happy birthday (and giveaway)!
[update: check out this post, which reveals the winner of the billboard bag! http://www.themsrevolution.com/2010/04/05/billboard-bag-winner/]
our little revolution turned one month old yesterday! isn’t she just the cutest thing? sure, she still wakes me in the early morning like all newborns do but i don’t mind. there are just so many things to celebrate!
…or shall i say people?
i’m new to this bloggy thing but it seems to me that this would be a good time for a giveaway. one lucky winner will score “the billboard bag!”
here’s the story on the billboard bag. i recently purchased some jeans from a fancy little boutique in memphis. the first pair ripped when i leaned down to pick up the bird during a trip to the botanic gardens (yes, this was mortifying). the second pair made it home with the alarm thingy still attached. the third pair unzipped themselves fiftyleven times while the boys and i were at the zoo. the fourth pair are excellent! ANYWAY, since i returned to the boutique four times in two weeks, i had ample time to eye, admire, and finally, photograph a cute little spring bag. i was already thinking about how i could construct one of these for myself when i noticed the bag on a billboard advertisement for yet another fancy little boutique. i made a simple pattern, and much to my delight, the bag turned out great!
Â
the bag pictured above is my new purse/diaper bag/briefcase/mobile disaster preparedness kit. but i will happily make a similar bag for one lucky winner. here’s how to enter:
for one chance to win:
- Â post a comment below, and include either your own favorite makeshift moment -or- an idea for a future themsrevolution.com post.
for additional chances to win:
- link to this giveaway from your blog (tell me you’ve done so in a comment below)
- subscribe to my blog via rss or email
- follow themsrevolution on twitter (leave your twitterIDÂ in a comment below)
- follow my blog on google friend connect (on the sidebar, WAAAY down to the right)
be sure to include your email address in your comment (will not be published) so that i can contact the winner. the contest will end at midnight on saturday, april 3rd.
Tags: billboard bag, giveaway, happy birthday
March 27th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Yea! A billboard bag! Happy birthday, Makeshift revolution!!
One of my favorite images of a makeshift moment was when I was still in seminary and DS was about 5 months old. I was trying to finish a paper, and he wanted to be entertained, so I put him on a mat under my feet, sat at the computer, and then tied toys all over my foot and leg so I could dangle them over his head and move them around and still keep my hands free. It kept him happy for a good amount of time!!
March 27th, 2010 at 9:07 am
I want to win the billboard bag!
I am not a mom, but I would love to hear some makeshift moments from moms who are going it alone – completely alone, with no partner in sight. I’m especially interested in moms who gave birth as single women, and how they dealt with the questions and societal stigma that comes along with such an unconventional choice.
Did I win the bag?? xo
March 27th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Such a cute bag! Love the bicycle print. Oh, how I wish I were still sewing.
Hmm. Our biggest makeshift moment – era – was when we decided that my husband would apply for the open position at my church – office administrator. He was the stay-at-home parent but we needed another small income. He started when Juliette was just three months old. For five or six months we all went to the office together. He still works at church and it’s been a constant process of making-shift as Juliette develops into different stages. She definitely doesn’t come to the office anymore at age 2!!
March 27th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Love the bag and the blog!!! I have an idea….how about a makeshift meal contest? (I just did this today, that’s how I thought about it) Submit your best makeshift meal that was conjured up at the last minute from ingredients that were already in your pantry or frig. The meal had to have turned out yummy and you can’t have a recipe for it. The best part is that all of the readers can benefit from the ideas!
March 27th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Um me me me!
The makeshift moment that comes to mind happens a lot around here although never pre-meditated. My white board has become the ultimate distraction. I discovered this power when my son was having a post-nap-still-groggy-inconsolable freakout. I was carrying him around the house nearing my wits’ end, when I walked past the white board and started drawing vehicles. I narrated while I drew and he was mesmerized and calmed. Now we draw something on there for every holiday, friend visit, special day, or heck, Tuesday.
