Week of Giveaways: Final Day!

A WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS WRAPS UP.
In celebration of the launch of Beautify My Blog, which goes live Saturday, I wanted to give away a few gifts from some of my favorite crafty blogging friends (some of which I have designed blogs for in the past). So stick around this week, and you just might win!

RULES OF THE GAME:
Each daily giveaway will end at midnight of the NEXT day.
All winners will be notified by Sunday, August 2. So if you don't hear back the next day about a giveaway from today, don't fret. You may just have won! But keep entering all, just in case.

Today we are giving away a $30 gift certificate to Dandee Designs on Etsy. She offers bright, cheery designs that I just adore. You can find her shop HERE. Or visit her personal blog HERE.

TO ENTER:
• Leave a comment on this blog for one chance to win. Name and e-mail, please!
• For a SECOND chance to win, visit Dandee Designs HERE. Then come back to this blog and leave a comment telling us which item is your faveorite.
• For a THIRD chance to win, visit Dandee's blog HERE. Then come back to this blog and tell me one thing "she loves."
• Giveaway ENDS Saturday, August 1, midnight.

***And don't forget! You can still enter THIS giveaway through Friday.***

Week Of Giveaways: Day 4

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

A WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS CONTINUES...
In celebration of the launch of Beautify My Blog, which goes live Saturday, I wanted to give away a few gifts from some of my favorite crafty blogging friends (some of which I have designed blogs for in the past). So stick around this week, and you just might win!

RULES OF THE GAME:
Each daily giveaway will end at midnight of the NEXT day.
All winners will be notified by Sunday, August 2. So if you don't hear back the next day about a giveaway from today, don't fret. You may just have won! But keep entering all, just in case.


Today we are giving away an apron and cupcake plate from April over at Funky Vintage Kitchen. The apron is her signature Elle Style (a-line apron) in the Fresh Poppies & Dots fabric with pink ribbon ties. And the cupcake plate or small dessert stand is the Sweet Pink Ruffled dessert stand.
April's Etsy shop is filled with handmade lovelies, recycled items and vintage finds. I am crazy about April's creations, and know you will be, too! Visit her Etsy site, HERE.


TO ENTER:
• Leave a comment on this blog for one chance to win. Name and e-mail, please!
• Visit Funky Vintage Kitchen HERE and leave a comment on her blog or become a follower. Then come back to this blog and leave the comment: Funky Vintage Kitchen, for a second chance to win.
• Put the Beautify My Blog button OR Funky Vintage Kitchen button on your blog, then come back to this blog and leave the comment Name:Button for a third chance to win.
• Giveaway ENDS Friday, July 31st, midnight.

***And don't forget! You can still enter THIS giveaway.***

Week of Giveaways: Day 3

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

A WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS CONTINUES...
In celebration of the launch of Beautify My Blog, which goes live Saturday, I wanted to give away a few gifts from some of my favorite crafty blogging friends (some of which I have designed blogs for in the past). So stick around this week, and you just might win!

RULES OF THE GAME:
Each daily giveaway will end at midnight of the NEXT day.
All winners will be notified by Sunday, August 2. So if you don't hear back the next day about a giveaway from today, don't fret. You may just have won! But keep entering all, just in case.

Today we are giving away a beautiful bracelet made by Sarah over at Different Dog Blog. Sterling silver findings, vintage glass beads and French cameo button create a unique bracelet that will be sized to your wrist (or as a gift to another):

I have seen this piece in person, and think I might need to enter my own giveaway as an anonymous commenter (but I'll refrain)! ;) Sarah is actually my new partner in crime in the Beautify My Blog venture. As I am creating new designs, Sarah will be accepting orders, changing the text to suit your blog, sending you code for personalized buttons, and generally creating a happy e-atmosphere around the biz. Because of Sarah, I am able to keep creating and offering blog designs, a feat once thought to be put on hold for 2 years. Round of applause!

You can find more of Sarah's creations at her Etsy site, HERE. She's one crafty gal (and she has one of the coolest/yummiest gardens I've ever seen...)!


TO ENTER:
• Leave a comment for one chance to win. Name and e-mail, please!
• Visit Different Dog Blog HERE and leave a comment or become a follower. Then come back here and leave the comment: Different Dog Blog, for a second chance to win.
• Put the Beautify My Blog button on your blog, then come back and leave the comment Name:Button for a third chance to win.
• Giveaway ENDS Thursday, July 30th, midnight.

***And don't forget! You can still enter THIS giveaway.***

Week of Giveaways: Day 2

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

A WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS CONTINUES...
In celebration of the launch of Beautify My Blog, which goes live Saturday, I wanted to give away a few gifts from some of my favorite crafty blogging friends (some of which I have designed blogs for in the past). So stick around this week, and you just might win!

