Best Buddies

I would love to be a dog for a few weeks (well, except for that whole being on a leash thing)!! They get to snuggle up and sleep all day long!! This is a picture of Bailey and Bear. I don't write too much about my other dogs because they are so good and never get into trouble. Bailey (in the front) is the one that gets into so much trouble, but he is still an awesome dog!

Yay!! Donation Day Today

Today was donation day. Twice a year I buy fabric and also clean out my workshop and donate supplies to local groups. This bunch is going to an assistance center that makes quilts for kids in need. It is so fun to drop it off. They also have a little quilt shop so where they sell fabric and ribbon by the yard to make money for machines and supplies. It took a while, but last year they were able to buy a big quilting machine, which is really nice because anyone can bring their quilts there to have the top stitching done. They charge for it and then use the money for more quilting supplies for the quilts they donate. Please email me or leave a comment if you know of any charity groups that need fabric. I try to donate several hundred yards of fabric a year. My sister, who runs the wholesale side of my business, also has a bunch of fabric she needs to donate.

Email: Admin@LaurenNicoleGifts.com

NEW GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY - Lilly Pulitzer Wallet (Ends 6-4-09)

The new giveaway contest starts today, May 29 2009: A Lilly Pulitzer Travel & Leisure Wallet. I will be taking entries until midnight on Thursday, June 4, 2009. A winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, June 5, 2009.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER: All entries must come through the website link. The link will take you to the giveaway page on my website which lists all of the giveaway details and has a link to enter the giveaway.

Winner of the Vera Bradley Pink Bag....

The winner is "Mary Anne". Congratulations!! Just email me with your shipping address and I can ship it out today.

admin@LaurenNicoleGifts.com

Book Clip Giveaway

New Product Giveaway - Book Clip with 3-initials and charms. I hope that everyone will have some time to relax and read this summer! To enter just leave a comment on this post recommending a book you liked. The giveaway contest ends at midnight on Wednesday, 6-3-09. The winner will be announced on Thursday, 6-4-09. Good Luck!

Note to Neighbor

My dog, Bailey, may have ran inside your garage today and stolen a blue tennis ball. I might have found it and then put it next to your bike in your garage because you were out back mowing. I am not saying this actually happened, I just wanted to make sure that you knew where your blue tennis ball was.

Awards

Thank you to Mommy World and to DLMD from Getting Here From There and to "The Neaves'" for the One Lovely Blog Award.

The Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.


2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are 15 wonderful blogs I found recently....
1. The Baffled Blogger
2. A Dozen Eggs
3. Preppy Little Dress
4. Black Labs & Lilly
5. Confessions of a Control Freak
6. Ink Obsession Designs
7. Iva Messy
8. Lis Loves
9. Preppy From Bay
10. Third Coast Preppy
11. All Things Southern & Preppy
12. Mable Cakes
13. Blue-Eyed Bride
14. Chic and Pink
15. The Gill Family Adventures

Also, THANK YOU to Melissa at "The Gill Family Adventures" for creating a banner and background for my blog. I love it!!

Flip and Tumble Bags

I can't remember whose blog I saw these on, but I ordered one and got it yesterday. I love it!!! I have my stack of bags that I take grocery shopping (whenever I actually go grocery shopping), but I like this new bag because it folds up into a little ball and I can leave it in the bottom of my purse so that I don't forget to bring it with me. It is great for running errands. I already used it three times in two days. They are made by Flip and Tumble.

And the Winner is....

The winner is "Celeste" from Etsy it Up. Congratulations!! Just email me with your shipping address and I can ship it out today.

Wacky Wednesday - 30% off Monogrammed Golf Towels

30% off Monogrammed Golf Towels. The towels measure 13" X 18" and normally retail for $12 each. The towels are on sale now through midnight on Thursday, 5-28-09. Just use the following coupon code during checkout to receive the 30% off "wacky"

Diet - Day 27

NOTE TO HUSBAND: NO, you cannot smash the box of Shredded wheat so that you can fit more in a one cup serving!!

