This weeks Fabulous Friday Freebies are

Three Giveaways from Nitzia's Designs.

We're going out with a bang! Nitzia's Designs is the last feature that will run on Seventh Smith in 2009. Im taking a bit of a hiatus from the Giveaways until the new year. I want to slow down. To quiet my heart. To take time to focus on the babe in Bethlehem and the Hope that is ours because of that first Christmas morning. Ill still be blogging Im sure (as that is often my outlet for what is stirred up in my heart) but there is no greater giveaway than what has already been Given through Jesus, and this is the joy that consumes me!

Our features will resume Friday January 8th. So ringing in the Holiday week, Nitzia's Designs is offering gifts to three winners.

Giveaway #1 - A Tutu Bow Holder

What better way to organize your bows and ribbons, barrettes and clippies than adorning the hem of a tutu? Ingenious! Ive been on a search for the perfect bow holder for two years...I kid you not. I loved the personalized ones with initials, but with 4 daughters, didnt really want a montage of monograms looking like a locker-room lineup. I needed something that would cater to all of them and be large enough to support 50+ bows. I was smitten with Nitzia's Designs original creation! Guess what I ordered them for Christmas?

Giveaway #2 - A Monogrammed Silky with Tags

Soft minky and satin is perfectly paired and embellished with taggies to entertain and intertwine little fingers. Nitzia's Designs taggie blankets are a mom's best friend too. Small enough to cart along with on-the go-babies and perfectly sized to carry through grocery stores, to church and on airplanes.

Giveaway #3 - A Monogrammed Anna Doll

There is nothing more endearing than baby's first baby. I still have mine! The "Anna" doll is the timeless rag-doll style and can be monogrammed with your child's name. Pretty and personalized, these lovies are classics and just may be that childhood comfort that bridges the gap and accompanies her to college one day.

You'll find gobs of glorious gifts at Nitzia's Designs with variety from pretty pillow case dresses to plush hooded towels. The motto of Nitzia's Designs is "unique gifts designed by you". Take their fabulous ideas and give them a personality all your own. Visit their fabric selection to mix and match dozens of patterns and prints to create that perfect gift for that special someone! Make a purchase before Christmas and receive 10% off when you mention Fabulous Friday Freebies.

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

One of the 3 Giveaways from Nitzia's Designs

The game rules are as follows.

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

For 1 entry:

Tell me in a comment which Nitzia's Designs giveaway you would be most excited to win. Include your email address in a comment so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Share about your first baby doll. I'll go first...mine was named "Angel" and I carried her everywhere. My mother had her refurbished and gave Angel to Abi when Izzy was born. Angel is still very much a part of our family!

For 3rd entry:

Visit Nitzia's Designs blog and grab this cute button to add to your blog linking to their site. In a NEW comment share your blog address and let us know that you have their button.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from Nitzia's Designs accessing your 10% discount. Leave a NEW comment telling me what you bought.

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

WE HAVE WINNERS!!

We have FOUR winners today.

Winner of the $30 Gift Certificate from Handmade Ministry

fierce-joy said...

I told my mom!!!

Winner of the $30 Gift Certificate from We Choose Joy

The Carter's said...

I'm a stalker...and SO GLAD to see boy stuff!! Yay!!

carolinacarters@gmail.com

Winner of the "LMNOP" shirt from We Choose Joy

Rachel said...

Ok, I so want to win this and get a funny little tie shirt for my son. That is too cute!

rach62803@yahoo.com

Winner of the tutu from The Little Ballerina

Donna said...

Love the clippies...too cute!!!

Companies will continue to offer their discount to buyers who mention Fabulous Friday Freebies in a purchase until Friday. Winners have 48 hours to contact me to claim their prize.

Weekend Recap

I was telling a girlfriend of mine that Chad and I were going to NYC by ourselves for the weekend. Knowing I would have a hard time leaving the kids she sympathetically informed me that she has never left their four year old. She and her husband dated for 5 years and then had 4 years to themselves before their daughter was born.

"I really feel like we already had those honeymoon years and just dont want to miss anything with our daughter growing up" she said.

While I can relate to not wanting to miss a thing (and had a stab of pain every time I saw a cute baby on the street because I missed mine so much,) those honeymoon early years of marriage, not so much...we were exhausted new parents, sleep deprived from tiny two-month-old twin babies by our first wedding anniversary.

We were due for a second honeymoon:-)

Chad flew me up to meet him in New York where he was for meetings. We of course picked the coldest weekend of the year. When tough, weathered New Yorkers are complaining that its freezing, you better hope you remembered your long underwear!

We had an absolute ball and crammed as much fun into 48 hours as we could.

Our dear friends Jim and Mary (Central Parks Boathouse) who tirelessly trecked around miles and miles of NYC with us to show us all the sights.

Our days flew by window shopping at Tiffany's, strolling through Central Park, enjoying French Fondue, attending Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, sleeping decadently late, thawing out over coffee at Starbucks and just walking hand-in-hand through the masses of people in the sparkling city. I feel so blessed to have married my best friend and am proud to be walking this road of life by his side!

