There are only 2 days left to enter! Contest closes September 10 at midnight, EST!


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Back to School Giveaway!

As a mom, back to school brings to mind little kids with their new book bags and the smell of fresh boxes of crayon. It means endlessly pinning lunch ideas and teacher appreciation gift ideas, scheduling in the PTO and helping with homework.

As a kid, teenager and college student back to school was all about the new clothes. The shopping trip before to get the new uniforms and then the excitement of putting together actual outfits when the uniform was no longer required. Spending time trying to find my style and sadly that did include a year with bangs and a semester with a pixie cut.

What better way to celebrate the back to school wardrobe refresh with some new jewelry?! I am loving my lia sophia business and love that I get to see and collect incredible pieces! I got into this because I was so impressed with the lifetime guarantee and the selection available in the Spring/ Summer catalog and I wanted it all and I wanted to share it with other people.

I hosted an mystery hostess show on my blog last month and the hostess winner walked away with over $450 in free and discounted jewelry.She was excited and I was excited that she was excited (see the circle of excitement there?).

I gave away three rings on my facebook page just a couple of weeks ago and loved the excitement of the ladies who won.

I wanted to share some more excitement with more people so I got to thinking about back to school- back to a fall wardrobe. And what better way to spice up your wardrobe than with new bling? Think of it as your grown up equivalent of a fresh new box of crayons!

I am giving away:

1 (One) Bolt Bracelet (Medium)

1 (One) Treasure Trove Bracelet (Medium)

AND

1 (one) $50 credit to be used on any order from the new Fall/ Winter collection by October 31, 2014. 

The new Fall/Winter collection is out and again I want it all. Almost 50% of the pieces in the line are priced below $50. I couldn't believe it. So the winner of this credit could get a free piece or put it towards a more expensive piece- completely up to them!

Here is how you win- Complete the Rafflecopter entries below. That's it. Good luck!

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Giveaway will be open from September 2 until September 10, 201411:59 PM ET. Winners will be posted on the blog within 24 hours of contest closing.

Disclaimer:  This giveaway is not endorsed by lia sophia. The prizes are provided by me and all opinions are my own. I have not been paid to say nice things about the company and I am providing the prizes at my own expense :)

Everyone needs some sparkle!- GIVEAWAY

I am a little bit of an accessory junkie.

I love jewelry that bring my mostly black wardrobe a pop of colour and a bit of glamour. Jewlery can dress up any outfit taking you from drab to fab in a minute.

Fact is that I love jewelry so much that I bought a ton of lia sophia pieces over the past couple of years.  This year I signed up to be an Independent Adviser!

I love that the company backs up their pieces with a lifetime guarantee. I’ve got little kids and have snagged more necklaces on car seats, shopping carts, beds than I care to admit. The lia sophia pieces were replaced no questions asked...the other pieces I was out of luck.

When I saw the promotions for July, I was thrilled. Not only were a number of great pieces on sale but they reduces the customer save plan to buy 1 get 2 @50% off! (Usually you need to buy 2 and get 4 @ 50% off)

So to share the love of jewelry, I've decided to host a Mystery Hostess virtual party (Hostess is Lisa Boutilier)!  As a matter of fact, many of us may not have the time to attend a party, let alone host a party especially during peak vacation time! So what a fun way to add some jewelry to your collection in the comfort of your own home and possibly win some FREE jewelry!  

What is a virtual mystery host party?  

Everyone invited to the ‘party’ that places an order now through July 18, 2014 until July 23, 2014 by 11:59 am EST  is considered a guest. At 12 noon on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, one of the guests will be chosen as the mystery host and will receive all the host benefits of this virtual party. This means by placing one order you could win your order PLUS additional pieces all for free!

July just also happens to be Hostess bonus month so if the show has a minimum of 10 orders and 2 bookings the winner will take home 60% of the show’s sales in FREE jewelry! The winner will also get up to 4 pieces at the hostess bonus price. {I'm going to pay the $15 dollar fee that is charged to the hostess to take advantage of the 60%off}

Feel Free to Shop my lia sophia site 

§  Buy 1 at Regular price, get up to 2 items at half off!! (no limit to how many of these you can do 2 for 4, 3 for 6, etc)

§  Half off items are the most expensive items! 

§  Sale items are included in the buy 1 get 2

***********

Hostess Info:

 Lia Sophia Mystery Hostess Requirements: 

1.      Place an order! $1-$49=1 entry, $50-$99= 3 entries, $100+= 5 entries.   

You can view the lia sophia catalog online HERE 

2.       Contest ends Wednesday, July 23 2012 at 11:59 A.m. EST.
CONGRATULATIONS JULIE HAYES!!!

3.       Contest open to Canada only, must be 18 years of age or older. Guests who place orders from outside Halifax, NS are responsible for the shipping costs or orders to their home. Please select the option to have your order sent to you.

