Friday, November 18, 2011

Gratitude Giveaways!

I have several giveaways just for all of you because I am so grateful for all my readers! These prizes would make great gifts: something for everyone! Click on each link to enter.
All giveaways will end Tuesday, December 5th at 11:59MST.


book from Chicken Soup for the Soul (open to U.S. and Canada)



necklace from Shabby Apple (open to U.S. only)


Free Calendar and Holiday cards from Shutterfly (several winners)


Monthly Onesies and Custom Glammed Rosette Headband from me, Crafty Mommy Diva (Several winners) - Digital Designs open to International too. Headband open to U.S. and Canada.

Gratitude Giveaway #1

book from Chicken Soup for the Soul (open to U.S. and Canada)


I have always loved Chicken Soup! I read like all of the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, and they sure helped me be inspired or feel peace or comfort with trials I was facing. I think this would be a great gift for grandparents!

MANDATORY ENTRY
Follow Crafty Mommy Diva on Google Friend Connect publicy. (right sidebar) AND share with friends via e-mail (include ScrappyDiva2129 at yahoo dot com), Facebook and/or Blog.
Leave a comment telling me you are a follower and how you shared.

EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each.)

  • Leave a comment on a Fashionable Fridays Post.



  • Leave a comment on a Mommy Mondays Post.



  • Leave a comment on one of My Projects Posts.



  • Leave a comment on what you are grateful for.



  • Like Chicken Soup for the Soul on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.



  • GIVEAWAY will end on Tuesday, December 5th at 11:59pm MST

    Gratitude Giveaway #2 - Shabby Apple!

    necklace from Shabby Apple (open to U.S. only)

    I'm so jealous of you guys! Shabby Apple is giving away this necklace to one of you!!! Check out their other vintage jewelry.
    They even have a discount code for you too! 10% off coupon code - just use "scrappygifts10off" - expires December 3rd.
    Dresses from Shabby Apple


    Along with their vintage jewelry, I love their clothes. Did you know they sell maternity dresses? I didn't - no I'm not pregnant, but thought that was cool that they did that. One of my favorite print dresses is the Bernini. Love the colors and print - so calming.

    Be a part of their Affiliate Program! It is an easy and rewarding way for you to benefit from featuring Shabby Apple on your blog! If you'd like to sign up, please do so here: http://www.shabbyapple.com/t-affiliate.aspx


    WANT TO WIN THE NECKLACE? Again I'm so jealous!
    MANDATORY ENTRY
    Follow Crafty Mommy Diva on Google Friend Connect publicy. (right sidebar) AND share with friends via e-mail (include ScrappyDiva2129 at yahoo dot com), Facebook and/or Blog.
    Leave a comment telling me you are a follower and how you shared.

    EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each.)

  • Leave a comment sharing your favorite items from Shabby Apple.



  • Leave a comment on Shabby Apple's blog: An Apple a Day... and come back here saying which post you commented on.



  • Like Shabby Apple on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.



  • Leave a comment on a Fashionable Fridays Post.



  • Leave a comment on a Mommy Mondays Post.



  • Leave a comment on one of My Projects Posts.



  • Leave a comment on what you are grateful for.


  • GIVEAWAY will end on Tuesday, December 5th at 11:59pm MST

    Gratitude Giveaways #3

    Free Calendar and Holiday cards from Shutterfly (several winners)

    I had a House Party for Shutterfly and had some leftover goodies from the party that I want to share with my readers!

    MANDATORY ENTRY
    Follow Crafty Mommy Diva on Google Friend Connect publicy. (right sidebar) AND share with friends via e-mail (include ScrappyDiva2129 at yahoo dot com), Facebook and/or Blog.
    Leave a comment telling me you are a follower and how you shared.

    EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each.)

  • Leave a comment on a Fashionable Fridays Post.


  • Leave a comment on a Mommy Mondays Post.


  • Leave a comment on one of My Projects Posts.


  • Leave a comment on which you'd like to win the Shutterfly codes or Plum District gift card.


  • Like House Party on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.


  • Like Shutterfly on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.


  • Like Plum District on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter.