My Mom "The Gun Slinger"

I made a scrapbook a while back for my Mom's birthday. We spent a lot of time going through old pictures because we wanted the scrapbook to span her whole life. When we were growing up my Mom was always trying to get me and my sisters to wear dresses and "act like ladies". We just wanted to wear jeans and climb trees. Mom, why is it that every picture that we found of you as a child shows you sporting a cowgirl outfit complete with a gun belt and toy gun? Was that what ladies wore in the 50's? I am just asking...

Blog Makeover Help

Does anyone know anyone who does great blog makeovers? I really want to change the design some and then organize it better with tabs at the top, but I don't know what I am doing.

Totebag Giveaway

I only have one of the pink & brown tote bags left so I took it off my website. I will be taking entries until midnight on Tuesday 5-26-09 and will draw a winner on Wednesday 5-27-09. To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me what you would have monogrammed on it if you won. I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

diet means DIET!!!

My husband and I have been dieting for a few weeks now. I ran 3.25 miles this morning and he ran 6 miles (show off). For breakfast this morning I served Kashi Go-Lean Cereal (crunchy fiber twigs) and fresh strawberries. My husband ate the cereal without complaint this time, but he handed back the strawberries and said "Would you PLEASE add some sugar, whipped cream and one of those little cakes to these and then I will eat them"

Cleaning out my Studio - Giveaway!

I am cleaning out my Studio again!! The first TEN bloggers to leave any comment on this post will receive a prize in the mail.

After you leave a comment and you know that you were one of the first 10 please email me at admin@LaurenNicoleGifts.com and let me know what your shipping address is. ONLY the first TEN comments will receive a prize. If I don't receive an email from you within a day after you left a comment your prize will go to the next person on the list.

I will do another one of these in a few weeks. Have a great weekend!

It was Awesome!!!

We decided to take off this morning and go dirt bike riding at Perry Lake. We got there at 5:30 am, which was great because no one else was there. I am pretty sure everyone was still sleeping!! We like to go early because the idiots usually show up around noon (the ones that get crazy and slam into everyone else).

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!!

NEW GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY - Vera Bradley Pink Nylon Purse (Ends 5/28/09)

The new giveaway contest starts today, May 22 2009: A Vera Bradley Pink Nylon Upper East Clutch. I will be taking entries until midnight on Thursday, May 28, 2009. A winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, May 29, 2009.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER: All entries must come through the website link. The link will take you to the giveaway page on my website which lists all of the giveaway details and has a link to enter the giveaway.

And the Winner Is.....

The winner of the Vera Bradley Tall Tote is "DLMD". Congratulations!!! Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! I got up at 4:00 am to choose a winner....we will be out dirt bike riding all day. We like to get to the lake early before all the crazy people show up and start wrecking into each other.

Website for Shift Dress Cookie Cutter

Sorry! I forgot to put this in the post. You can still order a shift dress cookie cutter from www.coppergifts.com. They have tons of cookie cutters. They are a little pricey, but they are really nice.

Interchangeable Purse

I was playing around on the internet this morning and I ran across this purse, the Miche Bag. You just buy a black or brown purse and then you can buy different shells for the purse. The outside shell is magnetic and attaches to the purse. I love this because you can change it to anything without having to switch purses (which I hate). I am probably the last one to find out about these, but I thought I would pass it along.

another 3 miles

Yay! I just made it through another 3-mile run. I think the crunchy fiber twigs might be helping :)

Thanks to everyone for the great running advice! I really appreciate it!

Winner - Shift Dress Cookie Cutter

The winner is: "Jules"

Congratulations! Just email me at admin@LaurenNicoleGifts.com and I will ship it out today.

Crunchy Fiber Twigs

Over the last year I have been replacing everything we eat with healthier versions. Sometimes my husband needs a little extra convincing. I almost had him convinced this morning to switch to Kashi Go-Lean cereal. It almost worked until he read the box and underneath "Kashi" it said "Crunchy Fiber Twigs".

His response: "There is no way I am eating sticks for breakfast, I would rather eat dirt".