More on this in an upcoming blog post and in my Mothers of Invention interview (which I’m revising a bit before I re-send it to you asap). I’m planning on dedicating a blog post to The MS Revolution really soon. I’ll let you know.
So, just to make sure I get all my chances for the fabulous bag –
1)I left a comment
2)I RSS feeded
3)I google befriended this blog
4)I’m going to give props to The MS Revolution on my blog
March 29th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by suzanne l. vinson, mary allison cates. mary allison cates said: GIVEAWAY! happy one month b-day to themsrevolution.com. celebrate by entering to win "the billboard bag!" http://bit.ly/9UdY3M [...]
March 29th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
I love the bag! You are so talented!
Let’s see, one of my most recent makeshift moments was studying nutrition with my children (I home school them). I had them make menu lists, find vegetarian recipes, and prepare dinner for an entire week. I simply supervised the kitchen, but they did all of the work. The learned so much about how much food costs, how to cook, and how to prepare a nutritious and delicious meal. They also had so much fun and took so much pride in their meals that they each are responsible for helping prepare dinner at least 2 nights a week! It makes my job so much easier!
March 29th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
i love the bag!!!! I love reading the blog and getting inside scoop on some folks that i know. so far, all are so super talented and together, i’m starting to feel like an underachiever!!! hoping to hear from some stay at home moms, single moms, full time working moms, etc.
March 30th, 2010 at 7:20 am
What an awesome bag! And here I was feeling proud of myself for making a square Kermit pillow for M. (sigh)
Best makeshift moment – M used to be terrified of monsters and was certain they were coming into the house at night. This led to some really LONG bedtimes. One day out of desperation, I pulled out a spray bottle, filled with water, a little vinegar and lavender essential oil and told him this was special “monster repellent” and that I had been spraying it outside the front and back door to keep out the monsters. Well for a long time, he sprayed that monster repellent faithfully every few days (and I think he still believes it works). Soon after that, no more monster worries at bedtime!
PS – I also linked to your blog from mine (travelingtrioadventures.blogspot.com) and am going to follow it. Because who doesn’t need a cute bag like that for the summer!?!?
March 30th, 2010 at 8:43 am
p.s. I subscribed when you first started publishing; does that still count for try #2?
March 30th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Such a cute bag! And I’m so glad I’ve found your blog!
March 31st, 2010 at 6:59 am
yay giveaway! Cute bag!!!! Recent makeshift moment for us was when we moved the pack and play out of our bedroom and started making use of the strange wheels that are on it. Now we roll that thing from room to room so that Darah can safely play while we take care of business (prepare dinner, blog, fold laundry, etc.). Darah’s just now getting into the “WHY HAVE YOU LEFT THE ROOM! WAAAAAH!” stage, so the pack and play on wheels is a lifesaver right now!
March 31st, 2010 at 7:00 am
I’m an RSS subscriber!
March 31st, 2010 at 7:00 am
Following you on twitter @tiffanyblogs
March 31st, 2010 at 7:01 am
Now I’m following you on google connect!
March 31st, 2010 at 10:12 am
Subscribed and confirmed
March 31st, 2010 at 10:13 am
Am google friend. Gentleman with me in photo is the late Dr. James Mackay of Glasgow, Scotland
March 31st, 2010 at 10:20 am
When I was growing up during WWII making do and makeshift moments were a way of life. I remember one Christmas (I was
you couldn’t get replacement bulbs for tree lights and back then they were single circuit lights, one went out the all did. So the families on our street were planning on a dark tree year but on Christmas morning about 6AM after the blackout was lifted our Moms took all of us kids out to the front of Mr. Warner’s house and after we were all assembled the 20 ft. tall pine tree in his yard lit up with all the shared light bulbs from our neighborhood’s families. It was a Christmas I will never forget. The tree glowed all day until the black out started again at dusk.
