Giveaway: Skip Hop Pronto Changing Pad

This Giveaway Now Closed!!!

You know its going to happen.  In the middle of your shopping trip, your baby's eyes get that familiar concentrated look.

And after a minute or two, you can smell their present wafting through the air.

You could use the changing tables in the bathroom,

but by themselves, they are a little too scary for me.  Too much of the unknown could have previously gone on there.  You could cover it with paper towels, but that takes forever, and the baby is already upset, crying.

Which is why I am so excited to be able to give away the Skip Hop Pronto Changing Pad Kit!

You can use this anywhere.  On the changing table at the store, on the grass during a picnic, on the floor when visiting a friend.  It folds into a carrying case and comes with a slim wipes container.  Plus I loved the color.

And even if you don't have a little one, this is perfect to give as a baby shower gift!  Always need some of those handy.

So if you want to win this awsome trouble saving Changing Pad here are plenty of ways to enter!

I know your little one will be thankful to get if you're the lucky winner.  It may not be like one of theses fantastic kids beds, but its still an imporvement over the other options available!  This is all possible thanks to the CSN Team.

Be sure to leave a seperate comment for EACH entry.  If you put them all into one comment, then they will only be counted as one entry reguardless.  The winner will be announced on Saturday, April 10, 2010.  The winner has 48 hours to send me their mailing information, which I will then send to the shipping agent who will ship the prize to you.

This Giveaway is open til Friday, April 9, 2010, at 11:59pm, Mountain Time.  US and Canada Residents are eligible only.  Winners mailing address must be in either the US or Canada.  1 Winner will be selected by a random integer generator.

Good Luck!

Giveaway Ends: Friday, April 9, 2010, at 11:59pm, Mountain Time.

How To Enter:

1. Check out CSN Store's Kids Beds, then tell me which ones you like and why you like them.  Be sure to look around, because I'll probably be using your opinions as a reference when putting together my future giveaways.

2.  Follow my blog.  If you're already following, tell me so :-).

3.  Grab my button to decorate your blog with.

4.  Join my E-mail party.  (Check the sidebar)

5.  Subscribe to Blogger Chix Designs via reader or e-mail.

6.  Tell a friend about the giveaway, they follow my blog as their entry, and you both leave the other one's name in your comment.  OR write a post on your blog about this giveaway.

7.  Tell me what sewing, crafting, stamping or other such project you would really like me to make into a video tutorial.

TAIT

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Hey Everybody.  Totally got a new bike: Pawn Shop style...

Its the Purple and Silver Version of this:
West Coast Woman's Cruiser

And now I'm totally cool like Farrah Facet.  And since I'm a mom and got it at a killer deal, I totally look like this when I'm riding it:

How to Find a Cruiser Bike For an Awsome Deal:

1.  Rule: Always call around before you waste your gas looking for a bike (wasting gas to find a bike to save on gas... is that redundant or what?)

2. Call the bike shops in town - check prices and stock (expensive and scarce).

3. Check out the couple shops that may have something according to your phone calls.
(Includes finally dropping off your donation items to the thrift store, stopping by the drug store to pick your photos, realize you forgot to put on deorderant, and buy some while your there since your almost out anyway.  Also, pick up the Easter cards to put the pictures in and try to remember to send them out before its too late...)

4.  Find nothing, see a pawn shop, check out their bikes, find one for twice what you want to pay...

5. Go home, call all the pawn shops in your area, nobody has a cruiser - except one in the next city.

6.  Put baby down for nap, leave him with daddy, check out the last shot you have a cheap bike, and there it is.  Your future bike.  Tada.

7. Buy it.

Can't wait to read what you've been up to!

Little Guy's Fishin' Hat

Summer is coming and the Sun  is out.

My little guy needs a hat.

So here is my tutorial on how I made him a little hat to wear.  I used a little math, so you may need to crack out the calculator. If you would like more explanation on the math part, I'll add, so just scroll down past the video.

For my cirlce patterns I use big bowls because they were going to work best for me.  You can use whatever you want, plates, freestyle it, maybe a real pattern you have :-).

