Friday, June 28, 2013

Patriotic Goodies - Get Them Now!

Check out our facebook album below by clicking on the links above the pictures. These pictures are just a sampling of the adorable items we have in stock as of today. If you find something you want, just leave your email address and your preference of local pick-up or shipping - which is ONLY $2.00 unless otherwise noted - in the comments on the picture of the item you want (in the facebook album), and we'll send you a paypal invoice. Once it's paid for, it's yours!

Click here to see all our Patriotic Goodies


IttyBitty Lydi Headband - $8.99
IttyBitty Lydi Chunky Necklace - $21.99
Tickled Pink Pillowcase Dress (2T) - $19.99


IttyBitty Lydi Headbands - $8.99


QT Caps Sunbonnets (0-3 mo) & (1-3 yrs) - $14.99



Click into the album and see all of the adorable designs available!

**Please note that the items in these albums are what we have in stock as of 6/28/13. Because these are items made by Work at Home Moms, stock and quantity of each fabric and design is limited. If you see something that you would like and it's not available when you order it, we will let you know as quickly as we can and will help you get something else that works for you!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Shh! My Kids Don't Know I'm Fat

So I read an article yesterday that one of my friends posted.

It was a letter a lady wrote to her mom. It talked about how when she was really young, she remembers her mom wearing a beautiful, classy, white bathing suit at the lake. She used to pull that suit out of her mom's drawer and dream about when she would be big enough to be as beautiful and lovely as her mom.

Then her view of her mom and herself changed forever.

She told her mom how beautiful she was one day, and her mom responded with something like "no I'm not, dear. I'm fat, and ugly, and horrible. I always have been fat - even as a child."

What the author said she learned from this is that 1. Her mom was fat, because moms don't lie 2. Fat is ugly and horrible 3. When she grows up she is going to be like her mom, therefore she was going to be ugly and horrible too.

She has spent a good chunk of her life living and believing this lie from her mom. Struggling with her weight, having a nasty self image, etc, etc.

She went on to say how it wasn't her mom's fault she had this view of herself and passed it down to her. Her grandmother was the same way, only worse. When her dad left her mom, her grandma told her mom "I can't understand why he left - you always wear your lipstick and you are only just a little overweight"...as if that was the only reason a man would leave. Now that she has a beautiful daughter of her own, though, she's dealing with all of this and wants to break the heritage of self-deprecation and poor self image.

Anyway, it was a beautifully written piece, and it really got me thinking.

I have had this view for awhile now, but I've never put it into words before. So, here goes.

I, too, had a mom who was constantly worried about her weight. Unlike the mom in the story above, she never said that she was "fat, ugly, and horrible" that I can remember, but she did make enough comments about dieting, her weight, exercise, the size of her clothes, etc, that I caught on really early on that weight and size mattered. There was a lot of yo-yo dieting and cycles of exercise, but nothing ever stuck.

It didn't help that my name rhymes with "heavy", and as luck would have it, I have always been overweight. You know how cruel kids can be. It has actually been pretty recently that I can even tell people what kids used to call me without choking up.

Yes.... "Heavy-Evie" was what my schoolmates used to call me. Even now it's really strange seeing that hurtful moniker in print. Anyway, pair that with my weight-conscious-on-the-brink-of-obsessed family (we have all been overweight at one time or another except for one of my brothers, and we didn't necessarily have the best self images growing up - no matter how much we were loved on by our parents and family) and I have, for most of my life had a very unhealthy view of myself and a terrible self image.

One thing I decided, though - soon after our daughter was born - is that I am going to do my very very best
to not pass that negative self image down to our kids. I have always been SUPER conscious of what I say around them and to them. I don't think I've ever indicated that I'm fat to them or even around them - no matter what I really think of myself. At least I hope I haven't.

It's a constant personal battle.

I very recently (like within the last 6 months or so) slowly - after years of considering the concept - came to the realization that I honestly don't care how much I weigh. I also don't care what size I wear. What I do care about is feeling good so I can play with the kids. I care that I'm around to feel good enough to play with my grandkids someday. I care that I pass down not just healthy eating habits and healthy lifestyle, but a healthy SELF IMAGE.