Under the Palm Tree - Lilly Pulitzer Sale

Under the Palm Tree is having a Memorial Day Sale; 30% to 80% off selected Lilly Pulitzer merchandise.

Wacky Wednesday - 30% off Fine Silver Wax Seal Necklaces

30% off Fine Silver Wax Seal Initial Necklaces. The pendants are hand made in my studio by hand casting fine silver with wax seal stamps. The necklaces are on sale now through midnight on Thursday, 5-21-09. Just use the following coupon code during checkout to receive the 30% off "wacky"

Ready for a Marathon!

Well, not quite yet! I would really love to run a 5K sometime next year. Today was a big day, I ran 3 miles on the tread mill without using an inhaler. I have never run 3 miles at one time in my whole life. I have asthma and it gets really hard to control, especially at age 21(+19). I had to start out 8 months ago by walking two blocks without wheezing and then slowly build up to running. I would love to run in a marathon that supports research for kids with asthma.

Does anyone have any good running or work out advice??

Shift Dress Cookie Cutter Giveaway

I bought one of these a few weeks ago and I just received another one as a gift. I don't bake much any more (because I eat the whole batch of cookies in one day by myself) so I thought I would give one away. To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me what you like to bake. My favorite thing to bake is ANYTHING with sugar in it!!! The giveaway ends at midnight this Wednesday, May 20th. I will draw a winner on Thursday morning.

Dear Telemarketers.....just venting.....

Dear Telemarketers:

I would love nothing more than to go on a giant shopping spree. I know that you love to call me 10 times a day and I really appreciate all of the offers to take out an equity loan on the current house I am living in. I understand that you already have an application on file from me (I wonder who filled that out). I am just throwing this out there, but I am pretty sure my landlord would not appreciate me taking out an equity loan on the house that he owns.

Also, I will have to check my records, but I am positive that I already won 24 cruises and 30 gas vouchers this week. I especially like when I answer the phone and the first thing I hear is a loud cruise ship horn blowing in my ear. Maybe if you made the horn noise a little more obnoxious I would bite.

I especially love when I explain to the telemarketer that I don’t own this house and they say “Well, I am sure we can still work with you”.

I really should stop answering the phone. I just can’t help myself!

Animal House

With my husband being in the Army we sometimes meet really neat people from other countries. We always wonder what kind of impression we are making on them or what they think of this country. This question was finally answered when a soldier from England (who has been attending an American military course here for a year) sent us the following invitation today:

After a year as a guest in your wonderful country and
having watched “'Animal House" a few times over I hope to have educated
myself in the art of a good party. I hope you can make it.

We will definitely put this one on our calendar!

NEW GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY - Vera Bradley Tall Tote

The new giveaway contest starts today, May 15, 2009: A Vera Bradley Tall Zip Tote. I will be taking entries until midnight on Thursday, May 21, 2009. A winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, May 22, 2009.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER: All entries must come through the website link. The link will take you to the giveaway page on my website which lists all of the giveaway details and has a link to enter the giveaway.

AND THE WINNER IS.......

There were 421 entries, The Winner is: #33 "C in VA". Congratulations!!! Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!!!

Bad Interview Questions

I was at a fast food restaurant this week (eating really-bad-for-me food). In the dining area the manager was interviewing job applicants and I could hear everything they were saying.

It has been many years since I took a human resources class, but I am pretty sure you CAN’T ask the following questions in an interview:

1. How many kids do you have?

2. Will this job interfere with you taking care of your kids?

3. Do you drink?

I am glad I wasn’t the one being interviewed. My answers would have been: “None of your business”, “I plan on bringing my kids to work”, and “I don’t drink, but if I have to work for you I am sure I will have to start drinking”.

Wacky Wednesday - 30% off Lilly Ponytail Holders

30% off Ponytail Holders hand made with Lilly Pulitzer Fabric, now through midnight on Thursday, May 14, 2009, while supplies last. Just use the following coupon code during checkout to receive the 30% off "wacky"

I am Not Here to Rob the Place.......Really!!