4.       Winner will be chosen via random draw. The winner must respond by Thursday, July 24 8am ATL before disqualified and a new winner chosen and notified. The mystery show order must be submitted no later than 2pm EST on Friday, July 25, 2014 in order to take advantage of the July Hostess Bonus and July sale items

Optional Extra Entries: An additional entry can be earned by doing the following. Leave a separate comment below for each of the following you complete:

1.   Book a home party! (if you live in the Halifax Area)
1. August=5 entries 
2. September= 3 entries
3. October = 2 entries
2. Book your own online party to ensure your freebies. If you  close out your online party on or before Friday, August 15, 2014, you'll earn 5 additional entries.

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And the Winners Are...

Drum roll please!

A2 Designs	$20 Gift Certificate	Kim Nadasdai-Ingalls
Grasshopper Kids Creations	$10 Gift Certificate	Rebecca Luedee
HomeGrownGoods	$20 Gift Certificate	Lisa  Harietha-Benson
Nounou Booboo Designs	Colouring Book & $10 Gift certificate	Sohani Welcher
Little Lovelies	Crystal Snowflake earrings ($18 value)	Michelle Hunter
Little Lemonade Stand	Embroidered chalk board gift tags (Value $15)	Lynda LeBlanc
Epicure (Laura Steeves)	$20 Gift Certificate	April Boyle
Laughing Pear Soap	3 assorted bars of handcrafted soap ($15 value)	Mary Middleton
Midnight Designs	$25 Gift Certificate	Beverly Ivey-Newell
Courtney Richardson Photography	$50 gift certificate to be redeemed in 2014	Courtney Smith
M & A Doggie Delights	$20 Gift Certificate	Alisha Bond Monk
Erin’s Harbourside Designs	Print	Cynthia Yates
Flirt with Desserts	1 dozen cupcakes to be redeemed in 2014	Jody Hogan
Naptime Designs	Artwork and $15 Gift Certificate	Amanda Buckle
Mommy & Me Purses and Accessories	$20 Gift Certificate	Kerri Learning
I Dream in Colour…Do you?	$15 Gift Certificate	Heather Neill
Blue Frog Creations	Snot Monster and $10 Gift Certificate	Emily McDonah
Banana Bottoms Cloth Diapers	$15 Gift Certificate	Melanie Davis
Ella’s Cottage	$25 Gift Certificate	Shannon Shelids
Ceilidh Creations	$20 Gift Certificate	Chelsey
Tiny Dancer Tutus	$20 Gift Certificate	EC Rowe
BabyB Handmade	Nova Scotia Tartan Bib (Value $10)	Courtney Richardson
Simply Gorgeous Naturals	Luxurious Gift Set (Value $20)	Lee Ann Sacco
Bella Shopia	$10 Gift Certificate	Kelly Quenneville

Social Media/comment prize: Deirdra Cluney -$5 Starbucks Card!

Thank you to all of the incredible vendors who participated in this giveaway. I hope that all the winners enjoy your prizes. Winner Please note that you will receive an email within the next 24 hours with instructions on how to claim your prizes.

For the littles- GIVEAWAY ENDS TONIGHT!

So you've noticed that there is seriously too much talent for me to write about all the prize contributors in one post~ this one's for the children (extra entry if you know what holiday "classic" that is from- name the band in the comments!)

It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Grasshopper Kids Creations. Shelley does incredible things with ribbon and has been a huge supporter of me taking my craft beyond just friends and family. Miss A has two clipboards full of her incredible creations.

One lucky reader will win $10 to add that extra touch to your gift for the little accessory lover in your life! She's got some awesome items up in her ready to ship album and is offering 25% off those pieces until December 17, 2013!

I wish I could paint...but I can't so I did a trade with Jessica of Naptime Designs for a Christmas gift. She got an apron and I got an awesome personalized gift that my friend loves! (Yes I gave it to her early :)- I was too excited to hold on to it) Jessica has put this adorable painting and a $15 gift certificate up for a lucky reader to take home!

Erin's Harbourside Designs has offered a prize that I really just want to keep for myself!

I love this vintage inspired piece. The colours are awesome and I love the simplicity. You has so many different prints to pick from. You can definitely find something for that hard to buy for person on your list! 

I am a cloth diaper lovin' momma. I clothed both my littles and just (sadly) sold off my stash. Wish I had found these cute Banana Bottoms Cloth Diapers before we finished buying diapers!  You could win a $15 gift certificate. She also has soakers and other awesome items in her shop.

We can't forget about the little mommas...Amelia loves playing with her Sophie doll and will be surprised with a gift set from Mommy and Me Purses and Accessories!

Lisa makes great stuff for baby dolls, Mommy and daughter handbags, scarves and more! She has offered up $20 gift certificate for one lucky reader to spend. If you have a little mommy in your life you need to check her stuff out!

