A Blogiversary Giveaway....but not mine

Happy Monday....ok, that is kind of an oxymoron!  But anyway, just stopping in for a quick shout out.  One of my wonderful contributors, Kaeley, is celebrating her first blogiversary over at My Mind's Lens with her first hosted giveaway.  I was more than happy to contribute. so head over and check out the goodies!!!!

Just Dandy Jewelry - A Review

TGIF, Ladies! Christmas came a little early this year....go me!  I received this beautiful jewelry set (necklace, bracelet and earrings) to review from Just Dandy Jewelry.

 

For those of you that know me IRL, you know that I wear A LOT of black.  The sweet ladies at Just Dandy allowed me to pick out what I wanted to review, and of course I went with what I knew would get the most use.  A few things that I noticed right off the bat and that I considered a huge plus:

 

1) Everything appears to be very well made - high quality assembly (also known as: made with a bunch of love). 

 

2) Both the bracelet and the necklace came with extenders.  Let's call a spade a spade...I am not a petite girl, and there is nothing more frustrating than finding a piece of jewelry and it being too snug for comfort.  On the flip side of that, if your are petite, the jewelry can also be adjusted to give you a comfortable fit as well.  It is a win, win situation!  Also, the necklace is a longer length, so it can easily be placed over my head - no need to fuss with those tiny clasps.

 

3)  The beads used in the necklace are very pretty and unique yet surprisingly lightweight.  I have had beaded necklaces in the past that were actually heavy and let's face it....no matter how pretty it is, that is no bueno!

 

Close up of the necklace

Necklace and bracelet....sorry you can't see the earrings - and who knows what is
going on with my hands????

Just Dandy Jewelry is owned and operated by mother/daughter team Janell and Denice.  I am lucky enough to know both of them and trust me, they are both sweet, wonderful ladies and so easy to work with!

 

How stinkin' cute are these business cards??????

To see a complete inventory of all of their designs, please visit their Facebook page here.  If you don't see just what you are looking for, just shoot them a message - they will make every effort to create the perfect piece(s) just for you!

 

And finally, just in time for last minute Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers Just Dandy Jewelry is offering 10% OFF any purchase of $40 or more as well as FREE shipping.....you gotta love that!  For your convenience, they also accept Paypal.

 

In unrelated news, I am thrilled to be participating in this AWESOME giveaway hosted by Taylor at Goings On In Texas.  She is such a sweetheart and has organized a mini marathon of great giveaways celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas.  Today is my day in the shared spotlight, so head over and enter....what have you got to lose? 

 



Giveaway WINNER!!!!!

Just dropping in for a quick post and then I am checking out until next week.  Congratulations are in order for Jennifer Belcher Balsom....she is a designer at The Paper Plume.   Check out their FB page...really great stuff!  Anyway, Jennifer is the winner of my 200 Follower Giveaway.  Happy Black Friday to her!  Stay tuned, Jennifer...you will be hearing from us.

Thank you to everyone that stopped by and entered.  I am so grateful to everyone that is helping my little blog grow as well as my Facebook page Pictures & Pens - it finally passed that 100 "Likes" hurdle.  I am looking forward to many more blog milestones!

To all the incredible ladies that made the giveaway possible, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and hope that I can return the favor.  You guys ROCK!

I am looking for fellow bloggers interested in button swaps for December.  If you are interested, please leave me a comment and I will get back to you....I would love to have you!

That is it from here for today.  I hope that everyone had a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!  If you are out shopping in the insanity known as Black Friday....good luck.  As for me, I am sunggled up in my apartment with my fur babies getting ready to get crafty...I am going to leave the crowds to the experts.

Some "Proof Book" Layouts

My 200 Follower Giveaway is coming to a close.  If you haven't entered, their is still time.  It could be a great jump start to your holiday shopping or you could decide to just keep it all and treat yourself.  Either way, don't miss out - head over and enter....the giveaway ends at midnight tonight.  Good Luck!

