Wordless Wednesday - Backyard Fun!

I'm sorry I haven't been more active on the blog lately.  My brother, sister in law, and niece were in town last week and we were busy having fun before they had to head back home.

Sunday (Mother's Day) we were lucky enough to have my parents, my brother's family, and Troy's parents come over for fun and dinner.  The kids loved playing on Owen's swingset...and it looks like the grandparents did too!

We hope everyone had a great Mother's Day!

O, Kyra, & Papa

Missy, Brynnleigh, & MeeMaw

The show must go on!

Kyra

O always wants to go high, so I got a pic of him in the trees (& yes, he picked his own shoes and socks)

Wordless Wednesday - My Little "Maverick"

O got new sunglasses and I must say I'm pretty impressed!

Summer Splash Giveaway Blog Hop

 

Wow, I can't believe the time has come, but I am so excited to open the blog up for the Blog Hop Giveaway.  I see this as a great opportunity to share great products with my readers, meet new blog friends, and I hope to reach new readers as well.

Okay....now for the good stuff.  There is only one rafflecopter for all 9 prizes sponsored by The BOAT.  I will pick 9 winners via Rafflecopter, so please make sure you complete the mandatory entry and let me know your prize preference in order.  If you tell me you are only interested in 2 prizes, and you are picked 3rd and your two prizes have already been claimed, I will pick a new winner.

Also, there is a Grand Prize Entry which is listed below, as well as the links to the other blogs participating in this Giveaway.  There are some great prizes, so please check them out, and mention to your friends!
Giveaway #1 - Copy-Kids Eat Fruits & Vegetables DVD & a $30 Whole Foods Gift Card. Go HERE for my review, and HERE for my Spotlight and Interview!

Giveaway #2 - Tommee Tippee Explorer Lil' Sippee (2 pack).  Go HERE for my review (and cute pictures of my baby!)

Giveaway #3 - Organizing Utility Tote in Black Parisian Pop from Thirty One Independent Consultant, Deloris Usher.  Go HERE for my Spotlight and Interview! Black Parisian Pop

Giveaway #4 - Sew Posh Monogrammed A-Line Top & Bloomers Set.  Go HERE for my Spotlight and Interview!

Giveaway #5 - Flower Headband from The Cotton Tail Boutique - Go HERE for my Spotlight and Interview!

Giveaway #6 - Hello Kitty Flip Flops from The Blankie Boutique.  Go HERE for my Spotlight and Interview!  These flip flops can be kids or adults!

Giveaway #7 - Mary Kay Sunscreen from ME! ; )

Giveaway #8 & #9 - Two winners will each win a $50.00 gift card for Prep Sportswear.

a Rafflecopter giveaway And now...for the Grand Prize & more information...

Welcome to Summer Splash hosted by Life With Two Boys, With Our Best, and Bella So Savvy! This event begins on May 14, 2012 at 12:01am EST and will end on May 27, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.

Over 100 blogs have come together to bring you some amazing prizes to help you kick off your summer... with a SPLASH! Each blog is giving away at least $25 worth of prizes, plus we have an awesome grand prize for one very lucky winner. Be sure to hop along to each of the participating blogs because the more giveaways you enter, the more chances you have at winning the Grand Prize!

So what's this Grand Prize we're talking about? Thanks to Kid's Creations one very lucky winner is going to win a Two Ring Adventure Playset valued at $3,598! Made from the highest quality Redwood and loaded with fun activities, this swing set is sure to make this summer one to remember! (Please note that the grand prize is only open to residents of the Continental United States and does not include assembly/installation.)

Enter the Grand Prize!

Disclaimer: Please note that the Summer Splash hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation that they will fulfill their prize in a timely manner. While we are not responsible, we will make every effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.

Sponsor Spotlight - Prep Sportswear

Seriously....this is one of my newest favorites!  Prep Sportswear has the neatest items....and you can even add your school!  They carry products for schools (any and all types), Colleges, Greek, Military, World Soccer, Destination, and More!

I recently ordered Owen two shirts with his new elementary school and a baseball hat with his new mascot (Wolves).  I am so excited to get these in for him.  He has no idea they are on their way!

If your school is not listed, all you have to do is add it, and within 48 hours, it will be added.  I had to add Owen's school, but now it will always be listed and available.

This would be the perfect gift for kids graduating from preschool, or even 5th grade and moving up to middle school.

You pick the style shirt, then the color, then the design you want printed on the shirt!

Also, not sure you are doing something right, or have a question...they have by far the best customer service I have ever received!  When available (during their business hours), they offer live online help through their website.  Yes that's right....right hear, in 2012, you can "type" to a live person.  No more waiting 1-2 business days for a return email.  I did have to "type" to customer service a few times (more user error than anything else) and I was ecstatic with the type of service I received!

In my opinion, a company is only as good as it's customer service team!

Now I will recommend that you double check the size chart for each and every item that your order.  Each and every shirt listed is a bit different in size, but don't worry, they each have their own size chart w/measurements.

Prep Sportswear has graciously offered 2 of my readers a $50.00 gift card to try them out.  This giveaway will take place during the Summer Splash, from 5/14-5/27!

You can also follow Prep Sportswear via Twitter and Facebook!

Sponsor Spotlight - The Blankie Boutique

The Blankie Boutique has everything you can think of for your little Diva...or Diva in Training!  : )  They even have things for yourself...I mean come on...those Diva's learned from somewhere right?

They have these adorable flip flops (They sent B a pair...keep an eye out for our review to be posted soon!)

And don't worry...they have "Mommy" flops too!

They also carry headbands, hair clips, shirts,

and of course "blankies"  (and some so the boys don't feel left out!)

and much much more!

