Pleated Poppy GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway is closed.  Congratulations Vanessa!

I have been following Lindsey from the Pleated Poppy forever.  I watched her open her shop and I've watched it just take off!  I was pleased as punch when she contacted me and offered a giveaway for my readers!  Lucky you - her stuff is really awesome.  really.

In Lindsey's words:  my name is lindsey cheney and i'm the owner of a small business called the pleated poppy. i am also a stay-at-home mom of three, 8 and under, and home school my 2 oldest 3 days a week. so to up my insanity level i decided to start a crafty business out of my home, so i could contribute financially for my family, still be with my kids, and have a better excuse to craft more often
i make lots of different items, from posy pins to covered journals to zippered pouches.... lots of items great for gifting or treating yourself.



The Pleated Poppy is offering $25 shop credit!  Lucky you - you can browse around her shop.  One of my favorite parts of her shop is the way she combines fabrics!  To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment to let me know you are interested!  That's it!  I'll draw a winner on Friday, June 3!  Good luck!

Grateful Sunday

Today, I'm grateful for:

• these little nuggets - who spend most Sundays upstairs building Legos and singing Primary songs with their daddy.
• sandals and flip flops (but I am in major need of a pedicure - long distance running doesn't make for the prettiest feet)
• texts throughout the day from friends just checking in
• a three day weekend, four more days of school, two piano lessons to teach, and zero birthday parties planned for this week
• a covet-worthy giveaway scheduled for this week.  Seriously, I wish I could win.
• I still have one more season of Heroes to watch on the treadmill.  When that's done, then what?

What are you grateful for?  Have a fantastic 3 day weekend!!

Random.org chose 35 for the Pampers giveaway - Dawn, that is you!  I will email Pampers your email address and hope the 2 of you can get everything squared away!  Congrats!!

Limited Edition Design Diapers by Pampers and Rosie Pope - GIVEAWAY!!

For grown-ups, being fashionable is all about versatility and now Pampers is offering the same to babies! New Pampers Limited Edition Prints are a summer diaper offering that come in four print designs – two for boys and two for girls.  

 For girls, Pampers has created two chic designs that incorporate floral, polka dot and heart prints. For boys, there are two playful designs that feature toy car and argyle prints. 

 And since this year’s biggest summer fashion trend revolves around prints and patterns, we want to offer your baby the same sense of style with a sneak peak at the new product! Pampers Limited Edition Prints will begin to roll out in June, but we're offering you the chance to win ONE JUMBO BOX (66 diapers) for your little trendsetter before they hit shelves! Please note, these new stylish diapers are so hot of the press, the package offered for this giveaway is for Size 3 only. When distributed nationwide, you'll be able to find them at your local retailer in Sizes 1 thru 4.

They sent me a sample box and these diapers are VERY cute - perfect for the summer, when all babies really wear is a diaper!  Although I don't have any babies or anyone in diapers, I passed these on and they were eagerly received (and I felt kind of cool giving limited edition designer diapers)!  SO, even if you don't need diapers now, I bet you know someone how does! 

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment.  For an extra entry, follow me and leave an additional comment saying you are a follower.  For another entry, post this giveaway on facebook or twitter - and leave me an additional comment saying you did.  The winner will be chosen this Sunday.  Good luck!

Interview with Bravo's Rosie Pope

Have you watched Pregnant in Heels on Bravo this year? Pregnant in Heels is a docu-drama that follows maternity concierge, fashion designer, and pregnancy guru Rosie Pope as she guides expecting mothers through the joys and perils of preparing to have a baby. Rosie owns a high fashion maternity clothing boutique on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and runs MomPrep, the premier training academy for mothers-to-be. With the help of her assistants, Hannah and LT, Rosie runs the store, designs the clothing and takes on clients on a case-by-case basis to help them with all their bizarre baby needs.

I love it - I've watched the show all season and was THRILLED when I was contacted and given the opportunity to interview Rosie.  What a fun interview - talking about fashion, mothering, and designer Pampers!  Enjoy!

While I work out some technical difficulties, here is a direct link.  Pay special attention to the cute limited edition designer diapers - there may or may not be a giveaway later this week!


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Grateful Sunday

I am grateful for:

• The end of the school year is coming.  I have no less than 6 things that I need to be at the school for in this upcoming week!  I love it!
• Vitamin D supplements.  I had some blood work drawn and it came back that I was low in Vitamin D.  Since I have been taking the vitamin, it has made the world of difference in regards to fatigue and sluggishness!  I might even write a post about the difference!
• kale, chia seeds, quinoa, and coconut water - all have been introduced to my diet lately!
• peonies, roses, hydrangeas, tulips, lilacs, daisies . . . . all planted in my yard!
• many many more things - countless, actually!

What are you grateful for?

Flower Warehouse

A couple of weeks ago, I went with my friend Kristi and whole bunch of others to a wholesale flower market.  I'm not even sure that is the correct name of it.  I do know that this nursery provides other nurseries with flowers, there were certain requirements to being able to shop there, and that I felt really lucky being able to go.

