Yay!!! Yay!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so excited to announce that the goal was not only reached, but exceeded, and enough funds were raised through the Project 320 Giveaways this year to BUILD A WELL!!!
We are so blessed to have played a small part and THANK each of you for participating as well through donations and spreading the word. Make sure to watch the Project 320 blog for updates regarding the well.....and of course remember to mark your calendar to check back for next years big event too! (I know we will be back!)
And.......the winner of our Creative Kid Gift Set is......by the random number generator.....comment #4! ****CONGRATULATIONS*** #37 Jessica (jah019@shsu.edu)
Friends, I am so incredibly excited to share with you what the ZooNique Baby family has the privilege of being a part of this month! Together with a wonderful group of talented artists, hand-crafters, and kind-hearted gift givers we are going to strive to BUILD A WELL! Read on….
Water. Is it something you think much about? It wasn't really for me until the recent years. Learning how so many people, worldwide, don't have the provision of a basic life necessity like clean water has made me aware on a much deeper, even daily level. Clean water. How so many of our brothers and sisters drink filthy, often contaminated water each day, because that’s all they have....it is an overwhelming thought. It’s also all they have to offer their children. Can you imagine? I can't! I’m certain my drain sees more clean water each day from simple activities like washing my hands, rinsing fruits and vegetables and brushing my teeth than some of these dear people have access to in their lives.
That…..is not……ok.
But rather than allow the reaction of guilt to set in or the idea that it is far too big an issue for me to have an impact on, I’ve chosen to team up with the lovely ladies of Project 320 and help build a well.
That’s right, A WELL!!!
A well that can provide CLEAN drinking water for an entire village! A well that will allow a mama to give her thirsty child a drink that she doesn’t have to worry will makeher sick. A life sustaining well! That is GOOD! And that makes me very excited!
So excited that I want to offer you the opportunity to win a special gift as you participate in making this well, for a group of people just like me and you, a reality!
Here's what we are giving away...
Creative Kid Gift Set!!!
The kiddos in our home can't get enough of creative, craftiness, so they've helped me put together this gift set that is so much fun and would make the perfect gift for any little artist in your life! The gift set includes: A ZooNique Baby Wipe Clean Apron in the adorable, gender neutral, sock monkey print, one of our fun Travel Crayon Rolls, and a plethora of art supplies from paints, pencils, glue, stickers, dough, ribbon, scissors, felt, fabric pieces, you name it! All beautifully gift boxed for your holiday presentation.
Your lil' Picasso will be all set to create whatever masterpiece they are inspired to and YOU will have helped build a well for someone who didn't have access to clean water....WOW!
Here’s all you need to do:
Every $10 donation you make to Charity Water via this link qualifies you for one entry in ANY of the participating giveaways! (You can see all the giveaway possibilities at Project 320.)
So, make your donation using the above link and come back here and comment on the post that you did so and would like to be entered to win our Creative Kid Gift Set! The winner will be chosen at the end of the week long fundraiser. We will then post the winner with congratulations and get your gift set on it's way*. Simple and FUN! (not to mention LIFE CHANGING!!!)
What are you waiting for???? Get entering and help us spread the word so we can bless others with the GIFT OF WATER.....together! Thanks for sharing in this awesome and exciting experience with us! Holiday Hugs, ~The ZooNique Family
*Please note, FREE USPS Priority Mail shipping applies to entrants in the lower 48 states. Others are welcome to enter with the understanding that they are responsible to pay shipping cost minus $10 we will cover. Thanks!
PS. Comments are moderated so they will not appear immediately, but I will check in and approve them daily. :)
This time of year stores are full of colorful paper gift wrap, bags and bows. While paper gift wrap makes a nice presentation, it's really nothing more than trash. So, we want to offer a few alternative, but equally colorful, nicely presentable and even more, practical options!
For my nieces and nephews this year, their gifts will be wrapped in pillowcases made especially for them. I imagine they will each know which gift is there's without reading the tags, as I chose fabrics that matched each of their personalities or interests. I love that this wrap keeps on giving since they get to use it on their pillow over and over and remember how much their Auntie S. loves them!!! :) Another advantage to the pillowcase wrap, it can be folded to accomadate many size gifts or used as a bag for larger boxed items. And if you don't want to make them, they can also be purchased ready made....and for about the same price as some holiday gift bags!
Cute don't you think?
