Mommy Love - A Mother's Day Giveaway

Mommy...
I could barely wait until I was one.
Because mine did it so well.
She had the answers to EVERYTHING, she made the best pancakes called "clouds" (that is how light and fluffy there were)
She helped me grow and change and yes we had the infamous teenage "rough patch" but she never once gave up on me.
She was there when I needed just about anything.
Even when I didn't know what that "anything" was, she was there somehow knowing...
Always knowing, helping, inspiring.
and loving.
And I love her now more than I ever thought I could.
Because I am one too.
A Mommy.
My story is different.  I have two boys.  She had two girls. Twins actually.

My twiny and my Sweet Mommy.

My boys are not twins but they are close enough.  12 months and 5 days exactly.  On most days it feels like twins.  And I love this because it reminds me of my childhood, my experiences with someone who was on the same playing field.  She got me and I got her and we too had the "rough patch"  She was way to smart and responsible for me to "hang" with her.  I mean like OMG right...  But deep down I admired her, her ability to stand up to anyone, her confidence, the smart way she handled everything.  Yet, without a doubt she was and still is my best friend.

And now she is a Mommy too.

Me and Evan with my sis and her little man.

Also to a boy.  A beautiful blond headed mess of a boy, who I love just as if he were my own. and if it is possible I think I admire her even more.  Because one of her biggest strengths is how she nurtures, how she loves, how she would do anything for anyone. 
And guess who taught her....

Mom!

And so here we are.

Three Mommies. 

And I love them so much.

They still teach me, help me and love me.

And I am so grateful, so blessed and so honored I get to be on this journey with them.

So I have a great gift this week.  A beautiful basket full of everything perfect for the Mom, grandmother, sister, wife, friend etc... in your life.

Here is what is inside this beautifully detailed basket by Thoughtful Creations:

Bath & Body works in secret wonderland.

(2) small candles from Bath & Body works in Mojo and margarita.

Lime Rose hand petals soap.

Lemon soap in the shape of a Margarita glass.

Photo album.

Hot pink spa socks.

Hot pink bling nail file.

M&M's in orange, pink, and lime green.

Cute tissues with little ladies chatting and laughing on them.

Bubble bath in the shape of a lime flower.

Frosted cookie lip gloss.

Lime flavored butterfly Fitz for the bath tub.

Shimmering powder to put on the body.

Lime green manicure kit to do your feet.

*** custom shreds in orange, hot pink, and lime green**

A BIG thank you To Christine Barbera with Thoughtful Creations who designed this basket just for you.  Make sure you visit Christine's Facebook page and check out what beautiful gift basket's she makes for ANY occasion.

So here is how you Could Win this Fab Basket



Leave a comment below.

Or:

 Send me an e-mail to lakesidechatter@gmail.com with your name and website or blog if you would like.

Or:

Become a Follower of the Chatter and/or Like my Facebook page

Or:

Pass on my blog to other Mommies sharing this wonderful giveaway, leave me a comment that you have done so.

Winners announced Thursday morning by 8:00 a.m.  Good luck and don't forget to celebrate the joy of Mother hood all week long, I know I will.

Peace and Love,

Mary





Plumfield Shop

Last month I featured an article about Etsy. I you haven't heard of Etsy, it is an online store that focuses on handmade art, clothing and vintage items, along with jewelry, photography, accessories, craft supplies and more. I have become a huge fan of Etsy for several reasons’ but mainly because it is place where very talented and creative people can sell their items at very reasonable prices with an artistic and handmade touch. When I visit Etsy, I feel like I have been transported into an old fashion vintage shop full of intimate, cozy and beautiful items that all woman love. You know the kind I am talking about, candles, soft music playing, and the smell of jasmine or lemon pound cake. Little nuggets of the store full of romantic jewelry, soft colors and unique lotions and hand bags, sassy shoes, scarf’s... All the while light jazz playing and a sweet little lady who offers you a satchel for your items and a complimentary cup of tea. Yeah, I could spend all day on Etsy, but my husband and my kids might notice when dinner goes missing.