Do you ever do something without thinking? I do, sometimes........every day........several times a day!! I had to run some errands this morning because I needed to buy some butane fuel for my jewelry torch. The fuel can usually only be found at a cigar or smoke shop.

NOTE TO SELF: Next time you have to run into a cigar / liquor store to buy butane gas try not to carry your torch in your hand like it is a hand gun, especially since it looks just like one. It makes people nervous!!

I guess I freaked out the clerk at the counter. The poor guy barely spoke English and I practically scared him to death. He finally calmed down, but he got nervous again when I asked about buying butane. Oh well, at least he didn’t wet his pants.

I can probably share a cell with Bailey!

Thank you to "The Gifting Gumshoe"

Thank you to The Gifting Gumshoe for the award. I am going to be good and post it right away because I am usually way behind!

The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award
1.Put the logo on your blog or post

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude

3. Link to your nominees within your post

4.Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award

5.Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

This is always hard. I read so many blogs so I had to pick just Ten:

1. Sweet Tea Diaries
2. Preppy From Bay
3. Good Gals
4. Lis Loves
5. Monograms & Manicures
6. Preppy Mama
7. Preppy Sue
8. The Monogrammed Nest
9. Third Coast Preppy
10. Preppy Pink Crocodile

I am very grateful for all of the blog friends I have made and for all of the really awesome people I have met and gotten to know through blogs and websites!!!

Why men shouldn't go grocery shopping by themselves!

I finally went grocery shopping yesterday! I forgot that the grocery store here opens early, but only for self-check out and only if you have 20 or less items. I had a very full cart so I had 30 minutes to waste until the regular registers opened. I met an old man that did the same thing I did. He said that his wife usually does not allow him to go grocery shopping by himself. He then showed me the grocery list that his wife gave him. There were only four things on the list (milk, eggs, bread, and chicken), but his cart was full!! He had every snack and ice cream flavor that the grocery store carried. I just started laughing and helped him put it all in thermal shopping totes so that his ice cream wouldn't melt while we waited to check out. He said that his wife never lets him buy that stuff. He also said that he was 85 years old and that ice cream and cupcakes haven't killed him yet!!

NEW GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY - Lilly Pulitzer Mother's Day Gift Set

The new giveaway contest starts today, May 8, 2009: A Lilly Pulitzer Mother's Day Gift Set (Cosmetic Bag and Wink perfume). I will be taking entries until midnight on Thursday, May 14, 2009. A winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, May 15, 2009.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER: All entries must come through the website link. I had to start doing it this way because of all the spamming. The link will take you to the giveaway page on my website. I created a contest submission form that automatically records, date stamps, and stores all contest entries in the order they come in. It also records extra entries. You can earn extra entries by doing any of the following:

1. Posting about this giveaway on your blog

2. Writing about this giveaway on Facebook

3. Announcing this giveaway on Twitter

4. Sign up to be a follower on my blog www.laurennicolegifts.blogspot.com (or let me know you already are a follower).

MAKE SURE YOU ENTER THROUGH THE WEBSITE LINK, Leaving a comment on this post does NOT enter you in the contest.

Click Here to Enter Contest

WINNER - Lilly Pulitzer "Loose Lilly" Bag

AND THE WINNER IS..... "Preppy From Bay"


Preppyfrombay.blogspot.com


CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER!!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!!!

Bailey is Going Green!

This is what I woke up to this morning! I knew I heard Bailey going in and out of the dog door over and over again at 4:00am this morning. After going through our re-cycle bins and dragging a bunch of stuff outside he jumped back in our bed with his green grass covered paws! He doesn't quite get the concept of recycling. We are trying to recycle, but he is trying to form his own land fill in our back yard. Today I found tin cans, plastic bottles and my missing tube of toothpaste in his hole out back.

WINNER of Re-usable Tote Giveaway

The Winner of the re-usable tote bag giveaway is "From Paci to Pearls". Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who left comments!! So many great recycling ideas! We are definately going to implement several of them soon.

