MY FIRST GIVEAWAY! [CLOSED]

Hey everyone! Glad you could make it to my blog. The Bloggy Carnival is going on and I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to participate too. Up for grabs is a handpainted frame by me. Originally displayed on my KaiLei Designs blog site and was listed on my etsy KaiLei Designs.

This adorable little hippo is painted with a chocolate brown acrylic paint and then topped with some cobalt blue stars. The frame has been sealed and sanded for a "rough or weathered" look. Measures 3.5 x 3.5 for picture.

Please go to the bloggy giveaway carnival and check the AMAZING giveaways there.

Open to US residents only

Rules for entry:

1)Leave a comment here telling me which item in the KaiLei Designs shop you like best. Must follow or your comment will be deleted.

Bonus entries
1)Follow me
2)Add me to your twitter(kaiasmommy) and tweet this contest

This contest will close Friday, February 6th at 11:59PM

Thanks for coming and entering!

Winner will be picked by random drawing

Kaia-isms

I have been wanting to write some of these down for awhile. My two year old's language has really picked up but, like most kids when they're learning to talk, she doesn't like or can't pronounce certain consonants. She doesn't say L,S, or K(kuh) sound.

These are just off the top of my head and I'm sure there's much more

Kaia=Daia
Cam=Tam
Lexi= is Leki or yeki
Jeremiah=meeya or miah
Aunty=Andy
Uncle=ugoo
dog=goggie
milk=milky
hug=huggie
vacuum=back or backooom
sock and most things that start with 's' are a 'y'=yock or yockie
cup=dup
bath=blap blap haha

Almost forgot the funniest ones
shoes=shoef
nose=nofe

I'm probably going to have to come back and add more haha. She is learning and that's all that matters right now!

A moment for me

I'm participating in a meme from a blog called shake the salt this week. I took a moment for me this week by taking a long, hot bath last night. It felt good to soak and think about some things. No one to bug me! :)

I think it's completely necessary to take time out to think, pray, and rest our minds from the craziness that is modern life!

Melanie

I couldn't pass this up!

Shake the salt is participating in the bloggy giveaway carnival this year and boy does she have an amazing prize!

It's a winner take all prize valued at $833 USD!

Go here to enter.

I'm A Triple Threat!

Of course I'm just being silly! Karen of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires has nominated me for an award! How awesome that she thought of me!

She bestowed upon me a triple award that encompasses best friend, making lemons out of lemonade and the sisterhood award.

Thanks so much for thinking of me and honoring my blog today, Karen!

Melanie

Gross!

I have made herb marinated chicken and loved it! I love the herbs, the smoothness of the olive oil and the tang of the red wine vinegar. I looked up a new recipe online tonight and was anxious to make it.

The primary ingredient was the red wine vinegar along with butter, tomatoes, salt and pepper, and of course, chicken. It took me a bit to brown the chicken and get the sauce reduced. While cooking, I smelled the familiar aroma of Easter egg dyes brewing up. Ugh

My vinegar reduced and I added the remaining butter to add a bit of creaminess to the sauce and took a bite. BAM! hehe. All I tasted was vinegar. Now I like red wine vinegar, it has a wonderful acidity and it's amazingly smooth. In no way, did this combination work well for me. Not to mention my folly, overcooking the chicken as I was trying to get the sauce just right.

I hate to waste but, that chicken hit the trash quick! If I wasn't gonna eat my husband and daughter were DEFINITELY not gonna eat it. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Choyster Cash giveaway

Choyster cash is giving away $200 through the bloggy carnival giveaway. She will be doing it in cash or check form

Check out the contest here

GoGoBabyz

Barefoot Mommies is having a giveaway for a gogobabyz stroller. Go check it out here!

This looks awesome!

New project

A new art/craft project listed here at my KaiLei Designs site.

Thanks

Melanie

Frugal Mommies

I'm one of you and I enjoy all the blogs that are related to that and have learned from you!

Just a note to let you know that The Children's Place is getting rid of their fall/winter stock and adding another 50% off their already reduced merchandise. I stocked up on some items for the next fall/winter season here. There are still quite a few items 9.99 and under!

I was able to buy a dress, 2 pairs of shoes, 4 tops and a hoodie for 37 dollars and change shipped!

P.S. I used SA19 and got another 15% off which paid for the basic shipping charge.

Melanie

Photofiddle for Valentine's Day

Susan over at Life In A House Of Blue is having another awesome giveaway for photofiddle. Just imagine your child's picture, pets, or your photography displayed in a beautiful way!


Go enter here!

Melanie

Crafty woman

"she's crafty, she gets around...and she's just my type, she's crafty" haha. That seems to get in my head whenever I think of the word now. I have been a crazy craftier/artsy lady these last few months!(hope that you don't think I'm underhanded *wink*)

I did a handmade Christmas for some family members and I'm thinking of the Birthdays this year that could benefit from a crafty touch! I have been enjoying the creative process, even if things aren't turning out "perfect". I enjoy the patience and vision it takes to put an idea into reality.

I enjoy working with materials I've never worked with like acrylic felt, painting on canvas, mixed media and wood items. I've enjoyed seeing what my imagination can come up with. My mind was "sleeping" for awhile and now it's dreaming!

I'm so excited to have this spark. They don't come all the time and I'm taking advantage of it.

Recaro car seat giveaway

coolbabykid blog is having a giveaway for one of these awesome, fashionable and very safe car seats. Go here to check it out and enter!

Melanie

Bye Bye Cable

My husband and I are trying to buy a house and we are very tightly budgeted. The only thing left to give was the cable t.v. which means, any t.v. I lived without any television for a few years while living alone because I wasn't home often and really couldn't afford it. I know it's better in the long run to re prioritize our money and put forth efforts in other aspects of my life.

