New Giveaway!! CHASE DREAMS! Recycled Shapes Crayons for toddlers!

Many of you awesome blog followers are also twitter followers... and if your a twitter follower i KNOW you have seen me tweet about Chase Dreams... (and if I remember right, they have had a few shout outs on the blog too... a couple Favorites Fridays... and a Creative Play Christmas post :) Anyways, im rambling already... I feel SOOOO horrible because I have just been SO insanely busy trying to catch up since the move... Chase Dreams sent me a HUGE package full of awesome little St. Patty's Day & Easter crayon sets to do a big giveaway and i TOTALLY couldn't get it up in time because of the other giveaways in front of this one.  But here I am now, ready to rant and rave about the awesome-ness that is Chase Dreams.

I love me some Chase Dreams... For Christmas this past year I came across her AMAZING mustache crayons while putting together a huge Mustache themed christmas gift for my sister...  they were a MUST! And If I remember... my girlie BabyBooFelt even got some for Gavin!

I also snagged a set of Lego crayons (check back in her store, there aren't any listed right now). Then of course, thats when the obsession began... because come Valentines Day... I had to go get The Valentines Hearts!!

 

So clearly they're totally rad, right!? But I havn't even told you the best part yet... Their totally eco-friendly!! "All of my crayons are made from recycled, non-toxic crayons. Previously slated for the landfills, I gather up all of the bits and pieces from schools and families that have outgrown them. I melt the crayons down and hand-pour them into new shapes to give them a fresh, new existence."  Could this be any cooler?? Oh yeah, and they're so cheap!! Great quality crayons and MORE than great prices... and of course, kids love them :)

GIVEAWAY! This week we have LOTS of prizes... Lots of winners... First off... ONE lucky winner gets to pick their choice of ONE Crayon set from the store... ANY CRAYON SET YOU WANT! And then!!!!!! I have 3 sets of the St. Patty's Day crayons... 

and 3 sets of the easter crayons... that I will also be giving away... Rad right!

HOW TO WIN!!

1:  Mandatory entry:  Tell us your favorite crayon set that you would just LOVE to win from the ChaseDreams shop.

Extra entries?? But of course :)
EACH ENTRY MUST BE LEFT IN A SEPARATE COMMENT TO COUNT!!!!!

#2) Follow us publicly here on (blogger) - Leave a separate comment for being a (old or new) follower on our blog.
#3) Follow/Tweet us (Twitter) - Leave a separate comment for being a follower and TWEETING about this giveaway on Twitter... If your already a twitter follower of ours, TWEET about it for an extra entry anyways :) Can tweet once daily for extra entries!

Tweet This: "Free Giveaway: Recycled Shapes Toddler Crayons by ChasedDreams - MANY WINNERS @RockerByeBaby! http://bit.ly/bpUX6h"

#4) Random entry: Share with me your favorite creative past time.

#5) Fan RockerByeBaby on Facebook...

#6)"Heart" the ChaseDreams etsy page, and "favorite/heart" two items...

#7) "Heart" the RockerByeBaby etsy page, and "favorite/heart" two items...

#8) BIG BONUS: Make a purchase from CHASE DREAMS... any $ amount, just a purchase... come back here and leave FIVE comments with the link to the transaction.... thats 5 extra entries per item you purchase...

Thursdays Tunes - I dont love you...

Ugh. I love this song... just love... We all have bad days... this one goes out to you and your broken heart... we all have that little scarred up soft spot that this song fits into... love love love it like i do...





Well, when you go
Don't ever think I'll make you try to stay
And maybe when you get back
I'll be off to find another way


And after all this time that you still owe
You're still the good-for-nothing I don't know
So take your gloves and get out
Better get out
While you can


When you go
Would you even turn to say
"I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday"


Sometimes I cry so hard from pleading
So sick and tired of all the needless beating
But baby when they knock you
Down and out
It's where you oughta stay


And after all the blood that you still owe
Another dollar's just another blow
So fix your eyes and get up
Better get up
While you can
Whoa, whooa


When you go
Would you even turn to say
"I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday"


Well come on, come on


When you go
Would you have the guts to say
"I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday"

Wordless Wednesday - Love...

I never really post pictures of zaq and I... since Im usually gooing over my kids, or everyone elses kids, lol so I thought today would be a good day for that... we were at an Easter party and snapped a quick photo and i just LOVE it... i LOVE the way the sun has just blown it out... its sooo bright... so rad... love it!?

WINNERS of the SediluGreen Giveaway!! CONGRATS!

