Whole Parenting Family

Christmas without My Brother & a Freshly Picked Moccasin Giveaway for You!

freshly picked giveaway

In light of BabyLoves turning a full 7 months today, going on 18 months practically speaking, we’re running a Freshly Picked Moccasin giveaway!!! The team over there is so lovely and so generous as to send me a pair of my choosing to tell you about, and for one of you lucky folks to make your own selection as well!

Check their beautiful site for styles ranging from everything your heart desires for your daughter to everything you ever dreamed of for any bebe. The unique design of these means there’s a hidden elastic band so these cannot come off. I mean, cannot. I mean, the baby who kicks and kicks and the toddler who flails can’t drop them at church under the pew or under the restaurant booth table. No losing shoes. WIN. And the bottom of them feels like leather butter. No exaggeration. Incredibly soft & durable. These are going to survive my baby’s antics, yes indeeeeedie.

freshly picked giveaway

I selected the AMERICA ones. Above all their fabulous style lines, this one called to me right away. You see, my little brother is in the Army and he’s Godfather to both our boys so for his littlest Godson, of course this was the perfect fit. It also goes great with the festive holiday leggings I just made mr size 18months. And the wool shirt he shares with his pint-sized older sister {{they’re on sale!!}}

freshly picked giveaway

My brother is the apple of all our eyes, as he’s the youngest of the five and has four older sisters//mothers. We dote on him, still chide and remind him, try to mother him, and sometimes forget he’s a fully grown adult with a family of his own. I’m the fourth. He’s the fifth. Basically, he was the only person I had any control over growing up and you can imagine how oft I took advantage of this unfortunate (for him) sibling position.

Being the dog in our barbie doll games? Check.

Being the lemon stand worker? Check.

Telling on his every move to our mother? Check.

Driving him to high school insisting on listening to my mix tapes? Check. #boyztomen4eva

Correcting his grammar and spelling? Check.

Visiting him during college & grad school and falling in love with Virginia & DC? Check.

Going to the law school he told me about, meeting my husband and so many best friends? Check.

Having him be Godparent TWICE over to both our boys? Check.

freshly picked giveaway

Last Christmas he was deployed and it was brutal to be without him, and to be in a state of calm paralytic fear that he was in harm’s way made our Christmas difficult and somber. We had a full family visit in February after he came home and have gratefully spent many hours together since even though they live down south. This Christmas was a major bummer for all of us when we learned he had to stay on base for reasons of a military nature.

freshly picked giveaway

The kids keep asking why the military cancelled his Christmas and why they can’t come up! Even though I’ve told them a dozen times that he and his little family are having their own Christmas, they demanded we send them proof that a) we have a tree; b) that the stockings are hung by the chimney with care; and 3) his newest godson is indeed standing & walking at the ripe young age of 7 months.

freshly picked giveaway

For my brother, the tree in the Music Room & the stockings in the Library. And your little patriotic Godson. And the knit blanket I’m adding to the etsy shoppe that’s almost ready to ship.

freshly picked giveaway

Feast your eyes on the covering for those feet//traction galore & totally making his walking attempts safer. {please, stop trying to walk!!!}

Come on over & play to win {cannot have won in the past 6 weeks}. Did you also see the Go-Pod I’m giving away? Enter both!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Freshly Picked sent me a courtesy pair of mocs, the etsy links are to my shoppe, and the shirt link is affiliated through amazon. 

84 Comments

  1. Veronica on December 18, 2014 at 3:56 am

    Your son is so adorable and I love how festive your house is. I am so in love with the merci moccs. Thanks!



  2. mamie on December 18, 2014 at 7:06 am

    Mistletoe! So rich and buttery. Size four. So darling.



  3. Colleen on December 18, 2014 at 8:14 am

    The rose gold is beautiful!

    The fabric in the bottom right hand corner is very cute.



  4. Michele on December 18, 2014 at 8:44 am

    Walnut looks lovely!



  5. Michele on December 18, 2014 at 8:52 am

    I love the horse and sailboat fabrics!



  6. Carolyn on December 18, 2014 at 9:05 am

    girl, you da you da best. I’m sorry you’ll be missing your brother this year- but so happy he’s stateside, at least, right? So thankful for our military. Also, I have to remark on your house! My childhood best friend grew up in a home which looks dead on like yours- and as a frequent visitor, her house was magical and lovely and I always got to feel a tiny bit Jane Austen, and delighted in walking through the old “servant’s corridors” which was a skinny hallway that ran up a steep narrow staircase which connected the kitchen to the upstaris bedrooms. Ah! Since then, I’ve always wanted an older home, leaky basement and all!
    Anyway, I love this new blanket you’re working on, and I love FP mocs 🙂 Color wise, I’d probably choose a boring tan for the new baby because we don’t know if he/she is a boy or girl yet!



    • Natural Mama Nell on December 18, 2014 at 9:56 am

      Yes, thank God he is stateside!!! And aren’t we so lucky with the old majestic home? It is magical. Even wiping under the radiators (which i need to do more often) means i get to see the 100 year old wood floor parts no one has stepped on since the radiators went in.