March 31st, 2010 at 11:59 am
a friend of mine just sent me the link to your blog & i think it’s brilliant! (& so is that gorgeous bag.) currently subscribing & linking
thanks for the great giveaway!
March 31st, 2010 at 12:04 pm
My makeshift moment was when I sat my baby’s carrier by the running vacuum on the floor to make him feel like he was in the car so he would fall to sleep!
March 31st, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Not having a lot of money and having to live on ramen.
March 31st, 2010 at 5:01 pm
My makeshift moment was using a book to steady a coffee table.
March 31st, 2010 at 6:44 pm
My makeshift moment was when the oven went out when I was supposed to have everyone over for Thanksgiving dinner. I was watching a friend of mine’s home so I went over there and cooked everything and then brought it all back home right before company was due.
I told my friend about it when she got home. She thought it was funny. Another time when the water was off because the plumber was fixing a leaking pipe, and I was making mac and cheese I used the water out of the water heater to cook it.
March 31st, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Favorite make shift moment involved a ripped scarf being cut and transformed into a fancy bow for a dress.
March 31st, 2010 at 7:53 pm
following on twitter now!
March 31st, 2010 at 8:02 pm
My latest makeshift was during a recent visit to my parents. They have had some new outdoor lighting installed, and there was a great grey plastic pipe running up the fence near the gate, very unsightly. So, I collected some bamboo cuttings from around the garden, and wired them into a kind of tall narrow mat, which we then curled around the pipe. Hey presto, instant camoflage! It looks way better, and it should last for ages, long after the bushes grow up to hide it.
March 31st, 2010 at 8:02 pm
I’m not a Mom yet so I haven’t had my makeshift moment yet of trying to balance work and my kids, but I know it will be a hard juggle someday.
My makeshift moment in life so far has been when my fiance and I decided we had better move in together, against how we had originally planned our relationship and against the wishes of our families, because our only other option was for me to return to California to live and for him to stay in Australia at that point after having gone through all my savings and not have found a job. It was hard to reconcile the fact that we weren’t going to make everyone happy in the situation and hard because it wasn’t how we had planned things either, but we took a deep breath, thought about what was right for the two of us, and realized life doesn’t always go according to plan!
What a great bag (I love the bikes on the inside-a cool little surprise), wish I had talent like yours
March 31st, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Loving the bag!!
How about a “poll” for makeshift moments as they relate to day to day, restaurants, church, visiting with family/friends, etc. For example, “Where’s the craziest place you’ve ever changed a diaper?” “What is the craziest thing your kid has ever blurted out in public? Did you try to/have to cover?”
My craziest diaper change in recent memory? On a phone booth counter during a wedding! Woot!
March 31st, 2010 at 9:17 pm
My whole day is a makeshift moment, lol
earthdancedaph@yahoo.com
March 31st, 2010 at 10:50 pm
What a great story. I’m doing a lot more makeshift these days – mainly recycling cardboard for handmade “greeting cards.” They actually look pretty good!
Thanks for the giveaway.
March 31st, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Now following you on RSS!
March 31st, 2010 at 11:46 pm
The strap on my one shouldered bag gave in while i was going from one class to another so I used to my belt to make another strap and carried my bag around the whole day that way. It was great ^_^
April 1st, 2010 at 1:06 am
I follow the blog, lovely bag and happy birthday!
Naomi
April 1st, 2010 at 1:53 am
Making ‘lasagna’ with corn chips because I forgot to buy the pasta. YUM!!!
April 1st, 2010 at 5:52 am
Our oven broke down after I promised to bake cookies for a charity bake sale. Fortunately, I found a recipe for “reindeer poop” cookies which don’t require baking and I made them instead.
April 1st, 2010 at 6:17 am
My favorite recent makeshift moment was when we bought all new bedding for my daughters room, but hey…we are on a tight budget and couldn’t afford to buy all the pillows, curtains,etc to finish it all up. SO I used a sheet set in a matching color and recovered all her throw pillows, made curtains, recovered the memo board, etc!!! And I still have enough to cover her chair!
