My Messmerized Life: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Day 5: Scentsy

12 days of giveaways on 4 different blogs, offering various items for you and your family, varying from blog to blog! November 26th - December 7th.

Our lovely hostesses ...

Real Life Reality

First time momma to a soon-to-be 2 year old girl, turned single one year in. Living life one day at a time, keeping a positive attitude at all times! Life experiences, photos galore, fashion, health and fitness, tons of giveaways and so much more.

12 daily Giveaways include companies such as ThirtyOne Gifts, Riff Raff, Truly Sanctuary, Chaos & Love, Happy Family and many more awesome vendors/companies featuring clothing, childrens gifts, organic toddler food, hand made items, cool gifts and more. Visit me now!

Moments That Take My Breath Away

Former librarian turned stay at home mom to our 22 month old daughter Grace and 1 month old son Connor. I love sharing our daily adventures and I often feature our favorite books and money saving tips.

12 Daily Giveaways include some great items for everyone in the family such as a bag from Thirty One, a recordable story book from Hallmark, several pieces of beautiful jewelry, and an 8x10 photo canvas. Visit me now!

My Messmerized Life

A blog focused on everyday life, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Facing real life challenges including struggles through miscarriages and pregnancy. Capturing memories of our young daughter blooming into a spunky toddler. Finding frugal ways to keep our house fresh and up to date but also kid proof. Crafting, DIYing, fashion, food, and more!

12 Daily Giveaways include home décor, clothing for men, women & children accessories, skin care products, toys & books, home fragrances, customizable items and more! Visit me now!

Chaos & Love

A blog about my life as a working mom of two boys and the wife of a chef. I practice cooking, attempt to meal plan, think out loud about crafting and write about the daily happenings in our lives.

12 Daily Giveaways include encompass many of the things that I write about on my blog - organization, jewelry, the Paleo lifestyle and more. Visit me now!

Be sure to visit each blog each day for a chance to win a different item! Good luck!

Happy Friday friends! On our fifth day of giveaways we have Scentsy! Who doesn't love Scentsy? This was my first time ever having the full Scentsy experience and I'm blown away. Not only is the warmer super cute but the scent bars are packed full of scent. I can melt one small bar and it smells up our entire house up for hours. The warmer is super cute and fits right in to our holiday set up.

Our host, Andrena, is a stay at home mom of two gorgeous little girls. Make sure to check out her Facebook page because she posts specials and plays fun trivia games weekly with giveaways. Andrena is giving away a Scentsy Plug In Warmer & Scent Bar.

How to Enter. This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. Open to US residents only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, December 6th. The first task is mandatory. Make sure to complete this task in order to unlock additional entries. Remember, the more you complete the more chances for you to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Day 4: Melissa & Doug Trunki

Moments That Take My Breath Away

My Messmerized Life

12 Daily Giveaways include home décor, clothing for men, women & children accessories, skin care products, toys & books, home fragrances, customizable items and more! Visit me now!

Chaos & Love

A blog about my life as a working mom of two boys and the wife of a chef. I practice cooking, attempt to meal plan, think out loud about crafting and write about the daily happenings in our lives.

12 Daily Giveaways include encompass many of the things that I write about on my blog - organization, jewelry, the Paleo lifestyle and more. Visit me now!

Be sure to visit each blog each day for a chance to win a different item! Good luck!

Day 4 of the giveaway is sponsored by the amazing Melissa & Doug. Melissa & Doug, if you don't know, makes some of the best kids toys. They have great hold up value so you can pass down to multiple kids without worrying about your kids destroying them. We got to try out the Trunki suitcase which is so cute. Addie is now in the hoarding phase so she likes to put her smaller toys in the suitcase and then ride it around. I can't wait until our next trip and she'll have her own suitcase to use!

Trunki Tie-Dye Swirl

One lucky reader will win a Trunki suitcase as well.

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. Open to US residents only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, December 5th. The first task is mandatory. Make sure to complete this task in order to unlock additional entries. Remember, the more you complete the more chances for you to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Day 3: Dermagist Hydrating Spa System

Moments That Take My Breath Away

My Messmerized Life

12 Daily Giveaways include home décor, clothing for men, women & children accessories, skin care products, toys & books, home fragrances, customizable items and more! Visit me now!

Chaos & Love

A blog about my life as a working mom of two boys and the wife of a chef. I practice cooking, attempt to meal plan, think out loud about crafting and write about the daily happenings in our lives.

12 Daily Giveaways include encompass many of the things that I write about on my blog - organization, jewelry, the Paleo lifestyle and more. Visit me now!

