Pretzelz & Pigtailz {A Giveaway!}

Edit: This giveaway is now over....and the winner is: JESSICA LYNN IRWIN! I apologize to anyone who might have checked here today thinking they'd see who won...I posted it to my blog's Facebook page and totally forgot to post it here too for those without Facebook!  Oops - sorry guys!! If anyone would still like to purchase one of these precious necklaces, mention This Blessed Life when ordering for FREE SHIPPING from Pretzelz & Pigtailz now through Monday, March 17th.  Thanks so much to all who entered! 

---------------------------------------

OHHH I am just giddy with excitement over this giveaway!  Today I am happy to introduce my friend Callie and her brand-new business, Pretzelz and Pigtailz.  Callie is a successful business owner already, and she has just ventured out into this new {and I’m sure to be wildly popular!} venture of children’s jewelry.  She makes THE MOST adorable necklaces {called “bubblegum necklaces”} for girls and I pretty much want one of *everything* for Miss Olivia! 

Check out some of her adorable creations! 

How about this sweet one, “Purple Plush,” for a little girl who loves glitter and flowers: 

Or this one, “Over the Rainbow,”  for a girl who loves COLOR in her life:

Or this precious one, perfect for springtime, called “Butterfly in the Sky:”

Or this sweet little one, perfect for warm weather accessorizing:

And if you have a little girl obsessed with a certain character or movie {can you say “FROZEN?”} she has sweet little charms from several different shows and movies that she creates, as well {Frozen necklaces will be available for purchase soon – follow Pretzelz & Pigtailz on Facebook to know when they’ll be available!}. 

Anyone have a little girl currently obsessed with Doc McStuffins?!

Or in love with Minnie Mouse?

This is just a *sampling* of her adorable work – she has lots more to choose from on her Facebook page!

Callie is also happy to do custom creations if you are looking for specific colors.  However, she is currently expecting and close to delivery {yay!} so custom orders are on hold and will resume once her little one enters the world and she has time to adjust to her new life as a mom of three! :)  {She will continue to ship orders in the next few months, just not custom orders.}

All Pretzelz & Pigtailz necklaces are on adjustable chains.  The 18 inch necklaces can be adjusted down to 14 inches, and the 22 inch ones can be adjusted down to 18 inches.   This really makes them so versatile, and suitable for toddlers and older girls, as well. 

One important thing to note: Pretzelz & Pigtailz has an ever-rotating inventory…so if you see a necklace you like, snatch it up because Callie likes to keep things fresh and exciting! :)

I’ve never made it a secret on here that I’m a girl on a budget, and all of her necklaces are only $15, which is SUCH a great price-point!  {Frozen necklaces, when available, will be $18 – still an amazing price for such a popular item!} These are absolutely the perfect gift for a daughter, grand-daughter, niece, god-daughter, you name it!  I guarantee that you will bring a *huge* smile to a precious little girl’s face when you gift one of these! :)

Okay, so how do YOU win one?!  Follow the easy steps below on Rafflecopter…the more you do, the better your chances, starting with visiting Pretzelz & Pigtailz on Facebook! 

Winner will receive one necklace of their choice: a $15 value, including free shipping!!  {Frozen necklaces are not included at this time.}

 
Giveaway ends Friday, March 14th, at midnight.  Winner will be announced on Saturday morning, March 15th!

Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

POWEROCKS Giveaway!

Edit: This giveaway is over and the winner is……..

#5, Rayray Cartucci!  Congratulations Rayray!

Contact me at blessedlifeblog{at}gmail{dot}com with your contact info so I can ship this out to you asap! :)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

You guys, this product is pretty awesome…and somebody gets to win one this week!

Yup, one of YOU will win a Super Magicstick Portable Charger - valued at $49.99!

I am very new to the whole smartphone world {I’ve had mine for less than 2 months} but I was contacted by this awesome company and was pretty thrilled to learn about what this product can do!

 

To quote the back of the box:

“Powerocks will charge your electronic devices safely and quickly when life takes you away from an electrical outlet. Its…battery capacity gives you enough power to fully charge most smartphones up to two times.”

 

Isn't that awesome?!  :)

 

 

Basically, you charge the charger, then you can take it with you to have remote/cordless charging of your electronic device wherever you are. 

