A Pampered Baby

Save the Date Cards

2012-02-12T19:28:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that wedding season is fast approaching!

For those who have the date set and are in planning mode, it’s also time to let people know when the big day is. If you’re planning a wedding and need Save the Date cards, Wedding Paper Divas can lead the way with Save the Date cards, calendars, and even magnets. This year, many new features have been added as well as save Save the Date items such as Circle Cards and Monogrammed designs.

Another fun item is Calendars which are a lot of fun and useful to invitees. Feel free to check out all of the Wedding Paper Divas’ calendars here. My favorites include the “Romantic Tab : Smoke” Save The Date Postcard and the “Haute Heraldry : Black” Save the Date Card. However, they have so many to choose from, so have fun checking them all out!

What is unique about Wedding Paper Divas ? Before being shipped, each order is hand reviewed (by a real live human!) for any issues, so you’re guaranteed to receive high-quality cards. Shop their Save the Date cards today. These cards provide convenience and are sure to amaze family and friends. If you love to get things done, you can get 20% off your entire order (25% off orders of $149 or more) when you purchase Save The Date cards through 2/16/12. Just use PROMO CODE: WEDSAVE25.

Happy Wedding Planning!

Walgreens Prescription Savings Club Membership Discount

2012-02-05T15:00:00.001-08:00

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whether it is a flu shot, pet prescriptions, nebulizers, diabetic supplies or one of over 8000 brand name and all generic medications, the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens will save you money. Being a member not only offers discounts on all of the items mentioned, but you also can receive bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.

Joining is easy, and at a discounted price of only $35 per year for a family membership, it is quite the deal too! Simply visit the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens online and sign up for either a family membership or an individual membership. A family membership covers everyone in your immediate family, including a spouse, dependents 22 and younger and even pets. For individuals, the price is a mere $20. Also, if you don't save at least the amount that the membership cost by the time the year is over, then Walgreens will refund the difference to you! Being a member of the prescription savings club also helps you keep track of your prescriptions and refill them very conveniently as well.

Please show your support and stay up to date by following Walgreens on Twitter and liking Walgreens on Facebook!

Zebra Cake

2012-02-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

I made this pretty zebra cake for my daughter's birthday. She wanted a zebra birthday cake and I had no idea where I would find a zebra cake topper.

I thought of making an icing zebra or a fondant zebra, but didn't have time to attempt something that was so foreign to me, so stuck with what I know. Paper products! Lol. I used my Cricut Expression Machine along with the Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge to cut out the shape of the zebra. I cut one zebra out of white cardstock and used hot pink cardstock for the second zebra. I cut the stripes out of the white one and placed it on top of the pink zebra to create the two tone layered look.

I taped popsicle sticks to the bottom of each of the legs (in between the white and pink zebras) so the sticks wouldn`t show too much. Then I was able to insert the popsicle sticks with zebra onto the top of the cake! I decided to make the zebra even more girly by tying a little bow out of matching pink ribbon and used a Mini Glue Dot to place it atop the zebra.

It also took quite a while to make the yellow cake with buttercream frosting, but it was worth it!

Walgreens No Longer an Express Scripts Provider

2012-01-19T15:00:00.001-08:00

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

FacebookTwitterWalgreensScripts

The effort of Walgreens to continue being a part of the Express Scripts pharmacy provider has been to no avail. Walgreens pharmacy patients are now forced to use their in-network pharmacy benefits elsewhere.

Walgreens offered to hold rates for a new contract flat and did not want to increase rates. However, Express Scripts insisted on being able to unilaterally define contract terms, such as what does and does not constitute a brand and generic drug. Another reason why they were not able to agree on terms was because, Express Scripts also proposed to slash Walgreens reimbursement rates to levels below the industry average cost to provide each prescription. This would cause an increase in rates for patients, while Walgreens wants to keep costs lower for patients.

Since Walgreens and Express Scripts are no longer working together, this means that those patients with prescription insurance plans managed by Express Scripts may have to get their prescriptions filled at pharmacies, not nearly as convenient as Walgreens. Using Walgreens to fill prescriptions is by far more convenient than going elsewhere, considering they offer at some locations, 24-hour and drive through pharmacies. Fortunately, those who belong to insurance plans that are not managed by Express Scripts will not be affected.

In order to minimize this disruption, the annual membership for the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens is being discounted for the month of January. An individual can join for just $5 and for a family membership, it only costs $10. With the membership, patients can save on more than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications. More than 400 generics are available with a three-month supply for less than $1 a week. Regular annual membership is $20 for an individual and $35 for a family.

Please support them by following Walgreens on Twitter and liking Walgreens on Facebook

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T07:36:00.000-08:00

Just want to wish everyone a happy new year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

Baby Legs Coupon

2011-12-21T06:17:00.000-08:00

BabyLegs is having it's Winter Clearance sale! They are selling everything on their site for 75% off of $75 or more! This is one Baby legs coupon that you don't want to miss out on. These childrens leg warmers are so versatile and can be worn as arm warmers too!

I have never seen such a deal before and definitely will stock up at these amazing prices. BabyLegs are something that I keep on hand to add to gift baskets, stocking stuffers and even to add to Birthday party favor bags. The organic leg warmers are my favorites!

Here are the details:
What: 75% off $75 or more sale
Sale: You must have $75 in merchandise BEFORE discount for code to apply. FREE Shipping on orders $30 or more after discount. Need it by Christmas? Order by 12:00pm PST on 12/21 for 2-Day or 12/22 for Overnight.
When: Starts 12/20/11 and ends 12/28/11
Coupon code: JOLLY75
Where: BabyLegs.com

There is Still Time to Order Cards for Christmas!

2011-12-19T07:23:00.000-08:00

Christmas is just around the corner, but there is still time to order cards and actually get them on time!

Tiny Prints offers Two Shipping Options to Get Cards by Christmas.
On Monday and Tuesday, you can use the code below for Free Express Shipping (three business days, $24.95 value) or $5 off Super Rush Shipping (2 business days, pricing will change after first 5,000 orders).

This is a great way to get those last minute holiday cards. Cards ordered on Monday with Express Shipping will arrive by 12/24.

Code: FS5GIFT, Exp: 12/20 11:59pm PT

Happy Holidays!!

Clip it Up

2011-12-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

Clip it up for only $9.99! I can't believe that scrapbook.com is selling the 36" clip it up ribbon organizer for such a low price. It normally retails for $79.99 so this is a huge discount. The deal is part of their 12 days of Christmas and only will last until the end of the day today.

I already have one of these fabulous ribbon organizers and I absolutely love it. I wish I had purchased it at such a low price, but can't complain because I have already used it for over a year! If you decide to order one, please feel free to comment and let us know how you like it!

Happy shopping!

Straight Talk-Cell Phones that Save you Money

2011-10-21T12:02:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love the idea that I can save a lot of money using Straight Talk. It's definitely refreshing to know that I don't have to be locked into a contract and all I have to worry about is what I should spend my extra money on. With nationwide coverage and the option to choose a brand name phone such as LG, Kyocera, Samsung, Nokia or even Motorola, I get everything I need.

Straight talk offers all the apps and games I would need and the The power of Android phones as well. The cost of $45 a month includes unlimited use so you can Feel Richer with Android.

Knowing that you can be free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees is a relief in itself. Also, 411 calls are included at no extra charge. Straight talk also has an option for a prepaid international long distance service which would allow for making international calls from home or the office.

Choose from smart phones, touch screen phones and app capable phones with such features as voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging and Bluetooth.

Check out this video for more information!

Make a Difference in Your Community with the Aviva Community Fund Contest

2011-10-17T14:01:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Aviva Community Fund for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

This year's Aviva Community Fund Contest has started, so now is the chance to potentially make any ideas or plans to improve your community a reality.

The Aviva Community Fund competition offers Canadians $1,000,000 to lead, empower and support community initiatives across the country. By submitting your idea and rallying support from everyone that you know, positive things can happen. Winners are chosen based on the number of votes so spread the word! The most popular ideas will share in part of the $1,000,000 community fund. Getting an insurance broker to support your idea also increases your chances of winning.

Whether your idea is to gain more support for the local food bank, open a new shelter or something else altogether, the sky is the limit.

This year, voting can conveniently be done through Facebook via www.facebook.com/AvivaCommunityFund. Voting is open until November 30, 2011

Also, for every Like the Aviva Community Fund receives on Facebook, $1 will be donated to Free the Children to support at-risk youth programs in Canada. like Aviva Community Fund on Facebook

If you have an idea, please submit it by November 30,2011. Winners will be announced on January 25, 2012.

To keep up with the Aviva Community Fund, feel free to Follow @avivacf

First Day of School

2011-09-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

My little girl started Kindergarten this year and I was really nervous at first. I wasn't to send her to school quite yet! At the beginning of the summer, I thought I would get everything she would need such as extra running shoes for gym, backpack, lunchbag, clothes, and labels for everything! Summer ended up being much busier than expected and when the first day of school came around, I found myself without a lunchbag, labels or lunch containers. Now, I am the wasteful mommy who uses disposable bags for her lunch, but will go out this week to get her the re-usable stuff!

When I dropped her off on her first day of school, she was fine and didn't cry at all. She was pretty excited to be there and was probably looking forward to it. I was happy for her and didn't feel the need to cry, until a little boy in another class started crying and calling for his mommy. That's when I got just a tad teary eyed. His mom had to walk away so that he would hopefully stop screaming and crying, but he just wouldn't stop. I felt so sad for him and especially his mom, since it is so hard to see any child so unhappy. I know he will be happy and start having fun after a few days.

When I picked her up after school, the teacher's assistant mentioned that she was really quiet, but had a really good day. She was all smiles, but didn't feel like telling me much about her day. I'm hoping that eventually she will tell me stories about school and what she spent the day doing!

If you have any first day of school stories, I'd love to hear them!

Motorcycles!

2011-09-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

While spending the day out at the beach yesterday, I saw a quite a few people arriving on motorcycles. My daughter wasn't impressed, because she doesn't like anything loud, but for me, it was fun to see all the different motorcycle clothing being worn. I especially liked the helmets the women were wearing. One of them was wearing a hot pink and black helmet, while another was wearing a pink and white one. Nice and girly!

