Momma's Latest Etsy Shop Reviews

**Don't forget to enter the Just Ice Hammered Silver Earrings and the Wonderful WEBS Giveaways. Both giveaways end soon, so enter today!**

I've been shopping on Etsy in the last 3 months and have made some terrific purchases! I cannot review all of them yet as I haven't used all of the products yet and some of the purchases were gifts - so I am awaiting news from the recipients. Remember to support handmade!

Etsy Shop: Heather Knitz
Products: "Unique rag bags and rag bag kits! Sassy hair and jewelry accessories! Funky art and crafting supplies! DIY patterns and tutorials!"
What I Purchased: 160 yds. of Fabric Strips
Price: $15 + shipping

Review: I cannot stress the amazing customer service I received from Heather Knitz! I purchased the fabric strips via PayPal and was getting a tad worried when they hadn't arrived. I messaged Heather Knitz who replied almost immediately concerned about my package as she had sent it. Turns out, my PayPal account had my old address listed on it. I had messaged Heather Knitz asking if she mailed it to my new address. She had sent it to the address listed on my PayPal account. We went back home to our house in Ohio to see if the package was sitting there but we'd just had a storm and it wasn't. Probably flew away. Heather Knitz, out of the kindness of her heart, sent me another package without charge. Her generosity was amazing given I was as much to blame for the snafu. I just got the fabric strips and they are beautiful, colorful, and cut to perfection! These are not scraps she's sending out. I cannot wait to cast on my rag bag!! Thank you, Heather Knitz, for a terrific experience and a wonderful product!!!! I will most definitely continue to buy from her shop and sing her praises. (Even if she is a Bengals' fan!)

Etsy Shop: Soap Rehab
Products: "Made-from-scratch cold process soaps, lotions and other bath and body products...time-honored methods but with a modern kick."
What I Purchased: Calm Me Lavendar Bar Soap
Price: $5 + shipping

Review: When I got this soap in the mail I immediately wanted to take a long bath! The smell of this soap was amazing and lasted the entire bar! It had a great lather and made my skin feel amazing. My hubby was so impressed with handmade soaps that it has inspired him to suggest we start making soap at home! (When your hubby can get behind a craft - you know it's GOT to be good!) The soap was rich and wonderful. The service was prompt and courteous! Consider me rehabillitated!

Etsy Shop: Polished Two
Products: "pottery shard jewelry & whimsical accessory designs"
What I Purchased: 'Framed' and 'Bartletts' Earrings
Price: $9/ea. pair + shipping

Review: Tracy's jewelry will continue to be among my favorites. Her interesting and classic pieces garner compliment after compliment when I wear them. She has amazing customer service and prompt delivery. And honestly, her pieces are gorgeous AND inexpensive. They fit right into my budget. The 'Barletts' would sell at a department store for at least twice as much! You've gotta check her out!

Etsy Shop: Just Ice Jewelry
Products: "..on her site you will find earth inspired jewelry, be it recycled ancient pottery shards, salvaged beads and buttons or jewelry featuring the colors of nature."

Review:
The lovely Ms. Linda sent me a beautiful rose quartz necklace and matching earrings (not pictured on her site) as a thanks for hosting the Hammered Silver Earrings giveaway. I just got an opportunity to wear them this week and got oodles of compliments on the set! They are well made and so girly and spring-y (is that even an adjective?). I immediately browsed her other jewelry and will indeed be buying some pieces for my collection. All I can say is - GORGEOUS!

I have more shops to review once I use the products I purchased! Stay tuned...

Momma's Latest Etsy Shop Reviews

I'm a Top Momma!

**Don't forget to enter the Wonderful WEBS giveaway and the Just Ice Hammered Silver Earrings Giveaway. Giveaways end soon - so enter today!!**

My Mommatudes Blog is on the front page of Top Momma today!!! In order to stay there, I need y'all to follow this link to Top Momma and click on my Mommatudes Badge:

The more clicks I get, the longer I will stay on the front page!!! Can y'all help me out?

I'm a Top Momma!

A Letter of Thanks

**Don't forget to enter the Just Ice Hammered Silver Earrings and the Wonderful WEBS Giveaways. Both giveaways end soon, so enter today!**


Dear Immature Neighbor:

This is just a letter of thanks for your door-side present. Although it was a true surprise to find a bag of doggie do-do sitting at my front door yesterday, I believe the real surprise was that you were immature enough to place it there. Unaware that my autistic son did not pick up after our dog on a recent trip out, I was not expecting to come home to a bag of crap at my front door. So let me take the time to thank you for not coming to my door and expressing concern over my son forgetting to clean up after our pooch. -Or picking up the phone to give me a quick heads up that I needed to take care of some business. Thank you for leaving a nasty note with doggie do at my door and neglecting to sign the letter. Thank you for acting less mature than my autistic child. Oh- and thank you for giving me the opportunity to resolve the issue and clean up missed doggie-do before leaving a pile of crap at my door.

