Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Travelin Through Thursday Week 9

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Welcome to the Traveling Through Thursday Blog Hop, hosted by Living on Love and CentsMom On Dealz, Prenda Le Stelle, and  Clipping for Cash!

Each week we will randomly choose a Guest Host to Spotlight! The person must follow the rules to be choosen.  This week's Spotlight is The Coupon Challenge. We asked her a few questions to get to know her better.



The Coupon Challenge


When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging in January 2010. I used to send out emails to family and friends with all the deals I was finding. I felt like I was bombarding their inboxes with deals (which I was). I wanted a place where they could go at their leisure to find coupons and deals

What is your favorite part of blogging?
I love sharing my passion with others and helping them reach their financial goals. I've also met amazing readers and bloggers. It's a wonderful group of men and women to be a part of!

What makes your blog special?
I hope that it shows through my posts that I love what I do. I share my spending habits and peeks into my family life. It's just me; a regular mom with a crazy coupon habit! I also try to include deals specific to my area (in VA).



THIS WEEK WE ARE  FOLLOWING VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT.
The rules are super simple!


  1. Follow the Thraveling Through Thursday Hosts (Listed as # 1-4) Living on Love and CentsMom On Dealz, Prenda Le Stelle, and  Clipping for Cash! (We WILL follow back but you must leave a comment so we know you followed us!)
  2. Link up ONLY THE NETWORK being featured this week (your blog)-Others will be deleted.
  3. Grab our Traveling Through button and include it somewhere on your blog! You can grab the linky code too!

Happy Traveling!



Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Travelin Through Thursday Week 8

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Welcome to the Traveling Through Thursday  Blog Hop, hosted by Living on Love and CentsMom On Dealz, Prenda Le Stelle, and  Clipping for Cash! Traveling Through Thursday and a new kind of blog hop! We will be traveling to a new destination each week!

Traveling to Twitter this week!!


Each week we will randomly pick a Spotlight Blog of the Week! To be choosen you must follow the rules and have our button somewhere on your blog. (We have to be able to find it!)




This Week's Spotlight is All The Proof I Need. Here are some interesting facts about her.
When and why did you start blogging?

I started my blog in September 2009. I had to start a blog for college class, and my best friend kept trying to get me to start one. So I finally did, and then I was hooked!
What is your favorite part of blogging?
My favorite part is connecting with other bloggers and sharing my experience with the world.
What makes your blog special?
My blog is a personal journey of a wife, mom of a 2 year old, and a college student trying to find where God wants me in this world.

Twitter: twitter.com/kristenmaier
Facebook: n/a
Blog: http://alltheproofineed.blogspot.com/




The rules are super simple!
1. Follow the Traveling Through Thursday Hosts (Listed as # 1-4) as well as the  Spotlighted Blog of the Week (listed as #5)
2. Link up ONLY THE NETWORK being featured this week (TWITTER)-Others will be deleted.
3. Grab our Traveling Through button and include it in a post about the event on your blog. Link to that post.
4. Visit as many blogs as you would like and follow them.  Be sure to tell them you are a new follower from Traveling Through Thursday!




Help spread the word and get more followers:
-Put the same linky list code on your blog and you'll have the exact same list!
- Your blog visitors can add their blog to your list and it will show up on all lists!
-Don't forget to add this button to your blog so that you can participate in a our "Spotlight Blog of the Week"!

THIS WEEK WE ARE VISITING BLOGS AND FOLLOWING VIA TWITTER! Have Fun!


Saturday, September 4, 2010

Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month Day 3 & 4


                                                                                                    

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month Day 2

30 Days of Truth: Day 02



Day 2: Something you love about yourself

  • I love my determination
  • I love my passion
  • I love the fact that I can adapt to situations really well
  • I love my sense of humor, I think I'm hilarious!
  • I love that when I love someone, I really love them 
  • I love the mother that I have become. 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

day 01 - 30 days of truth

I had mentioned in my post earlier today, that I would be doing the 30 days of truth blogging challenge. Here is day 1.
This is why I wanted to do this challenge. When else are you going to really think about yourself like this? Things I hate about myself are as follows:
  • My need to make everyone happy
  • My insecurities about what I am capable of
  • My need to have someone in my life to make me feel complete
  • Procrastination
  • Sometimes I hate how blunt I am to people
  • My inability to see what I do wrong
  • All of the excess hair on my body
  • The inability to see that the excess hair on my body is not a horrible thing
  • The fact that I cannot and will not talk about my feelings, at all. Ever. 
    There are probably more, but at this time, I am going to stop the list. If edited, I will repost entire post with new things in bold. 
    Please comment if you are doing this 30 Days of Truth Challenge too!! 

