SouleMama

12.28.17 ~ for the baby

It was a very different kind of holiday for me this year, most visible in the absence of handmade goods. Oh sure, there were some baked goods and there are some things I had made earlier in the year that I gifted, but really? Not very much. I had some sadness about that at times, but then I reminded myself of all I did "make" this fall. Namely that of a new space, which was so consuming of my time and creative energy this autumn. I love that space, I'm proud of its beginnings and hopeful about its future. I reminded myself as well, that this is just one year. That there are so many handmade treats that have come in the past and that will come in the future and that this one year that looks different will surely be a blip that I forget in just a matter of time. Some years look different. 

But as things were cancelled last week, and some time freed up that I wasn't expecting, I sat in front of the tree one evening realizing that the kids didn't need me, I absolutely wasn't going to work or clean, but oh my goodness I could do some quick gift knitting! How many hats can one make in a 48 hour period? Well, a lot if you start with the teeniest tiniest most adorable new one in the family. I knit this Good Sport hat in no time at all for my newest little nephew, Coleman, just a few weeks old. And then of course, I used it as an excuse to hold him as long as possible at the family party after I gave it to him. Because oh the weight of such a little one in my arms? It feels so good. And they really are the most fun of all to knit for. 

The yarn, I want to mention, is Cashgora, and it's from Port Fiber. It's such a special yarn - handspun by co-operatives of women in Tajikistan, each skein coming with a photo and story of the woman who spun the yarn. Casey wrote a piece about this cooperative and her time in Tajikistan in TRADE, an issue of Taproot that came out earlier this year.

If there was only to be a little bit of hand knitting in my holiday season this year, I'm glad that it was with such special yarn and for such a special little one. That feels just right. 

12.27.17 ~ a little bit chilly

Oh what a wonderful wintry set of days this has been! Entirely not like the week we had originally planned. The original plan included a grand Solstice Celebration last weekend at the new Taproot Portland space, but that was postponed (until January 6th) due to the weather that day (so much snow! and ice!). And on Christmas Day, we always go to my family's gathering an hour south, but that too was cancelled due to another dumping of snow that left us quite "stuck" at home. All of which meant that we were home a whole lot more than originally anticipated. Home! All together under one roof! With nowhere to go! In pajamas all day! Oh goodness, it was delightful. Pop's back at work today and I'm doing a little bit too, but we're still lingering a bit in the slowness of this in between week, and anticipating another extra long weekend coming up. 

Aside from all that snow (all that snow! I've lost my older boys to the mountain for good now), we're dealing with some rather cold temperatures here this week. It did go above freezing this morning for just a bit and I snuck out to feed the animals and tuck them into extra warmth. It's going to be a chilly stretch here....just right for more home, and cozy, and family. And oh, some knitting to be sure as well! It's been a busy autumn for me, and I'm just so glad for this little reprieve and chance to catch my breath in the warmth of home and my people. 

I hope you and yours are enjoying these days too! 

 

12.22.17 ~ the winter solstice

We celebrated a lovely Solstice celebration yesterday. Familiar and beautiful, comfortable and warm - and most especially, all of us here at home together. And it looks like we've got a weekend ahead of just that, as some wintry weather is coming our way and I anticipate us all at home together throughout. I had a weekend full of last minute errands and shopping planned, so I'll do that quickly this morning and then happily settle into home and make it work, whatever we have in hand and at home. As the days lengthen ever so slightly, and the brightness returns, and more holidays approach to celebrate, I wish you all warmth and joy with those you love! 

12.18.17 ~ family (& bacon)

The holiday gatherings have begun! This weekend we hosted my extended family for our annual party with loads of cousins, gobs of sugar, plenty of music and so much love and laughter. Today is all about the slow clean up while lingering in my mind a bit at the memories from the day and year's past. What a joy it is to watch my little ones playing and growing alongside the children of the cousins I grew up playing with. And of course, each and every moment of it all infused with thoughts of the grandparents who are no longer with us, but always are in spirit. 

