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Monday, February 27, 2012

Montessori Services/For Small Hands Review & Giveaway!!

** This giveaway is now closed.
Congrats to the winner!**


I'm really excited about this giveaway because I'm reviewing my long time favorite Montessori supply store, Montessori Services and their partner site, For Small Hands!

You all have seen me link to Montessori Services time and time again. Why? Because I believe they are - without a doubt - the best place to get everything you need to complete and compliment your prepared environment. I'm talking about those wonderful details like baskets, tongs, trays, mats, & pouring kits. It's been my go-to place for those kinds of things ever since I heard about Montessori Services from the Directress at that the top Montessori school here on the island - she orders from them exclusively!

You'll see the materials I've purchased from Montessori Services & For Small Hands peppered throughout our shelves. I could go on and on raving about each and every thing we've ordered, but instead here's just a sample of my absolute favorites:

~pouring stars during our space unit~

We love this gorgeous cobalt blue pouring set. Maria Montessori believed a child's environment should contain beautiful things. This set of carved glass is just that. And it's just the right size for little hands.

MANY of you have asked where I find the tiny objects included in my alphabet box. Among resourcing my own personal collection of odds and ends, I look to Montessori Services to supply some of the particularly cute objects, such as these.

~sorting and transferring~
Trays and transferring tools are in constant use in our classroom. In the sorting activity shown above, the all white tray and three of the tools were purchased from Montessori Services: the mustard spoon, the sugar tongs, and the wooden tongs. PS: this little ladle is also a favorite of ours. :)

~transferring flowers during our St. Patrick's Day unit~

You all know my love of baskets and bowls. The reed baskets shown above, and these tiny maple bowls have been a mainstay on my shelves. They are just the right size for holding small objects for counting and sorting activities.


And last, but not at all least, these space flashcards. As a family of space geeks, James has multiple sets of space cards, but these are by far his favorite! The colors are vibrant, the photos are real, and the cards are thick and sturdy. Good stuff!

Montessori Services excels at Practical Life materials (their kits are fantastic!), but they also offer much, much more. You can find books on a variety of topics, art activities and supplies, kits and tools for your budding scientist, materials for elementary aged children, and for the youngest child, these wonderful books and toys.

Now for the giveaway! Montessori Services has offered to gift one of my readers a $50 gift certificate!! Wahoo!

Here's how you can enter to win:
Mandatory entry:
1. Leave a comment on this post.

Extra entries:
2. Visit Montessori Services or For Small Hands and leave me a separate comment letting me know your favorite thing in their store.
3. Like Counting Coconuts on Facebook and leave me a separate comment on this post letting me know you have/already do.
4. Follow Counting Coconuts and leave me a separate comment on this post letting me know you have/already do.
5. After today come back and leave me one comment per day on this post until the end of the giveaway.

A couple of notes:
:: All comments are moderated - they will NOT appear immediately after you post them.
:: Do not leave your entry comments on the Counting Coconuts Facebook page - they will not be included.
:: Regarding separate comments - each entry will be counted as a chance to win. If you put all of your entry requirements into just ONE comment, you'll only have ONE chance to win.

This giveaway ends at 9pm (Atlantic Time) on Saturday, March 3rd. The winner will be announced the following day.

Good luck, everyone!

419 comments:

  1. Oh I love this store too! My favorite item that has been on my wish list for ages is the wood working benchwith Vise. Thank you!

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  2. This one is easy. I want the Melody Harp. My son watched a young lady play the harp at our church and was mesmerized. Since then he is convinced he will play the harp one day too. This would be a great toy because he is only 4 :) A little too young for a real harp.

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  3. I think I just liked you on facebook. I am new to facebook:) Thank you again.

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  4. I am already a follower of your blog. See you back here tomorrow!!!

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  5. What a great giveaway! I would LOVE to win this. Thank you for hosting it! :)

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  6. I am excited about this giveaway!!!

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  7. I would probably get the language object starter set. I have found some variety here and there, but it would be so nice to just order a ready made set!

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  8. Subscribe to you through google reader

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  9. I would love to buy some of the pouring sets. They have TONS of amazing ones!!!

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  10. Liked you on Facebook :) You can contact me through my blog (as well as the other posts by me....sorry I forgot to put that in the other ones)

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  11. I already follow you...and love, love, LOVE your blog!