    Travelin Through Thursday Week 7

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    Welcome to the Traveling Through Thursday  Blog Hop, hosted by Living on Love and CentsMom On Dealz, Prenda Le Stelle, and  Clipping for Cash! Traveling Through Thursday and a new kind of blog hop! We will be traveling to a new destination each week!
    Each week we will randomly pick a Spotlight Blog of the Week! To be choosen you must follow the rules and have our button somewhere on your blog. (We have to be able to find it!)
    This Week's Spotlight is SweepTight. Here are some interesting facts about SweepTight.
    When and why did you start blogging?

    I started at the end of February 2010. The reason I started a blog is to share sweepstakes. Every time I would win something, friends and family would want to know how to start sweepstaking. I figured a blog would be a great way to share links and tips.
    What is your blog about?
    Mainly sweepstakes, a little bit of coupons and other money-saving ideas and some other randomness.


    What is your favorite part of blogging?
    Just having a place to share things that I am interested in. I love reading other blogs, too. Before I started mine, I did not know this blog world existed! I love it!


    I would love for everyone to follow me and friend me!
    Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/SweepTightcom/332772143700
    Twitter http://twitter.com/SweepTight
    I also have a blog spotlight if anyone would like their blog featured, just fill out the form
    The rules are super simple!
    1. Follow the Traveling Through Thursday Hosts (Listed as # 1-4) as well as the  Spotlighted Blog of the Week (listed as #5)
    2. Link up ONLY THE NETWORK being featured this week (GOOGLE)-Others will be deleted.
    3. Grab our Traveling Through button and include it in a post about the event on your blog. Link to that post.
    4. Visit as many blogs as you would like and follow them.  Be sure to tell them you are a new follower from Traveling Through Thursday!


    Help spread the word and get more followers:
    -Put the same linky list code on your blog and you'll have the exact same list!
    - Your blog visitors can add their blog to your list and it will show up on all lists!
    -Don't forget to add this button to your blog so that you can participate in a our "Spotlight Blog of the Week"!


    THIS WEEK WE ARE VISITING BLOGS AND FOLLOWING VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT! Have Fun!

    Happy September!

    Happy September everyone!!! This year is going by so fast! This month I have three things I'll be doing on the blog. First off,this month is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. This is something important to me. Not because I know a kid(s) with cancer; I personally do not know anyone with cancer. My career and life goal, is to be a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. Everyone always asks "why?" Well, I'll answer that question later on in the month. For now, please just spread the word. I'll *try* to post a new fact every day this month!


    Second, is the 30 days of truth. A lot of bloggers have been doing it, and so I'm going to jump on the bandwagon. Also, I would like to do this because it seems like something good for me to do during this time in my life. It will ask me to really look at myself, and really evaluate things. I encourage all of you to join me in this challenge!!





    The third thing going on is the Pen-to-Paper Challenge with Pear Tree Greetings. I am SO late getting this started! Sorry Christy!!!
    Here is a little note from Christy over at Pear Tree Greetings about the challenge.


    At Pear Tree, we believe in something greater than selling cards. We believe in the value of relationships and we know how much you value them, too, especially after seeing some of your posts with last month's note cards giveaway.

    Paper is a form of connecting people, a great form, a real form. We know this because when we go to the mailbox, the first thing we open is the hand addressed envelope. Because inside waiting is a note card someone has taken the time to write especially for you.

    So, we have a challenge for you, our Pearistas. Write a hand written note once a week for four weeks. There's so much to say. Say it's been too long to those who live long distance, write a note to one of your parents and tell them all those things you've been meaning to say but it's easier to write, or tell the people in your life you see every day and forget to express your appreciation for always being there for you. It doesn't take much, even just a simple hello in the form of a hand-written note will mean so much to the recipient!


    So my first note has not been sent out yet, but has been written. It is to my friend that I've known since high school. We fall in and out of contact constantly throughout the years, but we are finally in a good little groove with keeping in contact. My note, though I will not say everything that was in it, was to just let her know that I love her, always will, and will always be there for her. 

    The second note, is to my grandmother, who is going through a tough time with moving her mother in with her. It's been a long process for her, and I just wanted to tell her how much I love her, and how amazingly strong she is. I hope to be that strong some time in my life. 

    Go check out the notecards at Pear Tree Greetings, they are amazing. The Pearistas that accepted this challenge were all given notecards, and let me tell you, they are amazing quality! 
    Also, just for you, my wonderful readers, here is this months discount!
    Throughout the month of August, enjoy 15% off anything and everything BABY! Birth Announcements, Baby Shower Invitations, Baptism Invitations and more!