When we talk about food, we talk about what's healthy - just because something isn't healthy doesn't mean we don't eat it - we just don't eat it as often or have as much. And I don't mean the mainstream "low fat equals healthy" - I'm talking about whole, real food nutrition - but that's a totally different post ;). We don't talk about what we can or can't eat because of some fad diet, nor do we talk about trying to lose a bunch of weight, or that I'm trying to get into a smaller size of clothes, or anything else related to those things. I also don't want to give the impression that eating healthy is "depriving" us of something better - that we are "giving up" everything else. That's not it at all. We are eating healthier because it makes us feel better. That's it and that's all. And no - we have not "arrived" in the health department. That, too, is an every day decision, and though it's getting easier as time goes by, we do still eat things that aren't super healthy. But you know what? I'm NOT beating myself up about that anymore!


I feel like now that I have a healthier self image, everything else is just taking care of itself.

I even feel decent without makeup.

Sorta.

Ok....maybe not.....but I'm not going to avoid a picture with the kids because I don't look my best. I want them to remember me the way I am - on days where I'm in my jammies until noon with uncombed hair and no makeup as well as the days I'm up and ready to go early with fixed hair and "my face on".

And I'm making this pledge publicly right now. For my kids and their kids and their kids. I will NEVER say I'm fat, ugly, or horrible, and I will accept their compliments when they tell me I'm beautiful. Because I would bet a million bucks that I'm beautiful to my mom and always have been - no matter how she used to view herself. I can also guarantee that my children will always be beautiful to me, and I want them to know it and believe it - even if they end up looking just like me.

Also - Mom, if you're reading this, know how beautiful you are - I feel SO blessed to look so much like you!

In health and beauty
~Evie

By the way - No matter what you believe about yourself or what your mom used to believe about herself, YOU are beautiful too - not just when you are at a certain weight, clothes size, or when you're hair is done. You are beautiful ALWAYS!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Childbirth Professional Day - Meet Evie DeWitt



1.    What is your Childbirth Profession?
I am a Birth Doula and soon-to-be-Certified Childbirth Educator

2.    Describe your profession and why someone would want to choose your profession for support in pregnancy and/or childbirth.
A birth doula is someone who is there to support you throughout pregnancy and be there through labor and delivery. A doula will help you have the birth that you want, help you get the information you need to make educated decisions throughout pregnancy and labor/delivery, and will also help your husband or partner help you in the most effective way he can. A doula can help in SO many ways. Research has shown that having a doula present at birth can decrease cesareans by 50%, decrease length of labor by 25%, decrease pitocin use by 40%, decrease requests for pain meds by 30%, decrease forceps deliveries by 40%, decrease epidural requests by 60%, increase overall birthing satisfaction, promote longer breastfeeding, encourage parent/baby bonding, and help partners participate with confidence*. If you are thinking about hiring a doula, don’t think anymore about it. Just do it. You will be so glad you did – it is money very well spent!

3.    Why did you get started in your profession?
I got really passionate about birth while preparing for the birth of our second baby. There was a major insurance "snafu", and we had to figure something out. Our choices basically boiled down to: Pay somewhere around $10,000-$13,000 out of pocket for an uncomplicated normal hospital delivery, or have the baby at home for a fraction of that amount. We chose to have the baby at home. During the process of preparing for our birth, I got really familiar with the laws in this state and how women and families aren’t allowed to have the provider of their choice attend their births (specifically in out of hospital births). In my case, I was not able to have my midwife attend my birth, because she didn’t have the “right” qualifications. It doesn’t matter that she is credentialed by a national organization and has attended well over 700 out of hospital births. If she had been present at my birth she would have gone to jail.

But, I digress. Anyway, I had an unattended home birth, and it was wonderful for so many reasons. The main reason, though, is that I was SO educated about birth at that point…so much more than my first hospital birth. Do you know why? Because I had to be. I didn’t have a choice to depend on someone else to know everything for me, guide me, and tell me what to do (whether or not it was the best thing for me or what I wanted). My husband, mom, and I had to know it, because we didn’t have a choice.