I have been on a motorcycle a handful of times, but only once as an adult. When I was a child, we had a small Honda Motorcylce as well as a Yamaha Motorbike. I was hesitant at first to even get on one and always exercised caution when riding. My sister was the one who got really excited and rode them all the time! A few times was plenty for me. I have always thought of motorcycles as a dangerous mode of transportation, but must say that they are a lot of fun at the same time.

I probably won't be riding a motorcycle any time soon, but it's nice to know that there is a lot of pretty motorcycle gear available for women nowadays!

My Fab 5 Moving Tips

2011-08-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons for moving, whether it is to be closer to family, a new job or just a change. Moving into a new home is sometimes exciting and fun, but also requires a lot of energy and hard work. We have been preparing to put our house up for sale and it definitely is a challenging task, especially since there is a lot clutter I didn't even know I had! Here are the 5 moving tips I have come up with since preparing for this move.

Moving Tip #1: De-clutter as soon as you consider moving. It is probably a good idea to do this regardless of whether or not you are moving. :) It's really amazing how nice and refreshing it is once your house is clutter free. Have a garage sale or donate any of the things that you no longer want to keep.

Moving Tip #2: Pre-pack, by packing up anything that you definitely want to keep, but don't use. For me, it was mostly little knick knacks that friends and family had given me through the years. Also craft supplies that I knew I wouldn't have time to use before moving.

Moving Tip #3: Stay organized by labelling all of the boxes and bags that you pack up. I put a label on each box and wrote down the contents so that I don't go crazy finding certain things later on.

Moving Tip #4: Don't overpack. By not overpacking, I mean, don't make the boxes too heavy. For instance, pack heavy items such as books into reasonable sized boxes. Packing a large box full of books may cause the box to be too heavy to lift.

Moving Tip #5: Have plenty of moving supplies on hand such as various sized boxes, tape, labels and markers. I was glad to have different sized boxes for all of the items I was pre-packing since everything varied in size, it made it a lot easier.

Once everything was more organized, I felt a lot better and the house was much easier to maintain. Clearing out all of the clutter also makes for a more relaxing home. During this pre-moving stage, I realized that I have a lot of things that I really don't need. This will definitely make me think twice before buying anything the next time I'm at the store.

I'm sure there are many more moving tips, so if you have any, please do share in the comments section. I would love to learn as many as I can!

Straight Talk- Saving Money on Your Cell Phone Bill

2011-08-27T07:04:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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In the past, out of all the bills I was paying each month, my cellular phone bill seemed to be the one that was most wasteful. I didn’t feel as though I was getting much value out of it. With Straight talk, there seems to be more money left over and much better value since their unlimited monthly plans are only $45 per month and include calls, text messaging, picture messaging and web. With that price, you can easily call a friend without worrying about how much it will cost. Compared to the $99 per month that I currently pay for the same services with a contract, that is a huge savings! Also, there aren’t any activation, reactivation or termination fees. With Straight Talk, you can get everything you need.
Straight talk doesn’t bind you to a contract as most companies do and they provide great nationwide coverage. Straight talk uses quality branded phones such as LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia, and Samsung. Smart phones, touch screen phones, and app capable phones with all the features you need such as voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player and more are available through Straight Talk.
Take it from me, this mom knows best when it comes to saving money!

UPrinting Giveaway

2011-08-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

The winner has been drawn, and it is Comment #10! Congratulations Mel! You will be contacted soon to claim your prize. Thank you to everyone who entered. :)

There are many reasons to print flyers, whether they are needed for wedding RSVPs, party flyers or business advertising, it is always nice to know where to get good quality flyers at a reasonable price. UPrinting.com is just the place to get such flyers and with a turnaround time of only 3 business days, you don't have to wait long for your flyers. Shipping is also free and they have nightclub flyer templates and business flyer templates also available for download.

I am happy to announce that UPrinting is sponsoring a giveaway right here, and one winner will receive 250 flyers printed in 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Front Only Printing, with a choice of 4.25" x 5.5" OR 4" x 6" size.

Entering is very simple! Please leave comment below telling me that you want to win the flyers. Please also leave an email address or a blog link so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.

For extra entries, please feel free to:

Like the UPrinting Facebook page (leave a comment letting me know for one extra entry)
Follow Uprinting on Twitter (leave a comment for one extra entry)
Follow this blog publicly (leave a comment for one extra entry)

Please remember to leave one separate comment for each entry letting me know what you did.

This giveaway ends at 11:59 EST on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 and the winner will be chosen from the comments using random.org. Winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

This giveaway is Limited to *US residents 18 years old and older only, and to those who have not won a giveaway sponsored by UPrinting in the past 6 months.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive party flyers for hosting. For more information about flyers, please visit UPrinting.com Prize will be sent directly from UPrinting to the winner.

Photos in a Book

2011-08-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

Organizing photos into a book is something that is always on my list of things to do. However, since I have discovered how to make Photo Books online, I have been a little more diligent with getting photos organized. I usually get the photos ready and wait for a photo book deal. This way, I can easily put a photos book together and not have to miss out on a good deal.

Right now, Mixbook is having a sale where anyone can save up to 50% on all Photo Books!
The code to use is: BK50MX and the deal runs from August 11th, 2011 - August 18th, 2011

Feel free to visit Mixbook.com to create your fabulous photo book.

Enjoy!

Women's Express Jeans: So Many Styles!

2011-08-03T11:00:00.001-07:00

This post brought to you by Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I was a teenager, it was either flare jeans, wide leg jeans, OR fitted jeans were in style. Today, any style goes as long as they look good on. Speaking of a variety of styles, Express jeans are available in Jean leggings, Flare jeans, Wide leg jeans and even colored jeans! Finding the right pair of women's jeans has never been easier.

I love every style of jeans and choose which pair to wear according to my mood. The dark flare jeans bring back memories as I still have an old pair.........they just don't fit me anymore so I definitely need to buy myself a new pair. That is, if I don't win a pair from the Express giveaway!

White jeans have also been one of my long time favorites and I usually pair them with a classic black top or a pretty and fun colorful top.

Express is giving away 50 free pairs of jeans and if you would like to win a pair, go on over and enter the Express giveaway.

I personally enjoy the versatility of any type of jeans and would love to hear about which style of jeans you love. Please feel free to let me know in the comments section below.

Save Time and Money Using CouponChief

2011-08-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

$$$

When I was a child, I remember sitting at the kitchen table clipping coupons with my mom before going out to the grocery store. Times have changed significantly, but the importance of saving money remains much the same. Nowadays, it is so much easier to find ways to save money, not only at the grocery store, but practically everywhere you shop.

My mom and I still like to find coupons while sitting at the kitchen table, but I now have a little girl of my own and we all search for them online instead of from local flyers. Since I love the convenience of shopping online and I never complete my purchase without looking for a coupon code first, CouponChief.com has become my go to website for all things coupon related. It is so easy to navigate through, and there are over 50000 coupons for over 15000 stores. That's a lot of coupons!

From food to clothing, electronics and even postage, the savings are virtually endless. They even have a video to show you how it all works. CouponChief: How it Works. You can also EARN money by joining their Pays-2-Share Program.

If you love to save money and time, then head over to CouponChief.com to start saving. The site also has a section for free items!

Car Shopping and Car Repair Costs

2011-06-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about buying a new car, but will need to do a lot research before actually buying one. My main concerns are, the cost of car insurance and the repair costs which always come up at some point when you own a car. I always think that repair costs and maintenance concerns would not be an issue with a brand new car. However, my sister's car is less than a year old and already needs a brand new windshield. She happened to get a rock chip on it and then the chip spread quickly into a crack, which means she will need a brand new windshield very soon. Instead of driving from shop to shop to get a quote, we looked at a website called RepairPal so that she would have a better idea of how much the repair should actually cost. That way, she'll know if the quote she gets from a car repair shop or dealership is reasonable.

Before going out to actually shop for cars, I will make a list of my top five cars and compare different repair costs that may come up using RepairPal. I have always been told that certain cars cost a lot more to fix than others. Researching the costs in advance will prepare me for what kind of costs may be associated with common repairs for each car. The RepairPal website has different sections including different car types, a list of common car repairs, an area to get a car repair quote and a directory for auto repair shops and dealerships.

Saving Money Using Walgreens Health and Wellness Products

2011-06-22T17:01:00.001-07:00

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

I usually cringe when I need products that are health related, because it means I have to spend a significant amount of money. When someone in our home catches a cold or flu, everyone else ends up catching it within the week. In that case we end up needing vapor rub, cough and cold medicine, cough drops and extra vitamins among other things. I try to save wherever I can and in most cases end up purchasing Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products. I compare each Walgreens brand product with popular name brand products by thoroughly reading the ingredient lists. The ingredients are almost always the same, but the Walgreens brand products cost a lot less, which definitely works well for my budget!

The last time I had to make a trip to Walgreens, I needed to buy vapor rub and noticed that they had a Walgreens brand called Walgreens Medicated Vaporizing Chest Rub. It cost nearly half the price of the brand I usually purchase and was nearly identical when it came to the ingredients. Of course, I had to try it and was pleased that it worked just as well as the brand I have always purchased in the past. Even if it did not work well for me, I wouldn't be worried since the product comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and are Walgreens pharmacist recommended. Walgreens also helps local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™, which is something I think is much needed.

By the way. there are lots of Walgreens gift cards being given away!! Check out these giveaways for your chance to win!

FREE Personalized Father's Day Card!

2011-06-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

What day is Father's Day? Father's Day 2011 is coming up next Sunday, June 19 and I am happy to be sharing this amazing offer with everyone. Tinyprints is offering FREE Father's Day cards starting today, June 9 until June 13, 2011. By using the code "FREEFD" you can get one free Father's Day card. Choose from funny Father's Day cards, sentimental Father's Day cards and more.

Tiny Prints cards are great, because they can be personalized and even sent directly to the recipient. All the work is done for you. The card I chose enabled me to add a picture to it too!

Feel free to click HERE to choose your FREE Father's Day card. personalize it, then use the code "FREEFD" at checkout.

Have fun Creating!

Aquadoodle Review

2011-05-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

After seeing how much fun the kids were having with the Aquadoodle Mat (by Spinmaster) at their friend's birthday party, I thought I would get one for them to play with at home. I went to the toy store, purchased the Aquadoodle Classic Mat and brought it home.

