Booty Buns HUGE Cloth Diaper Giveaway!!

Welcome to the Go Green ♥ Give Charity Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event sponsored by Booty Buns Cloth Diapers! Over 175 blogs have teamed up to present this amazing cloth diaper giveaway hosted by Daily Mothering.

Here's your chance to win an entire stash of one-size cloth diapers!

 

This amazing cloth diaper prize pack includes:

20 Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers

(these true one-size cloth diapers fit 3-45 lbs!)

20 matching flannel/terry cloth wipes

40 microfiber inserts

20 cotton flannel liners

(picture does not show inserts or liners also included)

First, a little about Booty Buns...

In case you haven't heard about them, Booty Buns Cloth Diapers are incredible one-size cloth diapers that truly fit from birth to potty training! They feature a snap-down rise with 5 different snap settings (most one-size diapers only have 3!) and a waist with 10 regular snap settings plus 2 crossover snap settings. The diapers have hip snaps to prevent wing droop on smaller sizes. The incredible size range of this diaper fits from 3-45 lbs!

Booty Buns Cloth Diapers are pocket diapers and each diaper includes 2 snap-on microfiber inserts that can be stuffed into the diaper or laid on top with the included cotton flannel liner against your child's skin. The diapers have a waterproof PUL outer and a soft suedecloth inner with dual gussets on the inner lining to ensure everything stays IN the diaper! Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers come in an assortment of bright colors and each diaper includes a matching handmade flannel/terry wipe. You can find out more about the diapers at Booty Buns, or check out the detailed Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diaper Review at Daily Mothering!

Booty Buns is dedicated to encouraging others to "go green" and "give charity." Shannon, the owner of Booty Buns Cloth Diapers, leads by example. For every diaper that Booty Buns sells, she donates one Booty Buns Cloth Diaper to a child in need in the US and third-world countries. Booty Buns is the exclusive cloth diapers donator for Operation Showers Of Appreciation, and they are also donating diapers to babies that have severe medical issues here in the US. Shannon hopes to donate a lifetime supply of cloth diapers {20 diapers} to every baby in need around the globe. You can join in this effort by purchasing your own set of Booty Buns Cloth Diapers and telling your friends about Booty Buns!

Make sure to stop by and follow Booty Buns via Facebook, Twitter and Blog for news and giveaways!

And now for the giveaway!!

ONE WINNER will receive this gigantic cloth diaper prize pack valued at $546!

And, the winner will get to select their choice of diaper colors!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

Sign in using your Facebook account OR your name and email address.

Click "Do It" for instructions on how to complete each entry.

There is no mandatory entry. Complete as many entries as you wish.

The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!

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Are your straps showing?

Credit

Some of you might roll your eyes and think I'm taking modesty to the extreme here. 

"Seriously Caroline-compared to what else is out there, letting my bra strap show a little isn't going to be a problem."

I can just hear someone say that : ) 

I've been surprised over the years how even ladies who dress modestly don't stop to think about bra straps showing. You can be covered from head to toe in a long skirt and a beautiful blouse - yet that blouse happens to be a sheer white blouse and you can see your whole bra outline from your back. 

The dress you are wearing might be a bit wide on you in the shoulders, so your bra straps are always being exposed (or worse, the part of your body the bra was designed for is being exposed. Not good, but worth another blog post.) 

You might not be wearing a bra that even fits you properly, so the straps come down into your arms, for all to see as you wear a short sleeve shirt. 

And worse yet - the tank tops that do not cover the straps at all. They simply add another strap on top of the bra strap. 

I know in a world of bikini swimsuits, strapless dresses, and mini skirts, we can simply forget about how important it is to hide those bra straps. I've been guilty of not taking the time to check the outfit I'm wearing before leaving, only to realize my outfit slipped around a lot and my straps were easily showing. 

Ladies, these are our undergarments! There are only two people in the world who ought to be able to see them and you are one of those people, the other being your husband. If you are not married then we have narrowed the field down to one - you. In a different time period women would have been positively mortified to have their undergarments on display. We are so desensitized to the present culture's stance on modesty that we don't think twice about giving everyone a peek at whats beneath our clothes. Well, I can tell you there are some men out there who do think twice about it. 

My husband is in college right now, and gives me wardrobe stories from time to time. He has to work in a dark room with ladies who wear fishnet stockings, mini skirts, and shirts that purposely hang off their shoulder with nearly half their bra showing (never mind the straps). He is saddened with how sloppy and ill kept these young ladies are. Let's be a faithful witness of modesty to these young ladies, even in this small thing and make sure we keep ourselves covered. 

