Yesterday it snowed, snowed, snowed. For 12 hours straight! The fridge was full and we had no place to be so it was kinda nice. The boys played outside with the neighbor kids for a while then came inside to thaw by the fire. We read, watched movies, listened to music, worked puzzles and got caught up on laundry. It was a cozy, lazy Saturday but I’m really looking forward to warmer weather.

A few more things to pass the time on these cozy, lazy days…

*Homemade play-doh that makes your house smell like a spa.

*Basement dreams.

*So what if your current home isn’t your dream home?

*A <$300 bathroom refresher.

*Today’s weather.

*For fun, in the dead of winter the kids and I browse realistic real estate finds in an area of New Zealand where Steve sometimes travels for work. The kids’ choice (hello pool). My choice (minus the carpet, plus paint on the brown cabinets and new light fixtures).

*Emily’s instagram feed chock full of old, local houses. Many of them are abandoned. Save all the houses!

*We binge-watched Cosmos and got completely sucked in. The kids loved it. So, so awesome.

I hope you’re having a warm weekend whether it’s spent indoors or out!

images: 1) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking 2) Emily Griswold Whitmore

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Congrats to Kathy (in Canada!) who would choose a custom, round rug to place under her small laptop table.

Today’s giveaway is from Felt Ball Rug, a company that specializes in artisanal felt ball rugs and fair trade production. Surely you’ve seen these rugs making the rounds on the internet. Yes? I love their nubby texture, and they can be quite colorful, too. They’re ideal for nurseries, playrooms and small family rooms. And I’ve heard they’re just as (if not more) popular with four-legged family members.

So the concept of felt ball rugs is nothing new, but what strikes me about this particular company is the way they are empowering women through their fair trade practices. These beautiful rugs are handcrafted by women in Nepal. The country has one of the poorest economies in the world. The literacy rate for women is ~45% in comparison to ~72% for men. The company trains and employs local women, giving them the opportunity to work from home while caring for their families. Some of the women create the individual felt balls while others construct the actual rugs. The company pays their employees roughly 2-3 times the average pay for the area. As a result, the women are able to live comfortably and send their children to school. You can witness the company’s social impact in this heart-warming video.

Felt Ball Rugs is dedicated to maintaining fair trade practices while offering a high quality product. All rugs are made from 100% New Zealand wool. Shipping and returns are free and offered worldwide. You can choose from round or rectangle rugs, neutral or multi-color. You can even design your own custom rug.

Do you need a felt ball rug in your life? Find giveaway details below.

PRIZE: One winner will select a round (2’11” – $215 retail value) or rectangle (2’7.5” x 3’3.4” – $278 retail value) rug of their choice from Felt Ball Rug’s collections OR of their own design. Yes, the winner may choose a custom design! (These smaller rugs are perfect for baby’s tummy time, lazing pets and / or meditation.)

RULES: You must be at least 18 years old and have a shipping address (no P.O. boxes please). This giveaway is open worldwide! One entry per email address.

TO ENTER: Follow Felt Ball Rugs on instagram here then leave a comment on this post sharing which rug you would choose if you won and how you would use it.

DEADLINE: Enter before 9:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 26th. One random winner will be announced Friday, February 27th.

Good luck!

images: Felt Ball Rugs