As promised, I am going to share some of the layouts I completed this weekend.  I love when I find my scrapping groove and can be this productive in one day - I did 6 double page layouts!  This project has been relatively easy, because there has been no journaling to bog me down.  These are a portion of the pages that I am doing for I what I have named a "proof book".  Each year around the time of  Zachary's birthday, I book a photo session.  Three weeks or so after the session I receive a disc full of pictures.  I pick my absolute favorite and have it printed in black and white and add it to my collage wall.  But then, instead of leaving the rest on the disc - never to be heard from again, I print every single one of them.  It isn't like there are only one or two good ones in the bunch...they are all pretty darn good.  Lucky me to have found such an amazing photographer....thank you Jesse, for being an enabler to my photo addiction!  *WINK, WINK*  But in all honesty, there is no way that I could just pick 5 or 6, much less 20 of my favorites in the bunch.  This way is much easier and causes me considerably less stress.

The following layouts are all from last year's session.  I am hoping to have this book done before I receive the next disc, which should be in a couple of weeks or so.  I will share the entire book once I get it done.

 

 

Thank you so much to all of my scrapping blog friends who have inspired me to start posting more of my own layouts...you know who you are!  I hope that everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving, spending precious time with friends and family.  Not to mention the insanity that is Black Friday if that is your thing.  I hope to do a quick post tomorrow to announce my 200 Follower Giveaway winner and then be back on Monday to share my first ever Pinterest inspired project...I know the suspense is killing you.  Happy Thanksgiving!

A Crafty Weekend & It's Not Too Late

Just stopping in for a quick Monday "hello"!  I had a super busy, but very productive weekend.  I worked on blogger event stuff with one of the co-hosts on Saturday - things are really coming together.  Megan was then sweet enough to encourage me through my first attempt at a Pinterest project......ummm, yes she also gave me quite a bit of hands on assistance.  I am really excited about how it turned out, but I am not quite ready to post it so here is a little sneak peak.....

This plus an insane amount of corks, made it all happen



Here is the inspiration Pin......

Source: thegreenhead.com via Julie on Pinterest

I also scrapbooked all day on Sunday....I made a lot of progress and was definitely on a roll.  I am going to attempt to get some better pictures, but here is one of the layouts that I did...

I am working on two separate posts, so check back for more details on my super crafty weekend.

Finally, if you haven't entered my 200 Follower Giveaway , there is still time!  The giveaway is running now through Wednesday, November 21st at midnight.  Don't miss your chance to win over $100 worth of goodies!

 

200 Follower Giveaway

When I started this little ole blog about a year and a half ago, I never imagined I would be here, with just over 200 followers.....EVER!   I love to blog, even though I sometimes don't post as often as I want, but more than that I am beyond grateful for all the wonderful ladies that I have met because of blogging.  Not to mention each and every one of you that are following me!  So without further gushing I would like to announce my 200 Follower Giveaway and some of my fellow bloggers who made it all possible.  Thank you ladies, from the bottom of my heart.  It means the world to me that you have chosen to support me and my blog by showering goodies on one of my loyal followers.  You ladies are truly, THE BEST!

Here is a little run down on the prize package, totaling over $100 in goodies.  The package will be awarded to one lucky winner.

1. Kaeley from My Mind's Lens - $25 gift card for Etsy

2. Kelley from The Grant Life - $10 gift card from Starbucks

3. Diana from Down Home Traveler - Big Tex Ad Space + A Guest Post

4. Heather from Terrell Family Fun - Large Ad Space

5. Sarah from A Dash of Sarah - Moments vinyl wall applique - $17 value

6. Taylor from Goings On In Texas - $10 gift card from Starbucks

7. Katie from Katie Stories - $10 gift card from Two Peas In A Bucket

8. Emily from Insanity Rules - 2 custome subway prints

9. Amanda from Princess of the Panhandle - one month large ad space

10. Jennifer @ Busy Being Jennifer - $10 store credit from Homespun Happiness

And finally I am also throwing in a $10 Starbucks gift card as well.  The contest will close at midnight on Wednesday, November 21st.  Thank you again to all the ladies that made this possible and thank you to everyone that is stopping by to enter.  MUAH!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Couple of Good Things Coming Soon

Based on the fact that the cat hijacked my blog last night, it has to be more than obvious that perhaps I had a bit too much on my plate.  Don't get me wrong, I am more than enjoying all the doors and experiences that the Texas Bloggers group has opened up to me, not to mention all the amazing women that I have had the opportunity to get to know...some even IRL.  With that being said, I have to get more organized and better manage my time...that is definitely something to work towards in the coming months.

