In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to tell you up front that Cheyenne, the awesome mom behind Flybagz, is a friend of mine. We met five years ago when our husbands (boyfriends, at the time) were training together. We’ve come a long way since then: marriage, multiple moves, living overseas, children!
That said, you don’t need to be Cheyenne’s friend to know that Flybagz are gorgeous. There’s simply no denying her purses and diaper bags are original, funky, fabulously crafted and beautiful. Made of flight suits and BDUs, Flybagz put your husband’s uniform to work as a show-stopping functional bag you can carry every day. It’s a great way to show pride in your husband and remain stylish at the same time.

My purse making all started back in college when I had a roommate who was super trendy and crafty and taught me how to make a purse. Once I married into the Air Force and felt the pride and meaning behind the uniform, I decided I needed to make myself a purse out of my husband’s old flight suit. … Now that I have joined the mother’s club, I can confidently add a functional and stylish diaper bag to my repertoire too!

TSM: What is the inspiration behind your work?
I’m inspired by my husband and all the military men who put their life into serving their country. I wanted to show my pride for what they do and wearing the purse is my contribution.

TSM: What is your favorite item to make and/or sell?
Now that I have the baby, I’m pretty happy with my newest addition, the diaper bag.

TSM: What is the best part about owning your own business?
I LOVE delivering a bag and seeing the recipient’s face when they see it for the first time!

Cheyenne has been in a military family her entire life. Both her parents were in the Air Force and she married into the Air Force in 2005.

TSM: What is your favorite part about being a “military mom”?
I love everything about it!!
The community of wonderful wives, traveling the world, and of course free Air Shows all the time!

TSM: What has been the biggest adjustment to military life?
Our first assignment was hard because my husband went to work the first week after moving and he had instant friendships and I had to work harder for my own friendships.

Every FlyBag is custom created with designer fabric accents selected to fit your style. With multiple interior and exterior pockets and “feet” on the bottom, these bags are as practical and user friendly as they are good looking!

Connect! FlyBagz is on Facebook.

Shop! The recently launched Flybagz website, http://www.fly-bagz.com/ has a gallery of custom bags, FAQs and diaper bag and purse order forms so you can get your own!

The flower loop bows are really unique and fun. We received one attached to an alligator clip (in the photo) and another attached to a spring clip and you can order them either way through Stellar Trends. The flower loop bows are Shannon’s favorite item to make and I think they’re my favorite item at Stellar Trends. I particularly like the Amy Butler clip – so, so cute!

TSM: How long has your husband been in the military?
My husband has been in the US Coast Guard for almost 12 years. He went off to boot camp the month after we met.

* Donate to one of the participating charities. Leave one comment for every dollar you donate.
* Purchase something from Stellar Trends before the end of the giveaway and leave five comments.
* Post the Support Military Moms button on your blog.
* Follow The Shopping Mama blog.
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader.

Fine Print: Be sure to have your email address visible in your profile or included in your comments. (You may email me if you prefer.) If you subscribe via email, be sure to validate it through the confirmation email you’ll receive. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Open to US mailing addresses. Contest ends 11:59 pm June 3.

Although, I am very pleased to report it is not because of Baby Girl’s horrible sleep habits! In fact, last night she slept from 8 until 4 in the morning . Woo hoo!

Things started improving last weekend from the first evening we gave her oatmeal. I hesitate to call it feeding her solids, because, seriously, it’s like 2 ounces breastmilk (or formula – I am a lazy pumper) and one tablespoon baby oatmeal. She did really well at first but has actually digressed a bit and hasn’t been interested when I try to feed her. Did this happen to any of you?

With all that straight sleep, why am I still tired? Because my husband is out of town for work and I have a nasty habit of staying up way too late when he’s not here. I’m also busting my butt to finish all the Support Military Moms posts before I leave for my college reunion Friday. (More on that later this week. I have a travel nightmare ahead of me and need advice.)

Just wanted to share my happy sleepy baby update. Happy Monday!

7 Polka Dots features crocheted dolls, toys and patterns. Chassity, the mom behind 7 Polka Dots, has been crocheting since she was 6 years old and started selling her items in December of 2008.

