Giveaway for a Good Cause!

A few weeks ago my friend Allison posted some pictures of really cute items to facebook & I loved what I saw. I figure until I learn to sew, I will happily support those who do!

Allison is going to be going with a group from her church to Monrovia, Liberia for 13 days this summer. Her talented friend Jen who sews has offered to help her raise some of her support by selling cute checkbook covers with 90% of the proceeds going towards Al's trip!

If you are anything like me, you have to look at a map to identify where exactly in Africa Liberia is. It is on the West Coast and here is a little visual:


One thing that is really cool about this opportunity is that their church does trips like this multiple times a year to Liberia, meaning that there is a partnership present and not just a one time experience. Allison will be working with a team to continue the relationships their church has built with teachers and leaders along with doing some ministry with kids. While she is in Liberia, she will miss her cute little son Will's second b-day which to me is a sign of how called she feels to be on this trip, at this particular time.

Here's a pic of the Kemmerer family around Will's first b-day last year:

As just a small piece of support for her trip I want to give one of the checkbook covers away. All you have to do to enter is comment with your favorite of the four designs pictured below by Sunday at noon!

Here are a few of the other fun items Jen makes and even if you do not win the giveaway, the checkbook covers are still available for purchase with 90% of the sales going towards Allison's trip. For info on the other items pictured here, email me at bekah_wallace@yahoo.com. Enjoy!

cute headbands, perfect for spring!

custom boy onesies ($12)

custom girl onesies ($12)

count by number 1-9 ($34 for rice filled, $23 for washable numbers)

flower pins that can go on a bag, a shirt, a headband. anywhere really. ($8 each)

blizzards and blessings...

As I watched my neighbors dig my car out Wednesday morning, still a bit unsure WHY I was going to work in the mess of Snowmageddon 2011, I was struck by how kind it was of them to make sure our driveway was clear for me to get to work (even though everything else in town was closed). Ok, I'm over it, really. They bought us lunch at work and let us go at 3:00 so it wasn't too bad. Back to Wednesday morning. Once I was able to scale the heights of the snow drifts and make my way onto the roads I realized that without the 4 wheel in the suburban I was driving, I wouldn't have made it anywhere.

Yup, the 'burb that the friends who are living in Lebanon for a few years kindly gave us to "keep running" for them until they get back for the summer in April. Just when we thought we were going down to one car for awhile, that blessing dropped into our lap and although we try to stick to using it moderately, it has come in handy more than once. Days like Wednesday, the times we needed to transport things, help friends move & not fight over who was going to drop the other off to have the car for the day, the suburban has been a surprise blessing.

It got me thinking about the other things along the journey of the past few months that have just "dropped into our laps". Like the beautiful crib & dresser set that friends just happened to set aside in their garage sale before they even knew we were pregnant. They thought $100 was a fair price and we knew that was more of them being gracious and basically giving us a huge gift and we took it. A blessing. And then there are the 4 or 5 friends whose clothes are gracing my wardrobe as my belly expands, boxes they just happened to set aside for whoever wanted to borrow them. Cute stuff too, like fitted old navy tees, classy dress clothes, funky dresses, you name it. I seriously have too many options right now and that is ALWAYS a blessing. I did go ahead and buy a few pairs of jeans for myself, staples that are a must have right now but besides that, I am pretty set.

I could go on and on if I sat here for a bit longer but a Friday morning off means that I need to get myself moving for the weekend's activities. I just think it is good to reflect on the surprise blessings that come our way once in awhile. So I have one more for YOU. I have a $20 shutterfly gift card that is good until the end of March that I want to bless someone else with. Here is the catch: you can't use it for yourself. Whatever you use it for has to be something to bless someone else. For example, a photo book a special trip they took, a mousepad with your face to grace their workspace, a Valentine's day gift for someone you love or a photo calendar of their family. Tell me all about who you plan to bless with it and how. I will announce a winner on Friday so be sure to let me know by Thursday night who you plan to bless!

my creative friends: giveaway winner

Wowzers. You guys blew me away with your ideas after my plea for DIY Christmas gifts. I am so inspired and you filled my brain with ideas from magnets to bobby pin flowers, button earrings to homemade goodies!

