Projects from the Crop Addict September Kit

Altered Photo clip.

J at the Children's Museum last year.

J's Birthday invite from last year.

J's First Christmas.

Me and Elaine in a taxi and at BowlHer while at BlogHer '09.

(Elaine, pick which one you like and you can have it, I'll keep the other one!)

If you would like a Crop Addict September 2009 Kit then just click the link!

Happy Cropping!

My Boy

(click to see larger version)

Here's a layout I finished this weekend. I was so happy with how these photos of J turned out, I really wanted a layout that showed them off.

It's rare that I make 2 page layouts...but I'm really glad I was able to pull this one off.

I'll have some more layouts to show you later this week.

Have a great day!

Hilarious

I have to give credit to my hubs for finding this one. I'm still laughing at how cool this is. :-)

Pink Paislee Projects

I just finished making these projects with the fabulous "Fascinating" Line from Pink Paislee.

I am so IN LOVE with how bold these papers are and how stunning my projects turned out.

A card I made for my MIL.

A nice card for a friend.
(The lighting in those 2 is terrible because it's been super rainy here)

A layout of Steph and Ivy at BlogHer '09.
(And don't worry Steph, I put in the mail for you this morning.) :-)

A super sweet layout with my J Pants (yes, it's a pet name...I know it's weird).

Have you been crafting lately?

I would love for you to share your projects with me in a comment.

Have a great day!

Crop Addict September Kit Preview!

Here is a look at the awesome Crop Addict September 2009 Monthly Kit! This kit includes dark, rich papers from Pink Paislee and Graphic 45.

The Crop Addict September 2009 Monthly Kit Option features items from 7 Gypsies and We R Memory Keepers.

I'll have layouts from the kit to show you all really soon! :-)

Here are the Kit Specifics for those who asked me via email:


Pink Paislee Captivating Collection:
Stunning
Beloved
Tender
Graceful
Lovely
Beautiful

Graphic 45 Transatlantic Double Sided Collection:
Paris Post
Around The World
Globe Trotter
Bon Voyage
All Aboard
Exotic Destinations

Bazzill Cardstock: Ivy, Black, Pomegranate, Light Tangerine, Breathtaking, Light Sand
Scalloped Edge

Embellishments:
American Crafts Alphabet Thickers
Graphic 45 Double Sided Die Cut Tags
7 Gypsies Rubons
Imagination Project Stickers
Making Memories Stickers
Prima Canvas Tab
Paper Loft Title Chip
7 Gypsies 97% Complete Small Postcard Tag
WeR Memory Keepers Designer Eyelet & Snap (1, varies)
Kaiser Craft Flowers (5 flowers)
WeR Memory Keepers Metal Hardware (10 pieces, varies)

Kit Option:
Heidi Swapp Chipboard Alphabet
7 Gypsies Carte Postal Stickers
WeR Memory Keepers Dip Stick
Theme: Travel

Back to School with LoobaLee: Win a Free 1 year Membership!

**********This giveaway is now closed************

And the winner is....

Rockstarma!

Congrats! I'll be contacting you shortly!

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I have always been a big fan of buying clothes second hand. I think it makes sense, especially when buying childrens clothes because they grow so quickly (and often get things very dirty, or is that just my kid?)

Anyway, that is why I love LoobaLee. Not only can you get great deals on cute kids clothes for Back to School, but they are designer clothes! You pay only a fraction of the sticker price. Now that's what I call smart shopping. :-)

LoobaLee is simple. You create a FREE account and can buy as you please.

Selling is simple too. It takes just a few clicks to list an item! So easy!

Pay by the month ($3.99), quarter ($9.99), or year ($29.99)...not by listing.

My favorite thing about LoobaLee (besides saving me a ton of money) is that they are highly philanthropic. They have a Featured Seller 3 times a month, and LoobaLee donates 15% of the puchases made through that seller listings to the charity of the seller's choice.

From August 30th - September 10th I will be the Featured Seller on LoobaLee. Not only will they be donating 15% of my sales to Friends of Maddie, the charity I have chosen, but I will be donating every penny my listings make as well!

Please join me for this wonderful event to help out a great cause! Thank you to everyone who sent boxes of clothes! You are amazing!



