The Ivy Twines

P&G Baby Essentials {Sam's Club $25 giveaway}

2012-02-02T09:02:00.001-07:00

What's your shopping style? Do you buy in bulk, or do you purchase smaller sizes? We do a little of both, because we're almost 2 hours from the nearest "big city". Our trips to town almost always include a trip to Sam's Club, to stock up on the essentials, especially what we need for our kiddos!

February brings a great deal to Sam's Club from the P&G product line: pick any two of the following products and receive a $10 Sam's Club giftcard! {also redeemable at Walmart!}

Pampers® Swaddlers® or Pampers Cruisers® Diapers

Pampers SoftCare™ Scented Baby Wipes

Similac® Advance® Powder or Similac Sensitive® Powder

Dreft® Liquid Laundry Detergent

Having at least one kiddo in diapers for the last 4 years or so, I've found that warehouse clubs like Sam's Club offer the best prices on baby gear, among many other things!

I'd also suggest checking out the P&G line of products and their facebook pages, as they are always offering up promotions, coupons, and more! So be in the know!! :)

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and P&G, a very lucky reader will be able to score a $25 gift card to Sam's Club/Walmart!

{click "read more" to enter the giveaway via rafflecopter!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: The Sam’s Club Gift Card and information have been provided by Sam’s Club and P&G through MyBlogSpark.

I love you Valentine! {tiny prints valentine's cards!}

2012-01-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for the perfect Valentine Cards to send this year? My very favorite source for the most unique designs and styles, Tiny Prints might just have what you are looking for!

Although we've sent Valentines to our friends and family before, this will be our first year of having a class, our preschool co-op, to celebrate the day with! Now I know you can find Valentines Day Greeting Cards practically anywhere, but Tiny Prints offers tons of really sweet designs that are pretty hard to resist!

Our usual celebration of Valentine's Day is pretty laid back! My husband and I usually just give the girls a basket of goodies and all things pink, which we're very used to around here! :) Otherwise it's a day without too much fanfare!

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Any good traditions/ideas for the special day?

Check out Tiny Prints on the web:

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest

In exchange for this post, Tiny Prints is offering me 50 classroom cards! All opinions are my own and honest!

Red Barn Scrapbook {handmade camera straps}

2012-01-27T08:26:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to introduce you to my favorite location for all things photography: Red Barn Scrapbook!

Whether it's a handmade wristlet strap for a point and shoot...

... or a ruffled camera strap {how about this adorable Minnie Mouse variety?} for your dslr camera, Red Barn Scrapbook is a shop filled to the brims with handmade eye candy!

Kim, the creator of these fabulous strap, brings a great uniqueness to the world of handmade camera straps, with some quilted, some ruffles, some fabric flowers, and the fabric itself is fantastic! I love this Farmer in the Dell camera strap!

One of the chances of ordering handmade is the quality. Well my friends, the quality from Red Barn Scrapbook is outstanding! My camera goes through quite a bit of tugging and meeting the outdoor elements, and this little baby has been incredible! And don't you worry about having to wait to receive your pretty camera strap... Kim's turnaround time is extremely fast! She'll have you stylin' in no time!

Along with the fab camera straps and wristlets, Kim also creates beautiful digital scrapbooks with Heritage Makers. How cute is this valentine's letter art? Stay tuned for more greatness from Heritage Makers! :)

Seriously... I am in LOVE with these! They are like mini-quilts for your camera! Since they are so easy to get on and off, I'm thinking my camera needs one for every season! :)

Don't you love my pink beauty? It's super comfortable, with incredibly strong seams, and I love how it's an actual strap -- not just a cover! How cute is that label too! {Plus, have you ever experienced a plush minky on a camera strap? It's heaven-sent!}

You can't get much better than this! :)

And YOU CAN WIN ONE TOO! The very sweet Kim is offering a camera strap of the winner's choice to a very lucky reader of The Ivy Twines! Yay!

{click "read more" to enter the giveaway via rafflecopter!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading Kingdom {review!}

2012-01-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

My four year old, Ella, has been super interested in learning and school ever since we started out own preschool co-op this fall. Since I'm home with the girls, I try to squeeze in learning opportunities whenever I can, but I also embrace other mediums, especially "techy" ones that can help teach my kids how to utilize technology and learn, too! Reading Kingdom is fabulous mix of fun and games, with online interactive reading programs based on each individual child! The preschool has proven to be a great start for introducing the basics, and ever since I've discovered Reading Kingdom, she's been diving into her "reading" even more!

Reading Kingdom totally customizes its programs to your learners, after evaluating where your child is and developing goals! From there, it's all up to you!

We especially love that the lessons are short, and perfect for a preschooler's attention span, but if Ella wants to keep clicking around and learning, she sure can, and she enjoys to find the extras in each lesson.

If you're looking for way to introduce letters and reading for a kiddo in your life, consider the Reading Kingdom membership! Good for all learners -- early readers, struggling readers, and accelerated readers -- and easy to gift, too!

Here's a quick peek into how the Reading Kingdom program looks with my sweet little Ella!

This is Ella's first time using the keyboard and mouse for something specific like this. She's used my Macbook a tiny bit, and both girls have used the iPad quite a bit. So this is something very new to her. I love how interactive and encouraging Reading Kingdom is, and it's definitely challenging without being frustrating! And if you know any four year olds, you know that you'll try to avoid frustrations! :) I would recommend this highly!

We would love to see Reading Kingdom as an iPad/Android app too!

James Morrison {new music}

2012-01-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for new music, since I'm a way out of my college "cool music" years, and so I was so excited when Stunt Company introduced me to the soothing sounds of James Morrison!

Here he is with Jessie J in his single "Up". Love it!

He's currently the one of the top selling UK male artists, so you may want to give yourself a little listen! He's got a great soul-filled voice, kind of reminding me of Adam Levine, Jason Mraz, and maybe a little like the Fray too. Pretty much a mixture of my very favorite singers ever. :)

Seriously... l.o.v.e.

What's your favorite new {or new to you:)} music?

basic browns {outfit}

2012-01-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday! It's another day of preschool for us, and although the temp is pretty nice, we've got a nice dose of high winds... gusts of up to 80 mph. Cold mountain winds = comfy layers and hair pulled back for me!

camera strap: Red Barn Scrapbook

necklace: from a friend teaching in China

top: the limited

jeans: rock and republic via zulily

boots: tj maxx

{just a quick note about ordering from zulily: I really like my jeans, and they were a great price, but they took forever to ship. I've ordered from them before, and had a similar experience too. So if you're hoping for something with a fast turnaround, you might not want to choose these guys!}

I love love LOVE my new camera strap! It's got a great print, and then it's soft plush on the inside! Check out Red Barn Scrapbook for tons of other prints and styles {even ones with ruffles!} and check back tomorrow for a very awesome chance to win your very own custom camera strap!

I'm sporting my glasses today because I've run out of contacts and need to get myself an appointment made. :) But, I just wanted to mention Coastal Contacts as a great place to buy super affordable glasses. If you like them on Facebook, they'll often put out codes for free glasses, lenses included, and you only pay shipping! I purchased these frames, took a chance since I didn't even try them on, and ended up loving them! No, they're not paying me to say anything about them, I was just super impressed and saved a day of trying on glasses at the docs! :)

Where are your favorite places to shop online? I'd love to hear them!

Can't wait to see what everyone else is wearing this week! :)

{these sweet ladies featured me from last week! love them!!}

DIY Letter Art {tutorial}

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Here's a short little tutorial for anyone wanting to create a little bit of personalized alphabet art on their own! It's super easy -- the hardest part is choosing which letters to use! :)

1. First, start over at Leo Reynold's flickr site, where you'll find all sorts of collections {letters, numbers, shapes, buildings, etc} and save those to your computer. This might take you the most time because there are just SO many!

{please note that these photos are for personal use only!}

2. Once you have your letters together, head on over to Picnik. They just announced that they will be merging with Google+ in April 2012, and so all the premium features are now free! This makes it super simple to make custom collages!

3. Once you log in to Picnik, you can upload your letters, and then get to the add a collage page. Here you can adjust columns and rows, line spacing, background colors... everything!