Putting sentimentality and nostalgia aside, I have to tell you that I think I reached a whole new level of deviled egg awesomeness yesterday. Check out Zenbelly's Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon if you want to experience such bliss. So good! 

Urban Baby Bonnets {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Urban Baby Bonnets!

We sell the cutest little sun hats on the planet! They're all made by hand in the USA... and we have a huge selection of patterns & solids in styles for boys and girls. Make sure your little one is protected this summer-- without resorting to the use of chemical sunscreens. Our hats are rated UPF 50+! 

Follow us on IG for sweet insta-deals & first grab at limited edition prints. We're @urban.baby.bonnets

Better yet, tag us #urbanbabybonnets or #noslatheringnecessary to be re-posted and for entry into our monthly photo contest.

We're also on FB: urbanbabybonnets and on Twitter: urbanbabybonnet

The last day for holiday shipping is 12/20!

Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Colette: We have TWO announcements!!

First, we are thrilled to share that our hats have been laboratory tested and they rate at a UPF 50+! This is the maximum level of sun protection you can have with clothing items. Of course, our hat design is what provides the protection, we NEVER add chemical blockers to our fabrics.

Second, we're head-over-heels for our newest line-- the Pixie Gnome Hats! Available in a brimmed summer version and a brimless, fleece-lined winter version, these hats are just about the cutest thing EVER. So sweet & super fun. Our 4 size system means that Pixies fit for a long time... fewer purchases and extended wear time for you!  

 
This weekend, Urban Baby Bonnets is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader:

a $38 gift certificate that can be used towards anything in our shop! WOOHOO! Tell your friends!

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To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Sunday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

Yes, please! My kids are growing out of their urban baby bonnets, and we need to size up!
Posted by: Angela

Makers Market today in Portland!

Today at the Taproot Market in Portland! So many lovely treasures for gifting! Join us from 9-3 on Cove Street! 

12.14.17 ~ with my sidekick

Oh this little one of mine, Adelaide. Not so little really, being twelve now and all. Twelve, can you believe it? I know some of you have been here reading since before she was born and that's just wild isn't it? I like to worry about my little ones, it's a favorite hobby of moms everywhere, I know. Have I served them well? Have I done right by them? Are the choices we've made for them the ones that their adult selves will be happy with? And what about that terrible penmanship - should I worry about that? Ha! It's a never ending list of possible worries, motherhood is. Which is why I'm always grateful for those illuminating moments when I'm reminded that yes, perhaps the penmanship could use some work, and maybe someday they'll have wished we made this or that choice differently, but for the most part? They're going to be just fine! That the young human beings I'm seeing in front of me are going to be a-ok in the world. 

The younger kids are home with a nanny and tutor three days a week now while I head into town for Taproot work. It's a juggle of passions - for hearth and home, and community and the work I love and that sustains us. But of course - that juggling certainly has its own opportunity for worry. 

Yesterday, Adelaide joined me in Portland for a long day of work, and goodness gracious, I had one of those wonderful gifts of a parenting moment that lasted all day long, reminding me that all is well, it really is. And I can cross a few things off my worry list (penmanship stays). After lugging a bale of hay to the sheep (she's crazy strong from years of that!), she went back inside and put herself together for a day in town. An adorable outfit later ("black" is the color of the year) because these things matter to her greatly these days, and a teeny tiny touch of Mama-approved makeup (we love Living Libations!), she was ready to go. And a day of in-town play and work for her commenced, and I got to marvel at this little girl of mine. She bounced happily between tidying for me and straightening the shop, baking in the kitchen with Lauren, and then totally rocking out the evening prep for our Herbs & Crafts night, fussing about all the little things that I usually fuss about. At the end of the day, I was the one tired and asking to go home, while she was still giggling with all the adult women who surrounded us - amazing herbalists, and dear friends, and farmers and artists and business women, and gah! I got a bit choked up there thinking about all of that. About what a gift it is to have 'aunties' like that in your life at that delicate age, remembering the women who so greatly influenced me in those years. Gentle, powerful women moving through the world with such grace and strength. What a gift. 

