How-To for Punches

If any of you punch a bunch, like me...then I'm sure you have a few punches that are dull and won't punch as cleanly as they did when you first purchased them. To resharpen your punches, all you need to do is grab a few pieces of tin foil and punch punch punch till you feel like your punches are clean. In the photo above, I've used waxed paper and punched until I felt like my circle punch would punch out a clean circle. Voila, it did! 

Now go grab your inexpensive tools from your kitchen and clean your punches!

Mug Exchange with Stephany

I joined in yet another mug exchange with Stephany who blogs over at Our Hyder Home, previously known as The Midnight Hershey...

and it was a double joy when I opened my package to find not one but TWO fabulous coffee mugs and a hand made coffee sleeve from the amazing Danielle, who blogs over at Sweet Southern Girl. 

I've used them both several times over, thanks lady, you ROCK!!

if you's like to see the mug I mailed to Danielle, check out her blog post HERE.

Sponsor ShoutOut

My very first Sponsor ShoutOut goes to Kimberly who blogs over at A Night Owl Blog.

Kimberly is a Mama to two adorable little boys, wife to an amazing hubby and is an avid blogger with some serious people skills. I thought it'd be fun to ask her a few questions, so that you could get to know her too! And if you haven't checked out her BLOG, please do so, she's always got something cool going on!

are you a lefty or righty? righty

how many owls do you currently own? no idea! i'm sure at least a dozen. my husband says i'm going to be the "crazy owl lady" if i keep bringing them home!

what was your favorite article of clothing in high school? nothing stands out in high school, i do remember being crazy for "Bongo" when i was in jr high.

current obsession? other than owls, coffee and instagram

Costume Contest and Giveaway with Kelley

It's almost Halloween!! 

and if you enjoy dressing up as much as I do, or just need a costume idea, then I'm glad you stopped by! 

Enter your costume in our first annual Halloween Costume Contest! The winner creeps away with a Hobby Lobby gift card, yipee! The rules are simple. Enter your costume or costumes and encourage your friends to vote for their favorites. Link up Monday, voting starts Tuesday and continues Wednesday. The winner will be crowned Thursday. And remember.....

 enter if you dare! Mwahahaha...

Halloween Costumes

Halloween isn't here yet BUT I've dressed up twice and am fully enjoying this time of the year when I can 'pretend' with fun costumes and have date nights with my hubby. Now seriously, who doesn't like to dress up? Okay okay, don't be a Debbie Downer...there are hats and funny t-shirts that say "this IS my costume", so if you're not one for the full shebang, pick up something little and let the kid inside of you come out! Above all, have fun! 

October Group Giveaway with Kelley

Did somebody say Tar-Jaay? It's time for another group giveaway with Kelley, who blogs over at The Grant Life. Kelley and her lovely sponsors have teamed up for the month of October and have an $85 Target Giftcard ready and waiting for ONE lucky winner to get a head start on his/her Christmas shopping...or whatever you want to spend your giftcard on, there are so many choices and that dang dollar bin gets me every time!

So really, what are you waiting for? Enter the rafflecopter below and don't forget to tweet EVERY DAY for more entries, good luck!!

Contest is open to US and Canada residents.  Ends 12:01 AM on November 8, 2012.  Chance of winning is based on entries. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Orange Organza Fall Wreath

I've been so inspired by all the fun wreaths out there in internet lala land that I decided to make another to add to my fall/halloween decor. I picked up everything I needed at Joann's Fabric Store (only because Hobby Lobby was closed that day) and got to work cutting strips of organza. 

I started off tying two dark, one light orange and so on...until I ran out of organza and there my wreath sat (for about two weeks, mind you) till I remembered to pick up two more rolls.

The black flower was in the dollar bin at Joann's and I picked it up, thinking it would be a fun addition to just pin onto the finished wreath. After fluffing and spinning the knots this way and that, so as to disguise them a bit, I hung this sweet little "fall" paper banner behind the wreath, with bakers twine.

And here's my new DIY creation hanging on our front door...the perfect Welcome when we arrive HOME (and don't enter through the garage, haahaa)

Happy Fall Y'all!!

I'm entering this wreath at the following blog linky parties:

Create and Inspire with A Night Owl Blog

Twirl and Take a Bow with House on the Way

Make the Scene Monday with Alderberry Hill
Sundae Scoop with I {heart} Nap Time
Whimsy Wednesdays with The NY Melrose Family

Show Me What Ya Got with Not Just a Housewife

Tuesday Time Out with Reasons To Skip The Housework

$75 Target Gift Card Giveaway with Kimberly

Welcome to the A Night Owl October Sponsor Giveaway!