4. Now -- simply put it all together!

5. Click done, and save your file to your desktop, and print it however you'd like! I think I'm going to print my girls' names and put in a 4x12 frame in their room! I am also brainstorming on creations for possible wedding gifts! I'm also working on a family est. sign too! The possibilities are endless!! :)

Here are some examples of what I've made:

And check out what my sweet sister created? I love it!! {and am currently trying to copy it! :) :)}

Let me know what you're creating! I am having so much fun making these, I'd love to hear your ideas!

Wouldn't this look great in a Poppy Tree Frame? :)

love you forever {free printable}

2012-01-19T14:27:00.003-07:00

I've been playing around with an awesome flickr site that has tons of letters, numbers, and other elements to use! I was creating a couple wedding gifts and baby gifts, when I decided to make a little printable for you!

So, in the spirit of love day coming up and one of our very favorite books, feel free to download this and print it out -- it's an 8x10. Here it is in a frame at our house:

Happy Thursday, all!

cowboy boots {outfit}

2012-01-18T14:47:00.002-07:00

Happy Wednesday! ... more boots! :)

These little puppies also came from Rue La La, {here is where I profess my love for them } and also were such a steal! I just love them!

Technically this is what I wore Sunday, because today is a wee bit colder {-8} and we're packing on the layers. I've always been a leggings kind of girl, so when I found out about fleece lined legging I almost fainted. I love them SO much! Where have I been? :)

dress - target

necklace and bracelet - Forever 21

rings - straight from Ireland

fleece lined leggings - tj maxx

ariat boots - rue la la

{psst! rue la la just had a sale on ariat boots this weekend, so I would be it goes into their final sale soon!!}

and linking up at these lovely places!!

workout motivation {on the vine}

2012-01-16T16:25:00.002-07:00

Happy Monday!

Hope you had a lovely weekend and are gearing up for a great week. The girls and I are pretty excited for the little snow we got last night, and are ready to play outside! Anyway, here are some great little workout plans and motivation I have found for myself, and I thought I'd share!

Source: coolrunning.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Couch to 5k plan!

Source: wholeliving.com via Bethany on Pinterest

I thought this was a pretty neat plan, and very comprehensive!

Source: sidebysideblog.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

A short and sweet workout... pretty easy to remember too!

Source: amybayliss.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Food/workout journals.

Source: theprojectgirl.com via Bethany on Pinterest

...and more printables.

I thought I'd share sparkpeople.com as a great resource for weight loss, and it even has a neat little app to take with you on the go!

What resources have you found? Any other apps/websites I'm missing that are good? Do tell!

Poppy Tree Frames {grand opening and giveaway!}

2012-01-13T10:16:00.001-07:00

Since you probably already know I'm a huge fan of anything that shows of your favorite photos with handmade unique frames, I'm so excited to help announce the grand opening of Poppy Tree Frames! Let me show you a little eye candy...

Revery Frame - love this print and color!

Eternal Frame... how cool is that?

And how about creating a gallery wall with these great Poppy Tree designs? These are the new Nebula frames... I just love them!!

With 18 frame designs, 42 color choices, and 49 prints, you options are almost endless! Think of all the fun ways you can dress up your walls!

The best part about Poppy Tree Frames is that they are extremely affordable and completely customizable to what YOU want! Wouldn't one of these babies look gorgeous in your living room??

As part of their fabulous grand opening, they are offering up free additional frames with every order! Orders over $100 get both a 4x6 and a 5x7 frame! Such an awesome deal!

The awesome team over at Poppy Tree Frames is offering a free Strata frame for a lucky reader of The Ivy Twines! Yay!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{click read more to access the giveaway form}

family pictures {outfits}

2012-01-11T15:59:00.004-07:00

When my whole family was home for Christmas, we had our photos taken since it hasn't happened in about 5 years. We've added 4 little girls in those years! We had them done in the plains art museum in fargo, nd, because although the weather has been pleasant, my older sister just had a baby on December 17th, so that sweet little girl wasn't going to be spending any time outside!

We decided on more of a color scheme than anything too matchy, and went with neutrals, browns, and some blue too! I love how they turned out!

me and my 3 sisters!!

on me {far left}

shirt: tulle

jeans: seven for all mankind

boots: steve madden

bracelet: forever 21

I can't really remember where my sisters got all their gear! I might have to update! :)

and my family!

on the girls

dresses: old navy

sweaters: gap

on the husband

whole outfit/boots are from murdoch's, a western store in bozeman, mt!

Here's the whole crew. My mom and dad, plus me and my sisters, my brother in law and husband, and 4 little girls! Busy busy! :)

What do you do for family pictures??

{and linking up here!}

Best Face Photo {clickin' it}

2012-01-08T23:50:00.002-07:00

i heart faces has a Best Face Photo for 2011, and while it's hard for me to choose just one, I absolutely love this one of my 4 year old right after she gave herself a little hair cut. It's just hair honey, it'll grow back! :)

January sunrise {clickin' it}

2012-01-06T15:19:00.002-07:00

Happy Friday morning sunrise from me and my early bird sunshine.

boots and stripes {outfit}

2012-01-04T14:03:00.003-07:00

So, I'm a little bit nervous about buying anything with stripes, but when I spotted this sweater I knew we were made for each other! We have our preschool co-op on Wednesdays, and it's a good encouragement to break out of my normal sweatshirt comfy jeans routine. :)

sweater: old navy

tee: target

jeans: true religion

boots: ariat via ruelala

Here are my sweet new boots! Being married to a cowboy, I'm used to seeing boots around all the time, but only have one pair from our wedding almost 5 years ago! So when I spotted these babies on RueLaLa before Christmas, my husband agreed that they were the perfect Christmas gift for me! :) I also want to give a quick props to their customer service -- the day after I bought these boots, they dropped in price by $20. It wasn't a huge deal, but I thought I'd drop them an email to see if they did price adjustments, because some places do. Sure enough, they emailed back that day and had already credited my bank the $20! Fabulous prompt service... the site is legit! If you'd like to sign up, you get a $10 credit by going through this link. {Sundays they have a great "styleathon" where they discount their stuff even more! That's how I scored these boots!}

What are your favorite places to shop online??

my one little word {on the vine}

2012-01-02T10:36:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday and 2012! I'm sure I'm telling you something you already know, but I just adore Ali Edwards' One Little Word project for each year. Basically, you choose a word to help inspire, encourage, and maybe just help you grow in ways you wouldn't normally experience. Last year, I chose create, which was incredible and allowed me to learn a lot about my limits and my abilities. So when I was updating my personal blog this weekend, I figured I should decide on a word for 2012.

Drumroll...

This can be expressed in so many different ways, including the do nots, and I'm super excited to explore it in 2012! Maybe you could've guessed by all my organizational printables I found, but organization, simplifying, and just general order is on my to-do for January!

I also thought I'd create a free printable with a "do" quote! It's sized for 8x10, so go ahead and print it! :)

What about YOU? Tell me your word this year, or link to your blog and show us what you're planning for 2012!

Organizational Printables

2011-12-30T08:08:00.001-07:00

... and I'm on kind of a printable kick! As always, the new year for me lends itself to organizing and adopting new habits, and there's no better way for me than some visual encouragement and accountability! Here are some cool printables to help you out! Happy New Year!

Source: aholyexperience.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: onlyabreath.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: designfinch.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: amybayliss.com via Bethany on Pinterest

...on the vine {free 2012 calendars!}

2011-12-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

Wishing you all the merriest of New Years! To start 2012 off on the right foot, check out these great printable calendars that you can use to get yourself organized! They pretty eye candy too!

Source: myowlbarn.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: thetomkatstudio.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: creativemamma.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Brugo Mug {review + giveaway}

2011-12-20T21:55:00.003-07:00

Last minute Christmas gift for that hard to shop for person in your life?

How about the coolest coffee/tea mug you could possibly find -- the Brugo mug! You know I'm a sucker for colors, and you can find the Brugo in pretty much any color you can imagine! No one will be able to sneak off with this special mug!

Here's the science behind the Brugo: the very cool Temperature Control Chamber that adjusts your hot beverage to perfect sipping temperature! You simply twist the cap, tip the mug, and it allows a little bit of the drink to cool down so it's drinkable! You can also forgo the fancy chamber too, if you're brave like that! If you're like me, I brew my tea and coffee piping hot, but am a little bit of a wuss when it comes to drinking it hot! So the Brugo has been a perfect solution, and I love the comfy outside color grip too!