(PS. Ada and I sporting some goods from the Taproot holiday shop in the photo above. Today is the last day to order in time for holiday shipping in the US!) 

12.12.17 ~ home & hearth

Where did Monday go? It disappeared before I could catch my breath or pop in here to say hello! The weekend was so full of goodness - a busy Saturday in our Portland Taproot Market, followed by Picnic, a crafty holiday extravaganza. And I woke up Sunday morning to find a feature story in the Portland Press Herald about our new space, and my family, as well - what fun! You can read that here if you'd like. 

Hearth as the title of that piece feels fitting and just right for where my heart and energy is right now. The snow is falling and I'm on my second day of tucking into home. Touches of the holidays are coming to life in this corner and that. The holiday gift making that will happen this year surely will be lighter than usual, given all that's going on in my days. But surely there will be SOME making, and all this snow and twinkly lights are sure giving me the itch to do just that....

 

 

LüSa Organics {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from LüSa Organics! 

LüSa Organics has been handcrafting organic, herbal body care since 2002. We specialize in herb-infused balms, moisturizing soaps, nourishing oils, and sublime scents - among other delights! We offer products for a wide range of ages, skincare needs, and budgets.

Our goal at LüSa is to make healthy, sustainable body care affordable to nearly everyone. With that in mind we offer our soaps naked (sans packaging) or in a 100% post-consumer recycled box and also sell our scratch-and-dent soaps by the pound for those seeking an even greater bargain. We offer refills for some products, which are both easy on the environment and your wallet.

And everything we make is unconditionally guaranteed. We think you should love it more than anything you’ve used before, or we’ll take it back - we promise! That makes trying new products risk-free, fun, and easy.

At the heart of our business is our family: Rachel (that's me), Pete, Lupine, and Sage Wolf. You can find our homeschooling, homesteading family on Instagram (@lusa_mama) an a behind-the-scenes look at our business as well (@lusa_organics). Or follow along on my blog where I talk about herbal remedies, peaceful parenting, and embracing imperfection.

SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Rachel: It only seems fitting that a business that takes its name from our kids should grow up right along with them! With this constant evolution in mind, each month a new product makes its way onto the scene - from products for teen and adult facial care, to products for general well being (like our newly released Magnesium Mist and Headache Balm). This season we’re especially smitten by our new Hygge gift collections. With each passing season I've become more passionate about herbs as well, and we've launched an abundance of new herbal products for nursing and postpartum moms, children, and the rest of the family.

This weekend, LüSa Organics is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader:

Winner's choice of one of the collections listed below:

 - a Facial Care Collection (containing a Facial Cleansing Oil, a bar of Charcoal Facial Soap, an Eye Serum, and an organic wash cloth)

 

- a Baby Care Collection (containing a cloth diaper-safe Booty Balm, organic Baby Oil, Calendula Baby Soap, and Cheek & Chin

 

- a Holiday Hygge Gift Collection (containing an After-Bath Body Oil, Moisture Balm, wildcrafted fir and organic lavender sachet, and organic liquid soap)

In addition, LüSa Organics is offering free shipping on an order of any size with coupon code YULE. And if you add a comment of “More Cheer!” to your order notes, we’ll throw in a free gift, handpicked just for you. Offers good through December 31, 2017.

 

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To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Monday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

Thank you for the opportunity. Their products are gorgeous.
Posted by: Kristin

Silk Oak {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Silk Oak! 

While new designs continue to emerge each season, it is the tried and true, beloved, vintage designs that keep customers coming back to get the same prints for their new babies that they remember loving when they were small. Truly my favorite part of Silk Oak!

The philosophy behind Silk Oak is a simple one- Have fun creating the best designs we can while growing a business that nurtures our families, strengthens our community and works everyday to show respect and care for the earth.

Silk Oak- Celebrating life since 1977!

Follow Silk Oak on Facebook (silk.oak.tees) and Instagram (#silkoak).

SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Jan: We are in the thick of holiday making and selling. This is our 3rd holiday season in the new store and things continue to grow and evolve! If you are ever in Ithaca, please stop by for a visit.

One fun addition to the Silk Oak family is our new stickers. For those that love the images but don’t want to wear them, these are ideal. They are made of a heavier material so they hold up to wear on water bottles, lunch boxes and laptops.

 

As always, it is a challenge to continue to find high quality garments to print on that are made in the U.S. This has been a hard year, with one of our major suppliers going out of business but, we are happy to have found some wonderful new things to replace them.

 

In the coming year, be on the lookout for new items that we will be sewing right here in Ithaca!

 

Wishing a joyful season to all.

This weekend, Silk Oak is generously offering the following gift to TWO lucky SouleMama reader:

$50.00 in our shop! 

In addition, Silk Oak is offering 15% off with the code SOULEMAMA through December 17th.

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To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Sunday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winners are...

yes, please!
Posted by: gretchen

Beautiful desings, I would be happy to win this. Thank you for the chance.
Posted by: Claudia

12.8.17 ~ Pop Up (& a treat!)

Have you seen the Taproot holiday pop up shop yet? It's live and full of goodness for home, hearth, family, and garden. These shops are so much fun for us to put together, sourcing out great small makers and learning about them and their process. The maker stories behind each product are such a delight to read and always inspiring to me. Above are just a few of my favorite things! We have a lot of this in person here in Portland on Cove Street, but of course it's all available for purchase online! Order by the 14th for holiday shipping in the US. 

And...I wanted to share a little something extra with you too! All orders in the shop (pop up, Taproot goods, subscriptions and renewals included!) over $75 will receive our Taproot MAKE tote bag for free! Simply add it to your cart, and use code SOULEMAMA at checkout to apply the discount. (Offer valid through December 14th.)

Happy weekend to you and yours....and thanks for your support of independent makers this holiday season! 

12.7.17 ~ a gingerbread house, of sorts

Earlier in the week, I had just finished cleaning the kitchen when the kids asked if we could make a gingerbread house. To be fair, it wasn't a regular kitchen cleaning but rather an epic deep clean after many busy weeks of hardly cleaning at all (no, really). Like, a 'pull out the appliances and clean behind them' kind of cleaning. A 'treat the butcher block with oil' kind of cleaning. A cleaning just shy of alphabetizing the spices because I was too tired to do any more. It was that kind of cleaning, and it felt so good. And I wanted - for just five minutes, maybe an hour, maybe even an evening if I was pipe dreaming - to feel that sweet reward of a clean kitchen. A gingerbread house? A messy, sticky, gingerbread house? Oh, bother. I wanted to say yes, but I just couldn't do it. 

"I have a better idea!" I told them. And I steered them towards rolls of duct tape, our giant pile of cardboard (opening a shop has some benefits in that department!), and a box cutter. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. That I was putting my children's safety at risk for the sake of keeping my kitchen clean, but Harper is a safe and experienced guy with the box cutter, I swear! 

The cardboard gingerbread house was a huge hit, pulling in nearly everyone into its construction, decorating or play at some point in the day and night. There was elaborate play around it, and they're talking about making curtains today and a door that opens and closes. There's also a pulley they rigged to the ceiling beams for lowering all the candy into and out of the house. 

Oh right, the candy. It wasn't until this morning at the breakfast table talking about that pulley that it dawned on them that this version of a gingerbread house involved no actual candy. Yeah, that. I was so busted. So today - now that the kitchen is back to it's normal state of chaos (I only got about thirty minutes of clean bliss, but it was a very happy thirty minutes), we can make that other kind of gingerbread house and embrace the mess fully. Though I still think the house made out of duct tape is the winner!