Be sure to visit each blog each day for a chance to win a different item! Good luck!

Our awesome giveaway today is brought to you by Dermagist. Dermagist makes skin care products for every need you can think of. From acne scar fading treatments to anti-aging products you'll find a great product for someone on your list this year. I was able to try out the Hydrating Spa System which includes the body lotion for deep hydration, calming of the skin and firming of wrinkles and sags, the hand cream for removal of age spots and discoloration, while tightening and providing a youthful look and lastly the foot cream for soothing and relaxing tired feet while healing cracks and dryness with a therapeutic combination of ingredients. These are all perfect for the upcoming cold, dry winter months.

One of you will win the Hydrating Spa System and will be able to enjoy smooth hands and feet all winter long.

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Tuesday, December 4th. The first task is mandatory. Make sure to complete this task in order to unlock additional entries. Remember, the more you complete the more chances for you to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Day 2: Ruffles With Love

Moments That Take My Breath Away

My Messmerized Life

12 Daily Giveaways include home décor, clothing for men, women & children accessories, skin care products, toys & books, home fragrances, customizable items and more! Visit me now!

Chaos & Love

A blog about my life as a working mom of two boys and the wife of a chef. I practice cooking, attempt to meal plan, think out loud about crafting and write about the daily happenings in our lives.

12 Daily Giveaways include encompass many of the things that I write about on my blog - organization, jewelry, the Paleo lifestyle and more. Visit me now!

Be sure to visit each blog each day for a chance to win a different item! Good luck!

Day 2 of our great giveaway event is sponsored by Ruffles with Love. Ruffles with Love is a company designing and creating "Strongly Feminine" workout shirts made to inspire.When I ran across Ruffles with Love, I was dying over the designs. It was so hard to choose just one design because I love them all.

I did eventually decide on this Laters Baby design. Who doesn't love a little Christian Gray? I love the way the shirt fits so when I'm running it's practical and still cute.

One of you has the opportunity to win the shirt of your choice from their shop so you can also look hot while you're working out. For the rest of you who don't win, Ruffles with Love is kind enough to offer you 15% off your order by using the code Messmerized15.

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. Giveaway is open worldwide. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Monday, December 3rd. The first task is mandatory. Make sure to complete this task in order to unlock additional entries. Remember, the more you complete the more chances for you to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 26, 2012

Momma Needs a Hobby

Let's be honest, as a new mom you tend to lose sight of yourself. Things you enjoyed pre-mommy you're probably not spending much time doing. It was one of my biggest fears of having a child. Not that I would be responsible for another individuals life, but that I would lose my individuality by being a mom. Well, I went and let it happen. I am officially a bum with no hobbies.

Rephrase, I WAS a bum with no hobbies. I'm getting back to my individual self. Finding new hobbies along the way, including sewing. I showed you a while back that I sewed myself a skirt.

It's only the beginning though. With my friend Mary now pregnant, we have a list of projects to complete before baby Liam's arrival. We have our girls night in, eat dinner, girl talk, and sew our little hearts out.

What are your hobbies? Did you feel once you had your children you lost yourself?

-stephanie

An Invisalign Smile

Braces. Did you have them when you were younger? Or maybe you made the decision as an adult to go back for braces. Me? I guess I was lucky enough not to need them. Or so my dentist always told me. I do admit I have pretty straight teeth considering I never had braces and had wisdom teeth growing in sideways. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t want them.

What? You can’t believe I said that? Me neither sometimes, but looking back to middle school, being one of the few that wasn’t wearing braces, I was the not normal kid. How crazy is that? The person who doesn’t need braces is the outside because she’s not wearing braces.

As an adult, I’ve thought about getting braces for purely vain reasons. My teeth could be a little straighter and not so jammed together in the front. Could you imagine being 30 and wearing those metal braces and still try to look professional?

No? Me neither. That’s why when I started thinking about braces as an adult I was only thinking Invisalign. Invisalign is the new alternative to braces! The clear aligners are virtually invisible so you don’t have to worry about pictures years from now looking terrible in your braces. They’re easily removable for cleaning and you can eat what you want.

What I really love about Invisalign is that I can continue working without feeling self-conscious and not professional looking. They’ve met a “2 Million Smiles" goal – effectively straightening 2 million smiles and counting, so they have to be good! Invisalign is really quite affordable and you can use your insurance. They have a great cost calculator so you can find out exactly how much you can expect to pay when you choose Invisalign.