It is neighbors like you who really make it a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Sincerely,
Your friendly neighbor

A Letter of Thanks

Social Networkitis

**Don't forget to enter the Just Ice Hammered Silver Earrings and the Wonderful WEBS Giveaways. Both giveaways end soon, so enter today!**

Some of my loyal followers have asked recently if I was okay or if I had permanently fallen out of the blogosphere. I'm fine and I'm still here. I'm recovering from social networkitis. A fairly new, but common disorder - social networkitis commonly occurs in persons who spend gobs of time in front of the computer engaging in 'social' networking.. AKA Facebook, Ravelry, Twitter, the blogosphere. Perhaps most ironic is that in order to participate in this social networking online, one must sit alone at a computer. But I digress.

Reading some 20+ blogs daily, tweeting, blogging on 3 blogs, moderating a Ravlery group, and addressing all manners of requests on Facebook led me down the unhealthy path of social networkitis. (I mean really - how many requests can one gal handle? There is only so much time in the day to accept hugs, drinks, farm animals, animated strawberries, carebears, join causes, take personality tests, find out which SITC character you are...). As I underwent rehab to restore function to my brain and fingers (reading paper books, meeting actual people in person, getting up OFF the couch..), I realized that there needs to be a better way. And that I may actually have an addiction that is fueling this non-social, social networkitis. The thought had occurred to me to start a support group online, but then that wouldn't work now would it?

So I am back to caressing the computer keyboard and talking to my screen as though the person on the other end hears me. Back to accepting requests for chickens and Mardi Gras beads on Facebook. Back to typing about knitting instead of actually knitting... But I have decided to strike a better balance. I have set limits - an online allowance if you will. I think social networkitis is a chronic and potentialy debilitating disorder and I must do everything I can to prevent exaccerbations of it.

Who knows? We may erradicate this illness in my lifetime.

Social Networkitis

Just Ice Hammered Silver Earrings Giveaway!!

The lovely Linda of Just Ice Jewelry, is sponsoring a giveaway here on Mommatudes for these BEAUTIFUL hammered silver earrings! Not only are they gorgeous, but they are hand made, artisan pieces. Girls, you're gonna want to add these to your collection!

So here's the skinny on this giveaway!

• Go visit Linda's Etsy shop, Just Ice Jewelry, and browse her beautiful jewelry.
• Come back to Mommatudes and comment on what your fave piece is.
• The Giveaway begins today and ends on Wednesday, March 4th!
• The winner will be chosen via random number generator and announced on March 5th!
• You MUST leave your name and email address in the post if your post does not link to that info
• If there is no way to contact you, another winner will be chosen

Want 3 additional entries? (Each additional entry is completely optional. Just be sure to comment for each entry separately so that the random number generator sees EACH entry.)

• Become a follower of my blog and comment under this post to let me know for an additional entry.
• Already a follower? Comment under this post telling me and get an additional entry.
• Add Just Ice Jewelry to your favorites on Etsy - come back and comment that you have and receive another entry!
• Blog about the giveaway on your blog and receive another entry!!

Good luck!!!

Don't forget to pop over to KnitPurlGurl for the Wonderful WEBS giveaway!

*** Do you have your own business or know of someone who does? Why not sponsor a giveaway on Mommatudes and drive traffic to your site?! Contact me at knitpurlgurl[at]gmail[dot]com for details!!***

Just Ice Hammered Silver Earrings Giveaway!!

Giveaways Galore!

Are you a knitter or crocheter? Have I got a whopper of a giveaway for you! Kathy Elkins of WEBS is giving away a terrific prize package valued at $75 on my KnitPurlGurl blog! So pop by and enter to win. The giveaway begins today and runs through March 2nd!


On Wednesday, the talented Linda Lapp of Just Ice Jewelry, is giving away a fabulous pair of Hammered Silver Earrings from her Etsy shop right here on Mommatudes!!! They are GORGEOUS! Please be sure to stop back on Wednesday for all of the details!

The winner of the Gem Junkie Valentine's Soup III Bead Bag was Gwyn (mommy4life)!! Gwyn will be receiving her prize in the mail real soon!! :) Thanks to all who participated in the giveaway!!


*** Do you have your own business or know of someone who does? Why not sponsor a giveaway on Mommatudes and drive traffic to your site?! Contact me at knitpurlgurl[at]gmail[dot]com for details!!***

Giveaways Galore!

Hurry Up and Enter the Giveaway!!

Tomorrow is the last day you can enter to win the gorgeous Valentine's Bead Soup III bag of beads from Gem Junkie! Please don't forget to enter! The winner will be announced on Saturday! :)

Hurry Up and Enter the Giveaway!!

Gem Junkie Valentine's Soup Giveaway!!!

Okay, Beadies..here's your chance to win this fabu bag of beads, Valentine's Soup III, featuring pinks, browns, reds, and purples. The lovely Kelly of Gem Junkie is going to give away this bag of goodies to ONE lucky poster!

Here are the rules of entry:
1.) You must visit Kelly's Etsy shop, Gem Junkie, and browse her wonderful wares.
2.) You must come back to Mommatudes and post which item you like the most from her shop.
3.) You need to leave your name and contact email if there is nothing linked to your post or else I cannot contact you should you win and I'll be forced to pick another winner.
4.) The winner will be chosen via random number generator.
5.) The contest begins today and ends on Wednesday, February 11th. The winner will be announced on Saturday, February 14th!