Angie
April 1st, 2010 at 7:06 am
My best makeshift moment of late was when my 7 year old told me the night before it was due, that he needed a costume for his class play. He was the Blue Dwarf, so I stayed up whipping up a quick crocheted hat, gave him some blue sweatpants and long-sleeved blue shirt, gave him a pair of blue fuzzy socks I had and let him use a scarf of mine that was different shades of blue as a belt. The hat turned out perfect. It was long and droopy with a little pom pom on the end and when he wore it the right way, it made his ears stick out like dopey. He ended up having the cutest dwarf costume of all the dwarfs and I threw it together in a couple hours the night before it was due! I was feelin’ pretty good about that one.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:06 am
I follow your blog with Google Friend Connect.
April 1st, 2010 at 7:30 am
You could do features on children of invention. I love to see and hear what kids say. They are so weird! Yet, I don’t think we get less weird I think we just get better at disguising our weirdness.
Thanks for the contest
April 1st, 2010 at 7:53 am
My favorite makeshift moment was when my husband came home after a business dinner. He happened to eat at one of my favorite restaurants in town, it’s pretty upscale, the food is just delish! Anyway, when I asked what he ordered, he told me he got the Prime Rib…and that my steak would knock it out of the ball park. I take pride in cooking a really great steak…so that made my night!
seeryusfam@msn.com
April 1st, 2010 at 7:55 am
Following via GFC.
seeryusfam@msn.com
April 1st, 2010 at 7:55 am
Blogged here:
http://seeryusmama.com/2010/04/01/link-em-thursday-24/
seeryusfam@msn.com
April 1st, 2010 at 7:55 am
Following on Twitter: @SeeryusMama
seeryusfam@msn.com
April 1st, 2010 at 7:56 am
I’ve subscribed via RSS, Live Bookmarks.
seeryusfam@msn.com
April 1st, 2010 at 8:36 am
Wow! You have a really wonderful blog! This is my first time here – but I’ve signed up for email subscriptions so I don’t miss a post!
LOVE the bag!! Do you have an on-line shop?
audreyscountrycrafts at gmail dot com
April 1st, 2010 at 10:50 am
A month ago I was expecting dinner guests planning to serve slow cooker pulled pork which I make often. I took out the roast, tried to put it in the crock pot, but it wouldn’t fit! I didn’t have a car, and was home with my children. But then it dawned on me if I put it in the oven in an oven safe container with a tight fitting lid, and some water and keep the temp low… I think I set it at 250, then it should turnout just like the crock pot. And it did! Nice and tender, it was a hit!
April 1st, 2010 at 11:20 am
I love the bag and I am glad i found your blog. My favorite makeshift moment is yesterday the kids broke there curtain and then would not go to sleep because they had no curtain in there room. I remember that i have many flat sheets that we never use so i grabbed my sewing machine and made the sheet into a curtain. This took only a moment, but then all three of my boys were happy and went to sleep.
April 1st, 2010 at 11:28 am
I love your blog. and I love reading about your pants.
A makeshift moment…maybe we could all share ideas for inexpensive gifts. Whether they be for teachers, family, play friends, etc.
I absolutely love this bag too!
i follow you.
I get your emails!
April 1st, 2010 at 11:30 am
Makeshift moment- My bathroom chair I use in the shower broke, the leg was loose and wobbly so I put a huge piece of styrofoam under it and wedged up under the chair(you know the kind that they pack computers or tv’s in)and it secures it like a charm.
April 1st, 2010 at 11:33 am
following themsrevolution on twitter,, (id- electricisland)
April 1st, 2010 at 11:33 am
Subscribed
April 1st, 2010 at 11:33 am
Im a google friend connect follower
April 1st, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I had a MS moment this morn when I used wadded up foil to scrub my crockpot – crusty hardened goo!