This is awesome for:

-camping/hiking trips
-traveling
-power outages
-anytime when access to an outlet or computer is uncertain
-times when you’re out at the store and have forgotten to charge your phone and its suddenly dead when you need it {or is that just me?! lol}

 

It couldn’t be easier to use – just plug it into your phone, using your phone’s cord:

And a convenient light on the bottom indicates the level of battery life left on the Magicstick.  When it needs to be recharged, just plug into any USB port, using the cord supplied by Powerocks. 

HELLO EASY.  :)

 

I’ll be honest: you guys know I’m about as frugal as they come, out of necessity.  This does retail for nearly $50, and I understand that’s not pocket change.  BUT I’ve also learned that quality electronic devices for phones are worth the expense. 

And seriously…pin this now for the times throughout the year {hello, Father’s Day?!} when you need a gift for that person who has everything.  It’s not just available in pink and black…check out the other colors:

 

 

So, how do you win?? 

Simply leave a comment on this post saying what you would use the charger for {Are you an avid camper, out in the woods for days at a time?  Do you travel a lot or take day trips where something like this would be convenient to throw in your purse?}

OR if you would like to win it for someone else, just leave a comment stating who in your life you’d like to give it to, and why. 

For an extra chance to win, repost this on Facebook {either linking from the web or sharing my Facebook page status about Powerocks} and just come back here and leave an additional comment telling me you did so.

The winner will be announced on Saturday morning!  :)

{Winner will receive the Black Super Magicstick shown in the first picture.  I received the Magicstick free of charge, but all opinions are 100% my own.  This is tried and approved by me!}

My Facebook Page Launch – And a Giveaway!

Hey you guys!  I *finally* got around to launching my new Facebook page for the blog – and I’m celebrating with a fall giveaway! :)

True story: I have had my Facebook Page “reserved” since March 2010.  I totally know that sounds a little crazy. ;)   I just remember thinking that blogging was becoming more and more popular,  and so I figured I’d better snatch the name just in case!  Also: I did the same with Twitter but can’t see myself using that anytime soon.  #aintnobodygottimeforthat

SO.  :) I’d LOVE it if you’d join me over there!  The reason I launched the page is so that when I link up blog posts they can easily be displayed right on the new Facebook page and not on my personal page.  Plus this way I can share Pinterest finds, favorite posts from other bloggers, awesome deals I see on the internet, etc.  I think it will be lots of fun. :)

So let’s move on to what you can win, right?! 

You probably all know by know that fall is my FAVORITE and Thanksgiving is my SUPER FAVORITE, so I decided to put together a little collection of things that would make your holiday a little more fun!  {The fact that stores go right from Halloween to Christmas music makes me want to break out in hives a little.   Thanksgiving is the poor neglected holiday – how did that happen?!}

So, I put together a little collection that will hopefully make your Thanksgiving holiday a little bit brighter:

 

 

Details:

Salted Caramel Yankee Candle {smells soooo delish} and fun little mini notecards {these would make cute thank-yous for holiday hostess gifts or for your kids’ teachers at school.}

 

Orange napkins {not gonna lie, I totally got these on clearance so there is a sticker on the back! haha} and fun orange ribbon from JoAnn fabrics

 

Fun little sticky tabs from Target {for marking holiday recipes or gift catalogs!} and a “Give Thanks” banner from Michael’s

 

 

This adorable free 5x7 printable that you saw printed out from Johnson Ferry Women’s Ministry in my fall house tour.  I DO NOT own this print – it was provided for free and I am just a grateful recipient! If you win this giveaway and would prefer not to receive this Scripture print, I will certainly do my best to find a non-religious print to substitute for you. :)

----------------------------------------------------------------

So, how do you win?! 

Basically, the more you do, the more chances you have!

First and mandatory requirement is to “Like” my new Facebook page for This Blessed Life.  If you already did that, GREAT!  You still get to enter!

If you share this post or my FB page, you get extra points (see below). 

If you answer some questions for me, you get extra points as well. 

 

It’s my little way of saying thanks for getting my Facebook page launched!  Giveaway starts today {Thursday} and will end on Sunday the 10th at midnight.  I’ll be back Monday morning to announce the winner!

Good luck and thank you!! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Evelyn’s Shoppe Giveaway WINNER!

