Summer Week of Giveaway Winners!

Photo by Per Ola Wiberg

Thanks for all your participation in last week’s Summer Week of Giveaways! And thanks to all the fabulous companies and vendors who gave great stuff to Simple Mom readers.

Tomorrow starts a week-long series here called Cloth Diapering 101. I get quite a few emails from readers, asking for my opinion on cloth diapering, the pros and cons between cloth and disposable, and whether I’d weigh in on some of the environmental issues (are they really better, since you have to do more laundry?).

I’ll be sharing my thoughts, along with two other guest writers who’ll share their wisdom and opinions. I hope we cover the basics behind cloth diapering, so that those of you looking for more info can find your answers.

And in the end of the Cloth Diapering 101 week, there will be another giveaway! Stay tuned.

Week of Giveaway Winners

I know you’re all curious as to who won each giveaway, so without adieu, here they are. I’ve attempted to contact each of the winners individually, so if you see your name here, please check your inbox!

Envirosax

Question: What’s one new thing you plan to do this year to be a more eco-friendly family?

Kristin, who answered, “I want to start a compost bin this year and switch to Skoy cloths or another super absorbent cloth to use instead of paper towels…I’m also thinking about switching to cloth napkins instead of the paper napkins we currently use.”

Gabriel, who answered, “I really hate walking into a dark room, so I leave the lights on A LOT. My goal for this year is to get over that and turn off the lights more often. I decided to start in the summer since there’s so much more natural light it makes it easier.”

A Simple Marriage

Question: What’s one of your favorite date ideas with your spouse?

Laura, who answered, “We love to go on picnics together. I will pack up a lunch and we will go to a nice park, or off to DC to sit on the mall. Anything outdoors especially in fall or spring.”

Christy, who answered, “We like to go out to eat without the kids so we can talk.”

Carrie, who answered, “We don’t get many date nights, but one thing that I would like to do for our next time would be to take a long walk before sunset and then finish the night off sitting on the roof watching the sunset. It sounds so romantic and look forward to suggesting it to my husband the next time we get our date night.”

Online Poster Printing

Question: If you were to win this prize, which photo would you use to create the canvas print?

Shan, who answered, “If I were to win this canvas it would be the impetus to finally get a professional family portrait (cat & dog included!). Then we’d use that pic.”

Little Stamp Company

Question: What’s one tip you use to encourage literacy with your little ones?

Julie, who answered, “That’s a simple one…READ, READ, READ! That means reading books, magazines, signs, lists, ANYTHING. My son is 3 1/2, and he’s already reading and spelling lots of words. Talking about what you read is also important. Help kids see how it relates to their lives and connects to other things they already know.”

Camille, who answered, “My boys SEE me reading all the time, I always have a book going. I encourage them in the area of reading by getting books that catch their interest or what they’re into at the moment… sure helps! (and thrift stores, garage sales, and craigslist are GREAT place to pick up books!).”

The Last Men’s Book You’ll Ever Need

Question: What’s your favorite quality in your husband or father?

Jennifer, who answered, “His faith.”

Kim, who answered, “Oh, the book looks great!  My husband is wonderful so it’s hard to pick one.  He’s funny, very funny, and he makes me laugh everyday.  He’s so caring and gentle with all of us.  Well, I could go on and on!”

Patty, who answered, “After almost 15 years of marriage, I love that my husband still can make me laugh, and still knows how to make me feel truly special and loved. He’s also a very ‘hands-on’ father and strives to give each of our children his individual attention.”

Jen G, who answered, “My favorite quality (not necessarily his best, but my fav) is that he is an extrovert and truth-teller. Being an introvert and peace-keeper, he balances me out wonderfully.”

Beca, who answered, “My husband has an abundance of integrity…amazing man…and an amazing ability to forgive and forget!”

Olive Manna

Question: Which store is your favorite place to shop?

Jackie, who answered, “My favorite place to shop is at Target!”

Kristen, who answered, “Hmm… the farmer’s market, I suppose. And Target in the winter. (Gotta a love a place with a shopping cart to ferry around the three under three!).”

Angie Warren Designs

Question: What’s your favorite thing to do with other mom friends?

Kym, who answered, “Every week my mom friends, their little ones, and my son and I have lunch. Usually at McDonald’s…nothing fancy. The kids play, we eat and talk. This group of women has been a lifesaver for me (literally…they invited me to join them last year after my oldest son passed away)…I wouldn’t know what to do without Tuesdays.”

A Month of Meals

Question: What’s your favorite easy family meal?

Erin S, who answered, “Another vote for tacos – everyone gets to have what they want and it’s easy!”

Mrs. Wright, who answered, “Beef, bean and cheese burritos!! So yummy and easy!”

Rochelle, who answered, “We make tuna pasta. All you need is pasta, mushroom soup cheese, milk, and tuna. Really simple and tasty.”

Sara, who answered, “Crockpot lasagna – simple to assemble and ready when we are.”

Dawna, who answered, “Hamburgers and baked beans! Fast, fun, yummy!”

Melanie B., who answered, “Our favorite family meal is an old classic – homemade spaghetti sauce and whole wheat pasta. I make a ton of the sauce and then break it up into smaller servings which I then freeze. There are other really simple meals I love to make but this old standby is always one I know my finicky 3 1/2 year old son will eat. I’d love to broaden our horizons and this book seems like it’d cover everything I struggle with.”