I have to admit it has been HARD this last week and a half without it. As I've gotten older, I've become less a morning person. I like to put my daughter in her high chair with her breakfast and veg out for awhile in front of the toob.

At night, after I've put her to bed, I like to veg out too. Well, you get the point.
This is a sacrifice I'm willing to make right now because I would rather die, YES DIE than live in apartment another year. haha

Please continue to pray for and think of us as we are going through the craziness that is, trying to buy a house.

Added some new stuff to my craft blog

Hey everyone! I was busy this weekend getting a few frames painted and ready to go for my etsy shop.

Go take a look at the cute, pet friendly, kid image keeping frames!

KaiLei Designs

Bumbleride Indie Twin Stroller Giveaway

Wow! I Never Grew Up blog is offering this wonderful twin stroller in a great spice/orange color. Woot!

Go check out her blog here for an entry to this fabulous giveaway!

Kaia's 2nd Birthday party

We had Kaia's Birthday party a week ago. We did a very low key, mostly family affair at a local park. Kaia enjoyed the kids and the swings most of all, exactly why we did low key and at a park...haha

She got a few wonderful gifts, including a handmade cupcake blankie from her aunty Holly and enjoyed herself although she got very shy when we sang to her. You will see in one of the pics she is trying to hide herself in me. A great day and another year celebrating the birth of our precious girl.

Blessings

I've seen a few blogs that set aside time to write blessings down or even call their giveaways blessings. To me, the giveaways have been a blessing and not just for their monetary value.

I like the idea of remembering either in written or spoken form the blessings I and my family receive, even if they may be small in the grand scheme of things.


Things that are blessing me today:
1. Though we've had some sniffles and a little cough, my family has been very healthy so far these last few months. No major flu, etc.(crosses fingers that it stays that way)

2. My husband is still getting overtime and we are finally catching up financially.

3. I am very blessed to have a place to lay my head, clothing, food, etc.

4. I am blessed with fellowship and dear friends

5. I am blessed to see and raise my little daughter right now. I am home with her at least for now and that has been the greatest desire of my heart!(of course for things here on earth)
6. The most important today is knowing of my Father in Heaven.

Leading Moms In Business

I joined startupnation.com awhile back and continue to get emails and updates from them. They are doing a leading moms in business competition. They will choose the top 200, I believe. You can vote daily for your favorites.

If you know a mommy who is great in business or has a wonderful business going, sign her up.

I have seen many wonderful mommies with their own websites, creative inventions and business plans, etc. I think it's great to have another avenue to recognize all their hard work!

Melanie

*this is NOT a paid advertisement*

I've been tagged

My SIL over at The Bartlett Bunch tagged me for a meme. I am to open a document or photo folder and choose the fifth folder and the fifth photo. This is from my Christmas 2006 folder. I was pregnant at the time and little did I know, I would be having my daughter five weeks shy of her due date on December 26, 2006.

Zoobie Pets

I LOVE these little half creature/half blankie creations. They are so clever! I Never Grew Up blog is having a giveaway. Go check it out here and see what they have to offer.

Melanie

Two Year Appt

Kai had her two year appt. She has stayed on the same curve basically since she was born so, great! She is a whopping 34 1/4 in tall and almost 24 lbs haha.

My little daughter will always be small in stature and weight probably. She takes after her aunty Jess. She had her last vax for awhile and I'm sure she will be pleased. And, yay for mommy who doesn't have to take her back to the Dr. for another year(that is, if she doesn't become ill)

Doc says she's healthy and wonderful! I'm glad that at two she is potty trained, except for when she's busy haha and that we kicked the binky habit in about a week. That was a tough one, whew.

We are having her Birthday part on Saturday, should be fun!

Nike and ipod sport giveaway

Go check it out, an awesome giveaway here.

Today I'm Overwhelmed

I just have too much on my mind, I guess. We are looking into possibly being able to buy our first home and while I'm excited, I'm also frustrated. Frustrated because we won't have that much to spend and we may be out far from everyone we know and love. It won't be taxing to my husband who works many hours but, it will be for me. Part of it too is wanting to be able to have people over and to enjoy spending time with them, etc.

I'm frustrated emotionally too and some things have been bothering me. I know I need to rely on The Lord in these matters and that he will get me through. It's always hard waiting for answers and being at his feet. Not hard to lay up a burden but, difficult to be patient and difficult to see what's happening at times.

That said, I am excited for this new year. I'm excited to see some changes and am hopeful that many will be really good ones! I am reading my daily scriptures that many from my church are receiving by email. It's been nice to have that to look forward to.

I am hopeful that we will have another little one in our lives soon. I am praying that at the right time, we will be able to complete our family. I am hopeful that my blogging will pick up and that I may even be able to network some and do some contests and reviews here and there.

I hope everyone has a blessed year, good or bad. That you are able to see his plan for you and that you are content in all things!

Melanie

My Blog Was Deemed fabulous!

Wow...I think this is a very sweet honor. I have been picking up the pace of my blog lately and enjoying entering some contests along with it. My fellow contest enterer has nominated my blog as one of the fabulous worthy blogs! Thank you Mrs. Jacobsen.

Ok, my top five addictions
1. My Lord and Savior
2. My family and friends
3. Getting good deals ANYWHERE
4. The internet
5. For sure entering blog contests haha. It has become an addiction in a very short time!

Now I get to pass it on to other wonderful blogs.

1. Life In A House Of Blue
2. Samantha Anderson
3. 3 Garnets 2 Sapphires
4. Let's Do A Tea With Holly
5. A Blog Of Goodies