One LOVE for Vintage Pearl....

One of my FAVORITE blogs and Etsy store's is hosting a giveaway, The Vintage Pearl

This is what I want to win...

Along came Monday and with it another giveaway!

Over the past couple of  years I have come to know some amazing woman/moms/business owners.  I have to say I am blessed to have them in my life to inspire and encourage.  

One of those great women is Daisy from Daisy's Children's Boutique and Toy Store.  She recently closed her store front and is now strictly sales her delightful toys online.

Here is a little bit about Daisy, and if you know Daisy this is just a "little bit" of this very energetic woman.

About Daisy…

Daisy's Children's Boutique & Toy Store is owned by Daisy Mitchell, a 34 year old transplant from Westchester, New York and former elementary school teacher, who earned a Teaching Certification in Nursery to Sixth Grade from Pace University in 1999. She also earned a Masters in Professional Studies of TESOL- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Manhattanville College in 2005.  Daisy got her inspiration to open a child friendly children's clothing and toy store from her four year old toddler, who was delayed in her speech.      

 

 

·        What makes Daisy's Children's Boutique & Toy Store different from BIG BOX retailers?    

Many of the toys that I sell are crafted from environmentally friendly and organic materials. The toys do not have flashy lights, nor require batteries. I have a vast selection of open-ended toys that strengthen problem solving and creative thinking skills at a very young age. A child's progress is measurable as he/she discovers new ways to use and experiment with the same toy over time. Unlike a franchise, I personally test a new toy with my toddler, I have read every Barefoot Book, and played with every toy in the shop. 

Daisy's toy are beyond adorable, educational, and super FUN! And her pricing is crazy reasonable, great online store for holiday shopping...

Daisy puts a lot in to choosing her toys, it is not a random choice for her.  She has toys for children of all ages, even for those older children.

Daisy is generously offering a $25 store credit to one winner!

You have up to 5 ways to enter this awesome giveaway:

1. Become a follower of my blog and go to Daisy's Children's Boutique & Toy Store, then come back and note your favorite toy.

2. Become a follower of Daisy's on Twitter of Facebook.

3. Twitter or FB about this giveaway.

4. Blog about this giveaway

5. Make a purchase from Daisy's Childern's Boutique & Toy Store. (This gives you 3 extra entries, please make sure to leave one for each)

Daisy also has free shipping on any order over $50.

This giveaway will run until midnight Oct 18th. 

A winner will be announced on Oct 19th using Random.org.

Good luck to all my peeps!

A Sweet Recipe and a Sweet Print Winner...

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 stick plus 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apples

Crumble Topping:

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Brown Sugar Glaze (I normally do not make this, it really does not need it in my opinion):

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish with 2 teaspoons of the butter.

In a large bowl, cream together the remaining stick of butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating after the addition of each. In a separate bowl or on a piece of parchment, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients, alternating with the sour cream and vanilla. Fold in the apples. Pour into the prepared baking dish, spreading out to the edges.

To make the topping, in a bowl, combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter, and mix until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping over the cake and bake until golden brown and set, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes.

To make the glaze, in a bowl, combine the sugar, vanilla, and water and mix until smooth. Drizzle the cake with the glaze and let harden slightly. Serve warm.

I have made this also with peaches, they are not as firm as apples of course, but add a nice flavor.

And the lucky Sweet Prints winner is...

Click here to find out!

About to post an all new giveaway come back to enter to win!

As I waddle she does splits in the air...

As I am feeling bigger and bigger these days, my bestie is light as air.

Brie has been teaching ariel for a year now and is now preparing for a HUGE performance with Anti Gravity.

Can you tell she was a dancer (former arena football dancer)?  I envy her strength,

not only up in the air but down on the ground.

She does such an wonderful job balancing, family, work and friends (she currently also planning my baby shower).

Her talent is beyond measure, she inspires, and encourages.

I am so proud of you Brie!

10 reasons why I love you so...

Not sure how many of you out there can relate but there those weeks were you just need to remind yourself all the great things your kiddos do.  I am having one of those weeks.  Buggie has been sick with an ear infection, so she missed school (my days to get things done) and ballet.  

As today comes to an end it was the fourth day in the house, lets just cabin fever is understatement.  Here is a SHORT list of things she does that make me smile:

1. I love how she dances all the time.

2. Every Disney princess song is embedded in her little head.

3. Her dog is her best friend.

4. That she thinks her Daddy is SUPER funny, so much so the other day she told him to stop making her laugh so she could go to the potty.

 5. Buggie is her own person, she loves boundaries and at the same time pushing their limits.

6. When I am kissing all over her she turns into Joe Pesci from Lethal Weapon, Ok Ok Ok Ok OK Mommy thats enough.  Then kisses me and starts laughing.

7. That she has imaginary friends.  

8. When she randomly comes up to me and kisses me, and says "Momma I love you soooo much."

9. She could careless what anyone thinks about her outfit (as the above picture shows, this was on the way to the grocery store).

10. Lastly and most important of all she made me a Mommy, without her I would not be writing this.

Fly high my little girl...

A couple of things & a winner....

Oh to be grateful.  As the day went on and your thoughts on what it was you were grateful for came in it made me smile.  Then at 4 I sat down to watch Oprah, I had been waiting for this episode.  See I am late to this blogging world, but ever since I signed up I have been following the FAB NieNie Dialogues.

If you know of Stephanie Nielson and her unbelievable story of courage, love, faith, & family over tragedy then you know how exciting it was to watch her on Oprah.

After watching oh 2 seconds, all those messages of gratefulness came to mind.  From the cup of coffee to God, they all mean something to all of us.  And Stephanie's message of living in the moment and slowing down to enjoy the little things was music to my ears.

So thank you all, I am grateful this morning for so many things and one of them is you all!

Click here, to see if you are the winner of the True Love Found Royal Hair Accessory.

REVISION:  

After posting this morning, I thought hey wait a minute I want to share more True Love Found.  So I (random.org) picked another winner, click here to find out if it is you!

Here are your random numbers:

17 

Timestamp: 2009-10-08 12:59:46 UTC

Here are your random numbers:

4 

Timestamp: 2009-10-08 13:55:45 UTC

Grateful = Mini Midweek Giveaway

Buggie has been sick for the past three days.

Weird sick, her only real symptom has been a fever. So last night as I laid in the guest bed (second night in a row) with MAJOR Mommy guilt and listened as Hubby took care of her, I started to realize there was no need to feel guilty that I was not able to help her due to me being pregnant with Jellybean.  But I need to be grateful for some many other reasons.  So this morning I am grateful for a crazy amount of things, but most of all my family. 

The fact that my Hubby was here to help (or willing for that matter), that we are going to be blessed in little over a month with another little person, and for Buggie who brings a smile to my face every single day (not to mention she holds my heart in her hands).

While celebrating being grateful I want to have a mini giveaway for one of the Royal Hair Accessories from my store, True Love Found!

Here are just three of my favorites but it will be winners choice!

This giveaway is only open today until midnight and a winner will be chosen by random.org tomorrow.

One entry, tell me why you are grateful today.

This can small or big, it can be deep or selfish.  How every you are feeling this morning.

Oh and make sure to check out my weekly giveaway, click here to enter.