handmade Archives - Kristen Anne Glover

A few months ago, I heard about a family who had been in deep financial distress. The husband and father had been out of work for over a year. He and his wife and young son were living off his small military pension, trying to make ends meet any way they could.

Like most people in their situation, this man and his wife, Mae, had to cut expenses. They hoped the next job was right around the corner and did their best to live simply until then. But the months passed and there was no work. They had to cut more expenses, even important expenses, like their life insurance policies.

Then one day in February, everything changed. Mae’s husband died suddenly. One day he was there, and the next he was not. Mae and her son were left with nothing. No income. No way to pay for his funeral or burial expenses. Nothing to live on.

Mae’s friends rallied around this woman who had been so generous with her time and affection. She had been a mentor to many of them, including Sarah Ives, who is a sponsor of this site. Sarah contacted me and asked me to be a part of a team of bloggers who have come together to help Mae.

Of course, I could not say no. I was raised by a widow, a woman who was left too soon with children to raise and mouths to feed and no man to help. But we were better off than Mae. My dad had a life insurance policy and we were eligible for Social Security (because of certain circumstances, Mae is not). But still, there were many years of hand-me-down clothes and free school lunches and the constant ache of wondering what would happen next month, or the month after that.

I agreed to join in with the other bloggers to tell you about Mae, trusting that some of you might be able to help. Mae owns a business, and we’re hoping to drum up some work for her so she can provide for her boy. Mae crafts homemade soaps with natural ingredients.

We are spreading the word about Mae’s business by giving you an opportunity to win one of six $25 gift certificates to her site!

Even if you don’t win, we hope you’ll consider visiting Mae’s website and ordering from her the next time you’re in need of soap. I always love to support small businesses, and you all know how much I love handmade products! Mae’s soaps are just as luxurious as they come.

Another blogger had this to say about Mae’s products: “These natural soaps made with real tallow will delight your senses! Mae lovingly makes all her soaps in small batches to ensure the highest quality. She uses the best of the best ingredients: real tallow is gentle on your skin while at the same time is used for the bar’s hardness, which means it doesn’t get mushy in the shower. Olive oil is added for further gentleness along with a touch of coconut oil for a fluffy lather.

“Only high quality soap scents or essential oils are used, and even then they are added with a light hand. Mae’s bars give you an absolutely delicious scent you can enjoy in the shower, without becoming obtrusive during the day. Even her coloring agents are of a natural origin. These unique combinations make long-lasting, gentle bars that your whole family will love.”

You Can Win Natural Handcrafted Soap!

Would you like to win some of Mae’s Natural Handcrafted Soap for yourself? Well, here’s your chance! Enter below and be one of SIX winners for a $25 credit that you can use to chose your favorite soaps from Mae’s delicious selections.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you’d like to give a donation, you can send your gift via Paypal to RaymondBenevolentFund@gmail.com. Please remember to choose “Personal” giving so the Raymond family doesn’t incur fees with your donation. If you need more details on how to do this, please contact sarahevan5@aol.com and she’d be happy to send you directions.

A big thank you to all the bloggers participating:
Ann @ DuctTapeandDenim.com
Anne @ Authentic Simplicity
Tara @ Everyday Ramblings of My Life
Jill @ Jill’s Home Remedies
Sara Elizabeth @ A Mama’s Story
Gail @ The Imperfect Housewife
Renee @ I Am The Clay
Del @ Devote & Seek
Jill @ Blessed Beyond a Doubt
Rebecca @ Rebecca’s Ramblings
Hilary @ Accidentally Green
Marci @ Amazing Graze Farm
Susan @ Learning and Yearning
Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker
Justyn @ Creative Christian Mama
Chelsea Rebecca @ For Unmarried Christian Women
Chelsea Rebecca @ Hearts for Home
Paula @ Whole Intentions
Amy @ A Heart Surrendered Blog
Bambi @ In the Nursery of the Nation
Dana @ Clan Chris Dean
Kristen @ Smithspirations
Caroline @ The Modest Mom Blog
Alicia @ Walking In Faith
Stephani @ The Cheapskate Cook
Amber @ Homemaker by Choice
Marci @ Thankful Homemaker
Katie Sullivan @ Brighton Park Blog
Anjanette @ Raising the Barrs
Pam @ Mom Does Reviews
Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage
Stacy @ Something Whimsical
Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood
Paula @ Beautiful Life of Joy
Rachel @ Of Love and Beauty
Reagan @ The Arsenal
Kelly @ Generation Cedar
Kelly @ Practical Savings
Stacy Karen @ A Delightful Home
Kristen @ Five in Tow
Diana @ A Little Bit of Spain
Elizabeth @ Yes They Are All Ours
Jacque @ Deep Roots at Home
Karrilee @ Abiding Love, Abounding Grace
Karrilee@ Blessed Memories Scrapbooks by Karrilee
Shawnee @ The Apronista
Adrienne @ Whole New Mom
Janine @ True Aim Education
Kathryn @ Singing Through the Rain
Alicia @ Fun Reviews and Giveaways
Deborah @ A Delightful Glow
Stephanie @ The King’s Bookworm
Christy @ The Simple Homemaker
June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Shadedlily @ With Them
Joy @ Artful Homemaking