It’s really such a great option to have especially as a working adult who can’t sacrifice looking unprofessional in order to correct a physical feature. If I decide to choose braces at this age, my only choice is Invisalign!

For more information, please visit Invisalign. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Day 1: Cutting Edge Stencils

Moments That Take My Breath Away

My Messmerized Life

12 Daily Giveaways include home décor, clothing for men, women & children accessories, skin care products, toys & books, home fragrances, customizable items and more! Visit me now!

Chaos & Love

A blog about my life as a working mom of two boys and the wife of a chef. I practice cooking, attempt to meal plan, think out loud about crafting and write about the daily happenings in our lives.

12 Daily Giveaways include encompass many of the things that I write about on my blog - organization, jewelry, the Paleo lifestyle and more. Visit me now!

Be sure to visit each blog each day for a chance to win a different item! Good luck!

Here it is. The moment you've all been waiting for. Our 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Giveaway event starts today and I can't be more excited to start off the giveaway with a fabulous sponsor. Cutting Edge Stencils is a growing business that designs, makes and sells decorative stencils. Cutting Edge has a wide selection of stencils to choose from. Whether you're looking for your basic wall stencil or a more dramatic ceiling stencil, Cutting Edge Stencils is the best. They also carry craft & furniture stencils.

I chose Zinnia Grande because I was interested in a stencil that would work well in our bedroom. I was so excited when I received my stencil. I received the stencil along with really easy to follow instructions on stenciling. I had never stenciled in the past so I was a little nervous when I started stenciling. I became confident in my ability toe stencil very quickly. It's so simple anyone can do it!

I tried it out on one wall.

I liked it so much I went for another wall and added a yellow flower over the white.

One lucky reader will win $50 credit towards the stencil or stencils of your choosing.

How to Enter:

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. Click "Read More" below and then follow the instructions on the widget. Make sure to click "Enter!" after you complete each entry. Open to US residents only. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, December 2nd. The first task is mandatory. Make sure to complete this task in order to unlock additional entries. Remember, the more you complete the more chances for you to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 19, 2012

Birth Order Traits

I've always been interested in birth order trait theories. I think it's because every time I read about them I'm saying to myself, yes that's me. Or, totally my sister or brother.

I was the firstborn. Firstborns are natural leaders. Very reliable, conscientious & perfectionists. We don't like surprises. Typically we're aggressive though we also like to please people and are oftentimes model children and have a strong desire to be approved from whoever is in charge. To a T this is me. I'm a perfectionist, aggressive and do love to please people. Growing up, I was the perfect child. I never got into trouble, always did what was right, and waited to make sure I pleased my parents.

I also have a sister and a brother. April is the middle child and Jason, the baby.

April, being the middle child, is the most difficult to pin down. Middle children often feel like the world pays them less attention, is sometimes secretive and doesn't openly share thoughts or feelings. The read people well and are peacemakers who see all sides of the situation. They are independent. The piece I found most true to April, the middle child, was that they are guaranteed to be the opposite of their older sibling. April and I could not be more different.

Jason, is the baby. Let me mention Jason is the baby of two babies. Both my mom and dad were the babies in their families so we often teased that he had it really easy. Babies are social and outgoing and the most financially irresponsible. They're looking to have fun and want to be in the limelight. They're often charming but can also be manipulative, spoiled or babied to their detriment. I would say this is somewhat true to Jason. I wouldn't call him financially irresponsible, but he's been dependent upon my parents for longer than April or I were. Jason can be a bit reserved or relaxed and isn't as high strung as the traits make him to be.

It's all rather interesting to me. It's even more interesting now that I'm a parent, and understanding the characteristics of birth order. We need to be aware of birth order traits and how we can properly parent each child different based upon those traits.

I just hope Addie is an angel to raise like I was.

What's your birth order? Do the traits ring true?

-stephanie

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Get your FREE personalized greeting card from Treat Monday, 11/19 and Tuesday, 11/20 by entering code TREATBLOGR.

-stephanie

Thanksgiving Week

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. Thanksgiving week is just 3 days away and I'm salivating over all of the yummy foods. But it's important to remember to be thankful this week.

We went to visit Rick's brother Nick's grave site recently. I was lucky enough to have my camera handy and caught a few pictures of her laying a rose on his marker.

Nick was killed in action on May 8, 2005 in Iraq. It's one of the things I'm most upset about with Addie. She never had a chance to meet him.

He was an amazing person, always smiling, positive and upbeat and I know she would have loved him and he would have loved her.

