Birthday Bash Giveaway!

So without waiting any longer, I present to you the winner of our awesome Birthday Bash!

Shannon Gammon

You have been sent an email, and I hope you respond in time, otherwise we will need to redraw!


I wanted to thank everyone for spreading the word and participating in our giveaway. We had 240 entries, and you are all amazing for everything you've done. Thank you thank you!!

please note that our winner was picked via random.org!

Birthday Bash Giveaway!!

Oh man, here I am one year after starting my journey as a hat and prop maker. I didn't really know then how things would snowball. I just remember thinking, that if a few people bought my hats then I would feel satisfied in myself. It started as a need to find something to do for me while struggling with some postpartum depression while living in Iceland. It helped! So much more than I even thought it would.

When I look back to my first few orders, I remember how I beamed when I told my husband Jónas about it. And he was so proud and so supportive. Who has an awesome hubby? This lady! I couldn't have done it without him. No but seriously, he has been so supportive that he even has learned to crochet to help me when I get backed up on orders. Amazing.

My dear friend Brooke was a HUGE helping hand in the whole process. We are so lucky to have had our boys within 2 months of each other, and she came to me asking if I could make her hats. I had only been dabbling in making things. Once I made her the first few hats, she sent me some amazing pictures really making my items look so beautiful. The boost of confidence she gave me with those pictures is priceless, and really helped me feel like I could go far with this.

So here I am, 3500 fans later. One year into my amazing business. I am blown away. By the fans, but the amazing customers, by the photographers. By the new friends I have made. Truly, it is a huge family.

How does one thank everyone for all the amazing support and smiles along the way? Well, by throwing one huge Birthday Bash giveaway! Don't get me wrong, this journey hasn't always been only smiles, but the frowns fade away and the smiles remain. For other little businesses just starting out (Technically I kind of still am too!) don't be afraid to push on and give it all you got. Nothing worth anything is easy. The battle is half the fun.

On to the prizes!

$100 Gift Certificate to Elskan Baby

$40 Gift Certificate to Love by CC

$50 Gift Certificate to Belle La Mere

One of these adorable hats from Fresh Outta The Oven

Super cute Baby Bear and Momma Bear tees from Myah & Me

Baby or Jr Executive Tie from Baby Brims and Bellies

$25 Gift Certificate to Crochet Medley
One of these darling hats from Posh Props


$30 Gift Certificate from Glorious Memory

$35 Gift Certificate to After the Bump

Dress of Choice from All the Muches

Mesh Newborn Egg Pod from Darn Fanciful

1-5 years Pink and Brown Raccoon Hat from Red Windmill Designs

1 Newborn Cupcake Hat in Vanilla, Strawberry or Blueberry from Noggins 2 Piggies

Beautiful "Driftwood" Chinstrap Nebworn Hat from Sweet Pea Hats

$20 Gift Certificate for crochet patterns to Inner Hooker

$30 Gift Card to Treasured Little Creations

Earflap Zebra hat up to adult size from La La Lily Boutique

$30 Store Credit to Evie n Lizzie
Newborn Pom Pop Hat from Ali Bali Green



$25 Gift Certificate from Naturally PlayfulCustom Colored Newborn Roscoe hat from Mudpies and Pigtails

Entry 1 (required): Visit each vendor's Facebook page and "like" them or add them as a friend. Let them know that @Elskan Baby sent you! Be careful not to go too fast, or you will be considered spam by Facebook.

Elskan Baby
Love by CC
Belle La Mere
Fresh Outta the Oven
Myah & Me
Baby Brims & Bellies
Crochet Medley
Posh Props
Glorious Memory
After the Bump
All the Muches
Darn Fanciful
Red Windmill Designs
Noggins 2 Piggies
Inner Hooker
Sweet Pea hats
Treasured Little Creations
La La Lily Boutique
Evie n Lizzie
Ali Bali Green
Naturally Playful
Mudpies and Pigtails

After doing so for each vendor, come back and leave a comment stating you did so. Leave your email, for when we find the winner, we can immediately notify you.

Entry 2 (optional): Make your Facebook status have a link to the blog and tag Elskan Baby in your post. Double check that you put the @ symbol before Elskan Baby so it will tag us on Facebook. For example, Go check out the giveaway @Elskan Baby is having over at her blog, http://elskanbaby.blogspot.com/2011/05/birthday-bash-giveaway.html!
After doing so, come back and leave another comment (also including your email) telling us you did so, and that will be 2 entries.

Entry 3 (optional): Spread the word by either tweeting, blogging, or posting about this giveaway on forums or websites. Come back after doing so and leave another comment (also including your email) telling us you did so, and that will be an additional entry.