Ahh. I love it! And with the help of random.org which always makes me feel better about choosing a winner because I don't want to play favorites, the winner is Kelly! Email me your address & I will gladly send this your way:

the need to create

I've been itching in my skin to do some major creating lately which means I haven't done any in way too long. My need has been playing itself out by my picking back up where I left off in my writing and starting to dream about creating Christmas presents for those I love. I know, it is a bit early but a girl needs a good reason to dream once in awhile.

The book event on Monday further affirmed that within me and before I go any further, I must say that the word that comes to mind with the whole evening was simply "lovely". Everything from the chapters that Shauna read to the conversation that followed, it was a blessing to be part of it and having Molly by my side as the perfect companion made it even sweeter. We have both been so blessed by Shauna's writing and it just affirmed what we knew was true, that words shared have meaning and that stories matter.


And so does creating, so I am going to spend part of my evening scouring my favorite craft sites to see what I can be inspired by. I have some friends who just started making their own homemade vanilla extract for gifts, in cute little glass jars (I didn't know vanilla beans + vodka + time= vanilla but it is true!). I have considered doing some type of food related gifts, like taking balls jars and filling them in layers with soup mix, or even better, the ingredients for something sweet. I am convinced there is a way to update this gift idea in a way that isn't country bumpkinish. Maybe updated labels or including a fun whisk or mixing spoon would add some flair?

pics taken from this site

With that in mind, here is a little giveaway to get your creative juices flowing. I also have on hand a few little embellishments of my own from Uppercase Living (like a chocolate brown pine cone sticker that needs to find a new home on a vase filled with something fun--will post pics when I find that perfect thing).



This "family" embellishment is all yours, in either black or cream and I think it would look wonderful on a frame with a black & white pic, on a wall collage, on a platter for your mother-in-law or even on an old shabby chic window as such:


I want to know what you are inspired by and creating right now! Also open to other DIY Christmas gifts! Leave me some inspiration in the form of a comment by Monday night at 6 p.m. to enter. Happy Creating!

cottage life

This weekend was an unexpected getaway for Ryan and I and we spent the whole weekend at my grandparent's cottage, just the two of us and Toby of course. We did nothing more than take naps, read, talk and eat good food. It is a MUST to have a bowl of ice cream every night around 9:45 at the cottage...We haven't had any time with Ryan's school schedule and such to do that since Israel and it makes such a difference to just breathe deeply for a few days.

I didn't even take any pictures intentionally so that we would just enjoy the slow life and that we successfully did. Our one outing included a trip to the local small town theater to see this movie:

and oh my goodness, the cast was amazing.

I loved the depth of the plot and would encourage you to check it out yourself. Leonardo has really flourished as an actor, in my humble opinion, since the original days of Titanic. Not that I saw it 3 times in the theater or memorized many lines from it in high school or anything. Regardless, it was a talented bunch and a great thrill from beginning to end.

I also realized this weekend that my fast food snobbery is turning around thanks to McDonald's new smoothies and the good ole snack wraps. Not sure this is something to be proud of but more of a confession that you can't knock it till you try it...

And last but not least...a giveaway winner!! Happy that after all of her entries in past giveaways, Bethany will now be rocking this flower in her hair, on her summertime bag or wherever she pleases:

whelmed.

I think I may be experiencing some post-mission's trip whiplash. Life always rushes in and seems to fill up the cracks of free time after being gone for a week! So as I sit here and listen to a major storm brewing outside the windows of my old house, here are a few updates from the week...and a giveaway as the icing on the cake.

1. As of yesterday, I am no longer the proud owner of a Jeep Liberty. It's true, this beauty now belongs to a very lucky 17 year old boy across town.

She will now drive him to football practice and homecoming and to the last few beach days before his senior year. It's a good thing, parting with the Jeep as the gas was expensive and I didn't need an SUV anymore but a bit painful in ways as I feel like we are taking some steps to downsize life a bit. the rubber meeting the road on some emotions we have been having for awhile but there is always a little screech with the separation. just being honest.

