3 GIVEAWAYS open until Wednesday November 25th.

Our FIRST Fabulous Friday Freebie

brought to you by Avec Dieu Couture

is a $50 Gift Certificate

Paisley, taffeta, damask, silk dupioni, velvet, animal prints, toile, stripes and Asian flair are among the dozens and dozens of fabrics to choose from when selecting your custom order from this lovely home accent store. Avec Dieu's creations range from classic elegance to a modern cutting edge twist in style.

With an eye for design and a love for varied texture, Avec Dieu generates home accents both practical and pleasing to the eye. It is no secret that tapestry, curtains, towels and throw pillows are the key to transforming a room into that perfectly coordinated "showroom style". You will not be at a loss for options when you explore Avec Dieu's lovely assortment of colors and prints.

I bought a duvet cover for my bed at Bed Bath and Beyond. It was on clearance. Someone had opened the package and it had been marked off 85%. I loved it and it was an absolute steal. It wasn't until I got it home that it dawned on me that I didnt have anything else that color. We've all done that at one time or another. Taken advantage of a deal (tho perhaps slightly impractical) that we just couldn't pass up. With a little something here and there to tie it in, you have the potential for a complete room makeover. I sent Avec Dieu a picture of the pleated design I needed to match the bed, the style of pillow I wanted and chose the silk dupioni fabric that would match my duvet and...well...I think my new room works now!

Make a purchase from Avec Dieu and enjoy a 10% discount this week only when you mention Fabulous Friday Freebies. Stylish wine bags would make great Christmas gifts for neighbors and friends. Browse those along with towels, table linens and napkins. Martha Stewart's got nothin' on you with these cheeky accents around!

In addition to a wonderful discount to help you get a jump start on your Christmas shopping, Avec Dieu also donates 15% of all sales to support a mission project in Uganda caring for orphans with AIDS!

So you can finally get that shower curtain up in the guest bathroom...or those drapes hung before your Mother-in-law comes to visit for the holidays!

You can leave up to 4 separate comments to increase your chances of winning the

$50 Gift Certificate from Avec Dieu

The game rules are as follows.

(does not have to be in the following order).

For 1 entry:

Leave a comment with what you'd buy with $50 from Avec Dieu. Include your name and email address so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Phone a friend...or text or email or twitter this giveaway. Leave a NEW comment letting me know who you told.

For 3rd entry:

Become a "Smith Stalker". Leave me a NEW comment letting me know you follow. If you already follow, this entitles you to an extra entry.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from Avec Dieu accessing a 10% discount. Leave a NEW comment telling me what you bought.

The winner will be drawn by a third party and announced on Wednesday on this site.

Our SECOND Fabulous Friday Freebie is a

$25 Gift Certificate from Sweet Couture

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails.

Sugar and spice and everything nice.

Sweet Couture captures the essence of childhood with these whimsical and trendy personalized T-shirts. A creative blend of imagination and an artistic splash of fun give these cute kids T's a personality all their own and are sure to delight the hearts of your little one and accentuate that mischevious sparkle in their eye.

Select from dozens of Sweet Couture's designs highlighting the birthday boy's notable new number. Choose your daughter's favorite critter to adorn her cute T. Embelish a gift for a special little guy with his favorite sports theme. And dont forget, its not too early to start planning that Valentines Day wardrobe for your little love bug! Sweet Couture has some adorable sweet-heart styles!

Shop this week and receive free shipping when you mention Fabulous Friday Freebies.

These would make great matching Christmas gifts for all the little cousins in your family! Who doesn't love a T-shirt with their name on it? Each applique design is original and monogramming can be done as well. Contact Sweet Couture to set up a custom order for that special someone!

You can leave up to 4 separate comments to increase your chances of winning the $25 Gift Certificate from Sweet Couture

The game rules are as follows.

(does not have to be in the following order).

For 1 entry:

Leave me a comment with your name and what you would buy with $25 from Sweet Couture. Include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Add our Fabulous Friday Freebies button to your blog. Leave me a NEW comment with your blog address.

For 3rd entry:

Mention this giveaway on Facebook. Leave me a NEW comment letting me know.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from Sweet Couture accessing free shipping and leave me a NEW comment telling me what you bought.