Inspired by her daughter, Chassity creates things little ones will enjoy. Her favorite item to create is the adorable Cupcake Baby. This little doll comes with a little blanket and its cupcake home. You can even design your own Cupcake Baby and pick skin color, cupcake and icing flavor.

My favorite creation from 7 Polka Dots is the Monster! It comes with a little monster baby and a bag to call home. Like the Cupcake Baby, you can also design your own Monster.

Chassity took the time to answer some questions about the life of a real Army wife.

TSM: How long have you and/or your husband been in the military?
Currently my husband is in the Army and has been for a little over a year now. I also served some prior service in the Air Force active duty and then reserves.

TSM: What is your favorite part about being a “military mom”?
I enjoy the bond that you feel with other military moms because we all know how hard this “job” can be. You have these people that can connect with you based on the fact that we’re all in this military life together.
TSM: I totally agree. Once of the absolute best parts of this life, for me, has been the friends I’ve made, particularly when we lived overseas. It’s a crazy life and no one really knows unless they’re in it.

TSM: What has been the biggest adjustment to military life?
For me, the hardest part is living in a place where you don’t really know anyone. It can be hard moving away from the people that you’re closest to and starting all over.

TSM: What’s the most common misconception about life in the military?
LOL, everyone thinks that you’re rich because you’re in the military when that’s not the case. Yes we get a steady paycheck, but we live just like every other family does.

Shop! Check out 7 Polka Dots for all of Chassity’s cute crocheted creations. The Cupcake Baby is $18 and the Monster is $15.

Libbie Schille has been a photographer almost her entire life. She got her first camera when she was four and has never looked back! Her photographs are absolutely stunning.

Fine Art photography is where I started; it’s what I do.We’ve all had those moments where we see a picture or something even on the street and we think to ourselves “I wish I had that in my living room.” Trust me I know how you feel. Creating a picture that someone has thought about, dreamed about, and wished for is truly what I love to do.

TSM: When did you start selling your photographs?
People have always said “You should sell these or can you take a picture of my family I’ll pay you” but I have always preferred to give my art out as a gift because they were just so personal to me. But then about six months ago my mama in-law told me she had a friend who really wanted to buy a photo and I said sure than she said you should set up a studio site so my other friends can buy and then it snowballed into just more and more people wanting my work and well I reached a point where I had to say to myself. I’m giving this part of myself to a complete stranger and I’m okay with that.

TSM: What inspires your photography?
Everything! the world is so beautiful and so magical that to not find something out there I want to take a picture of is just impossible.

TSM: What is your favorite photograph to sell?
I do prefer to give a picture away that I made for fun rather than set up a time and take pictures for someone because I have found that a picture can be the most personal thing to someone and they mean something different to everyone. Sometimes taking a picture for someone else means having to put aside what I think is beautiful for what they think is beautiful and that can be so very hard to do sometimes

TSM: What is the best part about owning your own business?
I get to make the rules. I get to spend all the time I want with my family and there isn’t a person in the world who can tell me no.

Libbie’s husband joined the military 8 years ago. Want to know what it’s really like to be married to the military? Libbie tells us more about her experience:

TSM: What is your favorite part about being a “military mom”?
This is such a good question and such a very hard question to answer because for me what I love about what we do is that my husband goes to work everyday happy to be doing what he is doing, proud to be doing what he’s doing and has the desire to keep doing for as long as he can. My favorite part about being in the life is the joy of knowing he is doing something he loves.

TSM: What has been the biggest adjustment to military life?
Leaving family, and friends. Hands down having to look back and say good-bye more times then you say hello to the people you love is hard.

TSM: What’s the most common misconception about life in the military?
That we are all just these robots that follow orders and don’t think for ourselves. As if because we work for the government we can’t disagree with them.

In conjunction with the Support Military Moms Event, Libbie made a very generous donation to The Fisher House. Libbie explains, “I chose to donate to the Fisher house because I am so happy that someone was willing to recognize that the last thing a family needs to worry about when dealing with the healing of war is where are they going to live.”