It only came with one pen so I also had to purchase an Aquadoodle Brush and Pen set. The girls were excited as they love to draw and I was excited because they would have something to keep them busy for a bit, but wouldn't create much of a mess. After all, the "paint" in this case is only water. :)

I thought that this was a fun play item that they would actually enjoy using for a long time considering most other toys are usually played with for a mere week before they move onto a different toy. I was right, and the children did want to draw and paint with the Aquadoodle after the first week.

However, after only a week, the mat was no longer as functional as it once was. There would be a delay before drawing would show up and sometimes the markings would not show up were faint. I checked to see if it was the pen or paint brush that was not working correctly, but they seemed to be fine, so I concluded that the mat was the issue.

I looked at the Aquadoodle (Spinmaster) website to see if I could get some further information on the product and there was a customer service phone number readily available so I gave them a call. Unfortunately, the person who answered the call couldn't really help me. She suggested that the mat was perhaps folded up and stored away while it was still wet and this may have been the cause for the mat to be performing this way. This didn't really solve the issue since our Aquadoodle Mat was always stored flat on the table in the playroom, and never folded up.

I'm not sure if the Aquadoodle Classic Mat was just not meant to last or if we just happened to get one that was defective, but I certainly will not take the chance of finding out by purchasing another one. I think I will stick with the traditional paper and pencil crayons or markers from now on. They are always reliable and cost a lot less. Lol.

Wagjag Deals!

2011-05-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

Wagjag Deals are an amazing way to save money on activities, food, home projects and so much more.

Scrapbooking Deals!

2011-05-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

I love shopping at scrapbook.com especially since my local scrapbooking store doesn't have such a huge selection. In honor of scrapbook.com's 10th anniversary, they are giving away a FREE Diamond Stickles bottle in each order this month. One of these will be sent out in each of the first 10,000 orders this month. Just place an order for anything in the store and they'll include a free bottle with your order. It's that easy :)

Also, save 15% on brand new Websters Pages Vintage Inspired Netting and Push Pins Variety. Simply add the Vintage Inspired Netting and/or the Push Pins Variety to your cart and enter coupon code "websters15" in the coupon field at checkout and 15% will be automatically deducted from each qualifying item in your shopping cart. Hurry, this offer expires Sunday, May 29, 2011 at midnight PST or when supplies run out.

Lastly, save $2 instantly on the brand new House of Three-Pink Paislee Reusable Chalkboard Stickers! No coupon code required. Limit ONE per customer. This offer is only valid while supplies last.
Just add the House of Three-Pink Paislee Reusable Chalkboard Stickers to you cart and $2 will be automatically deducted from your cart total, instantly. These repositionable black vinyl stickers from House of Three and Pink Paislee can be used for home decor projects and will work perfectly on your cards and layouts. Each package includes six stickers and a white chalk pencil.

Happy Scrapbooking!

Baby Girl Gift Basket

2011-05-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

Above is a baby gift basket I put together for a friend who just had a baby girl. It includes neccesseties for both baby and mommy...... diaper shirts, socks, blankets, a hat, a pink teddy bear, chocolate, tea, and a scented oil burner. She had already received many gifts so I included items that you can never have enough of when you are at home with a new baby.

Top 10 Gifts For a Mom

2011-05-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

So many of my friends are having babies, so I thought I would put together a list of top ten gifts for a mom. It seems when you have a new baby, it's all about the bany so I thought I would put together a nice list of things that a new mom (or any mom) would enjoy. Items that would just be for her and nothing baby or child related. For instance, I personally love pre-made meals and other things that would save me time, but a gift like that is something for the whole family and not quite "just for mom".

Here is my list of Top 10 Gifts For a Mom:

1. Fresh and fun, some new make up

2. Books - Maybe one of her favorite hobbies is reading books. This would be a good gift to help her relax

3. Movies - Watching movies is always fun and maybe there are some new releases she could catch up on. I know I am way behind when it comes to new movies!

4. A nice piece of clothing just for her

5. A Spa Gift Card

6. A nice gift basket with her Favorite tea, coffee and treats

7. Jewelry -Something such as a pretty necklace or bracelet would be nice. It doesn't necessarily have to be expensive, but should make her feel special.

8. Flowers- You may think I'm strange when I say that I don't particularly care for flowers as a gift, but I know many of my friends absolutely love receiving flowers. I don't usually give flowers when I visit the new baby for the first time, but will bring some after a few visits so that it is more of a surprise.

9. A Gift Card to her favorite store

10. Hobby Supplies - Sometimes moms are just too busy doing mom duties, so if she has a hobby (such as scrapbooking, sewing, knitting or something else that's crafty), getting her a few fresh supplies might remind her to take some time out to spend on it.

I hope you enjoyed my top 10 gift ideas for a mom. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments section. Have a wonderful day!

Home Bakery Bundle Giveaway from Divine.ca

2011-05-11T15:01:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dr. Oetker for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

My family and I love frozen pizza for so many reasons. For instance, it saves so much time especially on those busy nights when we have so many activities on the go. Also. having a few frozen pizzas ready to bake is much more economical than ordering pizza for delivery when we are having a get together with friends or a family movie night.

We often keep Dr. Oetker frozen pizzas on hand, because I find it tastes fresh and has amazing topping combinations. I'm excited to learn that they have a new type of pizza available now. It's called Dr. Oetker Panebello Bakery Crust Pizza an and is made with a variety of high quality ingredients. The crust is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making it taste and feel like fresh artisan bread you would get from a bakery.

If you love pizza as much as I do, and would like the chance to win 1 of 5 $500 Home Bakery Bundles, then visit Divine.ca Home Bakery Bundle Giveaway and enter online between May 4, 2011 to June 13, 2011.

Each Prize Pack is worth $500 and includes:

- 8 Coupons for 2 of each of the new Dr. Oetker Panebello Pizza Varieties including Vegetables and GoatsCheese, CountryPepperoni, ClassicCanadian, and Bruschetta

- 1 Breville Toaster Oven

- 1 Pair of Dr. Oetker Oven Mitts

- 1 Dr. Oetker Pizza Cutter

- 1 Williams-Sonoma Pizza Peel

The contest is open to Canadian Residents Only. If you reside in Canada, feel free to visit the Divine.ca Home Bakery Bundle Giveaway and enter for your chance to win!

Good Luck!

Diaper Cake Gift

2011-04-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

Diaper cakes make such wonderful baby shower gifts. It is so easy to make a diaper cake and is especially useful for most new parents. My sister's co-worker is going to have a baby so she asked me to make a diaper cake for her. I made this simple springtime themed diaper cake since she didn't know whether or not the baby is a boy or a girl. Of course it is also springtime now and the colorsI used work well, because they are neutral colors.

I happened to have yellow ribbon with lime green butterflies on it which match the diaper cake perfectly! I used some tulle to wrap up the diaper cake and completed it by tying the butterfly ribbon to close it.

Comparison Shopping with Become to Save Time and Money

2011-04-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

With the high price of gas these days, shopping online has become even more appealing. You can shop within the comfort of your own home and at any hour you please. It won't cost you a dime in gas money and you can't beat the convenience of avoiding the traffic and parking.

I love shopping online for the reasons mentioned above, but sometimes find it tedious to hop from website to website just figure out whether or not I am getting the best deal. Also, sometimes I like to see the item in person, but don't like to drive from store to store for the purpose of comparison shopping so comparing everything online first is always useful. A website called Become is a great way to compare many different products and prices offered at various stores both online and off.

For instance, I am in need of a few new vinyl tablecloths for my kitchen table and with summer coming up, I will also need a couple for the patio table outside. There aren't many for me to choose from at the local store I usually shop at for my kitchen items so I'm glad I can look at Become.com and figure out where to order what I need.

As for the kitchen pantry cabinet, I will likely go and pick this up in person since it is a larger item. However, I checked them out on Become.com to compare styles and prices so I will only have to go to one or two stores before making the purchase rather than having to visit several stores in person to see all of my options. The children have made a mess of my kitchen chair cushions so I can compare those online as well and order them or drop into a store to pick them up, depending on which stores they are offered at.

If you are looking to save both time and money, check out Become and feel free to leave a comment below to let me know how it worked for you.

Happy Shopping!

Cute Bunny Hat and Shoes

2011-04-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share these cute Easter finds since Easter is coming up this weekend. My friend bought the hat for my little girl quite a while ago and I happened to spot the adorable bunny shoes at Gymboree. They are going to look great with a cute pink shirt and a simple white tutu.

Have a Happy Easter!

Mother's Day Discount Code for WallCandy Arts

2011-04-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share this Mother's Day Deal with everyone. The discount code is "mom10" and is good for 10% off of a Rococo chalkboard wall sticker and would make a great Mother's Day gift or a gift for yourself! It is my favorite wall art sticker and is great for helping to keep track of things. The coupon code ends April 28th if you would like to take advantage of the discount.
Happy Decorating!

Fabulous Party Planning Made Simple!

2011-04-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

Planning a fun birthday party can sometimes be overwhelming so I try to keep it simple and get as many party items as I can from as few places as possible.

When planning a party, I usually follow these basic steps:

1. Come up with a theme
2. Order invitations
3. Find decorations
4. Plan out the food

An amazing website called Big Dot of Happiness is great for one stop party planning. They have so many themes to choose from and you can get customized invitations and decorations all in one place. It saves me a lot of time, because I can finish steps 1 to 3 of my party planning in one place. The last step, (which is the food) is usually quite easy if I go to my local grocery store.

The themes are all so adorable that it is hard to decide, but I usually like to go with a theme that all the children, including my own will love. Above is the Funfari Squiggle invitation, and I love the theme because it includes many different popular baby animals that most kids like and can identify. It is customizable and with the fill in prompts, you won't miss a single detail about the party!

Another fun theme is the Under the Sea Critters theme. It's great for both boys and girls and has adorable little sea creatures that kids will love. The squiggle invitation is of course, customizable and all you have to do is fill in all the details of the party from your child's name to the date, time and place to be.

If you want every detail of steps 1 to 3 of your party planning stages practically done for you, check out their Birthday Party Packs. The invitations, party decorations, tableware and thank you notes are all included!!

See how easy it is to be a hostess extraordinaire in just a few easy steps?