One thing about getting a business off the ground is getting a chance to meet other crafty ladies. The first time I met Kerri, she had a tutu around one leg and was working on it while doing 4 other things. Kerri is the multitasking momma behind Tiny Dancer Tutus & Accessories.

She created some amazing mommy-daughter halloween costumes this year. She's offering $20 for her shop. I guarantee a tutu never goes under used! (If only I had had a tutu for Miss A's newborn pictures!!!)

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Countdown to Christmas Roundup!

Just hours to go before I announce the winners of the Countdown to Christmas Giveaway! And just 10 days left for me to get my shopping done....I'm so far behind. Good thing this girl's got connections to get hooked up with local mommas!!

My cousin Laura just started selling Epicure. Honestly I had never bought it before but my coworkers were asking if I knew anyone who sold it and raving about it.  Then at my cousin's first birthday party I had the Cranberry and Apple cheese Ball (OMG!) So tasty! Guess what some people are getting for Christmas :)

Stocking stuffer sale is on until December 16! Fingers crossed you win the $20 gift certificate she has up for grabs!!

I love embroidery and how cute it can make anything. An embroidery machine is totally out of reach for me at the moment but I'm lucky that Little Lemonade Stand has the equipment and the talent! She's offered up a gorgeous set of chalk board gift tags.

Nadja has recently launched a new adventure that she is calling Midnight Designs. Seriously love the name because like most mommas that is when she gets her work done! She designs custom items like invitations and birth announcements and she's giving one lucky ready $25 towards your own creation!

You'll need pictures to go with that birth announcement, holiday card, birthday invitation and there is no one better to take them then Courtney Richardson! Courtney has offered a $50 gift certificate towards a session in the new year.  Love her work and you will too. She's a sweetie (as most Newfies are) and is great to work with.

If you have a fur baby, you'll need some treats to get them to sit pretty for their big camera moment! M & A Doggie Delights makes homemade dog treats. You get a treat you can feel good about feeding your four legged friend. She only uses the best ingredients and everything is vacuum sealed to ensure freshness. If you win the $15 gift certificate she's offering, you'll get to try a few different kinds!

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Countdown to Christmas Giveaway

Today The littles found Hermie colouring a picture for them, and he even had pictures and crayons for each of the kids to colour with him! He was all too happy to share his awesome re-purposed crayons. Teaching the kids sharing and recycling all at the same time J And who doesn't love snowflake shaped crayons!

Like the crayons? HomeGrownGoods makes awesome re-purposed crayons and homemade play dough and chalk. She even carries locally made chalk mats*, crayon holders* and fun colouring pads. Mandy has very generously offered up a gift certificate for $20 to one lucky winner of the Countdown to Christmas Giveaway.  Know what goes great with homemade crayons? A local artist's colouring book! Neuneu Booboo Designs has offered this colouring book a $10 Gift Certificate! She has puzzles and prints too. Great Christmas gifts!

*Shameless plug…I make these and I think they are pretty awesome! 

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Baking- GIVEAWAY

One of our Christmas traditions around here is making a gingerbread house. Given that our whole month has been in an uproar thanks to renovations, illness and G's crazy work schedule, I finally got the kids a gingerbread house to build. Ozzy was so excited.

Amelia was more than happy to lend a hand and was thrilled when Austin let her have the icing bag.

I do a lot of baking around here for the holidays. People have everything and short of being able to give them extra hours in the day there isn't much I can give them that they don't already have themselves. I decided a few years ago to bake and give people cookies, breads and cinnamon rolls and people love it! One thing I can't make well are lemon squares. I love a good lemon square and my friend Danielle makes the best I have ever had! Just a few month ago she finally started to take orders for home baked goods to help her fundraising efforts for Autism. I've ordered my lemon squares for Christmas (and you should too!) 

Flirt with Desserts has offered up a dozen of her delish cupcakes for the giveaway! Enter for your chance to win!

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Sewing like a mad woman- Giveaway link

I've been a bit crazy this week trying to get the last of my Christmas orders done and out the door. I had one very special project that ended up eating my week and so I have tonight to finish a couple of dresses to be picked up tomorrow.

One thing I haven't gotten to is our Christmas quilt. Hermie thought he would help me.(In my dream world the seamstress has elves like the shoe maker...) And then taunt me that he has a blanket and the kids don't

Kids found Hermie in the little people's bed covered in his very own Christmas quilt and giggles ensued. They are very entertained by Hermie's antics.

I have a fabric problem...I really do. I buy it and then don't want to cut it because I have the "perfect" project in mind for it.At the Forum I met another lovely lady with my fabric problem. She is the momma behind Ella's Cottage and she has graciously offered up a $25 gift certificate to one lucky winner. AND she's offering 20% her shop leading up to the holidays! Just enter "HOLIDAY20" upon check out. She has got some amazing fabrics in stock and she also makes amazing quilts, like these:

Good luck!

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