Oh I just love my orange Brugo Mug!

Wouldn't the Brugo Mug look delightful in someone's stocking? Or perhaps your own?? :)

You have the chance to win a Brugo Mug right here! Yay!

{click "read more" to access the giveaway}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Holidays from Crayola! {review+giveaway}

2011-12-19T09:03:00.002-07:00

Still looking for a super gift for a kiddo in your life? I've got a perfect Christmas gift for kids... that will inspire hours and hours of creativity and imagination... from Crayola, of course! :)

A long time leader in all things creative, Crayola is going high tech and dishing out some fabulous options for taking art to the next level. First up, Crayola's Story Studio.

This is well worth every penny! Crayola Story Studio Fairy Tale Maker Princesses Story Studio{right now only $4.99 on Amazon! So are the Spiderman and Cars Story Studio too!!} is super easy to navigate, and actually was fun for my girlies to do with me! We simply provided our access code, and before we knew it the girls were starring in their own princess stories, along with their favorite princesses! See, my sweet Reese and Cinderella at the ball!

Well, Crayola gets some serious brownie points for creating coloring pages with princesses, but taking it a step further to allow you to create a story of your very own! The packet includes paper to print out your story, and binding to make it into a book! Hard to beat that!

I wrote about our favorite iPad apps already, but I've got a couple fun new apps from Crayola that my girls and I LOVE! We got to test out this fun Crayola iMarker too, which puts thousands of colorful options right at my kiddos fingertips, and it's a great way to practice using writing too!

Crayola Color Studio

Crayola Paint and Create

Did I mention that BOTH my girls love it, and can play it at the same time? {Does anyone else have problems with iPad sharing in their house?}

Overall, Crayola is a perfect gift for boys and girls on your list, and they are definitely stepping up their game with these new high tech options for imagination and creativity!!

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Crayola, you have the chance to win your very own Crayola High Tech Prize Pack!!

-Spider-man Comic Maker Story Studio

-Disney Princess Story Studio

-Disney/Pixar Cars Story Studio

-Crayola iMarker

-Free Download of ColorStudio iPad app

{click "read more" to enter the giveaway!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Crayola High Tech Holiday prize pack, product information and prize pack for giveaway have been provided by Crayola through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are honest and my own!

Love came down... {incourage deals + giveaway}

2011-12-15T14:37:00.001-07:00

As we are anxiously awaiting many things this Christmas season...

... our new baby niece

...Christmas snow

... Christmas baking and goodies

... time spent with our families

We are trying to slow down and remember what this entire season means, minus the lights, wrapping paper, and decorated sugar cookies with a pile of red sprinkles.

Our favorite Christmas carol is "Joy to the World", and my favorite line is "let every heart, prepare Him room". All the hustle and bustle of Christmas is to prepare for a very special birthday, and to carve out room in our hearts to celebrate the miracle of Christmas.

Isn't this Advent Calendar from DaySpring perfect for awaiting the season? I absolutely LOVE it, and my girls are having so much fun moving the heart as each day passes! Check out the other beautiful "Love Came Down..." theme over at (in)courage. You know I love them!!

And you too could pick this out with a giveaway for a $35 gift code from DaySpring!

To enter, simply leave a comment with your favorite Christmas tradition, memory, or even Christmas carol!

Happy Christmas! :)

happy wednesday! {outfit!}

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

So yay, my 2nd outfit post, and this one is a little bit abnormal because:

1. I live in Montana.

2. It is winter.

This isn't my normal backdrop, BUT, this past week we celebrated my very best friend's beautiful wedding in Punta Cana! So bring on the sunshine, palm trees, and strapless dresses without sweaters and leggings! This outfit is from the rehearsal dinner. {isn't the bride stunning?}

on Jenny, the bride:

dress, local SC boutique

on me:

dress, target

necklace, Brittany Chavers Studio

... and a close up of my necklace:

psst: wouldn't this look lovely on you {or your special friends} this Christmas season? You can win your very own necklace right here! Super easy to enter too!

Brittany Chavers Studio is open for Christmas shipping until December 16th, so get shopping! :)

I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy and Real Momma, Real Style! Check out the fab linkies at both!

Brittany Chavers Studio {review + giveaway}

2011-12-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

Handmade jewelry perfect for anyone on your Christmas list, brought to you by the very special Brittany Chavers Studio!

Any long time readers out there? Brittany is by no means new to the handmade scene, or to The Ivy Twines, {check out her 2000+ sales and 100% positive feedback!} yet she continues to produce such lovely and unique jewelry that can dress up a basic jeans and tee or add that perfect statement to a holiday dress!

To say I love her is such an understatement, but I won't let that cloud my judgement. My pieces from Brittany Chavers Studio are staples in my wardrobe, and are serious attention getters!

If you're not yet convinced of the fabulousness of Brittany Chavers Studio, then I must share the awesome deals you can combine to score some quality jewelry for yourself!

1. Free shipping on orders over $25

2. Buy 3, get 1 FREE!

PLUS, there are three different lines of jewelry {B Simple, B Luxe, B Unique} that offer Brittany Chavers Studio quality and style, at the perfect price for your budget.

You can still score Christmas shipping if you order by December 16th! So head on over to the shop!

Sweet Brittany is always so good to The Ivy Twines readers, and today is no different! She is offering up a gorgeous Brittany Chavers Studio B Unique Necklace for giveaway!!

{click "read more" to get entered!!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

peace, love, & crafts {review}

2011-12-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you've got a love for sweet little crocheted hair bows, rosette headbands, and simply adorable handmade hair clips -- peace, love, & crafts is going to be your shop!

Everything sweet miss Kristen creates is simply stunning! I especially love that by using bold and fresh colors, your standard hair pieces can get taken to a whole new level!

... See what I mean? Gorgeous! While I'm a sucker for a blast of color, I'm even more impressed with solid craftsmanship. With peace, love, & crafts you can be certain that your pieces are tested to withstand babies, toddlers, teens, and adults alike!

But these handmade crochet hair bows are what made me fall completely head over heels with Kristen's creations. You'll have to check out our sweet little mustard bow clips that everyone has been sporting around our house!

And, if you need any more motivation to love Kristen and peace, love, & crafts, I dare you to check out her blog, but you might faint over the super cute diy projects, especially fun and easy Christmas ones! Absolutely L-O-V-E!!!

Source: kristenmcashan.com via Bethany on Pinterest

yeah... see what I mean??

Anyway, back to these cutie bow clips! We just love them, and they are definitely made with little ones in mind... which means they are virtually indestructible!

Wouldn't these make a sweet little additional to a Christmas gift this year? :)

Check out more of the fabulous Kristen and peace, love, & crafts:

Shop

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

A super special thanks to Kristen and peace. love, & crafts for providing us with a sweet set of clips to check out! All opinions are my honest and own. Thanks so much to Kristen!!

on the vine... {christmas music}

2011-12-12T15:50:00.003-07:00

Happy Monday! We're busy decorating our trees {yes plural- we usually get one big tree for our living room, and then two super small ones for the girls' rooms!} and decking our halls today! I thought I'd share my very favorite Christmas music with you!

I LOVE Josh Groban's voice, and his Christmas album is perfect!

Amy Grant's Christmas music has to be my very favorite, and has been for pretty much my entire life! This CD was played over and over again when I was a kid, and now my girlies like listening to it too!

How could this not be beautiful? I love this album too!! I only wish they had "Where are you Christmas" from The Grinch soundtrack, because that is my all time favorite Faith Hill song!

I found this one in Amazon's $5 albums for December, and it seemed to me like a steal! These are all your favorites from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, and many many more! Love this one for a Christmas party mix!

You should also check out Amazon's 25 Days of Free Holiday Music, where you can download a song a day! Today's download is Laura Story's Emmanuel! Their deal of the day is Kristen Chenoweth's A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas for $3.99, which I decided for that price, I'd give it a try! I'll let you know what I think!

What's your favorite music for the holidays? Please share!!

Our Shutterfly Christmas Cards!