Now, this is a fun one that the kids will enjoy helping with! Our laundry soap comes in these nice fabric bags that I just can't bear to throw out. You could use them as is for a nostalgic kind of wrap or, turn them inside out and let the kids have fun decorating them with markers or paints, again, personalizing the presentation, not just the gift! (Love this one of my lil' guy's hand....think I'll wrap something for myself with it!) ;)
How 'bout a classic that you just can't go wrong with, the newspaper comics. I remember getting Christmas gifts as a child wrapped in the comics and tied with yarn. I always loved that! And of course, you can choose your recipients favorite comic strip and then they get to enjoy reading it as well! Talk about colorful!....not to mention, newspaper, in general, composts and recycles more easily than that shiny gift wrap.
Don't ya just love Garfield!?!?!?
This last one the kids will have fun with too! We used a formula can, but you could also use an oatmeal canister, coffee can or any can with a smooth surface and snap lid. We also used fabric scraps from all those holiday projects we've been making, but again, use your imagination here....you could use newspaper or magazine cut outs, last years Christmas cards or whatever. Glue your decoration choice to the outside of the container and Viola! These are perfect for breakable gifts like ornaments....especially if you are a holiday traveler.
So, have a little fun, save a little money and avoid a little unnecessary waste this year with creative alternatives to paper gift wrap!
Just had to show off this little cutie wearing her ZooNique Baby diaper in the fun Groovy Floral print... Isn't she just PRECIOUS!!!???A BIG THANKS to her mama for sharing this adorable pic!
If you have a photo of your lil' one using any of our products.... diapers, bibs, aprons, bows, you name it, we'd LOVE to see it too! Just email us at info@zooniquebaby.com.
We wanted to thank all of our loyal fans and followers for continuing to be so supportive during our custom "off" times like our current foster moon. So... are you ready for a lil' spooky fun??? :)
Each day this week, Monday-Friday, we will post a question on our Facebook page. All you need to do is answer the question with your preference to be entered to win the prize pack that will be announced on Saturday, October 23rd! Each day that you answer enters you again for a new item added to your prize pack, so answer every day and if you win, you get 5 prizes, all selected based on your answers!!!! FUN right???
What you need to do...
Be a Facebook Follower! (since that's where the daily post will be!) :)
Comment on our question Each Day! (we will close the previous days question when we post the new one each day.)
Check back Saturday, Oct. 23 to see if you're the winner!
**Please note, only one response per person, per day will be counted** **Giveaway open to US residents only this time, thanks.**
And if you're local, we've put lots of NEW items in the gift shop of Echelon and have more coming for the holidays, so make sure and stop by! Thanks again!
We had a wonderful time at the Family Learn & Play Day yesterday in spite of the yucky weather, which did finally let the sun break free for at least a bit of our time at World's Fair Park! We are so grateful for the invitation from the Knox Area Home Visitation Coalition to participate and loved getting to meet the faces behind the wonderful services they provide...some very fun and lovely people! To learn more about some of these family focused services, visit Healthy Families East Tennessee.
Additionally, we met lots of other AMAZING local people who's focus is helping support families and encourage healthy development of children, and they live this out through the services they provide. It was so exciting and inspiring to see the huge network that exists right here in our own backyards! I wanted to mention a few that I had the specific pleasure of getting to know even more.
YouthVillages - YouthVillages offers a variety of healthy, family centered programs including intensive in-home services, foster care support and adoption. I love their simple and clear mission statement, "Youth Villages helps children and families live successfully".
Littlebug's Learning Leaf - This family run daycare offers a fresh face to traditional childcare, with a heart to treat your children the way they want theirs treated! In addition, they are making deliberate and gradual steps to create a more eco-aware facility. LOVE IT!!! I had a great time getting to know this mother/daughter team!
Art for Asperger's - Anne, the heart behind this beautiful program is such a gentle and artistic person. She embraced every person, that stop by her table with tenderness and complete acceptance. She believes and demonstrates how art really is a window of opportunity for your child. My girl's and I loved being set up next to Anne!
There were loads of other great supporters too like KnoxMoms, Lisa Ross Birthing Center, The Boys & Girls Club and the always popular Knoxville Zoo! We also enjoyed the entertaining puppet show and face painting of the family team behind Creative Expression. All in all, it was a super fun, family event that we are so happy to have been a part of....and we're already looking forward to next year!
Thank you again to the Knox Area Home Visitation Coalition for hosting this fun family event and for truly caring for the children and families in our community!