Chocolate on my Cranium, who answered, “Our favorite quick meal is Taco Soup. It’s yummy and so easy the eight year old can make it herself.”

Michelle R., who answered, “AWESOME giveaway! Some quick meals that we love are chili, pasta/mb/sauce, chicken stir fry. Now that it’s warm, kabobs, burgers, steak and chicken on the grill!”

Maoli Perfumes

Question: What’s your favorite natural scent?

Larissa, who answered, “Freshly cut grass.”

Leah, who answered, “Definitely rose. So soft and beautiful. I love rose perfume.”

Lovie Baby Blankets

Question: What is the best baby shower gift you’ve ever given or received?

Sarah, who answered, “Homemade blankets that my daughter still loves.”

Imagine Childhood

Question: What was your favorite childhood game to play outside?

Jodi, who answered, “Manhunt!”

Pear Budget

Question: If you found a surprise $10 bill in your pocket, what would you do with it?

Elisabeth, who answered, “Pizza! Just enough for a large pie.”

Sarah W., who answered, “Honestly, I’d probably stash it in my secret cash stash in my underwear drawer with the plans to spend it later on me. But then I’d end up using it for emergency gas money or school field trip money or something. Can you tell I need to follow a budget?!?”

Martha, who answered, “Probably leave it in my wallet, because I never seem to have cash in there when I need it!”

Book of Days

Question: What’s your favorite family summer activity?

Jill, who answered, “Traveling! We spend a few weeks each summer visiting a new place in the States or around the world. As teachers it’s nice to have this time with our kids to go exploring.”

Allison, who answered, “Going to the coast!”

Michelle in Canada, who answered, “Camping in the mountains. Love the fresh air and the wonder of nature discovery through the eyes of our children.”

Laundry Tree

Question: What article of your household’s clothing is the most difficult for you to get clean or keep clean?

Emily PDX, who answered, “The hardest clothing item to keep clean are my husbands undershirts.”

Austin Artisan

Question: What’s the latest “great deal” you scored while shopping?

Sue, who answered, “My latest great deal? Hmmmmm…. I guess my leather couch, chair and ottoman which I just stumbled into while out shopping and it had just been marked down fifty percent. Unbelievable deal and I got exactly what I wanted.”

Nicola, who answered, “The last great deal I got was a couple of leapster games for $4.99 each.”

Pamela, who answered, “Free toothpaste when I combined a sale with a coupon!”

Amy B., who answered, “A pair of Keens that I had been saving for for a long time- and they were 50% off!”

List Plan It

Question: Which of the List Plan It lists looks most interesting to you?

Christy, who answered, “Time Management is exactly what I need.”

Mary Beth, who answered, “I loved their 100 days to Christmas preparedness list last year… I’m sure there are plenty that I would make good use of!”

Tracy, who answered, “I could use so many of those right now! We would definitely benefit from the moving lists for our upcoming move, but I also love the family matters lists. So many great organizing tools!”

Kristi, who answered, “As someone with three very young children I am having a hard time keeping up with all the wonderful memories we are creating.  I love the all of the memories lists!  The 21 meals list looks helpful too.”

Wonder Bumpers

Question: What is the strangest piece of child rearing advice you’ve ever heard?

Dre, who answered, “My mother-in-law told me the other day that her son was allergic to his own urine when he was a baby, and so that maybe that is why my daughter has diaper rash, and so she suggested I stop using cloth diapers. (We use Bum Genius and Fuzzibunz cloth diapers, which wick away moisture from the bum).”

Paper Culture

Question: Which Paper Culture design do you love most?

Megan Anne, who answered, “I like the School of Fish moving announcement.  But I really liked everything!  I love the clean lines and simplicity of these cards.”

Lisa Leonard Designs

Question: Which Lisa Leonard design do you love most?

Tara, who answered, “I love love love the captured heart necklace!!  I’m a new mom and this is JUST what I wanted for mother’s day….why didn’t I see this sooner??  Beautiful work!”

Nicole, who answered, “My favorite design is the dewdrops necklace!!  That was very hard to decide.  My favorite aspect of the designs is that they are handmade. Supporting a local artist and not a big corporation is my top priority when buying any luxury item!”

Granny N Ky, who answered, “I adore the Mama Necklace but I would want it to say Granny instead.  I love her stuff though!  Thanks for introduing it to me!!”

NeatDesk

Question: What’s the biggest form of paper clutter growing in your home?

Peggy, who answered, “My biggest growing paper is receipts! Help! I have to get on the ball with Pear Budget!”

Oreck

Question: We all have our least-favorite chores – but what’s your favorite chore?

Meredith, who answered, “Crazy, but I like doing laundry – most of the time.”

Flip Flops & Applesauce

Question: What’s your family’s favorite arts-and-crafts activity?

Melissa, who answered, “Drawing.  My girls out-draw me by leaps and bounds.”

Malinda, who answered, “My girls love making paper crafts.  They work wonders with some paper, markers, scissors, and glue.  I just got each of them a set of perler beads and pegboards and they LOVE doing those.”

Jennifer, who answered, “Coloring (either with chalk, or as free drawing, or in coloring books) — my oldest also loves to cut things up into little pieces!”
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Whew!  That was a lot of random number drawing and counting.  Thanks again to all the fabulous vendors – please head to their sites and support their businesses.  And thanks again to all of you for participating!