Wacky Wednesday - 30% off Ceramic Keychains thru 5-7-09

30% off Hand Painted Ceramic Key Chains now through midnight on Thursday, May 7, 2009. Because these are hand made and hand painted they take a while to make. It will take about 10 days to receive the key chains once they are ordered. Just use the following coupon code during checkout to receive the 30% off "wacky"

http://www.laurennicolegifts.com/ceke.html

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

When I first saw this recipe on the internet I thought it sounded really disgusting, but anything with chocolate in it has to be good, right? I wasn’t so sure about the pumpkin and chocolate combination. When I was little I couldn’t understand why someone would want to ruin a perfectly good cake by putting vegetables in it, but now carrot cake is one of my favorites so I thought I might like the chocolate chip pumpkin muffins. I made them and they were so good!!! We couldn’t stop eating them so we pretty much ate them for breakfast, lunch and dinner (one of the reasons why I rarely bake any more).

Here is the recipe (if you make them and don’t like them you can always send them to us and we will polish them off for you).

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs, slightly beaten
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease thirty-six 2 1/2-inch muffin cups or line with paper bake cups.

COMBINE all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in medium bowl. Combine eggs and sugar in large bowl. Add pumpkin and oil; mix well. Stir in flour mixture until moistened. Stir in morsels. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes; remove from pans.

It's the thought that counts!

Mother's Day is one of my favorite days of the year. Being in the retail business there is always one or two men that stand out every year when they call to order Mother's Day gifts for their wives. Here are few from this year:

1. A husband called today panicking because he forgot to order something for his wife. His exact words were "just send one of your most popular items, maybe something pink".

2. My friend's little boy came over today because he was supposed to paint a ceramic piece as a gift for his Mom. When he got here I asked him what he wanted to paint on it. After a look of panic washed over his face he said "can you just paint it for me and put something pink on it".

I think I am finally understanding how Men shop:

"Anything Pink + Card = Happy Mom(Wife)

This isn't exactly what I had in mind....

This isn't exactly what I had in mind when we started recycling. We have been trying to get our business trash down to one bag or less per week. We have a great recycling center here and I worked really hard this morning sorting everything out. Well apparently Bailey (my bad little dog) decided that he didn't like the way anything was sorted. We were gone for a few hours today and when we got back we found this mess all over the basement. There are about six piles just like the one in the picture. He also drug a bunch of stuff through the dog door out to the back yard. I am thinking that I should recycle Bailey's toys!!!!

Going Green - Bag Giveaway

I know earth day was last month, but I am a little behind. I am giving away a Lauren Nicole re-usable tote bag. It measures 14" X 14" X 3". I will be taking entries until midnight on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. A winner will be drawn on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Lauren Nicole, LLC is a small company (just me, my sister, and my husband...when begged). We are trying to recycle as much as possible. To enter the contest just leave a comment on this post with one idea of how we can recycle or something we can do to go Green.

New Giveaway Starts Today - Lilly Pulitzer Bag

The new giveaway contest starts today, May 1, 2009: A Lilly Pulitzer "Loose Lilly" bag. I will be taking entries until midnight on Thursday, May 7, 2009. A winner will be drawn and announced on Friday, May 8, 2009.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER: All entries must come through the website link. I had to start doing it this way because of all the spamming. The link will take you to the giveaway page on my website. I created a contest submission form that automatically records, date stamps, and stores all contest entries in the order they come in. It also records extra entries. You can earn extra entries by doing any of the following:

1. Posting about this giveaway on your blog

2. Writing about this giveaway on Facebook

3. Announcing this giveaway on Twitter

4. Sign up to be a follower on my blog www.laurennicolegifts.blogspot.com (or let me know you already are a follower).

MAKE SURE YOU ENTER THROUGH THE WEBSITE LINK, Leaving a comment on this post does NOT enter you in the contest.

Click Here to Enter Contest

WINNER OF VERA BRADLEY GIVEAWAY

WINNER: "My Three B's and Me"

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER!!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!!!