Happy Second Birthday Our Pretty Little Girls!

So I don't normally post on a Saturday but...
Today we are officially two! 

And I think that is worth celebrating.

(Last years celebratory cupcake)

So today I will light another candle and celebrate two year of living the blogger life.

Thank you so much for celebrating with me!

Your sweet words of encouragement and compliments this week have meant the world to me

And just in cased you missed IT, there is a giveaway going on right now!

Time to enter is running out, so don't delay!

I linked up with Whitney @ Work it Mommy & Courtney @ Sweet Turtle Soup to put together this awesome package.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway   Have a great rest of your weekend!

Blog Birthday Celebration & Giveaway, Tuesday Talk V9

Two years ago on March 5th, 2014, this little corner of the blogging world became mine. I think back on the beginning and I am left dumbfounded. I never imagined this space would introduce me to some of the most amazing, supportive friends a girl could ask for and become an outlet, a ministry and a source of income for our family.

It has been an amazing two years.

Part of the fun of growing is looking back. I wrote 283 posts over the past year. Gained nearly 1,000 followers on Instagram. Tripled my follower on Bloglovin & Twitter. And have almost doubled my followers on  Pinterest & Facebook.
My page views have nearly tripled as well.
So I really feel like I need to say a big huge thank you! You are what makes this so much fun and worth celebrating

And it turns out I'm not the only one celebrating...

Beth @ Our Pretty Little Girls

Courtney @ Sweet Turtle Soup

Whitney @ Work it Mommy

When I found out two of my favorite bloggers were also celebrating blog birthdays this week, I knew we needed to celebrate together and what says celebration like a giveaway?! We each donated one item we love for each year that we have been blogging and one lucky winner will take it all.

A Pioneer Woman Cookbook, Chocolates, $10 to Target, Essie polish, Bat & Body Lotion, $5 to Starbucks and an infinity scarf.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you  for another great year! I can't wait to see how things continue to grow over the next year.
Now it's your turn to link up for this weeks Tuesday Talk! Grab the button in my sidebar and join the fun.

An InLinkz Link-up

Chocolate & Wine Moments #ASweetPairing Giveaway

One thing I have learned to embrace in my 30's is my down time.

 You know, those times in life that give you the perfect chance to sit back, relax and enjoy a glass of wine and some chocolate. Today I want to share with you a few of my favorite chocolate & wine moments. And to make things even sweeter, we are throwing in a giveaway too! I would like to say a huge thanks Josh Cellars wine, Ghirardelli Chocolate, who are so kindly sponsoring today post. I have had so much fun working with and sampling their amazing products. All opinions in this post are my own. 

My Chocolate and Wine moments...

The end of a long day

We've all been there you come home your tired worn out and when you finally sit down you just want to relax. Which basically translates to every single Monday night in my house.

Girls Night

Chocolate, wine and girls nights are the perfect combo.

In fact I just so happen to be attending one later this week. Can't wait!

The Perfect Gift

Hostess gift, house warming gift, anniversaries & birthday presents!

The occasions that you could and should gift wine and chocolates go on forever.

Date Nights In

Date nights out aren't always an option but date nights in, that we can do. Put the kids to bed a bit early maybe make a late dinner and sit by the fire with some wine and chocolate. You don't have to go out to date your spouse.

Dinner Party

Who is my favorite dinner party guest?! The one who shows up with a bottle of wine. 

If you bring chocolate along too I might invite you over every single week.

Just because

Do you always need a reason to indulge a little? I think not!

Valentines Day

And the epitome of all of the wine and chocolate moments comes down to Valentines Day!

From Galentines parties, to romantic evenings, dinners, presents and surprises. I think every Valentines Day would be a little better with #ASweetPairing like Josh Cellars wine and Ghirardelli Chocolate (both available at Walmart). Dark & Strawberry chocolate squares & a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon, are simply perfection. 

Make sure you pick some for your celebrating this week.

Now for the added bonus, your chance to win!

Josh Cellars Wine and Ghirardelli Chocolate are giving you a chance to win one of two $75 prepaid American Express gift-cards. Entries vary from following along on twitter, pinning images to sharing your own wine and chocolate moments on Instagram. The more you enter the better your chances are to win so spread the love!

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Tell me about your favorite chocolate & wine moments.

$250 Paypal Cash Giveaway!

I've said it before and I will say it again, I am not a fan of resolutions.

 In fact I kind of feel like if you want to be sure that you fail at something, make it a resolution.

I wonder if  backwards resolutions would work.

I resolve to eat too many cookies.

I resolve to have a messy house.

I resolve to barely get any sleep.

