EtsyKids Design Challenge for November: Harvest Full of Thanks

Each month EtsyKids Team members are challenged to create a unique item within a chosen theme. This month's challenge, 'Harvest Full of Thanks', was picked by last month's winner mimisbabies. EtsyKids members will have until November 19th to submit their entries, and voting will be open to everybody from Saturday, November 21st to Friday, November 27th. So, be sure to come back to the EtsyKids blog for a new post on the 21st to see all of the entries and VOTE! In the meantime, please click here to get a sneak peek at some exciting entries so far!

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Kids in the Kitchen

With the last couple of weeks of pure candy bliss, I'm sure all the moms out there are ready for a healthy snack fix! No matter how hard I've tried to stop the candy stash from being devoured by my children (I'm sure that my husband helped with that too)...the pile keeps shrinking and they've been on a constant sugar high...bleh!

So today, I hope to share some yummy snacks that will help tackle the problem of the post-Halloween, icky teeth, yucky tummy, candy overload blues!

Cookie Magazine put together a list of 10 super healthy, yet totally yummy snacks for kids!

Try these out...have the kiddos help in the kitchen as you prepare them too!Healthy Trail Mix

How: Mix whole-wheat pretzels, wheat Chex, Craisins or raisins, chocolate chips, dried fruits, seeds, and nuts (optional) together.

Why: Kids love this sweet and crunchy mix of ingredients that's high in energy-boosting protein.

And how about....

Banana Pops

• 3 bananas
• 6 Popsicle sticks
• 1/4 cup natural peanut butter, softened
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts, granola, crispy rice cereal, or sunflower seeds

How: Peel the bananas. Cut them in half, width wise, and push a Popsicle stick through the cut end of each half. Spread peanut butter on the bananas, and then roll them in the nuts, cereal, or seeds. Wrap them in waxed paper and freeze for three hours.

Why: A single pop contains 16 percent of the recommended daily dietary-fiber intake for an adult. The potassium content of the bananas can help reduce bloating in mom, while the peanut butter and nuts or seeds provide fiber and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.

*My Twist: dip them in dehydrated or dried fruits too! yum!

For other delicious & healthy snacks, visit Cookie Magazine for many more ideas!

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Santa's Sleigh Ride Team Holiday Sale - Third Stop

Graphic by Twinkle Star Art

This holiday season, join the Etsykids Team for a ride in Santa's Sleigh! Starting November 1st through Christmas Eve, participating shops will be sharing the holiday cheer with a shop sale of their choice. Santa will be traveling to each shop to take advantage of these great savings and you can come along and perhaps snag a deal of your own! To help Santa, and so he doesn't get lost, we'll be tracking his journey with a new blog post at each regional stop and highlighting the stores he's visiting.

Santa's last stop was the Pacific Northwest and now he's made his way to the Pacific Southwest. He'll be stopping in California and Hawaii. Don those sunglasses and check out these shops....

Daisy Creek Designs is a hip and trendy boutique specializing in unique clothing and gift items for stylish kids and their moms!

I'm offering Free priority shipping Let's Shop!


We specialize in creating unique gift items for the little cutie in your life.

I'm offering 10% off any purchase of $50.00 or more (prior to shipping) Let's Shop!

Original creations by Maui children's book author & illustrator, Judi Riley.

I'm offering BOGO Buy one of anything, get one of anything of equal or lesser value for free Let's Shop!


Handmade toys, dolls and eco-friendly items for loving, learning, exploring and expanding imaginations.

I'm offering 10% off and a free crayon roll on all purchases of more than $8 Let's Shop!

Stay tuned, Santa will be visiting a new region on Saturday!
For your own copy of Santa's Official List - Click Here

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You Know You're a Mom When...

• Your baby coos/walks/talks for the first time and you tell EVERYONE that will listen, and you don't really notice when the postman rolls his eyes at you.

• You no longer have to read the words to The Barnyard Dance; you have it memorized.

• You have a hard time finishing a

• You feel no shame by the fact that you know the words to the theme song from Clifford the Big Red Dog, you just don't freely offer up that information at cocktail parties.

• You realize that the butt-sniff-check is sometimes necessary to determine a mess and sometimes other people have to witness you do it.

• The word "late" was never in your vocabulary until Aunt Flo was and you've never been on time for anything since.

• You can't count the number of times you've asked your child not to lick other people/things.

• You sometimes find yourself talking to another adult and ask that they excuse you because you need to go "potty."

• You don't remember what 8 hours of sleep feels like.

• You've trained your body to function on 4.

