Why Enter?

I have noticed something about giveaways in blog land.

Okay, truthfully I have noticed several somethings.

First, it is truly much more difficult as a blogger to get people to enter.

This was perplexing at first, but okay. . .

I even noticed that some of my favorite blogs who have 500, 1,000, 

or more do not always receive high entry rates for giveaways.

In fact, it seems that with the exception of LARGE, AMAZING giveaways 

(you know like a Silhouette or Photo Shop Suite)

on average I notice that the entry rate is approximately 10% of the bloggers readership.

Now, this isj ust observation, and is of course in NO WAY an accurate measurement.

Observation #2:

Giveaways are FUN!!!! There are some great shops out there.

Why not try to win something.

Okay, so this actually leads to what this post is REALLY about . . .

why I think you all should enter giveaways, 

nit just on my blog,

but EVERYWHERE you can.

I have been blogging/hanging out in blogland son a regular basis 

since about the end of November,

so almost 6 months.

Before this, I may have checked out a blog or two from time to time, 

but really I didn't get it.

I didn't understand what it was all about,

and I was frustrated that I didn't know what was going on.

However, once I dove in I LOVELOVELOVED it!!!!

I will never go back.

I immediately started my blog

as I began to know blogland.

I felt like it was the only way to TRULY belong,

and I was right in so many ways.

I also fell in love with blogging because it was Christmas time,

the time of all the BIG giveaways.

I entered EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!!

I wasn't winning, but I knew it would happen.

And then it did.

I was scrolling down one morning and saw this

I almost peed my pants.

Not only had I won.

I had won one of the BIG prizes,

valued at $119.

Yes, it is the MOST phenomenal digital frame EVER!!!!

Merry Christmas to me.

I told hubby he didn't have to get me a gift because I'd just won it.

Boy, was he relieved.

Then, a few days later I won a $25 credit to The Darling Daughter.

Woot! Woot! 

I was on a roll.

This was merely the beginning,

let me share with you the list of AWESOMENESS that I have won since then.

January

Free printable from Agape Love Designs

February

Smart and Sexy Lingerie via A Few of My Favorite Things

March

$25 shop credit to Little Birdie via Tatertots and Jello

Cameo Headband from Moonbeams and Stardust via Agape Love

April

Three patterns to the Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop via Agape Love

1 yard of Ruffle Fabric via See Kate Sew


May

This super awesome Nautical Necklace from Live, Laugh, and Photograph


June

All of this awesome Twilight swag from Amy Sews thanks to
AliLilly


Psst . . . come back tomorrow when I will be passing along some of this fabulous Twilight stuff.
I just feel a compulsion to share the love.


Then I went MIA for like EVER and EVER.


However, quite recently Maria Isabel
had another great printable for her fans.


So in August I received this lovely printable
which makes my gallery wall in my bedroom complete.

Look forward to seeing the final product sometime next week.

Okay, so do you see my point?

Just try. 

Enter every single giveaway that you can.

You will eventually win.

I promise.

It is worth the time.

I have met some awesome ladies via giveaways too.

In fact, that is actually how Maria Isabel 
and I first started e-mailing.

I was a doh doh and deleted my printable.

She sent it to me again. So sweet!!!


If I lived in Nor Cal instead of So Cal 
I think that she might be my best friend.
Yes, I am a blog stalker.
I confess it and knowing is half the battle.


NOW GO OUT AND ENTER SOME OF THOSE GREAT GIVEAWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Final product T-Shirt

Much, much, earlier this year

I posted about the Cuban Cowboy having his first "professional"

art commission.

It was a graphic for a T-shirt for the band Guttermouth.

This is the final drawing

I apologize if you aren't familiar with them.

They are a nineties punk band.

Anyway, although the tour took place during the winter,

he finally brought home a shirt of his own.

I guess they sold out quickly.

Fans were in love with the throw back style.

He is currently finishing up a shirt for their next tour. 

It is pretty hilarious.

It's slightly inspired by these lovely shirts.

Ah, you know you want one.

I will share with you the art when it is done,

but just know it is not girly in any way,
meaning the figure is not of a girl.

Instead think Al Bundy.