    Use code PEARAUG10. Shop Pear Tree Greetings' Baby Collection

    And EXTRA SPECIAL! This week only!!!

    This week only, save 10% on any $15 order using the code BUYNOW, then we'll send you an email with a 30% off coupon to use for your Christmas cardpurchase later this Fall!

    Don't have a specific occasion to purchase now? How about stocking up on address labels or a set of personalized note cards? Just spend $15 using code BUYNOW to earn your 30% coupon.
    So I know this post has been a jumble of different things, thank's for sticking with me! And thank you again, for sticking with me during this lack of post time. I *think* this month will go better, especially with all the different things I've got going on here. :) I may have a little gift for my readers later in the month...we shall see! 

    Sunday, August 29, 2010

    Wacky Jacqui Design Contest


    Jacqui over at Wacky Jacqui's Design is having a contest, ending today, for a full blog makeover!! Why should I win this? Well because I'm the best, duh! But really, I think I should win because...well have you seen my blog? It's not cute. And I cannot for the life of my design what I want. I just don't have the skills, and Jacqui does! Plus, my birthday is coming up, so it'd be quite the nice gift from the blogging gods! If I win, I would win all this!! 


    This GRAND PRIZE includes:

    A Blog make over that include everything I can do. 
    • 2 or 3 column design
    • Custom background
    • Custom header (basic or animated)
    • Matching font color
    • Sidebar titles (unlimited)
    • Custom signature
    • Custom post divider
    • Social network icons (unlimited)
    • Convert to a 3 column layout (if needed)
    • Custom blog button (2 included)
    • Matching profile picture
    • Navigation bar with text or images
    • Matching twitter background
    • Favicon
    • Deletion of Blogger navigation bar if desired 
    • Installation

    WOW! That's a lot of good stuff. I already have a design in my brain, i just need someone to make it for me! So Jacqui...pick me! Cause I'm in desperate need of a design!! 

    Thursday, August 26, 2010

    Travelin Through Thursday Week 6

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    Welcome to the Traveling Through Thursday  Blog Hop, hosted by Living on Love and CentsMom On Dealz and  Clipping for Cash! Traveling Through Thursday and a new kind of blog hop! We will be traveling to a new destination each week! Join us on our journey as we discover new blogs and gain new followers every week!
    The rules are super simple!
    1. Follow the Traveling Through Thursday Hosts (Listed as # 1-3)
    2. Link up ONLY THE NETWORK being featured this week (Twitter)-Others will be deleted.
    3. Grab our Traveling Through button and include it in a post about the event on your blog.
    4. Now start following! Be sure to leave a comment so they can follow you back!


    Help spread the word and get more followers:
    -Put the same linky list code on your blog and you'll have the exact same list!


    THIS WEEK WE ARE VISITING BLOGS AND FOLLOWING VIA TWITTER! Have Fun!