The winner will be drawn by a third party and announced on Wednesday on this site. Good luck and happy shopping!

Our THIRD Fabulous Friday Freebie is a

Gift Set from Nicole's Nursery

One lucky, baby-loving winner will be the recipient of a girl or boy themed Gift Package of 3 Lovely Burp Cloths from Nicole's Nursery.

My third-born was mere weeks old when we had to attend a wedding of a friend. I nursed her in a quiet room above the sanctuary during most of the service and hastily burped her so I could make it down for the reception. The bride, a good friend, thought it would be fun to get a picture with the youngest member of their wedding party. Handing baby-dearest off to the beautiful bride apparently jostled that little bubble out of my baby's tummy and with it, half of her feeding.

Yes! Onto the bride! Just the hem of her dress, but...still!

Perhaps I would not have been so mortified if I'd had a fashionable, plush burp cloth to apologetically hand my friend. But alas, I found myself scrambling for paper napkins. Learn from my mistake ladies! Every new mom needs a set of these!

But should your baby be out of that lovely stage, there is something for everyone at Nicole's Nursery. Specializing in custom designs and bubbling with creativity, Nicole's Nursery can outfit your little tyke...or your little turkey.

Contact Nicole's Nursery with a specific request or browse their adorable assortment of hooded towels, nursery decor, applique onesies, bibs and burp cloths. Nicole's Nursery also designs fashionable waterproof tags for labeling all your diaper bag contents before sending your little one to the MOPS nursery. Sure beats writing their name in permanent marker on everything! Check out their adorable listing for custom patchwork skirts or contact them if you have something specific in mind! And what would a boutique be without an assortment of pillowcase dresses? The lovely selection at Nicole's Nursery, will leave you longing for spring!

Shop Nicole's Nursery this week and enjoy a 10% discount off your entire purchase! Don't forget to mention Fabulous Friday Freebies and your discount will be refunded after the transaction is completed.

You can leave up to 4 separate comments to increase your chances of winning the Gift Set from Nicole's Nursery

The game rules are as follows.

(does not have to be in the following order).

For 1 entry:

Leave me a comment with your name and your favorite item from Nicole's Nursery. Remember to include your email address so I can contact you if you win!

For 2nd entry:

Tell me about a time you wish you'd had cute burp cloths (like my wedding fiasco above) Leave a NEW comment with your story.

For 3rd entry:

Become a fan of Nicole's Nursery on Facebook. Leave me a NEW comment telling me you are a fan.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from Nicole's Nursery with a 10% discount and leave me a NEW comment telling me what you bought.

The winner will be drawn by a third party and announced on Wednesday on this site. Good luck and happy shopping!

Where the Wild Things Are

The zoo is our favorite fieldtrip. Its one place I dont worry about my children making the most noise or the stinkiest smells or the biggest messes. We feel at home! A stress-free outing! Yesterday was quite the excursion!

~The loins were clearly mating and in the midst of a crowd of snickering bystanders, Abi wanted to know why they were climbing on top of eachother.

~It was dinner time in the reptile house and we got to watch a National Geographic worthy exhibition of a python consuming a live rat. At which point Tristan looks at me and says, "Mom, I feel like my heart is kinda beating really fast!"

Me too bud! Natural childbirth I can do, but this......eewwwww!

I think we're going to call it a school day and clock those teachable moments! Homeschool at its best.

Monkey see. Monkey do.

"Daddy, I want an elephant!"

Izzy makin' friends.

WE HAVE WINNERS!!

Congratulations to the winners of last weeks Fabulous Friday Freebies chosen by Random.org.

The winner of the $35 Gift Certificate from My Little Pumpkin Designs:

GapGirl said...

Hi!!! I just texted a riend telling her about your awesome giveaway. She LOVES anything monogrammed!
XoxoGapGirl
Palmetto270@aol.com

The winner of the $25 Gift Certificate from Snuggle Bugs and Bows is:

Dawn said...

dawn.melton@gmail.com

I would buy medium bows in black, lime green, white, baby pink, and bubble gum pink. I would also buy a headband. Love the bug and other barrettes, too! So Cute!

