Goodbye to Little Window Shoppe
May 18, 2009 by Emily · 62 Comments
My Dearest Window Shoppe Readers and Friends,
This post has taken me over a month to write - partly because this is my last post on this blog. I am so sad to announce that as of today, Little Window Shoppe is closing for good.
The decision was not taken lightly and was really hard to make, but a combination of factors came together that brought me to this post…very much wanting to spend more time with my family (I have a very busy two year old who needs more mommy-time), 
getting ready for baby #2 in November (I’ve been out sick for two months! But it’s totally worth it as we’re so excited to have a new baby come to our family), and finally getting ready for a move to a new state with my family this Summer (my hubby is starting a new job).
{Photo source: Wilson Library Reserve}
I have learned so much from blogging at Little Window Shoppe and will be forever grateful for the kind friends I have made and the amazing experiences that I have had here!! Thank you so much for taking time to make Little Window shoppe a part of your lives and for being such a fantastic community. And also, thank you for all of the nice emails and inquiries about how we are doing.
Before I say goodbye for good, I want to thank a few people who helped me along the way:
First and foremost, my husband Scott. He is an incredibly supportive husband and friend and was the first person to listen to my every idea and concern throughout my blogging adventures. He has also been Superman at my house and has cooked, cleaned, taken care of our two year old and helped me out while I was sick over the last seven weeks! I couldn’t ask for a better man in my life and I love him so much!!
I also wanted to thank Holly of Tutus and Turtles. She is so cool and listened and talked to me for hours on the phone as I worked out how I would end my Window Shoppe blogging days. Her blog has been an inspiration to me from the beginning and I think that her blog ideas rock!!
Finally, I wanted to thank each of the writers and contributors for Little Window Shoppe. Each of them had creative and beautiful ideas to share and I’m so grateful and honored that they wanted to be part of this blog with me. They have become some of my dearest friends and were the best group of writers a blog ever had! They even sent me tulips when I was sick (just about made me cry, I felt so loved).
Please visit each of their blogs to keep up with their cool ideas!
- Vanessa - her blog: I Never Grew Up
- Lauren - her blog: Supermom Central
- Michelle - her shoppe: Sweet Mady’s Paper
- Michaelle - her blog: Monkeys Momma
- Cassie - her shoppe: Madison Envy
- Kelly - her blog: Albany Mommy
Also, I wanted to leave you with a few additional recommendations of blogs I love - in case you are looking for new places to subscribe:
- www.simplemom.net - this is my absolute favorite blog to follow…it has the best family tips and ideas that make sense, the ideas are easy to follow and I just can’t get enough of its coolness.
- www.howaboutorange.blogspot.com - artsy, tons of crafts, diy ideas, printouts, and the best time-wasters ever.
- www.thepioneerwoman.com - recipes, photoshop tutorials, photography 101, down-to-earth life.
- www.makeandtakes.com - the coolest (and most creative) kids crafts ever!
- www.metropolitanmama.net - and for all you contest lovers, this Metro Mama has excellent giveaways all of the time - and she writes helpful articles with tips for parents. Love it.
There are so many more…but I think this is a great start.
If you want to stay in touch with me, you can follow me at a few sites:
- www.emilyjune.com (I’ll still be designing blogs and websites - starting again this fall).
- I’m also going to be checking in and updating my facebook page and my family blog regularly. They will have weekly updates of my family life and the cool fun things we are doing.
**If you want to stay in touch with me at my family blog or on facebook, just email me or leave a comment letting me know and I’ll send you the links.**
Thank you again for making this the best blogging experience I have ever had!!
Always,
Emily
Win a Bossy Boots Design Scarf
April 7, 2009 by Emily · 312 Comments
Contest Update:
We have a winner!! The randomly chosen winner for this contest is: #276 Cathleen - Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated.
When you wrap yourself in one of these soft, luxurious, hand knit scarves from Bossy Boots Design, you are in for a treat. Made with beautiful stitches and only the best yarn, these textured scarves are the perfect solution to the lingering Spring chill.
Discount:
Free-shipping for all domestic USA orders until the end of April.
Win It:
One lucky Window Shoppe Reader will win this gorgeous Dick and Jane Bluff Scarf from Bossy Boots Design! Hand knit with 100% Merino wool from England, the clean modern lines of this urban scarf are perfect for anyone! ($68 value).
To Enter:
Simply take a peek at the shoppe and then leave a quick comment letting us know which item is your favorite. This giveaway ends on Tuesday, April 14th at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced at this post Wednesday, April 15th. Good luck, everyone!! (Please feel free to read our contest rules for additional details - this contest is currently open to domestic U.S. residents only.)
(Optional) For extra entries:
- Are you a Subscriber? Just let us know you’re subscribed to Little Window Shoppe in an additional comment.
- And (Or) Blog about this giveaway. Simply let us know about your blog link in an additional comment.
- And (Or) Add this contest to Twitter. Simply let us know about it with your Twitter name in an additional comment.