    Sunday, August 15, 2010

    I have the strength

    Life has been a crazy whirlwind lately. Major changes have occurred in the past two weeks. I have not really wanted to talk about it. I still really don’t. But I am hoping to write out some feelings.
    As I wrote about before, the hubby came to CA to drive baby and I back home to Arizona. He came on the 2nd, and has since returned home to Arizona. The baby and I are still in California. As many people know, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be living in Arizona. I tried to love it, I just couldn’t. So hubby suggested the baby and I stay in California with my parents, so I could have family support and go to school. It was an interesting conversation; him telling me how unhappy I am and that I need to focus on me for a while.
    At this point and time, I thought everything between us would be the same; we would just live in different places. I was wrong. On the 8th, on the way to the airport, I asked him right out if we were together or broken up. He said broken up. What kills me about this particular moment is that when he told his parents our plan, he let them go on talking like we were broken up. I even asked him why he let them keep talking like that. For days, I thought we were together, and we weren’t. Everyone else knew, but me.
    So in the course of three days I moved into my parents apartment, became a single mother, registered for school and was dumped by the person I thought I was going to marry someday.
    Apparently, I need to stop trying to make him happy, and just work on me. Which makes sense, I suppose. I have always tried so hard to make him happy. I would do anything to make him happy. Anything.
    I have dreams. I want to go to school. I want to go to nursing school. I want to be a pediatric oncology nurse. I want to get a psychology degree as well. I want to be a good mother to my son. I want to be able to support myself.
    I just didn’t think I would have to support myself right now. This is very scary for me. Especially because it wasn’t something I had ever thought about, or had planned for. I have no job; and to be honest, it’s pretty difficult for me to get a job right now. Being that I have no money for daycare/babysitter and that I graduated in Feb 09 and have not used my degree at all--which in the medical field is kinda  a big deal. I am now trying to get government assistance--again, very scary.
    I start school tomorrow. I am going to be taking classes that I don’t even need because I had to register so late. Geography and Addiction & Domestic Violence. Not exactly classes I would normally choose, but hey, they had space. Hoping my financial aid comes through soon, because I really don’t have the money to pay for it.
    I know this post is so jumpy, I can’t help it though. There are so many things going on in my head right now…I can’t organize any of it.
    What’s hurting me the most right now, is that he doesn’t seem to really care. He isn’t showing that he’s hurt. At all. He says he’s sad about missing baby, but never anything about missing me. You spend almost 4 years with someone, you kind of expect them to miss you, even a little bit after they dump you. But, apparently, and this is news to me, he has known that I wasn’t the one for a while. He was unhappy for a long time. He was just waiting to see what would happen. Waste. Of. Time. For everyone involved. If you’re unhappy with a person, and you know you don’t love them, then leave. Don’t build a life, and make plans of marriage and houses and another baby. It’s not fair.
    And I’m still a little iffy about the situation. He says that he loves me and always will. And this is just a temporary thing. Well what is? The break up? The living in different states? What?
    Can someone just tell me straight out what the fuck is going on?
    We have Skype dates three times a week; which is great for Ry. He loves to see his daddy.
    I worry about Ry. How is going to handle this? After daddy left, he knew something was up, and acted very strangely. Partly my fault for sitting around with tears in my eyes. I am already scared of daddy taking him for a week….and not bringing him back. That is MY baby boy. I take care of him. I know everything about him. No one else in the world knows that little boy like I do.
    His brother said that we should talk to family law; it was a requirement for him to buy ex-hubbys ticket home. But we didn’t. Had I known that we were broken up I would have pushed it more than what I did. I can’t loose my son.
    I think this is all I can handle thinking/writing about right now. Sorry for the jumpy crazy post. Just had to write something.  And yes, I do realize that this is not spaces properly, Blog Gods, please forgive me.

    Wednesday, August 11, 2010

    Travelin Through Thursday Week 4

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    Welcome to the Traveling Through Thursday  Blog Hop, hosted by Living on Love and CentsMom On Dealz, Prenda Le Stelle, and  Clipping for Cash!

    Traveling Through Thursday and a new kind of blog hop! We will be traveling to a new destination each week! THIS WEEK WE ARE  FOLLOWING VIA GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT.

    The rules are super simple!


    1. Follow the Thraveling Through Thursday Hosts (Listed as # 1-4)
    2. Link up ONLY THE NETWORK being featured this week (your blog)-Others will be deleted.
    3. Grab our Traveling Through button and include it in a post about the event on your blog. (Use the code)
    4. Visit as many pages as you would like and follow them.  Be sure to tell them you are a new follower from Traveling Through Thursday.
    5. Follow back as many followers as you would like from Traveling Through Thursday. Following back is appreciated!


    Help spread the word and get more followers:
    -Put the same linky list code on your blog and you'll have the exact same list!
    - Your blog visitors can add their blog to your list and it will show up on all lists!



    Tuesday, August 10, 2010

    Thursday, August 5, 2010

    Travelin Through Thursday Week 3-Twitter

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    Welcome to the Traveling Through Thursday  Blog Hop, hosted by Living on Love and CentsMom On Dealz, Prenda Le Stelle, and  Clipping for Cash!


    Traveling Through Thursday and a new kind of blog hop! We will be traveling to a new destination each week! THIS WEEK WE ARE VISITING TWITTER PAGES!

    The rules are super simple!

    1. Follow the Thraveling Through Thursday Hosts (Listed as # 1-4)
    2. Link up ONLY THE NETWORK being featured this week (Twitter)-Others will be deleted.
    3. Grab our Traveling Through button and include it in a post about the event on your blog. (Use the code)
    4. Visit as many pages as you would like and follow them.  Be sure to tell them you are a new follower from Traveling Through Thursday.
    5. Follow back as many followers as you would like from Traveling Through Thursday. Following back is appreciated!

    Help spread the word and get more followers:
    -Put the same linky list code on your blog and you'll have the exact same list!
    - Your blog visitors can add their blog to your list and it will show up on all lists!
    -Don't forget to follow the hosts and add this button to your blog so that you can participate in a our "Spotlight Blog of the Week"!