The winner of the Night Light lampshade from Sassy Shades is:

Heather said...

Carnival Bloom lampshade is so adorable!

hw.4924@gmail.com

You can access the discounts that these companies have offered through our blog until Friday! Winners have 48 hours to contact me to claim their prize. Check back Friday when we will list a new week of Fabulous Freebies!

Blessing

We've recently noticed grumbling and complaining around here. I sure it never happens with your kids, but we've had a bad run of the bug at our house.

To try and build up an immunity to this "infection" we've been looking for blessings. Its become a little tradition that every night before bed, we share what gifts God has given us each day. Tristan's "blessings" are typically in the form of creepy crawlies and snakes and frogs that I wouldn't necessarily chalk up on my list of blessings, but it has instilled a sense of expectancy. We're trying to spend our days looking for the little surprises God is giving us rather than focusing on what we want and don't have.

Then one morning I called the kids down early to see this amazing sunrise! (There was more than one moment that day that I wished I had let them sleep the extra 15 minutes) but Isabelle's reaction made it worthwhile. The picture just doesn't even do it justice. The pinks and bursts of orange just radiated off the lake in a golden hue. Isabelle, still groggy from sleep and in her fuzzy cupcake pajamas walked out on our porch and exclaimed,

"Ooh look! God gave me a b'essing!"

I've discovered something about myself. I LOVE gifts. I like getting them, but I love giving them. It surprised me because I hate shopping. I DO! My husband does most of the shopping at our house and I avoid it like the plague. But giving gifts...now that I love and I have

THREE fun gifts to share today!

Our FIRST Fabulous Friday Freebie is a

$35 Gift Certificate from

My Little Pumpkin Design

Monogramming. Its timeless. Every doting Grandmother, Auntie, and new Mom loves the sight of their little tykes name embroidered on his or her "stuff". Practicality is one thing. What a convenience that Sophie's burpies are not going to get stuffed in the big black hole titled "Nursery Lost and Found". (...because we all know that the latter never happens) The personalized bib or blanket will be so much easier to reunite with its rightful owner.

My Little Pumpkin Design specializes in custom gift sets guaranteed to delight the parents and keep that baby stylin'! With onesies, bibs, burp cloths, hooded towels and blankets, you can outfit your little guy with a classy collection. The best part being, you'll still have cash left over for those diapers that are draining the account. My Little Pumpkin Design has some of the most reasonable options for monogramming that I have seen. Check out the bibs....a steal! How cute is this ensemble for Daddy's little buckaroo!?

Im placing an order for a ribbon T in Christmas colors for someone special on my list. My Little Pumpkin Design has created a sweet and simple T-shirt layer that is both comfy and classy! Isabelle recently told me that girls dont wear just T-shirts. Im pretty sure this would pass in her book as fashionable enough!

Someone will be the lucky winner of the $35 Shopping Spree at My Little Pumpkin Design, but there is a special offer for the rest of you too! Place your order before November 20th and receive a 10% discount. Dont forget to mention Fabulous Friday Freebies when you check out!

You can leave up to 4 separate comments to increase your chances of winning the $35 Gift Certificate from My Little Pumpkin Design

The game rules are as follows.

(does not have to be in the following order).

For 1 entry:

Leave me a comment with your name and what you will be shopping for if you win the $35 Gift Certificate. Leave your email address so I can contact you if you win

For 2nd entry:

Email, text or call a friend to tell them about this giveaway. Leave me a NEW comment letting me know.

For 3rd entry:

Become a fan of My Little Pumpkin Design on Facebook. Leave me a NEW comment telling me you are a fan.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from My Little Pumpkin Design with a 10% discount and leave me a NEW comment telling me what you bought.

The winner will be drawn by a third party and announced on Wednesday on this site. Good luck and happy shopping!

Our SECOND Fabulous Friday Freebie is a

$25 Gift Certificate from

Snuggle Bugs and Bows

This sweet find is an itty-bity-baby-boutique created for the littlest ladies in waiting. All your favorite accessories and adornments in the smallest of sizes!