Happy party planning!

Get Ready For Mother's Day With FREE Cards From Tiny Prints

2011-04-07T05:27:00.000-07:00

Tiny Prints is one one of my favorite online go to shops, because I don't always have time to make my cards by hand as I used to. For Mother's Day, their Tiny Prints Greeting Card Collection, will let you create individual personalized cards with photos starting at only $1.99. They have cards for everyone and every occasion. In a matter of seconds, you can create personalized Mother’s Day Cards and have them mailed directly to you or the recipient. It's so simple and convenient especially for me, who sometimes wants to avoid the hassle of searching through the racks at my local card store.

As an extra bonus, from April 6th to April 12th, all Mother’s Day Greeting Cards will be only $.99 cents and you can also sign up for a Free Greeting Card Membership, giving you three FREE cards to use right away, as well as discounts on future cards.

Lilac Diaper Cake with Flowers

2011-04-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

I made this lilac themed diaper cake for a friend of mine. Her baby shower was simple with just a lilac floral theme. I kept the design simple by just rolling up plain white size one Pampers Swaddlers and then wrapped thick lilac colored ribbon around each tier. I stuck co-ordinating orchids onto the ribbon using glue dots, making sure not to put any glue dots on the diapers! :)

I attached a matching mini note card to top it off.

Week Long Blog Hop

2011-04-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am really excited to be co-hosting Danielle's Blog Hop! Danielle of The Mommy Chronicles was trying to search out a blog hop each and everyday and began to get so frustrated because she seemed to always be a day late. She then created a blog hop that lasts all week long. Now no one has to miss out on the hop because they were a day late. You have an entire week to hop around and check out all of the other blogs on the hop.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.the-mommychronicles.com/2011/03/week-1-all-week-blog-hop.html" title="All Week Blog Hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r1/Danie0214/bloghopbutton.png" alt="All Week Blog Hop" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

The Guidelines for participating in the Weekly blog hop are as follows:

1. Please grab the blog hop button to spread the word.

2. Please follow the host and co-host: The Mommy Chronicles and The Adventures of My Family of 8 and I Heart Maternity via Google Friend Connect and/or Networked Blogs

3. Please do not link up your giveaways, blog hops, etc. (Feel free to list your giveaway HERE)
4. Please link up you Blog, Twitter, Facebook Fan Page

Link up your blog, visit and follow the blogs that interest you and have fun! If you follow our blogs and leave a comment on this post, we will always follow you back!

We hope to see you hoppin'!

You only need to add your link to one linky for it to show up on all participating blogs. The linkys will open every Sunday at 8:00pm PST and closes on Saturday at 11:59pm PST

Children's Playroom Furniture Favorites

2011-04-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

Children's playroom furniture can be so cute and versatile these days. Land of Nod is having a FREE SHIPPING promotion on playroom orders of $175 or more so I thought I would take a look and get ideas on what to add to the playroom. They have tables, chairs, toy boxes, storage and so much more. It's hard to decide what to get.

I love to let the kids draw so this chalkboard table from Land of Nod is ideal to keep them busy for a while. They can erase it and start all over again with minimal mess. Now I just have to find some Dustless Chalk

These adorable chairs are amazing because they have a little storage area right beneath them which helps to keep things tidy.

This classic table is nice, because it also has storage directly underneath it. :)

How cute are these storage bins? They even stack on top of each other to save space.

To receive FREE SHIPPING on playroom orders of $175 or more, just enter the promo code PLAY.

Happy shopping!

Pretty Flamingos at the Zoo

2011-03-26T05:40:00.000-07:00

I am so excited because the weather will be warm soon and we will get to visit some fun outdoor places again. This is a picture of the amazing flamingos we saw last summer when we went to the zoo. It's definitely a nice place to visit and see all the interesting animals while taking a leisurely walk.

How to Ease the Anxiety When You Need a Car Repair

2011-03-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

I usually get really nervous when bringing my car into the shop for any kind of repair. Being a woman, the cliche is that you will always end up paying much more than you should for each service. (I'm sure it is a common problem even for some of you men out there) Sometimes you even end up paying for repairs and extras that you didn't even need. I usually check with a few friends just to get their advice and sometimes go to an official dealership just to avoid any unwarranted issues that sometimes come along with going to some random shop. I have noticed that going to a dealership usually costs quite a bit more, but to be honest, I have no idea how much anything should cost.

There is a website called RepairPal and it is a great reference for those who want to have an idea of how much a repair should cost, before going to get their car fixed. I love this because I like to have an idea and some sort of knowledge about what I should be paying for car repair and maintenance services. From something simple such as an oil change to major auto repairs, RepairPal makes getting an estimate really easy.

The RepairPal website has different sections including different car types, a list of common car repairs, an area to get a car repair quote and a directory for auto repair shops and dealerships in your area.

Hot NEW Sexy Swimwear from Express

2011-03-21T14:01:00.001-07:00

This post brought to you by Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

The rainy spring days will soon turn into days of sunny summer fun! During the summer, I often visit the beach since it is so close to us. This means having several swim suits is a must and gives me an excuse to shop the Express Spring 2011 Swim Collection, including monokinis, string bikinis, strapless and halter styles.

I love all the ruffles, glam beaded embellishments and beautiful colors of their new women's swimwear line, but my favorite one is the neon ruffled bikini pictured above. It comes in pink as well, but I think I will change my ways and surprise everyone this summer by wearing something that is not pink to my friend's annual pool party! Plus, yellow is such a happy color. :)

Don't get stuck without a sexy swimsuit this summer! Check out where they are also giving away $200 gift cards to ten lucky ladies and gentlemen. (Yes, they have swim shorts for men too!) To enter, all you have to do is sign up for Express e-mail.

The sweepstakes ends 4.21.11 at 11:59pm, EST. Please remember to check out the sweepstakes rules.

See you at the beach!

Kidorable- Free Umbrella Coupon Code

2011-03-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

Ballerina Umbrella

I am always a huge fan of shopping, especially when it is for a good cause! Lol. Springtime is fast approaching which means the rain is on its way. Kidorable has super cute umbrellas, raincoats, adorable boots and so much more.

From March 21 through April 4, Kidorable is partnering with the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and will donate 10% of purchases to the fund, bringing kids health, hope and happiness by revolutionizing the way childhood cancer is treated worldwide.

To help, all you have to do is use the coupon code CCRFUMB8 at the checkout to get a free umbrella with any $20 purchase. *Please rememeber to add your free umbrella to your cart first.

So, if you need some springtime gear for your little ones or even some gifts, hop on over to Kidorable and shop for a good cause.

Beautiful Bedroom Decor

2011-03-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

I have been shopping for room decor for my little girl's room and noticed that Land of Nod has beautiful room decor as well as many wonderful organizer items.

This beaded chandelier is absolutely stunning and has a classic look which I love.

Beaded Chandelier

This peg rack will help me keep some items organized and tidy.

Accordion to Me Peg Rack

I love the nice clean look of a simple, yet elegant white dresser.

White Walden Wardrobe

This bedding is perfect, because it is not too bright, yet it is still playful and adds color to the room.

Winter, Spring, Summer or Patch Percale Bedding

Those are only a few of the lovely items I have found so far. There are so many more items for little boys and babies too!

Tuesday Tutu Train!

2011-03-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

If you love tutus, this is the place to be!
If you have a shop that sells tutus or you have made a tutu that you would love to share with everyone, please feel free to add it to the collection.

How to add your link and picture:

1. Click the "add your link" button below

2. Enter the URL to where the tutu can be found

3. Name........enter the Name of the TUTU

4. Enter your e-mail (will not be displayed and I will not e-mail you unless you need help, but in that case you would e-mail me. :) My e-mail is on the top righthand side of this blog.

5. Click "next step" to choose a picture or upload your own. Remember to click on the "upload" button after browsing for your own photo.

Please feel free to include tutu dresses as well!

*Pretty please only enter a maximum of 2 links/pictures per person. Thank you!

This linky will remain open until next Tuesday morning at 8:59 AM.
For those who are looking for tutus, tutu ideas or just love eye candy, please enjoy!

Get 3 FREE greeting cards here!

Make Your Own Applique Shirt

2011-03-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

I am always looking for quick and easy do it yourself projects to try out. Sometimes, I don't want to buy all of the little things involved in making shirts, tutus, hair accessories and other items so I just buy them partially made. This sometimes saves me time and it definitely saves me money. The shirts I was looking for cost anywhere from $15 to $30 and more. I made both of the embroidered applique shirts below for under $15 and in 3 simple steps. The price of each item is specified at the end of the post.

Step 1: I ordered a few appliques online (by doing a search on Amazon, Etsy or eBay, you can probably find an applique that suits your needs). I also noticed that they sell appliques at Michael's if you are not fond of shopping online.

Step 2: I simply went to to the mall, stopped into a few children's stores and found cute shirts to put the appliques on. I found the t-shirt at H&M and the tank top at Children's Place. The tank top is 12 month size and the shirt is 3T.

Step 3: Iron the appliques onto the shirts.

Price per applique: $3.75 (can usually be found for $3 to $5)
Price for the tank top $2 (it was on clearance)
Price for the shirt $5 (regular price, H&M prices are quite reasonable!)

Therefore, 2 appliques x $3.75 = $7.50 plus $7 for thetwo tops. Total price for the two completed shirts is only $14.50!

I bought 4 appliques and only used two. I will save the other two for another set of shirts later. They would be great for big sister and little sister gifts!

What to Watch on Television These Days

2011-03-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

This is the Way to Watch!

I usually look forward to watching the only 2 shows that I watch these days every Monday night. They are 90210 and Gossip Girl. However, tomorrow night they will not be on and will not be back until April 18th! Watching television one night a week (I would like to watch more often, but don`t often get the chance) is my little getaway from working, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry and many everyday errands. I actually caught a glimpse of the Oscars last weekend, and it was so fun to watch.

I was originally thinking of watching Americal Idol, but I think this is a good excuse to tune into Survivor:Redemption Island. I have secretly been wanting to watch it, but didn`t want to add another show to my very short list of shows to watch. Once I start watching, I can`t stop! I believe it is on Wednesday nights and started a couple of weeks ago. Boston Rob is back and the last time I watched Survivor, he and Amber were on it! That was a LONG time ago. I can`t wait to get back into the loop and watch Survivor on Wednesday night. It should be interesting. If not, there is always YouTube!