Anyway, enjoy!

 Here is the formula I'll be using:

Don't be afraid, I know you can do it.  The only number you need to find is the radius.  Measure across the center of the center piece and divide that number by two.  That is your radius.  Then, just plug that number in, punch the formula into your calculator and and that is how long you connector piece needs to be.

Wow! Huge DIY Designing News!!!!

You now have a personal designer customizable by you at your fingertips.  Blogger in draft just released its customizable template program.  It does just about everything!!!!



Now you don't have to know complicated html to change your blog to three columns, change colors, fonts, almost anything!

If you want to check it out more go to www.blogger.com/templates

They will give you directions how to get this for yourself.

Its great!  Have fun.

What Do You Love to Do?

I love to:

Throw out old clutter.
(So Refreshing and Freeing)

Empty my laundry basket.
(Almost There!)

Finishing a project.
(Have to finish my English Paper)

Imagine going jetskiing
(If only...)

Watching a love tragedy
(Like Gone With the Wind or
The Ten Commandments)

Cracking open a textbook
and learning a new thing.
(Most recent: Physics
Have to read the page twice
to try to soak it in)

Getting on the scale, and
its gone down.
(Yeah)

What do you love to do?

Welcome new Friends!

WLW - Weight Loss Wed.

Hosted by Rosey Little Things

Broke into the next set of numbers, yay!

Food alert!

A dirty little secret you really should know.  I have found that a serving of yogurt has as much sugar as a serving of ice cream!!!  Yes, I'm serious.  I compared the amount of sugar in Activia Yogurt and Haagan Dazs Ice cream (I can't remember the exact flavors, so here are just some images to use in my example)

 17 Grams of sugar per serving

17 Grams of sugar per serving

Yikes!  So, if your watching your sugar intake like me, watch out for yogurt.   Check the sugar content before you buy...

Talk About It Tuesday

Sorry you guys, I had scheduled this post, but it remained a draft, so after I got home from work today, I saw it wasn't up! Here it is now, a little late...





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I Love Ballet!

I didn't always think ballet was that great.  Then I saw Barbie presents Swan Lake (yes, I have seen that movie) and watched the extras and found the artistry Amazing!  Ballet is such a controlled, diciplined, beautiful, strong art form that sometimes the things they do are practically unbelievable.  For example

Incredible! That is flexibility. 

The costumes are so ornate.

This dancer has long, beautiful hair (I think its real...)  I like this picture because it reminds of my own long hair that I finally cut off.

If I could go to all the recitals in my area, I would love it.  I think the last one was the Nutcracker, two Decembers ago when I was about to burst, getting close to my son's due date.  Suprise, suprise, I don't think I've been to one since :-)

Can't wait to read what you guys are writing about!

Super Easy Button Tutorial

I will be writing this as plainly as possible, so it will be direct without a lot of confusing filler words.

How to make a 125x125 Blog Button with a copy code box.

1. Design your 125x125 Button Picture.
(I use a free program called paint.net - If you don't know how to make a 125x125 image, stay tuned for a tutorial coming up on how to do it using this program.)

2. Upload your image to your photobucket accout.  Copy the direct image url.
(photobucket is a free image hosting web site that uploads your images and gives them a url address for you to use when sharing.  I've been using them for a while now.)

3.  Paste the url into this code where it says Paste Url Here.  Don't delete the quotation marks!

 
4. Enter your blogs url address where it says enter your blogs home url here.   Enter your Blog's Name where it says Blog's Name Here.
 
5. Where it says Tag Identifiers Here, you need to put in a unique series of words, about 3 words will do it.  This is so if you ever want to look up who has put your button on their blog, you can enter those words, including the quotation marks (very important) and enter them into a search engine.  The results will be anyone who has grabbed your button for their blog.  Cool huh?
 
6. Copy code and paste into an html/java script gadget onto your blog and done.
 
Let me know how it goes!