My personal favorite from Snuggle Bugs and Bows is their "Dress, Shoe and Bow sets". Creatively coordinated, these cute collections pair matching fabrics to dress the little diva from head to toe. If a baby is a gift, then most certainly, her shoes and bow are the gift-wrap! Get her all dolled up for outings, pictures, (or just because she is your princess) in one of these sweet collections from Snuggle Bugs and Bows.

Snuggle Bugs and Bows also offers reasonably priced tutus in assortments of colors and styles. Hand crafted to tie in the back makes for easy adjustment in size as baby grows and fills out. Holiday tutus, princess pinks and suave black and white options leave you with an irresistible assortment to choose from. Add a matching bow and you are still under $25! This my friends is a deal for your tiny prima ballerina in training!

Bountiful, Beautiful, Bow-tiful! Shop dozens and dozens of bows, clips and flowers in a wide range of colors, styles and sizes. This is the heart of the company! Purchase dress sets, tutus, bows or shoes from Snuggle Bugs and Bows and receive 10% off when you mention Fabulous Friday Freebies.

You can leave up to 4 separate comments to increase your chances of winning the $25 Gift Certificate from Snuggle Bugs and Bows

The game rules are as follows.

(does not have to be in the following order).

For 1 entry:

Leave me a comment with your name and what you would buy with $25 from Snuggle Bugs and Bows. Include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Add our Fabulous Friday Freebies button to your blog. Leave me a NEW comment with your blog address.

For 3rd entry:

Become a fan of Snuggle Bugs and Bows on Facebook. Leave me a NEW comment telling me you are a fan.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from Snuggle Bugs and Bows with a 10% discount and leave me a NEW comment telling me what you bought.

The winner will be drawn by a third party and announced on Wednesday on this site. Good luck and happy shopping!

Our THIRD Fabulous Friday Freebie is a

Lampshade from Sassy Shades.

We spent 5 years as missionaries in Ukraine. This post-Soviet country on the fringe of Russia is bitterly cold, the days are dark and dreary and the concrete block sky rises in every direction blend into the rest of the grey landscape. After my second winter where I struggled with depression, I read up on a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Basically, some bodies require more light to function and I realized I am one of those who just needs sunshine to bloom. Perhaps a little assortment of lamps such as these appropriately placed around out tiny two bedroom apartment would have made a difference. Tell me this wouldnt cheer your mood!?

Sassy Shades is not your run-of-the-mill mass produced lampshade company. With a love for beauty and an eye for style, this home based business creates unique one-of-a-kind shades and welcomes custom orders. Im working on a pink and brown room for my girls. Sassy Shades tirelessly exchanged over a dozen emails offering material choices and color scheme options to suit our suite. Simply shop their extensive assortment or initiate correspondence on a specific custom order.

Chic fashion for end tables, whimsical accents for baby's nursery or a subtle splash of style to brighten up a dark corner, Sassy Shades will provide you with sparkly suggestions.

Sassy Shades is offering 10% off to all buyers who mention Fabulous Friday Freebies, and they are offering this lovely nightlight lampshade to the winner of this week's drawing.

You can leave up to 4 separate comments to increase your chances of winning the

nightlight from Sassy Shades.

The game rules are as follows.

(does not have to be in the following order).

For 1 entry:

Tell me your favorite Sassy Shades lampshade. Leave a comment with your name and email address so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Become a fan of Sassy Shades on Facebook. Leave a NEW comment letting me know you are a fan.

For 3rd entry:

Become a "Smith Stalker". Leave me a NEW comment letting me know you follow. If you already follow, this entitles you to an extra entry.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from Sassy Shades accessing a 10% discount. Leave a NEW comment telling me where your lovely new lampshade is going.

The winner will be drawn by a third party and announced on Wednesday on this site.

Pink or Blue?

We have something to show you.

And a question...

What do you think it will be?

Pink? or Blue?

What? Oh no, no, no! Not that pink or blue!

Who, us? Why would you think that?

I was just wanting your vote on our Christmas card picture choices. These are my second favorite of each "pose" (because of course I cant yet unveil my favorite.)

So, what do you think?

Pink?

Or Blue?