I Bared it All

Today I'm "baring it all" over at 

Once Upon A Chapter.

I sent her some pictures of my bookshelves and my Little Guy's bookshelves

for comparison! =) I think he may catch up to me quickly!

Makes my mommy heart happy to have a child who shares my love of reading!

Gratitude Giveaway! Thank you!

I am joining up with 

I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and All-Consuming Books for the 

Gratitude Giveaway Hop!

Thank you to all my readers!

This hop is meant as a thank you to our readers, so there is only ONE entry.

No long list of optional entries.


If I get enough entries... I just may throw in a second winner for a $5 Amazon gift card!
UPDATE! 
Currently over 60 entries and we've hit 100 likes on my FB page, 
so I'll be adding a second winner! Whoo hoo!

I am giving away one gently read book of mine.

A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

Check out the rest of the Gratitude Giveaways!

Know Me Better

This is a new meme by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. I thought these were fun questions. I'd love to hear my readers answers also! Leave a comment or link up. =)

Know Me Better 10/6 Questions
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

I love Chocolate Fudge Brownie... the kind with the chunks of brownie in it... yummm!
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

I'm really not much of a breakfast eater. I would be okay just drinking a cup of coffee and waiting until lunch, but I know that's not so great for me so I attempt to at least have a piece of toast for breakfast each morning.
Night owl, or early bird?

Night owl - no reason to fight it, it's not going to change. =)
One food you would never eat?

Mussels or any kind of gross slimy seafood. Tried mussels once and thought I was going to die.
Skittles or M&Ms?

Skittles - I like M&Ms but milk chocolate is not my favorite. I much prefer the fruity flavors!

Where I Am Today

I'm guest posting over at 

That Mama Gretchen today!

Gretchen is on vacation and I'm sharing some fun 

kid-friendly tips on traveling with your little ones!

Head on over and check out her blog!

(and me! of course! =)

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop (Book Giveaways!)

Just a reminder that today is the last day

to enter giveaways for the

Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop!

Enter mine by clicking on the image to the right --->

Good luck!

Giveaways

Can I just say that my biggest

pet peeve about giveaways is when it's required to

become a follower of that blog to enter?
I'm probably in the minority here - but what can I say?

 

The whole point of hops is to get exposure -

yes I get it - and to get more followers.

BUT, there is no way someone can follow 200 blogs and

actually participate or read them all!

 

I actually join more blogs when they DON'T require a follow.

Usually I look to see if they require a follow and if so,

I don't even check out what they're giving away.

Maybe that's wrong of me.

 

All that to say -

I hope you enter my giveaways.

I hope you win.

I hope you choose to follow my blog if you want too.

And if so, I hope you participate and leave me some comments. =)

 

Thank you to all my voluntary followers!
(and thank you to all the other wonderful bloggers out there
who allowed me to enter their giveaways regardless of
follower status - I found a few new book blogs along the way!)

 

Hoooo Are You?

This week I'm linking up over at Night Owl Crafting 
for her Hoooo Are You? meme. 

Here are this week's questions!

1. Where do you usually have your thermostat set at in the winter?
2. What room do you tend to put off cleaning until last?
3. Do you like to clean with music on or off?
4. When do you take time to blog?
5. How much time do you spend looking at other blogs a week?
My Answers:
1. Our temperature is usually set to about 65 - 68 degrees. Our house is very non-heat efficient and so it's pointless to have it any higher because all the heat just goes upstairs anyway.
2. The office/craft/guest room! It's always a mess... (sigh... as I look around me)
3. Music on please! Somehow this keeps up the motivation!
4. When my son is napping - otherwise he's into all my clutter in this room that I never clean!
5. A week?? Uh.... probably 5 or 6 hours
Want to join in? Visit Night Owl Crafting and link up! 

Like My Blog? Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs!

Y3W Blog Hop

Linking up with a neat blog hop today - Your Three Words
Attempting to sum up your week in three words are hard, but this is what came to my mind. We had pictures taken yesterday and the photographer was like "Elsie, you're so lucky" at the end. I know.

Like My Blog? Vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs!

Slow Night, Blogmania & Revelations

Okay, so last night at work was SUPER SLOW. I did not have even ONE preggo come in. Very weird and I'm not complaining... but man, it's hard to stay awake.