Red Elegance Earring Tutorial

Today I have a tutorial for you on how I made my Red Elegance Earrings that I showed you a couple of weeks ago.  I made this video a little differently, and the audio is better than last weeks :-)  I also switched out the hooks on this pair to an open style instead of the closed one.  Hope you enjoy!

Mini Me Leopard Print Purse & FF

Ok, like I said, here is a video tutorial. I'm putting together a little purse for someone to add to their toybox if they like. For some reason, my camera's audio recorder really picks up the S's in this video. It sounds like I have a lisp, even though I don't. This is my first go at recording and posting, so I plan to improve things as I go along, learning along the way just having fun.



*Note*

Since making the video I've actually found an even Easier way to sew in the handles for the purse.

Before you sew together the two pieces, slide the handle in between the two layers, making sure its clear from all the sides.

Then pin the ends into the corner.

And just sew over it.  Now, your are sewing this into the short edge .  Remember that one edge has to remain open on the other side.

This way, when you flip your piece inside out, the handles will already be sewed in.  Tada - easier!

Also, Welcome Friday Followers!

Update

Planning and working on videos.  Soon to come.

Talk About it Tuesday

Happy to say I was able to sign up for my jewelry class at Joann's in April.  Yay!  And it was during coupon commotion week on Open House day, so 50% off the class and coupons for all the supplies.  That was great.  That makes crafty projects more affordable.  I have also been going through some project ideas that I'm excited to work on.  Super Easy laptop cover, re-usable grocery bags, and incorporating some cute cloth into my jewelry designs are a few of them. 

I hope you all have fun and look forward to reading what your up to and writing!


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Project Idea

Spring Break will soon be here.  I have a little project idea for you today.  Its super fun and Super Frugal, and will keep your little ones busy for a little bit..hopefully :-)

When I go shopping out for project books, like crossword puzzles or such, I really can never fork over the money to buy one off the shelf.  Same for kids activity books.  I usually think that if they're over a $1, they're just too expensive.

So, I decided to make my own kids activity project.  Connect the Dots.

I went into the paint program on my computer (nearly every computer made has this preinstalled into it) and set it to my pencil at a fairly large size.

Then I went around placing dots in a pattern around the paper and went back and numbered them.  Done. Super easy.  Here is an example of one I made:

Just a simple star.  You can make yours as hard or as easy as you want.   Maybe, you can even get the older kids to make them for the younger kids.  Its kind of fun.  And my favorite part: cheap.

Giveaways!

Another chance to promote your giveaway.  Link up and join the party!



Open till 3-19

Friday Follow #4!

Another Friday Follow.  Great fun! All my visitors: be sure to link up your giveaway if your having one in the Giveaway Mcklinky.  Its in my other post :-)


To Play FF:

Here's how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:
--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
--Grab the Friday Follow and Sponsor buttons and include both on your Friday Follow blog post.
--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
--Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.
--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.
--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.
This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

Help Your Blog Grow Part 1

Since I like to help people with their blogs, one area that lots are concerned about is how to help your blog grow.  I'll start out by just doing a little series of things I've learned so far.

When your just starting a blog, one of the hardest parts is getting your name out there.  If people don't know you exist, then it is very unlikely that they'll be visiting your blog.  Unless they somehow miraculously find you through a search engine or something.  Amongst the other 10,000+ results.  I've have not found that particularily effective so far :-).

If your really serious about your blog, then one thing you may want to consider is advertising on a blog that's bigger than yours.  Some offer advertising for Mom businesses for free, like Moms By Heart (She's awsome), and others you pay a small fee.  One thing I don't regret is advertising on another's blog.  I get a lot more hits and exposure that way.
(Now, this may not be the same for everyone - in other words, if you advertise and it doesn't work out, you agree to not blame me or sue me or anything - I'm just trying to let others know what I've learned :-)

One thing that I have been really working hard at is a way to get good advertising on another's blog without the cost of an advertising spot.  We're in college with a baby, so we are not rich!  And I actually found a way.  I joined up with a few other blogs, and we are now blogging partners and we help each other out.  I made a button for each of us and we all have a set buttons with links to our partners on each of our blogs in one of the top 3 spots of our sidebars.  We are all in agreement to keep them there as long as we wish to participate.  Now we all have a great advertising spot without the cost.  It was a lot of work to put this together when I first started out, but its totally great.  And I met some great people along the way too.
(If your interested in me helping you put one of these together for yourself, just let me know and I'll try to help you out and let you know what you need to do)

Another thing that I've learned that has made a huge difference for me (we're talking exponential) is something that I've really worked at and have reaped great results.  That is...

