a multigenerational business – I love it!

Who among the female readers of this blog do not love purses?  I sure the heck do and in Superior, CO, where I live, there is a local mom who gets my business.  Beth Shogrin is owner of Biscuit Bags.  She has an amazing eye for mixing patterns and colors and I love her creations – different sizes, styles, fabrics – her work is fabulous!

For mother’s day this year, I got my mom one of her waterproof bags – perfect for aquatics workouts and lazy days at the pool.  And I have given friends a variety of different bags – totes to evening bags.  And while talking with Beth one day, I learned that her Mom is a part of her business!  Viola – a multigenerational business!

To honor another aspect of multigenerational lifestyles, Beth has graciously offered a reader of our blog a $50 credit towards one of her bags.  And dare I say what you are probably already thinking – the holidays are around the corner and it is never too early to think about gifts for the fashionable (or not so fashionable) women in your life! 

To enter the drawing, leave a comment below and share the following:
“What is the oddest thing that you carry in your purse?”

The drawing will be held on September 25.  Good luck!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Giveaway: Magic Dice (educational fun)

Family game night is a tradition we’re slowly developing in our multigenerational household. With my mother-in-law cooking dinner on most weeknights, our evenings, after a full day of work, can be fairly leisurely. We try to set aside at least one evening per week (and if no one is on work travel) to play games as family. Because we have an age range amongst the five of us, the types of games we play vary greatly.

My daughter received Magic Dice – Multiplication for her birthday, and it’s been very fun to watch her play this game with her little brother. No, he doesn’t really get it, but he enjoys his sister’s attention.

Because many of us are in the back-to-school mode, I thought the Magic Dice games (addition and multiplication) might be something you lovely readers would like for a giveaway.

Bambini is giving away an addition and multiplication game to 2 lucky it’s a full nest readers (one game per winner).

Enter to win by leaving a comment about how your family is getting the kids ready (and maybe the adults) to return to school. You can also tell us your favorite game(s) to play as a family.

Please leave your comment by midnight MST – Friday, September 3, 2010.

US mailing addresses only.

GIVEAWAY – Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle (children’s book)

by Kanesha

I’m looking forward to reuniting with my precious offspring after their vacation away with my mother-in-law. Then it will be time for our nuclear family – summer vacation.

Hubby and I always make sure we have time for the four us to be together, separate from our multigenerational living arrangement. This “separate” vacation offers us some breathing room, maintains healthy boundaries, and allows us to spend quality time with our kids.

I would be telling a lie if I didn’t say I needed time away from my mother-in-law. I’m no saint! (I won’t speak for my hubby.)

My mother-in-law also needs some time to herself and for herself. We all believe in having a healthy balance to keep our multigenerational household functional.

Since we are heading to the beach for part of our vacation, the kids and I have been reading books about the beach.  Currently we are reading Marie and Her Friend the Sea Turtle. It’s a gorgeous book about a girl living on an island and her adventures in caring for a sea turtle. The other feature of this book we love so much is that it’s written in English, Spanish and French!

I had a chance to talk with Nicole Weaver about this book and also about her charitable work to support Haiti.

Nicole Weaver talks about her book

Click here for more information about Nicole Weaver.

We are giving away one copy of this book, signed by the author; to a lucky it’s a full nest reader chosen at random.

To enter, leave a comment about your summer vacation plans. If it’s a multigenerational vacation, we’d love to hear about that too.

Enter by midnight MST, Friday, July 2. Open to U.S. mailing addresses.

Good luck. ¡Buena suerte! Bon chance!

$50 GIVE-AWAY for dog-lovers!

Unleashed, a local dog supply store in Louisville, CO is my go-to shop for my new puppy, Kokopelli.  They have a generous supply of treats, toys, organic and natural dog foods, every pooper-scooper you can think of, as well as snappy leashes, collars, and beds.  (We bought a brown leash and collar with green polka dots!  Très chic!)

Unleashed - Dog Center

And the really fun part is the self-serve dog wash with huge tubs, hoses, shampoo, towels, etc – what a great idea!

Bernadette Pflug, the owner with her husband, Joe, is also a dog-trainer.  When our own little chewing  monster is ready to learn his manners, we will be front and center in one of Bernadette’s classes!

Leave  a comment on this post (link above) with a description of the most expensive thing that has been ruined because you love a dog and you will be entered into the drawing for $50 worth of Unleashed dog supplies. We are also happy to ship out of the area! I am certain that my brother Byron knows I would answer this question – right, B?  (Gorgeous Italian shoes that mysteriously lost a tassel….)  Winner notified within one week.