some inspiration and the house 09 giveaway winner

First things first, the winner of a new blog header designed by house 09 is Julianne.  Congrats!!  I hope you enjoy your new look. :) 

I was inspired by a few projects around blogland this weekend.  I thought I would share a few of my favorites with you.

Have you seen this pantry makeover from House of Smith's?  I love that she used glass jars with labels and other fun bins {both wire and wood}  I'm such a sucker for organization, containers, and labels.  I am in love with the grey color and the quatrefoil technicque she used in the background. 

I love this framed tea towel diy project from Decor mama. I think I need to hit up Target for some fun printed towels.  I think it would also be fun to frame some thrifted/vinatge tea towels or bed sheets. Maybe you already have some in your stash?

I love seeing lamp makeovers and this one over at Cottage and Vine definitely caught my eye.  Check out the before and after!  If this doesn't convince you that spray paint is a miracle worker I don't know what will. Aren't the "after" lamps AMAZING!!

I also love this chippy paint lamp from Sweet Something Designs. Check out the tutorial to see how she turned a brass lamp into this beautiful lamp with a textured finish.  I really can't get enough lamp makeovers lately.  Probably has something to do with the fact that I am in the middle of my own lamp makeover at the moment. I can't wait to share it with you when I am finished.

I hope you all have a great week!

Read more...

a giveaway:: new blog header from house 09

 You might remember a while back I introduced you to house 09 when they fancied up my blog with a total blog redesign. 

Well, today is your lucky day because one reader will win a new blog header design for their blog from house 09!! 

You can check out the web design portfolio of house 09 to get inspired by the blog designs that they have created recently. I don't know about you but I'm pretty smitten with the brand new house 09 header you see pictured above!

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

To enter the giveaway simply leave me a comment on this post!

Don't forget to include your e-mail address in your comment so that I can easily get in contact with the winner.

:Followers get an extra entry! If you follow my blog, please leave one additional comment letting me know you follow along.

::For one more entry become a follower of the house 09 blog.  Please kindly leave a separate comment for each entry!

This giveaway is open until Friday, July 23rd at 10pm EST.  Good luck!

Read more...

homesick + the stella and dot giveaway winner

{cousins 09}

I've been feeling a little homesick as of late.  Probably has something to do with the fact that I haven't been home in a year and half. Plus my SIL is at home {and by home I mean our hometown in OK} visiting with her family/my in-laws.  I would love to be there too, visiting with them and my family.  The boys haven't seen their cousins in almost a year and it would be so fun to let them play and interact together.  Lucky for me though my dad decided to fly out and stay the week with the boys and I while Hubs is out of town.  This will be the second birthday of Noah's that his dad has had to miss and I'm thankful we will have my dad here to help celebrate.

Before I forget the winner of the Stella and Dot giveaway is Tricia S.  I hope you enjoy your new Goa Pendant Necklace!!  I'm so jealous.  :)

Didn't win the giveaway? Lauren is extending all my readers a 20% discount on any Stella & Dot purchase before July 15th and a 15% discount on orders before July 31st. You can shop at http://www.stelladot.com/editbylauren and then email your orders to lauren@editbylauren.com in order to receive your discount.

Lauren is also generously offering my readers at $50 Stella & Dot Gift Certificate with any Edit by Lauren booking before August 31st!  

Read more...

a giveaway:: Stella and Dot

Recently I was introduced to Lauren Lefevre by a mutual friend.  Lauren's company,Edit by Lauren, offers Wardrobe Consulting and Personal Shopping for men, women, and children of every age, lifestyle, body-type and budget.  Edit by Lauren is based in Atlanta but travels to clients nationally.  Lauren also has a blog where she shares great fashion finds and deals.

As if Lauren doesn't already have a really fun job already, she is also a Stella and Dot Stylist. I know, I'm jealous too!  :) I'm sure by now you are familiar with Stella and Dot.  Maybe you have seen Stella and Dot jewelry around blogland? Or maybe in a magazine?  Stella & Dot is an affordable, celebrity-coveted boutique line of jewelry that is featured monthly in magazines like In Style, Lucky, People and worn by celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Rachael Ray, Penelope Cruz.

