Outdoor Gear and a Giveaway

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. Read on anyway . . . :)

Well, the silly groundhog said this morning there would be 6 more weeks of winter. We're actually in a little warm spell here, but I know other places in the country and around the world are still in the deep of winter, so today I'm sharing some thoughts on winter gear and having my first ever giveaway!

I'm super frugal, but one area I've found that it doesn't pay to cut corners on is outdoor gear--especially for the kids. Sure, I can get snowpants at Walmart for cheap, but they are leaking through, getting my kids wet, and torn before the end of one winter! Same with cheap boots and mittens/gloves. I will absolutely spend a little extra and get quality outdoor gear for my kids. I want my kids to enjoy being outdoors, even in the winter, and you all know that when the kids get wet and cold, the snow fun is over, and they'll likely end up with pneumonia or something (=a trip to the doctor=$$$) from the whole experience.

SO, we've been weeding out the cheapo snow gear and getting high end gear for our kids for the last few years. It's actually ended up costing LESS because I can get a used pair of Columbia or similar brand snow pants on ebay (or a thrift store/yard sale if you have good ones around you) for half the cost of new and only a little more than the walmart pants, but they last 3 years or more--as long as they fit (my kids don't grow very fast) AND are still good to pass down to the next kid. I've had the same experience with quality snow boots (Kamik, Sorel, Columbia). They hold up, keep the kids feet warm and dry, and can be found used for only slightly more than a new pair of cheapo boots that leak and don't last through the winter.

And now to plug one of my favorite winter products--L-Bow Mittens. If you have not used these mittens, you have to give them a try! My girls are wearing theirs in the photo at the top. Developed my a Minnesota mom, these mittens are waterproof (really!) and built with an attached gaiter that fits over the coat sleeves (or under like my littlest likes to wear hers). How many times do you have to tuck your kid's mittens back in their coat sleeves because the snow is getting in their wrists? And at the end of the snowman, they're crying for hot cocoa because their fingers are wet and freezing! Well, no more of that with these fantastic mittens.They are lined with Thinsulate insulation and the line I have are BREATHABLE as well as WATERPROOF. This means the kids' sweat can get out but the water can't get in! Amazing--warm, dry hands for all your snow activities!

Another great thing about these mittens is the universal thumb (not on gloves). The thumb is a large pocket and right in the middle, so either hand can use either mitten. I thought this would make them hard to use, but my kids have had no problem building snowmen, snowforts, snowballs, snowangels, etc. in them. AND it makes them easy to get on because you about can't miss the thumb hole!For the bigger kids, L-Bow Mittens also makes L-Bow Gloves. Hooray--fingers!

Now, after all that, here's the giveaway. I'm giving one lucky winner a pair of L-Bow Mittens or Gloves! Yep, warmth and snow fun for your little one from me! The winner can choose boy (black/blue as pictured) or girl (red/navy as pictured) plus specify the size: Small (2-4), Medium (girls 4-6, boys 4-7), or Large (girls 7-14, boys 8-12). The small size is mittens, medium or large are gloves. If you don't want to wait to win, you can visit my eBay store here or by visiting the link on my sidebar and buy some now--I even have them on sale this week!

Here's how to enter: Leave me a comment on this post telling me what you like to do outside in the winter. Easy, right? Please make sure I have a way to contact you in case you win!

If you want to follow my blog, subscribe by email (both on the sidebar), post on your blog about this giveaway, whatever else, you can get an extra entry for each one, just leave a separate comment for each thing you do. You can also get an extra entry if you join the NRA through my link or are already a member!

The giveaway is open to anyone US, international, military, etc. and will end Sunday Feb. 8th at 11:59 pm. I'll choose a winner using Random.org next Monday morning. International winners will be responsible for any duties/taxes/fees related to receiving the package. Happy 6 more weeks of winter! :)