2. I found out about this book this week and my heart is jumping to read it. I am really missing our time in Israel in deep ways as I continue to process the things God taught me there about Himself. (PS...Sarah's dad wrote this....hi Sarah)

In The Land Between, author Jeff Manion uses the biblical story of the Israelite's journey through Sinai desert as a metaphor for being in undesired, transitional space. . You can read the rest of the summary on Amazon here:

3. Last but not least...a giveaway that is LONG overdue. Remember when I posted this picture:

Well I am still kind of obsessed with hair accessories this summer and been talking to the designer of my fancy feather flower and she is going to bless someone with their own little fancy flower. So...here are the three choices up for grabs and one person will win the flower of their choice! Check out more at her Lira Creations facebook page as well!

Take a peek & check out the description below each flower-- then let me know which is your fave and why! I will choose a winner on Sunday night so have fun dreaming up your next fashion statement and leave a comment to win.

Fascinator Daisy in amazing turquoise and crystals. Accented with a Curly Ostrich Feather. Flower measures 5" across and is attached to a pressure clip for security.

Hawaiian Tropics.... This is a simple and stately variegated yellow flower with hand beaded crystals and pearls in shades of green, yellow and peach. It measures 4" across.

Bigger, bolder, better! This is a 3.5" luminescent dogwood hair piece accented by hand strung pearls and crystals. True flower color is more of an off white.

loving where you live

I think my pulse just picked up a little as I started writing. I always get excited/nervous to pick a winner for anything, even when I use a random method.

And I want to say before I do so that I LOVED reading about places people love and think that the list is worthwhile keeping for summer days and trips to new towns. Here were some common themes:
farmer's markets, little corner shops, places to find great gifts, wineries, corner pubs, early bird specials...the list goes on here

But more than that, almost everyone defined their favorite places with emotions and conversations and connection. Just proves that the places we love are even better with good friends and the memories that they signify. Thank you for sharing those places with ME and in turn giving me a little snapshot into your memories.

And now, before I continue to get sappy....here we go... a delicious bag of Good Life Granola is going to LUCKY NUMBER 7!

Candace said...
"Well you see i love zeeland(my home) and holland. So i would say bringing my son to zeeland bakery for a donut but also as a family we love to pick up our coffee at JPS as we walk down to the farmers market! Which i am so excited for and now i have something new to add to my list when i go!"

state love/ all things local giveaway

I love Michigan. understatement. How many other states do you know where people know the state motto and several websites by heart?
Such as my favorites:
michigan.org, Pure Michigan, Great Lakes, Great Times..and the new revamped one. Smitten with the Mitten including it's own brand found over at Michigan Awesome:

I have truly come to appreciate the little lake towns and wineries and coffee shops that have become favorites in many places this side of the state. Like the Holland Peanut store where I took these girls when they visited last summer, or the little shops that we strolled through when we stayed local for spring break.

Something that I have really come to look forward to is the local farmer's market that sets up shop 2 days a week right down the street from my office. And it was there, at that very market last fall where Ryan and I discovered this:

Only the best bag of granola ever. And the people were really nice at the booth too, letting us take 2 samples of it because we came as they were closing. There is such a tasty sweetness and crunch to it that after we bought it on Saturday morning...I think it was gone by Tuesday of that week. It found its way into muffins and parfaits and I think mostly just our bare hands shoveling it into our mouths. Neither of us have confessed yet to finishing off the bag. I was at JP's the other day and there it was again. So...being the little local cheerleader that I am, I emailed the Good Life Granola people about my happiness with their granola...and they are giving a bag to you.

In turn, I want to know your favorite local places to go wherever you live. Is it a particular coffee shop that makes you feel cozy or a local market or pub around the corner? What makes you love where you live?

Share your thoughts until Friday night @ midnight because Saturday morning someone is going to wake up one step closer to a bowl of granola in their belly...

pendant love

I loved reading all of your Valentine's memories and connected with so many of you on how dearly your Mom loved you and made the day special as well as dad-daughter events and special memories with friends and boyfriends.