Pretty Party Dresses!

2011-03-05T08:04:00.000-08:00

I have been looking for a dress for my little girl's birthday portraits and found so many pretty ones. I am going to share them here since I always have such a hard time deciding which outfit or dress to pick. I think I will just make myself choose from the ones that I post here. That way I can stop looking!

Enjoy!

The first dress is plain, simple and pretty and I love the color.

Taffeta Dress from Tiny Tot Dress Shop

This next dress is simple as well and I just love the style of it.

Pleated Tulle Dress from the Gap

A-Line Trapeze Party Dress

The next one is cute and fun. It's also kind of casual so it might be more comfortable to wear.

Cute Dress from H&M

This is the last dress. I really like the rosettes on it, because it would be extra cute with a matching headband.

Rosette Dress from the Gap

Those are the five dresses I narrowed it down to. I know most of them are pink, but that seems to be what is mostly available out there for little girls. I'm definitely not complaining, because I love pink, but I am sure others may want more options.

Don't Forget to Proofread Your Text

2011-03-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

Apple iPhone

I enjoy the convenience of my phone finishing my words for me, but once in a while it isn't all that helpful. I was sending out a text today and didn't read it before pushing the send button. I assumed it said what I wanted it to say since I was sure I typed it all out correctly. However, when I wasn't looking, it filled in one of the words for me to say "dimwit" instead of a person's name! I scrambled to type and send a new text to fix my error. It's a good thing I only text friends and never colleagues. I will have to try remember to read what I type before compulsively pressing the send button from now on.

Little Bread Monster Makes it Easy to make Breakfast

2011-03-03T07:32:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why, but my little girl LOVES bread. She sees it, she asks for it and she eats it up really fast. It could be plain, toasted, buttered or have jam on it and she doesn't care. I thought I would use this to my advantage since we have lucky enough to have a local bakery that makes amazing bread using only nutritious ingredients. I'm sure I could find a good bread recipe online, but I probably wouldn't have the time to actually make it on a regular basis. One of the breads I bought is a raisin bread that contains whole grain flour, rice flour and bean flour amongst a few other ingredients, none of which include preservatives of any kind. They freeze their bread which is fine with me, because I can buy several loaves and just put them in the freezer. Anything that saves me a trip to the store works for me!

On days when I am pressed for time in the morning, having this bread makes it so easy to make a fast breakfast for my little bread monster. I just pop a few slices in the toaster, spread it with almond butter and top it off with thin slices of banana. She gets a glass of milk and the 4 food groups are covered!

A Bunny in My Garden

2011-02-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

Easter is just over a month away so I thought I would share a couple pictures of the bunny that was living in my backyard last summer.

It's definitely a very cute bunny and was fun to have around, even though it liked to eat the veggies in my garden!

Lobster!

2011-02-27T10:40:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite simple meals is boiled lobster. I just throw the fresh lobster into a huge pot of boiling water for 10 minutes (for the first pound of lobster and 3 minutes for each additional pound), then melt some butter with a few garlic cloves in a small pot for dipping.

I serve it alongside steamed vegetables and pasta topped with storebought pasta sauce to keep it quick and easy.

Easy Homemade Applesauce

2011-02-26T20:13:00.000-08:00

Applesauce is one of my favorite snacks to feed a baby. It is so easy and quick to make and the baby loves it. Here is a very simple recipe if you would like to try making some too!
2 apples - peeled,cored and quartered
1/3 cup of water
1/2 tsp. of cinammon

Place apples and water in a pot. Boil for 2 minutes, then simmer for 8 minutes with the lid on.
Let cool and blend with cinammon. Easily double or triple the recipe by by simmering for an extra 10 minutes. If you are in a real hurry, chop the apples into small pieces before boiling them.

Basic Handmade Card Tutorial

2011-02-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

As I have mentioned before, I love making handmade cards, but don't usually have the time for it. However, my sister is going to a baby shower next weekend so I thought I would take the opportunity to make a card using the scrapbooking goodies I bought quite a while ago. The mom to be does not know the gender of her baby so I made a pretty neutral card using yellow, brown and green cardstock.

I wanted to keep things as simple as possible so I could make the card quickly, but still get to try out the scrapbooking chalk, stamps and ink pad that I haven't used yet!

List of items that I used:

Bazzill Basics 8x8 cardstock
Brown Cardstock
White Cardstock
Pebbles Chalk, Yellow and Green from the Basic Brights Palette
1/8 or 1/4 inch Brown Ribbon
Glue Dots
Cricut
Cricut Sweet Treats Cartridge or 3 inch Scalloped Circle Punch
Cricut New Arrival Cartridge
Ink Pad
Imaginisce Snag Em Stamp
Fiskars Punch

Instructions:
First, I chose the yellow cardstock from the paper pad and folded it in half.

From white cardstock, I cut out a 3 inch scalloped circle using the Cricut and the Sweet Treats cartridge. (You can also use a 3 inch scallop circle punch for this part)
I then used glue dots (regular glue works well too, but I love the convenience of glue dots) to stick the white 3 inch scalloped circle onto the top half of the card.

I then used the Imaginisce baby giraffe stamp and stamped the center of the scalloped circle. Other cute stamps work well too.

I used the pebbles scrapbooking chalk to color in the giraffe and add a bit of color to the scalloped circle. It was my first time using scrapbooking chalk so it didn't quite turn out, but I hope to get better at it with practice.

Using the brown cardstock, I cut out the word "baby" with my Cricut and the New Arrival Cartridge. I set the size to 3/4 inch to cut some and then set it on 1 inch for a couple more sets. I cut some using the scalloped edge as well as plain edge so I could mix and match the letters, and gave myself way too many options! This is a great little "shape" from the cartridge, because it cuts out the blocks and you can use the letters from inside the blocks as well!

I ended up using the 1 inch block for the first letter and 3/4 inch blocks for the rest. I mixed and matched the scalloped and plain edge blocks just for fun.

I decided to make a ribbon tie closure and used my Fiskars 1/8 rectangle hand punch to make the holes.

I looped the ribbon through the back flap of the card.

Then I tied a knot so that the ribbon wouldn't completely fall out once untied.

Then I looped the ribbon through the front of the card.

and tied a bow!

There it is! Blank inside so there's plenty of room for a thoughtful message. (The card actually fits perfectly into a standard #10 envelope so I stamped the bottom right hand corner with the giraffe stamp and colored it in with chalk to match the card)

Happy Card Making!!

Get FREE greeting cards here!

Cupcakes Everywhere!

2011-02-23T01:00:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love cupcakes? That must be why you can find them in so many forms besides the traditional edible variety. I especially LOVE the adorable cupcake clothing for children!

Cupcake Dress from Pink Taffy Designs

Cupcake Capri Set from Tiny Tot Dress Shop

Cupcake Bib

cupcake chalkboard wall decal

Cupcake Earrings

Cupcake Lip Gloss

Cupcake Candles

Cupcake Beanie

There are so many fun cupcake items, out there still, but it would take forever to list them all! I hope you enjoyed this little bit of "sweetness"!

Introducing a Page Just for Giveaways!

2011-02-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

For those who love giveaways, I have just added a giveaway page to the blog.

It has a giveaway linky for those who are holding a giveaway on their blog or website.

For those who love to enter giveaways, feel free to check it out and enter some giveaways!

Giveaway Listings Linky

Have fun!

Wedding Cake and Cupcakes

2011-02-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine asked me to make cupcakes for her wedding and at first I declined since I had never made wedding cupcakes before.

I love to bake (as a hobby), but was too nervous to seek out a cupcake stand, the perfect cupcake recipe, cupcake packaging, cupcake liners and cupcake toppers to match her wedding decor. Weddings are a big deal, especially to the couple tying the knot so I definitely didn't want to be the one responsible for such an important piece of their special day. Nonetheless, after saying no the first few times, I ended up saying yes! For months, I was thinking I was crazy for taking on such a huge task, but was relieved when the big day came and everything worked out.

I looked for and tested a few cupcake recipes, but found that this simple Martha Stewart Cupcake recipe was the one I liked most. You can find it on her website here. I didn't put the orange zest in it though, because I wanted to keep the flavor as simple as possible. The cupcakes still turned out just fine.

I used a different frosting recipe as I prefer Italian meringue buttercream frosting. It's not too sweet and that's why I love it. Cake Journal has an amazing recipe and in my opinion, perfect instructions. You can find the recipe here.

As for the flowers on the cupcakes, well........I was way to nervous to attempt making them myself so I took the easy way out and ordered them from a local bakery. I think this was a good compromise and is a great idea for those who would want to make their own cupcakes, but don't have a lot of experience, such as myself.

Get Free Save The Date Cards Here.

Giveaway from BabyJShop!

2011-02-09T05:51:00.000-08:00

It's time to announce the winner of this giveaway! It is comment number 20 which belongs to Jolee. Congratulations Jolee! Jessica will be e-mailing you shortly so you can make arrangements to receive your prize.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated and thanks especially to Jessica for sponsoring this giveaway!

This giveaway is perfect for anyone looking for something for a little boy or little girl! Sponsored by BabyJShop, the winner will get their choice of one item.

About Baby J...................

Baby J is the creation of a proud mother of two wild little boys.

In between feedings, diaper changes, and naptimes, an idea was born to design accessories for babies to complete and stylize even the simplest outfits.

That being Jessica's inspiration, she began designing baby beanies from Newborn-Child size. Her theory being, “if all else fails....accessorize!”

All beanies are made with the most unique and fun fabrics. Every fabric is chosen specifically for comfort, ability and style. The prints are unique and fun and the solids are made in the most wonderful colors with stylish accents. The fabrics vary from a thin jersey knit, to thermal knit, to a thicker fleece for the cold days. She started by making beanies for her sons, but has now added little girls' beanies made with the cutest and most stylish fabrics which are a must have for every little girl.

Many new styles and products are continually being added to the Baby J line so remember to check in often! Baby J is determined to create the most stylish and fabulous clothing and accessories for all babies at a price everyone can afford.