Connect! Check out Libbie’s blog Diary of an Air Force Wife.

Bonus Entries:
* Donate to one of the participating charities. Leave one comment for every dollar you donate.
* Purchase a photograph from Libbie Schille’s Etsy store and leave five comments.
* Post the Support Military Moms button on your blog.
* Follow The Shopping Mama blog.
* Subscribe to The Shopping Mama in email or a reader.

Fine Print: Be sure to have your email address visible in your profile or included in your comments. (You may email me if you prefer.) If you subscribe via email, be sure to validate it through the confirmation email you’ll receive. Winner will be chosen via random.org and emailed. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Open to US mailing addresses. Contest ends 11:59 pm June 3.

The Shopping Mama is pleased to introduce you to The Modern Mama! Becky, the owner and designer, is an Air Force wife, mother to two young kids and all around, well, modern mama.

In addition to The Modern Mama Etsy shop, Becky writes a great blog, owns a sweet fabric shop and is organizing a blog for military spouses to connect (more on that later).

Before we get any farther, let’s get to know The Modern Mama!

TSM: When did you start making your goods? When did you start selling them?
I began in October of 2007, and I started selling in January of 2008.

TSM: What is the inspiration behind your work?
My children and the attempt at having a career while following my husband around the world!

TSM: What is your favorite item to make and/or sell?
I am totally partial to my bamboo wipes—I loved them as burp cloths when my son had terrible reflux as a baby (my first product!), and now I just think they are fantastic wipes and cleaning helpers around the house.

TSM: What is the best part about owning your own business?
My favorite part of owning my business is that I’m the boss. I love having the freedom to try new product lines and adjust them as necessary. The down side is that I can’t fire my two charming personal assistants!

The Modern Mama provided my family with an “Eco Fabulous” Kitchen Wipe to use in our home. About the Cotton and Bamboo Kitchen Wipe and Swiffer Cloth:
This is an amazing home helper that does double duty to tackle your chores! At approximately 10” x 10”, this decorative cotton fabric is backed by organic cotton and bamboo terry cloth and is sized to perfectly fit your Swiffer. Use it dry to pick up all those tiny crumbs and dust, or moisten it, spritz the floor with a little cleaner, and you’re good to go!

In addition to looking cute with great fabric backing, the Wipe is absorbent, a great size and anti-bacterial. But, the best part? You just throw it in the wash and re-use it. No need to spend $5 on a refill pack only to toss it in the trash can when you can use one of these over and over again.

Like I said, my husband does a lot of the cleaning around house, but I might be more inclined to scrub away if all my cleaning products looked this cute!

Now that you know about her work, let’s get to know Becky as a mom and the wife of an Air Force officer.

TSM: How long have you and/or your husband (child) been in the military?
My husband has been in the Air Force for 14 years. We’ve been together for the last 8.

TSM: What is your favorite part about being a “military mom”?
I’m very proud of my husband for his contributions to keeping our country safe. And I enjoy the extended military family of which we are all a part! I often have everyday people thank me for my husband’s service and for my service as I keep the family and home running. That’s so thoughtful.

TSM: What has been the biggest adjustment to military life?
I would have to say giving up my former career—this was a big loss for me personally and professionally, not to mention the salary! However, I would never have had the chance to be a small business owner if I weren’t moving all around the country with the Air Force. As my children get older, I find it harder and harder to move—they get attached to their friends and schools. After our next PCS this summer, my 4 year old will have lived in 4 states, and my 2 year old will have lived in 3 states! I also miss being around family.
TSM: PCS= permanent change of station, or a move. I’m right there with you about not being near family. I am so jealous of moms who have family nearby to help out.

TSM: What’s the most common misconception about life in the military?
That there is stability! Yes, we have the steady paychecks, but our spouses are often gone or working very long hours. We often have to move every few years, and we don’t usually have family close by. Having a paycheck is fantastic in this economy, but the other factors make my job as a mom quite difficult as I keep the family together.