 So I am thrilled and super excited to introduce you to Lauren Perkins who is the owner, designer and creator of Plumfield Shop.
Plumfield Shop opened last year and offers a wide Varity of charming and sweet items for the home, children, gifts and of course for you, your Mom, or BFF. Her items are very creative and have an outdoors appeal that is perfect for spring and summer time.
  I have been honored to get to know Lauren a little a bit and how she got her Etsy business started and what it is like to be an entrepreneur in the Charlotte area. Read below to learn more about her, and make sure you check Plumfield Shop on Etsy as well as her blog which offers wonderful tips on sewing cooking and other bits of life.

Getting Started...
I have been sewing for five years.  I had always wanted to learn to sew and one day decided that it was time.  I picked out an inexpensive sewing machine for my mother-in-law to get me for Christmas.  I read the whole manual that came with the machine.  I asked my husband for help. 
Eventually, I found my groove.  After lots of practice and lots and LOTS of mistakes, I realized that I was in love.  The fabrics, the colors, the design and construction- everything about this hobby appealed to me.  The only problem was that I could never sew enough.  There was always something keeping me from sewing as much and as often as I wanted. 
Finally, my husband and I put our heads together.  We planned and we calculated and we schemed.  We came up with the crazy idea that I could quit my full time job and start a sewing business.  We read books, brainstormed shop names, and did market research.  And then we just did it. 

Plumfield Shop Launches.

I opened my shop in August of 2010.  I get to sew every day, sometimes all day, and I have never had more fun.  My favorite part is getting to work directly with a customer to create an item that is uniquely theirs.  There is a certain joy that comes from taking your skills and knowledge and using them to give form to someone else’s dream. 

On being an entrepreneur in Charlotte
I think that one of the advantages to starting my own business in Charlotte is that it is a large city with tons of resources.  I have access to all sorts of great supplies and inspiration here.  Most of the small business connections I have made so far are online, but I am looking forward to meeting other local entrepreneurs. 
The hard part about Charlotte being so large though is that I always feel like I am missing something!  I am sure there are lots of great shops and groups that I will never cross paths with and I hate to think that I’m not using my community to its fullest!

A big thank you to Lauren for allowing me to feature her here on the Chatter.  I think you will love her and Plumfield Shop as much as I do.  Don't forget to check out her shop visit her blog and on Facebook as well. 
Plumfield Shop
Plumfield Shop Blog
Plumfield Shop Facebook

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

So guess what I am NOT good at....
Taking pictures of myself. So, so, sooooo not good at this. I mean sure I have a self timer and sure I could go that way, but where is the artistic value in that? A self shot in the mirror is way cooler and way more sophisticated (asuming you know what you are doing).
You see I got this idea form another awesome Mommy Blogger who really has her act together. And since I (soon) will be featuring all kinds of giveaways I thought it would be cool to practice with some photo taking with me,myself and I.

The Mission: Practice using Mirror, awful lighting in bathroom and horrific styled hair (it was practice people).
The Focus: Earrings... Not just any earrings but an exquisite set of shiny dangly earrings.

The kind I haven't worn in years, the kind I just drooled over when I opened, the kind that was a gift form a very thoughtful fellow Mom friend and Chatter Sponsor who just so proves to me how much I love this gig!!
And no, the earrings are not a giveaway item (again practice people, no way I would part with these beauties). 
Anyways, here is how it went....

Bummer....Got the Door..

And Now the Camera Strap...

Great shot of the camera huh? 

Oh for Pete's Sake....

Really!?!?!

Dag...That plant back there needs watering!

Getting there...

Close enough!

Lessons Learned:

1) I clearly had too much time on my hands

2) Next time an outfit with color!

3) Scratch that, next time have HUSBAND or friend take photos!!