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  12. What an exciting giveaway! As for you, they are my "go to" for a bunch of things...rugs, tough to find miniatures, children's safety glasses, and much more! I hope I win!

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  13. I went to their site, and I have to say I have my eye on some of those flag sets!

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  14. I "follow" you by subscribing in Google Reader :)

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  15. This sounds great! My email address is sara(dot)Goggin (@) gmail (dot) com

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  16. I love the learning ower step stool ... And pretty much everything else on the site!

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  17. Hi :) I like your blog very much and I'm searching the materials for our home classroom :) I wanted to start by practical life exercices and you just gave me a really great place to shop :) Thank you soo much :)

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  18. eLove love love all this stuff! I will be starting a new job, in a new school, in a 3 year old room and any of this will help me start transitioning this room.

    I also found you on FB!! Excited!!

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  19. I'm excited for the giveaway! I love your blog, it is so helpful!

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  20. So I loved several things in their store, of course, but I think my favorite thing would have to be the birds of the world flashcards. My oldest son loves birds!

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  21. I follow your blog and I love it!

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  22. A gift certificate would be awesome!

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  23. I love the Cook it in a Cup cookbook!

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  24. How fun! Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

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  25. Just visited the website, love all of the stuff. But especially the loop to loop parachute in the cooporative games section

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  26. What a wonderful give away! Kara

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  27. We love Montessori Services as well! The movement book is awesome!

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  28. wahoo! this is perfect timing!
    twcctw@gmail.com

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  29. I am a follower of Counting Coconuts!

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  30. I like counting coconuts on facebook!

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  31. I went to Montessori Services and I love their Pouring Kits!!! Just What I'm looking to add to our shelves!

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  32. It's hard to pick a favorite...But I have had my eye on the child size wheelbarrow!

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  33. Yaaay! I love Montessori Services and Small Hands! It would be awesome to win! Off to go pick out my favorite thing...

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  34. My favorite things are probably the practical life stuff. I love the natural brooms, the carpet sweeper, the child sized kitchen things! And I love all the different pitchers available!

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  35. I am so excited about this giveaway! I hope I win!
    t2e2d2@yahoo.com
    ~Teddie

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  36. Hi! Great giveaway! Thanks for the free goodies!

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  37. I follow you with google reader.

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  38. From for small hands, I'd like a cooperative game!

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  39. From Montessori Services, it's awfully hard to choose. I'd start with that cute mustard spoon and probably delve into kits.

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  40. LOVE Montessori Services/For Small Hands! In our last order for our homeschool we had such an ecletic mix of things from glass droppers to a push broom and everything was so amazingly well packed. I have never seen a package where so much attention is given to making sure everything arrived in perfect condition - to me that says a lot about the company as a whole! My daughters and I love to look through their catalog together.

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  41. Great giveaway! We will be homeschooling next year and would love a chance to win some of these things!

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  42. I visited the store and was going to say I wanted the flocked letters, since we don't have sandpaper letters and my son has a heckuva time writing letters that look like anything. I think those would really help. Then I saw a comment about the melody harp and that sounds even better. :)

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  43. I love sooo much at MS/FSH... but one of the things that has caught my eye lately is the spiderweb frame. I have been trying to plan out a new garden/play area for my daughters, and I think that would be a really neat addition.

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  44. And last but not least, I follow you on google reader. :)

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  45. I love your blog and I love Montessori Services! Many nights I just read through their catalog and go "pretend shopping" - what fun it would be to really go shopping! Thank you for this opportunity! I'll be back to post again :) - Krista

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  46. I just liked Counting Coconuts on Facebook!

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  47. this is an awesome giveaway!! fingers crossed :)

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  48. This is an awesome giveaway! Thanks! : )

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  49. I like Counting Coconuts on Facebook. : )

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  50. on montessori services my favorite is the build a birdfeeder kit-my son would LOVE this!

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  51. Boy oh boy it is difficult to choose just one favorite from their site but I have been trying to bring more art into the parent + child program that I run and would just love to be able to splurge on the Beeswax Crayon Blocks ~ Set of 16. There is something so special about giving children beautiful things to make art! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  52. Wow! That's an amazing giveaway! Thanks for offering it!

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  53. As for what I'd like from them...that's hard....I think I'd go with the phonetic object box, or maybe a few random objects for my alphabet boxes. I have a good collection of my own but there are some gaps!!