I've been debating on how to alert when I am unavailable due to a foster placement, and since all would understand when I would say I was on leave for a "baby-moon" if we had just added to our family by birth, I've decided we will call the time just after a foster placement a "foster-moon".
And so, we are officially in a "foster-moon" at the ZooNique home right now! This simply means that I am closed to custom orders until further notice to allow my attention and energy to be focused on helping these precious ones feel safe, loved and secure in their new home.
All in-stock items are still available locally at Echelon Florist & Gifts in Knoxville and through our Hyena Cart store.
Please feel free to continue to contact us at info@zooniquebaby.com... with the understanding that it may take us a just a bit longer to get back to you than usual. :)
Thanks for your kind thoughts, prayers and continued support! The ZooNique Family
I LOVE FABRIC!!! No really....I do! So when asked to pick a favorite fabric, print or designer, it's nearly an impossible task. BUT...asked to pick a favorite DIAPER fabric and it's an instant, hands-down, HEMP!
Hemp is truly fabulous! And especially for cloth diapers. Hemp has so many positive qualities and having the opportunity to work with it this week, for some very special customer's custom order, has reminded me again of why I love it so! It's soooo soft and squishy and makes the most perfect Fitted Diapers! But, it's SO MUCH MORE! A quick google search on hemp and it's sustainability, uses and positive properties will turn up an overload of information...like this, did you know the original draft of the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper??? Pretty cool huh!?
With that, let me share a little of the Hemp Love....
Hemp is one of the most environmentally friendly crops to be grown. It's sustainability is an absolute fact. It can grow in a variety of climates and soil types, requires less water, has a shorter gestation and higher yield than similar crops AND is naturally resistant to most pests - therefore not requiring harmful chemical pesticides. (unlike cotton which consumes an estimated 50% of the world's pesticides!)
Hemp as a fabric...well, it just doesn't get any better! Hemp fibers are stronger, and therefore more durable. It also serves as a great insulative and even offers UV protection from the sun. Hemp is highly absorbent and has natural antimicrobial properties. It's also mildew resistant. See why it's perfect for diapers?!
Hemp is biodegradable, can be a good source for food, medicine, fuel, weed-control, paper, building materials and more. Basically, we could only benefit from the expanded growth and use of hemp, and I for one am hopeful that it's availability will increase in the US!
So, there's your science/history/health lesson for the day! :) Hope I've caused someone else to catch the LOVE for HEMP!!!
What more stylish way to wipe those lil' smackers and save those tops from stains than these adorable AND reversible bibs?!?!?! I had so much fun working with these great prints and super soft textures, I couldn't pick a single favorite! Designer cotton prints on one side, with cozy chenille, minky or cuddle soft fabric on the other. Only thing that makes these great bibs even more scrumptious is the price, only $6 each! Here's a few we had to share...
Fruit Salad (yes, you can sing along if you'd like!) ;)
Football Frenzy...cause when you live near a college town it's never too early to celebrate! The COW - So lil' one can be dressed for those Chic-fil-a fun nights too! Sunny Days Pink Scroll
Playful Pup
Precious Zoo Curious Monkey
Butterfly Gardens Palm Breeze Robot Gadgets Now, jump on over to our facebook page to find out how you could win one for your lil' sweetie!
I will be soaking up some summer fun time with the ZooNique Family from June 26 - July 11th. Please be aware that there may be delays in response to contact or questions during this time. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
I've been enjoying one of my favorite summer (or anytime!) pastimes....SEWING!!! And the more I sew, the more lovely fabric scraps I accumulate. These scraps just beckon to be turned into something creative! And sooooo......I introduce our newest item, scrappy stationary! I've sewn different patches and designs cut from the fabric right to blank note cards, ready for you to fill with your own personal messages. What a fun and unique way to add a little texture and creativity to your handwritten notes, making them even more special! On top of that, they are only $4.50 per 3-pack of coordinating cards & envelopes! Here's a sneak peak at some of the fun.....
We have been having a lot of fun working with our friends at Threads of Hope this week to bring you some great deals and giveaways! We hope you are having fun as well! :) I think I can speak for the Threads of Hope family and say how grateful they are for each purchase and donation that has brought them one step closer to bringing their little one home.
Threads of Hope is one of several individuals, groups or organizations we support that specifically has a heart, purpose and drive to help children....orphan children. We're a family that absolutely adores children, so it's a real honor to be able to contribute in any way to the protection, betterment or adoption of a child in need of love and a family.