Not only were there flowers at terrific prices, they had green house after green house of flats of flowers.  Seriously, we had to use a map.

Luckily, I went with someone who knew how to navigate.  The options were endless - which isn't necessarily a good thing for an indecisive person like me.

Good thing I had a strict budget - it would be so easy for me to get carried away here.

These are not all my flowers - but I just loved the way they looked all close together.

We got home, hardened them off for about a week, planted everything, and then they all got snowed on!  They are pretty hardy, though, and everything survived.

I'll show you everything planted once it warms up a bit!  Have you got your annuals planted?  What do you plant?

Grateful Sunday

I am grateful for:

• the fund raiser that I helped put on yesterday was a raging success.  We made more than double our goal! 
• M. likes to listen to the radio and I love hearing her little voice singing along in the car.
• the tulips that have finally decided to appear in our front
• the dishes were done, the floor swept, the beds made, and the toys picked up by the time I got home from my meeting after church.
• I've had enough self control to not even eat one of the cookies that I made Tom on Thursday and not even one of the pan of cinnamon rolls that our sitting on our counter!

What are you grateful for?

It's Official

Spring is here!   Case in point . . .

our strawberries came back . .

my hydrangeas (that everyone said are very difficult to grow in Colorado) are making an appearance.

my lilacs are about to burst open and make me very very happy.

Finally, we are having some spring - just in time for me to start preparing our summer to-do board!

The Green Smoothie Recipe

After posting my breakfasts, I received many many emails about our Green Smoothie.  These are super simple, filling, healthy, and yummy.  My kiddos have no problem drinking it, although I did have to bribe I. with a quarter to get her to even try.  Now, it's a normal thing and the green color doesn't bother us at all.  Better get a pen and write this one down, it's a tricky one . . .

If you are a beginner at the Green Smoothie - this is a really simple and really yummy one.  I use a huge handful of spinach (yes, we really get through that entire Costco size of spinach. I eat spinach every day), 1 banana, about 1 c. vanilla almond milk (make sure it's vanilla - the plain just doesn't cut it),  1 scoop of protein powder (again, I usually use vanilla), and 1 T. flax.

Stick it in the blender and let it go. I do add crushed ice because I like it cold.   It takes mine a couple of minutes to get it good and smooth.  See, I don't have a fancy blender (although I would LOVE one), but I've had this for years and it has worked just fine.  Seriously.  Nice and beautiful and green.

Now, that wasn't too hard.  This makes about 2 servings.  I drink one and divide the other serving between my kiddos.  A lot of times, I have to make another one. I should just make a larger one, but I always forget.   In the picture below, I added strawberries and you can see a little red.  As you add other fruit, the sweetness does go away.  Our family has been drinking these for a LONG time, so the sweetness factor doesn't bother me - but if you are new, beware.  It's not as sweet.

There are a lot of variation recipes here.  I love starting my morning out this way.  I feel full, but not stuffed full.  I know that I've started my day out right - which helps me to continue the day in the same way.  I have energy and just feel good.  We probably drink these about 4 times a week - sometimes for breakfast, sometimes for after school snack.

So, I Entered A Contest

and wouldn't you know it - out of more than 13,000, I made the top 100!

Backyard before

Thankfully, I have this little blog and I'm reaching out to the blogging world for help.  Let me give you a little more info:


June 2011

CSN was having a Blah Backyard Makeover Contest and about a year ago, I entered our backyard.  I told them of how hard my husband has worked to make our backyard what it is right now.  He's been out there working every Saturday, weather permitting, for the past 4 years.  We have done everything ourselves, from hauling out dirt, to hauling in bricks.  Our kids have become expert hard workers.  Now, the hardscape is pretty much done - but the backyard still looks empty.  We need to furnish it all!  We would love to use it.  I would love to win this contest and give our hard working family a break!

The prize is a $15,000 makeover and HGTV's Justin Cave's help.  While we don't really need a makeover, we really need to just finish. 

So . . . HELP, PLEASE!!

Click here and "like" CSN stores on facebook.  That will allow you to get to the Contest Corner.  Click the Blah Backyard and vote for us - it's Laurel M. from Parker!  I know it seems like a lot to do with all the clicking and liking - but it really will just take a moment.  Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!

Grateful Sunday

Allergies bite.  There, I said it.  Yesterday, we had a very scary allergic reaction because I let my guard slip, just a little.  I can still tell you everything my little one put in her mouth and I can even picture her putting everything in her mouth.  Still . . . . . allergies can be vicious and sneaky and you just can't let your guard down for a minute.  Just when I had gotten complacent, well, lesson learned.  I am grateful all is well and I am the only one that is a little off kilter, but I'm sure that is to be expected around here.

Oh yeah, I'm also grateful for the royal wedding - I totally got swept away and took my daughters with me!

PS - Mom, we really are OK, no need to be worried.