I highly doubt this approach will be effective but given my past, who knows!

Where it seems the resolution train isn't so popular lately, I do know many of us, including myself, are working on goals.

I love goals!

And what better way to equip you to meet some of your goals than $250 cash?!

*Some new work out gear for the gym.

*Money to fund those date nights.

*Supplies for those projects.

*Extra income in the budget to save, pay off debt or stash for a family trip.

The options are pretty much endless.

Now here is how you can win!

1 | check out all the WONDERFUL women below who brought you this great giveaway! you'll find some new great reads // pinterest boards // instagram accounts // etsy shops...lots of goodies.

2 | get yourself entered below via rafflecopter.

3 | cross your fingers and toes!

jessica | katie
sarah | krista | vicki | hannah | liz
samantha | karli | michelle | danielle | libby
alexis | penny | tawnya | shelly | mae
lauren | jenn | beth | lindsay | jess

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!
What would you spend the money on if you won?

Holiday Cash Giveaway!

Have you ever found some extra cash that you had forgot about? 

Hidden in the secret compartment in your wallet, left in a coat pocket over spring and summer or tucked away in your hiding spot that is so good even you can't remember where it is?

Finding some extra cash can make even the worst of days turn around in an instant. Especially during the Holiday season.

I am so excited to be teaming up with some fellow bloggers to give you a chance to put a little extra cash in your pocket this Holiday season.

While thinking about this giveaway I started to wonder what I would buy if I came across some extra cash.

Like this enameled cast iron dutch oven that I drool over EVERY time I walk into Sams Club.

Or some fancy Christmas dresses for the girls.

We could stash the money away for a little get away to our favorite Christmas spot.

Extra cash is always helpful when it come time to buy Christmas Presents. And let's not forget to give back to those in need this time of year. There are so many ways that some extra cash can be helpful during this time of the year.

Here's your chance to win some.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What would you spend it on if you won?

One Year Blogiversary & Giveaway

Today marks one year of blogging. 
One year ago today I sat down at my computer and wrote a post. The post declared to all that I was a terrible blogger and I was.

Over the previous year I had tried to start blogging and failed. For some reason on that day I decided to go for "it", not even knowing what "it" was. Ever since that post I have been blogging faithfully. In fact over the past year I have published 259 posts. 

Ultimately it isn't about a number of posts. It is about the 259 chances those posts gave me. The opportunities I have had to connect with readers, share my life, inspire, encourage, be myself (my real self), craft, cook, share my kids and occasionally poor out my heart when verbally I just couldn't do it.
I have learned so much about myself living the life of a blogger.
And who knows, maybe I'm not such a terrible blogger after all.
Today I wanted to share with you 5 of my favorite posts from the past year. 
Our Home Tour

I Don't Need A New Year

13 Point Freaking One

May 22nd, 3 Years Later

Our First Camping Trip

We all know a celebration wouldn't be complete without a giveaway.

So, here you have it! 

I am giving away a Pretty Girls Handmade scarf. I will email the winner with some pattern choices to pick from when they are selected. You will also receive a $5 Starbucks gift card. 

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for reading along.

You are what makes this so much fun and worth celebrating.

Book Review "The Waterlady" & Giveaway

I was recently asked if I would like to review a book. My first initial reaction was, "Who, me?!" I still consider myself a baby blogger and let's face it, I am. But I quickly dismissed my surprise and jumped at the opportunity. 
I couldn't pass it up.

The Waterlady
An Ozark Tale

Seeing this is a children's book, I thought who better to help me with this review than a child?

"The Waterlady" is an enchanting tale of a mystical mermaid like creature who lives in a pond. She often finds herself lonely wishing for company. One day she just happens to get her wish.

After reading the book I asked Marissa what she thought. She smiled and said "I like it a lot". I then asked her what she enjoyed most about the story. She told me she really liked the waterlady because she reminded her of a mermaid. She also enjoyed the water ladies visitor, that was her favorite part.

This is definitely a book that a child with a whimsical imagination can get swept away in. That said, I believe my copy of the book was kidnapped by a certain little girl. It is safe to say that she loves this story and I am sure plenty of other children will to. 

Catherine's book is available for sale on Amazon you can also check out her blog along or find her on Facebook as well. 

Just last week now she asked me if I would like to add a giveaway to this review. Of course I would! I mean what good is a review without a giveaway, right?! 

This time of the year when I think about sitting down to read a book I imagine something warm to drink in my other hand. If that cup is red, that is even more exciting. She is supplying the book, I'll buy your cup of coffee all you have to do to win is enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See you tomorrow for my Friday 5!