INKED:

La Mama Naturale' said... 59

tweet, tweet!

PINK REGENT SKULLS:

A.D. Thurston said... 44

I like Regent Skulls and the large comic bag.

CONGRATS GUYS!! Ill be in touch to get your addresses!!

Mentoring Mondays: Boys...

Post 3 from the amazing Adam Thurston... LOVING this new segment :) And I know the followers are too!! Thanks, Adam, for sharing with my readers and I... even though we're so far away... it will be like we've been there all along... :) p.s. you can find his blog here... follow him :)

Mentoring Mondays: 

Teaching you to be a Lady while you teach me to be a Dad.

Boys.

Hey Madeline.  Last time I “saw” you, you were giving your mother heartburn.  Just a heads up; that’s not the best way to score points with your mom before you’re even born but I guess that’s not really your fault. 

I was originally going to only post Boys: See your mother!  But after thinking on it, I want to weigh in on a few points.  When you get older (tween, teen, etc) boys will become a pretty big focus on your life.  While this is fun and all, you’re mainly fulfilling human instinct to find a life-mate.  And if your experiences are anything like mine, you will kiss some frogs (or in my case, frog-ettes) in this search.  I’m here to lay some groundwork to hopefully make this smoother for you.  And really, as your dad, that’s my job; to help you learn from your mistakes.  I’ll let you fall…but I’ll always catch you.

The first guy you’re going to know will be me and you‘ll likely measure all guys you meet to me.  That’s a lot to live up to and I naturally want to be the best.  How I live and behave in my daily life will be a reflection to you of most, if not all men.  Now I’m a pretty easy going guy but I would be remiss in my duties as a father if I didn’t tell you what you have EVERY RIGHT TO EXPECT out of a guy as well as CRAZY CRAP ALL GUYS PULL.  This is a partial list of potential encounters.

1.  Abuse:  Abuse of any type should never be allowed.  This includes, but is not limited to, shoving, hitting, slapping, weapon-use, etc.  It’s also important to mention emotional and psychological abuse.  A potential mate should make you feel good about yourself!  There’s enough stress in daily life to deal with.  You don’t need some asshat with mommy issues to make it harder.  I won’t stand for it and neither should you.  Hopefully, by the time you get to the dating stage of your life, your mother and I will have instilled enough self esteem and confidence in you so that you know that kind of crap isn’t tolerated.  A daddy can always hope…

2.  Weirdness:  Guys are just weird.  We don’t go to bathrooms in pairs.  We don’t spend hours getting ready.  We don’t walk around asking “Do these jeans make me look fat?”  But we’re weird all the same.  I wish I had some great sage advice on the secret to men but I and three billion other guys are still working on figuring out the secret to women.  All I can tell you is that you should be you.  Never compromise.  Don’t take any bullshit.  If you’re lucky you’ll find some weird guy and you’ll be able to tolerate his quirks long after the quirks quit being cute and he’ll be able to do the same for you.  This is rare, tough, and completely worth it.  This is your mother and I, BTW.  Our kung fu is strong and I hope you’ll find someone special with which to make your own.

3.  The Rockthrower:  You will meet this boy in the schoolyard during recess.  He will throw a rock at you.  It will hit you.  It will hurt.  You’ll ask him why he’s being an asshole (although I’d prefer if you don’t speak like your dad).  He’ll say something uber-intelligent like “You smell!”  And then he’ll run away.  This means he has a crush on you.  Although it seems like an odd way to show it, as stated above, boys are weird.  Don’t throw rocks back at him.  Corner him later and say something coy and witty like “You know, there are better ways to ask me out for ice cream.  I think this bruise on my arm is worth a double scoop, don’t you?”  And if his parents are at all worth their salt, he’ll say sorry and buy you ice cream.  Invite him over and I’ll grill us all some burgers.  And then I’ll show him my shotgun.  Naw, just kidding!  Real men don’t need guns to show that they’re men. Speaking of…

4  Real Men:  There are so many images that come to mind when one thinks of a “real man.”  Most of them are just macho posturing.  The Marlboro Man.  Frat boys.  Jocks.  Pauly Shore.  Well, maybe not that last one but the rest apply.  Guys come in all types, shapes, and sizes.  Some may look or seem appealing but I hope you’ll look for the qualities found in real men:  simple, honest, and brave.  A real man will always protect the ones he loves by any means necessary.  A real man makes that known to his loved ones without having to say it.  A real man will put your needs in front of his.  A real man knows his limitations.  A real man says he’s sorry.  And he means it. 