  • GIVEAWAY will end on Tuesday, December 5th at 11:59pm MST
    *this is not a sponsored giveaway* I wasn't compensated for this post.*

    Gratitude Giveaway #4

    Monthly Onesies and Custom Glammed Rosette Headband from me, Crafty Mommy Diva (Several winners)

    • 1 Winner will receive a set of 13 finished Monthly Onesies! with sayings of Newborn - 1 year. I will ship you the finished onesies.Winner picks colors/theme. (Open to U.S. only)
    • 3 Winners will receive a set of 13 Monthly Onesie DESIGNS. You will get a file for you to iron on the designs yourself. Winners picks colors/theme. (Open to International too)
    • 3 Winners will receive a year design so if you have a 3 year old, you'd get a 3 years design. Great for birthday photos. (Open to International too)
    • 2 Winners will get a Glammed up Rosette Flower Headband. Winners picks colors. (Open to Canada and U.S.)

    MANDATORY ENTRY
    Follow Crafty Mommy Diva on Google Friend Connect publicy. (right sidebar) AND share with friends via e-mail (include ScrappyDiva2129 at yahoo dot com), Facebook and/or Blog.
    Leave a comment telling me you are a follower and how you shared.

    EXTRA ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each.)

  • Leave a comment on a Fashionable Fridays Post.


  • Leave a comment on a Mommy Mondays Post.


  • Leave a comment on one of My Projects Posts.


  • Follow my Scrappy Gifts on Google Friend Connect publicy.





  • GIVEAWAY will end on Tuesday, December 5th at 11:59pm MST

    new at Eden Fantasys

    This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

    Thursday, November 17, 2011

    First Fondant

    My husband and I love watching Cake Boss so for my birthday this year, my husband wanted to try to make me a fondant cake. (He's only cooked homemade things like twice now.....he makes awesome breadsticks though with all his practicing =D). I gave him the idea of doing a 27 dresses cake since I was turning 27 (on October 21st) and he thought that was doable.
    Well with the craziness of our lives and us going on a vacation soon, we decide to do the cake on October 16th and I helped him because I'm nice.


    My husband mixing cake mix.

    Mixing the fondant. We used chocolate marshmallows.....I was hoping that it would give it more a chocolatey flavor, but nope. I'd stick with white in the future unless you want a purply gray fondant.


    We added caramel to our cake and then stuck it in the freezer to cool faster.....not smart. It was stuck. If you want a caramel cake then don't stick it in the freezer. If you're just doing a plain cake, stick it in the freezer - it helps it be softer/moister later.



    I then dirty iced it while my husband rolled out the fondant.


    Then we placed the fondant on top. As you can see, it was very thick....wish we had one of those fondant rollers like on Cake Boss!


    Since the fondant was a grey purply color, I made it Halloween themed! With our leftover fondant, I cut out Halloween shapes with cookie cutters and then painted it with food coloring and added some candy corn pieces to it. It's definitely not the greatest, but we would love to try again....maybe for our son's birthday on November 30th.....maybe.





    It tasted pretty good....the fondant though was just as gross though - I think eating fondant is yucky (pure powdered sugar!)


    Have you been successful with fondant on your first attempts?

    Wednesday, November 16, 2011

    16th Work-out Wednesday

    Here are my stats:
    Height: 5'4
    Beginning Measurements
    • Around the Belly: 39 in. (47 in. 38 weeks pregnant with my daughter in April- I was only 45 in. with my son, but I weighed almost 10 lbs. more)
    • Waist: 38in.
    • Around my bottom: 40.25 in.
    • Upper Arm: 12.25 in.
    • Inner Thigh: 23.5 in
    Goal: flatter tummy - 34 in. around my belly, 130 lbs. by the New Year (have to leave room for the holidays =D). Ideally would love to be 120-125 again and 30-32 in again.
    Pre-pregnancy: 131 lbs. Gained 36 lbs. when pregnant:  167 lbs. (had my baby April 19, 2011) Beginning weight: 147 lbs.

    Today's Weight: 133lbs. - no change from last week unfortunately.
    Today I did a lot of cleaning, some crunches and one of the 60 second stress solutions (putting your legs up against a wall while laying on the floor - works wonders!). I really need to work on toning and just getting my life in better order so I'm not so stressed out. The cleaning today (scrubbing my kitchen) really helped me feel less stress....now I'm exhausted!

    Also I wanted to share with you this cool blog, Let's Get Fit Together, that has challenges. Many of the people are looking to lose about 10 lbs minimum so I think it covers a lot more people. Check it out and maybe join in! I'm going to try and join. The first challenge is up.

    Tuesday, November 15, 2011

    Dragonball Z Birthday

    For my son's 2nd birthday last year! - we did a DragonBall Z themed birthday.

    Here's the invite I made:


    During the day, I took some nicer pictures of him since we didn't have money to do professional ones. I think they turned out pretty well.