The Threads of Hope family, the Littles, has a special burden for the Waiting Children of China. Of their 4 amazing children, their biological daughter is autistic and their youngest was adopted as a waiting child from China in 2007. He was considered "special needs" because he has a heart defect known as ToF. His heart was repaired in China, and he is a thriving and beautiful child who brings an abundance of joy and laughter to all those who know him!
What is a "Waiting Child"? Waiting Children are orphans who have special needs or are considered hard to place. There are thousands of Waiting Children all over the world, including right here in the US, where in 2006 we had 129,000 children waiting for a family. The special needs of waiting children can range from things as simple as age, sex, skin color or number of siblings to more serious lifelong physical or mental disabilities. Healthy infants who are registered for adoption get matched to families very quickly. Unfortunately, this is not the case for children with special needs. These children wait for a family to choose them. Many are never chosen. The label "Special Needs" can be frightening and intimidating. But when the label is peeled off, it becomes clear that these are just children - children who want to be loved and cared for - children who cling to the hope that a family will choose them. When someone adopts a waiting child, they decide what special needs they feel comfortable adopting. They are able to make the list of needs they can accept as short or as long as they would like. They have the opportunity to meet other families who have adopted children with similar special needs and even discuss the health records of a child they may be considering with a physician who can advise them on the potential condition and care a child's specific needs may require. This allows adoptive families to be better prepared and informed, which is obviously best for both the parents and the children in the long run. This video gives a beautiful glimpse of some of these SPECIAL kids!
Whether adoption is something you've ever considered before or whether it is the right fit for your family are very personal things to explore if you feel so led. However, helping these children, waiting children worldwide, is something within the reach of us all! Educating, advocating, donating, supporting others are all necessary and important ways to make a difference in the lives of children.
So now you understand a bit more about our love and support of Threads of Hope! We pray your hearts have been touched as ours have, and your are able to find a personal way to make a difference in someone's life today!
We met some fabulous people at the Doula Paloosa in Knoxville, TN this past Friday and wanted to tell you all about them and the unique services they provide, so check them out! :) If you're local, how lucky for you to have all these great choices in your backyard!
May is the "official" birthday month for ZooNique Baby and we want to include you in the celebration! Here is a highlight of what we have planned.... first though, if you aren't a Facebook follower, you'll want to add yourself so you don't miss out on any of the fun! :)
* We'll be offering a weekly special each week this month....some really great stuff too! (to be posted via Facebook!)
* FREE Surprise Gift with every purchase!
* Random Giveaways! (once again...on Facebook!)
* Every person who completes an order this month will be entered to win a $25 Gift Certificate, which will become a $50 Gift Certificate if we reach 200 Facebook friends by the end of the month, so make sure and spread the word to all your friends!!!
* And as an added BONUS, YOU can help support something really cool!!!! 10% of all our May Sales will be sent to 3Seams to help support the development of a Haitian seamstress program....GOOD STUFF! You'll want to check them out, they are on Facebook too! :) Here.
Thanks for your support that has allowed our family business to continue growing and making a difference! We love what we do and look forward to the excitement in store for the next year!
Just a quick note to let you know that ZooNique Baby will be on SPRING BREAK starting Saturday, April 24th - Sunday May 2nd. We will respond to all contact as quick as we can once we return from our break. Thanks for your patience! We are very excited about the down time with our family!
Hope you and your family are soaking up your share of spring, sunshine and family time too!!!
OH YEA...almost forgot... :)
May is the "official" birthday month of ZooNique Baby, and we will be celebrating our 2nd birthday next month. (woot!! woot!!!) We have LOTS of fun surprises (like giveaways, weekly promos, a chance to win a $50 gift certificate...uh huh! Good stuff!) in store, so stay tuned! And if you haven't "liked" us on Facebook yet....now's the time! We'll be posting all our surprises there!
ZooNique Baby has the privilege of participating in 2 different fund raising auctions this month and we wanted to make sure you knew about them! :) Both auctions opened today! We've included links to both in our sidebar and below.
*** Love Without Boundaries - Born In My Heart Art Auction ***
This auction supports the work of Love Without Boundaries which includes providing life saving surgeries for orphaned children who may otherwise have no chance. Donated items with the theme "Love, Family, Diversity and Adoption" being auctioned include,
Artwork
Hand-crafted items
Scrapbooking Kits
Toys
Clothing
Chinese Memorabilia
Books
DVDs
Gift Baskets
Gift Certificates
AND MORE!!!!!