2011-12-09T22:07:00.001-07:00

We just got back from our awesome vacay, and I realized I should probably order our cards if we want to get them out before Christmas! :) Here they are!!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Easy Christmas Gift Ideas {handmade christmas}

2011-12-08T18:40:00.001-07:00

Source: the36thavenue.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Head over to The 36th Avenue to find a HUGE roundup of easy tutorials that make great gifts!

Meanwhile, I'm unpacking and getting our laundry done, while making lists for Christmas! :) Happy Thursday!

Top 10 iPad Apps for Kids

2011-11-29T08:14:00.001-07:00

Since holiday travel is just around the corner, I thought I'd share our favorite apps for the iPad. Our girls are 2 and 4, and so these are geared towards that preschool age!!

{most are available as iPhone apps too!}

We absolutely love Mille Was Here. {free!} It's an interactive storybook about a sweet little pup who gets into a little mischief... and fun too of course. Both the girls love playing and I think it's suitable for a wide range of audiences. We also have Book 2: Millie and the Lost Key {$3.99} which is fantastic too!

Candy Count {free} is a simple yet engaging app that encourages sorting, counting, and other great math concepts, along with color recognition in a basic "game"... sorting candy into jars. Plus, no sticky hands!!

We have the Cut The Rope: Holiday Gift {free} which is a simplified version of the full app Cut The Rope {$.99} but this is perfect for us! Both girls like to play this, even if it's just the first level, and work on getting the candy cane to the frog's mouth. Nothing too educational, but problem solving skills are required!

Who can resist the lovable Talking Tom? {free} The in-app ads are a little bit annoying to my 2 year old, since she is encouraged to click on every one, but they do like talking and listening to his response! For free, it's a pretty entertaining app!

Jingle All The Way {free} is the sweet story from Hallmark, available in an app! For a free app, I'm pretty impressed with the activities and interactive options in the story! Perfect for Christmastime!

Lakeshore Learning has a great offer until December 31st -- 3 free educational apps! Sound Sorting, Letter of the Day, and Phonics Tic-Tac-Toe are all loaded with great interactive features that grow with your kiddos. We love Sound Sorting!!

Noah's Ark {$1.99} is a super book that's pretty interactive and tells a great story too! I actually used this in Sunday School to teach the Noah's Ark lesson, and there were plenty of activities for all the busy hands in the class!

This Intro to Math app {$4.99} continues to be a favorite of both the girls. It's perfect because it structures activities around the ability of the child, and really hammers the math concepts home! Well worth the money!

Monkey Preschool {$.99} is such a great way to introduce educational concepts in a fun way! Although it's geared towards a younger set, both my girls really enjoy exploring the many games on this app! Such a steal for the price! :)

Sticker Book {$3.99} by Disney is a pretty entertaining app for the girls. Lots of interactive stories and of course, their favorite dress up princesses! Pretty popular!!

Your turn! What are your favorite iPhone/iPad apps? Please share!

on the vine... {holiday travel edition}

2011-11-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

Our trip is finally here! We leave tomorrow night, and by Wednesday afternoon we'll be on the beautiful beaches of Punta Cana!! We're so incredibly thrilled to be a part of my best friend's big day, as it should be an amazing weekend!

In the meantime, I thought I'd kick off this week with some travel tips and links!!

I'm totally taking this idea from my childhood. I gathered up various small presents for the girls, wrapped them individually, and packed them in their carryon backpacks. Every hour or so they'll be able to open a new present! My mom used to read us "The Night Before Christmas" and have us rotate the presents every time she read "and"! Here is a sample of what the girls will be opening:

coloring books
playdough
moonsand
silly putty
little dolls
puzzles
special snacks
dvds
card games
dress up jewelry

Source: soyouthinkyourecrafty.com via Bethany on Pinterest

How cute is this?

Source: atsecondstreet.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

...and this? I should have searched a little sooner!! :)

Happy Monday!!

give thanks...

2011-11-24T06:58:00.000-07:00

...wishing you and yours a lovely and blessed thanksgiving...

Source: craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Envirosax {review}

2011-11-23T00:02:00.000-07:00

No longer do reusable shopping bags have to be boring! Yay for Envirosax and their gorgeous designs!

See, they are itty bitty and store quite nicely...

... but pack in quite a load when you need them!

I love to use reusable bags when I shop, and I can't tell you how many compliments I get on my pretty Envirosax! We've all seen the plain old green ones, but I'm telling you, these are quite the sight! Vivid designs {and TONS of options} and sleek yet durable construction makes Envirosax bags stand apart from any other bag on the market.

Plus, what a great gift idea for that special person in your life! And check out the matching water bottles! I love it!

Envirosax offers designs for men and women, old and young alike!

In fact, my daughter and I have been sharing our sweet little bag -- she takes it to dance, with her shoes and water bottle, and I've been taking it to volleyball practice and to Bible study! So, our bag has been busy! :)

Isn't it great? It's from the Organic Cotton Bag collection, and we're officially in love!

Check out Envirosax for tons of designs and great gift ideas for the holiday season!

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Thanks to Envirosax for providing me with a reusable bag to review. All opinions are my honest and own!

Shutterfly Christmas Cards!

2011-11-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

So, I definitely like to shop around when it comes to choosing my Christmas cards. For me it's not a task I dread, I actually LOVE browsing around, comparing prices, styles, and getting inspiration for pictures from the examples on the cards!

Shutterfly makes it pretty easy though. SO many cards to choose from, in every style under the sun. Modern, classic, even beach-themed -- you've got it all!

Last year I ended up using a card from Shutterfly similar to this one, with funky flowers and a sweet picture of my girls. I was so pleased with the speed of shipping and quality of the photos, which were printed on a nice thick sturdy cardstock.

Isn't this the sweetest! My mom always appreciates photo cards that you can really see the picture, and this 5x7 style really shows off the cute photo!

Do you see my "joy" theme? :) To be totally honest, I haven't even taken the Christmas card pictures yet, and I probably will wait about 2 weeks before I order. But I do like shopping and checking out my options, and Shutterfly sure has a lot of them! I also appreciate Shutterfly's many promos that you can take advantage of, so even if you're a little late with ordering, you can still get a great deal! {as of today all photo cards are 40% off, and free shipping with any purchase of $30 or more!} If you're looking to get more gifts crossed off you list, I ordered a photo mug last year and it was a hit! I'm thinking of creating a travel mug this year, and might just order it along with my photo cards!

How about you, have you ordered, addressed, stamped, and sent your Christmas greetings yet? Or do you prefer to wait a bit? Do tell!

A special thanks to Shutterfly for providing me with 25 free cards in exchange for my honest opinion!

on the vine...

2011-11-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!

I'm so excited to bring an awesome opportunity to you! This year for December, I'll be featuring handmade tutorials, decor ideas, traditions, and gift ideas throughout the month. If you're interested in submitting a guest post, contact me {beth.ivytwines at gmail dot com} for details! I'd love to have you!

And although I'm excited for Christmas, I am most excited for Thanksgiving! I host my family here at the host, and look forward every year to trying new recipes! Here are some yummies I've been eyeing...

Source: barefootinthekitchen.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

and an awesome free printable banner:

Source: atsecondstreet.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

BlackRapid Camera Strap {review + giveaway}

2011-11-18T10:45:00.001-07:00

Looking for the perfect gift for the photo-loving person in your life? I've found it -- BlackRapid's original camera sling!

Perfect for anyone, from professionals to mamas, the BlackRapid R-Strap is true brilliance. Instead of your traditional neck camera strap, the sling keeps your camera in the perfect position to grab and shoot while it slides along the strap.

Such a simple fix to a pretty annoying camera strap problem, isn't it? An ergonomic camera strap! It's super easy to install, and in no time you're easily shooting with a camera sling!

The BlackRapid takes things further too, by offering every single custom tweak to the original R-Strap system, like this double camera strap, distributing the weight of your cameras evenly to lighten the load. Isn't it cool? Be sure to check out BlackRapid's facebook and twitter, as they are always offering promos and discounts!

Here's the pretty floral women's R-strap! {and our fluffy cat Tank} Now, I am nowhere near professional, but we take things off road quite a bit, and I like to shoot our adventures, whether it's moving cows or walking down by the creek. I actually think the BlackRapid protects my camera more, since it's tucked at my side, and I have room to pick up kiddos without a bulky camera on my chest.