 

Today the sponsors and friends of A Night Owl are joining up to bring you a whopping $75 gift card to Target! Just in time for the holidays! If any of you are NOT Target obsessed, then you clearly need to get your head checked, haha! What are you waiting for? Enter today via the Rafflecopter form below!

Open in the USA and Canada.

Ends at 11:59pm EST on Sunday, October 28th, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#mustache topper giveaway with Maria-Isabel

Hi y'all....this month is chalked full of giveaways and I hope to keep that smile on your face! Cause really, who doesn't like a giveaway??

Check my sidebar if you've missed a few of the giveaway posts.

If you are a fan of mustaches and cupcakes, then head on over to Mommy Made and enter to win 24 mustache cupcake toppers from LeroyLime AND a $10 Starbucks Giftcard. 

Good luck!

#ACraftersDream Christmas Giveaway

 

Can you believe there are only 64 days till Christmas??  I've been humming Christmas tunes in my head and can't wait till Thanksgiving night to start decorating for my favorite holiday of the year! I'm so excited to bring you A Crafter's Dream Christmas Giveaway! This giveaway is hosted by My Merry Messy Life, Earning-My-Cape and Tutus & Tea Parties and has a Christmas, crafting, and supporting small business theme! Each blogger is offering her/his own giveaway worth $25 or more going on now through Sunday, November 4, 2012.

Do you like handmade gifts? But can't seem to find the time or know-how to make something for everyone on your list? Well, you're in luck! Some of the blogs in the giveaway group will be giving away handmade items while others will be giving away awesome crafting supplies! A few of the blogs will also be highlighting small businesses and offering giveaway items for them. This is a great opportunity to support small businesses and shops who offer handmade items! Even if you don't win the giveaway, we hope that you will keep small businesses in mind when shopping for that perfect gift for your special someone.

Dawn (that's me) from LeroyLime has paired up with my childhood friend Joanna, from Sparrow and Poppies and we will be giving you the following FOUR prizes!!

Prize Details

1. Noel Holiday Rosette Banner : Each Rosette measures 4-1/2 inches and spells the word "NOEL". Letters are heat embossed in white, with two embossed reindeer. Valued at $35 when you include shipping and handling.

1. $10 Gift card to Hobby Lobby, make sure you enter your email address so I have a way to contact you when you WIN!

1. Fabric Banner : Spelling the word "LOVE". Valued at $25 when you include shipping and handling.

1. Holiday Headwrap, valued at $15 when you include shipping and handling. 

All prizes will be shipped directly to the winners, price of shipping is included in giveaways!!

The giveaway is open to US residents only.

Good luck!

$35 Noel Holiday Rosette Banner from LeroyLime

$10 Hobby Lobby Giftcard

 $25 Banner from Sparrows and Poppies

$15 Holiday Headwrap from Sparrows and Poppies

Note:
Sparrows and Poppies is currently open on their Facebook fan page. If you head over and become a fan, you can take a look through all of the custom items Joanna has been making. 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now you can hop from blog to blog entering as many giveaways as you want!

Etsy Giftcards

ETSY giftcards are HERE!!!

Give a gift card to a friend, and win one for yourself! Purchase an Etsy Gift Card before November 14 and you'll be entered to win a $250 gift card.* 

I don't know about the rest of you but I am über excited about this, can you tell?! Perfect for the hard to buy friend, relative, co-worker, teacher, newly wed, graduate and neighbor. The Etsy-obsessed, craft-hoarder, vintage-guru, baby-maker and anyone who enjoys a one-of-a-kind handmade or vintage treasure!

To celebrate this exciting launch, Etsy is holding an Etsy Gift Card Giveaway! Everyone who buys an Etsy gift card between now and November 14 will be entered to win a $250 gift card! Etsy will be drawing four winners a week at random and will email the lucky winners by November 20. Buy a gift card now for a chance to treat yourself or use it to get a head-start on your holiday shopping. What are you waiting for?? 

 *No purchase necessary to enter. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, age 18 or older. Entries must be received between 12:01 AM ET on 10/14/12 and 11:59:59 PM ET on 11/13/12. Weekly drawings from entries received Tues – Mon. Go to etsy.me/sweepsrules for Official Rules. Sponsor: Etsy, Inc.

photo credit Etsy 

October Giveaway with Stephanie

Welcome to another giveaway!!! This one has been put together by the stunning Stephanie, who blogs over at The Vintage Modern Wife  

If you haven't checked her out, please do, she's seriously sweet and 100% real!

