Celebrating The Summer Solstice ~ With A Giveaway!

Tied The Eagle Feathers on 6.21.10

The Summer Solstice has always been something that I have celebrated with joy. It's no wonder that I chose this day to get married on as well. I love the warm weather, the summer months are by far my favorite where I feel the most alive. It seems we are all solar powered as I can see the difference in everyones faces and attitudes as well as my own. Living in Michigan is like a paradise, without the crazy insects and reptiles (though the mosquitoes this year are turning into something pretty wicked). There is virtually no danger in walking through the woods without shoes here which is something that is pretty important to me.

We moved to Florida about 5 years ago - for 7 months. It was the year that Florida was hit by three pretty big hurricanes right in a row. It became pretty easy for us to re-evaluate our situation and decide to go home to Michigan. By moving away from here I realized how much I absolutely LOVE it here. We are so lucky to be blessed with such a beautiful state to live in. We still have the beautiful sandy beaches - but they are fresh water so we don't have to worry about what's living under the surface (which is something that truly freaks me out - you wouldn't catch me ever swimming in the ocean). We have acres and acres of woods to play in...and the north - don't even get me started on the north. The Upper Peninsula is probably the most beautiful place I've EVER been to.

Pictured Rocks & Lake Superior

Can't remember the name of this spring - but it's one of my favorite places up there.

While we still love to go back to Florida for visits, we are happy here at home in Michigan. Where we can truly enjoy the seasons to their fullest extent. Summer Solstice is bittersweet in a way because while we take the time to celebrate the lightest day of the year, we must also realize that the darkness will now be returning as well and winter will be here yet again. The Solstice reminds me to not take this warm season for granted and to enjoy it to the fullest. The Earth is full of wonder and great gifts - who am I to deny them?

Traditionally the celebration of the solstice would be set around a fire that would burn all day long and well into the night. If you had kept your Yule Wreath you would burn it at this time as well. There would be drumming and dancing, sharing of stories, songs and poems....and food. There is always food.

Me manning the fire on my wedding night - 6.21.08

Though I have to work today, I am planning on having a fire later and spending time with the kiddies. Our true celebration of summer took place yesterday at the beach. It was GREAT to get out of the house and go on an adventure with daddy. He very VERY rarely makes family appearances. It seems I have married a workaholic. not that I didn't know that as I was with him for 9 years before I married him....it still doesn't make it any easier sometimes.

So, yesterday we hit the pavement to find the perfect beach and did - and we really had a great time. It was Zander's first time at the beach and I finally got to use the water carrier that I was sent by Baby Ette. I was sooooo eager to get it on and try it out. I've been waiting for over a month for the water to get warm enough. It was almost like my birthday or something getting to bust it out and try! I put Zander in the wrap how I have been putting him in with my gauze wrap. I really like that hold. It was a little more slippery fabric than I was used to, but it was still OK. I got him in the carrier and headed for the water. It was truly delightful! It was much less effort than having to hold a slippery baby (who is flailing around) - instead I was so much more able to actually enjoy myself. The fabric was lightweight and airy, even kept me a little bit warmer than I would have been without it which I thought was great. but, when I got out and I was hot again, the cool wet fabric was like a nice air conditioner. I was truly impressed with it. It was useful, practical and easy to wear and dry.  I honestly couldn't believe that I had never seen someone wear their baby in the water before!

We had a truly great day. We ALL needed it.

to celebrate this years solstice and to encourage you mama's to get out there and share the world with your little ones, one lucky winner will get a Baby Ette Water Baby Mesh Wrap!

I first learned about Baby Ette around November of '09 when I won a baby wearing poncho from another mom's giveaway. I LOVE it, by the way - it is certainly another Michigan essential. It's been a joy to try out this carrier and I am so proud to be able to pass along this gift to one of you. If you don't win one, trust me, you WANT one.

Beth is a mommy who works like I do - while the kiddos are sleeping or otherwise attended to. I can appreciate the time that she takes to run this business as I am in many ways right there with her. It's not easy, but I know how important it is for us mothers to do what we love - to identify ourselves as something other than "wife and mother". I want to take a minute and thank her for that. Kudos to all the mama's out there trying hard to have it all. 

The Giveaway:

How To Enter: 

MANDATORY: To enter you must Publicly follow this blog in google friend connect (on the right side bar). I am trying to grow my readership so that I may bring you more awesome giveaways like this one! After that, please visit Baby Ette and come back here and leave a comment stating something you learned about or saw not mentioned here or another product of theirs you would like to try.

Your first entry should look something like this "I follow publicly! I also really like the "fill in the blank here" on their site! {EMAIL ADDRESS}". 

*You must do the mandatory requirements and entry before using any extra entries. Please include your E mail address with your comment so that I may notify the winner. Entries will be accepted until midnight July 1 and the winner will be announced on July 2. Winner is determined by random drawing of numbers through random.org, each comment you leave is a numbered entry.*

Want the low down on entering blog giveaways?

Juliea's Guide To Entering Giveaways

Extra Entries:

(You may do any or all of these - current subscribers or followers count too!)

• Subscribe via e mail to this blog (2 entries ~ leave two comments) 
• Fan Gypsy Jewels on Facebook 
• Follow Gypsy Jewels on Twitter
• Visit Gypsy Jewels Etsy Shop and come back stating your favorite item!
• Favorite Gypsy Jewels Etsy Shop
• Favorite Baby Ette on Etsy
• Fan Baby Ette on Facebook
• Follow Baby Ette on Twitter 
• Mention this giveaway on your Facebook, Twitter (put "@gypsyjewels" somewhere in your tweet so I may verify), Blog (leave url where I can find it), Myspace (leave url where I can find it) or through e mail (cc:willow_moonspirit@yahoo.com) - one extra entry for EACH of these. 
• Refer a friend - for each new friend who follows this blog you can get one entry. Leave their name in the entry so that I may verify.
• Tell us something you do to reduce or reuse your waste! What is your favorite "going green" tip?

Good Luck everyone!!!