No, You’re NOT the Only One Who’s Done That…

In the years before the cloistered ranks of forgotten, overlooked mothers began to rise one by one into the shining blogosphere to unite as a powerful cultural voice, there was but one therapy—humor—that got Mom through the day. After all, if you can’t laugh about snot, pee, juice stains on your favorite dress and a life that would reduce most men to either tears or stark raving madness, you probably won’t survive motherhood. That fact alone is what makes Nanny Deprived such an oasis. It isn’t only the clever blog/confessional that with every hilarious post reminds us that moms are human, nor the charming June Cleaver tongue-in-cheek vibe of the website, nor even the easy-to navigate layout of the store that invites us to drop our ever-clogged vacuums and stay a while. As fab as all these are, it’s the product line that really makes this site special.

For those of us not necessarily cape-able of personally crafting superhero outfits that meet our toddlers’ standards, we might look to Nanny Deprived for a gallery of cute capes in every theme from T-Rex to Retro Rocket. Or for those of us more concerned with surrounding our newbies with plush, practical comfort, a sampling of the Rugged Idea Blanket might be more in order. For a touch of wordplay that brings well-deserved smiles we might reach for one of the shop's very own t-shirts for moms. Or, as yet another option, we just might go all-purpose and pick up a little MomSpit—yes, it’s supposed to evoke that image—for those moments when we need to cleanse some angelic face of its playground grime and don’t have one wipe left in the arsenal. We may never catch up on the laundry, but we can make it through another day with the support of sites like Nanny Deprived. And as a way of blessing our Wishing Willow readers with a chance to win something special, Nanny Deprived is also offering a bottle of Green Tea and Fig MomSpit to the winner of this giveaway. To enter, visit NannyDeprived.com, then come back here to tell us which product on the site is your favorite. Tell us in an additional post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, or follow us on Twitter, and "tweet" about the giveaway. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. Contest ends 3/31/09.

Be sure to also enter our giveaways here.

Wish Bravely, Shop Simply

In this political season in which the notion of a free-world-commanding, do-it-all mom sparks applause from some and derision from others, it seems a provocative choice to highlight a businesswoman/mother of three who quietly goes about, well, doing it all. When today's featured individual isn’t chasing her boys or playing chauffeur, she maintains not one, but two popular websites, Simple Me Boutique and Simple Finds, catered to the one-stop shopping mom. The range of products offered speaks for itself, but that isn’t the whole story. Our experience with Christie has not only left us highly satisfied with her service and impressed with her savvy; we’ve found ourselves taken with her engaging and down-to-earth personality as well. (While the latter may seem an irrelevant detail, it isn’t: Empirical studies show that when two businesses offer a similar product, the business perceived as “friendlier” wins more customers just about every time. Go figure :)

One of the more bewitching offerings available at Simple Me Boutique is the Grayc Coral Rectangle Cocktail Ring. Striking enough in its shining citrus-amber complexity and intriguing depth, this ring is even more compelling given the unique process required to produce it. By fusing glass fragments of various colors together in a kiln, then melting them over a mold for shape, the designer, Courtney Gray, renders an entirely new material, aptly named “grayc.” Mounted on a sterling silver adjustable band, the finished glass seems almost to beam with pride—as you will the moment you try it on. Devotees of this art form would do well to check out the Antique Ocean Cocktail Ring as well, a no-less-fascinating creation that swims with aristocratic blue tones and gathers light in dramatic fashion.

For a limited time, any purchases over $50 at Simple Me Boutique can be had at a 15% discount. Just plug in the discount code WILLOW, and let the fun begin in earnest.

Modern Boutique, Timeless Properties

Lisa Haskins, mother of two, online boutique owner, and full-time nice person, knows a thing or two about carving out an identity. In a dog-eat-dog retailing world increasingly inundated with competitors for the “mom market,” finding a way to run ahead of the pack is always a challenge. But there are no gimmicks behind the success of Queen Baby Bean, and the only performance-enhancing substance she would ever be accused of imbibing would probably be Fair Trade coffee served in a darling poppy-red mug. Instead, she relies on a more conventional set of sales boosters: an unfairly cute product line featuring neo-nostalgic finds like the Chalet Dollhouse; modern environmentally-friendly ideals; and of course, flawless service. There is no “big box” homogeny to her site, either—the only predictable aspect of this store is its unfailing uniqueness. These are just a few of the reasons Wishing Willow is pleased to feature Lisa’s generous giveaway of the Musical Band Drum Set.

What is it with our parental aversion to percussion toys?It couldn’t be the noise, since we happily put up with Blue's Clues jingles and the exultant victory shrieks of Dora the Explorer, at penetrating volumes, all day long. It can only be our fear of the unknown. Well, here’s something you might not have known: Drum and cymbal sets aren’t just ideal outlets for the Robin Williams instinct (everybody look at me!) common among children. These kits also hone hand-eye coordination, allow for rhythmic experimentation that works the left and right sides of the brain simultaneously, and set the foundation for a love of music, whether your kid is a future Keith Moon or not. And as a plus, these earth-friendly toys are also pretty darn cute!

Becoming eligible to win the Musical Band Drum Set is simple: Visit Queen Baby Bean, browse the site and let us know what your favorite item is in Lisa's shop. Leave your comments here on Wishing Willow. To get an extra entry, subscribe to our newsletter (Leave a second comment, and confirm your subscription. The winner will be chosen randomly.) You don't have to have a Google account to participate. Click "anonymous" to enter. Contest ends 10/2/08. Best of luck!

Super cool bonus: Wishing Willow readers will save 15% off their purchases at Queen Baby Bean. Use the promo code: willow when checking out. Promo code expires 10/9/08.

**We have a winner - Brook who said "Ramalama Ava Diaper Bag in Chocolate! Holy Moly!! It's absolutely beautiful!" Congratulations!** This contest has ended. Check out our other giveaways here.