Here's a shot I took this fall while we were exploring a little rocky creek. I normally am pretty leery of bringing my camera near water, but I locked my camera on the sling and away we went! {today we're getting snow, so these pictures are a nice reminder of the sunshine!}

BlackRapid is so fabulous they are offering a huge giveaway to a lucky reader of The Ivy Twines:

A BlackRapid camera sling just for you! {$60 value!!}

{click "read more" to enter the giveaway!}

Countdown to Christmas {with Tiny Prints!}

2011-11-16T08:33:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Which also means it is time for Christmas card selections!

If you're looking for high quality, unique Christmas cards, Tiny Prints is where you need to look!

Tiny Prints hosts all sorts of different size and photo layouts, color schemes, and designs from modern to classic! I've attached myself to these tri-fold Christmas designs --- so neat!!

I just really enjoy sending Christmas cards and receiving them, too! There is something special about getting the mail, and the girls and I love to chat our friends and family and what they'll be doing for the holidays. This year I think we'll display them on a little tree in our kitchen, but I've found some pretty cute Christmas card display ideas on pinterest.

Source: marthastewart.com on Pinterest

I'm happy to have to very willing helpers to stamp and put our return addresses on the envelopes, and they love trips to our post office too! Makes for a pretty fun Christmas tradition!

So, tell me, are you already done with your Christmas cards? :) What fun ideas do you have for displaying them?

{need a little - a lot - of inspiration?}

Tiny Prints

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All opinions are my honest and own. I will receive 50 free cards in exchange for my post from Tiny Prints, and you can too! Fill out this form and hook yourself up with 50 cards from Tiny Prints! Yay!

on the vine...

2011-11-14T10:37:00.001-07:00

Source: crazyforcrust.com via Bethany on Pinterest

YUM! I made these last night, and they were even husband approved, which if you know him, you know that's amazing! They were super easy and such a great way to use up the last of my zukes too!

Also, if you haven't listened, you must. It's beautiful and perfect for this season of Thanksgiving, whether or blessings are explicit or not.

Happy Monday all!!

Auri Footwear {review + outfit!}

2011-11-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

{bear with me... it's my first outfit post!}

During volleyball season, I find myself stretching my closet limits and putting together outfits that I don't wear on a normal basis. So this is a typical "coaching" outfit, and I try to pair anything with my favorite leggings!

dress: Target

leggings: Target

belt: Forever 21

necklace: gift from my mama

shoe: Auri Footwear

I have a long been a shoe lover, and my new ballet flats from Auri Footwear have been such a versatile and comfy addition to my wardrobe! I feel like flats can take a turn for the ugly pretty quick, but I'm a huge fan of any shoe that can be dressed up or down.

I have to say, flats that are actually supportive and cushion-y are hard to find, but Auri Footwear, based out of Laguna Beach, seems to hit the spot! So now, gorgeous shoes + comfortable can actually go together in a sentence!! Check out some of Auri's latest designs:

cute cute!

woah mama cute!

boot scootin' cute!

So adorable!! Check out Auri Footwear for your favorite styles of ballet flats, boots, wedges, and more and keep connected on Facebook and Twitter for promotions and sales!

I've linked up at The Pleated Poppy, where you can check out many more outfits inspirations from some pretty awesome ladies!!

A very special thanks to the fabulous crew at Auri Footwear for providing me with the cute ballet flats to test out! All opinions are my honest and own, of course!

I Heart Faces {Black}

2011-11-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

A great joy is coming...

{my sister's beautiful bump!}

Check out the other entries at i heart faces!!

on the vine... {fall loves!}

2011-11-07T09:24:00.002-07:00

Happy November!

If you've noticed it's been a little quiet around here this past month, it's because it has! Behind the scenes, I've been finishing up volleyball season and teaching our preschool co-op, and keeping book for my husband's business, which happens to be at its busiest in the fall! And of course, our ranch is busy taking care of our care before the cold winter sets in, so fall is all out crazy around these parts! I'm excited to be able to take a little breather and blog a little more now!

Since I'm on a cleaning binge the next couple days to deep clean what I've been neglecting these past couple months, I found some great free printables and clean up tips here at Clean Mama!!

And over at MADE, I discovered these delicious looking cookies... YUM! I love pomegranate!!

I also wanted to drop a quick line to tell you about Bountiful Baskets. It's a food co-op that offers pick-ups in many states, (MT included!) whose goal is to offer fresh, healthy fruits and veggies at low cost. Each basket is $15, and filled with great produce! They also offer breads and other goodies, and the sign up happens today at noon! Check out the site to see if Bountiful Baskets comes to your area!

Happy Monday all!!

Pumpkin fun {clickin' it}

2011-11-01T10:40:00.000-06:00

Hope you and yours had a Happy Halloween!

We were a little on the late side with our pumpkin carving, but we still got ours done and glowing for Monday night! We visited grandparents to trick or treat, and snacked on pumpkin seeds to finish off our holiday celebration! Pretty low key!

What do you do to celebrate Halloween? :)

Woolly Pocket {review+giveaway}

2011-10-28T13:44:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited to introduce Woolly Pocket, who is making it easy to garden anywhere, one pocket at a time!

Isn't that living wall awesome? Woolly Pocket is a simple system that makes works of art, like this, possible -- and easy!

And this is how: with an eco-friendly recycled design, each pocket can keep the dirt and moisture from making a mess, while nurturing and growing your very own indoor garden! Since a hard frost was approaching, I decided to transplant some mint to enjoy all winter long! The installation was a cinch, and my girls helped me water and make the new plant right at home on our wall! I think it would be great to have a whole indoor herb garden!

{my little helpers over-watered our pocket, and even though it was soaked, it didn't leak on our walls! phew!}

My favorite aspect of the Woolly Pocket company is their school garden program, which encourages classrooms and students to experience growing their very own garden! Along with promoting healthy habits, they are learning too! It's super easy to sign up, and anyone interested can get more info here.

I have seen the benefits of the girls and I working together to make things grow, and I'm so excited to have the Woolly Pocket to experiment with inside now! Woolly Pocket offers all sorts of different garden sizes of wall pockets, along with tabletop models and floor models too, so check out their brand spankin' new website to see tons of great photos of the Woollys in action!

Their newest Mini Wally comes with it's very own book, about Dudley and Omar and their Moving Garden! So adorable!!

Here's a quick video with a great variety of how the Woolly Pocket works! We love ours!!

Thanks to Woolly Pocket, they are offering up a Wally One to a lucky reader! Yay!!

{click read more to enter!}

Freschetta Proud to Support Pink {review+giveaway}

2011-10-21T15:51:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! October is pretty in pink across the country in support of breast cancer research, and Freschetta is showing their support by specially marked packages displaying a pink ribbon. Upon purchasing, you have the opportunity to enter the codes and donate $1 to the Memorial Sloan Ketterling Cancer Center, just by checking out the Proud to Support Pink page!

By doing so, you will be automatically entered into a weekly drawing of 50 iPod Shuffles! So head on over to Proud to Support Pink and start entering those codes!

Freschetta sent me a fabulous package, which included two sets of pink earbuds!! I shared with my sister, and the pink is such a great reminder of continual support of cancer research. We also were treated to a free product, and we chose the yummy Brick Oven Pepperoni Pizza! So YUMMY!!

Freschetta has also provided an awesome Proud to Support Pink Prize pack, including a Freschetta product coupon AND two sets of pink earbuds to encourage friends or family to spread the pink message! Yay!

{click "read more" to see the rafflecopter entry form}

{pre} schoolin'

2011-10-19T09:46:00.000-06:00

We've taken the leap. If you've been here for a while, you know I have been looking for preschool ideas because we currently don't have one in our town. This fall, I decided to send out an email to moms of 3-4 year olds in our area to see if there was any interest for a preschool co-op. I wasn't really sure what that would even mean at the time.

And in truth, we're still working through ideas and incorporating them into our preschool. Right now, our preschool meets on Wednesday mornings 9-12am. We normally have about 10 kids, ranging in ages from 2-5. The other moms and I have this great classroom space we are using, a huge basement playroom that we're converting and have already dreamed up decor ideas. {which will involve some chalkboard paint!} We decided to go with an {loose} alphabet theme, and each week a different mom teaches the lesson, based on a letter of the alphabet! This works for us because each mom has something unique to bring to the table, and we feel like this gives our kids a variety, while spreading out the lesson planning and teaching among all the moms. It is cool how unique we are: we have a kindergarten teacher, a yoga instructor, a photographer, a physical therapist, ranching wives -- and all mamas to our sweet little ones.