Here are a few tips to keep those straps from showing. 

If you are wearing a sheer blouse, make sure and wear a camisole that covers your bra straps. Avoid the camis that simply add another strap on top of your bra strap. You want a camisole that covers all your shoulder so your straps will be covered. 

White Full Length Layering Shell 

If your blouse/dress has a neckline that is looser, you can safety pin your straps to your top so they don't slide around. I've done this before and it works great! 

Wear a bra that actually fits you. This will really help the slipping around. 

Finally, remember the example we are setting to those nearest and dearest to us-our daughters. I'm amazed over the things my young daughter picks up on and brings to my attention when it comes to modesty. I want to model modesty for her, so when she is older she will have images in her head to fall back on when it get's tempting to stray. 

Spending alone time with your children

A common complaint against larger families is that the parents are not able to have one on one time with their children, therefore they simply can't bond as well. While admittedly it is harder to find the time to spend with each child alone, we don't find it impossible.

Looking at pictures on Papa's iPod together

There are many different ways you can spend time with your children. Just taking a child alone with you to the grocery store can be special for them, especially if they get a little treat at the store! I avoid the toy aisle with all five children, but if I have just one child with me we sometimes go and look at the toys together. :) 

I run to the post office several times a week bringing packages to mail for The Modest Mom. Normally I have a child that asks to go with me, and even though the post office is just minutes away we still chat on the way there and back. 

As the weather has just turned lovely here in Missouri, I have started going outside to walk and attempt to jog in the mornings. My oldest son who is 8 goes with me, and I listen to him talk to me about all sorts of things. I try to answer in-between huffing and puffing. I think the bonding time of doing something fun together is especially important for the oldest child of a large family, as they naturally have a bit more on their shoulders until the younger children are older. 

I am able to fit in time alone with my children more easily as my husband is self employed. He is home more than other daddies might be. If you feel like there is no time available to spend alone with your children, don't stress about it! Just look for opportunities throughout the day, no matter how small. When my boys were playing outside the other day, I pulled out a little tea set my girl's have and filled the tea pot full of orange juice, put a cookie on their little plates and let them have fun pouring their own juice. They made a mess, but it was a nice time for just the girls.

With my three girls at church when Deborah received her baby blessing

Another idea is to play outside with your children. I'm not the best at this, normally I send the children out to play so I can get some work done inside. The other day my husband was extremely busy with a college test, business, and church work. My son really wanted to play kickball, so I went outside and played with him and ended up having so much fun!

Playing kickball

The point is to do something, anything to help your children feel special and unique. They will forever remember those moments when you put everything aside just to spend time with them.  

Sneak Peek: $500+ Cloth Diaper Giveaway Starts Saturday!

Would you like to win a LIFETIME SUPPLY of cloth diapers?!

The Go Green ♥ Give Charity Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event sponsored by Booty Buns Cloth Diapers starts this Saturday, March 24th!

Over 175 blogs are coming together to present this fantastic fluffy giveaway hosted by Daily Mothering. Mark your calendar because you don't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win an entire stash of one-size cloth diapers!

ONE WINNER will receive a gigantic cloth diaper prize pack valued at $546!
And, the winner will get to select their choice of diaper colors!

This amazing prize pack will include:

20 Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers
(these true one-size cloth diapers fit 3-45 lbs!)
20 matching flannel/terry cloth wipes
40 microfiber inserts
20 cotton flannel liners

(picture does not show inserts or liners also included)

This giveaway will be open to U.S. and Canada.

Come back March 24-31 for your chance to win it all!

 

Klogs Sandels on Zulily!

Knowing that I needed some new summer sandals, I was excited to grab two pairs of these adorable, very comfortable looking sandals on Zulily today! The sandals are Klog brand, and the reviews I read online (yes, I'm that kind of shopper, I look up reviews for everything!) gave this brand 4 and 5 star. They normally are $80-$100 everywhere I saw online, but they are just $34.99 on Zulily right now! 

White Aloha Sandel

Black Patent Acapulco Sandel

Sand Aloha Sandel 

Look under Klogs brand on Zulily. Plus, you can save 10% off your order of $50 or more with the coupon code: COUPZU3468.

Modest Mondays {and a Link Up!}

This has been a long week of sick children, the house being a mess, a blog transfer that has had some big complications, and feeling overwhelmed. Needless to say I didn't take any pictures this week! Thankfully these were some I had taken several weeks ago intending to use for Modest Monday. 