Black and Red Polka Dot Bandana Dress

Check out Jessica's blog at http://www.babyjboutique.blogspot.com/

And Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/BABY-J/120105844672710

Enter to win your choice of any one item (Up to $15 value) by visiting BabyJShop, then leave a comment about your favorite item is. Or leave a comment about what kinds of products you would like to see in BabyJShop that are currently not available.

For extra entries:

"Like" Baby J on facebook (1 extra entry) www.facebook.com/#!/pages/BABY-J/120105844672710

Follow this blog (1 extra entry) *If you already follow, go ahead and leave an extra comment :)

Follow Jessica's blog (1 extra entry) http://www.babyjboutique.blogspot.com/

Tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry) **Please remember to mention http://www.apamperedbaby.blogspot.com/ in tweet**
Please leave a comment for each extra entry you are entitled to. Only valid entries will be eligible for the prize.

Open to U.S and Canadian residents.

~~This giveaway closes on Wednesday February 23, 2011 at 9pm.~~ Contest Closed
As always, please remember to leave a link or e-mail address where I can reach you if you win.

Good luck!!

Interview with Andrea of amarie

2011-02-06T00:09:00.000-08:00

It is Andrea of amarie's birthday this upcoming Tuesday, so she will be having a sale in her shop! Use the discount code, "birthdayblog" to receive a generous 28% off of anything in her shop until the end of the day Tuesday February 8th. After Tuesday, the code will still work, but the discount will be 15% off. I hope you have a Happy Birthday Andrea!

The Angie Mini

I also got to interview Andrea, the founder and designer behind amarie. She is the one who creates all of these beautiful handbags in luxurious colors, pretty wristlets, and posh clutches which come custom made!

Talia Evening Bag

Here are my questions and Andrea's answers:

Me: How did you come up with the name of your brand?
Andrea: My name is Andrea Marie, so I combined the "A" with "marie" and voila!

Me: Which of your designs is your favorite?
Andrea: I have to say the Angie Mini tote is my favorite. It's such a great everyday bag that you can fit everything you need into. The braided handle is different from your typical handbag and it is also very comfortable on the shoulder - as is the bags light weight.

Me: Which celebrity would you most want to design/make a handbag for?
Andrea: It's a toss-up between Anne Hathaway and Carrie Underwood. Both women are so classy and have impeccable style. The opportunity to design a custom red carpet clutch would be amazing.

Me: What do most people say when they first see your products?
Andrea: People mention how unique the pieces are and how they love the prints and the stand-out color combinations.

Me: Do you plan on opening a storefront someday?
Andrea: I would love to one day own my own storefront and make other kinds of products eventually like dresses and other accessories.

Me: When did you start making handbags, clutches and wristlets?
Andrea: I started making the clutches first in 2005, the wristlets in 2006 and the totes were born in fall of 2007.

Me: Do you ship your products worldwide?
Andrea: Yes, we do!

Me: Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Andrea: We love making custom clutches for special events and weddings! If you have a dress or bridal party that you would like custom colors/fabrics/designs for, please send us an email at
amariedesign(at)yahoo(dot)com and let us design something beautiful for you!

amarie also offers home,office or online parties, whichever works best for you. Contact us at the email address above for more information.
Also, my facebook page is, http://www.facebook.com/amariebags-become a fan!

The beautiful creations pictured here come in many other colors and patterns. You can see them in Andrea`s Etsy shop.

Bridal Clutch

There you go! Some eye candy and a little more information about the designer behind amarie.

Messenger Bag with Knot

Dots of Fun!

2011-02-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

Dots are so simple, yet versatile. They can add splashes of color, dress things up, be casual, form designs and so much more. Here are some fun dotted finds that I found. From cards to home decor, there are dots everywhere!

Dottilicious Wall Dots

Gift Tag

Scattered Seeds Baby Legs

Birthday Card

Polka Dot Baskets

Polka Dots Baking Cups

Polka Dots Print Backpack Purse

Simple Everyday Eyeshadow Tutorial

2011-02-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

I love pink and always like to keep it simple when wearing eye make-up, so this is the perfect look for me. It will brighten up any face.

Cheri of ORGLAMIX put together this quick and simple eyeshadow tutorial for me to share.

Get this Look w/ Orglamix: Coquette

A menagerie of flirty pink classics creates a playful, borderline cheeky silhouette.

This set contains:
- 100% Pure Organic Mineral Eye Color in Petal
- 100% Pure Organic Mineral Eye Color in Baie Rose
- 100% Pure Organic Mineral Eye Color in Mangosteen

How-to:

Apply Petal Pure Organic Mineral Eye all over your lid using an eyeshadow brush.

Next, blend Baie Rose Pure Organic Mineral Eye into the crease and up and out to your brow bone and blend well.

Apply Mangosteen to outer 1/3 of your eye and blend well.

Apply Petal, Pure Organic Mineral Eye to to base of lashes using an angled eyeliner brush. Smudge lightly.

Valentine's Day Cards Made Easy

2011-01-31T10:28:00.000-08:00

I usually love to make handmade cards, but this year I don't think I will have the time before Valentine's Day. It's only 2 weeks away!!

My next option would be to go to the card store......an online card store! I'm going to check out Tiny Prints, because you can get 3 FREE greeting cards by being a member of their card program.

I also promised my sister that I would help her make a photo book out of her wedding photos. They have them at Tiny Prints so maybe I'll make one while I'm there choosing a Valentine's Day Card. Has anyone made a photo book via Tiny Prints before?

It took me several hours to make my first photobook (elsewhere), so please feel free to comment with any tips or advice you may have.

$35 Giveaway to CSN Stores-All Modern

2011-01-27T06:12:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Terri! Comment #11 was drawn so you are the winner of this giveaway. I will e-mail you shortly to let you know.

Details of the draw can be seen here.
Thank you to everyone who entered and remember to check back soon for another fun GIVEAWAY!!
On my quest to refresh the look of a few rooms in my home, I realized that purchasing too many new items would get kind of pricey. To stay within my budget, I decided to move some of the wall art and decor from one room to another and only purchase a few new items. In particular, a vase, some decorative pillows and wall decals which I have been wanting to get for a while now.

All Modern is one of over 200 CSN stores and is the perfect place to find all of these items and more. The other CSN stores offer everything from footwear to luggage to home improvement products. They definitely have something for everyone.

I have always opted for traditional paintings and picture frames to decorate my walls, but have been hearing so much about wall decals. There are vinyl, chalkboard and even fabric wall art decals! They are supposedly easy enough to apply and just as easy to remove, so it should be simple enough for me to try.

Now for the giveaway details! (Open to U.S and Canadian residents only)

Enter to win $35 towards any CSN store by visiting All Modern, then leave a comment about your favorite wall art or decor items.

For extra entries:

Follow this blog (1 extra entry) *If you already follow, go ahead and leave an extra comment :)

Tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry) **Please remember to mention http://www.apamperedbaby.blogspot.com/ in tweet**

Blog about this giveaway (3 extra entries) **Just a short post which includes a link to this giveaway is fine**

Please leave a comment for each extra entry you are entitled to. Only valid entries will be eligible for the prize.

~~This giveaway closes on Thursday February 3, 2011 at 9pm.~~ (Giveaway Closed)

Please remember to leave a link or e-mail address where I can reach you if you win.

Good luck!!

The Winner of the Baby Boutique Pretties Giveaway is.................

2011-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

Comment #40. Congratulations Perri! I will e-mail you as well to let you know.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway and to Bakerosity for sponsoring the giveaway.

If you feel like shopping, Bakerosity's 15% off code is still available until January 31st. Just enter the code giveaway15 to receive your discount.

Details of the giveaway draw can be viewed here.

Baby Boutique Pretties Giveaway!

2011-01-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

Shoes, Hair Accessories, Pretty Clothes, tutus and more! It's a lot of fun to dress up your little princess, so wouldn't it be great to win $50 worth of these pretties?

Bakerosity

would like to introduce the Baby & Toddler section of their online shop which means the winner of this giveaway will get to choose $50 worth of items from their

Baby & Toddler Boutique.

Also, Bakerosity is offering 15% off of any purchase until the end of January. Just use the code "giveaway15" to receive your discount.

Enter to win $50 worth of items from the Bakerosity Baby & Toddler Boutique, by visiting Bakerosity and then leaving a comment here about what you like about the shop or what type of items you would like to see added to the shop. (They will be adding items for little boys soon as well!)

Want more than one entry? It's easy!

Follow or subscribe to this blog (1 extra entry) *If you are already following, go ahead and give yourself an extra entry! :)

Tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry ) *Please remember to include @ www.apamperedbaby.blogspot.com in tweet**

Blog about this giveaway OR mention and link to http://www.shop.bakerosity.com/ in a blog post (2 extra entries)

*Please leave extra comments for each additional entry you are entitled to. Only valid entries will be eligible for the prize.

~~This giveaway closes on January 25th, 2011 at 6pm. The winner will be chosen at~~ ~~http://www.random.org/~~ ~~and announced here the day after. Please leave an email address or link so I can contact you if you win.~~ CONTEST CLOSED

Good Luck!

My List of Top 10 Baby Gifts

2011-01-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

Many of my friends are having babies in the next little while so I will be attending many baby showers. When buying gifts, I seem to always end up purchasing the same items as they were personally useful to me.

My top ten favorite baby gifts either to give individually or to include in a gift basket are:

1. Baby Cubes
Perfect for storing homemade baby food and snacks on the go when the baby is a bit older.

2. Restaurant Gift Card
Great for the busy new parents. They can have a night out or order take-out.

3. Baby's First Library
Although the baby may end up with several books, it seems you can never have enough of them.

4. Baby Sign Language Books or Videos
These help to reduce temper tantrums and help build confidence as baby sign language helps to reduce the communication barrier between baby and parents.

5. Baby Legs
Makes diaper changes more convenient and can be used to keep baby's legs warm throughout toddlerhood.

6. Scrapbook or Photobook
These would be a great alternative for a baby journal, because they can be used anytime. For instance, the baby's second year, documenting the baby's first birthday an many other special occasions.

7. Photo Shoot
Getting professional portraits of the new baby on his/her own or with the proud parents is an priceless. Although it is something that parents sometimes will already do, others may be too tired or may not know of a good photographer. This gift would likely ensure that those special pictures are captured.

