Simply Charmed Wine Glass Charms {Giveaway}

Being someone who loves to enjoy a glass (or two on a bad day) of wine, I also have to admit that I love wine glass accessories. I have found some really cute wine glass charms in the past, but just recently found Simply Charmed Wine Glass Charms.

I love wine glass charms for a few reasons. They can pretty up a plain wine glass and they are a creative way to show your personality. But one of my favorite reasons to adorn a charm to my glass is so that I won't get my glass mixed up with someone else's. I hate setting my drink down only to come back and see another one right next to it and then I have no clue which one is mine. 

Simply Charmed Wine Glass Charms are adorable and something totally different from what I've seen on the market. Their wine glass accessories are magnetic wine charms! Cute idea, right? What you do is place the charm on the actual glass portion of your wine glass. This is great because you don't have the clinking sound of the stemware charm. Simply Charmed magnetic wine glass charms are strong--they really stayed on my glass well, which was great. I was a little worried about the magnetic piece falling off into my drink, but that didn't happen. 

Another great tip--you can store them on your refrigerator being that they are a magnetic wine glass charm. No more worrying that they'll be lost in your kitchen drawers again--or in my case not having to store them up high so my daughters won't get into them.

Giveaway:

Simply Charmed is giving away the above set of charms to one lucky winner. To be eligible to win, simply visit Simply Charmed and tell me which set is your favorite. This is your mandatory entry and must be completed before any bonus entries will count.

Bonus Entries

{1 entry daily} Tell me another item you would love to buy from Simply Charmed. Cannot be something you previously left a comment on. This can be done daily.

{1 entry each} Follow Winey Mommy via GFC, subscribe to Winey Mommy via email, and/or subscribe to Winey Mommy via RSS.

{ 1 entry} "Like" Simply Charmed on Facebook. Please leave your first name & last initial in comment.

{1 entry} "Like" Winey Mommy on Facebook. Please leave your first name & last initial in comment.

{ 1 entry} Follow Winey Mommy on Twitter. 

{1 entry} Follow Simply Charmed on Twitter.

{1 entry daily} Tweet this giveaway! Copy and paste the following: Love wine? Win a set of #winecharms from @winey_mommy and @winewithcharms http://bit.ly/pBUc9d  #giveaway #fyl  (Leave tweet link in your comment.)

Rules:

This giveaway will end on October 18th @ noon CST. Open to all US residents 18+. To be eligible to win you must do mandatory entry. If you do not follow that rule all entries will be void. Leave a valid email address in comment or available on profile. Winner will be drawn via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to notification email. If winner does not contact back w/full name/address a new winner will be picked. All winners will be posted on blog when picked. This blog is not responsible for prizes not being delivered, getting lost, etc.Facebook and Twitter have no bearing on giveaway or outcome of giveaway. I will try my hardest to work with company if something should go wrong. This blog is not responsible for anything regarding to your use of product. 

I was provided with a two pack of charms in order to facilitate this review and giveaway. No other compensation was given and all opinions expressed above are my own. 

The Crown Jewels of My Life...

This week is the second week of the Friends You Love Blog Hop and I am so thrilled for my guest blogger this week. Meet Amanda from Enchanting Havoc--a sweet as sugar blogger who I have had the honor of "meeting" through the blog world. I love Amanda for so many reasons--but in honesty I have to say that I love her so much because we have so much in common. Our pasts, our stories...sometimes they give me chills with how much we have in common. Hope you love her as much as I do--and enjoy her fabulous post below!

“A true friend comes in when the whole world has gone out.”

Growing up I moved around A LOT. You’d think I grew up in an army house, but I didn’t. I just had the annoying honor of growing up within the walls of a very dysfunctional family.

I was very hesitant on allowing myself to become close to friends, because either I’d end up moving, or they’d be the bearer of unnecessary drama. Drama with friends was something I never allowed in my world, because unfortunately my family supplied a nice dose of that all on its own.

I’ve always had this attitude on friendship as it being the crown jewel in my life. I have strived to always be the true friend that comes in when the whole world has gone out. When you offer your friends that unconditional love and acceptance, odds are you’ll be attracting those type of friends in return. {Now, why in the flipping world doesn’t that work with family? OH! I know, because friends are the family we get to choose!}

I’m not overwhelmed with this huge abundance of friends in my life, because while I moved around a lot I gained one true life long friend while growing up. We actually started out from preschool together and remained close friends all through my unstable life journey. After we graduated high school I became a mom and had a job and started my family life. It’s hard to find time for friends when you’re raising a family. It might not be a challenge for you, but for myself it is.

