This week is a good one.
A really good one.
Because I love this girl.
She makes me want to be a runner.
Her kids are crazy cute.
She is in love with her husband.
In love.
I love that.
She is funny, encouraging and sweet.
But most of all has a huge heart.

Meet Erin.
I have a feeling you will love her too.


I am living my dream.
I have a soft spot for Sapphire martinis. I Google everything. I have Ab Fab girlfriends. I constantly have 5 projects in the works. I bake. I blog. I garden. I can't say no to fresh flowers. (Or the beach.) I have a love/hate relationship with Diet Coke. I love being at home. I'm hot for Teacher. (He's also a football coach.)
A big piece of my heart is in Chicago. I don't like coffee, chocolate or peanut butter. My mom says that's unAmerican. I'm a bit of an insomniac. I buy my blonde. (But I didn't used to have to.) I read. I sing Showtunes. I spend way too much time (and money) on Etsy. I love Jesus Christ, Barack Obama, and Miley Cyrus. (Yes, it's possible to love all 3. Yes, I am 33.) I both found and lost myself the day my first born was laid in my arms. A boy called Munchie has me double wrapped around his pinkie.
I'm wife to Mr. Burns (remember that teacher I was talking about?) Together we are Co-CEOs of,
Bringing Up Burns - a family owned business of raising happy kids!
I'm the maid, laundress, dolly dresser, chef, chauffeur, accountant, owie kisser, personal shopper, train track assembler and occasionally the exotic dancer. He's the bread winner, anything electronic fixer/setter upper, trash man, dog walker, lego engineer, football coach, and my secret weapon.


His Love is to me what spinach is to Popeye.
Today is the Grand Opening of my Etsy shop, Erin's Haute Tots! What a way to arrive, right? With Joy's Hope trumpeting your entrance. I'm Blessed. Silly so! Haute Tots has been incubating in the back of my brain for some time. A little boy named Carter Kipp finally gave me the push I needed to bring it to life.
Carter is my girlfriend, Kara's son. He is 2 years old and already 5 months into the fight of his life. He was diagnosed with Liver cancer in April. Since then he has endured chemo, going bald, MRIs, central lines, vomiting, a million medications, rashes, needles, losing 1/3 of his total body weight, and hospital after hospital. He spent over a month on the transplant list. 5 weeks ago, another family's tragedy was the Kipp's answer to prayer. An almost perfect match donor liver became available and Carter has accepted it even better than his doctors expected! Good thing too, because last week his Mom and Dad gave him a baby brother. He already has a big brother. (Kara is proof my life is really not that crazy!) Carter still has two more chemo cycles to go but is still smiling.
I have formed a team for the CHOC Walk at Disneyland on October 18 in honor of this little fighter. We are called "Carter's Crusaders." I am donating 10% of Haute Tots total sales from now until the CHOC Walk to our team's fundraising efforts. The money raised benefits all the little Crusaders CHOC helps, especially Carter. (I need very little excuse to shop on Etsy, but isn't Carter a GREAT one?!)

Whatever struggles you face today, refuse to give up or get down. Put a smile on your face as big as Carter's, and tell yourself "A 2 year old is rocking cancer...I can do THIS!"

((HUGS)) Erin

Not one, but two of you will win a magical set of
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
6 covered button hair accessories
1 of each Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, "Hot Blue" and Purple
(Hot Blue is what my girls call Turquoise. Makes sense right? I mean we all know the difference between Pink and Hot Pink. Once I thought about it, I agreed. Turquoise IS hot Blue!
These can be made as ponytail bands, clips, or elastic headbands.
The ponytail and head bands can also be made in all black or all white if you prefer.
They come ready to gift!
Packaged up so sweet complete with colorful mini lollipops, hot pink crinkle shred and a lime green polka dot bow.
So yummy! Almost pretty enough to eat.

How can you win some of your own yumminess?
(please leave a new comment for each entry.)

1. Visit Haute Tots.
Come back here and tell me what you love.
2. Visit Erin's Blog.
Leave some comment love.
3. Visit Carter's Blog.
Shower them with encouragement and love.
4. Make a purchase from the shop.
Help support Carter's big fight.
5. Pray.

As a bonus, Erin has treats for you if you do a few simple things:
blog about Carter's Crusaders and send Erin the link in her comments and you will receive free shipping on your purchase.
Commit to organ donation online at
Donate Life America and get a FREE covered button hair accessory of your choice.