So with 25 minutes of my life I will never get back I would like to officially announce Lakeside Chatter will be offering free giveaways starting as early as NOW!! Okay not this very second but THIS month!!! And to get you excited next month's giveaway will be focused on Mother’s Day. A big huge thank you to Christine with Thoughtful Creations who is offering a wonderful basket  giveaway full of items any Mom (or Mom to be) will love.  Pictures coming soon!!!

Don't worry, I won't be in them.  :-) 

With Love,

Mary

New Applique's from "Sew What Mommy"

Happy Friday (and April fools day).  Hope any tricks that get played on you go over well...  I am still recovering from the rubber snake that got placed in my bed last night...  Oh how I love my little angels!!!
And speaking of angels, check out these adorable and creative new appliques and outfits from "Sew What Mommy."  Too cute and perfect for the warmer temps' coming. 

Dress from Old Navy and the sweet and sassy Octopus
makes it super adorable.

It is Mario time.  Perfect for your boy who loves
this little Italian-American cutie.

Seriously cute and perfect for summertime.



Going to Disney this summer?  Perfect Tee's to wear.

For more information make sure you check out Sew What Mommy as well as visit their facebook page.  Thanks Jenn and Amy for putting their creative talents to make such sweet outfits for the little ones.

Thoughtful Creations - Unique Basket's for EVERY Occasion.







Happy almost April.  It is officially spring and I can't think of a better Mom to feature this week than Ms. Christine and her amazing ideas behind her unique and whimsical gift basket business called "Thoughtful Creations."  The name most certainly stands by itself and offers you an unlimited supply of choices when it comes to giving a thoughtful and sentimental gift for just about every occasion.

Mommy Spa Basket.

The former catering manager for Ritz Carlton hotels turned "Mompreneur" Christine is located in the Fort Mill area of SC.  The idea of customizing baskets came naturally to her after years dealing in the hospitality industry.  "You learn how far a little extra special touch can mean to a person," she tells me.   
With so many different gift basket companies in the area and on the Internet, my first question to Christine was what makes "Thoughtful Creations" so unique?

“Every basket contains something special that is specifically designed for the individual receiving the gift" she says.
Christine, whose main job is Mom to daughter Shaylyn, age four, designed her first basket for her Mom who was ill and in the hospital.  Using a lady bug theme which stands for "Love Luck and Joy," she received many comments on how sweet and creative the idea was and thus began her journey into coming up with "Thoughtful Creations."

Ladybug Themed Gift Basket.

Every basket has a thought, an emotion, even an "attitude" behind the themes she creates.  Using a wish list that is provided to her by a friend or family member of the individual receiving the basket, she will then get creative with making sure each basket includes a theme and a meaning that is specifically unique to that person.  The basket will represent that individuals preference whether it is through colors, scents, food, reading material, hobby's passions....The list is endless but the final result means a very personal and very meaningful gift that will make sure to leave a lasting impression on someone.



Happiness Gift Basket

Right away, I learned that Christine is a professional and wants to get the task assigned done right.  Customer service is everything and making people happy is one of her favorite parts in owning her own business.  "I put heart and soul to each basket so I only do two a week.  I want to make sure the basket has everything it needs to really make the person feel special.  I don’t want it too look like a basket you would see in a catalogue with just some generic items.   This one will tell a story and that story is what I hope will bring a smile to someone face."  I was immediately impressed with how easy she is to talk to and she really cares about every basket she creates.

A personal touch Christine usually adds is decorating the outside cellophane with unique or whimsical eye catching decorations.  “I did basket for a friend of mine last month and she loves Sunflowers.”   I made sure the packaging matched her love for sunflowers as much as what was inside the basket.  It sat on her table for a week, she didn't want to open the beautiful presentation. "

Whether it is for a new baby, an illness a wedding, graduation or "just because," there are so many great ideas for Christine to get her hands on and put her creative touches on as well.  She even does basket's for men.
Christine will be happy to work with you and customize a basket that will suit your needs and occasions better than anyone in the area.  You can find her on fFacebook under "Thoughtful Creations" or e-mail her at: christine7818@gmail.com

Thinking Etsy?