Ever since I graduated highschool I've come across a few more friends that have grown into my heart. Some of these friends I consider to be best friends. Friends I know will continue on with this life journey with me. Friends that understand where I'm at in my life as being a mom and can relate to my frustrations and excitements. I always thought I could only have 1 best friend, but as I'm growing I've learned that's not true.

I've always been very hesitant on letting walls down and friends into my heart. I'm sure that throughout my life's course I've probably missed out on what might have been some very lasting and amazing friendships, but the few friends I've tucked in my heart along the way have been the gems I've treasured and am so grateful for.

A few years ago I was pregnant with our second child, who we ended up losing, but being pregnant with her introduced me to the world of online friends. It started with forums, and it ended here in the blog world. I've found my nook, my place where as my fingers tap along the keyboard my heart is opened, and friends I never thought I'd have are peeking into my soul.

In the beginning of me forming friendships online I know that many IRL friends mocked me. Thought of them as "fake" friends, and never truly understood. I can tell you with my experience I haven't formed fake friendships online. I've formed lasting, beautiful friendships with friends that truly know me as me. They know the matters of my heart, because I'm constantly pouring it all out right on my blog. I don't open my heart and pour it all out IRL like I do on my blog, and I think that because of that my online friends {and friends IRL who actually read my blog} know me in a different way than others in my life do.

This blogging community is nothing short of pure amazing. The beautiful friends I've formed are friendships that I will hold close my heart forever, because we know each other. We've gotten that glimpse into their soul that a good ol' conversation over a cup of tea or coffee or whatever you drink can't truly give. Our writings and our words have opened the gates to our hearts and how can a true friendship not be formed that way?

Being somebody like myself that is hesitant on which friends she allows into her life, the blogging community is the best thing ever, because there's ALWAYS somebody there with advice on what you're going through, or somebody who knows how you're feeling.  You form these bonds that indescribable.  And I can say that friendship has taken a whole different meaning to me.

I feel overwhelmingly rich in life with the friends I have both online and in my life.  They each have brought something so special to me at one point in my life.  Even the friends I'm not as close with now, at one point they were the world to me ~ and that's something I will always hold close to my heart.   Friendship is something I treasure with all of my heart, because it is true that a true friend comes in when then whole world has gone out ~ no matter how much time or distance is between them.

Motherhood and the Changing Tides of Friendship

<center><a href="http://www.friendsyoulove.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="FriendsYouLove" src="http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad202/That_One_Mom/Friends%20You%20Love/fyl_1_blog_hop.png"/></a></center>



Welcome to our first Friends You Love Blog Hop!


This month is about building friendships and making our existing friendships stronger...


We challenge you to dig into your "followers" list and find a follower you don't know well (someone who doesn't comment regularly) and reach out to them and ask them to do a guest post on YOUR blog. Link up with your guest post and have your new friend (guest poster) link up as well!


We will be running this blog hop every Monday this month, so spread the word, spread the love, and darn it, go make some new friends!


This week I begged pleaded asked a new favorite blogger, Daniele from Mama Views, to write a post. Daniele is a stay at home mama to two little girls ages 1 and 3. Her writing is beautiful, her photographs are nothing short of gorgeous. I am honored to have her write on my blog--and I hope you will go and check out her blog as well! She's a fabulous, fun blogger...you will totally love her. So kick back, grab a mug of hot coffee and relax. For now you will be enjoying her writing, her truths, her words...

*****

Do you remember your relationships with friends P.C. (pre-children)? Back when friendships were based on shared interests, hobbies, passions, love of the same booze...the important things.


Flash forward to the moment you became a mama. Everything in the world looks different once your bundle of joy is placed in your arms, and that includes your friends. It is inevitable that your friendships change once you become a mother. Whether your friends are moms too, trying for their first, or have no kids and never will- you see them in a different light.


