Exciting news!!

Hello everyone...

It is a beauuuutiful fall morning here in Pa, just the kind of day for some great news!!!

Great news #1:

We have a winner for the mymemories scrapbook software!! 

Kelly, it's you!! Whoohoo!!

I will send you an email today on how to redeem your package=)

Thank you everyone who participated!!

Great news #2:

Ok...I'm about to get a bit wordy so bear with me...

I have always been one of those people who takes pictures everywhere they go...

When Mike and I were dating(and he was still trying to win my little heart over) he humored me on every date by smiling for yet another picture...I have archives FULL of them, much to my delight=)

Then when we got engaged...and he still put up with the incessant picture taking...just casting the occasional eye-roll in my direction...hehe

Then we got married and jetted off to our dreamy honeymoon destination, on a trip that we knew we would never be able to duplicate...

And right around the halfway point on our trip, something horrible/tragic/inconceivable happened...

my trusty camera which took stellar pictures DIED. Just like that. 

I remember the day well...we had just rented a motorbike to tour up and down the coast of Belize and I was so thrilled at the idea of snapping pictures of the countryside, villages, and people from the backseat of our bike...

It never happened. 

we got a few good shots thanks to an emergency disposable camera back up...

but other than that...the things that we experienced and saw that day, as well as the rest of our trip, remain only in our memories.

When we got home, my dad lovingly got me another camera for my birthday...it was the same make, same model... 

but took very different pictures. 

And so for the last year of our lives, this former picture-taking fanatic has left my camera home on most adventures we have taken and dates we have gone on... so.sad.i.know.

The camera is so difficult, that I have been using my camera phone for all of the pictures that I have posted on this blog...

But now, its all about to change=)))

I am pleased to announce that I am now the proud owner of this beautiful camera:

source

I have been pretty much drooling over this beauty since I first started researching entry-level photography cameras...

And now its mine...just in time for all the fall goodness, and the arrival of our baby...woohoo!

So...I'm back...look out cuz' I have a wicked cool camera again, and a vengeance to make up for the last year of photo barrenness...

hehe.

p.s. if you read this whole post and are still reading, you are a true friend...I probably would have stopped a while back;)

Mymemories Giveaway!!

As promised...today it the day of my very first giveaway!!!

And I think we've got a good one! =)

The lovely folks over at my memories are giving away a software package, valued at around $40.00 to one lucky reader!! This software is for digital scrapbooking...basically everything you could or would do with scrapbook paper, pens, pictures, and embellishments in a physical scrapbook...you can now do one your computer, using mymemories!

So that I had a good idea of how this software works and just how fabulous it is...the mymemories team gave me my own software to try out...and I love it=)

Here is a little collage I put together of our Labor Day Party, using the My Memories Suite software. It was so easy, and I was so happy with the end result.

It was very comprehensive, and I had this page thrown together in no time!!

SO...you want to get in on this, right?

here is what you need to do...click on this link, which will take you to the mymemories website. Once you are there, browse through some of the scrapbook kits (which are available for free once you have the My Memories Suite software) and pick out a favorite...then come back and leave me a comment, including the words "enter me in the giveaway please!" and your favorite design from the website.

After you do this...please become a follower so we can stay in touch!!

Then stay tuned next week to find out if you are the winner!!

That's it!! Easy, huh?

Happy contesting everyone!

P.S. A very special thanks to my blogging buddy Catie over at Catie's Corner...for helping me promote my giveaway and for helping me get started in the world of blogging=) 

Thank you friend!!

summer dress makeover...

Just thought I would share a little project I did a few weeks ago...revamping one of my summer dresses into a circle scarf...

It was so easy to do..its embarrassing...ha...but easy is good, right?

I didn't take a picture of the dress before, but it was something like this:

source

Only difference is that mine was way less cute than this, and really about 3 sizes too big (I bought it during my first trimester, thinking that I would grow into it...thank goodness I didn't grow that much!!=)

So really all I did was chop off the bottom half (mine didn't have the cute extra ruffles at the bottom) and turned it into a scarf with no end or beginning...

And now...I love it!! It adds a fun punch of color to any outfit, and is lightweight enough to wear now, when the weather is still changing=)

Here are just some ideas I was playing around with to change it up a bit, depending on my outfit and mood...

Cute, huh?

Anyone else do any super-easy wardrobe revamps lately?

Hey Ya'll...Get Ready!!

So I know there are many of you who have been faithfully reading my blog for the last few months, and either commenting or telling me verbally that you have been here...

To you all...I cannot say THANK YOU enough!! I am so encouraged to know that I hopefully brighten a few days like you all brighten mine...

and now...for those of you who read my blog and never create blogger profiles from which you can leave comments, etc...now is the time to do it, because I am hosting my first GIVEAWAY!! 

WHOOHOO!