Wow, this giveaway had a ton of entries!  Clearly a lot of you are big fans of Megan’s beautiful scarves! :)

 

Before I get to the winner, I wanted to let you know that Megan is offering a 20% off discount code for anything in her shop to *anyone* who entered her giveaway!  Simply enter Take20off in the area where it says “Apply Shop Coupon Code” at checkout (right under the Visa and Paypal logos).  This code is good TODAY ONLY – August 30th, 2013. 

Remember how I told you about how I love to shop ahead for Christmas and how it reduces so much stress?  Well, this is  a perfect opportunity to do that!  Buy ahead today for your sister, your daughter, your mom, your children’s teacher, your best friend, your mother-in-law…you get the point! :) You’ll be getting a beautiful gift at a great deal and supporting a stay-at-home mom’s small business.  What’s not to love here, people?! :) I know I’m buying one today for my mother-in-law!

 

 

Anyway, the winner that Rafflecopter chose (you can see the name at the bottom of the original giveaway post) was:

 

Stephanie A.  {sjangle3…}

Stephanie, I have NO idea who you are but congratulations!!! I am seriously so happy for you and I know you will love your beautiful new scarf!  I’m sending Megan your contact info so she can get in touch with you!

 

Now go shop and get someone crossed of your list in August!  :)

Giveaway Day! {Evelyn’s Shoppe}

Hey everybody!  I am back from a long(ish) absence with an awesome giveaway for you.  Megan is one of my sister’s best friends, and even though we live in different states and we’ve never actually met, I feel like I know her from my sister’s stories (lol!).  She is a mom of two precious children – a toddler and a newborn - who somehow also manages to find the time to run her own home business (amazing). 

Megan owns Evelyn’s Shoppe, an adorable Etsy shop that features her beautiful handmade scarves.  She sent me one and it.is.gorgeous.  It’s super soft – not itchy or with random weird threads like some scarves in my closet!  The fabric is fantastic and something you actually want to have wrapped around your neck all day. 

I picked out the Gray and White Striped Eternity Scarf and I am in love with it:

 

 

Here’s what the fabric looks like flat….and wrapped (I was not having a good hair day when I took these photos – hence why my candlestick became my model. lol)

  

 

I think it’s adorable that she had her own tags made up! 

 

Megan sells “summer” and “winter” scarves in her shop – you can read the item description if you’re not sure how thick the fabric is.  I asked her about mine and she was totally upfront with me that the one I picked was more of a summer scarf and more decorative (as opposed to thick and warm to wear under a coat).  Fine by me, though - I plan on wearing it all year round! 

 

{Sidenote: Can I tell you one of my tricks to staying sane during the Christmas season?  Buying ahead.    I didn’t used to do this, and would come to December with a huge list of presents to buy and be totally overwhelmed.  Now I start as early as July and start setting things aside as I see them – and as they go on sale.  By the time December actually rolls around, I usually only have a few gifts and stocking stuffers left to purchase.  It makes me so happy knowing there’s a box full of Christmas gifts sitting under my bed in September! :) }

 

So…the great thing about today’s giveaway is that I think anyone and everyone can benefit from it! Either you’ll love the scarves and want to buy one for yourself (pretty sure that will happen), or if you’re not a scarf person, you’ll know someone on your list that would love one of these beautiful scarves and you can cross someone off your Christmas list IN AUGUST.  Think of how good THAT will feel! Can I get an amen?! 

 

Here are a few more of my favorites:

Peacock Printed Eternity Scarf (love these colors) -

 

Cream Knit Eternity Scarf (how cozy does this look?!) -

 

Brown Floral Eternity Scarf (I just think the color combo is so feminine) -

 

Don’t tell my mother-in-law, but she’s totally getting either the cream or the peacock scarf for Christmas! :)

P.S. For those of you that know my sister, yes, she is a model for some of the photos! :)

 

Megan’s also running a promotion through the end of August where you can get 10% off using the code BACK2SCHOOL10 in the checkout code.  So if you don’t end up being the lucky winner, you can still get a discount on one of these lovely accessories.   You can also follow Evelyn’s Shoppe on Facebook to see when new scarves are listed online. 

So…onto the giveaway!  I’m using Rafflecopter again…I love how automated and easy it is.  

Enter this giveaway to win a a free scarf of your choice from Evelyn’s Shoppe (good toward any scarf priced $18 or under, with free shipping!) 