12.5.17 ~ a tree

I think I was in middle school when my father decided it would be a great business venture for his four daughters to start a christmas tree farm. I wouldn't call the venture exactly a failure (especially if you're reading, Dad), but it certainly had some challenges (and mostly taught me that child-led business ventures are the best way to go!). Namely the challenge was that the place he planted the hundreds of trees was on our grandparents farm, a two and a half hour drive away. And then the tiny detail of the fact that the my sisters and I wanted nothing to do with it really. But nevertheless, we begrudgingly managed to make a family pruning weekend happen twice a year and somehow kept those trees just on the side (barely) of acceptable for sale. It wasn't without some family fights, if I remember correctly, and it elicited eye rolling from each of my sisters and I whenever it was mentioned. But you know, in the end we all wound up grateful to Dad for his crazy idea. Because he had timed it so that the trees would be ready for harvesting and for sale during the years we'd be in college. Meaning, that each of the four years I was in school (and the same with my sisters), I'd get a check in the mail mid-December with my share of the sales. It wasn't a lot, but gosh, remember those years? Those little checks were everything. If only for gas money! Thanks, Dad. Sorry for the eye-rolling. 

Later, he went into partnership with a neighbor at our family land DownEast, and for years and years, he'd bring each of us home a tree for our families, alongside the truckload he brought down to sell from his front yard. Not that he didn't have another job (or three)...but because there's nothing he loved more than working in the woods and this was one more excuse to do so.

That partner and friend passed away a few years ago, a heart attack deep in the woods no less (the only way he would have wanted to go, bless him), and it's been a while since we had a 'family' tree. For a couple of years, we went into the woods here on our land and found a natural one, though always a bit of a Charlie Brown, I loved those the best. The kids advocate pretty hard for a "real tree that we buy" which makes me laugh and also cry uncle. And so this weekend, the whole seven of us piled into a car together (something that's rare these days with a driver in the house), after which there was fighting in the car, and singing Christmas songs and laughing too. And then once we arrived, everyone argued about which tree we should cut, followed by the two older boys giving piggy back rides through the woods to their little siblings, and a tree finally was agreed upon, and I may have hid a little bit of a tear for love of them, and us in the complicated crazy that is family, and simple tradition that carries on from year to year and generation to generation. Ever changing though it may all be. 

 

Fabula Nebulae {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Fabula Nebulae!    

Fabula Nebulae is a family collaboration nestled in the woods of Maine. This time of year, we find ourselves quietly turning into little elves, mixing, pouring, packing, and whistling while we work to bring you and your family simple, effective, & completely awesome natural skincare. 

Though we love to be silly, we are serious about what goes into our products. We go to great care to ensure that our recipes are researched well, are safe, and actually work! Then we send them out to testers (sign up to be part of the crew!) to be sure that you love them as much as we hope you will.

Come visit Fabula Nebulae on Instagram & Facebook. 

SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Pasaka: There are new products, new bundles, and cooperation with new friends!

We’re so thankful to our testers for trying our creations and giving such constructive feedback, and so very excited about several new products with activated charcoal: our (bright citrus scented) charcoal sugar scrub, Eclipse, and a new Magnesium and Charcoal deodorant for sensitive skin coming soon!

We’ve also got lots of gifts, both big and small, bundled together for easy sharing. The gift box pictured above is a connection with another community so important to our family - the Wild + Free homeschooling movement; all proceeds go to support the farm village they are building. And we’ve paired up with Enamel Co to bring you these beautiful camping mugs.

As the days grow short and cold where we live, we tend to gather together and huddle closer. With every package we pack, every note we write, every correspondence we read, there’s the added joy of connecting to the real person behind the order or the words written. It’s been lovely to see a little community grow around our venture as the business grows! It warms our hearts, feeds our souls, and we are so very grateful for it! 

This weekend, Fabula Nebulae is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader: 

a $75 digital gift certificate.

In addition, Fabula Nebulae would like to offer SouleMama readers 15% off through December 17 with the code GATHER, and every order placed this weekend will receive a sample of a new product!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9am EST on Monday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

I love those mugs!
Posted by: Azer

Greetings from Fabula Nebulae!    

Fabula Nebulae is a family collaboration nestled in the woods of Maine. This time of year, we find ourselves quietly turning into little elves, mixing, pouring, packing, and whistling while we work to bring you and your family simple, effective, & completely awesome natural skincare. 

