jack and izzy {mini-giveaway!}

I love a good paper shop, or really just paper in general. I love the smell, the feel, all of it, and when you combine it with good design, it is pure happiness for me. That is what I found when I was recently introduced to Jack and Izzy. Simple design, bright colors AND perfect packaging.

Jack and Izzy just launched their etsy shop where you'll find bookplates, stationary sets, birth announcements and personalized name art. 

In the words of Jack and Izzy owner Sarah

Ever since I can remember, I have always loved to create. I find great pleasure and satisfaction when I'm lost in a fun project. I'm inspired by beautiful paper and vibrant colors, and I'm drawn to clean, simple designs. I enjoy pretty packages, and appreciate the timeless, endearing nature of a hand-written note. I've had the dream of designing my own line of stationary since my first experience working in the industry nearly five years ago. And it's incredibly exciting to see that dream become a reality!

Today Jack and Izzy will be giving away the shops most popular seller (their amazing bookplates) to TWO winners!

They'll arrive in a personalized tin...

in the design of your choice, will you choose the monogram (my favorite)

or a fun shape that symbolizes your child's personality?

They'll add a personal touch to you or your child's library or make the perfect gift, either in the tin alone or in a favorite book from you!

Which Jack and Izzy product would you enjoy most?

Would you love to win? be sure to:

*enter a comment on this post - with your name

*please only enter once

*answer question above

*entry will be open until 7 am Friday (4/3)

*winner will be announced Friday morning

Good Luck and Thank You Jack and Izzy!

creative egg creatures.

I'm loving these creative egg creatures seen on the hostess blog.

geela. {winners!}

The sling goes to:

The diaper clutch goes to:

and the wrap goes to:

Congratulations ladies! Please email me (tangledandtrue@gmail.com) by Wednesday morning to claim your prize.

solana swaddle wrap.

Why you want a Solana Swaddle Wrap...

• 100% organic
• 100% safe
• babies cannot regulate their own body temperature
• overheating has been linked to SIDS
• handmade in the USA

These wraps are made from light, breathable, stretchy fabric making swaddling easy and effective. Pediatricians are now recommending tossing the fluffy blankets, dressing baby appropriate for the weather and using only a light blanket to wrap them, and the Solana Swaddle Wrap is the perfect solution.

Aside from being a perfect swaddling blanket these wraps are extremely versatile, being used as sunshades, bug screens or alternatives to towels at bathtime or by the pool. You're sure to find plenty of uses, the swaddle wrap is sure to become one of your go-to baby items.

Want to try one out? Enter "tangled" at checkout for 15% off through the end of May.

the bright side project.

Have you seen this blog? It makes me smile... every day.

geela {giveaway!}

Being a mom you quickly come to realize there are a lot of products out there that claim to simplify or make your life easier. What you'll also find is you end up owning a lot of products that seemed like a good idea at the time that are now stuffed in the back of a drawer or closet. This is not the case with Geela. In fact, I can honestly say I use their products every single day, sometimes multiple times in a day. Geela makes life helpers for baby people, they do it really well, and their prices can't be beat.

One of their most unique products is the Geela wrap:

Our unique baby wrap is in a continuous loop so you can put it on in less that 10 seconds. It has half the fabric of traditional wraps, so no more tangles, and more compact for diaper bags. There are no uncomfortable fasteners or knots; included is a Geela band that allows you to adjust to fit. Finally, a wrap that is fun and easy
to use!


*view instructions for use here

Two of my favorite Geela products are:

The Modern Mama (nursing cover) which has answered all my nursing needs. I love this! It is so nice to not be hiding out in the dressing room or bathroom stall. Instead I'm am comfortably covered, with my hands free (instead of clutching a blanket for dear life). This has been a lifesaver in multiple situations in the last 4 weeks, and I do not leave home without it.

but I have to say, their diaper clutch is my absolute favorite item. I take it everywhere with me. It's compact and light, and holds exactly what I need. A few diapers, wipes and a change of clothes. The modern fabrics, mixed with some vintage are just my style, and the embellishments add just the right touch.

Today Geela is giving away the following (in the designs shown)

one sling ($40) Notice it's reversible, the fabric is breathable and the sling can be worn in multiple positions for infant and toddlers.


one diaper clutch ($35)



and one wrap ($40)


THREE winners (hooray!) one item each, so be sure to tell us what you'd love the most in your entry.

Would you love to win? be sure to:
*enter a comment on this post - with your name
*please only enter once
*entry will be open until 7 am Friday (3/27)
*winner will be announced Friday morning

Good Luck and Thank You Geela!

letterpress counting.

Sweetbeets has recently introduced a new counting poster. It's pretty incredible don't you think? Print measures 8.5x11 and will fit in any standard frame. Available in three color options.

Tretorn.

It's been raining buckets around here, and I've found myself wishing the girls had these rubber boots. I love that they aren't your average rubber boot design and colors.


Once I read the comment about the cars, I had to see them for myself. I agree so perfect for a little boy. Available here.

baby sparewear.

It is true we have talked about baby sparewear before, but now that I've had first hand experience with my own newborn, I am forever grateful for my set from baby sparewear. I won't go into details but it did involve diaper changing in a public place, and left me scrambling to get myself, the baby and surrounding area cleaned up.

This is a perfect situation for the baby sparewear sets. They are stylish, comfortable and small enough to have in your diaper bag at all times. What I hadn't realized before, is that the plastic carrying case is the perfect option for your babies soiled clothing. Genius! 

It only took this one incident to ensure that I will never be without a set of baby sparewear in my diaper bag. Thank you  baby sparewear!

Available in infant and toddler sizes (perfect for the potty training days).

blondie sundae.