So... in trying to keep myself from falling asleep, I started visiting all the Blogmania blogs. It was really pretty fun and I found a couple new blogs to start following.

But I discovered something about myself during my blog hopping last night. Maybe it's my passive agressive nature or something, but if a blog owner required me to be a follower of their blog in order to enter their giveaways, then I would just move on.

Does that bother anyone else? I understand the reason behind it... I mean, here they are giving away awesome prizes and they want to get something out of it. But I want followers who actually WANT to follow me - not just because they wanted something from my site.

Anyway... I DID sign up to follow about 3 blogs that actually looked interesting to me and I thought I actually might want to read the content on a regular basis - and none of them required me to be a follower... I just wanted too. And I signed up for a bunch of giveaways - at those sites and some others that didn't require a follow to enter.

I learned something about myself last night. Don't force me or I'll pass you by. haha

Hooo Are you?

I thought this might be fun! Hosted by Night Owl Crafting

Do you type on a keyboard the correct way or do you peck like a cute little chick?

I type the correct way. My mom made sure I know how to type. =)

2. Typically how long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

If it's just me.. I can be ready in 30 - 45 minutes. If I have my son to get ready also, it takes me at least 45 - 1 hour.

3. Do you prefer lip gloss or lipstick?

Ummm? Neither? I usually lose it, so I don't wear it too often! But if I do, it's probably lip gloss.

4. Do you take clothes to the dry cleaner or wash them yourself even if they say dry clean only?

I take them to my mom. haha! I've never taken anything to the dry cleaner. Usually I'll try to wash it myself,but if I'm not sure what to do with it, I seriously will take it to my mom.

5. Do you prefer Wal Mart or Target.

Target. Usually not as many people in their pajamas walking around.

Link up here

Emma

Anyone who's been following my reading list will notice that Emma by Jane Austen has been in my current reads for quite some time. I started reading it quite some time ago.  I was planning to read all of Austen's books (Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favorite and the only one I've finished) one-by-one. I had attempted Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park years ago without successfully finishing either one. So I decided to start with Emma, which I had no idea of the storyline.

I actually got pretty far into the story before I petered out. But I started getting kinda confused by all the characters who kept popping in and out. There were the main characters and then there were all the people in the village and not one, but TWO Mr. Knightley's to keep track of. Anyway... I eventually just started another book with the idea that I was going back to Emma later.

I caught the Gwyneth Paltrow version on TV one day. Seeing the story really helped he keep everything straight. Then for my birthday in May, a good friend of mine gave me the BBC version of Emma (it's like 4 hours long and like all the BBC's movies - accurate) and we watched it a couple months ago.

So.... now with a pretty solid understanding of what is going on and of all the different characters, I'm going to start this book over again and I am determined to finish it. I usually hate watching a movie before reading the book, but I am sure it actually helped me in this case since I was so confused before. Sooo... wish me good luck. I am excited to re-read it and fill in all of Austen's good character development that the movies have to leave out.

Mommy Needs Travel Advice

I'm kinda tired this morning. I worked until 11:30 last night and then I had a friend who's baby was in our Special Care Nursery, so I popped in to visit her and see the cute baby before I headed out and of course didn't get home until around 1:00 am! Oops!

We are going on a big vacation to Texas in October to visit my husbands grandparents. They are renewing their vows after 60 years of marriage! It is going to be like a big family reunion, but I am a little nervous about making this trip with an 18-month-old. My husband and I made this same trip in 2007, but it was just the two of us, so it was no big deal.

This time, we are traveling with my two mother-in-laws, sister- and brother-in-law and their three kids (ages 13, 10 & 8). So lots of arms and eyes, but I'm still dreading it a little. So I've been searching the Internet for some great ideas to make our traveling a little easier.

• I found this website - TravelMamas.com with lots of helpful lists for packing (I'm kind of a list fanatic).

• Although we're not buying our Little Guy a seat on the airplane, I'm hoping to get him an empty seat, so he can sit in his car seat on the 6 hour flight (to contain the wiggles!), but just in case we have to gate-check it, I'm thinking of purchasing one of these Car Seat Travel Bags (or one similar).