Good luck!  Giveaway ends this Thursday, August 29th, and I’ll announce the winner on August 28th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Piece of My Past & Giveaway WINNER!

{Scroll down to see giveaway winner and details below.  Yes, I’m mean. haha}

Since I’m a SAHM with no money more time than money, sometimes friends and family will let me peek though their junk piles headed to Goodwill to see if I can find anything to sell on our local Facebook resale sites for a little extra cash (I explained more about those here).  I am SO grateful when people do this – I have made a decent amount of money this way and it seems to be a win-win for everyone! 

Yesterday my mom watched Luke while I was at an OB appointment (TWO! WEEKS! UNTIL! DELIVERY!) and told me she had a bunch of stuff that was headed for Goodwill unless I wanted to look through them.  Ummmm yes please!

Some of it was junk but I did find quite a few things I’m going to try to sell before the baby comes.  But I almost stopped breathing when I saw this little number among some kitchen odds and ends:

 

That’s right, people, this hideously avocado green Tupperware has been a part of my childhood memories as long as I can remember.  I’m pretty sure my mom got it as a shower gift way back in 1983…and it held more tuna salad throughout the 80s and 90s than I can ever recount – somehow that became its life purpose in our family?!  haha

The thought of shipping it off to Goodwill?!  CRAZY.  It will stay a part of my life and my children WILL have memories of it in our fridge and around our house, I’m determined.  This puppy and me are bonded for life. 

Tell them to pot it with flowers at my wake. ;)

Anyone else have something from childhood that brings back memories for you like this?!

 

-------------------

Drumroll please! The winner {picked by Rafflecopter} of a FREE print from my sister’s business, Creative Type Designs, is #2 – Kate M!  Woot! 

Congratulations, Kate! And a huge thank you to all who entered!  

PLEASE remember that Jill is offering a 25% coupon code good through this weekend on ANY of the prints in her shop!  And because the prints come directly to you via high-resolution pdf, you can buy it this morning and have it printed and framed in your house TODAY!  Talk about instant gratification!  ;)

One final plug for my sister – she is the real deal, you guys…a real graphic designer with a degree!  She does wedding invitations, save the dates, you name it.  If you’re going to need some professional “paper help” in the near future, definitely consider her!  She’s extremely accommodating and very affordable! 

 

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!  I’ll be back next week with my VALENTINE’S decor! :)

Creative Type Designs :: A Giveaway for You!

Today I have a very special giveaway for you – a free print designed by my super talented little sister! Jill is one of many college graduates I know who through no fault of their own who simply haven’t been able to find work in her field {she has a B.A. in Graphic Design}.  So she took the bull by the horns and decided to open her own Etsy shop featuring her designs!  I am SO proud of her!  I think she is amazingly talented and I hope to convince you of how awesome she is, too. ;)

Her shop is called Creative Type Designs and she has pre-made items for you to shop from or she is happy to do custom designs for you if you have something special in mind.  Her personal design aesthetic leans more toward the modern but she is more than willing to work with you on fonts and styles of your choice!

 

 

She is super professional and seriously really, really talented.  I think that with the advent of blogs and Pinterest a lot of people have taken on the task of making prints for themselves or others – and while that’s fine if it’s a fun hobby for you, by all means – there is a level of excellence to my sister’s work that I think you’ll notice right away!  {Check out her feedback page to see how happy others have been with her work!}

 

 

For our giveaway today, my sister is offering one of her $14 and under prints to you for FREE!  YAY! :) The print is sent to you via high-resolution PDF and you can print it at your local Staples, Office Max, etc.  (Which means NO shipping and NO waiting for it to come in the mail and NO risk of it getting bent by the postman when he tries to shove a 8x10 print that you’ve been patiently waiting for in your mailbox!  I mean…not that that ever happened to me or anything…lol)

 

 

In addition, ALL of the prints in her shop are 25% off this week (through 5 PM Eastern Time Sunday) using the coupon code “25OFF” if you wanted something custom for your home or if you don’t win. ;) {To apply the coupon code, simply click the print you’d like to buy, then click “Add to Cart,”  then on the right-hand side click “Apply Shop Coupon Code” underneath where it says “Paypal.”}

 

 

Good luck!  The giveaway ends Friday morning at 12 AM Eastern Time.  Please remember that you MUST use the Rafflecopter form below to enter – otherwise your entries won’t count.  I know this is new for some of you so if you have any questions about how it works, please feel free to leave me a separate comment – I’ll check the comments on and off throughout the day and do my best to help! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Operation Christmas Child GIVEAWAY!

