I have a special surprise for you all, and all it takes is one little comment. One of my favorite online retail outlets is Hip Mountain Mama. I just love everything they sell, their philosophies on life and their solid family love. I’ve been a part of her movement, One Small Change (where you are challenged to make one small environmentally friendly change a month), for several months now as well. Their love for the environment is a way of life and she is spreading that love through community. Suzy is the sweetest gal and is always positive…a trait I find very inspiring. Even when things are rough, she finds the silver lining and runs with it. As a result, Hip Mountain Mama has seen enough growth that Andy was able to quit his day job to devote full time to continuing their family business. What better way to make a living than doing what you love with the people you love the best! And the bonus is you are sending a positive message not only to your own children, but to the community in general. It is quite possible to live an environmentally friendly, sustainable and simpler life and not want for anything extra. If anything, Suzy and her family are proving that they are happier than ever! What a huge inspiration!
A little bit about their family in their own words:
“We are Andy, Suzy, Magnolia, and Sienna. We are a young family on a journey towards living a green, natural, simple, and sustainable lifestyle. We live in Colorado where we love to hike, camp, and explore the Rocky Mountains. We enjoy crafts, gardening, healthy cooking, and spending time together in the great outdoors.”
I had the honor to do a little interview with Suzy about Hip Mountain Mama and their life in general. For your enjoyment:
“How long have you been in business?
• I started the business in August of 2008. My husband joined the business in November of 2009 making it a true family owned and operated business.
What are some of your inspirations?
• I am inspired by nature. I feel so at peace and happy when I am in nature and it really makes me want to be kind to Mother Earth and help spread the message. Sitting by a water fall or rushing river, walking along a wooded path, or sitting around a camp fire all inspire me to be a better person.
Tell us how you encorporate family life with operating Hip Mountain Mama.
• Since we are a family run business, running the business and family life go hand in hand. Andy and I sit down each morning with our coffee and plan out our day. We decide what needs to be done with the business as well as with our kids and talk about what we would like to see the day look like. If I have a lot of work to do, maybe Andy will take the girls to the park, or maybe it is a day we feel we can take a few hours and go for a hike. These morning coffee meetings help us tremendously because we know what to expect out of the day and end up getting a lot accomplished while making sure our kiddos are nourished.
What are 5 words that describe your life?
• fun, chaotic, adventurous, loving, peaceful
Tell me a little of your thoughts on “community”.
• I actually have a ton of thoughts on community….I’m like a community junkie. I thrive on getting together with like minded folks and creating spaces where people can come together and feel like they are a part of something. I think, as humans, we intuitively want to be a part of either one or many communities. It’s empowering and fun!”
For more on this family’s life and adventures, as well as the other online communities Suzy has started please see her blog at Hip Mountain Mama Blog. It is such a beautiful journal of their life and truly peaceful in her descriptions of their adventures as well as all the photos. (Is it okay to be a teeny bit envious? hahah!)
Now for your surprise! Suzy and her family are being super generous and offering up a $30 Gift Certificate to one of you! All you have to do is leave a comment by Wednesday, June 30th 11:59 P.M. CT and I’ll pick the winner with the random generator on Thursday, July 1. Easy peasy! For a second entry, become a follower and leave a separate comment letting me know. (If you are already following, leave a second comment as well and I’ll add you twice).
I promised you a treat and I know you will LOVE shopping at Hip Mountain Mama dreaming of all the ways to spend this great gift.
Thank you so much Suzy. I am so happy to be working with you on this and help spread the word on your wonderful business and life. Namaste!
Peace!
Comments now closed. Winner will be announced today – Thursday, July 1.
I have followed HipMountainMama for a long time on Twitter. What a wonderful post you have written about her and all she does for the environment, and to inspire others! Obviously, she is generous too, to provide this GC. So cool!
Great giveaway, Cat! 🙂 I love this company, too, and I've purchased from them a couple of times. You know how to find me!