8. Little Pim Language Videos
Perfect for getting the baby started on learning a second language.

9. Infant to Toddler Rocker
This item is great for keeping the new baby occupied, and can be used as a chair when the baby gets older. It is more economical than a baby bouncer, because the bouncer can usually be used for only 6 months.

10. Sophie the Giraffe Teether
I had not heard of Sophie the Giraffe until after I had my first child. This is a wonderful gift, because babies just love Sophie Giraffe, because it`s so soft and squeaks too! Babies especially love to chew on this when they are teething.

You may notice that I did not list items such as a baby monitor, diaper bag, baby bathtub, bottle warmer,room decor and many other things that would typically be on a baby registry. This is because the best items I received at my baby shower were not on my baby registry! They were items that friends who had babies before me KNEW would be useful to me, although I didn't know it at the time.

I hope this list was helpful, and as always, feel free to comment about your favorite items!

Baby Boy Gift Basket

2010-12-26T17:25:00.000-08:00

This gift basket was made for a mom-to-be who is expecting a baby boy.

It contains a cute bib, 2 diaper shirts with a 3-pack of matching socks and little pants, a pair of shoes, Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash and Aveeno Baby Lotion.

I wrapped it in tulle and tied it with a matching ribbon.

Wooden Shape Sorting Clock

2010-12-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

One of my friends came over for a visit and brought my little girl a gift. It was a Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Clock. The shape sorting clock indicates that the toy is for those 3 and over, and my little girl was only 18 months at the time. We opened it for her to play with anyway, and I was surprised at how much she loved it!

The clock contains different colored blocks that are numbered and each a different shape. In the centre is an hour and a minute hand to teach the child how to tell time. At first, it was diffucult for my 18 month to put the shapes in the correct spot, but about a month later, she was able to match all the blocks to the spaces in the clock. Now she just has to catch onto the numbers and colors!

I am happy that my friend introduced me to the Melissa & Doug line of toys as they are colorful, high quality and highly educational. The wooden shape sorting clock alone helps me to teach my child the different colors, shapes, numbers and how to tell time.

Thanksgiving Floral Arrangement

2010-12-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

My sister used this beautiful floral arrangement for the Thanksgiving Dinner Centrepiece. It really brightened up the table and I really love the pumpkin pot the flowers are in.

Simple Diaper Cake

2010-12-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

This is a simple diaper cake that was given to a friend for her baby's first birthday. She only wanted diapers as gifts for the baby so this was a creative way to give her diapers. It is made out of size three diapers instead of the newborn size since the baby is obviously bigger now.

Baby Food

2010-12-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking for new recipes to try and I came across http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/.
That's just what it is, a great site that offers recipes for wholesome baby food.

My 9 month old loves Baby Mum Mum crackers and since I have always been a fan of homemade, the teething biscuit recipes interested me most. Most of the biscuit recipes call for ingredients that I typically have in my kitchen so I was excited to be able to try one immediately. There are even recipes that do not contain egg or wheat.

I decided to take the simple route and choose the very easy Eggless Baby Cereal Cookies.
(Maggie from wholesomebabyfood.com has given me permission to share this quick recipe)

All I needed was:

1 cup of flour
1 cup of baby cereal and
1 cup of juice

I mixed them in a bowl, rolled out the dough and cut the dough out into little shapes. The cookies were then baked for 20-30 minutes at 350 F. (It was closer to 30 minutes in my oven, but as they always say.....oven temperatures vary)

The dough was very sticky and soft as mentioned at the end of the recipe so I took their advice and added a little more flour. I also baked the biscuits on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper so the bicuits were easily removed after baking.

My baby enjoyed a few homebaked biscuits for the first time and I look forward to trying more of the recipes soon!

Please comment and let us know if you have tried any of the recipes at http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/ or if you have other tips and recipes for feeding baby.

Pampers Gifts to Grow Code

2010-11-30T20:14:00.000-08:00

I will be posting Pampers Gifts to grow codes here and there just for fun. If you use the code, please leave a message in the comments section as a courtesy to others. Thanks! Check back soon for more freebies and fun ideas!

It's a 1st Birthday Party!

2010-05-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

I had a 1st birthday party for my little girl, and thought I would share some photos. Since her birthday was at the end of April, I chose a garden theme.
Here is the birthday banner, which was colorful and fun!

Above is one of the flower poms I made. I also made a yellow and light pink one, but didn't really get great pictures of them all together. That's the challenge of hosting a party I think.....trying to get nice pictures among other things. :)

This is the cake which I really wanted to make, but my husband didn't want me to. He thought we should try to keep things simple by ordering a cake. The top layer was mango flavor with raspberry filling and the bottom was vanilla with a vanilla and strawberry filling.

Last time we had a party, all of our little neices chose cupcakes over cake, so I had to make a small cupcake tower. Couldn't help myself! I discovered that one of them only likes the icing, so next time, I will probably fill a cupcake cup with just icing and no cake just for her. ;)

I made mini cookies as well, decorated with royal icing and colorful sanding sugar.

This is a springtime sugar cookie house that I have been wanting to make for a very long time. I finally got to make it, and can't wait to make another one!

Last but not least, favors! I found these pretty pink boxes and had to have them. They were actually perfect, because I was able to put cookies in them for the adults and BabyLegs in them for the little ones!

Etsy Shopping!

2010-04-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

I was browsing around on Etsy which I am sure most of you also love doing and I came across a shop called Come Shop Pink Lemonade. I like it because the prices are so reasonable and the shipping seems to be a flat rate which is always a bonus!

There is also a variety of items which is great if you like to purchase a few different items from a single shop. I thought the bangle (pictured above) would look great with a little black dress or even some jeans.

I really like this top because it`s so pretty and girly. Also love the colors!

I had to include this Set of 2 trendy baby burp cloths, because I love anything damask and polka dots. (The polka dot burp cloth is underneath the damask one)

Feel free to comment about your favorite Etsy shop as well!

Happy Shopping!

Winner of the Hamsa Healing Giveaway

2010-04-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for visiting Margie's Etsy shop, HamsaHealing. She has many wonderful items and offers FREE shipping within the U.S and Canada. She also ships all over the world! If you are an Etsy member, please feel free to "heart" her shop. I also want to give a big thank you to Margie for sponsoring this giveaway!

Now for the winner! It is comment #39, Beauty Vibes!

Margie will be contacting you shortly via email so that she can send you your prize. Congratulations!

Giveaway from Hamsa Healing

2010-04-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

I'm having another giveaway already! This is because the wonderful and cheerful Margie who has a lovely shop on Etsy is sponsoring this giveaway. Her shop has many great items which I will let you discover on your own. Here is the interview with Margie, and instructions on how to enter the giveaway.

Name: Margie

Shop Name: Hamsa Healing

Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hamsahealing

Location: Open Road, U.S.A (I've been traveling for about 3 years now and am currently RVing in the Southern states)

Ships To: Anywhere on earth!

Favorite Materials: yarn, essential oils, crystals, vintage books

What do you offer in your shop?

Right now I LOVE to make fingerless gloves! I don't know why buy I am drawn toward making 2 of things that match :) I am also really into alternative healing and medicine so I really enjoy putting together healing kits that include aromatherapy, color therapy and crystal therapy. I also have my Master's in Information Science from Syracuse U so I absolutely love looking for old books and books about crafting!

What are some benefits to using your products?

All of my products are either healing or earth friendly. So by using my products you are helping yourself, helping the Earth and ultimately helping humanity as a whole! It's all about LOVE, baby!

What inspires you?

Nature, life, love, healing, spirituality, meditation, people, Earth!

What is your favorite item from your shop?

I would have to say that my favorite items are my healing kits. I made one for my Grandpa when he had cancer about 10 years ago (he died in 2001). He absolutely loved my idea and then I just started making more for the people in my life. Others became interested in my healing kits so I decided to share them with the world!

Anything else you would like to tell us?
I love to twitter! Follow me: http://twitter.com/hamsahealing
My website where you can learn about me and my healing arts: http://hamsahealing.info
And check out my blog about my travels: http://cyberhippiegypsies.blogspot.com/

The winner of this giveaway will get their choice of $27 worth of product from HamsaHealing

To enter, all you have to do is visit Margie's Shop and leave a comment about which item(s) you would like to have.

If you would like an additional entry:

Follow this blog (1 extra entry, if you already follow, go ahead and give yourself an extra entry!)

Tweet about this giveaway (Please remember to include, http://apamperedbaby.blogspot.com/ in the tweet)

Make a purchase from HamsaHealing (3 extra entries)

Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry that you are eligible for.

This giveaway closes on Monday April, 12, 2010 at 9pm. (CONTEST CLOSED)

Good luck!

Winner of the Clip it Up Ribbon Organizer

2010-03-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

This was a very fun giveaway and I really enjoyed reading the comments as I love scrapbooking and making things just as much.

The winner of the amazing Clip It Up Ribbon Organizer is comment #65!

Congratulations to Melody who made Comment #65, which was drawn at http://www.random.org/.

The results of the draw can be seen here.
http://www.random.org/draws/details/?draw=1753

Thank you to everyone who entered! I will be holding my very first Etsy Giveaway sponsored by HamsaHealing very soon so please remember to visit again!

My Favorite Crafty Storage Items: Part Three.....a Giveaway!

2010-03-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

There are so many fun storage items that I had a hard time deciding which one to give away. I was going to choose either this Desktop Organizer, which I really like, or the Desktop Carousel which I enjoy using, but I am such a ribbon fanatic!

That is why I am giving away this Clip It Up Ribbon Organizer. Keep in mind that it is the really long one.....3 feet long! (Also, ribbon is not included) So.....if you are not a crazy ribbon fanatic like me, you may prefer to have a different prize which we can discuss if you feel like entering anyways, and you happen to win. :) More details on this fabulous ribbon organizer here.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment with a tip on how to get organized or let us know what your favorite hobby is.

If you would like an additional entry:

-Follow this blog (1 extra entry, if you already follow,go ahead and give yourself an extra entry!)

-Tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry) *Please remember to mention http://www.apamperedbaby.blogspot.com/ in the entry*

-Blog about this giveaway (3 extra entries) **A quick mention with a link to this post will do just fine, unless you want to go all out, that's great too!*

Please leave an extra comment for each additional entry that you are eligible for.