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  54. I already like you on Facebook - and am missing your presence there right now :)

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  55. And, I already follow you via RSS, that's what you mean right?

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  56. Montessori Services is fantastic! I love going to their site and drooling over all the wonderful works!

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  57. My favorite item at Montessori Services is the sequential sewing activities. My five-year-old daughter loves sewing activities and would love to have skill building activities.

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  58. Super wonderful tools! I am pretty sure that there isn't anything I wouldn't adore from this lovely shop!

    sbitter at live dot com

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  59. I checked out their site and LOVE the embroidery exercise! My 5 year old DD would adore that! sbitter at live dot com

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  60. I follow your blog! sbitter at live dot com

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  61. I am following you on facebook :)

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  62. Of course I've followed your blog for ages : ) and love it.

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  63. Checked out the stores and WOW.....so many awesome products! I think the learning tower is pretty cool!

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  64. I have looked all over for tongs, the pouring set is perfect...I will have to check their site out! Thanks!

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  65. I really like the Montessori approach, but don't want to spend too much money on all the high-quality materials. This $50 would go a long way in helping me teach my baby!

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  66. What a great giveaway!!!
    Thank you for the opportunity!

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  67. This would be so fantastic to win, thanks for the opportunity!

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  68. I subscribe to Counting Coconuts via e-mail.

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  69. I Like Counting Coconuts on Facebook as Tanya Rubezhov.

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  70. Ooh, their stuff looks pretty neat

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  71. I like Counting Coconuts on facebook

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  72. I follow Counting Coconuts in google reader

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  73. They have great stuff! It's so hard to choose.
    I'll narrow it down to Bolt Boards for now. :)

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  74. please oh please pick me! We could really sue this!

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  75. There are too many favorite to name... the child size kitchen helping supplies, the out door helping supplies.. I could go on and on. I really like their pouring activity sets though.

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  76. Awesome giveaway! I love Montessori Services!

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  77. I like Counting Coconuts on Facebook.

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  78. I follow Counting Coconuts. Love to read your posts!

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  79. I love the "My First Sewing Book"!

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  80. Love your site...I believe this is the first time I've ever commented, but just wanted to say that you've inspired me to get started with a Montessori education for our youngest. Our oldest child went to Montessori and is currently in public school...since I've decided to quit my job and stay at home, we don't have the funds to send our youngest to Montessori, so I'm excited about working with him, myself and I find your blog hugely inspiring. Even to the point of potentially homeschooling our oldest beginning next year. We'll see. :)

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  81. I visit the Small Hands store quite frequently and have NO idea what I would possibly narrow my choices down to! I do need some tongs and sorting supplies, so that's probably what I would order.

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  82. You are my go to source on Montessori ideas for my little ones. Thanks for doing this giveaway!

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  83. I think my favorite item from Montessori Services is the tea set. It is just so adorable!

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  84. Thanks for doing this giveaway! For Small Hands is one of my very favorite online stores!

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  85. Love your Blog... Love Montessori Services and Small Hands...

    99% from my country will not homeschool Kids... I'm inspired by your Blog and Homeschooling my son the Montessori way...


    would love to have the:
    Cobalt pouring set
    Laddle
    Sorting wodden tray
    3 part Cards from Montessori services
    Open and Close Velcoro

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  86. I likes the Moon Jar Bank from the Montisorri Services website.

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  87. Just visited Montessori Services and there are several language objects I would like as well as some new practical life materials.

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  88. I have followed your blog for a few years already, you are my inspiration:)

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  89. I love Montessori Services and I love the Japanese Sand Garden!

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  90. Would love to win your giveaway. Jenny Stott

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  91. Extra entry...I also love the cobalt blue pouring set. Jenny Stott

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  92. I already like you on facebook...jenny stott

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  93. love the learning tower from small hands!

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  94. I already follow your blog, Jenny Stott

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  95. I would love an assorment of the small kiten prep tools at For Small Hands....mini pizza pans, wisks, wavy chopper, spatula, mini colandars, etc. SO MUCH FUN!

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  96. What a great giveaway, I love to look at their catalogue.

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  97. I would LOVE to win this gift certificate for my young ones. Thanks for this opportunity!

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  98. I love all the baking products, such as the mini cooking utensils!