RULES OF THE GAME:
Each daily giveaway will end at midnight of the NEXT day.
All winners will be notified by Sunday, August 2. So if you don't hear back the next day about a giveaway from today, don't fret. You may just have won! But keep entering all, just in case. ;)

Today we are giving away a 16 oz. candle of your choice from Backyard Candle Company. They sell all natural, hand poured soy candles. Visit their blog HERE to see in the ins and outs of candle making, and get an idea of some new scents. You can view candles in their Etsy shop HERE.


I have quite a few of their candles, and am currently burning Baby Magic (a present when baby Maya arrived). It's a light, fresh, sweet scent that smells intoxicatingly like a new baby wearing lovely lotion. Wes even likes it! That's saying something. Check out some of their new scents for the season HERE. YUM!

TO ENTER:
• Leave a comment for one chance to win. Name and e-mail, please!
• Visit Backyard Candle Company's Etsy site HERE and then come back and leave another comment on this giveaway with your fave candle scent for a second chance to win. (Hibiscus and Thai palm?! Yes please.)
• Put the Beautify My Blog OR Backyard Candle Company button on your blog, then come back and leave the comment Name:Button for a third chance to win.
• Giveaway ENDS Wednesday, July 29th, midnight.

***And don't forget! You can still enter THIS giveaway.***

The Celebration Continues! Giveaway Monday

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

A WEEK OF GIVEAWAYS!
What, you say? Really? Yes, indeed! In celebration of the launch of Beautify My Blog, which goes live Saturday, I wanted to give away a few gifts from some of my favorite crafty blogging friends (some of which I have designed blogs for in the past). So stick around this week, and you just might win!

RULES OF THE GAME:
Each daily giveaway will end at midnight of the NEXT day.
All winners will be notified by Sunday, August 2. So if you don't hear back the next day about a giveaway from today, don't fret. You may just have won! But keep entering all, just in case. ;)


Today we are giving away something lovely of your choice from Crystal Beutler Handcrafted Jewelry. She is one of my very favorite jewelry designers/crafters. Visit her site HERE to view her wonderful work. (You can also find Crystal HERE.)
TO ENTER:
• Leave a comment for one chance to win. Name and e-mail, please!
• Visit Crystal's site HERE and then come back and leave another comment on this giveaway with your fave piece of jewelry for a second chance to win.
• Put the Beautify My Blog button on your site and come back and leave the comment Name:Button for a third chance to win.
• Giveaway ENDS Tuesday, July 28th, midnight.

***And don't forget! You can still enter THIS giveaway.***

An Evening Stroll

Summer walks around the neighborhood include popsicles, messy Finn faces, Maya giggles, an unwilling photo subject, our yard's beautiful blooms, and my pasty white legs (which I naively though were actually starting to tan...hmmmm).

See you next time!

Corners of my house

Our California cottage is cozy, and I find a small space everyday that I adore. So I thought I would document them. Today we have my bedside table. Finn brought both of the little green treasures to me on subsequent days, and set them either in the bed with me, or on my side table. One is a young orange, and the other a fig, I think. Sweet little gifts from a sweet little boy.

Looks more exciting than it actually is...

Wes caught this little gem with his iPhone today. Finn is "pretending" to, well, just look at the photo. But it's all a show! I've tried just putting him in regular undies thinking he'll hate being wet, but seeing as he'll stay in a wet t-shirt from water play for like 2 hours and not complain (even BEG me not to take the shirt off), it looks like we're going to have to go another route. Toddling off to the potty because he hates feeling soggy isn't going to happen any time soon. Instead he's traipsing around in damp t-shirts looking for messes. What a boy! And quite the little actor, it seems.

It's a Beautiful Thing!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Since I am fast approaching 100 followers, I thought it would be fun to reward all of your following efforts. Once I reach the 100 mark, I will do a blog makeover giveaway from Beautify My Blog, soon to launch August 1, with new ready-made designs and themes. I'll select a random winner from my 100 (plus?) followers, and we'll spiff up your look (unless you already love you look, and then you can gift the makeover to a blogger you love). The chance to win ends August 1. If the count goes over 100, great! Sound good? Let's call it a deal. :)

TO BECOME A FOLLOWER: Simply click the "Follow" button under Follow Along in the sidebar at left.

Maya Wrap

Maya's been a little fussy lately. So I wrapped that baby up!! I was laughing at her expression. Too funny! I love her beautiful blue eyes, which are starting to fade to green in the center, so I want to document them while they are still so much like little blueberries.

I'm growin' and it's showin'!