I was so excited when the folks from Mymemories.com asked if I would be interested in hosting a giveaway for their wonderful scrapbooking/photo editing software that can be used to create all kinds of custom cards, photo collages, announcements, etc...all on your computer!!

The contest will be held next week, and I will give many more details on how to enter, what the prize package is, etc...

But please get ready by creating a blogger profile (you don't need a blog to do it) so that you can enter when the time comes!!

Thanks so much!!

the search...

Now that the unbearable summer heat is beginning to subside here in Pennsylvania, and the cooler breezes are beginning stir, I have had one thing on my mind...

Summer is almost over. Fall is almost here.

Our little one will be here soon!!!!!

And as I have begun to compile my registry and plan for our baby's arrival, I have also begun a little search...for the perfect diaper bag.

I know that the shelves of so many stores are full to the hilt with bright nylon diaper bags with anything from flowers to jungle animals plastered all over them...but I'm just not feeling them...

Who says style needs to be sacrificed in the name of practicality?

So here are some of my favorites that I have pinned recently... still not sure which one is "the one" just yet:)

Source: luvmybag.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

Source: luvmybag.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

Source: luvmybag.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

Source: poshtots.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

Source: luvmybag.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

Source: poshtots.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

Source: poshtots.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

Source: poshtots.com via Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal on Pinterest

What so you all thing...neutral or bold? big or compact? trendy or just mom-ish?

I am still undecided...but since it is a rainy Sunday afternoon here in Pa...I think I'll take some time and continue my search for the perfect bag:)

Wish me luck!

A Sweet Suprise...

On Saturday a little pink package arrived in my mailbox.

I love when we get mail that is something other than a bill, sales pitch, or grocery flyer....know what I mean?

Anyway, this pretty pink package contained a lovely little ring from Christina over at 2LittleHooligans...

It was the prize for winning her Etsy shop giveaway...

Isn't it cute?

She even sent it in a little homemade bag with a little dusting cloth=)

which makes my heart happy because I have always ascribed to the theory that "presentation is everything"!  

Here is her fabulous Etsy Shop, you all should definitely check it out!


Thanks Christina for brightening my day!

Discount Tom & Pep!

So today I gave in to the urge within me and I took a trip to a wonderful place known as:

This place is fabulous...they have the most expansive collection of items for entertaining at the most incredible prices...

and although I was really just there for window shopping, and idea gathering...

I did fall in love with a little couple that I had to bring home with me=) 

Allow me to introduce you to discount Tom & Pep:

These little one's were on summer clearance for 50 cents a piece, how could I leave them behind?

So home they came, where I promptly saturated their soil, aerated it with a fork, and planted my little seeds=)

I cannot wait to see what these little buggers will do! 

Now, I know what you are thinking...those little grow kits are for toddlers who have a fascination with neon plastic tubs full of "easy-grow" ingredients...hehe...

but let me tell you, when your backyard looks like a construction site, and gardening is not in the budget until next summer,  it is so refreshing to plant a little something, even if it is in a little neon tub!!

So I will nourish discount Tom and discount Pep, and keep you all informed as to their progress:)

Wish them well!

Have a great night!

Linking up to:

One of the best places on earth...

Over the weekend, my mom and I drove out to Lancaster, Pa for to meet my sister and her husband at Sight and Sound Theater. For anyone who loves a good show, with a great message, come to PA and go to a Sight and Sound production...it is phenomonal.

We got to Lancaster a little early, which was a glorious thing because Lancaster is home to some of the best outlet shops around...

not that I really cared about any of the other stores, just one...

(sigh, with a slight smile of recollection)

Usually when I visit this place, my budget for home decor is blown for about 3-4 months..haha...but this weekend I did increadibly well...Mike was even suprised and proud when he saw the small bag I toted home:)

What was in that small bag? Oh I am so glad you asked!

See these lovely mason Jar mugs from Potterybarn.com?

When Mike and I got married, one generous guest at our wedding, (who worked at Potterybarn and had awesome employee discounts:)  gave us the most amazing collection of entertaining items from the store, including a set of six of these glasses. It was truly like christmas morning (actually better...hehe) when we arrived back from our honeymoon and saw a big stack of PB boxes in our living room=)

Since then, we have come to love these mugs and use them constantly, but with only six, we were always running out...which left me pining away for more of them to complete my set...

They are usually $24 for a set of six in the store, which I think is fairly reasonable for Potterybarn, but still not reasonable enough for me to buy them...

UNTIL SATURDAY...

We were just about to leave the outlet empty handed when I came across my mugs...for $2.99 each!!

 

I know, I know...that is only a $1 off, but it was just the savings I needed to convince myself to take the plunge and complete my set.

So I bought six=)

and I love them=)

And check out the total on my receipt...$19, woohoo!!

so I brought them home and added them to my kitchen cupboard...

ahhhh, I am so happy about the nice rows of mason jar mugs lining my shelves=) 

Bring on a big pitcher of lemonade and let summer begin!