I hope to be that archetype for you, Maddie.  Four months until we meet.  I’m counting the days until I can hold my daughter.  Man, a daughter!  I never tire of saying it.  I can only hope you never tire of saying “daddy!”

I love you, Madeline Belle Thurston.

-Your Dad.

Swinger Sunday - Hardcore mom of four.

Hey guys! Yet another Swinger Sunday... and this week, the beautiful... amazing... hardcore mama of Tout-est-des-roses... read... comment... and love her posts like i do... :) Also... (when you finish here of course... scoot over and read this post... it may be my all time favorite blog post I've ever written. I keep it bookmarked in my toolbar. It was a huge inspiration to me and really helped me make some big changes in parenting and inspired our creative play Christmas... 

My name is Sara Sophia.
I have four children and I home-school, parent naturally and wear fairy wings while I garden.
I believe in being happy wherever you can, and with whatever you have--be that little or much.
I believe moments spent increasing faith and joy are the only moments worth counting.
I love babies.
I love ponies.
I love Jesus.
I love chocolate.
I love my husband.
I love organics.
I love life...kittens....butterscotch....

(not necessarily in that order)

And dude, I completely realize how hokey I sound. 
No--for real.

I realize that when you are a grown woman,
and you wear fairy wings in your garden,
that people think you have issues.
I realize that when all you really want to talk about
is love and patience and peace and joy--
that people think you are an idiot.
(Really, worse than that--
they think you are a self-absorbed, naive, ridiculous idiot)

But, I'm not.
I'm really and truly NOT an idiot:)

I am comfortable with who I am.
I am comfortable with my love of the whimsical and the childlike.
I am comfortable with the fact that I love my childrens toys
almost as much as they do (Etsy stuff is AWESOME).
I am comfortable with the fact that I will always be happy
wearing polka dots WITH stripes (Mother:).
I am comfortable with my beliefs
and my gratefulness for life and its blessings.

It is who I am. Candy fluff and all.

When reading the post  Kyle of Barley and Birch wrote for Amber the other day,
on how being eco-friendly was hardcore
(because all she basically does is work her butt off)
---it really hit home for me.
When you fight for what you believe in,
and stay true to your ideals---no matter how small,
YOU are making a difference.
You can change the world.
Just by being comfortable enough with yourself to say,
"this is how we do things".

And its all good.

Because being comfortable with who you are, is hardcore.

Favorites Friday - Sleeeeeeeeep......

Ugh, guys, let me have a pity party for a second... *wahhhh* IM SOOOOO TIRED!!*wahhhh* what a long week. Im SOO thankful to have my amazing new babysitter. Shes been working just as hard as I have. Every day this week I have worked at least 9 hours, just sewing non stop. I hands hurt, my legs hurt, my back & neck hurt... and i am FINALLY almost caught back up... SOOO happy. (and im sure and of you waiting on an order are too, lol) So here I sit tonight, the first minute I have had to do my favorites friday post and all i can think about is sleep. So what shall the topic be this week? Duh, SLEEPY TIME! This are all the things I would love to prep me and then snuggle me as I crawl into bed tonight...
(click to zoom in... DO IT!)

#1) BibBon - RIP Eye Mask
#2) AkashaCouture - Tea Party Alive Babydoll
#3) AVisionToRemember - Rock star queen size rag quilt
#4) OffBeet - Sleep Aromatherapy Soy Candle
#5) Cari4jc1 - Crochet Mary Jane Slippers (RockStar)
#6) HungryKnife - Pink Sheep (If I counted sheep... i would count pink ones.....)
#7) EmaandSprout - Sleepy Panda Dress
#8) MyOtherPrincess - Mini Bath Cupcake Bomb
#9) Needling - Cherry the Needling ( I have loved her for SOOO long.. someday ill break down & buy it.)
If any of you AMAZING featured sellers would like to host a review and giveaway please get in touch with me, we would LOVE to try out your product and im POSITIVE our readers would love to win one!

FOLLOW FRIDAY TWITTER SALE!!!

I love Twitter & i love my followers AND i love money in my paypal account and there isn't any! Ugh! haha SOOOO time for a sale! This rarely happens around here so lets make it count! Free US shipping on any regular price order TODAY ONLY (50% off international shipping)!!! Send me a message via etsy to either have the shipping prices adjusted OR if you dont want to wait I will refund the shipping charges to you right away. Whichever works best for you. Enter the code "ffTWITTER" to get the discount (or tell me when you message me for the discount :)