• Thinking of purchasing one of these cute I Spy Bag Travel Toys from aebaby. ------>

• Ear Planes for kids are these weird ear plugs that are supposed to relieve ear pressure during take-off and landing on the airplane.... not sure how it will really work, but maybe worth a try (read some reviews here).

Anyone have any travel tips for a squirmy, very active 18-month-old little boy to do in airports and airplanes? He's not much into watching TV although I may get a short DVD or two and borrow the cousins DVD player just in case. I'm going to bring some of his books with, but that will only last so long. I've asked some friends who traveled with their babies and/or toddlers recently, but they both have nice snuggly children. =)

Any advice will be considered! Haha

Blog Bash

 

I'm joining up in the 1st Annual Blog Bash!

 

My name is Elsie and I've been married for five years this Septmeber. I have a 15-month-old son who keeps me on my toes and I love more than anything else in this world. I love to knit, but I have a short attention span, so I tend to do small projects. I have a bunch of hobbies, but I kinda fly from one thing to another, so I never get really good at any of them.

 

I blog because I've always been a journal writer and this just seemed like a natural progression to move to blogging. Sharing with others sometimes gives perspective to my thoughts that I might not have just writing them down for myself. I'm also enjoying recording my experiences with my son - things I'm sure I'd otherwise forget years down the road.

 

I blog about the craft projects I try, books I'm reading, recipes I'm trying and mostly about my family.

 

I think that the biggest reward about blogging is the connection between me and other bloggers. It's really a community of people and even though we don't know each other in person, we are still bound together by our blogging (kinda weird, but cool!)

 

I have blogged off and on for several years, but I just got serious about in the last 6 months or so. I'm a little more focused this time and getting more involved in the previously mentioned blogging community, so I'm hoping I stick with it this time! =)

 

Ahh... the story behind my blog title.... how can I explain without giving too many personal details away - I don't want any creepies coming to find me. =)

 Okay... my maiden name had something to do with nature. So when I was growing up a lady in our church always used to call me Little Sprout as a joke. She'd send cards and stuff address to Mr. and Mrs. ___ and Little Sprout. I just always thought that was kinda cute and now I have my own Little Sprout. So Little Sprout Growing has kind of a duel meaning to me - it is the record of my Little Sprout growing up and also my story of growing up - because although I may technically be an adult now - I'm still maturing, having experiences, learning new things or more simply - growing. =)

 

So thanks so much for visiting my blog. I'm very excited to be a part of this awesome Blog Bash! If you like what you see, I hope you'll follow me and even if you're just passing through... thanks for stopping by!

Friday Blog Hops

Well, it's that time again for the weekly Friday Blog Hops. Welcome to everyone and thanks for stopping by - take a peek around and follow if you like what you see. I return all follows!

I thought I'd share a few tidbits about myself:

1. 
   
   I've played the violin since I was five (this does not mean I'm good)
2. 
   
   I have a BA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences from the University of Washington (whatever that means)
3. 
   
   I'm a part-time cloth diaperer (just because I'm lazy sometimes)
4. 
   
   I work in the Birth Center at our local hospital
5. 
   
   I'm deathly afraid of slugs (yes, I know they can't move very fast)
6. 
   
   I still own my very first car, although it barely runs anymore
7. 
   
   I still don't have a data plan for my cell phone, so I think I'm totally behind the times
8. 
   
   I have two labs
9. 
   
   I have eaten bear meat
10. 
    
    I can't watch horror movies or I have nightmares

Also, check out this AWESOME giveaway over at Fitteds and pockets and snappis, oh my! for a mini stash of THREE cloth diapers! (And it's super easy to enter!)

Friday Blog Hops

Excited for the Friday blog hops - take a look around and if you like what you see, follow me! Make sure to leave me a comment so I can follow you back!

Yay! Tuesday Blog Hops

Welcome! Take a peek around and follow me if you like what you see!

Follow Me Back Tuesday is hosted by Survey Junkie, Little Yaya's, Review Retreat & Boobies,Babies And A Blog.

Blog Hops

I am just discovering the world of blog hops! How fun!

Please take a peek around and follow me if you like.

Leave me a comment and I will follow you back.

Thanks!