Lets find out more about Stacy and The Blankie Boutique...

1) So tell us a little bit about your self...
I'll be 25 in July and I just recently got married to my prince charming back in October. We live in a small town.. Dublin, PA with our puppy Roxie. I teach young children at a daycare during the week and run the store on weekends. I spend all my free time doing my 3 C's...Cleaning, Cooking, Crafting! (And I love every second of it!)

2) Can you tell us more about The Blankie Boutique and how it got started?
The Blankie Boutique started 2 years ago with just a little idea I had to make a no-sew fleece blanket. My husband (who was only a boyfriend at that time) helped me and we made this comfy blanket and I uploaded a picture of it to facebook. I started getting a lot of orders for them from friends and family so I decided to make a facebook page and call it the blankie boutique. My husband is an artist also so he hand-painted onesies and teeshirts to add to our product list and we did local craft shows in the area. Things just sort of picked up from there and I was always looking for new ways to improve and expand my business until it eventually got to where it is now. I wanted to give other crafters the opportunity to have a physical location outside of ebay, etsy, facebook, etc where shoppers could go and buy their products. That's when I got the idea to open a consignment shop for handmade things. I opened our actual storefront location this past December and I've already won an award! I'm so appreciative of all our loyal customers, fans, vendors, and supporters and am amazed at all the success we've had this far. I can only hope good things will continue to come our way!

3) What is your favorite item and why?
I have to say that with all the new products I've made and all the items from my vendors...The Blankies will ALWAYS be my favorite item because they are the core of what we are. That is where we started and I will always be thankful for that!

4) How can I order?
I have many options for ordering! My website has a new web store you can order through there but there's only about 20 items posted. That works like any other website store where you would pay with your credit card or paypal to have the item shipped. www.theblankieboutique.com if there's an item you want that isn't posted in the store you can always click the "Contact Us" tab to send me a personal message with your order. I also always take orders over facebook www.facebook.com/blankieboutique. I do special offers and giveaways there so make sure to like us to take advantage of that! You can also send me an email to blankieboutique@hotmail.com I am a storefront but I always ship out items to customers who aren't local!

I'm happy I could be part of the Summer Splash Giveaway and for the chance to be part of this review!

You can also check out The Blankie Boutque's website!
Stay tuned for a giveaway from The Blankie Boutique during the Summer Splash Giveaway Blog Hop May 14-27th!

Wordless Wednesday - All Mine

Yep...that's a whole movie theater to myself!  T & I finally got a date night out to the movies without a kid getting sick or something coming up.

We picked 21 Jump Street....and I guess since it had been out for awhile, no one else wanted to see it.  I must say....it was nice!

Before the kids....and even some before B, we would go to the movies almost every Monday night....it was Monday Movie Madness!!  Less crowds, and more fun!  We realized the last time we actually saw a movie in the theater...was in July 2011 - we took O to see Cars 2!

Sponsor Spotlight - Cotton Tail Boutique

Calling all Mom's of Girls....

Cotton Tail Boutique carries headbands, hair clips, tutus, and more!!  Tammy has the coolest things on
her facebook wall for sale.  And she will custom make as well!  She is sending Brynnleigh a headband to review, and I can't wait to get it!  The pictures are adorable, and so us, pink & yellow!

$5.00

She will also do the headbands on thin elastic wraps and the normal fabric racked headband for older girls

And of course, don't forget the tutus....every little girl needs a tutu! ($20-$40)

Lets find out a little more about Tammy and Cotton Tail Boutique, shall we?

1) So tell us a little bit about your self...
I am a Stay at home mom. To a little boy, most people would assume because I make girl items I have a girl but I don't :) I have a career history in retail sales management, dog training, and the thing that keeps us going in the morning a coffee maker or barista is the technical name. I grew up in the midwest suburbs near Chicago IL, lived in Kentucky for a brief period and now live in the Chicago area again!

2) Can you tell us more about Cotton Tail Boutique and how it got started?
I decided to start my boutique after I had received a few tutus and headbands that I won in a giveaway, I was purposely trying to win them for a photography studio that we frequent on a monthly basis for our photos. I was greatly upset with the quality being that I come from a retail world, I can not justify selling people something that you wouldn't stand there proudly and say "I Did That." I was embaressed by the quality and was determined that I was going to make some tutus for our photo studio (they had done so much for us I had to repay them). Unfortunately right at the start of making tutus and headbands we got a call from our studio that they were going to be shutting down due to a coorporate decision. So here I was with tulle and headbands. I was still stunned at the fact some people would pay $10-20 for something that I personally didn't want to put on my dog. So I started CottonTail Boutique. My ultimate goal is quality and customer satisfaction. I make every tutu custom made so there isn't a stock pile of tutus laying around. One someone wants a tutu or headband once they pay their invoice I work all day and night to get them done.



3) What is your favorite item and why?
I would say I have two favorite items the first one being our Tiffany & Co inspired tutu (see tutu pic above) - I didn't have a plan for the Tiffany blue tulle I had so one night I had a dream and it came to me! FIND a Tiffany looking heart! So I made the tutu then I drove around and around, asked everyone I knew where could I find a Tiffany looking heart! I finally found a gorgeous heart! I think the Tiffany tutu is one of the most elegant tutus I have!



My second favorite item is the pheasant and cameo headband! I have always loved cameos! I think there is this old beauty in them. When I found them I grabbed everyone I could find! I didn't have a plan but I knew I had to have the cameos!

4) How can I order?
You can order through facebook by sending us an email, through Etsy, or our soon to open website!


You can also follow Cotton Tail Boutique via Twitter.

Stay tuned for a giveaway from Cotton Tail Boutique during the Summer Splash Giveaway Blog Hop May 14-27th!