I am so excited to be partnering with Lauren for a Stella and Dot giveaway.  Today she is offering one luck reader a Goa Pendant Necklace!!  

I love the simplicity of this necklace and the combination of the gold, turquoise  and yellow quartz drop. So pretty!!

In addition to the giveaway Lauren is extending all my readers a 20% discount on any Stella & Dot purchase before July 15th and a 15% discount on orders before July 31st. You can shop at http://www.stelladot.com/editbylauren and then email your orders to lauren@editbylauren.com in order to receive your discount.

Lauren is also generously offering my readers at $50 Stella & Dot Gift Certificate with any Edit by Lauren booking before August 31st!  Isn't Lauren the sweetest?

To enter the giveaway for the Goa Pendant Necklace, please visit Lauren's Stella and Dot boutique and leave me a comment with your favorite piece of jewelry.

Don't forget to include your e-mail address in your comment so that I can easily get in contact with the winner.

::My followers get an extra entry! If you follow my blog, please leave one additional comment letting me know you follow along.

**Extra entries are also available if you become a fan of Lauren's stella and dot boutique or edit by lauren on facebook and/or if you follow Lauren on twitter.  Please kindly leave a separate comment for each entry!

This giveaway is open to U.S residents only and will end Friday, July 9th at 10pm EST.  Good luck!

Read more...

birdies, friends, and a giveaway winner

A few weeks ago I celebrated my 29th birthday.  Three friends each surprised me with a little birthday gift.  My sweet and thoughtful friend Kelly made me some peace birds.  On one side there is a gorgeous print and on the other side of the birds are three verses that Kelly wrote out for me.

I have them hanging in the window in our master bath right now.  Every time I see them I smile.  As I am blow drying my hair I like to read through the verses and have a little quiet time to myself.  

Kelly is such a great wife and mother and I am beyond blessed to call her friend.  Funny story about how we met... We had a mutual friend who knew we had kiddos close in age and thought we might get along.  So one day I invited Kelly over and we walked with our kiddos {we just had the older ones at the time and were both pregnant again} down the block to chick-fil-a for lunch.  And as they say, the rest is history!  

While we are on the topic of friends....I had a farewell lunch with two of my {military} friends today. Each of them is moving away in the next few weeks.  As I was leaving lunch I started to tear up at the thought of my friends leaving and then at the thought of me having to leave in six months.  It will stink to have to try to make new friends in New England and then to only be there for a year. Sometimes it's hard to get to know people on a really intimate and close level in a couple of years let alone twelve months.

  When we moved to GA I already knew a few people but they all worked full time and only one of them was a mom.  I really needed and wanted desperately to have some other mom friends that were my age.  I prayed for a few months that GOD would provide me with the friends I was seeking. Then one day I met my friend Kelly.  Soon after she invited me to a women's bible study at her church. On the first day of the bible study I met several ladies, all of whom are some of my favorite friends to this day.  I also was invited to a play group called Toddle Time in my area by a  military wife and it was there that I met my best friend and two other friends.  All of these ladies that showed up in my life around the same time all are in the exact same stage of life as me. And most all of their kiddos are the same age as mine.  God was so good to hear my prayers and provide me with more amazing friends than one person should even be allowed to have.  I don't even know if our house will sell or if I will get to join hubby in R.I right away but I have already been praying for months that God will go ahead of me and set in motion relationships with other mothers and Godly women.

And because this post is crazy long let's wrap things up with the giveaway winner of the Alphabet Poster from Sparkle Power ..... Congrats Abbie!! Perfect timing too because she just announced to the world this week that she's expecting a little boy soon. Looks like double congrats are in order!!

Read more...

a giveaway:: Sparkle Power

I recently featured the blog sparkle power in a post about new {to me} blogs that I am enjoying.  Candace, the writer behind this lovely site also has a cute etsy shop where she sales her handmade vintage flag garlands, posters and a few things for little the ones.  