Have a lovely day and Rock on.

Happy Houndstooth Winner

I know I said Friday,

but I thought that I would give you gals a bit more time to enter.

Plus, we were plagued last week by

Hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Yes.

This was only a week after my little Roly Poly had the chicken pox;

thank you vaccine for giving my boy the virus you're supposed to prevent.

Oh well,

we seem healthy now.

The winner of the lovely houndstooth fabric is . . . 

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:3Powered by RANDOM.ORG

CONGRATULATIONS JENNIFER!!!!!!!!!!!!


you said:


Well I've truly been wondering about you lately! Hope your summer has been great!

You did a fantastic job on your couch! That fabric is so great!!
I'd use for a lot of things to make it last since it's so great!! ....on a necklace redo, maybe some ruffles on a tote bag....
I love fabric! So generous of you to share!


Send me your mailing info and I will get you fabric out to you.

{What I *WISH* I wore Wednesday} Pinterest Inspiration

Haven't had time to get get cute lately.

Okay, honestly I fell deathly ill Sunday night after I prepped a ton of posts.

Some still need final touches though,

so today's planned post must be pushed back to another date and time.

Instead, I will share with you some of the lovelies I have been hunting down on Pinterest.

Oh boy, I love me some Pinterest!

Okay, so Fall Fashion is starting to come into FULL effect,

and this is truly one of my favorite fashion seasons.

I love the colors,

the layers,

the textures,

and I think it will always remind me of back to school and new beginnings.

This is what I have been spying lately.

Lots of grey.
I love grey as a neutral, and this season has lots of grey L*O*V*E

 Comfy Casuals

Fabulous Dresses

Lovely Layers

Flirty Tops

Professional Prowess

Accessories that TOP the Charts

And if your man is up to some new style,
because trust me the Cuban Cowboy would not wear this,
this is a super HOTT style.

Maybe with some coercion I might get lucky.
I actually think that this one may be feasible.

Maybe for our family photos?

Okay so now that you have seen some of the style I wish I could
go out and grab this fall,
tell me what has caught your eye recently.

*****For source links to all of these looks follow me on on Pinterest******
Most can be found on Anthropologie, Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Nordstrom,
Modcloth

What? Am I back? YES, with a couch and GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Well yes, I may be back now just a bit.

I know now that the Summer will always 

be a low blog time for me. 

I just don't have it in me to carve out 

sleepless nights in the Summer.

However, I have so much to share.

So, without further adieu

let me share with you a couch.

Yes, that's right a couch.

This project began many a moon ago

with this post about purchasing some 

gorgeous houndstooth fabric.

I lovelovelove houndstooth!!!!

Anyway, it took me several months 

to actually gain the courage to begin the project.

Who am I kidding?

I am no expert or even amateur seamstress.

I am a pretender at best.

Finally, toward the end of May I began the journey though,

and by the middle of July I was done.

YES! It really took me this long because 

I had two parties to plan,

bible study to attend, 

swim lessons, and life in general to also tend to.

Plus, I would bust it out all day for a day or two

and not want to touch it again for a week.

Well, the couch is now done.

I love it.

I love that it changed the lines of the couch.

It makes for super fun and cool storage for the boys stuff.

I am going to be on the look out for more vintage pieces.

Psst . . . there will be an upcoming post 

about what is inside that suitcase.

I do keep the seating cushions covered 

with an old sheet when we do not have guests

because this fabric is soooooo incredibly light.

It's cream and a greenish-blue. 

Up close more blue and far away more green,

which means with the yellowy cream color 

it is more green overall.

Now I just have to finish up the pillows. 

They are mostly done.

They just need top seams.

Be looking for them soon.

They're pretty darn cute!!!!

So what do you think of my couch make over?

Pretty awesome for $54 in material.

Actually, less than $54 because I have a ton of material left.

This brings me to my next point.

A giveaway!!!!!

Yes! Would you like 1 yard of this awesome 

houndstooth for yourself?

Well, just let me know what you would use it for 

and it could be yours.

The giveaway will close on

Friday 
because what could be more frugal 
than winning something for free.

P.S. Be on the look out for another project 

that I used this fabric for.

It is kid friendly and cute.