Our FIRST Fabulous Friday Freebie is a

$30 Gift Certificate from

Handmade Ministry

True, as a mom to 5, my energy, resources and focus is primarily on keeping them dressed, fed and happy. I love that my days are filled with cutting food into bite sized pieces, repeatedly washing peanut butter handprints off my windows, arranging "flower bouquets" of weeds my darling children bring inside and slapping spiderman band-aids on boo-boos. But, when the rare and wonderful opportunity presents itself for a night-on-the-town out with my handsome man, I love to play that part too!

When offered an item of choice from Handmade Ministry, I let my hubby make the selection and he wasted no time choosing this darling dress. Easy, breezy, sweet and flirty, Handmade Ministry offers a bit of fashionable flair all the way from Bangkok Thailand.

Lovely dresses for a dinner date or to layer as a top over jeans in a more casual setting.

Scarves are in, have you noticed? Bundled up to your nose for sleigh-rides, or as we do it in the south, thrown over your shoulder paired with a tank top...this is my new favorite look! Handmade Ministry designs lightweight cotton scarves which are a steal at only $10 each. A cute accessory and an easy fashion statement.

Has anyone else who has traveled the world ever notices that American girls are the only females on the planet that wear pajama pants to a restaurant for breakfast? It makes me laugh every time! Seriously, in Ukraine, women wont leave home without their stiletto heals on. This includes the six months out of the year that it is 20 below and the ground is covered in ice and snow.

Saudi Arabian women may wear an Abayah out in public, but underneath, she has designer clothes, jewels and make-up on.

I get the concept of comfort. I do! I and am happily writing this from the comfort of my living room, by my sparkling tree in my husbands flannel plaid pajama pants at this moment. However, I wonder if slipping into these might be a more appropriate alternative for that early morning coffee date instead...

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

$30 Gift Certificate from Handmade Ministry

The game rules are as follows.

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

For 1 entry:

Browse Handmade Ministry and tell me what you'd buy with $30! Include your email address in a comment so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Fes' up....tell me the most absurd place you have worn your pajamas to. We promise not to laugh:-)

For 3rd entry:

Phone a friend...or text or twitter or email or telegraph. Tell a girlfriend, your momma or your sister about the fun fashion at this giveaway. Leave a new comment letting me know.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from Handmade Ministry . When you mention FFF in a convo to the seller, she will adjust the price and allow you to access a 10% discount off your purchase. 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

TWO Gift Packages from We Choose Joy

#1 - A $30 Gift Certificate

AND

# 2 - A "LMNOP Tee" or Bodysuit of Choice

Looking back, we've had a bit of a gender bias with these weekly giveaways. Entirely too many ribbons and bows and pink and frills. So this feature is, well, almost entirely dedicated to outfitting your handsome little man! Therefore, I wont elaborate on this darling little hat, bootie and T-shirt combination...

...but I take great pleasure in bringing to you from We Choose Joy, the Tie Collection...

Since we didn't find out what we were having when I was pregnant with the twins, it wasnt until after Tristan and Abi were born that C and I realized how different our tastes were in dressing a little boy. We'd been given a darling blue Feltman Brothers gown (mind you, not to be confused with a dress) that I was so excited to dress Tristan in for church the first Sunday we took him out in public. C looked at it, raised an eyebrow, and a heated discussion followed. He was not letting his son wear a lacy smocked outfit in public and I was not going for the tie dyed newborn shirt he'd picked out. Im pretty sure these Tie Tees from We Choose Joy would have been a happy middle ground to find at that moment.

Suave and stylish, these cute shirts are a whimsical top for your handsome little guy. Get a onesie for your newborn and a matching tee for the proud big brother. We Choose Joy accepts custom orders to perfectly pair a cozy cap with a coordinating tee in your color scheme of choice. Shop their store accessing free shipping when you mention Fabulous Friday Freebies in a note to seller.

Add matching booties to outfit your dashing, debonaire little man from head to foot!

You can leave up to 4 separate comments to increase your chances of winning one of the two giveaways from We Choose Joy

The game rules are as follows.

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

For 1 entry:

Browse We Choose Joy and tell me with you'd spend your $30 shopping spree on if you won. Leave a comment including your email address so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Post about this giveaway and link it on your blog. In a NEW comment leave your blog address.

For 3rd entry:

Become a Smith Stalker. If you are already a follower, this entitles you to a second entry as well. In a NEW comment tell me you are "stalking".

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from We Choose Joy accessing free shipping. 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 THIRD Fabulous Friday Freebie is a

Tutu of Choice from

The Little Ballerina

Your little Sugar Plum Fairy will dance her heart out in these designer tutus handcrafted by The Little Ballerina. The lucky winner of this drawing will receive an elastic waistband tutu embellished with satin ribbon and yards and yards of flowing tulle in the winners selected color.

Starting in the tiniest of sizes for that precious first photo shoot!

But where is any prima ballerina without her headpiece? The Little Ballerina has dozens of boutique bows (and clippies which are some of the most original Ive seen!) for securing little whispies out of dancer's eyes!