Becky has very generously supported other military moms by making a donation to The Fisher House. She says, “We lived in San Antonio for several years, and the rehabilitation and care being done at Brook Army Medical Center is always prevalent in the news. I’m grateful to The Fisher House for providing comfort to families who are near their loved ones as they heal.”

Connect! Check out Becky’s blog at http://www.themodernmama.com/.

Time to announce the first round of It’s in the Bag Bash Winners! Thank you to everyone who entered and a huge thanks to all the generous sponsors for making the Bash possible.

Without further ado… Here are the winners. Each will be contacted by email and has 48 hours to respond.

Sprout Boutique: Choice of Two Burp Cloths:
#260 Alice said, “I entered the Noodles & Milk giveaway at Etsy It Up!”

Borsa Bella: Medium Gadget Bag:
#86 Brooke said, “I love the The Original Kindle Bag Morning Glory Fabric! Too cute!”

Crunchy Cute: Coupon Organizer:
#158 tanya904 has the Bash button on her blog.

Ginger Snappz: Nursing Cover:
#57 Marin said, “I subscribe.”

Marmalade Hills: Body and Facial Scrub Gift Set
#139 Crystal P said, “I would like to try the Body Nectar Massage Oil!”

Peony Paperie: Choice of Item from Shop
#30 Ali & Josh Holt follows The Shopping Mama blog

Bebe au Lait: Double Reversible Bib
#74 Ali & Josh Holt, having a lucky morning, said, “I like the mint chocolate and papillon prints! cant decide!”

Plain Jane & Co: Fat Stack of Trio Cloths
#145 Molly entered the La-Di-Da giveaway at Etsy it Up!

Eady Beady Bags & Joyful Girl Natural Cosmetic Bag Prize Pack
#81 The Watermelon Tree said, “Eady Beady Bags-Cosmetic Bag – Joel Dewberry, Lily in Red, Manzanita Fabric- love love love it!!”

Cherry Hill Designs: Set of Oblong Sippy Cup/Bottle Labels
#53 tiny giraffe shop follows in a reader

Diaper Bag Prize Pack from Monkey Foot Designs, The Royal Details, me4kidz and Sweet Baby Creations
#355 Dana likes the “LARGE 14 x 14 Wet Bag HILCO Fabric Euro Flowers White Background” from Monkey Foot.

Three It’s In the Bag giveaways are open for entries until the 24th. If you haven’t yet, you can still enter to win the Chouette by Cosette Diaper Bag, the Little M’s Boutique Clutch and the lillebaby EveryWear Carrier!

I know this is probably a little bit different of a photo then you expect to find on The Shopping Mama, but TSM was presented with an opportunity for a product review of some awesome new clothing technology from DRIFIRE Performance Wear. After hearing about The Support Military Moms Event DRIFIRE contacted TSM about getting involved. So this is the first post of The Shopping Dada: a product review of DRIFIRE Performance Wear.

I figured I was doomed to days of sweat soaked, odor saturated cotton t-shirts… until I found out about DRIFIRE. I received the DRIFIRE 5.5 oz. Silkweight Short Sleeve Tee (along with some other great products) and decided to put it to the test. I was scheduled to fly three times in two days in the heat and humidity of South Carolina and wore my DRIFIRE tee to see how it would perform. From the moment you put the shirt on you can tell it is not your standard cotton or moisture wicking tee. It combines the best of both worlds…it has the soft feel of cotton and the lightweight feeling of a moisture wicking shirt. After the first flight the shirt was still in good shape, I didn’t feel sweaty and the shirt still looked and felt great. Later in the day as the temperatures heated up, the shirt held up awesome. At the end of the day the shirt looked great, and more importantly, smelled about the same as it did when I put it on in the morning.

DRIFIRE performance technology offers a full line of clothing from long-pants to boxer shorts and short sleeve shirts to sweatshirts. All of the products are made of their patented Dri-release® performance technology offering unparalleled moisture management, comfort, and flame resistance. DRIFIRE engineered hybrid performance garments offer everything you demand in a high performance undergarment. For garments that are as technologically advanced as an F-16, the bottom line is they are comfortable and look good while providing you with the features and peace of mind.