Today Candace is generously offering a lucky reader one of her ALPHABET POSTERS  from her shop!!  

This modern alphabet poster is available in FIVE different colors and would be perfect hanging in a playroom, kids bedroom, or even a nursery.  I think this would also make a great gift for a momma-to-be or a child's birthday.  And look what it says at the bottom of the poster, "Next time won't you sing with me?"  So CUTE!

Want to win fabulous alphabet poster in the color of your choice?

::Simply leave me a comment on this post telling me which room in your house you would hang your alphabet poster if you win. 

::Want another chance to enter?  Become a follower of the Sparkle Power blog and leave me a separate comment telling me that you follow along.  

This contest is availbale to everyone and will be open until Wednesday June, 30th at 10:00pm EST.  Good Luck!!

Read more...

a giveaway:: DownEast basics

Recently I was given the chance to review a swimsuit of my choice from the DownEast basics swim collection.  I choose the Sausalito halter in the ocean stripe and the Crystal Cove bikini in the coordinating spinach polka dots. 


My swimsuit arrived a few weeks ago and I must say that I really like it!  I like that the halter top is fitted and doesn't flair out at the bottom like a lot of tankini's.  I also like that the top is long and ends just below the top of the bikini bottom.  My favorite thing about this swimsuit is the fun mix of polka dots and the stripes!  And the Crystal Cove bikini bottom fits really nicely, providing the perfect amount of coverage while still being flattering.  I feel like this is a modest swimsuit that still looks fun and cute!!  Perfect for the hot summer days by the pool with my two little boys.

Want to win a new swimsuit from DownEast Basics?

::Simply visit DownEast and take a look at their swim collection.  Leave a comment on this post telling me which swimsuit you would love to win!!

This contest is availbale to U.S residents only and to anyone who has not won a DownEast giveaway on Tales and Trials within the last 90 days.  This contest will be open until Friday, May 14th 10:00pm EST.  The winner will be announced in this post so please check back.  Good Luck!!

The winner is Emily Robison. Congrats!

Read more...

a giveaway:: Dragonfly Papers

I love to support small business owners, especially when the shops are run by SAHM'S.  So when my friend Mackenzie contacted me a while back asking if she could host a giveaway on my blog I happily agreed.  Mackenzie and I met almost five years ago when our husbands were stationed aboard the same ship out in Washington.  We were pregnant with our first kiddos {both boys} together and spent lots of time together while our husbands were deployed.  Mackenzie and I share a love of all things paper and if I remember correctly she loves to shop the thrift stores too!

::This giveaway is now closed::

Mackenzie, of Dragonfly Papers, is offering one lucky Tales and Trials reader $25 in shop credit.


Dragonfly Papers carries cards, invitations, stationary, gift tags and up-cycled journals.  As a bonus, a free gift is always included with each order from Dragonfly Papers.  Mackenzie does this so her customers can see an example of something different from her shop than what they purchased.  How fun is that!  And the best part, Mackenzie donates 10% of each sale to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.


How cute are these notecards?  They are my absolute favorite!!  I love the fun colors and the floral design.

I also love this hot pink houndstooth monogram card set.  She had me at houndstooth and monogram!!

  I am wishing right now I had a business card so I could have a reason to get these envelopes.  These little envelopes are the perfect size for business cards, calling cards, a little note or enclosure.  Mommy's need calling cards to hand out to other mommies they meet at the park right? 

New to the shop are some fun Nancy Drew up-cycled journals made from vintage books.  They feature original pages and pictures throughout.   Who doesn't need a cute journal to keep their thoughts and lists?

::Want a chance to win?

Simply visit Dragonfly Papers and take a look around.  Then leave a comment on this post telling me what you would choose from the shop if you win. 

*This contest  is availbale to U.S residents only and will be open until Wednesday, May 5th 10:00pm EST.  The winner will be announced in this post so please check back.  Good Luck!!