Nick was killed in action on May 8, 2005 and forever changed all of our lives. We make sure to show her pictures of her uncle Nick and tell her who he is.

Being Thanksgiving week, it's really important for us to remember Nick and be thankful for what he did.

I'm also thankful for my beautiful baby girl who I'm so in love with and can't wait to spend the day with her.

What are you thankful for?

-stephanie

Friday, November 16, 2012

Thanksgiving Crafts for the Kids

My favorite holiday is just 6 days away and I cannot be more excited!

I really don't know why it is my favorite. I imagine it has a little something to do with all of the food. But it also has something to do with spending time with your family. You know, your family that you see only on holidays and then after spending Thanksgiving with them you think, we should hang out more often.

Now that everyone is getting older, it's even more exciting to get together because unfortunately our family number is dwindling.

Well I'm getting sappy and off track. This post is all about kids and fun Thanksgiving crafts they can partake in. So here are some of my favorites from Pinterest.

I love this craft for any age. Via

For your old kids to help with place settings. Via

A preschool/kindergarten age craft. Via

So cute. Via

A craft the entire family can participate in. Via

Because every kid needs a place for their crayons. Via

I can't wait to do some crafting with Addie. She's still at an age where you can't predict how long she'll stay focused so it could get interesting.

-stephanie

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Green Power Smoothie

I've mentioned a few times that I've been working on my fitness. I have been trying to tone up and lose weight for a while now and it's definitely been a challenge to lose weight since I turned 30. Luckily I've stayed at about the same weight for a while and have been able to eat healthy but also splurge without having any impact on me physically. Or at least on the outside image. So I've gotten a bit more serious. I started 30 day shred and finished that (I owe you my results) and mid way through my 30 day shred program I decided to start running again. I mentioned this has been the only way I've ever lost weight. And though I hate to run, it's an awesome activity for my weight loss as well as for my internal health (read: lung capacity).

I don't eat for about 2-3 hours prior to a run because vomiting while running doesn't sound all that exciting. So when I'm done running I need to nutrition but don't want to eat anything too heavy immediately after a run. I'm a big fan of smoothies and this weekend made a great one with both fruits & veggies as well as protein & fiber. It was tasty!

Green Power Smoothie

3/4 pear

3/4 banana

3/4 cup fresh spinach

handful of ice

Blend on low & immediately switch to high until smooth.

I shared the rest of my pear & banana with Addie, but if you don't have anyone to share the leftovers with, round it all up to a full banana & pear and full cup spinach and a little more than a handful of ice. You'll just have a little extra smoothie. Enjoy!

-stephanie

Monday, November 12, 2012

My 2012 Christmas Wish List

I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving. It'll be Christmas before we realize it so I created my 2012 Christmas wish list a little early this year. I had a hard time deciding what I'd like to have because usually if there's something I'm interested in, I buy it. Or it's a big ticket item which requires agreement from Rick as well. So I hope you enjoy my picks!

1. Carlson Patterned Crew Neck Sweater - a gorgeous sweater that you can dress up or dress down. Wear to work or at home. Love it!

2. Apple EarPods - because the ones that came with my old iPod are outdated and blown. I like my music loud when running so it's time for new speakers.

3. Hand Stitched Small DSLR bag - because my current camera bag is big, bulky and black (where is your mind?). It's not fashionable nor is it easy to carry around.

4. LouLou Natural Leg Warmer/Boot Socks - when you're wearing boots, you need a good warm sock. If that sock can also look really cute, that's a plus!

5. Bunji BAND Elastic Headband - look, do I really thing this is some great gift that I'll be super happy to receive? It's no Coach purse, but sometimes you have to put things you need on your list too. I need this for running. My current band sucks at holding my wisps out of my face.

6. Toms Burlap Alessandra Ballet Flats - I love Toms! These would be both fashionable and comfortable and again, can be dressed up or down. Must have these!

What's on your list this year? Anything you're dying to have?

-stephanie

My Messmerized Life

Pages

Friday, November 30, 2012

Day 5: Scentsy

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Day 4: Melissa & Doug Trunki

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Day 3: Dermagist Hydrating Spa System

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Day 2: Ruffles With Love

Monday, November 26, 2012

Momma Needs a Hobby

An Invisalign Smile

Day 1: Cutting Edge Stencils

Monday, November 19, 2012

Birth Order Traits

FREE Treat Greeting Card

Thanksgiving Week

Friday, November 16, 2012

Thanksgiving Crafts for the Kids

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Green Power Smoothie

Monday, November 12, 2012

My 2012 Christmas Wish List

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