Hi, there! Maya, here. I am four months now! I had a doctor's appointment and weighed in at 13 pounds. I am still dainty, so the good doctor told me to start eating some rice cereal. How did that go, you wonder? I wasn't too sure about it:
So every Sunday Mom takes my picture because my Granny says I change daily. So she needs weekly updates, of course! Here is today's photo shoot:
I am demonstrating my "crunch" skills, which I like to show off at every opportunity. My Mommy has started doing these same exercises, because she noticed my abs were looking better than her own. Silly Mommy.
Finn always likes to be included. Here he is asking for fruit snacks...he does that a lot. Maybe that should be my next solid food...
See you all next week with more cuteness!

Don't we all love a giveaway...

...of the $150 prize variety? I know I do! Visit HERE. Wow.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Beauty and Body

There are a few things that I use daily and feel like I can't live without. I have tried other versions of similar products, but they just don't cut it. I find myself coming back to these, time and time again. Here they are, in no specific order of favor (click on the images to find out more product info):

Origins Ginger Souffle Body Cream: A treat for the body. Not too rich or thick, but still packs the punch of a body butter. Bright, uplifting, energizing. I love it so much that I use it even though I know Wes doesn't like it. That's saying something. :) Check out their entire Ginger line. Their roll-on perfume helped me through the first months of prego morning sickness, believe it or not.

Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care: Ive tried it all, and I keep coming back to this. Seriously, my skin loves it! The trick is that when you exfoliate with a toner, the lotion absorbs into your skin better. Try it on the back of your hand (on one hand use an exfoliating toner, and on the other don't, then moisturize). That little bottle of yellow lotion moisturizes my face better than any heavy duty cream or other moisturizer on the market. I prefer this face wash because it's gentle and I can wash my entire face, eyes included, and not have to worry about using separate eye makeup remover. And it's all hypoallergenic. Gotta love that!
Micabella Mineral Foundation: Ahhh...the mineral powder foundation trend. I used to use Bare Essentuals (and I actually LOVE their "Bare Skin" eyeshadow...it probably should be on this must-have list). But it made me look slightly oily, or glowy, but not in a good way. My face felt sticky sometimes, and it has 2 parts—the foundation and Mineral Veil. I was on the hunt for a better mineral powder foundation (I prefer it to liquid because it is easy, has built in SPF, lasts way longer, and it much more natural). So I was walking the "gauntlet" in the mall, and bucked up and walked over to the Micabella kiosk (could be dangerous if you don't have a strong determination not to buy every shade of eyeshadow they sell). This foundation is amazing! It's one step, lasts all day, and I never look oily or feel dry. It's $60 (yikes), but can last about 8 months if you aren't too generous. And I found it online in a few stores for $40. It is completely worth it. If you want to try it, find a kiosk in a mall near you and ask them to try it on your face, but tell them you need to see it in different lights before buying (they really try to sell you right then and there).
Origins Liquid Lip Color in Wild Flower: My absolute perfect shade. An earthy rose with subtle shimmer. I imagine it would work well on fair skin tones and blonds. Only complaint is I wish the bottle was larger. And it's not sticky at all. (I hate goopy lip gloss—this is more of a liquid lip stick. It's not clear or sheer, but smooth color.)
Benefit Erase Paste: Oh how I love thee. Erases dark circles under eyes, and hides puffiness and discoloration. This had the nurses in the maternity ward commenting that I looked pretty remarkable for having been up all night with a newborn. Testimony of its effectiveness, tight there! It's very smooth and lightweight. It never creases. I've had this little bottle for over a year and it's still not half empty. Brilliant product. And Ulta now carries Benefit!
Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara: I don't know if this is actually curling. I haven't noticed that so much. It's the staying power that I love. It coats the lashes and is waterproof. It comes off not with soap or eye makeup remover, but with warm water. You sort of pull gently on your lashes, and it all comes sliding off (kind of like silicone, or something). Sounds funny, but it's great. I don't ever lose lashes like I would trying to get other waterproof mascaras off, and the brush really separates. And because it doesn't break down in water, I never get raccoon eyes and it doesn't ever drip down in humidity. I love Clinique because they always have samples and gifts/giveaways. Oftentimes I can walk up to the counter and ask for a sample of something I want to try and they'll give a bunch of little travel size things. I like to go when it's not busy, have them try something on me (a blush, maybe an eye look). I don't necessarily buy it, but it gives me a chance to talk to the girl more so that she opens up. Then I usually buy the necessary thing I came for (lotion, one eye liner—that's all), and ask for samples of the things I am interested in. They always give me more than they initially let on that they had to offer. Sweet!
I am still on the hunt for the perfect eye cream. Any suggestions?
What are your favorite Beauty and Body Must Haves?