Here's what she has to say to all of you...

Hello my lovely readers! October is barely halfway through and this blog has had so many awesome opportunities come its way this month. I am SO thankful for wonderful readers and even MORE wonderful, sponsors. I love my sponsors to pieces and I even added several awesome friends to this giveaway just because I knew you'd love their blogs/shops. I TRULY hope that you'll actually get to know these girls and not just add them because of the giveaway. Now, let's make this a great giveaway! 

Jessica is giving away this Thirty-One Clutch

11:11 Apparel is giving away their Wild Young Hearts pullover

Dawn is giving away a Boo or Spooky Banner (your choice)  from her Etsy shop, Leroy Lime! 

Jennifer is giving away a coffee cozy with the pattern of your choice from her Etsy shop, Homespun Happiness

Chelsea is giving away a custom post signature!

Meg is giving away a grey headwrap from her Etsy shop, Cozy Couture

Carly is giving away 3 months of 200x200 ad space. Amazing!

Allison is giving away a fall leaf pillow cover from her Etsy shop, Nest 2 Impress (your choice of color)

Tara (have you visited her site from the bottom of each post this month?) is giving away a skinny wrap from It Works! 

Lindsay is giving away the Bee's Knees blog design package from her site, Jennie called Jane. Psst- she designed my blog! 

Holli is giving away this set of EOS lipbalm and a nail polish pen! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bride, Bingo and Babies

 Still can't believe we've lived back in ND since July! The time is flying and I'm sure it has something to do with me keeping busy as a little bee with the Internet, I'm slightly obsessed!

Here's a little recap via Instagram, hence the grainy pics...but you've gotta love the convenience factor.

We took a roadtrip to the Tri-State area for a wedding, my hubby's relatives live in all three states. It was nice to see who we could and let the kids hang with two of their Great Grandma's. 

 Of course you can't have a road trip without these necessities, Starbucks and Chocolate....need I say more?

my hunky date for the wedding, isn't he a dreamy?!

the outfit...and yes, I pulled off "Footloose" dancing in those heels

The Stunning Bride and Handsome Groom

(we've got another lady Braun in the family, yipee)

I snuck out one night to play BINGO with my hubs Gma Toots. She's in her 90's and as quick as a whip! We both got lucky too, so fun!

We took a different drive back to Minot stopping by our old house in Grand Forks, she still stands red, tall and proud with a new fence too...great memories!!

and of course filling Etsy shop orders

What have you all been up to?

Facebook Hop with Chelsea

Welcome back this week for another round of the Facebook hop!

Leave your email address to be notified every week before
the link-up goes live as a reminder! Never be at the bottom of the list again ;)

If you would like to be a co-host in the future, please send an email to chelsea@yourstrulyblog.com and let me know what type of hop {Twitter, Facebook, GFC, Bloglovin'} you'd most like to co-host!

<center> <a href="http://www.yourstrulyblog.com/search/label/hop" target="_blank"><img src="http://imageshack.us/a/img15/7789/returnthefavorhop.png" /></a></center>

Follow your host & co-hosts

Share the hop with others, whether it be via Twitter, Facebook, your blog, etc!
Come link up with @chelseaoliviaxo for the Facebook hop to find new friends! http://www.yourstrulyblog.com/2012/10/return-favor-hop-week-12-facebook.html
Feel free to copy the code for the button from above and put it up on your blog.

Take a couple minutes to visit some other people who have linked up and let them know you stopped by from the Return The Favor hop - and hopefully they will return the favor!

Chelsea from Yours Truly
Nicole from Me + The Moon
Amanda from mommy is coocoo
Ami from AliLily
Dawn from LeroyLime
Katie from Loverly She
Tess from The Framed Lady
Jen from Frazzled 5

Mug Swap with Heatherly Loves

I had so much fun with a mug swap last month, I signed up for TWO this month! 

I was given the lovely Rose, who blogs over at A Rosie Sweet Home, as my secret stalker. After reading her sweet love story and checking out her Blog and Pinterest, I knew I had to find something soft, pretty and to match her sweet personality. I forgot to take a picture of her mug before I mailed it, oops!

But this snazzy mug arrived in the mail, holding the surprise of who sent it. Of course, my hubby wanted to stake his claim on it, so I told him Staches off to you if you can snag it first in the morning, hehe! I just love all the different staches and who used to wear them, so cool!

I did get a blog comment asking if I had received my mustache mug, from the wonderful Rose, I didn't realize we had gotten each other! Thanks again, I LOVE it!!