After I delivered our son on Christmas morning 2009 after a very easy, relaxed, and amazing labor, I got really involved with South Dakota Safe Childbirth Options, which is a grassroots organization formed to help influence change in our state’s laws and views of home birth and birthing options for families in South Dakota. That year (2010), there was a bill that we had put through to allow birth centers to be licensed and run in South Dakota. I was devastated when it didn’t pass (I was really new to the whole process, and it just seemed so obvious to me that it should pass). I mean – birth centers are proven safe options for families across the country – why in the world would SD legislators think that families here are so different and shouldn’t be afforded the option?

Well, I was doing a LOT of thinking about the bill, and how so many women and families are being robbed of a wonderful and empowering birth experience simply because they don’t know what they don’t know and they don’t have many options. They don’t know that they can demand better service from their providers, they don’t know that they actually have options – they don’t have to do whatever their provider says they should do, they don’t know that they CAN trust their bodies to do what God made them to do, and that they CAN birth their babies free from intervention (most of the time). It made me extremely sad, until it hit me. Even though I wasn’t able to help all families in South Dakota have options and be in control of their own births, I could help one. at. a. time. - all I needed to do was become a doula. What a revelation!  I have made it my personal mission to ensure that each and every one of my clients has a kind of birth that they can look back on with fondness, pride, and confidence – no matter what happens during their labor and/or delivery.

4.    In detail, what is your personal childbirth philosophy?
I kind of touched on this above, but my personal childbirth philosophy is that every woman (no matter what she’s been told throughout her life) is designed by God to give birth to her own baby. Birth matters to moms and their partners. It is a life changing experience, and can be either amazingly wonderful or devastating. I believe that with the right information, education, encouragement, and self awareness, women can and will make the right decision for themselves and their baby. They just need to be given the chance. As a doula, I want to help them have that chance. I work with women and their partners before the birth of their precious baby to get them information on birth and possible decisions that may need to be made when the time comes. Knowledge is power. If they are informed ahead of time and know what their goal is (even if it isn’t what my personal goal would be), then we all can be on board and know beforehand how we can help her achieve her goals. With her partner on the same page and me advocating for them, together we can help ensure an experience where she doesn’t feel pressure to make one decision or another, but where she knows where she’s going, and has the tools to get there.

5.    If you could tell all pregnant women in the world something, what would it be?
First of all: You are MADE to do this! Believe in your body and your baby – you have nothing to fear…no matter what you’ve seen or heard about childbirth throughout your life. Get past all that and start fresh. This is *your* birth. Not a copy of someone else’s in your family, circle of friends, stranger on the bus, or diva from a movie. YOU CAN DO THIS, and it doesn’t have to be the horrible, terrifying experience so many would have you believe.

Secondly, be informed about EVERYTHING! Do your research ahead of time: hire a doula, attend a *good* childbirth education class, and do a LOT of reading.

6.    How long have you been in your profession? Are you certified? If yes, by who?
I have been practicing as a doula since August of 2010, and I gained my ICEA certification in January of 2011. I am currently studying to gain my CBE certification through ICEA as well, and plan to begin offering childbirth classes in Mitchell and the surrounding areas in the near future.

7.    Do you have a business name? How can people contact you for pregnancy and childbirth support?
Helping Hands Birth Support
helpinghandsbirthsupport @ hotmail . com
605*630-8699

8.    Where do you practice?
I live in Mitchell, SD, and can travel up to 2 hours for my clients (maybe more if circumstances allow). So, this means I can travel to Sioux Falls, Pierre, Yankton, Watertown, Huron, Brookings, and anywhere in between J


* From Klaus & Kennell 'Mothering the Mother'

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Wet Bags and Changing Pads!

Check out our facebook albums below by clicking on the links above the pictures. These pictures are just a sampling of the adorable items we have in stock as of today. If you find something you want, just leave your email address and your preference of local pick-up or shipping - which is ONLY $2.00 unless otherwise noted - in the comments on the picture of the item you want (in the facebook album), and we'll send you a paypal invoice. Once it's paid for, it's yours!