Now, on to the good things.  Although, I am not an excellent picture taker...I am kind of obsessed.  They are all over my apartment as well as stacked and sorted in boxes and envelopes just waiting their turn to be scrapbooked.  I LOVE PICTURES!!!!!  It seems only natural that I am pairing up with the awesome Sarah @ City Girl Gone Country for a brand new link-up.  Please know that  although I am thrilled to be co-hosting with Sarah, "Sunday Snaps" is totally her baby....I am just lucky that she has been gracious enough to let me tag along!

For the first link-up (this Sunday, August 5th) the theme is Personal Best.  The rules are simple - you can submit from 1 to 3 photos representing your "personal best", you have to have taken the photos yourself and you need to follow your co-hosts...it is as simple as that.  Oh, and please don't forget to actually link-up and include the "Sunday Snaps" button in your post - we want to see your mad photography skills.  Sarah and I will each choose our three favorite submssions and post them later in the week. Sunday will be here before you know it...get those cameras and pictures ready to roll!!!

Next on my plate is the first official (DFW) Blogger Event sponsored by the Texas Bloggers Facebook Group.  As I mentioned earlier in the post, I couldn't ask for a sweeter group of ladies.  If you are a blogger in Texas, please check out our group and request to be added...you will not be disappointed!  Everyone is welcome, but we listed it as DFW because of the location.

I am lucky to be co-hosting this event with Sarah @ City Girl Gone Country and Taylor @ Goings On In Texas.  It is going to be a great evening of painting, wine, snacks and turning great blogging friends into great friends outside of our blogging world.  Once you have been added to our Facebook group, click on events and get all the details.  You must register in order to have a spot held for yourself, so you will have to take it one step further than just saying that you will be attending. The link to the registration page can be found at the bottom of the event page.  Sarah, Taylor and I are making plans for a great evening and would love for you to join us if you are in the area.  If you are interested in learning more about A Piece of Work, you can click here.  From that link you can also click the calendar and on September 8th you can click register and get signed up that way as well.  If you have any questions about this event, plesase feel free to contact me.

On a final note, I am particpating in a month long giveaway over at Finding My Way In Texas. 

I am Day 2, so if you are in the neighborhood check it out. I am giving away a 12x12" custom photo collage.  Somebody's gotta win..why not you?

A Giveaway Is DEFINITELY In The Air

Wanted to let you know that I am officially in the throws of my FIRST BLOG GIVEAWAY (sounds dramatic doesn't it????)....and yes, I am excited!  So much so that I am sitting down for a quick post before heading to the shower and then back to the scrapbook table.  NO, I am still not done, but I have made some SERIOUS progress.

Anyway, back to the giveaway.I started reading Shannon's blog awhile ago... www.lifeafteridew.com.  I LOVE IT!  She has a precious little family, a dry sarcastic wit that I am all about and above all GF keeps it real - and that is what keeps me reading.  When she began offering sponsorships last month, I jumped on board without hesitation.  Shannon graciously offered to host a blog giveaway for me if  I was interested.  HELLO....I have been wanting to do one forever, but with not many Followers YET  (oh how I adore the ones I have) I was obviously worried about lack of traffic.  Enter Shannon - problem solved!  Please stop by Shannon's blog and see what all the hollering is about....candles, and soaps and Starbucks OH MY!

A Scent of Scandal...fabulous candles (with a  naughty side!)

DeShawn Marie Vegan Handmade Soaps

Starbucks, Baby!

Happy Monday, Peeps!