    Then I worked on his cake(s). I made chocolate cupcakes into the shape of the dragon, Shenron from the show. This was my first time attempting cool cakes for a birthday. For his 1st birthday, we had money to pay someone to make his cake. I tried at least- some people thought it was a caterpillar! I was running out of green frosting too so that was difficult! With mini cupcakes, I made most of the dragon balls. Then with one round cake, I did the 2 Dragon Ball for him.



    I made a door sign for people to come in. (this picture was taken a couple days after the party thus the shrunken balloons)


    We ate homemade pizza and then played some games.
    One was Pin the Tail on Goku. If you know the Dragon Ball series, you'll know understand why we played this =D
    I had prizes for the kids and then Restaurant.com certificates (on sale for $2 each!!) as prizes for the adults.


    We opened presents next because lots of people had to leave early for a meeting at church. Typically I do presents after cake. I brought our kids' picnic table out front so kids could eat there, and we ended up having the presents there too.


    Then seeing that we still had time, we sung to the birthday boy. =D


    Here's just a little bit of the decor - it was hard finding the colors I wanted. I did green and yellow with orange balloons, but I wanted to add more colored balloons too.



    This year for my son's 3rd Birthday Party, we're doing a Ghostbusters theme! My little guy loves looking for Ghosts ever since my husband introduced the movies to him. I thought he'd be scared, but he's not.


    Thanks to winning a giveaway from PickleDoodle Designs over at Crafting and Creativity, I have some awesome Ghostbusters printables. Here's a look at the invitation PickleDoodle Designs created for me! Both my son and I were super excited when she sent us the finished product. She also created Subway Art, Thank You's, and a Door Sign for me too. You'll have to wait to see pictures after his party on the 30th =D

    Monday, November 14, 2011

    56th Mommy Mondays

    I was having another rough day on Friday morning. My son woke up early and then my baby girl did too and neither would go back to sleep so I threw my frustrations into getting the dishes done. What I needed was some good food and a nap and for the house to be clean when I woke up =D....how dreams change.

    Anyway, my son started this conversation with me.

    "Mom, are you happy?"

    "NO"

    "I can make you smile."

    I turn to look at him and can't help, but smile and stay smiling.





    What a sweet sweet boy, though very annoying too at times! Boy do I love my kids, but I seriously need to get my life better organized or maybe I'm finally getting my period soon? After I had my son, I didn't get my period until he was 7 months. My daughter will be 7 months on the 19th so maybe I'll be getting it soon and maybe that's why I'm such a big grouch and hormonal! At least my house is looking pretty good now now to keep up with it!!! No one better get sick where I fall behind again or I'll go CRAZY!

    Friday, November 11, 2011

    71st Fashionable Fridays

    Last week, I wore my new trouser jeans. My MIL bought them for my birthday. We went shopping together and I picked them out from Old Navy. They are super comfortable!
    My top is from Down East sale - $5


     
    Tonight, I wore my hair curly to a wedding reception. I rarely curl my hair because I usually feel like I look way too young with it, but when my hair is super long, it looks pretty good with some curls in it.
    Baby blue shirt from Down East major sale - $5. and navy blue tank my mother-in-law also bought for me from Down East.

    Did you do anything fun or have a lucky day with it being 11/11/11 and Veterans Day!? Later after the reception, I enjoyed a girls night "watching" Eclipse, but mostly we just did a lot of talking which really was most needed and lots of fun even though I barely knew most of the girls there. I'm so excited about watching Breaking Dawn, part 1 soon....a bunch of us girls are not seeing it until December though.

    Also I just wanted to say thank you to all those veterans who have fought for my freedoms and for the United States and I'm grateful to those who are serving our country today. What brave men and women and their families too who sacrifice so much.

    Thursday, November 10, 2011

    Rosette Flowers Glam!

    I've been wanting to make more glammed up rosette flowers so I've been trying to add feathers and tulle, some flair! =D

    I made these first few for some friends'




    Then for our upcoming family photo shoot, I wanted to make a really big one so I started messing around some more.
    Here's the beginning part....


    ...and it turned into this! Woot woot! I loved it!





    Then I had to make some thing for my baby girl so she could be glammed up too!
    I made her a smaller piece since it would be big on her and then I made her a fabric necklace too!



    To make the Fabric Necklace: I took an inch wide of fabric about 24 inches long and tied it on the end. Then I twisted, put some glue in between and twisted some more and let dry. Then I made it into a double necklace and added the rosette to it to keep it secure. So Simple!! I need to make one for myself now! =D