  7. Erica Saint @ Saint Affairs on December 18, 2014 at 9:09 am

    How adorable your little guy is! I love the little patriotic moccasins, too. It is hard to celebrate the holidays without the people who are dear to us.



  8. Kara on December 18, 2014 at 9:10 am

    I’m a sucker for anything green. And a sucker for these mocs. I wish they came in my size!



  9. Bethany on December 18, 2014 at 9:10 am

    The Swimmin with the Sharks are my favorite. They are all really cute!



  10. Carolyn on December 18, 2014 at 9:10 am

    Ooh and your fabric! I love the grey one with the little boys and girls playing with boats. It’s the second one from the top on the far left.



  11. Laura M. on December 18, 2014 at 9:31 am

    These are ADORABLE! I love the platinum mocs…uh, and the watermelon.



    • Laura M. on December 18, 2014 at 9:38 am

      P.S. I like the pink fabric with squirrels and birds.



  12. Laura on December 18, 2014 at 9:31 am

    Love the rose gold – thanks for the giveaway Nell!



  13. Rachael on December 18, 2014 at 9:33 am

    The Mocs are so cute! And so is your little boy!!



  14. Eliese on December 18, 2014 at 9:33 am

    Loooove glacier or golden rod Mocs!



    • Eliese on December 18, 2014 at 9:35 am

      And the fabric with the ships



  15. Caitlyn on December 18, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Oh sorry to hear you have to do another Christmas without him!My family can only all be in the same room at Christmas every few years. Last time was 2011. This year we’ll all be together, except for one sister-in-law but it will be on the 28th. Distance and work – it’s a beast!

    My favorite mocs may be the mistletoe or the sand suede. 🙂



    • Natural Mama Nell on December 18, 2014 at 9:53 am

      I’m so glad you get to be together!! It is so hard living away from those we love best!



  16. Kelsey l on December 18, 2014 at 9:53 am

    i love the swimming with the Sharks or birch or rose gold! Too many!



    • Kelsey l on December 18, 2014 at 9:56 am

      I love the stars and moon pattern



  17. Megan on December 18, 2014 at 9:55 am

    Love the Rose Gold!



  18. Megan on December 18, 2014 at 9:57 am

    Donkey fabric!



  19. Leah Ceee on December 18, 2014 at 9:59 am

    I love the cranberry ones. Someday I will have a little girl to doll up!



    • Leah on December 18, 2014 at 10:04 am

      And the blanket cowboy fabric is darling.



  20. Emily Barnes on December 18, 2014 at 10:11 am

    Swimmin’ with the Sharks moccs! The perfect color



    • Emily Barnes on December 18, 2014 at 10:13 am

      And I love the sailboat material. Very different.



  21. Hannah Jasmine on December 18, 2014 at 10:13 am

    Ooh, the cranberry marsala are gorgeous!



  22. Hannah Jasmine on December 18, 2014 at 10:16 am

    The floral in the lower right corner is lovely.



  23. Lexie on December 18, 2014 at 10:21 am

    I love/want them all!!!



  24. Hannah on December 18, 2014 at 10:29 am

    I loveeee the gold ones and the neon pink ones. I need a pair for myself too, holy cute!



  25. Christy on December 18, 2014 at 10:32 am

    You know what fabrics I like Nell 😉 All of them…all of them….



  26. Holly Hayes on December 18, 2014 at 10:43 am

    I have always loved Prince George. They are such a beautiful blue color. Size 5.



  27. Micaela @ California to Korea on December 18, 2014 at 11:17 am

    Watermelon! No, glacier! No, tea! Ack! Cream and rose! So much adorable!

    I have a younger brother who is retired military. His 8 years in the service were brutal to us. I’m glad your brother is stateside this year. Deployed holidays are the worst.



  28. Rachel @ efficientmomma on December 18, 2014 at 11:35 am

    For the baby blanket I w o Ulf do the fabric on the top let corner. And for the mica the light pink



  29. Kristen @ A Fussner Occurrence on December 18, 2014 at 11:56 am

    I love the With Cream & Sugar moccasins! Very neutral & simple!!



  30. Kristen @ A Fussner Occurrence on December 18, 2014 at 12:00 pm

    I love the fabric in the third column, third one down-the blue one!



  31. Celia on December 18, 2014 at 12:40 pm

    I like the ‘with cream and sugar’ mocs. I’m glad your brother is stateside this year!



    • Natural Mama Nell on December 18, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      Me too!! Thanks for your kind thoughts!



  32. Celia on December 18, 2014 at 12:41 pm

    I like the bird fabric for blankets.



  33. Tori on December 18, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    Oh my, The House that Lars Built…adorable!! But I would probably go with Prince George or Fleet Week for my bebe boy.



  34. Sarah T. on December 18, 2014 at 1:27 pm

    I’d love a platinum pair for my baby girl. Thanks for the opportunity!