But if your little girly prefers tackle football in the yard with her brothers over dressing up, there is plenty more for the finding as you search for stocking stuffers!

Cute wooden letters to accessorize a room make a fun personalized accent!

And baby leggings are the new rave. A snugly sleeve for those chubby legs. Easy enough to slip onto baby after he's sleeping or pair with a onesie for a cozy around the house ensemble. Perfectly protects little knees as baby dearest learns to crawl too!

The Little Ballerina will discount any purchase made through our blog this week. Just mention Fabulous Friday Freebies and 15% will be refunded to you after your purchase.

Enjoy!!

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

Tutu from The Little Ballerina

The game rules are as follows.

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

For 1 entry:

Tell me something you love from The Little Ballerina store. Include your email address in a comment so I can contact you if you win.

For 2nd entry:

Tell a friend about the giveaway. If they enter, you leave a NEW comment telling me you brought a friend.

For 3rd entry:

Become a fan of The Little Ballerina on Facebook. In a NEW comment tell me you are a fan.

For 4th entry:

Make a purchase from The Little Ballerina accessing a 15% 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.

Oh-No!!!

Evie's expression says it all.

Its the exact look Ive had on my face more than once this week.

But because Im an optimist, Im not going to dwell (or blog) about why Ive felt like crawling back in bed and pulling the sheets over my head this week as a single-mom with Chad out of the country. Ill choose to focus on our happy Christmas memory-making, rather than sharing about taking all five kids to be swabbed for strep and coming home with a gallon of pink amoxicillin. I wont elaborate on the fact that I had this same look of defeat on my face when I got all the kids bathed, good smelling, scrubbed down and happy and then Evie pooped in the tub warranting a bottle of bleach and another bath for the girls. And I wont cry, I wont, about the fact that Isabelle "gave the TV a hug" toppling it and smashing it to to smithereens so that my sick kids cant even watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special.

No, it was just a bad day and everybody has them.

But that book "Alexander and the Terrible Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".......I'm writing the sequel!

But with that said, the good has far outweighed the bad! We have been busy cooking, baking and merry making!

I had a wonderful night out for a precious reunion gathering of some of my dearest high-school friends. Great reminiscing and bantering from the days we interned together with TeenPact.

It has been nearly 10 years since we've seen eachother. We all now have kids the same age....and I do believe Miss Evie may have found her first little crush:-)

Our project yesterday...Cookie decorating with 5 little ones is a recipe for a delightful disaster. Sugar sprinkles everywhere and half a dozen kids on a sugar high.

The many faces of Evie studiously working on her cookie creations...

oh the concentration!

Might I recommend declining green frosted cookies if you visit our house in December?

You did not just take that away from me Mommy!

And Im off...leaving tomorrow for a weekend rendezvous with my sweet hubby in the glitter and glow of NYC. Im so excited!!

WE HAVE WINNERS!!

Winners chosen by Random.org have 48 hours to contact me at: fabulousfridayfreebies@gmail.com to claim their goodies! Companies below will continue their discount offer through Friday to shoppers who mention Fabulous Friday Freebies. Be sure to check back Friday for a new week of giveaways! Congrats to 4 winners!

The winner of the $30 Gift Certificate from AC Posh Designs is:

Anonymous said...

I would buy 2 Monogrammed Hairbows for my daughter!

Paula

insurance @ mts.net

The winner of the Pinafore from Three Yellow Starfish is:

Danielle from Beautiful Schlopp Glass said...

I think the Mod Blooms Pinnie is my favorite!
beautifulschlopp@gmail.com

The two winners of $15 Gift Certificates from Faithworks Boutique are:

Tj and Amy said...

I love the marabou puff clippies.

amypugmire@live.com

AND

*A* said...

Andra Stoker~I love all the hair bows. I'm due in 4 weeks and this would be wonderful to have!

sweettweetsboutique@yahoo.com

Under the Mistletoe

Actually, it was not mistletoe, but rather the sparkle and glitter of NYC. My amazingly romantic little brother surprised his beautiful girlfriend with a day trip to the big city where he proposed to her at the top of Rockefeller Center.

And after 4 years of patiently waiting for this moment, of course she said "yes"!!

Congratulations to a beautifully paired couple!

I love you Nathan and Celina!

And...since it is the most romantic time of the year, please share. We would all love to read eachother's stories! Where did you say yes?

To any of you dear Columbia area Mom's-to-be...

It is my pleasure to invite you and your husband to a Childbirth Education Class the weekend of January 15th and 16th. I am a Doula and will be hosting a weekend to help prepare you for this blessed event. You can visit my website to learn more of the details of the class and what we will be covering during our two days together.

(note, in addition to information on pain management, induction, intervention and breast feeding, there is an emphasis on the husbands vital role as your coach. Your sweet hubby will be learning - and practicing on you - some great massage therapy techniques:)

Friday evening 7-9

Saturday 9-4

$50 includes lunch on Saturday and all materials

(as well as some pampering treats for the pregnant mommy)

Limited Space. Sign up on a first come, first serve basis.

E-mail smithmandy@mac.com

Also available for Doula services at your birth!