That was a wonderful comment! What a great idea to try and make one environmentally friendly change a month! So easy.
I am now a follower (Cathy Herard)
cathy at letsbegreentogether dot com
I LOVE this shop! Thank you for introducing me to it!
lol and I so follow…
What a wonderful article. I have been trying to make every day life more simple and she is such an inspiration to do so.
saracorya at comcast dot net
I'm your newest follower from Blog Hop Friday. Please follow me back when you get a chance!
Jennifer @ The Craft Barn
http://thecraftbarn-ny.blogspot.com/
Wow, thanks for making me aware of a new business and site. We are actually leaving for CO on the 30th for a family vacation and reunion! I'm on my way now to go check them out.
Thanks too for stopping by my blog and saying hello. Say hi to little Lola too 🙂
Awesome giveaway! We love Hip Mountain Mama!
Following you!
I love Suzy and HipMountainMama, and all of the cool things they sell! I'm participating in One Small Change too (although I sort of fell off the wagon and into a pile of chaos this month!). I think it is genius to do one little thing each month, and it makes it so easy to go green!
and I am now a follower 😉
I love Hip Mountain Mama. I wish I were 30 years younger and raising my family the way she is. Now I'm just an old hippie trying to do the best I can for the world.
hippiefairyloveratyahoodotcom
I have followed Hip Mountain Mama on Facebook for a while. I am now following her blog and your blog as well.
hippiefairyloveratyahoodotcom
I have been browsing over there earlier this week!!
I'm looking forward to some more Garden pictures soon!
xoxo
~B
Hello, Cat…I found you through Frontier Dreams (who in turn follows my blog)…ta da, the day I check yours out is the day you're having a giveaway! I've never won one (I have a friend who wins almost 2 or 3 times a month!!)…scheming about what my first giveaway will be!
Here's my second entry because I'm follower of your blog now!
I'm a new follower of friendly Friday follow, please follow me back.
Thanks, Mr. Monkey
http://laughingmonkeystick.blogspot.com/
I love her site too… thanks to you both for the giveaway!
Great Giveaway! i've been a fan of Hip Mountain Mountain Mama for a long time!
thanks for the chance!
enchantedtree(at)hotmail.com
i follow your blog!
enchantedtree(at)hotmail.com
What a fun shop! I am now following them on FB & Twitter!
Thank you so much for this awesome giveaway and ur way cool blog!
lindseymuth at gmail dot com
I'm a follower through google friend connect 🙂
lindseymuth at gmail dot com
I am following via Google Friend Connect.
voodootinker at yahoo dot com
What a great surprise cat! We'd loveto win this. Thanks for the chance 🙂
I follow 😉 <3
YES!!!! I'd love to enter your splendid special giveaway!!
Please consider me entered!!!
xo maureen
Am now a follower of your blog as well, (I can't believe that I wasn't already following)
xo maureen
One Small Change sounds very interesting. Good job for doing it!
oh, and I already followed!!! <3
Hi Cat!
Fantasic blog.I was linked to it through your comment on Mammamoontimes blog. Love what your doing.
I like the To Go ware products!
jswaks at gmail dot com
Now following you on GFC
jswaks at gmail dot com
She has a lot of fun stuff, never heard of her before!
aI've never heard of HMM before, but it looks awesome! Right up my alley 🙂
Suzy is great! A nice way to get the word out.
Bummer! I just missed this by 13 minutes. Oh well…it'll be fun to see who wins the giveaway! 🙂
I'm following…this blog is too much fun to miss out on! 🙂
Thanks Cat for this giveaway and making us aware of this company. I am going to go to their website and check it out.
Cat-It is wonderful that there is someone concerned with nature and willing to reach out to others and share their love of nature. A great change from a busy and managed world!
I have been reading Hip Mama Blog for some time now and she's such an inspiration.
Thank you for the beautiful interview