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  99. Leaving my extra comment for today! :)

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  100. I have recently set up a Montessori station for my 1 1/2 year old. And, although I wondered if he's too young to grasp all of the principles, I figured you can never start too early! The other day, I quickly selected an activity to get him started on, and he said "No, no!". He ran over to get his Montessori mat so that he could do the activity on it! It was a wonderful moment that reinforced to me - nothing you do for your child is in vain. I'd love to get some trays and more activities for my son and his younger sister (8 mo.) with this gift certificate.

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  101. What a wonderful giveaway. I'll definitely have to check them out.

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  102. Today's comment - one of the many items I would love to purchase from FSH is the Japanese Brush painting set. I would really like to set up a peace table in our home... but more for my daughters to have a spot to calm themselves than for conflict resolution. I think the Japanese brush set would be perfect!

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  103. So excited about this giveaway. I just stopped working to stay home with my kiddos and I'd love to get some more materials to make their lives richer.

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  104. I follow your blog on my reader.

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  105. I loved browsing the site and now I really hope I win because there are several things I want. At this point I'm leaning towards garden tools since I want to start a vegetable garden this spring with my son, but then he was trying to tong with something that wasn't tongs this morning.

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  106. I love the calypso steel drum from Small Hands

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  107. Thank you for the giveaway and the new resource - just starting to collect some Montessori items for our home!

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  108. I like the huggable globe. Sweet. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  109. This is one of my favorite sites! I like their transferring trays.
    Thanks for hosting!
    Patty

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  110. And yes I follow you (of course : )
    Patty

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  111. i just wrote about for small hands on my own blog and came across this post on yours. (I reblogged your post at http://iheartmontessori.wordpress.com)
    thanks for a great giveaway!
    i adore all the child-sized tools on their site, and just ordered the watering can, gardening tool set, and small push broom. i hope to win so i can order some of the kitchen tools like the cutting tools, chefs hat and apron, and the small utensil set.

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  112. great giveaway! thanks! love all your ideas.
    thanks!
    noelle

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  113. Over this past year you've totally converted me to Montessori! Would be so excited to win!

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  114. I LOVE the hammering shapes and all the fun musical instruments!

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  115. i went to montessori services (for the first time) and appreciated their prices on things. some of the basics (the floor mats) are things i have been looking for as well as the science cards of the solar system. thanks for introducing that website. those were some of my favorites that i have wanted to get. thanks again for the giveaway!
    noelle

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  116. I'm trying to start do more montessori activities with my sons and your blog is a HUGE help! Thanks!

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  117. We would love this! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  118. I am so glad to see you posting again, even sporadically! Thanks for hosting this giveaway! I LOVE Montessori Services!

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  119. Separate comment #2: How can I choose just ONE favorite item from Montessori Services? That's impossible. But if I absolutely have to, it would be their small, child-size broom. It is used many, many times a day in our home and loved by all the children who visit. Thank you!

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  120. I like you on Facebook :) and have for some time!

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  121. Yep, and I follow your blog, too. I read many blogs, but only follow two -- and yours is one of them! Thanks for offering the giveaway!

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  122. Yay! What a great giveaway! I love Montessori Services so it's hard to narrow it down to just one thing, but I would say I love the hairbrush and pouring sets.

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  123. I really enjoy following your blog and have gained so much insight into the world of Montessori from you!

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  124. I LOVE the learning tower and wish we had a place for one. I also really like the cobalt pouring set you pictured, we call my daughter the mad scientist because she is always pouring and mixing things.

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  125. I'm back again for another entry today!

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  126. I would love to win the gift certificate! I am really wanting to be more intntional with my little ones learning. Thanks for the giveaway! jkwenning@hotmail.com

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  127. I absolutely L-O-V-E Montessori Services, we buy so much of our children's gifts from there, and they have loved every single thing. Just this morning they have used the small pitcher to pour their drink for both meals, and many of the baskets where various toys are!
    Sarah M

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  128. I already follow you on google reader!!
    Sarah M

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  129. We would love a complete Wedgit set. The one that was given to us only has a few pieces. Thanks! jkwenning@hotmail.com

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  130. as for the item I'd choose? My husband just told me the other day we need to get the kids their own wheelbarrow--so if I don't win the giveaway, I'm sure to be buying it come June for my son!
    (We have almost everything else, tools big and small, from MS)
    http://www.montessoriservices.com/practical-life/yard-garden/yard-garden-tools/radio-flyer-child-size-wheelbarrow
    Sarah M

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