I'm hopeful this week will be better as my baby is doing a little better tonight. I don't like it when my little babies get sick! We've all had colds, but she got it the worst. 

Outfit:

Denim Skirt- Coming very soon to The Modest Mom store! 

White cotton knit long sleeve shirt

Pink short sleeve blouse

Shoes- brown mary jane hush puppies 

Scarf- white with roses

Link Up Time! 

Please feel free to share posts about anything concerning being a godly feminine woman. Topics include:   modesty, being a wife, mother, homeschooler, homemaker, cooking, sewing, ect. 

Please no business link ups! Thank you! 

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Courtship Story Part 3: The Long Adventure

(I apologize for the long delay in getting the final part published.)

Follow these links to read about our story leading up to this:

Part 1: It all begins
Part 2: The Courtship begins!

Several weeks after starting our courtship I left to go visit my grandparents in a different state for almost a month. This had been planned for quite some time before I knew I was going to be in a courtship and my emotions were quite mixed to leave and go stay with them! The weeks leading up to me leaving were filled with learning to open our hearts up to each other. By the time I left, we had already verbally told each other that we were committed to this courtship, and that, Lord willing, we would be married to each other. Some people were amazed that we could already know that, but we just did.

Some things we did together before I left were attending a wedding together where I was the pianist, going to a botanical garden with my family, and spending lots and lots of time just talking, both with my family and by ourselves.

While I was away, I spent most of my vacation money on pre paid long distance phone cards so I could call Sean! We also exchanged letters (which continued through the whole courtship) and they are so precious to me. I have them all tied in ribbon bundled away in my drawer. :)

When I returned home it was a bit awkward, getting used to being around each other again. We resumed our talks, and a tradition began. We would talk a few times throughout the week on the phone, and he would come over on Friday nights to my house and spend the evening there. Sean's parents had a curfew in their house that he had to be home at midnight, and many nights he made it home just in time. :) If my parents were tired and wanted to go to bed, my sister was wonderful and stayed up to act as a chaperon for us. The first few hours were normally spent talking with my entire family, and then we talked by ourselves for a few hours.

For the first six months we never held hands, put our arms around each other, etc. My mom told Sean that she trusted him, and that when he felt it was time that we could hold hands. We finally did start holding hands, but if we had known how much longer it was going to be before we were married it probably would have been best to wait even a little longer than we did. I am not a proponent of getting married and never having any sort of physical contact though. I know that can be strongly promoted by people who believe in courtship, but the real life examples I have seen where the couples had zero physical contact before marriage had some struggles that could have been easily avoided by simply starting to hold hands before marriage.

Sean was still in college and we were not sure what the future would hold. At times I got discouraged, wondering if it would be several more years before we could get married. Sean switched colleges, going from pursuing a graphic design degree to becoming a sign language interpreter. After a semester of pursing the sign language degree, he realized some issues in becoming certified in that field and decided to drop out of college.

We spent many hours talking about what he would do, and for some odd reason we came up with him being a cabinet maker. I laugh now thinking of the reasoning I gave him, "well Jesus was a carpenter, and it sounds so nice to have you work with your hands!" We were young for sure.

He was hired on at a local cabinet shop having no experience at all, and making hardly above minimum wage. After a few months he switched cabinet shops going to a shop in the city making just a little bit more money. I wondered when we would ever get married as it seemed like it would be quite awhile before he would be making enough for us to get married on. Thankfully he became extremely skilled at woodworking and even owned his own cabinet shop for several years, so it wasn't all for nothing.

Finally, when I least expected it Sean proposed. We had been courting for 16 months-more than enough time for us to know that we wanted to be married. It was on a Sunday evening, and he proposed as we were sitting on his Grandparents porch swing. :)

We had a very short engagement period of 2 months. My dress had already been sewn by my sister during a week long vacation she took from work a few months previously (she knew it was the only time off work she had for quite a while).  Somehow we pulled everything else together, making the bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, and with the help of a good friend doing all of our own flower arrangements as well. The wedding was lovely-but what touched me the most was how many people said that the Spirit of God was present.

We had our first kiss in front of 200 people! I have never regretted that decision and I pray that my own children will make the same decision we did.

My  husband is such a blessing in my life, I tell him he is my rock. He is the one person I know that will not abandon me and will always be there for me if I need him. I am so grateful that we built a foundation of purity and trust in each before we were married.