April 1st, 2010 at 12:23 pm
twitter follower- kgail11
April 1st, 2010 at 12:24 pm
google follower
April 1st, 2010 at 6:21 pm
I had just purchased a shirt, and the first day that I went to wear it, I spilled bleach on it — I know, not so smart. Anyways, the spot was almost center, so I cut the shirt in half, folded back the edges, used some stichwitchery, pressed it with an iron and then voila — instant open t-shirt cardigan.
April 1st, 2010 at 6:33 pm
makeshift dinner recipes
April 1st, 2010 at 8:05 pm
I love your blog!
My makeshift moment was when I realized that my son “lost” his superhero cape the day before halloween! I didn’t want to go out and buy his costume again just for the cape, so I make a new one myself, and it turned out pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself!
April 1st, 2010 at 8:06 pm
I follow via google friend connect.
April 1st, 2010 at 8:07 pm
I follow via email.
April 1st, 2010 at 8:32 pm
My best makeshift moment, and one that I use quite often, is using old scarves for headwraps. It’s an accessory! It’s keeps sweat out of my eyes when I am mowing the lawn! Viola!
April 1st, 2010 at 8:33 pm
And, I am following on Google now, thank you!!
April 2nd, 2010 at 5:28 am
I lost the back of my earring at work and broke off a pencil eraser and used that as the back
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 am
I subscribed to your RSS feed a couple weeks ago!
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 am
Love your blog! A recent makeshift moment was discovering that if I let my three-year-old hang upside down off the bed, I can brush her teeth without whining!
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:41 am
For makeshift betls that I like even better I use ribbon usually 1″ and just tie without a bow for a smooth look around the waist. Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:41 am
I am a new Twitter Follower -sharonjo1! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:42 am
I am a new Google Friends Follower! Fingers crossed! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
My makeshift Moment was as scrunchy I used to fix the toilet lever thing until we could hire a plumber.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Loving that bag! So stylish.
How about interviewing lots of other mums, SAHM and working full-time ones? I am not a mum but wouldn’t mind info for the future.
April 2nd, 2010 at 5:39 pm
I’m sure with the economy the way it is now, there wil be more makeshift moments. Mine was when I needed a drinking straw and didn’t feel like going to the store, so I used the tube from inside of a lotion bottle.
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
A makeshift moment happened on Christmas day. My brother brought home his girlfriend we didn’t know was coming and had no gift for her. We got home 10 minutes before them from church and was able to come up with a great gift for her from items we hadn’t used yet. Candle, fancy candle decoration, unopened movie we’d had more than one copy of, new lotions, and a few other items. Now I keep a selection of gifts available for just those occasions.
April 3rd, 2010 at 12:15 am
happy birthday , dear blog!
It is interest for mothers and womans.
I like giveaways! So, I here )
lusizova(at)gmail.com
April 3rd, 2010 at 12:16 am
I`m new follower
April 3rd, 2010 at 5:18 am
I love big bags because I can use them for just about anything! I always carry a big tote to rehearsals! A makeshift moment I once had was when my oldest was four or five: she hated getting her toenails cut and would squirm because it “tickled”. We discovered that if she slid her toes under a closed door, I could clip her toenails from the other side and she wouldn’t squirm!
Cassie
cjm92995@yahoo.com
April 3rd, 2010 at 5:19 am
I’m following via Google Friends Connect!
Cassie
cjm92995@yahoo.com
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:05 am
I love this bag!! Makeshift is a way of living for us. Creativity is the clue.
Thanks for the opportunity!!
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:06 am
I’m follow your twitter @zimeillustrator
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:08 am
I’m follow via rss!!
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:20 am
I follow your blog using google friend connect
fancyfeet45@earthlink.net
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Needing a tablecloth for my grandson’s birthday party, I turned the Christmas one I had upside down and used it.