I have to admit, it took me a long time to figure out what the heck "Etsy" meant.   What a name right? "Etsy"  What does it mean? Are they initials?  Is it a new exotic food, a new moisturizer?  After much curiosity and seeing blog designs offering Etsy Shop backgrounds I decided to check out this "Etsy" craze.
I am now an Etsy customer and Etsy addict,(even the name Etsy is addicting)  Because if you are a creative buff like myself and love to shop and love to see other peoples creative talents, not to mention great prices (and did I also mention shopping?) than you too will love all the uniqueness of Etsy.
And if you are a crafter, a creator, a get your hands dirty, draw, model, sew, build, DREAM then you too will love Etsy and may even turn to them for help getting your business launched.  Like all new business ventures, getting started is the hard part, so I hope to provide great articles like this one form helpful sites like WAHM (work at home moms).  This one focuses on getting started with Etsy and how you can succeed if you have a skill, hobby or trade you just can't wait to promote. 
Your Etsy Business: 6 Tips for Turning a Profit - WAHM.com
Good luck with your business venture and if you use Etsy regularly please feel free to leave me a comment.  I would love to hear from you.

Amy's Woven Ribbon Headbands.

Happy Monday chatter family.  Hope you all are adjusting to the daylight savings time 'changearoo.  Lots more sunshine during the day means one thing, Spring is HERE.  So what a great way to show off some really cute and creative headbands for girls ages pre-school through teenage years.
Meet Amy Johnson with "Amy's Woven Ribbon Headbands".  Amy is Mom to daughter Ava (8) and son Maddux (5) and lives in the Steele Creek area of Charlotte.
Like most mompreneurs, Amy's skill came from a hobby she started a few years ago.  She began making different and colorful looking headbands for Ava to wear and within weeks, people began asking her where she got them from.  It didn’t take long when Amy starting receiving request to make headbands for friends and family members. 

Ava.

Things eventually took off and Amy began crafting headbands for Ava's school festivals and has appeared at local craft shows in the Berewick neighborhood. 
Her headbands are tightly woven with high-quality ribbon.  Ribbon ends are heat-sealed to prevent fraying.  The plastic headband if pliable and won’t poke behind the ears. 

Here are some more photos of headbands by Amy.  

Spring time Colors.

Sports Team colors.

Christmas and Halloween.

You can choose up to four colors as well as pick out matching ribbons to coordinate with outfits.  Amy is more than happy to meet with you personally, and discuss what you are looking for, as well as look at an outfit you have in mind and match it to the ribbon she has in stock.

She also offers headbands that coordinate with school uniforms.

Winget Park and Palisades Episcopal.

Rivergate Elementary.

Prices are $8.00 each, and you can buy in multiples to save.  Shipping is also available up to 5 headbands for $3.00 s&h.
Amy has been making headbands for over three years and has plenty of talent and experience when it comes to creative and adorable designs.  They make great additions to any outfit and also make great gifts. 

For more information you can contact Amy at amylhjohnson@gmail.com  You can also view more of her examples and designs on the "Amy's Woven Ribbon Headband" page on Facebook.

Sugar Creek Garden Center - Where Growing Meets Growing

I promise I am not counting (yes I am).  But according to the calendar, spring is in 15 days, and with the warm weather we have had lately, those 19 days can't get here fast enough.  So this week I am excited to bring you Sugar Creek Garden Center, located on Hwy 160 in between Steele Creek and Tega Cay, SC.