I have to admit, you guys – I’m a little jealous I can’t enter to win this!  lol  But it is an honor to help spread the word about this amazing organization, and I’m happy that one of you will get a fun package in the mail!

We’ll get to the giveaway in just a minute, but first, a little about Operation Christmas Child.  This is a project near and dear to my heart!  It is an outreach of Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief and development program run by Franklin Graham, son of the one and only Billy Graham.  The mission of OCC is “to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

In a nutshell, every November people around the world pack a shoebox with toys, treats, and educational supplies for children in developing countries around the world.  They are distributed to the children by Christmas, and for many children this is the only gift they receive for the holiday. 

You can choose the gender and age range of the child you’d like to buy for.  Chris and I typically choose 10-14 year old boy, just because we figure it’s probably the least shopped-for category.   We usually make it a date night – we’ll shop for the gifts, then go to Starbucks afterward! 

Here’s an example of what’s going in one of our boxes this year:

Mini soccer ball {with an air pump}
Practice kicker for soccer ball {can you tell my husband was a soccer player?!}
Sketchpad with colored pencils, regular pencils, and a sharpener
Silly string
Washcloth, and bar of soap {not pictured}

There’s a whole list of packing ideas (and what’s not allowed to be packed) on the OCC website. 

Our church is accepting the boxes this Sunday morning, but you can use this finder on their website to find a packing location near you!  If you have additional questions about how to pack a shoebox, check out their FAQ page (please feel free to ask me a question in the comments or via e-mail, as well!). 

It is SUCH an amazing idea and I literally can’t sit through one of their videos in church without bawling my eyes out.  The kids get SO excited to see their gifts!  It is so, so precious. 

------------

To help spread the word about OCC, they sent me a giveaway package to send on to one of you!  Here’s what one lucky person will be getting in the mail:

 

- An OCC t-shirt {second picture shows the back}.  This is a thin gray material with pretty scroll designs on it (definitely for a woman, sorry guys!).  Size L but I’m really short and it wasn’t that big on me! 

- A SIGNED, Limited Deluxe Edition “Christmas with Scotty McCreery” magazine, PLUS his new Christmas CD AND a 2013 Scotty calendar {hellooooo any American Idol fans out there?!!}**

- Two OCC ornaments for your tree this year {one for you and one for a friend; pics below show front and back}

 

So fun, right?! 

All you have to do to enter this giveaway is leave a comment on this post discussing anything you want about OCC.  Your comment can be anything from “I’ve never heard of this org before but it sounds awesome!” to “We do this every year and we always put ____ in our boxes.” 

Seriously, as long as your comment has something to do with OCC, you will be entered to win!  The giveaway closes on Monday night. 

In the meantime, it’s not too late to fill a shoebox and get it out!  A child will be so blessed by your generosity! :)

 

**The Scotty magazine came to me a little scratched in the box but the CD looks to be just fine.  I was tempted to play it and test it out but I refrained. lol.  Just wanted to give full disclosure!**

My Favorite Vegan Snack & Giveaway Winner Announced!

I’m sitting here at my computer typing as fast as my fingers will let me – hoping I can get this post finished before we lose power!  You maaaay have heard of a little storm named Hurricane Sandy.  Yup, we’re living it right now!  Connecticut is currently getting tons of wind and rain.  Two of my good friends have already been without power for several hours.  Last year with Hurricane Irene, we lost power for 5 days.  It was no picnic, let me tell you.  I’m praying that God keeps it on for us this time!

Anyway, I’ve been meaning to show you this snack for months – but I keep forgetting to take a picture for you!  It’s the easiest snack ever, and it’s clean, and it’s vegan.  YAY!!! :)  The main ingredient is chickpeas - you might have a mental image of chickpeas in your head from salad bars at restaurants…chalky and icky.  These are nothing like what you’re used to, I promise!