After I had my first daughter one of my coworkers came to visit us in the hospital. We had been 3rd grade teachers together with rooms right next door to each other, and she had been my mentor and my best friend for the previous few years. She didn't have any children and was never going to. I remember thinking as she  loved on my newborn, Oh my gosh. She has no clue how this feels. To suddenly have your heart living outside of your body. I felt disconnect. I couldn't believe that I was her even just the day before...before my life was changed forever by this baby. Let's face it, you think you know how it's going to feel to be a mom but you don't really know till you become one.


One of my next visitors at the hospital was one of my oldest friends from grade school and a mom of three herself. I also saw her in a completely different light. I was in awe! I was only on day two of the 24/7, soul-exhausting newborn care and I just kept thinking as she snuggled my girl, How has she done this THREE times?! And how gracefully! I'm a hot mess already! I had a new found love and respect for her.

During those initial few months after my first baby was born and I was settling into life as a stay-at-home-mom, anyone with a baby within a year of my girl could have been my new bff. I just felt this very strong camaraderie with other new moms...probably something akin to new soldiers as they finish boot camp together. You only know how it is once you've been there and you will always have that bond.


I even joined a playgroup when my daughter was 9-months-old (and let's just say that I wouldn't have been pegged as a playgroup type of gal P.C.) and made several new mommy friends that I still see today, though that playgroup isn't around anymore.


Now that I'm a few years and two kids into motherhood, I have a completely renewed and deepened appreciation for all of my friends. I feel no disconnect with any of them. My friends who don't have children remind me to not abandon who I was before. Often in the all-consuming whirlwind of parenthood you never even think of the life you had before kids. All I need is a quick get-together with one of those friends to get me back to that place. You need those friends just as much as you need the ones who can dish about spit-up and potty training for two hours straight.


My friends who are on the parenting ride along with me or who are just beginning on the journey to try for their first baby remind me that parenthood creates some of the strongest bonds that can ever be made. And while friendships post-kids can change and be different, they are still, or even more so rooted in what is important in life: Mutual passions and interests, support, love, a bottle of wine...the good stuff.

*****

Link up your posts below and hop around and meet some new friends! Maybe the blog you land on will be a new one for you or maybe their guest poster will be. It's all about making new friends!

Friends You Love: A Mabel's Labels Giveaway!

There are SO many fabulous sponsors for our Friends You Love blog party this month. We are so lucky to have so many generous companies that believe in women and our friendships. A huge thank you to them all!

With these sponsors come some wonderful giveaways--and our first one up is from Mabel's Labels. 

Mabel's Labels is a fabulous and fun shop with so many great products. They have clothing labels, Mama Cards, bag tags, stationary products and more.  I can honestly spend forever looking at their items--and one of you will be the lucky winner of your own set of Mama Cards! 

These are so convenient! You know when you are at the park with your little ones and you meet an awesome mom? Then you realize that you left your phone in the car or there isn't a way for you to write down her number? Just hand her a Mama Card--it saves a lot of trouble and time trying to swap info with someone. Love them!

   

***Win it***

One of you will receive a pack of 100 Mama Cards--a $29 value. To be eligible head on over to Mabel's Labels and tell me something you love. This must be completed before any and all bonus entries will count.

Open to US and CAN 18+

Please leave a separate comment for each bonus entry!

***Bonus Entries***

1 entry each: Follow Mabel's Labels on twitter, follow Winey Mommy on twitter, "like" Mabel's Labels on Facebook, and/or "like" Winey Mommy on Facebook

1 entry each: Follow my blog, subscribe via email, and/or subscribe via RSS

2 entries: Place my button on your blog

1 entry daily: Tweet this giveaway! Click the retweet button on top of the post. Leave URL in your comment. Can be done one time/day.

***Rules***

This giveaway will end on September 12th  @ NOON CST. Open to all US and CAN residents 18+. To be eligible to win you must do mandatory entry. If you do not follow that rule all entries will be void. Leave a valid email address in comment or available on profile. Winner will be drawn via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to notification email. If winner does not contact back w/full name/address a new winner will be picked. All winners will be posted on blog when picked. This blog is not responsible for prizes not being delivered, getting lost, etc. I will try my hardest to work with company if something should go wrong. This blog is not responsible for anything regarding to your use of product.

I was provided with one set of Mama Cards for hosting this review and giveaway. All opinions above are my own. No other compensation was given.

The World's Great BFF...A Contest!