While I'm a high school history teacher by trade, I'm enjoying the challenge of planning and teaching to preschoolers. And even more than that, the kids are wild about their school! We really feel like we've created something pretty special, and can't wait to watch it bloom and grow!

Any schoolers out there? Share what you're doing this year!!

Sam's Club and General Mills {review+giveaway}

2011-10-14T11:17:00.001-06:00

Cancer touches all of us, in so many forms. Next week will mark a year since losing my dear friend to the horrible illness. I find myself looking for ways to help, in any way I can, with cancer research, support, and education.

Through the month of October, Sam's Club and General Mills are partnering to support breast cancer education and research. Through purchasing specially marked pink General Mills packages at Sam's Club, you can then go to PinkTogether.com to vote on where your purchase donation will be allocated!

At our house we love General Mills, and I've been thinking we should grab a couple boxes of Cheerios next time we hit up Sam's Club!

Thanks to My Blog Spark, Sam's Club, and General Mills, I have a $25 Sam's Club Gift Card for one lucky reader of The Ivy Twines!

Disclosure: I was given a prize pack from MyBlogSpark and Sam's Club to review, and all opinions are honest and my own. The giveaway prize is also provided by MyBlogSpark and Sam's Club.

{click "read more" to enter the rafflecopter form!}

Hydros Bottle {review+giveaway}

2011-10-13T14:21:00.001-06:00

There are tons of water bottles on the market, but Hydros Bottles definitely top the filtered water bottle scene!

Hydros Bottles are unique in their fast filtering system, but they also tackle common problems of reusable water bottles: they are BPA free, antimicrobial, and dishwasher safe, too! We have relatively good water at our house, but I love the idea of being able to filter out bad tasting chemicals in one simple and portable bottle!

Hydros Bottles also donate a portion of each water bottle sale to Engineers Without Borders, which helps bring sustainable clean water to communities. Such a wonderful cause to support!

I love my green Hydros Bottle! I've been using it daily, and seriously love the simplicity of the filter!

And thanks to Hydros Bottle, a lucky reader will have the chance to win their very own filtered water bottle, too!

{click "read more" to enter using rafflecopter!}

on the vine...

2011-10-10T14:32:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday! This weekend on Pinterest...

Source: sweetandsavorybysarah.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: skinnytaste.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: thenester.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Mindy Strauss Photography & Design {two giveaways!}

2011-10-07T08:56:00.004-06:00

When I think fine art photography, I tend to think of stock photos that seem to belong on hotel room walls. Let me tell you, miss Mindy from Mindy Strauss Photography & Design has changed all that for me!

{remember Mindy from here?}

I just adore her work. The vintage processing brings so much interest to her pieces, and her composition takes something general, like these hens and chicks succulents, and transforms them into something spectacular!

And Mindy's design work? Yes, that's pretty brilliant too! If you're a DIY-er, you might want to peek at her blog, where she shares photography and post processing tips and tricks {like her most recent post on easy toning!} and of course previews of her gorgeous shoots.

If you are lucky enough to live in near or around Oregon, contact her for portrait sessions {although you'll need to check her availability!} and for sure check out her accessories shop cade and anya that will be {fingers crossed!} up and running this winter!

And if that doesn't seem like she's busy, check out her sweet designs over at her zazzle shop Silhouette Designs, where she creates custom invitations and screen printed tees! I love them!!

The oh so sweet Mindy has offered up two of these beautiful "Distance" prints for a fabulous giveaway on The Ivy Twines!

{click "read more" to get the easy rafflecopter entry form!}

Yummy Cookies! {Betty Crocker Prize Pack Giveaway}

2011-10-05T21:39:00.004-06:00

I grew up with a love of the kitchen. My mom poured hours and hours into baking, cooking, and teaching me and my sisters to be comfortable in the kitchen, from making Norwegian lefse to a perfect beef stew.

And there were always cookies. Delicious cookies.

These days I try to pass along my love of the kitchen to my own girls, and we spend quite a bit of time baking. We love trying out new recipes and the girls are always eager to taste test anything we whip up.

I'm normally a bake-from-scratch kind of girl, but I'm a little partial to the yummy Betty Crocker Molasses cookie mix! I received this lovely package thanks to Betty Crocker and My Blog Spark, and especially since we've been a little busy this fall, this was a perfect, and super quick afternoon treat for me and the girls! {my husband liked them too! :)}

Can I just say that I ADORE this pan too? It's a perfect cookie sheet!!

How would you like your very own Betty Crocker Prize Pack just in time for the fall baking season? You can WIN one! Yay!

{click read more for the rafflecopter form! super easy!}

on the vine...

2011-10-03T01:23:00.002-06:00

Happy October! I'm sweeping up some cobwebs around here, after having a week without my beloved laptop! I'm getting caught up on emails and posts, but while I'm at it, I thought I'd share some links from this weekend!

31 Days series: Check out over 600 blogs and their various topics, basically blogging for all of October on a certain subject! You can still join too!! Photography, prayer, housekeeping, baking... you name it, you'll probably find it! I've been having fun checking out all the links!!

After my zucchini overload, I've turned to pumpkin-ish recipe searches! Pumpkin scones this week? YUM!

I found this gorgeous {easy} fall garland idea and I'm loving it! Thinking it will be a little project for our week!

Warm wishes for a fabulous week!!

Slumbering sisters

2011-09-23T11:53:00.003-06:00

My girls, in our porch, with just about every blanket, pillow, and stuffed animal they could find. Nothing like good old fashioned make-believe!

Happy Friday, have a great weekend, friends!!!

Teamotions {review + discount}

2011-09-21T23:03:00.001-06:00

I can't wait to share my newest favorite treat for fall, Teamotions Teas!

Yummy, loose leaf teas that come in great flavors, too! Can't beat that!

Teamotions Teas are more than just good teas though -- they are specially formulated to support the emotional well-being, making each cup a healing experience. Using special herbs called adaptogens, like chamomile for rest and oatstraw for stress relief, they encourage relaxation and recharging. The company itself was born out of infant loss and grief, with two sisters coping over cups of tea, and deciding that there needed to be teas that helped people feel better.

When I was in college and 10 hours from my family, my mom frequently sent me care packages, often including tea. I'm always on the hunt for soothing teas, and love trying new varieties. I'm in love with Teamotions because the teas are truly delicious, and unique! There's something about the fresh flavors of loose leafed tea!

This Discover Joy Lemon Vanilla Green Tea is my favorite, and I don't usually favor green tea! I thought it had great flavor without being too overpowering, too. I drizzled in a hint of honey, and it has been my drink of choice each night!

I also made a pitcher of iced Have Hope Citrus Strawberry White Tea, which was so good!

Browsing their website, you'll find all sorts of flavors and even more important, encouragement. You can tell they've done their research and are looking to create the most comforting tea expereience for you!

Teamotions is offering an awesome free shipping code for Ivy Twines readers!! Use FIRSTFREE to ship your entire order free!

Be sure to keep track of Teamotions for more info and promotions!

Teamotions Tea

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What kind of tea do you like? Please share!!

on the vine... {free printable}

2011-09-18T15:09:00.001-06:00

Happy Sunday to you all!

To get this printable, just click on the image to make it bigger, than right click to save on your computer and use as you'd like!

Help Your Community {with Walgreens!}

2011-09-13T22:28:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.

In America, the hunger statistics are staggering. 1 in 6 Americans right now are struggling to feed themselves and their families, and it isn't just in big cities or certain areas of town. It's everywhere.

In my community, our local churches run a food bank which distributes to anyone who may need it. Each church takes turns providing workers, and donations come from many sources: community and businesses around our town. I'm hoping we can start a garden swap soon too!

So, how can we help? Well, this year our family is collecting canned goods and other needs on our local food bank's list {it just takes a quick call, I know ours needs baby formula now!} and making donations of food. Our food bank also welcomes volunteers and accepts monetary donations, too.