Driving by you can't miss the beautiful handmade wooden sign, and their large greenhouse that accompanies an array of trees, shrubs, garden decor, plants and more.  I am sure there are 100 different names for them, but as I am new to all this "green" stuff please bear with me.  It is actually fitting that I write an article about them since there are not only a ton of different kinds of garden and nursery items as well as  landscaping services, they also offer plenty of knowledge and an ample amount of help for first timers (like myself).  I have always been intimated by Nursery and Garden centers for that very reason.  I was not born with a green thumb, but as learned from talking with the folks here you don’t have to be an expert at all.  In fact they focus on not only growing your garden but also "growing" your knowledge for plant life.
Behind the creativity and success, are husband and wife team, Jan and George Wallace, who are coming up on an exciting time as they get ready to celebrate their first anniversary of launching Sugar Creek Garden Center.  They broke ground in September of 2009, opened in March 2010 and have been going strong ever since. 
"It has been a great year." Jan says of reflecting on her first year.  “Everyone has been so welcoming,” From local potters clubs, garden groups even Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, the Sugar Creek Garden Center has been embraced by the community and has quickly grown to being a landmark in the Steele Creek area. 

Jan is no stranger to the agriculture lifestyle.  She began gardening as a child with her Mom, and received her plant biology degree from the University of Utah.  She has also worked with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources studying native fish and riparian areas and previously managed a local garden center where she was responsible for launching two new product lines including merchandising and creating point of sales displays. On top of all of that she  is also mother to son, Max and daughter Haley, ages 12 and 14. She tells me that being a Mom and a business owner is actually easier now that the shop is open.  For six months she and George came and went at different hours of the day and night, overseeing construction and business details.  Now that things are running smoothly she feels more of a balance between being a Mom and owning her own business.

While visiting with her, I took a good look around and could tell immediately that they are not fooling around with this place.  Both inside and outside offer a beautiful display and rows of plants, "baby" plants, potted plants, hanging plants, herbs, shrubs, trees, garden decor, gifts and much more.  The staff was extremely friendly and very knowledgeable along with excited about some new arrivals.  I could tell they really enjoy working in an environment where they can offer a great variety but also help each customer with specific needs.

Their location sits on seven acres of property located along the Sugar Creek basin which is where the name is derived.
“It felt like a good fit.” Jan says when I asked her about the name. 
“Besides, sugar is a staple in everyone’s family so it just made sense.”
One thing I did want to ask on my visit was how does Sugar Creek stays competitive with other stores Like Lowes that offer garden, nursery and landscaping options. 
“It comes down to habits.” Jan tells me honestly.  "Our struggle is breaking that habit - I want those customers to come here but it's hard to compete with their advertising - our plants are way better and we know what to do with them! ” 
Also, what sets Sugar Creek aside from the "Big Box Stores" are their unique selection and variety of plants and trees,  their hands on experience with personal design and installation along with their high end quality and knowledge. 

“If you have a plant and you are not sure why it is dying or you are not sure what to do with it, bring it in and we will help you.”  Adding plant maintenance and gardening assistance to their list of many things they provide.  They also offer free quotes on several other services such as stone edging, retaining walls, garden Beds and rock walls.
They also host space for several local natural artist's, their work and products making Sugar Creek a great place to find a unique gift as well.  Artist such as J.K Moyles Pottery, and delicious gourmet baking mixes by Rabbit Creek "offer a variety of items for your home, teachers gifts, holidays and more.

Local artist JK Moyles.

Rabbit Creek Baking Mixes and gifts

Being a part of the community is a big deal to both Jan and George and for that reason, they have committed
to being a family friendly operation and stay open year round. They offer fun things to do for kids as well as
adults. Future plans down the road include adding nature trails behind the Greenhouse and outdoor classrooms for summer classes and kids camps. They also offer a calendar of events coming up along with class scheduled if you are interested in learning more about gardening, or just want to do something fun this spring.
And of course I couldn’t leave without a little something “green” for myself. I thought I would start small and go with an herb (Basil, one of my favorites). So far so good, and with the freeze warning lifting April 15th soon I can add to my collection and maybe grow some more herbs, plants and of course grow so more green knowledge along the way.