• You can pinpoint a meltdown five minutes before it happens and already have a time-out spot picked out.

• Time-outs are really just sanity savers in the form of discipline.

• You finally completed all of the items on your To-Do List; from last Thursday.

• During your last date night, the conversation kept returning to baby's diaper rash and next week's preschool orientation. You also stopped and picked up diapers on the way home. Romantic.

• You realize that the last R rated movie you saw is only viewable on your VCR.

• You just felt a little older after realizing that I was talking about VHS and you know what that is.

• Lounge pants are not just a fashion statement, they're a way of life, and they make you forget about your skinny jeans and the unholy need to fit into them again.

• You can't remember anything, but you have to remember everything, because no one else will.

• You smiled at least twice while reading this list and nodded your head in agreement.

• You know how incomplete this list is and understand that this is the ice cube perched on top of the ice berg. Perhaps even just an ice shaving on top of the iceberg. And while we could continue to add to this list, we may never leave our computers again, which only goes to show that you know you're a mom when you can no longer count the ways.

Don't even get me started on the Mom of a Teenager List. Oi vey!

Written by Winklepots for The Mama Dramalogues.

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The Power of Positive Emotion

It turns out that we can still be happy even when we're worrying, according to a new study by the University of NC - if we also savor positive emotions in everyday life. The study showed that experiencing moments of awe, amusement, joy, interest, and other positive feelings builds up our emotional resources - even when those emotions occur on the same day as negative ones. A larger reserve of emotional resources enables us to rebound better from stress and ward off depression, the researchers say. To build up your daily reserve - here are some recommendations:

Find healthy, low or now cost activities you enjoy and can do daily, such as running, reading or knitting.

Seek out nature. Studies show that being around water, trees and sky boosts positive emotions.

Truly connect with others. Rather that gossip together, try to engage with friends in a positive way.

Make a gratitude list. Jot down good things that happen during the day to you or your family.

~Information was taken from Parent and Child magazine, Nov 09 issue~
~Painting is one of my VERY favorites and I just wanted to share 'Flaming June'
by Frederick Leighton

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Featured Shop : Scandeez

Christmas is coming and I am starting to worry about the Christmas shopping list that is bare, well, empty really. Half way through the year I did well and bought a lot for my daughter but I still have my son, and the rest of the family to buy for. Starting to panic, life is hectic without adding Christmas shopping to the mix!

So with a Christmas list in mind I set out to find a super cute Christmas item to feature today and I couldn't go past the leather infant shoes from Scandeez.

So modern and beautiful without being over the top.

Scandeez of course has other items available that are for everyday wear, but to dress baby for Santa's first visit the below outfit is perfect.

The one thing that I loved about Scandeez shop is the effort that Connie has put into her profile
After reading it you really have an insight to the person behind the store which is lovely when shopping online.

Enjoy!

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Santa's Sleigh Ride Team Holiday Sale - Second Stop

Graphic by Twinkle Star Art

This holiday season, join the Etsykids Team for a ride in Santa's Sleigh! Starting November 1st through Christmas Eve, participating shops will be sharing the holiday cheer with a shop sale of their choice. Santa will be traveling to each shop to take advantage of these great savings and you can come along and perhaps snag a deal of your own! To help Santa, and so he doesn't get lost, we'll be tracking his journey with a new blog post at each regional stop and highlighting the stores he's visiting.

This week, he started his journey in Canada and now he's moved south into the Pacific Northwest. He'll be stopping in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Check out these fabulous shops....

Welcome to crochele, where all products are made with the highest amount of care and attention to the smallest of details.

I'm offering 10% off any purchase (prior to shipping, if applicable) AND buy any 2 or more items and receive FREE shipping Let's Shop!



Welcome to my shop!

I'm offering 10% off and free US shipping Let's Shop!



Handmade Eco Friendly Chlidren's Clothing

I'm offering Free worldwide shipping Let's Shop!



Welcome to Retro Family Works. I work with retro style fabrics, especially high quality cottons and linens and create one of a kind clothing items.

I'm offering Free shipping Let's Shop!



All of my patterns are original designs by me.

I'm offering Buy 2 patterns, get the 3rd FREE and buy 5 patterns and receive a gift certificate for $25 Let's Shop!




Hand painted clothing and accessories for children and adults.

I'm offering 10% off (prior to shipping) and 2/$12 korker hair bow sets (cannot be combined with 10% off) Let's Shop!

Stay tuned, Santa will be visiting a new region on Tuesday!
For your own copy of Santa's Official List - Click Here

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