This giveaway is now closed! Thank you for participating!

It’s Friday and we’re celebrating Date Night here at Five in Tow. I’ve got three great prizes to make date night–or any night–special!

First, I’m giving away a second Rekindling Romance e-kit from Jason and Jami Balmet.

This e-kit arrives just in time for some fun Valentine’s Day planning. I love the fact that every single idea in this kit is fun and do-able no matter what the budget or circumstances (like the babysitter cancels). It’s a date night in your in-box!

Don’t forget to hop over to Jami’s Facebook page or website for an extra entry. You’ll be blessed!

Next, my friend Sunny is sending one winner a box of Belgian chocolates from her home in Belgium! I do not have a picture of these aforementioned chocolates because they have not yet arrived, and when they do arrive, I will not be taking any pictures of them because if I do, I will eat them. All. Of. Them.

So. No photos. Instead, I will share Sunny, who has been a friend of mine (across the miles) for many, many years. She is now teaching Spanish and French to high school students on a NATO base in Belgium. Sunny loves to explore, and when she does, she brings us beautiful stories and pictures like this:

I love reading her blog and living vicariously through her! I’m kind of praying that if my husband’s application to Active Duty chaplaincy is accepted, we’ll get stationed right there by the ~~chocolates~~ beautiful scenery. Read her stories and you’ll see why!

My final prize for our Date Night Giveaway was donated by my very favorite reader (besides my husband): my mom! She reads every one of my posts and has always supported me (except in this case). My mom is also an avid knitter, crocheter, and purveyor of all things crafty. Growing up, I was always wearing something handmade just for me.

My Mom, aka Auntie Annie, is rewarding one of my readers with a made-to-order scarf. She will give you style and color options and you can choose!

Hand knit, hand dyed wool scarf. Thanks, sheep!

Made with yarn from Italy, the glitter scarf will brighten up any winter wardrobe!

My mom and my step-dad run a little hobby farm my grandparents started. It is filled with obstinate sheep (my words, not theirs). They harvest the wool, and Grandma and Mom dye it themselves, spin it, and make it into all sorts of wonderfulness. You can read all about the little farm that holds my heart at their website. If you love natural fibers or are looking for some fantastic wool batting for quilts, this is your place!

My mother would kill me if I posted her picture online. Instead, her she is in quilt form.

How to Enter

1) I like to keep giveaways simple. All you have to do to be entered for this giveaway is to comment below! That’s it! It would be fabulous if you also subscribed to my blog, followed me on Twitter, or liked my Facebook page, but I can’t make that a requirement because of Facebook policies (and it also complicates things and that sort of defeats the whole “simple” thing).

2) Now, I know some of you are over-achievers and want to do more to increase your chances of winning. Okay. Here you go: you may earn extra entries by visiting and commenting on our sponsors’ blogs, Facebook, or Twitter pages. Why not subscribe, like, or follow them while you’re there? Come back here and leave a separate comment to let me know you went a-visiting so I can enter your name twice.

3) Share any story from Five in Tow that has impacted you. You can even share the giveaway! Comment below (in a separate comment from any of the above) with the title of the post you shared and you’ll earn a third entry.

4) This giveaway will remain open for three days. I will draw two winners on February 3 at 4 pm PST and notify the winners. Prizes will be delivered by the sponsors within 4-6 weeks.

5) Don’t forget! You still have two days to enter yesterday’s giveaway if you have not already done so, along with the previous two days of giveaways! Tuesday’s giveaway closes today at 4 pm PST. Don’t miss it! Come back tomorrow for two more great prizes! You can see the complete list here.

A Giveaway for a Cause

You Can Win Natural Handcrafted Soap!

Date Night Giveaways: 1K Giveaway Day 5