This giveaway closes on Thursday, March 25th, 2010 at 9pm. The winner will be chosen at random.org and announced here. (CONTEST CLOSED)

Good luck and happy crafting!

My Favorite Crafty Storage Items: Part Two

2010-03-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

What else did I need to get my craft room organized? This table from Ikea of course. I purchased this a few years ago and believe it or not, they still have it at the store, but it costs less than it did when I got it! I'm not too disappointed about it because I have gotten a lot of use out of it and am still using it now. I must show you the table without all of my stuff on it though, because you can hardly see the top of it otherwise. I love this table because it is big, very sturdy and there are panels in the middle that can be removed to make it smaller......something I don't think I'll need to do anytime soon, but useful if ever necessary. I put my Cricut Expressions Machine right in the middle of it and used to keep the cartridges on the table as well, but as you'll see below, I have a new spot for those now. For some reason when I use my Cricut, I end up with paper everywhere and the table gets covered which is why it's much better that I don't keep things on there that can be lost amongst the paper piles.

I also got this Desktop Carousel a few months ago. I was at a local scrapbooking shop and they had one on each of the tables in their lovely crop area. I thought it would help me get organized so I got one and it's great for storing my scissors, markers, adhesives and other handy tools.

I couldn't resist getting these shelves as well. They fit neatly under my table which is perfect!

This is what I put in them so far:

1. Embellishments

2. Stickers

3. Punches

4. Cricut Cartridges

5. Miscellaneous Items

6. Paper Packs

7. Little Spools of Pretty Ribbon

8. More Cricut Cartridges (ones that haven't been opened yet!)

9. Loose Scrapbook Paper

10. Cardstock Paper Pads

I think I still need to get some pretty baskets to put on top of these shelves to organize some miscellaneous items that I have floating around.

That's it for now. Be sure to check back for part 3 of this post as I will be doing a crafty storage giveaway!

My Favorite Crafty Storage Items: Part One

2010-02-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

Getting baby's room organized is important, but lets take a break and do something for mom! Organizing your craft area isn't always easy, but it helps if you have wonderful storage organizers. It also helps if you can stop yourself from buying all of the amazing items that you just "must have"! My weakness in this department is ribbon, which is why the first item I purchased for my craft room was a ribbon organizer. I looked around for a while and ended up with this:

Kind of messy still I know, but it's an improvement from spools of ribbon all over the place. I really like this ribbon organizer of mine and have had it for over a year now, however, I still have enough ribbon to fill another one of these. I am not going to buy another one because I have discovered a new one that I would love to have!

It is this Custom Craftroom Ribbon Holder by Patty from Pattyspages.

Patty has been scrapbooking and crafting for 30 years and worked really hard to create this amazing ribbon holder. It holds 275 spools of ribbon and can fit into a cupboard! She is offering a retractable scissor accessory that goes on the side of the ribbon holder as a bonus with purchase. The retractable scissor accessory screws onto the side of the ribbon holder and your scissors go on the end of a chain which can reach across the full length of holder. You also receive a CD with step by step instructions. *Please note that the shippng price listed is the maximum that it would be. Depending on where you are, it could possibly be lower so if you are thinking about ordering one, contact Patty and she'll let you know how much shipping will cost.

If you're not as fanatic as I am about ribbon and may need a smaller ribbon holder, Patty has come up with one that holds half the amount of ribbon as the original holder she currently has in her store. It will be available in the next week or so. She also has stunning handmade cards in her shop and adds 2 new ones each week.

Part Two of this post is going to feature some more crafty storage items and in Part Three there will be a giveaway. Check back to see what it may be!

Winner of the Pretty Boutique Hair Bow Giveaway

2010-02-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

So we all agree that babies smell great, they're cute, cuddly and have amazing skin! Now it's time to announce the winner of the hair bows and headbands giveaway.

Nicole, who entered comment #18 is the lucky winner as chosen at random.org.

The results of the drawing can be seen here, http://www.random.org/draws/details/?draw=1467

Thank you to everyone who participated and please feel free to comment on what you would like to see in the next giveaway!

Pretty Boutique Hair Bow Giveaway

2010-01-29T13:40:00.000-08:00

I love all the pretty hairbows and crochet headbands that I often see on those adorable little babies and toddlers so I am giving away 2 of them to one lucky reader!

I first purchased a set for my little girls for Christmas photos and have been hooked ever since. I bought some Valentine's Day and Easter colored ones recently and was sure to get an extra set to give away. Of course Valentine's Day is fast approaching so the headbands may not get to the winner on time, which is why the pink one is more of an all season/anytime hairbow. The hairbows are each on their very own clip and can be removed from the crochet headbands to be worn alone as well.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment and tell us what your favorite thing is about babies or toddlers!

If you would like to enter more than once:

-Subscribe or Follow this blog (1 extra entry)

-Tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry) **Please remember to include http://www.apamperedbaby.blogspot.com/ in the tweet*

-Blog about this giveaway (3 extra entries) **A quick mention in a short post is totally fine, but if you want to go all out, that's great too!

Please leave a comment for each additional entry that you are eligible for.

This giveaway closes on February 5, 2010 at 7pm. The winner will be chosen at random.org and announced here. (Contest CLOSED)

Animal Themed Diaper Cake

2009-11-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

This is an animal themed diaper cake that I made for a baby shower. The very excited grandmother to be who is hosting the baby shower requested this blue diaper cake as she is expecting a grandson.
In this diaper cake, I included specific items that the mom to be registered for:

Kushies Wash Cloths -I put these in the centre of the bottom layer, so you can't really see them. They are soft and colorful though!
Kushies Receiving Blankets

Kushies Diaper Shirts

Eco Friendly Miyim Baby or Childrens Organic Cotton Monkey Security Blankie

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether -These are so popular!

Especially for Baby Safari Wrist Rattle

Pampers Cruisers in size 3

Pampers Swaddlers in sizes 1 and 2

I did not include newborn diapers as some babies outgrow them very quickly and the new parents usually already have some.

Here is the top view of the diaper cake.

The back of the diaper cake is where I attached the Especially for Baby Safari Wrist Rattle.

Here is the very famous Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether.

This is the adorable Eco Friendly Miyim Baby or Childrens Organic Cotton Monkey Security Blankie .

A close-up of the Kushies diaper shirt and hooded towel (wrapped around the bottom layer of the cake).

One baby blue animal themed diaper cake all wrapped up and ready to go!

Shoe Giveaway Winner

2009-08-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

The winner of the Shoe Giveaway is comment #9! That's you,Anne! You can see the draw results at http://www.random.org/draws/details/?draw=776. Anne, I will be e-mailing you shortly so that I can send you your lovely and delicious prize. (Picture coming soon)

It looks like some of you can really spot the deals. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Something For the Moms, A Shoe Giveaway!

2009-07-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been looking around at children's clothes, an ergo baby carrier and other baby and toddler items on eBay. A big change from the days when I would be looking at Christian Louboutin Shoes.

I didn't have any luck with the baby carrier, but I did find this 3 piece GAP outfit and so far the bid for it is only 99 cents! I know that there are still 2 days left in this auction, but chances are it will still be a decent price at the end of the auction. OR will it? Sometimes the shipping costs are outrageous, but in this case it is quite reasonable.

People always tell me about the great deals they get on eBay, and I have looked, but never bid. How about you? Have you gotten any amazing deals? I love hearing about bargains and it might give me that little push I need to jump on the online auction bandwagon.

This brings me to the shoe giveaway details! Don't get too excited, I am not giving away wearable shoes. I know, I miss shopping for shoes too. Since becoming a mom I haven't had the opportunity to shop for my favorite pre-mommy things to shop for. Sometimes moms get wrapped up in buying stuff for the kids and forget about themselves. That's why I am giving away cookies in the shape of shoes! (Something to enjoy with a nice cup of tea after the kiddies go to bed) Two and a half pairs and perhaps a dress to make it a half dozen cookies. The picture above is an example of what they are. One large shoe, a pair of smaller ones, a mini pair, and probably a matching dress. They will probably be a different design though, as I will order a fresh box of cookies when the winner is announced. The ones you see in the picture were eaten shortly after the picture was taken. ;)

To enter, all you have to do is:

Leave a comment on this post of your favorite thing to shop for, or an amazing deal that you have gotten. It doesn't have to be on eBay, it can be from anywhere.
*Please remember to leave your contact information (e-mail address) or a blog link so I can contact you if you win.
Deadline to enter is Thursday, August 6th, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. (recorded by the comment time stamp)
The winner will be chosen at http://www.random.org/ and announced the day after the contest closing.

Good luck!

Green & Yellow Diaper Cake

2008-06-09T11:08:00.000-07:00

This is a lovely diaper cake I made for my sister's friend who is attending a Baby Shower this upcoming weekend. The new parents do not know if the baby is a boy or a girl so I suggested a green and yellow diaper cake to keep it neutral, but still bright and colorful.
It contains a baby hat, a bib, Pampers Cruisers in size 3, and starter sizes of Johnson's baby lotion, Johnson's baby powder, Johnson's baby shampoo, Johnson's baby wash, and diaper cream.
It was finished with a matching gift tag and wrapped in tulle. Ready to gift!
The final product. Not the best picture, but I am trying to improve my photography skills.

Surprise Baby Shower Diaper Cake

2008-05-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

This pink and blue diaper cake was made for a surprise baby shower. It was a summertime garden themed party held outdoors.

Strawberry Shortcake Diaper Cake

2008-05-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

This diaper cake was made for a Strawberry Shortcake themed 1st birthday party. It includes Pampers Cruisers size 4 diapers as well as a Strawberry Shortcake nightlight. It is topped with a Strawberry Shortcake sun hat.

Bird Themed Baby Shower

2008-05-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

I had a request for a bird themed diaper cake from my sister's friends who are hosting a bird themed baby shower this weekend. At first I was afraid that I would not be able to find cute enough birds to use for the diaper cake, but I kept looking and finally found some beautiful craft birds at a local arts and crafts store. I included a floral Calvin Klein diaper shirt on the first tier, a bib on the second tier and i used the matching hat as a little nest with some natural raffia to place one of the birds in.

Winnie the Pooh Diaper Cake

2008-04-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

This is a Winnie the Pooh diaper cake that I made for a neighbor's new baby boy. I happened to find mustard yellow ribbon to match Winnie the Pooh's fur!