LoobaLee is generous too! They were kind enough to help sponsor me for BlogHer '09!

Today they are offering one of my readers a FREE One Year Membership!

Here's how to enter:

First Entry (mandatory)

1. Visit LoobaLee and leave a comment telling me what item(s) caught your eye.

After you have finished your first entry, you are allowed extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for EACH entry.

2. For TWO extra entries, sign up for a free account on www.loobalee.com. Leave me 2 comments letting me know you did.

3. Blog about this LoobaLee giveaway and leave the URL to your post in your comment.

4. Follow my blog.

5. Follow me on Twitter (I'm @princesshaley) and tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per day).

6. Put my button in your side bar.

7. Subscribe to Love, Life, Family... via email.


Please make sure to leave your email address in your comments, that way I can contact you if you are my winner! :-)

This giveaway ends September 10th at Midnight CST. One winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly there after. If the winner does not respond to my email within 36 hours a new winner will be drawn.

Open to U.S. residents only.

Good Luck!

Back to School with See Kai Run: Win a free pair of shoes!

****This Giveaway is Now Closed****

And the winner is...

Luv to Save!

Congrats! I'll be contacting you shortly!

Thanks to all who participated!

More great giveaways coming soon!

***********************************************

Help your little one step out in style for school with See Kai Run Shoes!

I've said it before and I'll say it again..it is so hard to find cute, unique shoes for little boy feet. That's why I'm so glad to have found See Kai Run. Browse around their website and you'll see what I mean.

Recently I had the pleasure of chatting with Julie (the marketing manager of SKR) again and she offered to send Jackson a new pair of shoes since he was growing like a weed and now needs a Size 8 toddler shoe! (no, I'm not exaggerating!)

We received the Eric style* about a week ago and I could not wait for Jackson to wear them!

Cute!!!

I chose this style because Jackson looks so great in orange and I'm always buying him clothes in this shade.

We took his new shoes on a test run to the park yesterday afternoon and he seemed comfy as ever! (my camera battery died of course..so I have no pictures) :-(

And just like last time, I got lots of compliments on his snazzy shoes!

**********

Since we used his last pair a lot, I will say I learned one lesson with them.

These shoes hold up best when worn in dry weather. They are not really for rainy days or puddle jumping in my opinion. Of course, I learned that lesson the hard way (and could not stop Jackson before he jumped right into a huge puddle in his old pair).

I think since the leather is so fine and soft in order to be comfy on your kiddos feet...it is easily warped by water.

That minor detail aside, I think See Kai Run shoes are great in both function and style. We loved our old pair and are happy to have a new pair to show off too!

*****Edited @ 2:46 p.m. to add:*****

Julie just contacted me and said that they do address the issue of not getting the shoes wet in their FAQ section.

It reads:

Are See Kai Run shoes appropriate for indoor and outdoor wear?

Smaller soft-soled booties are ideal for indoor and light outdoor use. However, please note that the booties are not waterproof and should only be used in dry outdoor conditions. See Kai Run’s sturdy yet flexible rubber soles allow kids to venture outdoors or stay inside.

She also suggested that you should spray each pair with Water Repellent for best results.

So there you have it, straight from the creator!

Thanks Julie and See Kai Run!

***********

Right now you can get FREE Ground Shipping (to U.S. addresses only) until August 28th 11 am PT, on any purchase!

You can also enter to Win a Seasons Worth of Shoes! Hurry, the winner will be picked September 1st!

*****************

Want to win a FREE pair of shoes from See Kai Run for your little one?
Here's how:

First Entry (mandatory)

1. Tell me what one pair of shoes you would like from the See Kai Run or Smaller lines (sorry, the Eleven line is not included in this giveaway) and what size you need them in.

After you have finished your first entry, you are allowed extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for EACH entry.

2. For TWO extra entries, go to the See Kai Run homepage and sign up for their Email List. Leave me 2 comments letting me know you did.

3. Blog about this See Kai Run giveaway and leave the URL to your post in your comment.

4. Follow my blog.

5. Follow me on Twitter (I'm @princesshaley) and tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per day).

6. Put my button in your side bar.

7. Subscribe to Love, Life, Family... via email.


Please make sure to leave your email address in all your comments, that way I can contact you if you are my winner! :-)

This giveaway ends September 1st at Midnight CST. One winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly there after. If the winner does not respond to my email within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

Open to U.S. and Canadian residents only

Good Luck!