And the winner is..... Heather!!

Read more...

a giveaway:: DownEast basics

::THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED::


Let's do something fun today shall we?  How about a GIVEAWAY!!

I was recently given the opportunity to review an item of my choice from the new spring line at DownEast basics. It was so hard to choose just one item because they have so many great pieces!!  Because I have been trying to add more skirts to my wardrobe I choose the The Grey Scale skirt.

I was drawn to the colors and the pattern of the Grey Scale skirt and I love that it falls just above the knee{the perfect length for me!!}  

My skirt arrived last week and I have to say that it is actually even prettier in person that it is online.  The colors in the skirt are a little more vibrant and very pretty!!  I love that the skirt is light weight {but also lined} which will be perfect for the hot summers we experience here in the South.  I also really like the pin tucked detail that wraps around the skirt.  I am a sucker for details!!

The only downside to The Grey Scale skirt was that it was a little longer than I was expecting.  I wanted it to fall right at the top of me knee and it ended up being slightly longer.  The main reason I think it seemed longer was that the size I ordered ended up being too big for me in the waist.  Either DownEast skirts run a little big or my waist/hips are smaller than I think.  I of course naturally want to believe that last part about my waist and hips being small.  HA!!  Next time I think I will contact the customer service dept. at DownEast because I bet they would have helped me to pick the appropriate size!

Luckily the nice folks at DownEast are going to let me swap out my skirt for my correct size so I should be able to wear my new skirt in no time!!

The things I love most about the clothes at DownEast basics are that they are well made, stylish, and VERY affordable.  I don't have a huge clothing budget and the prices at DownEast don't even make me bat an eye.

Here are just a few of my favorite pieces from the New Arrivals at DownEast's.

-razzleberry skirt-

-romantic rope tote-

-kaleidascope top-

Love DownEast Basics? One lucky Tales and Trials reader will win an item of their choice from DownEast basic's New Arrivals!

::THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED::

  

Here is how to enter:

1) Go to DownEast basic's New Arrivals and look around. Then, come back here and tell us which item caught your eye. You’ll then be entered in the giveaway.

Want more chances to win?


2) Become a Tales and Trials follower
3) Tweet and/or blog about this giveaway


Leave another comment (or comments – if you did more than one) telling me what you’ve done.


DEADLINE to enter is Thursday, April 15th at 10 pm EST.  The winner will be randomly chosen from the qualifying comments on this post and announced on Friday, April 16th .  **This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents ONLY.


::Thank you to DownEast Basics for providing The Grey Scale skirt for me review.  No other compensation was received.  This review is based on my own personal opinions and experiences.

Read more...

Purple Lemons Designs Giveaway Winner!!

The winner of the small customized address stamp from Purple Lemon Designs is Shelby.  Congrats!!

Read more...

a giveaway: PURPLE LEMON DESIGNS

:: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED::

Kelly from Purple Lemon Designs is giving one lucky reader a 

small customized address stamp from her shop!!  

The winner gets to choose their favorite style of stamp.   

I am so excited about this giveaway because I love personalized items!!

Here are just a few of my personal favorites:

{small waves customized address stamp}

{small circles n circles customized address stamp}

{small square customized address stamp}

{small round customized address stamp}

And this one is my absolute favorite.  Love it!!

{small triple circle customized address stamp}

:: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED::

Here is how to enter for a chance to win:

1.  Visit Purple Lemon Designs and leave me a comment on this post telling me which small customized address stamp you would love to win.  

2.  For a second entry,  if you are a follower leave me a comment letting me know that you already follow along.

OR

Become a follower and leave me a comment letting me know that you are new to Tales and Trials!

 ::The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, April 2nd.

Good Luck!!

p.s. March is congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) awareness month. Kelly, from Purple Lemon Designs, will be donating 10% of her sales to The Parker Reese Foundation in order to raise awareness for this birth defect. You can help too! Just make a purchase :)

For more information about CDH, visit http://www.theparkerreesefoundation.com/

Read more...