Until next week!

Weightloss Wednesday

Hosted by Rosey Little Things

Alright doing great.  Another pound down, yay!  For me, it seems I'm one of those two steps forward, one step back kind of people when trying get fit.  But, even if its slow, its still there, which is what counts.

Thanks to a reader's helpful comment I've decided to try granulated sugar substitute in some recipes this week.  I bought a  bag at the store and am a little excited to give it a try.  Note to self: even if it doesn't have sugar, still need to watch out for fat, like in sugar free cookies.  I also actually found a place that sells sugar free desserts - Walmart.  I haven't bought any or anything yet, but its nice to know in case my attempts don't work out and somebody's birthday comes around.

Today we're having fajitas with vegetables, sour cream, little bit of cheese, wheat totillas and salsa.  I LOVE salsa.  It is so delicious.  Yum.  Yum yum.  Great with Baked Tostitos Scoops.

Good luck to all you trying to be healthier as well this week!

Talk About it Tuesday

Have you ever just wanted to write about whatever you want?  Even if its out of the norm for your blog?  Well, now you can feel comfortable about it!  Sometimes I just want to write about whatever is on my mind, whether its:
 
What's going on in my life;
What I'm currently interested in and studying;
How I'm feeling;
Goals;
New ideas;
Future Plans;
Whatever!
 
And I want to encourage you to do the same!  So, go ahead.  Write a post about anything you feel like writing about and link it up here so I can read it and leave you a comment.  
 
Then read other participants posts and comment on theirs.  I bet they'll do the same for you!  
 
Don't forget to grab the Talk About it Tuesday button for your blog to support yourself and all Tuesday writers.


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Have fun writing and I look forward to reading your posts!
 
 
Talk About it Tuesday
 
Ok everybody.  I have a confession.  I really love to study etiquette!!!  Isn't that weird?  When I'm in my college English class and we switch into new groups for a discussion or something about our research papers, I'm always a little timid to talk about my subject.  I really don't want people to think I'm stuffy and uptight, because I thought that was how alot of people viewed proper etiquette.  As a bunch of bothersome "rules" that need not be bothered with.  I am continuously suprised every time I introduce my subject by the people who actually find it a great topic and that yes, we do need more of it. 
 
Can you believe it?  I almost couldn't myself.  Now, I won't pretend that I have perfect manners in any way whatsoever!  I am reading a rather suprisingly funny book about the subject called Miss Manners by Judith Martin and am continuously finding things to improve on for myself.  And Miss Manners has such an upfront and joking manner in how she answers her readers etiquette questions, that its turning out to be an enjoyable read.
 
For me, I really enjoy humor, especially when it doesn't involve lots and lots of crude jokes.  Sometimes that can just be a little much for my personal enjoyment.  Just good, clean, funny by Miss Manners is great!
 
One of my favorites:
 
Dear Miss Manners: If you had a single piece of advice to offer a couple who want to break into society, what would it be?
 
Gentle Reader: Don't bother.
 
Dear Miss Manners: What is the proper way to walk in high-heeled shoes?
 
Gentle Reader: Left, right, left, right, left, right.
 

Videos!

Since I am totally getting interested in jewelry and card designing, I've been thinking about doing video tutorials to help me help others who are interested in the same thing.  Only problem is, I can't seem to find the memory card that came with my camera.  The other one I have just will not work in it.  I have been turning my house upside down, literally looking for it and it just seems to elude me!  I mean, its got to be here somewhere. 

I'll just keep looking, and hopefully here shortly I will have videos up for you all to enjoy (or suffer through, is probably more like it :-)  but hopefully not)

Giveaways!

