Unless you've been reading my blog for awhile, you may not know that I am a suppressed potter. Over the past five years, I've tried to figure out ways to make my love of pottery fit into my life. For awhile, I had a healthy little supply of buttons and chunky stoneware pendants that I was putting up in my etsy shop and I loved it. Creating things with clay was so relaxing and inspiring.

But sometimes life forces us to set some things aside for others, and for now pottery is on the back burner. But someday, I'm going to rejuvenate that hobby and get back to it. I really am.

Meanwhile, through the joys of blogging Melissa and I became good friends and she quickly became my potter-mentor. And I live vicariously through her flickr stream.

Last spring I said to her that I desperately needed a little one-serving size colander for washing berries and she went to work creating the perfect thing--and then the berry bowl craze began. Really, I'm not sure how I could manage to live without one. Mine doesn't even make it back into the cupboard, but just sits happily on the windowsill above my kitchen sink.

But one of my other favorites of Melissa's creations are her honey pots. Some day I'll tell you my life lessons learned over a broken honey pot, but in the meantime let's just say that Melissa's honey pot is the cutest thing on my kitchen table.

Plastic honey bear's are so last year.

And lucky for you, Melissa is giving away a honey pot to one of you! The honey pot she's set aside looks a lot like the one I have--a buttery yellow with her signature bee stamped on the side. And it even includes the wooden honey dipper. My children have finally mastered the honey dipper "twirl" to get the honey from the pot to the toast without dripping.

Be sure to stop by Melissa's blog or photostream. She is a sweet friend and a talented artist worth getting to know.

And if you just can't stand to play the odds, she's got a few honey pots in her shop right now. And the berry bowl craze will begin again in May or June.

Leave a comment on this post if you'd like to be entered to win Melissa's honey pot. I will pick a random winner and announce on Monday.

Happy Weekend, friends.

I have to admit, I am seriously picky about the music my children listen to, especially the children's music they listen to. In fact, I wouldn't be at all offended if you called me a music snob. So when a package arrived in the mail containing a CD and DVD from "Milkshake" I was skeptical. I was pretty sure it wouldn't meet my high standards....

I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised with the music and lyrics on this CD. Let me tell you, this CD has some pretty good dance party music on it, too--tutus and eye patches optional. The songs were easy for my kids to learn, so easy that after about the second playing, "we've got a band, yeah, yeah!" was on repeat in my head. The songs talk about things kids think about--imagination, pirate ships, super heroes, baseball and birds (one of my favorite videos on the DVD.)

For Emma, it was like she'd discovered her first "cool" music. And I watched her as she carefully mimicked the dances and motions of the female lead singer.

From the interviews on the DVD, the song lyrics and the overall vibe of the CD, I get the feeling these Milkshake folks are good people.

And you know, I have an extra copy of the DVD and CD to send to one lucky family.

Leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. The winners of all of this week's giveaways will be announced on Saturday, February 14th. 

Some days, it is the community of mothers in the blogging neighborhood that keep me going--that inspire me, that encourage me, that remind me about things that truly matter matter in life. They remind me to slow down, take note, to enjoy each moment of the day for what it may or may not be. And Stefani, of Blue Yonder is one of those people. Her blog is full of inspiration, honesty and some downright funny tales from her life raising three young men in Texas.

This year Stefani launched a new project called the Book of Days. It is a monthly journal that she keeps with her children and now shares with all of us. Stefani describes the Book of Days:

The Book of Days is a monthly journal of mindful experiences, natural pursuits, yummy recipes, and science experiments. It is meant to be a simple way to make family time fun.

Each edition comes with illustrated pages to download, print and put in your own binder. You can make one for each child, or just make one big family book. The Book of Days is geared toward families with children ranging in age from 3 to 12, but could be adapted to suit older or younger kids.

The book also comes with a detailed Parent Field Guide that provides seasonal reading lists, ways to expand each month’s activities, and ideas for slowing down and holding onto the magic of each day of the year. The activities are simple and only require easy-to-find supplies that you may already have at home. However, with the added suggestions in the Parent Field Guide, each section can be expanded to provide several days of fun and learning. 

I can speak from experience that the book of days is a great way to mark time with your children. It is brimming with simple, fun ideas and is a wonderful way to capture your days.

And Stefani is offering one of you the chance to win a year's subscription to the Book of Days. Each month you'll be sent a link and code to download your free copy to print and use! Thank you, Stefani.

You can read more about the book of days, here at the Blue Yonder Ranch online shop . You can also see the book of days in action in the flickr group.

You know the drill....leave a comment for your chance to win. All winners from this week's giveaways will be announced on Saturday, February 14th.

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you have probably picked up bits and pieces about my grandmother, whose farm we lived on for our first two years here in Maryland. Beyond the fact that she is the mother to fifteen children, there are countless things about her that impress and inspire me. As I get older (and I'd like to think, wiser) I notice little bits of her influence in my life--whether it be her granola recipe, the basket I keep at the bottom of my steps and carry up each night, or washing out my ziploc baggies and keeping them on the same drying rack that she uses in her kitchen.

If she's not in the garden, you could most likely expect to find her way in the back if the house, just off the back living room, sitting at her desk, stamps and address book laid in front of her, NPR crackling on the radio. My grandmother keeps in touch. And she keeps in touch the old-fashioned way. A letter, a clipping, a remembered birthday, holiday or special event.

In all my years, I've never known her to forget my birthday, and I am one of forty plus grandchildren. Her correspondence and letter-writing is a gift to many people and an inspiration to me in an age of email and hurriedness. (I told you I feel the pull of two very different worlds.)

So several weeks ago, when I saw Amy post on her blog about the book, Handmade Hellos, to which she's a contributor, I felt drawn to it immediately. If you need a little push to get out the pen and paper, and stamps again, this is the book.

There are many projects I love in this book, just a few on the list....

.....the self-mailing note (my girls will love this) by Darling Clementine
....the fabric collage card by Sally
....the pop-up birdie hello by Kate Sutton
....the library card birth announcement by Paper + Cup
....the new baby nest card by Abigail Brown

I could go on....the book has clear, illustrated directions, includes templates, each project is given a difficulty level and there is a great source section in the back (one of my favorite parts of any magazine or book).

And of course, thanks to the sweet people at Chronicle Books, I have a copy to give away!

Leave a comment to throw your name in the hat. I'll announce all the winners of this week's giveaways on Saturday, February 14th!!

Happy Writing!!