The Perfect Baby Handbook Giveaway
April 1, 2009 by Emily · 155 Comments
Contest Update:
We have five winners!! The randomly chosen winners for this contest are: #93 Jenny M, #72 Meg T, #123 Beth S, #112 Devon, #65 Christian - Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated!
Finally…perfection made easy! Can I just tell you how much I love The Perfect Baby Handbook? Seriously, it’s hilarious and had me laughing from the start. This book is a comic relief for anxious new parents and it makes you laugh at the pressures you may feel when trying to become the “perfect parents” and trying to raise the ”perfect children.”
This book will teach you important things like how to help your infant develop a signature walk, what to include in the perfect nursery, secrets to immortalizing your miracle on film, which baby names are flawless from places like IKEA and Ralph Lauren, how to baby-proof everything on earth and more…
I actually had the opportunity to interview the author Dale Hrabi himself! I really liked his cool and down to earth perspective - here are a few excerpts from our interview:
Me: What inspired you to write this book?
Dale: “Well, the idea started about three years ago, when all my three best female friends got pregnant at the same time in their early 30s, and, being a nosy, supportive friend, I wanted to know everything, and was told more than I bargained for. One friend in particular got me thinking about the pressures of modern parenthood. The books were freaking her out with their wildly contradictory advice.
Meanwhile, in the hothouse of Manhattan’s competitive parenting culture, she and my other friends were, by their own admission, falling prey to pretty irrational anxieties. Should we, in fact, invest $1000 on a stroller? That woman has four strollers…does she know something we don’t ? How can woman B do it all?
I used to try to tease my friends into laughing about it all, and tell them jokes to help them regain perspective. As someone who’s learned that anxiety is often the root of comedy, I began to see the material for a book that might provide comic relief for other parents going through the same thing.
As I began my research in earnest (about two years ago), I put together a massive file of news clippings, read books like Carl Honore’s UNDER PRESSURE: Rescuing childhood from the culture of hyper-parenting (or maybe that came later), The Price of Privilege, The Three Martini Playdate, and others. It became clear that my friends were just part of a much larger phenomenon, sometimes called “super-parenting” or “over-parenting.”
My book also, I think, satirizes the whole idea of giftedness—and, since I was kind of a gifted wanna-be as a kid, I’ve always been fascinated by concepts like identity, originality, precociousness, uniqueness. So the opportunity to work through that fascination was another incentive, too.”
Me: What do you hope parents will take with them after reading the book?
Dale: “Well, it is a humor-book, so I hardly expect it to be life-changing. Ideally, though, I’d say that I hope parents get at least a couple laughs, and maybe a little perspective on their more relentlessly over-achieving friends, or even themselves.
The ‘excessive motivation’ I talk about starts with love and concern–it’s just incredibly easy in this culture and especially the current economy to become anxious that your baby will ‘fall behind.’ So those Mommy & Me classes start to seem crucial…but then, it can escalate to the point where parents are running themselves ragged, driving their kids to 19 different activities every week without stopping to ask themselves: ‘Is this what we really want? Is this what our kids really need?’”
Win It:
Five Window Shoppe Readers (that’s right, FIVE!) will win a copy of this funny baby book! You know you want it, it’s brilliant!
To Enter:
Simply check out www.perfectbabyhandbook.com and leave a quick comment letting us know that you want to win. This giveaway ends on Tuesday, April 7th at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced at this post Wednesday, April 8th. Good luck, everyone!! (Please feel free to read our contest rules for additional details - this contest is currently open to U.S. residents only - we promise to have more great contests for everyone else coming up!)
(Optional) For an extra entry:
- Are you a Subscriber? Just let us know you’re subscribed to Little Window Shoppe in an additional comment.
The Purple Pear Giveaway
March 23, 2009 by Emily · 284 Comments
Contest Update:
*We have a winner!! The randomly chosen winner for this contest is: #6 Kathy - Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated - please stop by again as we have a new contest each week.*
Both delightful and stylish, The Purple Pear is a cute little accessory boutique that you simply cannot miss! With eye-catching glass magnet sets and pretty pendants, this Etsy shoppe is a fun place to visit when you are window shopping.
Plus, this boutique has an extra special place in my heart since the owner, Catherine, is one of my friends and she is the awesome person who helped me as I set up my Lindee Shoppe. So, if you kind of miss my Lindee Shoppe, you can still find similar cute items at The Purple Pear.
Discount: Free shipping on your orders at The Purple Pear and her 2nd shoppe Daisy Bows until March 31st with code: LWS *mention this code in the notes to seller at checkout*
Win It:
One Window Shoppe Reader is in for a treat and will win a set of glass magnets, a pendant, and a clear view tin of your choice!
To Enter:
Simply visit the shoppe and leave a quick comment letting me know which of these items you would want if you win. This giveaway ends on Tuesday, March 31st at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced at this post Wednesday, April 1st. Good luck, everyone!! (Please feel free to read our contest rules for additional details)
(Optional) For an extra entry:
- Are you a Subscriber? Just let us know you’re subscribed to Little Window Shoppe in an additional comment.