<a href="http://www.friendsyoulove.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border ="0"src="http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/ad202/That_One_Mom/Friends%20You%20Love/wgbff_contest.png"/></a>


When I am asked about my best friend, the one who would always be there for me no matter what, I actually have to stop for a moment and think.

Being a military family and military veteran I have so many friends that come to mind. Unfortunately none of them live anywhere near me, but that is one main reason that I love social networking. I have reconnected with so many friends--friends who I would have otherwise lost contact with over the years.

Today there are a few people who I consider BFF's. I have so many people in my life, that if I honestly wrote about them all it would take so long--and y'all would be bored.

To tears. So with that said, here's my list of my top three.

Disclaimer--I would add Leo, but I talk about him enough. So just know that I do consider the husband a BFF, but I want to talk about women--amazing and strong women--who have made a tremendous impact on my life. The following women have all had a piece in making me who I am today as a wife, a mother, a friend, a sister.

***Angi***

I think of Angi a lot. I often wish I could call her, hear her voice, laugh with her and just have an honest heart to heart. But sadly Angi is no longer with me. With her family. With us on Earth. She passed away after a brave battle with breast cancer took her away from us all in 2005. The day that I received that news was a day that I'll never forget. It's an earth shattering realization to have to accept that I am no longer able to talk to her. But I have to thank her for everything that she did do for me while we were friends. I'll love her forever--and she'll always have a piece of my heart.

***The Mom & The Sis***

I talk to them practically every single day. They have been so amazing letting me talk away my sadness, my fears, my happiness, my joys and they listen. They're also both hysterical so we're always laughing about something--I heart my family SO much and wish every day that we lived closer. One day...one day I know we'll all live a hell of a lot closer than we do now! My sister and I laugh about when we were growing up how we fought like cats and dogs, yet today I would do anything for her! I love these two and could not imagine life without them in it.

***Contest***

Below are the details on the World's Greatest BFF contest! Good luck to all of my awesome readers--and I cannot wait to read all of your posts. I promise to read each and every one of them, so get to linking and keep me busy.

To enter simply write a post about your BFF. What makes her the World's Greatest BFF?

Grab the button code on the top of this post and place it in your post.

Come back here and link up on the linky below.

Entries will be accepted from 9/2 through 9/19.

On 9/24 our favorite Top 5 posts will be posted and all of our readers will be asked to vote for their favorite BFF!

Voting ends on 9/29 at 5 pm CST.

The lucky winner will be announced on 9/30 during the Friends You Love Twitter Party!

The winner will receive an amazing gift package--for both her AND for her BFF!

Awesome!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Good luck and I cannot wait to read your fabulous posts!

Friends You Love...Month Long Blog Party!

"Tell me what company thou keepst, and I'll tell thee what thou art."

- Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) Spanish novelist

"A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."

- Euripides, Greek playwrite

"The world would be so lonely, in sunny hours or gray. Without the gift of friendship, to help us every day."

- Hilda Brett Farr

There is a special bond between women that no man will ever understand. As much as we try to explain it, the words never come.


There is an honesty and realness between two women. It is a feeling to which there is no description, but it allows us the comfort to be who we really are.


We open up to one another. Talk about our fears, our dreams, our lives...


Friends are there for us--through life's ups and downs, the happiest days of our lives to the saddest days that we just need someone to let us cry on their shoulder--whether that's person to person, a phone call or even online.


Your friends may be ones that you've known for years. Or maybe you have never met them in real life, but rather have known them for years, months, days through your blog. I know that I have made so many of my friends online...and they? Are amazingness.


***What is This About?***


In 1999, Kappa Delta Sorority created National Women's Friendship Day and in 2009, the celebration was expanded to the entire month of September. In 2010 it is expanding to International Women's Friendship Month, the celebration offers all women the opportunity to honor their special friends. (source http://nwfd.kappadelta.org//)


***What Bloggers are Doing***


For the month of September a small group of women bloggers have come together to celebrate friendship. All month long we will be hosting events, contests, reviews, giveaways, and Twitter parties all in the name of friendship!


My blog will serve as our hub and link you to where you need to be in order to play along. In addition, you will find links and events on our individual sites leading you around Blognia in hopes that you too will celebrate the gift of friendship!


So go and check out Friends You Love and meet all of my other friends for this awesome month long party--it's going to be a blast!