*Shoes provided by See Kai Run. I was not paid to provide this review.

Back to School with Brother: Win a P-Touch 1290!

*****This Giveaway is now closed*****

And the winner is:

#5 Ellie

Congrats! I will be contacting you shortly!

Thanks to everyone who entered! More great giveaways coming soon!

****************************

Remember when I won a laser printer from Brother?

That was pretty awesome!

What's even more awesome is that about a week after I won that printer I got to meet the awesome people who work at Brother and see several of their fabulous new products...because they had a booth at BlogHer '09.

Can I just say that I think the P-Touch is a Mom's Best Friend? I mean, what mom could not use a labeling machine to help her get more organized?

I think labels are also a great way to help kids start the school year off right! When things are labeled, they are more likely to be returned if lost. :-)

Well, Brother feels the same way...and wants to give one of you your very own P-Touch 1290!

*Part of the “Simply Stylish” line of P-touch products, the PT-1290 is perfect for all your home office labeling applications. With its sleek design, the PT-1290 will blend nicely with virtually any home office décor.

Features an easy-view 15-character LCD display, typewriter style keyboard and Auto Tape Detection feature that automatically recognizes the size of the installed tape cassette and adjusts the text to fit the label width. A dedicated "Deco Mode" key gives you easy access to 15, unique pre-designed label formats for creating decorative labels – including professional layouts that accommodate 2 rows of text. Easily switch between 2 fonts - with the touch of a button. Use the built-in memory to store up to 9 of your most frequently used labels.

Prints labels up to 1/2" wide on durable, “TZ” laminated tape – perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. Operates on 6 “AAA” batteries or optional AC adapter (neither included).

With its great-looking design and array of features, the PT-1290 is a perfect handheld solution for virtually any home office.

• 15 Deco Mode Patterns to create extra-stylish and decorative labels
• 2 Professional Fonts
• Prints labels up to 1/2" wide on laminated indoor/outdoor “TZ” series tapes
• Easy-view, 15-character LCD display
• Professional Deco Mode layouts accommodate two rows of text
• Prints 1 or 2 lines of crisp text
• 6 Auto Formats and 7 Framing Options
• Built-in memory, saves up to 9 of your favorite labels
• Automatically adjusts text size based on tape width
• Uses 6 “AAA” batteries or optional AC adapter (neither included)

To enter just leave a comment on this post before Midnight CST August 31st. One winner will be chosen randomly via random.org. I will contact the winner via email. If the winner does not respond within 36 hours a new one will be chosen. Open to the U.S.

Good Luck!

*Taken from Brother's Website.

This giveaway was chosen as a Prizey Editor's Pick!

Birthday Joy

The awesome cake!

Make a wish.

Party room.

The decor.

One very happy birthday boy!



Jackson's party was a huge success. He had a pretty good time and so did I.

School starts tomorrow and I'm totally ready for a normal schedule again.

Two.

From this....

To this! In 2 short years.



The love of my life turned 2 today. :-)

Where does the time go?

P.S. He's totally practicing to be the next male blogging sensation!

The view from The Strip

Inside the Bellagio is like a carnival. Everything is whimsical and has the feel of a fairyland.

Glass flower.

More glass flowers near the check-in desk.

Chandelier near the slots.

Hot Air Balloons.

The lights at night are just amazing.

These next photos are of the strip itself. It was hard at times to get a shot that wasn't blurry because there were crowds and people kept bumping into to me, but I really like them anyway.

Another view of the Paris.

This hotel was super neat! Did I mention it has a roller coaster on top of it?

Yeah, I totally rode it. SO AWESOME!

The Excalibur. When I go back to Vegas, I want to stay here.

M&M's World. This store had 4 levels and warrants a post of it's own.
Stay tuned for that. :-)

This place is said to have the best margaritas on the strip. I wouldn't know though, we only walked by.

I took these two for my Brother. :-)

Brandon, eat your heart out.


That's it for now. I'm still going to do 2 more Vegas photo posts soon. One of M&M's World, and the my photos from The Strip in the day time.

See you soon!