Seriously, I almost considered calling these “crackpeas” as a joke because they are just that addicting.  Once you start, you can’t stop.  {Although take it from me – you’re gonna want to pace yourself with these puppies.  I mean, they’re beans.  Think that one through with me, people.  lol}

 

Roasted Chickpeas

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Open one can of chickpeas, rinse, and pat dry.  (This really helps them not to smoke in the oven.)  Dump onto a cookie sheet and douse with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Flip around with a spatula (pancake flipper) to incorporate.  Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown (they’ll crack open a little bit, and that’s normal).  Allow to cool slightly and add more salt and pepper if desired. 

These come out with such a meaty, savory taste.  They make such a yummy topping for salads or can be eaten by the handful plain, as well. 

Seriously, don’t knock them ‘til you try them!  And try not to eat the whole pan.  I dare you. ;)

----------------------------

The winner of the Mimi and Chip giveaway, chosen by Rafflecopter, was Amy of The Blessed Mom!  Congratulations, Amy!!!!!  Send me your mailing info to blessedlifeblog{at}gmail{dot}com and I’ll pass it on to Megan! :)

Mimi & Chip Giveaway!

I am just SO excited about tonight’s giveaway!  :)

Megan Zellner is a former family and consumer science teacher who started her at-home business, Mimi & Chip, after deciding to stay home with her two kids (I love that – maybe because it’s like me?  lol).  She offers THE MOST ADORABLE products via her Facebook store…have a look at some of my favorites:

Adorable bags (I want one in every color!)…

 

Ridiculously cute shirts…

 

Sweet little aprons (for big and little cooks!)

 

Super cute makeup bags…

 

And SO much more! 

 

Megan sent me THE most adorable onesie for little Miss Olivia!  She let me pick out the fabric and the style and it’s my girl’s first personalized piece of clothing!  I am more than a little bit in love with it. :)

(My camera is terrible but it’s actually a soft baby pink.  Love!)

I can attest that the quality is outstanding and Megan was a pleasure to work with.  She was super friendly and accommodating and my shirt shipped in no time! 

 

Lucky for you all, she’s giving away an initial shirt to one of YOU! :)

There’s three ways to enter – the first is mandatory and the other two are extra entries.  Since Megan’s Facebook page is how she operates her business, you just need to hop on over and “Like” her page to enter the giveaway!  Extra bonus points for followers of my blog and for anyone who wants to leave a comment telling Megan their favorite product. 

What a GREAT Christmas gift for a kiddo of your own or for a little one you need to get a gift for!  Maybe you can find a little something for yourself while you’re over there! :)

Good luck!

***Important: you must use the white box below to complete your three entries or your entries will NOT count!  Once you have “Liked” Megan’s page and clicked “Do It” (by the checkmark), then the other entries will unlock for you.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Own a Small Business? Come on in!

This post is specifically geared toward any of my readers who have any kind of small business that would love a little extra promoting during the upcoming holiday season!  I am going to be doing a series of giveaways coming up over the next few months and would love to highlight YOUR business (family-friendly, of course!) on my blog. 

I currently have 3 awesome small-business owners on deck to do giveaways, and I’d love to add your small business to the list!

How it works:

You send me a sample of your product to review, and I in turn will do a write-up on my blog about your business, which will include a giveaway for my readers.  This draws traffic and interest to your site (or shop) and hopefully increases your business!

This Blessed Life currently has 372 Google followers, approximately 400 e-mail subscribers, and receives an average of over 100,000 hits a month.  Please feel free to e-mail me at blessedlifeblog{at}gmail{dot}com or leave me a comment with your contact information if you’re interested! :) I look forward to working with you!

Giveaway Winner!

Well kids, I think it’s safe to say that my review and giveaway post was the most highly viewed and commented post on This Blessed Life EVER.  That is what happens when Crystal Paine mentions your blog on her Facebook page!  My FB friends already know how I literally felt weak in the knees after seeing her reference my blog and my review – and my Google Analytics site basically blew up after that!  haha

Enough about me, let’s talk about YOU!

The lucky winner is:

“SUE G”

Sue, I have sent an e-mail to your inbox – please message me back with your address so I can pass it on to Crystal!  She has very generously offered to mail the winner the book herself. 

Be back tomorrow with my no-spend update! :)

How Crystal Paine’s Book is Changing My Life {Review and Giveaway}

{Edit: This giveaway now closed!}

I’m really and truly not exaggerating with that title.