September happens to be Hunger Action Month through Feeding America, a domestic charity dedicated to ending hunger in America. They have partnered with Kraft with a Huddle to Fight Hunger, which is a super easy way to help out! I just entered in my zip code and picked my local food bank, and Kraft made the donation for me! You can also do trivia and a 2 minute drill to donate even more!

What other ways do you help fight hunger? Please share!

Don't forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Aqueduck Faucet Extender {#Mompact review + giveaway}

2011-09-11T23:05:00.003-06:00

I have such a great opportunity to be a part of the Mompact Blog Hop which features over 150 giveaways and prizes, with a grand prize offered on Mompact! Be sure to head on over for your chance to win that too! I happen to be stop #44 on the Blog Hop List!

We got a chance to review the very cool Aqueduck made by Peachy Co LLC, which is absolutely brilliant!

The Aqueduck is a faucet extender to help your little ones with hand washing! It's small, fits snugly on any faucet, and FUN! My girls love to transport it from sink to sink, which is great, especially with cold and flu season coming up!

It seems like it might be too good to be true, but the Aqueduck was super easy to slide on the faucet and use. Actually, my 3 year old opened the package and installed it herself, which is a testimony to how user friendly the Aqueduck actually is!

Creator Susanna Lee came up with the idea after realizing her own need for hand washing help, and after a few trial runs, the Aqueduck was born! I just love when hard work pays off, especially with something so neat!

Be sure to swing by Peachy Co to see their other products, and check out the Peachy Facebook Page for the latest giveaways and promotions!

Peachy Co LLC has offered up an Aqueduck for a lucky reader of The Ivy Twines! Yay!

{Click "Read More" for giveaway details!}

I'm excited to test out Rafflecopter for this giveaway, simply follow the instructions and good luck!

Up Next on the Blog Hop: A TwoothTimer Giveaway at DnBuster's Place!

on the vine... {remembrance}

2011-09-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

Always remember.

Garden's Harvest {clickin' it}

2011-09-08T22:46:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday!

Gardening in Montana {zone 3-ish} is a little tedious when it comes to harvest time. This past week, we had two nights where the temperature dipped to the low 30's, but things have bounced back and I'm really hoping for our pumpkins to make it until October! Maybe wishful thinking? :)

Other than that, this week our ranch finished harvesting our winter wheat, and we're almost ready to pack away the swathers and combines until next summer!

Fall for us means soups and stews, chopping wood for the stove, and dressing in layers!

How do you ring in the new season?

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

The Fulfillment Principle {review}

2011-09-07T10:15:00.001-06:00

The Fulfillment Principle: Experiencing Pure Joy in Your Life

I just love this message! In Bob Westfall's book, he uses the parable of talents {in Matthew 25} to discuss finding joy and fulfillment in life.

The short but enriching read combines real life stories of people seeking to live a life of joy and thoughtful discussion questions to further explore the principles. The focus that dreams can be attainable and very possible shows in Westfalls own life, as Westfall presides over Westfall Group which raises money for Christian ministries and charities.

For me, I think that it's important to figure out just what my talents might be, and then look at how I can best put them into practice and invest in others. The Fulfillment Principle is a great reminder of how we can all better serve, and in serving, find joy.

I highly recommend this quick read to anyone looking for inspiration and motivation along life's journey. It encourages that we're not stuck, we just need to look in the right places.

"Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'" -Matthew 25:21

Many thanks to Leafwood Publishers for providing me a copy to review. All opinions are my own, of course! Thanks again!

Books I'm Reading {September}

2011-09-06T06:27:00.001-06:00

Here's my reading to-do list for September!

I just love Angie Smith from Bring the Rain. I chatted about her book I Will Carry You before, and I'm excited to read her second one!

This in my local book club's pick for this month! I read it a long time ago in high school, and I'm looking forward to reading it again with older, and hopefully wiser eyes! I just bought the free version for Kindle {most classics are free on Kindle} and I'll read it on my computer! {It's easy to download a Kindle for Mac/PC app and go from there!}

I borrowed this book shortly after it came out, and have yet to read it! I love The Pioneer Woman, and can't wait to dive in... she is always entertaining! :) I'm DVR-ing her cooking show on The Food Network too! Have you watched it?

Have you read any of these yet? What do you think? What's on your bookshelf this month? :)

Labor Day shopping {at zulily and amazon!}

2011-09-04T16:37:00.000-06:00

Just a super quick post! I got an email from zulily earlier today and was just browsing their Labor Day sale. Most of the time stuff I miss out on the good stuff, but I am so excited and happy with the Blowout Sale! Here are a few things I was checking out:

Super cute Little Soles shoes for 8.99!

Melissa and Doug Fold and Go Castle - $30.99

Penelope and Mack Swing Jackets - tons of styles for 14.99 {love the matching hats!}

Rain boots for fall! Henry Ferrara's with TONS of choices for 13.99 - originally $50!

I just had to get these Michael Antonio boots for 17.99. I'm in love with boots for fall!

zulily is offering free shipping on your second purchase this weekend, and I think shipping starts at about 5.95. Hope you can find something you like!!

And then, for any jean lovers out there...

Amazon is having a big Fall sale right now, and I spotted these Rock & Republic Women's Kassandra Bootcut Jean With crystals that I just adore, and for a steal! Amazon is great because they offer free returns on their clothing and shoes, which helps ease the fear of buying without trying on. Anyway, they have tons of denim, dresses, and more!

Have you been shopping this weekend? Do share!!

on the vine...

2011-09-04T07:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Holiday Weekend! Hope you get to enjoy the long weekend!

Here are some of my faves this week:

photo by BrownEyedBaker

No-bake cookies from Brown Eyed Baker.

Just delish. And anything with peanut butter makes my heart skip a beat!

If you're following me on Pinterest, you might be seeing me pin more on my Word Up board. I'm collecting quotes for my volleyball team, but I'm also kind of a quote hoarder. Pinterest is a perfect place for them! {if you need an invite, leave your email addy in the comments, I'd be happy to hook you up! -- or, leave your handle so I can follow your boards! :)}

And, for your reading enjoyment, Simple Mom {whom I've professed my love many times over} posted a great lifelong learning article with links to one of my favorite ever websites: TED talks. I ventured over to watch Jamie Oliver's... it was super good!

self hair cuts

2011-09-02T09:26:00.000-06:00

My almost four year old cut her hair... again. Actually, she cut her little sister's hair, just a trim, and then gave herself some pixie bangs for a trendy fall look. :)

Have your kiddos ever taken the scissors in their own hands? Do share!!

Happy Friday, friends! :)

Mat Kearney - Young Love {review!}

2011-08-29T10:11:00.001-06:00

I'm finding that the more years I'm out of college, the less cool I am about music. You know what I mean? I really rely on Pandora, my sisters' recommendations, and iTunes "we think you might like..." to fuel any kind of new music loves for me.

I was so excited to see Mat Kearney out with a new album, because I've loved his music ever since "Nothing Left to Lose" {circa 2006}. His new album, Young Love, which debuted August 2nd, is awesome and let me tell you, this one is packed full!

I especially love "Hey Mama" and "She Got the Honey", but Mat's style is eclectic and punchy, and the lyrics are brilliant. If you like the singer/songwriter types, Mat's your guy!

He's currently on tour, so check out to see if he's at a location near you! Hey Mat, come to Montana! :)

The whole album is only $4.99 on Amazon right now! {I use Amazon for most of my music downloads! :) Super easy, most of the time it's a less expensive, and it automatically imports to your iTunes!}

Mat Kearney
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{word around town is that he wrote this song after meeting his future wife for the first time! he started singing in the hotel room, and came up with this! love it!!}

I was given a download of the album thanks to One2One network. All opinions are my own, as always! Thanks to One2One for the fabulous opportunity!

Seventh Generation Winner!

2011-08-29T09:07:00.000-06:00

Ready for the winner of the Seventh Generation Prize Pack? {finally?!?} :)

1. jakiesmom said...

i like that there are no chemicals touching babies delicate skin
August 3, 2011 6:05 PM 

Yay! Congrats! Stay tuned for more Ivy Twines fun! :)w

Birthday Party {with pinterest!}

2011-08-20T12:45:00.000-06:00

My little Reese turned two at the end of July, and I knew I had extra help to plan a special little party for her! So, off I searched on pinterest for party ideas...