In the end, I pulled my own Valentine in and had him read each of your stories, unbiased and really not too sappy for "love-day". And despite his bent toward resisting "Hallmark" holiday moments, he really liked many of them but Molly- your's took the cake. Here is what she said:

My favorite V-Day memory is probably when I was in Cairo with YWAM, and the boys on our team decided that the girls needed to feel loved while we were all so far from home. They arranged a special dinner for us at a restaurant on a riverboat on the Nile, and had flowers and Valentine's waiting for everyone when we arrived. Then, they wrote and played us a song all about being God's beloved--still makes us all smile, four years after the fact. It was amazing, that a few young guys could bless us in a completely platonic and friendly way--and that they would have the insight to focus on and remind us of God's love for us on such a romantic kind of day.



Molly choose the feather baby pendant from Inspired Pendants and I think she will love it. I want to encourage the rest of us to shop around their site as a portion of their proceeds during the 1st week of March are going to their church missions trip to Brazil.

Speaking of love, I need to spend some time this week resting in God's love and am going to take a little break from writing here in order to write in my journal and Bible for the next 7 days. resting in the truth of His Love.

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

L is for the way you look at me.

Cheesy I know but some parts of Valentine's Day just have to be to get the full value out of the holiday. I don't feel like writing about regular old life right now and am happy to blog about a fun giveaway instead.

Before I go all giveaway crazy and tell you what it is...a few things to catch you up on for the sake of L-O-V-E. Like my lovely sister in law, who after hearing my obsessing over nature and birds made me this:

my very own bird nest, modeled by me:


on to the goodies though. Since I love my necklace, I thought it would be fun to give you a little Valentine's Day bling as well. I just love showing off my crafty friends & blessing the few of you who read my thoughts. I guess it goes back to my desire to give thoughtful and unique gifts.

Without further ado. I present to you the loveliness of Inspired Pendants , the brainchild of Ami & Christy (I have known Ami since I was 12). There are so many options to choose from
and you can shop your little heart out here

Here are two of my personal favorites that I can imagine wearing with jeans and a white tank on a summer's night. Sounds really good right now as the snow piles grow higher and higher.



Head over to their new website to find your own personal favorite. Then come back here and I want to know the best Valentine's day memory you have along with your pendant choice. You have until Saturday at midnight to enter & I will have my Valentine help me determine the winner & share my best Valentine's memories as well. Go!

gobble gobble gobble...

already thinking turkey but thought I would jump on tonight and share the new lucky fashionista who will be rocking one of Abby's cowls!
I will give you a clue...she is in the picture below:

Mandii, Suzie, Emily and I at her rehearsal dinner last year.
I bet the anticipation is killing you so here it is....Suzie it's all you girl! Can't wait to see what you choose! Thanks everyone for your participation.

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

you know you wanna!

It is your last chance to enter the giveaway for one of Abby's gorgeous handmade cowl! Check out the original post here to enter by 6 PM on Turkey Day Eve (Wednesday).

Remember, you can enter twice by re-posting about it on your own blog or facebook and letting me know! Can't wait to draw a winner before the cold days come through round here. This seems to be the fave pick so far:

I promised and here it is

meet Abby, from whom creativity spills over. Abby and I went to Taylor University together (yah Olson Hall) and I have always loved the spirit and energy she has. I found her blog a few years ago and have enjoyed watching her family grow as she is now the happy momma to two little ones.
Isn't she beautiful?!

She will be giving away one of her beautiful handmade cowls that come in so many gorgeous colors and as you know, I am obsessed with scarves (as seen here and here) so I think it is a great option. Wear it with a plain sweater, your favorite printed coat, a long sleeve tee. Possibilities are endless. For your chance to win one of Abby's creation, go to her etsy shop between now and Wednesday and come back to let me know which is your favorite. You may also blog and/or facebook about this giveaway and comment with your link for another entry!

And remember how I mentioned that I would have a partner in this one. Well for those of you who live in the Wheaton/Naperville area, Alicia is going to share with you details on Abby's upcoming local appearances and some special deals just for you!

Have a great weekend! Can't wait to see which is your favorite.

it's been awhile

...since I have done a giveaway! And I LOVE the blogger and the handmade item that she will be giving away to one lucky friend. Curious yet?! All I can say is that you will love it too. No more clues for now about who she is and what you will win...until Saturday.