I was given the opportunity to review Crystal Paine’s new book, The Money Saving Mom’s Budget, set to release on January 10th. Crystal, aka “Money Saving Mom,” writes a hugely popular blog by the same title. I’ve been following her since 2007, and this woman and her excellent advice has literally saved me thousands of dollars over the past several years. If you’ve never visited her site before, I can’t encourage you enough to go visit it. Like right now. Go ahead, I’ll be here when you get back. ;)

{via}

I can’t really describe it other than to say that when I read her book, something clicked. It was as if all the stuff I’d been hearing for years about how to truly get ahead financially finally aligned in my head - I finally “got it.”

To be perfectly blunt, I didn’t have high expectations when I read this book. I’ve read tons of blogs and several books about personal finance, and a lot of them say the same things: cut back on cable (uhh, we don’t own a tv), cut back on expensive cell phone usage (I use a Target Tracfone), don’t have a car payment (we’ve always driven used cars we paid cash for; our current ones are 21 and 11 years old, respectively), and on and on and on. Most of these books left me depressed, not encouraged.

But Crystal’s book? Simple, and to the point. It’s full of encouragement from a woman who’s BEEN there. (Chapter 9 shares how some months she and her husband had to survive on less than $650 – total. This is a woman who understands what it is to live on less, you guys!)

The number one point I’ve taken away from her book is this:

“I’ve found that the less I shop, the less I spend.” (141)

Ding ding ding! Light bulb!

Here was my problem:

I was taking out cash every week to buy household and grocery items. But inevitably, by the end of the week, I was still whipping out my debit card at the last store I shopped at, and here’s why: I have a bad tendency to go out to a store just to pass the time. I’m not talking about clothing or jewelry stores – I’m talking about boring old stores like CVS, Stop & Shop, or Target. It’s been cold here for a few months now (as in, too cold to go to a playground or park or spend days outside together), so most days I plan a shopping trip to get us out of the house and keep Luke and I from going stir-crazy. I honestly don’t mind being at home that much by myself, but sometimes the walls of this house feel a little too small for just me and my toddler – know what I mean?! lol My husband works a lot of long hours and sometimes the days just draaaaaaaaaag on and on. So one day I’ll go to the grocery store, the next day Target, etc.

Honestly, I really had good intentions. I wasn’t buying myself new wardrobes or treating myself to Starbucks – actually quite the opposite. I would pop into Target with $20 left in my wallet to buy diapers – and then I’d see wipes on sale….or a cleaning product on sale….or a food item I could get at a great price by combining a sale and a coupon….and before I knew it, I was putting $40 on a debit card in addition to my weekly grocery money because everyone knows that buying rock-bottom prices is how you truly save money and stay ahead and…

Yeah. This was continuing week after week after week. Call it “financial death by good intentions.” hahaha

Anyway, I read that line in her book and it changed everything for me. Immediately, I gave myself a challenge. Not only was I not going to use the debit card AT ALL anymore (except for gas – there is no way I’m leaving my 2-year-old alone in the car at the gas station!), I was also going to deliberately stay out of stores that I didn’t really need to go in. I was ALSO going to cut back our grocery budget by $20.

Well, I am happy to say that it has been a success so far! For the last four weeks, I have added an additional $80 toward paying off debt, not to mention all the money I’ve been saving by not using that little green card.

And you know what? It feels so good. :)

Reading her book and talking about it with my husband was also what prompted our No-Spend Month.

Specifically, these quotes:

“Goals give meaning to your efforts…Goals give you accountability…If you don't have written goals, it’s easy to spend money like water…Goals give you momentum…when you start working toward your goals, your whole outlook on how you spend your money changes. You feel a sense of satisfaction as you make progress.” (8, 10, 13-14)

So instead of saying, “We hope we’ll pay off debt soon,” and feeling like there’s never enough money to go around, now we’re saying, “This month we have a goal of putting $500 toward that loan” - and feeling super optimistic.

It’s a total shift in thinking – we’ve moved from hoping and wishing to concrete action.

I could literally go on and on and on about this fabulous book….I could share all the pages I highlighted and tell you how I read it in less than a day and a half because I couldn’t put it down….

But I really want you to read it for yourself.