Love Without Boundaries - Changing the lives of orphaned and impoverished children in China Learn More by visiting Love Without Boundaries
AND
*** The Cloth Diaper Foundation - Green Mama Benefit Auction ***
This auction supports the work of The Cloth Diaper Foundation which provides cloth diapers to qualifying families all over the United States. Donated items with a "Green" theme being auctioned include,
Cloth Diapers! (of course!)
Clothing
Accessories
Special "Mama" items
Books
Toys
Baby Carriers
Items for Home
Organic Fabric
Diaper Bags
AND MORE!!!
The Cloth Diaper Foundation - Empowering Families. Improving The Environment. Learn More by visiting The Cloth Diaper Foundation
So, go SHOP FOR A CAUSE and support something GREAT! :)
Are you pregnant, trying to conceive or beginning to consider childbirth options? If so, we invite you to join us for DOULAPALOOSA!
WHEN: Friday, May 7th - 5:30-7:30pm
WHERE: YWCA - 420 W. Clinch Ave. Knoxville, TN
WHAT TO EXPECT: A chance to visit with several area doulas and other birth/family related businesses as you enjoy light snacks and learn more about your childbirth options. Demonstrations, birth art & more!
Email us at info@zooniquebaby.com if you have questions or require further info. Everyone is welcome! Hope to meet you there!
Fitted Diapers are some of my most favorite diapers! They are so soft and squishy, easy to use and super absorbent! We most often make our ZooNique Baby Fitteds either with a fluffy cotton Sherpa or a luxuriously soft Organic Cotton/Hemp blend against baby's skin. There's a 3 layer, sewn in soaker, and 2 additional body layers of flannel...the hidden flannel layer is a thick and absorbent Killington and the outer layer a fun and colorful print. All of our fitted diapers include a convenient overlapping tab to offer a more adjustable fit, in your choice of Aplix hook & loop or snap closure. Our fitted diapers are also a great stash expander as they start at only $12 each!
When paired with one of our ZooNique Baby Covers, you're all set for a functional, super absorbent, easy to use cloth diapering system!
In case it weren't obvious, :) the ZooNique Baby family is passionate about children and families! We hope that a quick glimpse at our About Us page gives you that immediate understanding, as you are able to see a list of the individuals, businesses and organizations we support.
We wanted to highlight one of these amazing organizations to give you the chance to get to know a little more about them, what they do, and why we support them!
Today I want to share about the One Girl project of Tiny Hands International. Child-trafficking is a devastating reality in our world today. The number of children who are stolen or sold into slavery each year is overwhelming. From Nepal alone, over 10,000 girls are trafficked each year. 10 THOUSAND! While this number can be hard to imagine, imagining how we would feel if 1 of that 10,000 was our child makes this horrifically personal for us!
So, what can we do? The One Girl project provides the opportunity for individuals like you and I to reach out to these girls in a real and tangible way. When you make a $10 donation to One Girl you will receive a bracelet like the one pictured above, that has been made by one of the girls who was rescued from a life of servitude. The bracelet serves as a reminder to pray for them, and others like them who are vulnerable to potential trafficking.
Your donation allows Tiny Hands to not only help rescue and protect children already affected by trafficking, but also, help identify and prevent others who are particularly vulnerable to being trafficked themselves.
Isn't it amazing that something so simple and nearly effortless can have that kind of impact?! We think so!
AND, in addition to wearing our bracelets for these girls, we want to offer a little something extra to HELP INCREASE THE TRAFFIC AGAINST TRAFFICKING!!! It's a SURPRISE! Wanna know what you need to do? Here ya go...
Make a donation to One Girl
Post a comment here saying "I donated!" with your first name/last initial
Tell others!!! (BECAUSE, as the number of donors contributing to One Girl increases, the value of what we are giving away increases!)
This Spotlight effort will go from today, April 15th-Friday, April 30th. We will post the name of our "winner" here Saturday, May 1st. So please, help us spread the word and make sure to check back to see if you WIN the surprise....we ALL win by helping these girls!
*Please note, posts are moderated, so don't worry if you don't see yours immediately, I'll get it up asap! :)*
**Open to US residents only, but don't let that stop you from checking out this awesome organization!**