What did I say about her big heart?

Two winners will be chosen on Friday September 25th.
Go Carter!!!!


55 Comments

  1. i lOVE the first picture on your blog...more than any of the other stuff! i love the bright colored headbands!

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOVE the hair accessories! What young girl wouldn't???

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry Julie, but I love the pin cushion!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, I love the multicolored set on the blog, but I've got to say that So Chic Eek! is just wonderfully named and I would totally wear it to work!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Visited Erin's blog and left her a comment!

    http://www.bringingupburns.com/2009/07/my-toast.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh YAY!! You couldn't have picked a better person for this week's giveaway.

    Have you seen her version of Miley? It rocks.

    Love the pin cushion.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Left comment love for her.

    Because I lurve her.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The rainbow snap clips are sweet!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the halloween ones. They are so cute and festive!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. My favorites are definitely the "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" barrettes. I love the colors! They're so pretty and should match just about anything.

    ReplyDelete
  11. i love the cupcake clips!

    what a courageous little guy...thanks for sharing his story!

    and...you're right, what a GREAT kick off to your etsy shop!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Visited Erin's blog and left her some love.

    ReplyDelete
  13. cute marketing! I like the over the rainbow headbands and I like the personalized bath towel. wishing her luck with her grand opening.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Left a comment at Carter's Blog. Wow, those are some brave little boys!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Praying, praying, but not because it gets me an entry....for the glory of God!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow...two of my favorite ladies in the same place! Love Joy's Hope AND Bringing Up Burns ;)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I just love the personalized towel!! Very cute!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love the personalized towel. What a great gift for a little person.

    ReplyDelete
  19. My prayers are with that sweet little boy and his family. I can't even imagine.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Left a comment on the Burns blog. I also became a follower. She seems like a very inspirational woman.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the covered button snap clips.

    This post had me in tears.. *sniff*

    ReplyDelete
  22. I just finished reading a large part of Carter's blog. What a family. I'm speechless.

    ReplyDelete
  23. yeah! I love erin...we all need to have a playdate!

    xoxo

    Tonya

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love all her stuff, but I especially love people that are out there helping others. Does my heart good.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Erin is a great woman. I can tell from her blog. Her heart is bigger than her body.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sweet, brave, little Carter. Cried as I read a few posts on his blog!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I too love those headbands! So cute.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love the over the rainbow hairbands. She does have a huge heart and made me smile.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love the hair accessories -- but eh bath towel is my favorite!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I like the "rainbow" button hair clips! rbnewo@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love the rainbow clips! And the hair-ties that were posted on the blog! Very neat stuff!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Praying for great success for your Etsy shop & Carter's fundraiser! What a wonderful way to put your creativity and energy to good use. Many hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  33. My favorite colors are purple and black so I love the Sophisticated Boo :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love the cute as a cupcake clips...SOOO cute!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Left a Comment on Erin's Blog, how sweet is her little family??

    ReplyDelete
  36. our family is praying for Carter and his family.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love it all!!! I really like the cupecake clips.

    ReplyDelete
  38. visited Erin's great blog and became a follower

    ReplyDelete
  39. visited Carter's blog and signed the guestbook

    ReplyDelete
  40. praying for precious Carter and his family

    ReplyDelete
  41. I would have to go with the super cute hair accessories your giving away!! My 4 year old is sooo into pony tails right now.


    Luckydux@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  42. I went to Haute Tots. Very cute. And I love the HOT BLUE...so true. Only a kid could come up with that. I am also now following your blog. Went to Erin's blog and am now a follower.

    My thoughts are with Carter and family. : )


    rachel
    http://raspberrykidz.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I LOVE the somewhere over the rainbow accessories! So cute! I would want the pony tail holders!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I visited and I could really use some of those cute snap clips. I will be praying for Carter too.

    ReplyDelete
  45. my daughter would go nuts for the over the rainbow headbands.

    ReplyDelete
  46. love the hair stuff on the blog that is being givenaway!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I loooove the personalized towel! Girly loves having "her" towel for after her bath!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I said a prayer for sweet little Carter. What an ordeal for him and his family. I worked at a childrens hospital and saw daily the struggles they go through. May God bless them on their journey.

    ReplyDelete
  49. visited erins blog and left some love.

    ReplyDelete