With millions of ideas on girl's birthday parties, I settled on a pink lemonade party. I wanted to keep things pretty simple, so we came up with an easy menu, fun decor, and lots of water and outdoor play to make for a smashing party!

The pink lemonade!

The food: Build your own burgers, hot dogs, iceberg wedge salad a la The Pioneer Woman cookbook

, and a really refreshing watermelon tomato salad {recipe from my mom!}

Pink and yellow cupcakes for dessert...

Along with some pink and yellow popcorn balls!

We didn't have any organized games, but the kids really liked playing on the slip n slide, in the sprinklers, the little pools, and with water balloons!

The birthday girl had such a great time and we all did too!

How do you celebrate birthdays in your family?

on the vine...

2011-08-14T10:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday!

I just finished I Will Carry You by Angie Smith, and it was a heartbreaking yet beautiful book. It's about the loss of their daughter Audrey, and really ministers to mothers and fathers who have grieved the loss of a child, but really wrestles with the question of "why?" I recommend!

Are you a fan of The Ivy Twines on Facebook? I've been making things a little fancy over there with a new landing page! It was surprisingly easy {thanks to html help by Blogging With Amy} and I love the way it looks! I promise I won't flood your news feed either. You can get links to new posts, and I share discounts and deals from The Ivy Twines friends!

Notice the new address too? Yes, I took the dive into owning my own domain! Pretty exciting! Welcome to www.theivytwines.net! :)

Other than that, I've spent the week getting ready for volleyball practices to start tomorrow! That included some freezer cooking sessions, lots of laundry and cleaning, organizing a preschool co-op, and later nights planning practices.

How about you? Any plans for next week?

Peas and pumpkins

2011-08-13T23:17:00.001-06:00

Here's a little August update on my garden project! Last time I showed you this, it was merely sugar snap pea sprouts! I've definitely had a learning curve on my first garden project.

The weeds have been kept at bay by tilling, but the ground is still pretty rough. I'm going to compost and manure it this fall, and hopefully it will loosen things up a bit. My herb garden is doing really well, along with pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes, and some little asparagus shoots too! I think those little buggers will take a couple years, but we're excited!

My root veggies haven't done so hot... radishes, beets, and carrots have been few and far between. The girls and I enjoyed the peas, and we even harvested a few raspberries!

We've also been enjoying filling this big flower bed! Most of my plants have been gifted to me from my mom and m-i-l, which makes gardening pretty affordable! I also ordered a few things from Spring Hill Nursery, and have been looking at a few things at Brighter Blooms, too! Do you have any online site you recommend for seeds/plants?

{ignore the grass growing in there... we're working on it! :)}

We've still got some projects on our lists:

rock border around the vegetable garden and berry patches {we have a rock quarry on our ranch, which makes this a pretty easy and affordable one!}

adding a handful of apple trees

fixing our lawn mower :)

keeping my hydrangea plants alive this winter

planting some bulbs {I'm in love with allium this year!}

What kind of planting do you do when fall comes around?

How does your garden grow?

friendships {i heart faces}

2011-08-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

Where in this wide world can man find
nobility without pride,
Friendship without envy,
Or beauty without vanity?
Here, where grace is served with muscle
And strength by gentleness confined
He serves without servility;
he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent.
There is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.

Ronald Duncan, "The Horse," 1954

Fruit of the Spirit: Love {review}

2011-08-09T00:05:00.000-06:00

Oh my, the beloved Galatians 5:22-23 verse. The fruits of the spirit.

Calvin Miller's book Fruit of the Spirit: Love, is actually a small group study that takes a close look at what it means to live in love. Although I didn't actually read this with a small group, I found it enriching and very helpful just on my own.

The book is set up simple and to the point: each week focuses on a separate aspect of love, and a memory verse accompanies the week as well. I also loved the discussion questions and found myself thinking about them throughout the day!

Miller also published the remaining fruits in the same format. I'll be checking them out too, as it's one of my favorite verses and something so easy to remember!

And, I just found this awesome fruits of the spirit printable, thanks to Daisy Cottage Designs! I just love it!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

on the vine...

2011-08-07T07:39:00.001-06:00

from our Ivy Twines friends...

bazaar style dropwaist skirt by marandalee on etsy

hand stamped my angel necklace by glassy chic boutique on etsy

dandelion print with verse by mindy strauss on etsy

meet me under the cherry blossom tree poppy by much love illy on etsy

lots of love :) Happy Sunday all!

bloom and grow {clickin' it}

2011-08-05T07:35:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! Hope you all had a very lovely week!

I'm getting caught up and cleaning up emails and posts, getting organized for a fabulous fall!

{if you want to be featured this fall, shoot me an email! we'd love to have you!!!}

In photography related news, I've been browsing an awesome site geared for moms {and dads too} who are eager to learn more about their click happy habit!

Plus, she's hosting a Shutter Buddies giveaway, and we all know I love my Shutter Buddies!

And I just loved the recent post on organizing photos. Brilliant! {plus she's sporting a super cute baby bump!}

Anyway -- we're planning a trip to Bozeman for their super popular farmer's market! I'm so excited, and the girls are too! I may even get to see Miss Maranda... and she's crafting up super cute skirts these days, along with her handbags!

What's on your agenda this weekend?

Enjoy!! :)

July Winners!

2011-08-04T06:01:00.001-06:00

Yay for the Fiber One Cereal Giveaway:

6. debbie said...

I try to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, plus lots of whole grains.
June 23, 2011 3:18 PM 

And here's the lucky EnDANGERbles winner!!

3. ~Shari said...

I *like* The Ivy Twines on Facebook also!
July 6, 2011 12:36 PM

And the lovely winner for The Posh Kids giveaway:

25. The Smith Family said...

I love the Alice in Wonderland printable. Too cute!

Lorie
July 26, 2011 6:34 AM

And last but not least, the Hands Full Creations gift certificate winner:

30. Cali said...

I like you on fb

Cassie M
July 29, 2011 10:25 AM

Thanks to all who entered, and a big huge thank you to all the sponsors! Yay!! Happy Thursday!!

Improved Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers {review+giveaway}

2011-08-03T14:59:00.000-06:00

I've always been a fan of Seventh Generation products {I LOVE their all purpose cleaner!}, so when I was offered to try out their newest line of earth friendly disposables, I was super excited to try them out on my sweet little Reese!

The new Free & Clear Diapers have left out chlorine, petroleum based lotions, fragrances, and latex -- making them a little more earth friendly and baby bottom friendly too! Seventh Generation didn't skimp on the benefits of their diapers, either! I was impressed with the durability and performance when my little one put them to the test.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation, I have a jumbo package of their Free & Clear Diapers for a lucky reader of The Ivy Twines!

**Mandatory Entry**: What do you love about eco-conscious health and baby products? Please share!

And if one entry is not nearly enough. . . (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

Earn one additional entry:

-Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter
-Like Seventh Generation on Facebook

- Follow The Ivy Twines (publicly) using Google Friend
- Follow The Ivy Twines on Twitter and leave twitter name
- Like Ivy Twines on Facebook
- Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway and leave link! {daily!}

{Give Back} - 5 extra entries for participating! Learn more about Give Back here.

Seventh Generation is dedicated to bringing a more environmentally and health conscious product to your home. What is your number one way to go green in your life? Please share!

Good luck readers!!!

Giveaway will end August 17th at 11:59pm CST. Winners will be chosen via random.org and contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. Must be 18 to enter, US only! Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation for providing me with information and a complimentary pack of diapers. They will also be providing the giveaway prize pack! All opinions are my own. Thanks again!

on the vine...

2011-07-31T10:32:00.000-06:00

We've had quite the emotional week around here. This past Monday, a former teammate of mine was laid to rest, a bright life taken way too soon. And yesterday, we celebrated the life of my husband's grandpa, our beloved "Poppy", who poured his entire life into our family ranch. Both will be missed dearly.

I just finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain, which is a beautiful story, especially for those of you who have sweets dogs in your life. But what I loved was the perspective on the grieving process and dying, it was very comforting.

For our Poppy's memorial service, I sang Danny Boy, an old Irish tune that he loved and sang often. Here's Johnny Cash's soulful rendition... I just love it!

Happy Sunday all, back to regular scheduling next week! :)