NanaPants by Betsy * All Day Wetbags ONLY $15.99

These wetbags have a loop handle with snap and a zipper on the top. Measurements: Width- 17 in and Height- 22inches ONLY $15.99



NanaPants by Betsy * Changing Pad/Play Mat $11.00
These roll-up changing pad/play mats measure approx 18in x 29in with PUL on one side and soft fleece on the other side. ONLY $11.00!




NanaPants by Betsy * Travel Wetbags ONLY $12.99!
These wetbags are great for short day trips. Measure Aprrox 11in x 13inches ONLY $12.99




Click into the albums and see all of the adorable designs available!

**Please note that the items in these albums are what we have in stock as of 6/19/13. Because these are items made by Work at Home Moms, stock and quantity of each fabric and design is limited. If you see something that you would like and it's not available when you order it, we will let you know as quickly as we can and will help you get something else that works for you!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

It's Cover Picture Update Time!

It's that time again!

We need to update our cover photo, and we need your help!

We are looking for pictures that embody who we are: "From Your Baby Bump to Your Baby's Rump...We've Got You Covered". So, pictures of babies, kiddos, breastfeeding, pregnant bellies, babywearing, cloth diapers, and basically anything that depicts being a mommy would be perfect!

If you have some awesome pictures that you would like to enter, just email them to me at media@elegantmommy.com - please just make sure that if they are professionally done that you have the copyright to them!

So, here's the deal:

  1. Send your pictures to me by the end of the day Friday, June 21, 2013. Please limit your submissions to 3 pictures.
  2. The Elegant Mommies will choose the finalists by Sunday
  3. Voting by you, our awesome followers, friends, and readers will be Monday and Tuesday, the 24th and 25th, with the top vote-getters being on our new facebook cover photo!

We can't wait to see what wonderful pictures you all have!

Made-at-Home-Diapers, Anyone?

Check out our facebook albums below by clicking on the links above the pictures. If you find something you want, just leave your email address and your preference of local pick-up or shipping in the comments on the picture of the item you want (in the facebook album), and we'll send you a paypal invoice. Once it's paid for, it's yours!

NanaPants by Betsy One Size Ruffled Diapers
These ONE SIZE ruffled, pocket diapers come with one insert and the ruffle is removable. ONLY $21.99!





NanaPants by Betsy One Size Diaper Covers
ONE SIZE Covers $12.99 * RUFFLED Covers $15.99





NanaPants by Betsy One Size Diapers
These ONE SIZE Pocket Diapers include one insert 
PRINTS $17.99 * Solids $15.99





Click into the albums and see all of the adorable designs available!

**Please note that the items in these albums are what we have in stock as of 6/18/13. Because these are items made by Work at Home Moms, stock and quantity of each fabric and design is limited. If you see something that you would like and it's not available when you order it, we will let you know as quickly as we can and will help you get something else that works for you! 

Monday, June 17, 2013

For Father's Day - or Any Other Day...

Ok, so in my Father's Day Gifts post last week, I told you about this super-awesome gift idea I found on Pinterest.

Well, I made it for Randall, and he was a little overwhelmed when he saw them. He said that by far it was the best gift he's ever gotten. WIN!

Anyway, here is the link to the post I found on Pinterest, and below are some pictures of how mine turned out. I just put them together in Microsoft Publisher, got them printed at Walgreens and then framed them in frames I wasn't using so they could each give him theirs. I'm sure you could use other programs to put them together - things like Photoshop, etc. I also had the kids help choose their pictures to use. I would have preferred changing the pictures to black and white, but Vienna was adamant that they should be colored - I just washed the color out a bit. I think they still look awesome.

It was super fun and turned out great :).



So, if you are wanting to do something like this, it would really work for anyone, for any time! Grandparents, aunts, uncles, best friends...whoever is really special that you need a gift for, for any occasion - birthdays, Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc, etc.

This is how they look on our "picture wall" ;)

It's so fun, easy, and totally inexpensive - all wins!

What do you think about it? When would you make these?

~Evie

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

For Girls...And Boys!

Are you looking for some super cute - adorable gift ideas for someone, or the perfect item for your sweet little one?