Looking for extra entries? (Be sure to post each one in a separate comment so that all of your entries are counted.)
1.) Follow me and get an extra entry after posting that you've followed (be sure it's in a separate post so that it counts as another entry). Already follow me? Tell me in a separate post for an extra entry!
2.) Blog all about it on your blog with a link to this post and then post the link to it (your blog post) here for an extra entry!
3.) Grab my button and put it in the sidebar of your blog. Come back and post here that you have and earn an extra entry! If you already have my blog button - post here for another entry!

*** Do you have your own business or know of someone who does? Why not sponsor a giveaway on Mommatudes and drive traffic to your site?! Contact me at knitpurlgurl[at]gmail[dot]com for details!!***

Gem Junkie Valentine's Soup Giveaway!!!

WSL: Woman as Second Language

Admittedly, my hubby and I have a hard time communicating sometimes. I think it's the language barrier. I speak 'Woman' and he speaks 'Man.' So I tell everyone he is WSL: speaks Woman as a Second Language. Fortunately, I have been able to translate some of the common phrases in the Woman language.

Woman: Do I look fat?
Translation: You'd better say, "No" because my fragile self-esteem cannot take any other response.

Man: Why did you buy ANOTHER handbag?
Woman: Because I needed a new one.
Translation: I must have the latest {insert handbag designer here} or else I can't possible show up to mommy group/book club/lunch {insert place or event of choice here}.
Alternate Translation: I must have a better bag than {insert woman's name here}.
Alternate Translation: Every woman has to have 10-20 different handbags available for various outfits at any one time.

Woman: That woman is beautiful.
Translation: Skank! No woman is allowed to look better than I do in front of my husband.

Man: I'm going to go get in a round of golf {or insert any man activity here}.
Woman: That's fine.
Translation: You'd better know that I am sending you telepathic messages that you need to stay home and cuddle with me or else I will act all witchy and refuse to cook you dinner later.

Woman: I'm going to the salon.
Translation: I'm going to the salon because I am a woman - sasquatch and need my entire body plucked, waxed, and/or laser hair removal performed so that you think I'm naturally hairless. While I'm there, I'm also going to get a facial, highlights, lowlights, a body scrub, a mani and a pedi. And you're paying for it.

Woman: I am running to the drug store for a few things.
Translation: Anytime I say 'drug store' and 'things' in the same sentence you assume I'm purchasing the dreaded womanly items and never question me about leaving. I'm actually going to Starbucks and getting a Venti, non-fat, no-whip Cafe Mocha and an almond biscotti and zoning out for an hour while you take care of the kids. Momma needs some 'me' time.

Woman: What time are you coming home tonight?
Translation: You'd better get your butt home immediately after work. I've got a roast in the oven and I've dealt with screaming kids for 9 hours.

Woman: I like this shirt on you.
Translation: Please don't wear that hideous outfit you've picked out. I have suitable attire all picked out for you.

Woman: I want more kids.
Translation: I stopped taking the pill 2 months ago and that had better be okay with you.

Woman: I think I need Botox
Translation: You'd better tell me that I look as good as I did when we were 23. If I really wanted to get Botox, I'd do it without mentioning it.

Woman: I need some alone time.
Translation: I need to spend money without you knowing.

Man: How much did that cost?
Woman: Only $30! I got it on sale.
Translation: It was $50 more than I told you it cost and while there was a sale going on at the store, this item wasn't included.

Man: How much do you weigh?
Woman: {insert weight on driver's license here}
Translation: Anywhere from 10-30 pounds MORE than what it says on my driver's license.

Man: What size are you?
Woman: {insert size here}
Translation: 2 sizes larger than said size

Man: Do you like your gift?
Woman: Uh-huh. Ya, it's lovely. Thanks.
Translation: Lack of screaming and hysterics typically means - I've hinted at the present I really wanted for weeks and you got me this?

Woman: Can you .. {insert chore here}
Translation: Do said chore right now!

Man: You and my mother were getting along really well at dinner tonight.
Woman: Yes. It was a lovely dinner.
Translation: Your mother lets me know at every turn that she thinks I'm not good enough for you and she's driving me insane. I'd like to slap her!

Woman: Not tonight, dear. I'm tired.
Translation: If you think you're getting any after I cooked, cleaned, wiped runny noses, and handled screaming kids all day and then had the pleasure of cleaning up after the dinner I cooked while you sat on the couch and watched the news - you've got another think coming, mister!

Obviously, there are several dialects in the Woman language. I'm just translating some typical phrases in the predominant dialect. But you should be aware that there are several other dialects with additional meanings to these phrases or different phrases altogether. A few examples of additional dialects include:

• Independent Woman Dialect
• Angry Woman Dialect
• I don't need a man to complete me Dialect
• I sound like I'm doing what you want, but am actually manipulating you Dialect

I think it's important that we work hard to understand each other's language so we'll be able to better communicate.
Translation: You'd better speak my language, buddy!

WSL: Woman as Second Language