    REMEMBER-THIS WEEK WE ARE VISITING AND FOLLOWING VIA TWITTER! Have Fun!

    This weeks spotlight is on Belly Charms:




    When and why? I started blogging in April of this year. With my Belly Charms online business I have been sending jewelry to blogs and doing reviews and giveaways for the last few years. I finally decided that I wanted to jump in and start my own blog too.



    What? I blog about the craziness of being a WAHM with 2 boys ages 3 and 4 and about my business and new jewelry. My younger sister was diagnosed with Stage IV brain cancer a few weeks after I started my blog, so since then I have been dedicating a lot to her and trying to help her anyway I can.


    Favorite Part? No doubt is meeting so many wonderful people. There are 5 or 6 other "mommy bloggers" that I am in contact with all of the time. I may never meet any of them in person, but it is great having such fun connections and sharing stories.


    When not blogging...... I am working on my businesses www.BellyCharms.netand www.Vitalids.com while trying to maintain control of my 3 and 4 year old boys. It seems that anytime I get a really important business phone call, my 4 year old ends up screaming " Mom I need to poop in the potty". Never a dull moment to say the least. I also have shops on etsy.com and artfire.com. I love to run and workout and that is the only hour of "me" time I have a day.








    Belly Charms -Flexible Maternity Belly Button Rings, Mother's Bracelets, Maternity Jewelry


    Maternity Belly Button Rings, Flexible Belly Button Rings for Pregnancy , Holiday belly button rings, Personalized Mothers Bracelets, Sports Team Bracelets, Maternity JewelryShare



    Monday, August 2, 2010

    Bittersweet Symphony

    Picking the hubby up from the airport in an hour and a half. Honestly, it's a little bittersweet. I love him, don't get me wrong. But him being here, means that I have to go back to Arizona at the end of the week. It's hard on me, living there. All my family is here. I had friends here. I liked my life here. In Arizona, I have no one, well except hubby of course! It's tough going from working and going to school to being a stay at home mom in a blink of an eye.
    I don't want this post to be taken as I'm not happy with him, that's not what I'm saying. We're in Arizona so he can provide for us. And I love that. That he's taking a plunge, that he's working his ass off, for us. For me. It's been a hard road, our relationship. He finally grew up and realized what he needed to do. I'm grateful. But that doesn't mean I can't be upset that we're there. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss my life.
    I'm also not saying it's his fault. It's no ones fault. It's life. And as we've all heard, life isn't fair. I love that he loves his job. I love that he is so freaking good at his job. I hate that he travels. I'm jealous that he loves what he does.
    I can't wait for the company to sell, so we can move back home. I can't wait for that. I want to go back to school. I want to work. I want my baby to be happy. And I want my big baby :) to be happy.
    Some things are gonna change when we get home. Date night at least once a month. One weekend day just for daddy and baby, alone time for mommy. Hopefully double dates with Nessa & hubby. Looking at houses to rent. Better money management. Figure out how I'm going to go to school. Think about the next baby :).
    I haven't seen hubby since June, so obviously I'm happy that he's coming. I just hate that I have to go back to the routine Arizona life.

    I'll probably get some shit for this post, but oh well.

    Cowboy Party

    Yes, yet again I have proven to be a bad blogger. I am sorry!!!
    This is late...as usual. It has been over a month since Ryders second 1st birthday party! Goodness! I still can't believe he's a year old!
    We had two parties for him because the majority of our family lives in N. California.
    My mom is the proud sponsor of this party.

    I spent two and a half days making this freaking cake!!! It was yummy home mad funfetti cake with buttercream and vanilla frosting.









    This isn't the horse I wanted to do...nor the cowboy. But I got so frustrated with the other cowboy and horse, I cried. AND I screwed this horse and cowboy up really bad as well...can you tell where?


    He had his own personal cake of course. It was banana cake with vanilla frosting. Yummy! He had a great time devouring that cake; he literately ate half of it! Little piggy he is. 




    We BBQ'd and let the kids play in the park, and what my mother calls the kiddy car wash. 

    And of course, what kids birthday party wouldn't be complete without a pinata? Not my baby. 


    He of course got a lot of wonderful presents from his family.


    The party was a huge success, and everyone had a great time. 

    For some reason, I don't have a photo of him in his adorable little outfit. :( 




    Friday, July 30, 2010

    Simplicity: My life (mostly) in Photographs Buttons

    I made a couple buttons for a contest being held by Faith over at Simplicity. Here they are!



    And by the way...I misssed my 100th post! Ack! Well, I might have something special planned to celebrate! :)


    day 30





    ***Take the Stars***