Because I am posting a review for her, Crystal and her team are going to give me a finished copy of the book (we all got drafts to review). I’m giving away that final copy to one of you! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post – and make sure that if you don’t have a blog, you leave me an e-mail address so I can reach you. (I will mail you the book as soon as Crystal and her team mail it to me, so please understand there may be several weeks’ turnaround.)

Can I tell you my most favorite part about this book? ALL proceeds go to support Compassion International. She is not keeping one dime for herself. Isn’t that fabulous?! So even if you don’t win this giveaway, $11 is a an incredible deal considering you’re getting a fabulous resource and such a wonderful organization is benefiting.

It’s truly a win-win situation! :)

So….about that giveaway…

Hey everyone….sorry to those of you who entered my giveaway on oh, you know, the TWENTY-FOURTH of AUGUST.  Wow.  We lost power for five and a half days thanks to Irene (a whole other post in and of itself) and then my sister’s wedding weekend happened and basically I still feel like life is a little off-kilter. 

Anyway, enough about me!  The winner of the Dancing Willow Photography giveaway is…….

KELLY!  Kelly is a sweet blogger with a heart for God and two cute kiddos. :)

Congratulations, Kelly!  Please send your mailing address to me at blessedlifeblog{at}gmail{dot}com and I will send it on to Becky so she can be in touch. 

Be back soon!  I mean it this time. :)

Blogiversary, Pinterest, & a Giveaway!

Hello lovely readers!  Today my blog is TWO years old!  This morning the other two year old in my life threw an all-out hissy fit, complete with clenched fists and teeth, screaming, and crying.  I was afraid he was going to pop a blood vessel.  Nothing a little time in the time-out chair couldn’t fix!  Thankfully, there is none of that toddlerhood drama here.  :)

{Picture of Luke from my very first post.}

Thank you for all of the comments, support, e-mails, and encouragement over the last two years!  It is SO nice to know I have kindred spirits out there in the internet, from those of you who “get” my thrifting obsession, to those on this clean foods journey like me, to those of you who can relate to my ups and downs as a Christian and a mom…and some of you relate to all of those areas of my life. :) So THANKS for making this blog a fun place for me to write, and thanks for sticking with me through this “dry” year of moving and not having a home of our own for a while.  Now that we’re basically unpacked and settled, I hope to be posting with a little more regularity. 

{Before I continue, I forgot to ever mention on here that I am completely, utterly, hopelessly hooked on Pinterest!  My user name is Jessica – thisblessedlife (I know, concise, right?!).  You can find me at www.pinterest.com/thisblessedlife.  If any of you are on Pinterest and I’m not following you already, PLEASE leave your user name in the comments!  I’m relatively new to Pinterest but I am LOVING it so far!  And I’d love to follow you guys so that I can have more ways to distract myself during the day more ideas and inspiration! :)}

 

And now, on to the giveaway for today!

My friend Becky is an amazingly talented photographer who wants to give one of you a set of TEN note cards from her brand-new Etsy shop, Dancing Willow Photography!  You can choose ANY of her beautiful photographs for the front. 

Note cards with photos on the front are so versatile…you can mail them to friends, frame one or two for your house, or even give them as a gift for the upcoming holidays. 

This print below, “Beach Shell,” is my favorite of the collection.  How beautiful and serene is that?  I love how it’s off-centered.   Ahhhh…..the beach. :)

 

I think this print, “Golfer’s Delight,” is perfect for a man in your life who’s hard to buy for.  Great for a man-cave or an office. 

And lastly, in honor of my favorite season of the year, the beautiful “Autumn Leaves.”  How pretty for inviting people for a fall gathering…or even framing one for your mantel?

 

Here’s how you enter:

1.  Leave a comment telling me what part of the country you are from.  You all already know that I was born and raised in CT, and now we are back here to stay.  I’ve also lived in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.  I’d love to know where you guys live!  If you are not comfortable telling the state on the internet, just say what part of the country you’re from (New England, Pacific Northwest, etc.). 

2.  For a second entry, hop on over to Becky’s shop and pick out your favorite print, then let me know your choice in an additional comment.  Remember, the winner gets to chose the print for the note cards….plus Becky let me know that the winner will win an additional surprise in their package. :)  Whoo!! :)

I also wanted to mention that Becky is having a half-off sale for the month of August….use the code BIRTHDAY50 for 50% off for the rest of this month! 

 

Thanks for being a part of why I love blogging so much! 

Have a great day! :)