For more information on Sugar Creek Garden Center, you can visit their link here:  http://www.sugarcreekgardencenter.com/

Two Mom's, One Passion, A Ton of designs.

Meet local stay at home Mom’s, Amy Snyder and Jenn Holby.  They are the two very creative brains behind their local home based business, "Sew What Mommy."  If you think the title is cute, wait till you see their selection.  They offer fun and different clothing for little ones as well as some unique items that are all handmade, all fabulously trendy and super adorable.
Amy and Jenn have known each other for six years.  Their friendship is unique in the sense that they both have two boys and one girl who are very close in ages.  Their friendship blossomed when they met at childbirth class with their first babies. They now live in the same neighborhood and not only call each other best friends but also neighbors. 
I visited with them one day last week and found out the story behind “Sew What Mommy” and where they get their ideas and inspiration.
"We just wanted to create an eye-catching outfit that you wouldn't normally see in Target, but one that wouldn’t hold a boutique price." Says Amy (a Clemson grad and diehard Tigers fan) Amy, who never had much interest in sewing as a little girl, comes from it honestly as her Grandmother who was a full on seamstress passed away at the age of 96.  After that she bought her first embroidery machine and with the help of her mom and many phone conversations, she self taught her way around the machine and was making and monogramming outfits in no time.
“My grandmother was a big inspiration to me.” She says, and now that she can design and create outfits using a family niche it makes it all the more special.

Jenn, also has a way with the sewing machine.  Prior to buying her Sewing/ Embroidery machine she worked on a 60 year old “Sears Kenmore” that was a hand me down from family.  The machine had been well taken care of but being 60 years old it had some “issues.” Still, she was able to use the machine to make some outfits and most recently, curtains for their new home.  But after Amy showed her Brother machine and what cute stuff one could make, she went out and bought one immediately.  Together they began making new outfits for their little girls and before they knew it people were asking them “Where did you buy that.”  And things took off from there.

“We are inspired by boutique style outfits, but want to offer them at a more reasonable price. Seeing the newest specialty children’s clothing catalogs fuels our creativity even more and we want to achieve a look for kids that are funky yet also simple and fun.”
“Brainstorming is part of the process.” They also say.  Both girls, who admit they get most of their ideas while in the car, come up with new ideas daily. They laugh at the fact of how many times they have called each other saying “I have another IDEA!!"

Trendy Top and pants outfit.

Most of the sewing is done during nap time and also in the evenings when kids have gone to bed.   It is non-stop but also part of the joy they tell me.
"The fun part is it doesn’t feel like work.  We truly love what we create and love what we do."

Another unique thing about “Sew What Mommy” is you can do business with them one of two ways.  If you are a fabric buff and want to pick out your own colors etc, you can bring the fabric to them and they will make the outfit for you.  Or, they can purchase the fabric for you and just add it to the cost of your item.  Both ways allow many options for customers and make things easier on those of us (me included) who can barely put together red on red.

Fabric Sample from one of their designs.

I am definitely a fan of their work and know you will be too.   One of the main reasons they do this is so that the outfits will be distinctive and not something you would see on other kids at school.   They are fun, creative, and both girls have an eye for styles that are current, trendy but also have old fashion flair. 

All of the fabrics are pretreated by washing them on gentle cold and hanging to dry. They also “serge” the raw edges of the material for a professional look and product as well as to prevent any unraveling. All items are made in a pet and smoke free home.  Their sizes run from 3 M to a size 12.  And they offer both boy and girl appliqués along with seasonal collections as well. 


Girl Easter Outfit

Sample Boy Applique

Be sure to also check out their monogrammed items, one here includes the famous South Carolina Logo using monogrammed initials.



Designers Amy and Jenn with daughters Aubree and Mena.


For more information check out their website at and become a fan on facebook.
http://www.sewwhatmommy.blogspot.com/
Or contact them at:  sew-what-mommy@att.net