Win a Gift Certificate to Studio JK Vinyl
March 18, 2009 by Emily · 457 Comments
Contest Update:
*We have a winner!! The randomly chosen winner for this contest is: #379 Karen - Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated - please stop by again as we have a new contest each week.*
It’s vinyl like you’ve never seen it before! It’s gorgeous, modern, bright and it all comes from studio jk vinyl.
If you’re considering vinyl for your home, this beautiful artwork is the perfect alternative to stenciling/paint for your walls and it’s easy to apply too.
I love these pictures.
Win It:
Have you been planning out a spot in your house for some of these cute art stickers like I have? Well, be sure to keep that spot in mind since one lucky Window Shoppe Reader will win a $35 gift certificate to studio jk vinyl!
To Enter:
Simply take a peek at the shoppe and then leave a quick comment letting me know which item is your favorite. This giveaway ends on Thursday, March 26th at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced at this post Friday, March 27th. Good luck, everyone!! (Please feel free to read our contest rules for additional details)
(Optional) For extra entries:
- Are you a Subscriber? Just let us know you’re subscribed to Little Window Shoppe in an additional comment.
- And (Or) Blog about this giveaway. Simply let us know about your blog link in an additional comment.
Heart to Heart Giveaway
March 13, 2009 by Emily · 442 Comments
Contest Update:
*We have a winner!! The randomly chosen winner for this contest is: #312 Genevieve - Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated - please stop by again as we have a new contest each week.*
I love writing reviews about products that make a difference, which is why I’m happy to share information about this beautiful Heart to Heart Necklace with you. It may look sweet and simple, but behind it is a meaningful purpose worth supporting.
Presented by the United Soybean Board, all proceeds from the sale of the Heart to Heart Necklace will support WomenHeart, an organization dedicated to promoting women’s heart health through advocacy, community education, and patient support.
This limited-edition Heart to Heart Necklace was created by top Hollywood designer, gorjana and is available at shopbop. If you’re interested in supporting this cause, please feel free to visit this link.
Win It:
One lucky Window Shoppe Reader will win a Heart to Heart Necklace ($45 value).
To Enter:
Simply leave a quick comment letting me know that you want to win. This giveaway ends on Sunday, March 22nd at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced at this post Monday, March 23rd. Good luck, everyone!! (Please feel free to read our contest rules for additional details)
(Optional) For an extra entry:
- Are you a Subscriber? Just let us know you’re subscribed to Little Window Shoppe in an additional comment.
It’s All About Your Baby ~ Giveaway
March 6, 2009 by Emily · 551 Comments
Contest Update:
*We have a winner!! The randomly chosen winner for this contest is: #185 Trish - Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated - please stop by again as we have a new contest each week.*
For everyone who didn’t get a chance to win this contest, you can still save 20% at Zeebabee Designs with code: SPRING
Hold onto your baby hats! We are having a 3-in-1 Baby Shoppe Giveaway to celebrate the weekend. So, scoot on up and take a look at these three super sweet shoppes. I love them. You will love them. Someone’s gonna win!
Zeebabee Designs
This posh pink burp cloth set is just a taste of the items you will see at Zeebabee Designs. A must have for your little one (and it fits the definition of cute to a tee)! This shoppe features fun & functional products for the modern Mommy that you & your baby will love. Their goal is to develop products that will visually stimulate your newborn & infant baby.
Prize: The winner will receive a set of burp cloths, your choice.
Born 2 Impress
Baby accessories truly add color to life. The handmade hats, bows and totes in this shoppe are darling and will probably make you say “Awe…” when adorning your little princess. Born 2 Impress is committed to hand-crafting unique designs with the highest quality materials and the utmost care, for any occasion.
Prize: The winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to Born 2 Impress. Discount: Save 10% with code - Lilwshoppe.
Baby Bug Creations
Baby Bug Creations makes personalized custom items for moms & babies. If you need something to spruce up the nursery or want boutique quality items but can’t afford the outrageous prices, that’s their specialty. With Diap & Wipe Cases, Appliqued Shirts, Boppy Pillow Covers, Tutus, Crayon Roll Ups, Nursing Covers, Burp Rags and more, you’re bound to find an item you love.
Prize: The winner will receive either a Diap & Wipe Case or a Crayon Roll, your choice.
Win It: One VERY Lucky Winner with win ALL THREE of these Prizes!
To Enter:
Please visit these THREE sweet shoppes and then leave a comment letting us know that you want to win. This giveaway ends on Sunday, March 15th at midnight PST. The winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced at this post Monday, March 16th. Good luck, everyone!! (Please feel free to read our contest rules for additional details)
(Optional) For extra entries:
- Are you a Subscriber? Subscribers can enter this contest as many times as you want. Just let us know you’re subscribed to Little Window Shoppe in each additional comment.
- And (Or) Add this contest to Twitter. Simply let us know about it with your Twitter name in an additional comment.
- And (Or) Add this contest to Stumble Upon. Simply let us know about it with your Stumble Upon name in an additional comment.
- And (Or) Blog about this giveaway. Simply let us know about your blog link in an additional comment.
Featured Shoppes