Though we love to be silly, we are serious about what goes into our products. We go to great care to ensure that our recipes are researched well, are safe, and actually work! Then we send them out to testers (sign up to be part of the crew!) to be sure that you love them as much as we hope you will.

Come visit Fabula Nebulae on Instagram & Facebook. 

SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Pasaka: There are new products, new bundles, and cooperation with new friends!

We’re so thankful to our testers for trying our creations and giving such constructive feedback, and so very excited about several new products with activated charcoal: our (bright citrus scented) charcoal sugar scrub, Eclipse, and a new Magnesium and Charcoal deodorant for sensitive skin coming soon!

We’ve also got lots of gifts, both big and small, bundled together for easy sharing. The gift box pictured above is a connection with another community so important to our family - the Wild + Free homeschooling movement; all proceeds go to support the farm village they are building. And we’ve paired up with Enamel Co to bring you these beautiful camping mugs.

As the days grow short and cold where we live, we tend to gather together and huddle closer. With every package we pack, every note we write, every correspondence we read, there’s the added joy of connecting to the real person behind the order or the words written. It’s been lovely to see a little community grow around our venture as the business grows! It warms our hearts, feeds our souls, and we are so very grateful for it! 

This weekend, Fabula Nebulae is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader: 

a $75 digital gift certificate.

In addition, Fabula Nebulae would like to offer SouleMama readers 15% off through December 17 with the code GATHER, and every order placed this weekend will receive a sample of a new product!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9am EST on Monday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

I love those mugs!
Posted by: Azer

Imagine Childhood {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Imagine Childhood!  

Imagine Childhood is a family owned and operated company specializing in earth-friendly goods, craft and activity tutorials and educational supplies that support and nurture the magic of childhood. Our carefully curated collection focuses on products that inspire children to create, imagine, and explore. With an emphasis on quality materials, our toys and tools are made for real kids and real adventures.  

Browse our 2017-2018 Lookbook for 200 pages of inspiring and thoughtful gifts, our largest collection yet! We’ve spent the last ten years combing the globe for unique heirloom quality toys, tools, games, and craft projects, many of which are $25 or less.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

In addition to our shop we also share free crafts, activities and recipes on our blog here and our recent book, IMAGINE CHILDHOOD: Exploring the World Through Nature, Imagination, and Play- 25 Projects that spark curiosity and adventure, can be found here.

SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Sarah: It’s been busy over at Imagine Childhood. We've been getting the shop ready for the holiday season and growing our Imagine Childhood family to boot! First with grandchildren (one a year ago and one coming any day now) and also in the form of lovely brand ambassadors and affiliates. It's been such a joy to watch how families and their sweet kiddos use our toys and tools for amazing adventures! If you have a brood of lively explorers and would like to join the family, send us a line, we'd love to meet you!  

This weekend, Imagine Childhood is generously offering the following gifts to ONE lucky SouleMama reader:

 a $100 gift certificate to the Imagine Childhood shop, a signed copy of our book, and a handmade Christmas Rose Fairy (pictured above)!

In addition, Imagine Childhood is offering 10% off all orders placed between now and December 6th, as well as free shipping for orders over $100. Use code "soulemama" at checkout.  Discount expires 12/6/17.

 

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To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Sunday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

I would love a chance try out some of the toys! Some very special little ones would be delighted! Thank you
Posted by: leelee

12.1.17 ~ climbing the roof

 

Oh my goodness, where did this week go? It can't be Friday, can it? And December, at that! Ah! I've promised the kiddos we'll get our tree on Sunday and I'm so excited to make that happen. I'm still trying to convince them that searching for one in the woods would be fun, but we might just end up going to a farm to get a nice and pretty perfect one. That's fine too, so long as my crew is all together!

This goat! Oh these goats. The only thing I can rely upon with them is that they'll always be exactly where they aren't supposed to be. They're dependable like that. (But we love them anyway.)

Have a beautiful weekend, friends! (And if you're in Portland, stop by to say hi!)