  35. Nancy on December 18, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Cowboy fabric



  36. Nancy on December 18, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    House that Lars built mocs



  37. Sarah Hayes on December 18, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    I adore these moccasins! and its so awesome that you got that pair bc of your brother being in the military. Id love to have the blush pair. I love so many of the leather ones though!!



  38. Sarah Hayes on December 18, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    I couldnt see the blanket fabric well but I think maybe the blue on the right would be the best for us.
    so sorry you brother cant be home this year for xmas. wishing you all the best and happy holidays



  39. Laura on December 18, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    my favorite are the stay golden suede!



  40. Laura on December 18, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    My favorite fabric from your shop for a blanket is the pink one with birds!



  41. Emily on December 18, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    I love the American Flag moccasins as well!



  42. Helen on December 18, 2014 at 4:20 pm

    What beautiful slippers. The Mistletoe is my favourite. Perfect for little tootsies on a cold stone floor in winter 🙂 And the ‘never coming off’ thing appeals enormously!



  43. Lisa on December 18, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    The House that Lars Built is a lovely set.



  44. Mary Beth on December 18, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    I love the USA ones too 🙂



  45. Sarah Griffin on December 18, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    I like the Weathered Brown or the Spark colored moccs! I would prefer the lether over suede.



  46. Sarah Griffin on December 18, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    I like the fabric on the top left!



  47. RachelLouise on December 18, 2014 at 8:15 pm

    these are the cutest! I love the golden rod and swimmin’ with the sharks! I also really love the strawberry ones but maybe not the right style for our little Theo! 😉



  48. ruth anne on December 18, 2014 at 8:17 pm

    those watermelon ones are absolutely adorable!!



  49. ruth anne on December 18, 2014 at 8:19 pm

    jungle animal fabric (?) is my favorite from the shop



  50. Stephanie Borge on December 19, 2014 at 1:22 am

    Love neon pink!



  51. Stephanie Borge on December 19, 2014 at 1:24 am

    Those donkeys for the blanket!



  52. Tara on December 19, 2014 at 3:21 am

    The Heirloom in cream and gold is to die for! (And watch out – my standing at 7 months babies both walked at 9.5 months!!)



  53. Tara on December 19, 2014 at 3:23 am

    And I LOVE the fabric on the bottom right!



  54. Sarah @ Two Os Plus More on December 19, 2014 at 8:04 am

    Golden suede fo’ sho.

    If I had a little lady though, it’d definitely be the House that Lars Built mocs.



  55. Sarah @ Two Os Plus More on December 19, 2014 at 8:07 am

    Don’t make me pick!!!! It’s a tie between the vintage ABCs and the little guy wearing the bunny eared red PJs with the funky horses a close second.



  56. courtney d on December 19, 2014 at 8:33 am

    i would probably choose “swimming with the sharks” or gold! love these!



  57. courtney d on December 19, 2014 at 8:35 am

    I like the floral pattern!



  58. Veronica on December 19, 2014 at 4:07 pm

    squirrels and birds for the fabric



  59. Ash Yap-Chung on December 19, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    I’m loving the black ice, ebony is always a fav, mistletoe and cranberry Marsala are also delish!



  60. Ash Yap-Chung on December 19, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    I love the black and white with blue fabric in top left of pic 🙂



  61. Laura on December 19, 2014 at 10:22 pm

    Probably brown ones to go with everything 🙂



  62. Laura on December 19, 2014 at 10:24 pm

    Moons is my favorite fabric.



  63. Mirian on December 20, 2014 at 4:38 am

    I adore the gold moccs.



  64. Bev on December 20, 2014 at 6:42 am

    It is so hard to choose, but I think my favorites are Merci and Platinum.

    Thanks!



  65. Bev on December 20, 2014 at 6:49 am

    I love the fabric on the bottom right — black with flowers.



  66. Molly Moore on December 20, 2014 at 11:33 am

    Love them all, but I adore the timeless Walnut color 🙂 xoxo



  67. Molly Moore on December 20, 2014 at 11:35 am

    LOVE the cat print and the moon print. So darling! xx



  68. Liberty T. on December 20, 2014 at 12:03 pm

    I am a big fan of Golden Rod and Stone Suede!



  69. Liberty T. on December 20, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    I love your Fox print in Teal and Red. Those are the colors I am using for my sons nursery.



  70. Leah Q on December 20, 2014 at 1:40 pm

    I love Prince George!



  71. Leah Q on December 20, 2014 at 1:41 pm

    …and that cat print! <3



  72. Michelle Johnson on December 20, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Swimmin’ with the Sharks



  73. Michelle Johnson on December 20, 2014 at 2:54 pm

    Foxes in Teal & Red



  74. Carolyn K on December 21, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    I like prince George



  75. Carolyn K on December 21, 2014 at 10:26 pm

    For a blanket, I’d pick the jungle animals



  76. Mocs for Tootsies | Whole Parenting Family on January 23, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    […] partnered with Freshly Picked Mocs two years ago–was it already two years–to give away a pair to one of you lucky duckies and here we […]