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
blog follower
April 3rd, 2010 at 4:01 pm
follow you on twitter – debijot
April 3rd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
My little”moment” would be when i realized that i could make jewelry and not have to buy it.. i was standing at the checkout of a store ” not to be named” and just had a realization i can do this.. put the stuff back and went to the local bead store.. i can say i have yet to but a non handmade item in 4 years now for jewelry and its slowly trickling down to the rest of my life items too
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:01 pm
What an amazing bag! I would love to win! My best makeshift moment was fashioning a “dress” for my daughter out of one of my tshirts when she had a diaper “emergency” out in public when she was about 2. Eeek!
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Follower with Google Friend Connect
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Subscribe with Bloglines
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
April 3rd, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Following you on Twitter (glasscastle)
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:46 pm
I am having a make shift change in my life-I am going to college for the first time in my life and I am 52 years old
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:48 pm
follow your blog as jelaws5
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:51 pm
cute bag and blog
feed subscriber through Google Reader
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:09 pm
My life is a makeshift moment! I have a Special Needs child and after she nearly died I decided to give up financial worries to God and focus on her and my son. It’s been rough, but I’ve gone from a full time nurse to a very part time nurse, I’m into extreme couponing and frugal living, I just wrote my first grant as a volunteer, am writing for a Special Needs online magazine, and have my own blog. It’s still stressful at times, but I call the shots and if needed, can walk away from it all for my children.
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I once saw a gorgeous piece of artwork made using fabric and embellishments. Well I suddenly thought I could make one just as good. So I knocked together a frame and made one, it was even nicer than the one in store and I couldn’t be happier.
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I am following your blog.
April 3rd, 2010 at 8:51 pm
I signed up via email.
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:21 pm
oh we have so many makeshift moments around here- well today we colored easter eggs- and tried it au-natural. We used the water from boiling beats (for dinner) to dye some eggs pink, turmeric to dye some yellow, and blue-berry syrup (we ate the berries in a cobbler for desert) for blue. ANyway they turned out great- and it was fun showing the kids how the foods we eat can also be used to make art
And I am IN LOVE with this bag- hope i win
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I’m a new follower on GFC- love this blog!!
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:16 pm
My recent makeshift moment – I took my three kindergartners to the grocery store with me as usual. But this time, I gave them three dollars each. I explained that they needed to buy healthy snacks for themselves. They were thrilled, sure that they could buy a “lot” of snacks with their money. So, we went looking and all three picked out an avocado, then some fruit leather and all of a sudden – their three dollars was spent on just those items. They were ALL in shock! They were sure they could still get a drink, maybe a small piece of candy but I had the calculator out, showing them how much each thing cost and what it all added up to..
It was a huge eye opener for them. They now understand why mommy and daddy don’t care for them to proclaim how hungry they are, then get a small plate of food and they declare they are done not even halfway through (because they want to go play).
THANKS!! alisonad23 at gmail dot com
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I used a small piece of wood to hold the back of my chair together.
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 pm
As a a future themsrevolution.com post, I’d like to see a post about the anguish one goes through when repeatedly trying to get pregnant. I have a dear friend going through that situation and it’s hard to see her go through it and know that others experience it as well.
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:53 pm
My makeshift moment was when my towel rack in the bathroom fell down.
The hole was to big for the screw and I did not have the beloved putty
that I needed so I stuffed some paper towels in the hole and put the
screws back in to the wall.To this day the towel rack is still there and hasn’t
moved
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:57 pm
I subscribed via email
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Following themsrevolution on twitter (Swtlilchick)
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:58 pm
I am following you on google friend connect (Charlene)
April 4th, 2010 at 5:58 am
I would like to see a future themsrevolution.com post about what to do when unexpected guests come over.
April 4th, 2010 at 5:58 am
I subscribed by email.
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:51 am
[...] I adore the Bilboard bag from The MakeShirt Revolution! [...]