Misc Terms and Conditions:

• Please only leave up to these three potential comment entries after completing the instructions for them. Please do not leave other comments. Each person is only allowed 3 entries, and no more. Any other comments will be removed.
• Winner will be chosen by using Random.org and only announced on the blog.
• Giveaway begins June 1st when it goes live on the blog, and lasts until Midnight June 8th. No entries before or after these will be valid.
• Winner will have one week from the closing of the giveaway to claim their prize. After that, the winner will be redrawn!
• Facebook is by no means affiliated or a part of this giveaway.
• Any information you provide to us will not be shared with anyone other than the participating vendors in this giveaway.
• All prizes will be mailed by the vendor providing the item. Shipping and production times will vary with each vendor.
  

Giveaway winners!

Alright for the sharing the headband giveaways, here are the winners (picked by random.org):

Jennifer Sharp - Amelia Headband

Jocelyn Wesolowski - Orchid Headband

Both winners, congrats! Please email me your addresses to heather@elskanbaby.com!

Thank you everyone for participating!

Referral Giveaway Winner!

Thank you to everyone for participating, I really appreciate you spreading the word about Elskan Baby! We would be nothing if it wasn't for our amazing customers and fans.

So, without further ado, the winner with a whopping 54 referrals, Carlee H is our winner!

Carlee, please send me an email to heather@elskanbaby.com with your shipping address, hat choice, and size choice!

As a thank you to my second place winner - Candy Couture (Adrianna Michelle), I have a coupon code for 20% off a future order! Email me too!


Thank you again to everyone else. I say again that I would be nothing without my fans!

Heather

Meet my family!

My amazing friend Brooke came up to visit us today, and we did a bit of a photoshoot, and I wanted to share some of the photos with you, and let you see my family a little. I think that putting faces to names can be so beneficial concerning the internet! So here it goes, my family through the eyes of Brooke!



So I am Heather, and I am a 26 year old mom of 1 boy, Noah. I was raised in California, and now live in Iceland through a series of interesting adventures that have not left me disappointed. I am crafty in many ways, but my goal since I could come up with them has been to craft and own my own business with my own two hands. So far so good!



Noah, 11 months old. 2 teeth. Sweetest kid. Hardly fusses. Goes to bed relatively easily. I really couldn't be luckier with my amazing little boy. And have you looked at those baby blues? To die for. He is the reason for Elskan Baby!



Jónas. Icelandic. 26 almost 27. Musician, sound engineer. Amazingly supportive man with a brilliant smile, and beautiful eyes (if I do say so myself). Learned how to crochet so that he could help me keep my dreams going. Generous, sweet, kind. Not a mean bone in his body. Seriously. In the almost 4 years we have been together, the only time he has ever yelled at me was when I was pestering him asking him if he had farted. And he said loudly "I DID NOT FART, OK?". Gentle giant. I really love him so.



We are a cheerful, happy bunch. I would almost even say we were hippy-ish. Minus the drugs.

A few more for the road. I hope you like getting to know my family a little better!

Locks of Love and a 50s Housewife

Since my little family is here for this time of the year, we have the chance to be a part of Locks of Love. My aunt runs and owns a salon in Ramona, CA called Artistry in Hair, and every year they do Locks of Love. What is LoL? Well, it is when people grow their hair out to at least 10 inches long, and they go in and get it cut. The cut hair is donated to LoL, for people who are dealing with cancer and such. All proceeds go to the foundation as well. So this year, on Feb 14th, Jónas and I will take all money that comes from Elskan Baby that day and donate it. This includes us having a bunch of hats on location at the salon for people to purchase right away. I hope people will take the initiative and help a great cause! We are stoked to be a part, and to help out!


On a side note, I just purchased this awesome book that reminds me of the secret desire I have to become a 50's housewife. The kind that wears the frilly apron, and cooks dinner for friends, has tea time, and never has a stray hair. Maybe this book will help me get a step closer to that! OH, and to getting into shape! That is the big factor in me getting the book! Eating healthier!

Pretty Delicious: Lean and Lovely Recipes for a Healthy, Happy New You




You really should check it out!!

Losing weight? Not so much!

I have been finding it super difficult to actually get into a regime of losing weight while not at home. America is full of so many types of foods that we do not have back in Iceland, and I just cannot stop myself! How do you deny when you have suddenly always available that you did not have available for so long?

Trying to find the time to do this crazy excessive workout seems more difficult as well when we are supposed to be on vacation. I almost just want to wait until we get back home to start getting back into shape. But then I look at how chub chub mc.gub I am becoming and it is becoming rather depressing.

What tricks or routines do you use to keep yourself from straying from your regime?! I need help!