I will tell you though that I will have a partner in crime on this giveaway. So while you anxiously await more info...I invite you to check out Alicia's blog here in the to get to know her a little better. She & I met about 4 years ago or so...her mom & dad photographed our wedding and her mom is good friends with Ryan's mom. Let's all sing "its a small world after all" in a round, shall we? I think you will see Alicia's fresh perspective on life and the journey God has her on. So we will make a fun pair for this little giveaway for YOU. Blessings! It is almost Friday!

and the winner is....

drumroll please...Marcie from Our Days is going to have a chalk bunting all of her own to enjoy with her kiddos and for celebrations! Marcie, you may email me at bekah_wallace@yahoo.com for more details and thank you to everybody who voted, I always love hearing what you would choose.

If you didn't win over here, remember to jump on over to Daisys and Dots until Sunday and enter a giveaway featuring yours truly! Enjoy the weekend friends! I am up early and off to a craft show, my new second life I suppose. I will post pics soon of some of the fun things I have been working on and debating with Ryan about keeping. I guess he is right, that kind of defeats the purpose.

don't be shy

I sense some lurking going on around here...and I love it! According to Google Analytics, alot more of you are visiting here than entering giveaways and I say, what do you have to lose?! Just a little reminder, you have until Friday night to pick something out in hopes that it will be yours! Read below for details...

back to school giveaway!

I don't know it was the extra night we spent up North prolonging summer or the rows of pencils and notebooks at Walmart that put the back to school spirit in my step, but I am feeling it. And as much as I would love an excuse to hang a new bulletin board in my entry way and line up my Trapper Keeper just right on my desk, I will refrain.

However, in the spirit of back to school and fall goodness, I am pulling out a giveaway that has been in the works via facebook emails since early August. I was waiting for the right time and today feels like it has come. So, without any further ado...here is your opportunity at some very fun and crafty goodness.

I think I first came across Daisys & Dots through the wonderful world known as ETSY and from there, began following her work, dreaming of ways to celebrate with her designs. Head on over there and check some of them out yourself here:



AND...AND...AND...Daisys & Dots made the Modern Bride Top 100 Things We Love List in the Aug/Sep edition! So the lovely Trish, the heart and hands behind "Daisys & Dots" has invited us to be part of that celebration, to have her cake and eat it too. hehe. forgive the pun (Kelly, Bethany & Emily are giggling right now I am sure).


What does all of this mean for you? Head on over to Daisys & Dots Etsy this week and check out all of the goodies. Let me know what your FAVORITE thing is and one lucky reader will win any ONE thing up to a $30 value. You have until Friday night at midnight to enter so have fun.

Here is my current fave for inspiration. I know, I know, Christmas is FAR away but I think these would look so cute as little party favors at a brunch or any little table setting.

Sunday night goodness

what a refreshing weekend; bookended by good times with new friends including a bonfire on Friday night @ the Davidson's (who are going to have their 3rd child tomorrow morning and still invited us over)! And then tonight an impromptu spaghetti dinner with our new friend Laura from EGM. Sandwiched in the middle of those 2 things was a great Saturday spent at home with the exception of a trip with my boys to the dog park.

I wanted to make sure and hold to my word with my blogging for books giveaway! Thanks for all of the great feedback, so reassuring to know others experience the same joys & struggles. Janna is the lucky winner of this one but stay tuned, there will be more coming this fall!

sweet cheeky designs

I love it when I stumble upon freebies and giveaways & recently discovered this blog. It is my own little way for making up for my lack of effort and skill in coupon cutting, trying to win stuff for free!

In honor of her first year, the designer @ Sweet Cheeky Designs is giving away 2 free blogs. And I would love if one was yours, and one was mine



All you have to do to enter is go to her page before July 9th & either start following or leave a comment! Good luck to you...and to me...

drumroll please...

thanks friends for all of your entries! It was fun to read where each of you would spend yours if you were the winner and learn a little about you through your comments.

But now the time has come for comments to end and to announce that thanks to Random.org, the winner is...Torie . I had to go random because I really wanted to share my birthday with y'all. I loved the southern accent and culture I experienced in Florida this weekend and am trying to integrate it into my very Midwestern life- don't mind me.

Torie- enjoy your date night with your hubby or a girls night over coffee- whichever you choose!