I love to find out what other people are giving away! Link up, join the party and get free exposure for your giveaway. Check back next week for another link up as well!




Open to link up till 3-11

Friday Follow #3

Time for my favorite - Follow Me Friday.  Welcome all new readers!




Here's How FF Works

Add your blog link to the McLinky below ~ remember to leave your blog name under "Your Name"


Follow Trendy Treehouse ~ we will follow you back!!!

Grab the "Follow Me Fridays" button for your blog ~ so more blogs can share in the fun!

Follow other blogs that have linked up ~ Comment there letting them know you are now following them and visiting from Follow Me Fridays!

If someone follows you, follow them back, It's only fair. LOL





Welcome to the eighth Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.


Here's how YOU can join the celebration:
* Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
* Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
* Follow as many blogs as you like
* Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow
* Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow
The Blog Hop is the same at each of our three hosts blogs so you do not have to add your blog at each site. Just one - but you can follow each blog. Follow a few or follow them all.

The list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.

I Made Some Earings!

I am so happy to report that I somehow managed to make earings.  Handmade!  I love to make them, but visiting the bead shop can be challenging.  My son wants to get into everything!  Last time we made it through clean, but this time we had a spill.  Oy.  The ladies were so nice and helped me pick up the few beads that dropped.  He's still a little guy, so I have to watch him every second.  While I was holding him and looking at the open stock beads he grabbed a couple of little bins and on the floor they went. 

I did discover that they actually have toys for little ones to play with.  That's great!

This was my first design like the ones I gave to my friend for her birthday.

Purple Shimmer

Then I got excited and made some more!

Red Elegance

Mountain Blue

All of the ear clasps are made out of silver plated brass.  The Red Elegance is made out of resin and black jasper beads and I really love how those look together.  It was fun putting all these together.

I am also pleased because I opened an art fire account today.  Just so I could share my work with you all.  You can check out my studio here.  I am so happy that in celebration I want to give my earings away for DIRT CHEAP!

Purple Shimmer: $1.00
Great for summer outfits.

Red Elegance: $1.50
Fancy Night Out.

Mountain Blue: $2.00
Classy Casual Day.

All great as quality gifts for super price.
Only because I think you guys are the best.  One thing though - I will be able to offer five sets of each design, but I can't seem to figure out how to edit the quantity available on each listing... Oh well, if you would like a pair and it doesn't show one available, just shoot me an e-mail and I'll help you.  Remember though, first come first serve!

Weightloss Wednesday

(Hosted by Rosey Little Things)

Hi everybody.  30 Day Shred Rocks!

I think I am on the verge of breaking through my plateau.  I kept going back and forth, but I'm back down again. If I can just break into the next set of numbers I would love it.  Motivation to work harder.

This week I've cut back more on something else I love.  Light creamy salad dressings.  I've found a delicous light Blue Cheese Dressing, and even though its light, I still have to watch it.

So I switched to a no sugar added Vinegarette.  Yum.

I was walking around Fred Meyer's, looking for a dessert I could take to my friend for her birthday that we could eat together to celebrate.  I was hoping to find something yummy and suger free, but I couldn't find anything.  I wonder where I could find sugar free cookies.  You know, I also wonder where diabetics find yummy desserts to eat?  I'm not a diabetic, but I'm finding that they must have a hard time finding acceptable foods to enjoy.  I tried making brownies once.  They turned out as a great big blog of yuck!  I'm just not good a making sugar free things yet, I guess.

Doing better at cutting out more fat from my diet like I made a goal for last week.  Good luck to you other WLW bloggers!

The Card

Happy Birthday Card

Made by Me!

I'm still a rookie, but these are much better than my last ones :-)

First I cut out the paper

Card Base

3 Balloons

Center Platform

Bottom Strip

   

Attached platform and stip to card base.

Then attached balloons to embroidery thread and foam using double sided tape.

Then tied strings at bottom.

Strings from side balloons came and tied around to the middle back of the card.

And center string tied into a bow.

Tada!

I'll get some picture of the earings I made up next. :-)