*image via bakerella

One of my all time favorite desserts is Applebee's Blondie Brownie Sundae, we don't go there often, so the times I've had it are few and far between. Imagine my surprise when browsing Bakerella I came across the dessert and a link to the recipe. I'm embarrassed to admit how many times it's been made in the short time we've known about it, but the recipe tastes just like the real thing and is definitely a keeper!

mohop shoes.

Mohop sandals are environmentally friendly, comfortable, and best of all, allow nearly infinite design options with just one pair of wooden soles. Simply lace any ribbon through our patent-pending elastic loops to create your own one-of-a-kind, custom-fit pair! Mohop shoes are individually hand made by Annie Mohaupt in our studio in Chicago.

Finally, the ability to have a new pair of shoes every day. It's completely genius! Plus they're environmentally friendly, comfortable and allow you infinite options. They're individually made in Chicago by Annie Mohaupt, and they ship anywhere for only $2.



I can't wait to try them out. They might just make the perfect pair for Easter.

honey lime chicken enchiladas.

As I was browsing one of my favorite food blogs (cafe johnsonia) I came across her post about a guest appearance on Good Things Utah, I used to live in Utah and watching GTU was my favorite morning pass time, so I followed all her links and came to this recipe. I had to try it.

It was pretty darn good. You should try it. See what you think.

polkadot papoose {winner!}

Congratulations Stacey! Please email me (tangledandtrue@gmail.com) by Tuesday morning in order to claim your prize.

*winner chosen using random.org

knuckleheads.

Once upon a time in the suburban forests of America a young mother went shopping for clothes for her little boy. In store after store she found outfits for small bankers and businessmen, but nothing for a cool little boy who liked skating and was a little bit rock n’ roll.

And so Knuckleheads was born...


I have to say it's about time there was a line that played to those of us who want to dress "outside the box". It's refreshing to find clothes that aren't preppy, or boring or covered in characters.



Even more refreshing a line that is all about boys (although they did recently launch a girls line, hula mula, that is equally fabulous).



I can honestly say I'll be incorporating Knuckleheads into Finn's wardrobe. Stylish, comfortable, and made to hold up to the wears and tears of little boys. You can't beat that.



Plus if wearing Knuckleheads clothes gets me photos like these, It's a double bonus.

polkadot papoose {giveaway!}

Stylish...Practical...Irresistible. Call them what you will, but unless you've worn one, you can't possibly appreciate the artistry, versatility and comfort of a hand-crafted Polkadot Papoose baby sling. Established by a free-lance babywear designer with a vision for a product that would capture the hearts of sensible-yet-fashionable moms from coast to coast, we are more than a brand; we are the hand-scissored edge of the babywear industry and the "must have" baby sling for the modern mom.

Never before have I owned a baby sling, and never have I worn one until now. I have to say I am impressed, and finding it especially useful with baby number 3 now in our midst. It allows me to have my hands free, and get far more done than I would without it.

Aside from the conveniences baby slings offer, there is scientific evidence proving at least four differences in babies that are carried in baby slings close to their mother and babies that are kept in swings, bouncers and other enclosures.



Dr. William Sears, America's best known pediatrician has identified the following four distinctions:

*Fewer fears, fewer tears - babies who are carried in baby slings cry at least 40 percent less than those who are unslinged.

*In pockets, brains rocket - Researchers have reported that babies in slings show enhanced visual and auditory alertness, and a much quicker absorption of information.

*Sensible sling, sensible world - Sling babies have been shown to be more organized, aware, and even more tuned in to adult interaction than other infants.

*Babyworn, baby warmed - There is ample evidence to show that sling babies are socialized more quickly and more effectively than their penned-up mates.

more detailed information here.



If those aren't reason enough, perhaps some of Polkadot Papoose's best features will:

-100% cotton designer fabrics
-high-quality and handmade
-innovative binkie pocket
-reversible

The baby sling is definitely making my life easier, it's fashionable and if it's helping Finn than it's definitely worth it to me.

Polkadot Papoose is giving one of you the opportunity to try a baby sling for yourself. One lucky reader will win the baby sling of their choice.

Which design will you choose?

*Extra goodness: Polkadot Papoose is offering all Tangled and True readers 20% off with code "tangled".

Would you love to win? be sure to:
*enter a comment on this post with your name
*please only enter once
*answer question above
*entry will be open until 7 am Thursday (3/19)
*winner will be announced Friday morning

Good Luck!!

tomorrow is...

St. Patricks day! One of my favorite holidays. Weird I know, but my mom always made it a big deal, and we've continued on the tradition with our kids, so they love it and look forward to it too.

I thought I'd share my favorite traditions of the day..

*the kids wake up to find tiny leprechaun feet dancing across the entire house. They must follow the tiny feet to find their treasure.



*at the end of the leprechaun feet they find a package full of green. Every year I find and collect different green things, this can range from bubbles to candy to toys to clothes. It just depends on what strikes my fancy...



I never leave out the Mister, some years his package is with the kids', some years it's at his office, last year it was waiting for him in his car.


My mom did this for us every year, and just as we've continued on the morning tradition, we've continued on her evening tradition as well. The St. Patricks day dinner! Everything is green and the kids go crazy. They love it!

We usually have corn beef and cabbage as the main coarse with green mashed potatoes, green bread, green salad, peas, grapes, green jell-o, green drink (this varies from year to year but the favorite is lime sherbet and sprite) and some kind of green dessert (this could include key-lime pie, green frosted sugar cookies or cupcakes, green donuts, etc).


image via flickr.

And of course what would the day be without wearing green? We always wear green.

What are your favorite St. Patrick's Day traditions?

tea collection {winner!}

Congratulations Amanda! Please email me (tangledandtrue@gmail.com) by Tuesday morning to claim your prize.

*winner chosen using random.org