Check out our facebook albums below, and if you find something you want, just leave your email address and your preference of local pick-up or shipping, and we'll send you a paypal invoice. Once it's paid for, it's yours!

Pillowcase Dresses from Tickled Pink:


Appliqued Shirts from Zookeepers Blessing:


Click into the albums and see all of the adorable designs available!

**Please note that the items in these albums are what we have in stock as of 6/12/13. Because these are items made by Work at Home Moms, stock and quantity of each fabric and design is limited. If you see something that you would like and it's not available when you order it, we will let you know as quickly as we can and will help you get something else that works for you! 

Father's Day Gifts

So, I'm interested to know what you all do for Father's Day?

We are not huge gift-givers here, but I always like to do something. Even if it's just something simple.

This year I found the cutest thing on Pinterest, and I'm totally doing it.

I have interviewed both the kids with questions about their daddy. Their answers were adorable. For instance, when I asked Porter how tall daddy is, he said "As tall as the wall". I love it!

So, I'm going to take a picture of each of the kids and overlay the questions I asked and their answers to the questions. I'm going to print and frame them both, and that will be his gift.

I'm SO excited to see how it turns out! I think he will absolutely love it, and what an awesome way to remember the precious things that kids say and think :)

I'll post pictures when I get it done...though it honestly won't probably be until Saturday night at midnight or so. Cuz that's the way I roll.

Anyway, I'd love to hear from you - what are your Father's Day traditions, things he gets to do, or gifts that you do?

~Evie

Monday, June 10, 2013

Barrel Aid at Elegant Mommy

Are you looking for another way to help out those in need?

Bring in your kids' shoes they are no longer wearing and get gift certificates to spend at Elegant Mommy in June!

Check it out:


Thursday, June 6, 2013

Paying It Forward

So, I have one of the coolest stories ever.

There are some things in life that I'm willing to spend money on. And there are some things I'm not. No matter how much I would like to.

Purses are one of those things that I'm not willing to spend a ton of money on. I don't think I've ever spent more than $15 on one. Literally. The one I've been carrying for the last year and a half or so was one I paid $2 for at Goodwill. It was cute, big, and fit my needs. It was getting worn, though, and I had been thinking I needed to begin a search for something new. Or new to me at least - whatever I could find.

Enter Rebekah Scott Designs.

I had always admired RSD purses/bags and other products. From afar. I knew I would never spend the money to get one, so why look closely?

Meet Jill. My new RSD "gal pal" :)
Well, the other day I looked closely at them. Because someone - I have NO idea who - gave me one.

Whoever this sweet angel is, went into Elegant Mommy and told them to have me pick out whatever bag I wanted. No matter how hard I tried to get her to, Shelly wouldn't tell me who it was. She promised whoever it was that she wouldn't. They wanted to be anonymous.

Can you believe that?!

I have *never* had anything like that happen to me before. Someone just anonymously wanted to give me something? Why? What had I done to deserve such kindness?

Then I got it.

Whoever this person is, just wanted to be kind to me. It doesn't matter what I did to deserve it, or if I did anything at all. This giver just wanted to be a blessing.

And let me tell you, whoever it was, *is* a blessing. Not just for the purse (which I adore, by the way). This person was a huge blessing to me because just by doing something so kind, made me feel blessed. It didn't matter what stressors were happening in my life that day (or since then). Someone took the time (and money) to show me that there is true goodness in the world. That I am worth something to someone, and they don't need or want to be recognized for showing me that. This person completely and totally made my day (and week, for that matter)

I have to be honest. It's been difficult not knowing who it was. I so badly want to thank them and ask them "why". But then I remember that the "why" doesn't matter.

It's what I take away from it.

It's following that wonderful person's example and giving to someone else now. And not needing or taking credit for it. This person has inspired me to do more random acts of kindness - whether it costs me anything or not. It's definitely not about the $ or value of the object or act. It's about blessing others.

So how about you? Do you have any super awesome stories of acts of kindness?

How did you pay it forward?

~Evie

P.s. If you were my anonymous giver, THANK YOU!!!