*I am compensated by White Cloud for my time in participating in this challenge. Opinions expressed are all mine (and a little of Lil' J's too). Shutterfly had nothing to do with this, that's just my own friendly gesture to show you I love you!

iCute: Wordless Wednesday

But really, it goes without sayin'

Everyone who comments on this post by next Wednesday will be entered to win any item of choice from iStyle Originals, home of a new fun, fresh apparel company which gears to adults, baby and pets. Follow their Twitter or Facebook Page for an extra entry.
*Thank you iStyle Originals for sponsoring this review/giveaway.

Toddler Valentines Fashion and Treats

This will be Lil' J's second Valentines Day but her first one at a school. So because this is also a significant "first" I want to make it special and do the whole Valentines shebang for her class.

Good news is I have Mondays and Tuesdays off, which Valentines Eve and Valentines Day fall on this year. So it'll give me a chance to pretend like I'm an awesome Suzie Homemaker and make treats with her, for her class.

Here are a few ideas I've been scoping off Pinterest:

Valentines Whoopie Pies

Happy Valentines Day for "Crayon" out loud. Vday Crayons

Kisses and Hugs Cupcakes

 

Lovely butterfly suckers

There's more where that came from, and cute outfits I want to try to make on my Mini Love board. The suckers seem like they involve more drawing/writing than cooking, which is good, and it has traditional candy, but I don't know what all of the parents will think about the candy. Cupcakes on the other hand... that's not so bad right? And whoopie pie (is that seriously what those things are called?)! Yum! I can just picture the messy hands and smiling faces chowing down on those things. But I have a feeling it wouldn't be the easiest to make, or shape as cute as the ones pictured.
The crayons are just perfect, and I think I'll do that for the cute factor, and have Lil' J help me put them in heart-shaped pans. Maybe I'll do those and the whoopies since we'll have a pan to make those shapes and she loves "cookin" (she says this now when we're in the kitchen and she wants to put something in the oven. I can't believe she's my child).

When it comes to clothing, we're getting there. I was hoping she'd wear Valentines outfits to school from mid-January through Valentines Day but that hasn't quite happened. I've only had time to make her one dress so far so I've called on reinforcements.

Lil' J's first tutu was from Cutie Pa Tutu, and now dozens of tutus later, I still haven't seen any made like hers. We got these this week and the first thing she said when she saw them was "BALL" (in her thick country accent it sounds more like "bawl") cause of the the little puff balls enclosed inside the tulle.

When she walked into school wearing this her teachers squealed and said they were wondering when she was going to start showing up in all of her Valentines gear.

All she wanted to do was blow bubbles when we were outside and I couldn't get her to set the dang thing down. She did take a break from blowing bubbles to blow me a kiss though.

SWAK Sealed With a Kiss Tutu and Lovely Lipstick Top

And of course you need to have just as much pink as you have red:

 

I had to take photos of her pink outfit before she wears it to school cause I'm sure she'll come home in a mess.--Which is ok because it means she's having fun.

Cutie Pa Tutu is having a Sweetheart Sale, so everything she's wearing and holding (aside from the bubbles) are on sale there.

In case you're wondering where to find it all here are links:

Sweet Pinks Pa Tutu

SWAK Sealed with a Kiss Pa Tutu

Pink Hearts Ying Yang Top

Pixy Tail Pony

Pink and Hot Pink Bow

Poofy Pom Pom Magic Wand

Pa Tutu Tights

Lipstick Love Top

Now between this and a few other things I'm working on, she should have something pink and LOVEly to wear until the 14th.

Are you loving these outfits? What are you plans for Valentines Day? Going to make something yummy or cute for school or work treats? Share the love in a comment and you'll be entered to win a Valentine Pa Tutu Outfit w/matching wand and Pixie Tail or Bow.

Since Vday is around the corner we have to make this quick so this giveaway ends midnight Tuesday February 7th. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget (below). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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