* BDG

BDG. A concept taught to me by my sister who I love and respect. She's a Yoga instructor and a very good one. I believe this was an idea taught to her in one of her classes. The idea is to speak out loud three things. The first is to Brag about something in your life, something personal to you, something about YOU. The next things is to say out loud something that you Desire, whatever it is that you've been wanting lately, spiritually, physically, materialistically. The final thing is to say out loud something you are Grateful for. This is such a good way to bond as a group when the setting is right or to start your day off with a full heart and with intention of making your desires come to fruition. Saying them out loud has a much more dramatic effect on the body than just thinking them in your head. I try and do this with my family as often as I remember. The answers can be the same or different every time. You shouldn't have to think too long about the answers. In the beginning this might be difficult for you but after a few times, the answers should flow easily. You can comment on your BDG for the day or just hear mine. Here goes.

B= I love my long thick dark hair
D= I desire to be less fearful in my daily life, I don't want to feel held back by fears, fears relating to my children and to my personal growth and advancement.
G= I am grateful for a healthy mind that can push my body to be stronger and healthier.

I hope this inspires just one of you and I hope you share the concept with others. If not, i've done mine for the day so my day can start off aimed in the right direction.

Namaste

Photo is: Praying Hands statue in Webb City, Missouri

* I'm Pondering Making this Dress

WOW!

How adorable is this jersey knit dress by Cami over at Tidbits?!!

Jersey Knit Dress Tutorial

Love the tie in the back, the rosette in the front, and the “party in the back”!

So BEAUTIFUL.

***CLOSED*** Nothing But Soap Giveaway!!

Today is the day!!  I've been looking forward to this one for a while now.  NOTHING BUT SOAP giveaway.  I use her dishwashing detergent faithfully as it seems to be the ONLY thing that doesn't leave white film over our dishes and we've tried EVERYTHING!  She has an amazing line of all natural products and i'm so excited for you guys to get the chance to try this out for free.  I know you'll be coming back to her store to purchase more once you have a chance to see how well they work.
Here are a few words from Amber the owner regarding her line.


My name is Amber Perks and I am the owner of Nothing But Soap. I have been committed to making all natural cleaning products. I currently make laundry soap, dish washing soap (for your automatic dishwasher), lemon cleaning scrub (replaces your ajax) all purpose cleaner, and carpet deodorizer. I participate in many craft shows and boutiques in the Salt Lake City area and I currently sell my products in 12 store fronts.

You can shop online at www.scrubnaturally.com and http://www.etsy.com/people/ScrubNaturally

I have also started using a new email address. For any questions, please contact me at nothingbutsoap@scrubnaturally.com

Today, Nothing But Soap, is giving you the chance to win a package of laundry detergent (your choice in scent **See photo) simply by "friending" her Facebook page and then make a comment here stating that you've done so. Please make sure you are following us as well so we can keep you updated once we've chosen a winner. The giveaway will end on Monday, April 4th at midnight. Extra entries will be awarded to those who post this to their Facebook page. Good luck and I cannot wait for you guys to try her out! Best stuff out there, trust me!

* Bugs and Blooms Bowtique winner is.....

Jackie!!!  Congratulations!  Thanks to all of you who entered and continue to support our ever growing operation around here.  Thanks for spreading the word and making this a fun past time for me.  If you know anyone who would like to promote their items, please let them know they can contact me.  I love helping out small business owners!

* Big O's 4th Birthday

Today was a BLAST!!  O has been anticipating this day ALL month LOOONNNNGGGGG.  At the end of every day starting on the 1st of March we would check off each day as we watched his birthday grow closer and closer.  He started to get really naughty and noisy as his birthday approached, I had to put him in time out a bunch of times and finally he broke down and said, "MOM, I'M JUST EXCITED FOR MY PARTY, THAT'S WHY I'M BEING CRAZY!!".   I've never felt so relieved in my life.  For a second there I thought that he was turning absolutely nutsy.   I also felt really bad for not seeing this in the first place.  After that, I just let him go crazy and make all the noise he wanted.   The boys arrived and were greeted at the door with their own personalized cape and matching mask.  They played for a little bit in the basement.  Meanwhile, Jesse was putting on his bad guy clothing (all black).  I had all the boys go in the backyard armed with their cans of silly string not knowing when or where this "bad guy" was going to come from.  All the sudden Jesse bursts through the back gate yelling and scaring the boys, they reacted so cute.  They all started screaming and spraying him with their cans of string.  I've seen some fun things in my life but seeing my son's face today has topped the list.  Pizza came and we all came in for lunch.  After lunch we opened presents and then went downstairs for some pinata whacking.  I had Owen decorate his pinata this year (I added a few of my own artwork, if you could call it that).  I thought it would be another fun tradition.  It turned out really funny looking but no one cared and Owen loved it!   I filled it with assorted tootsie roll stuff and sticky frogs, lizards and hands.   We then enjoyed cake and ice-cream which was MARVELOUS!  I couldn't have asked for a better day for my son.  The weather held out long enough for us to have a blast outside.  All the running around and chaos to get all the details in order was so worth it for my precious son.  Thanks for letting me take a minute to rave about our day!

* Bikram Beginning

I've been running again and my knees are starting to suffer.  I've had to take a break from pushing the pavement in order to let my knees heal.  I have to do something, I can't just sit here and let my body get soft and weak.  My friend suggested I join her at Bikram Yoga.  I've found the early morning workouts are just the key to starting my day off right.  I feel good all day long and I have more energy despite the fact that i've gotten a little less sleep the night before.  6:00am class came REALLY early but I enjoyed it so much.  They crank up the heat and you endure 26 poses through a head to toe drenching sweat.  I wouldn't call it very intense Yoga but combine it with the heat and you have one amazingly cleansing experience along with some serious bone realigning.  My knees hurt so much less today and I cannot wait to go back.  For those of you in this area, they are offering a new student introductory rate of 10 consecutive days for $20.  I highly recommend it, even if you've never done one Yoga pose in your life.  Contact me if you'd like the address of the studio I attend.

Fact:  It has been scientifically documented that  Yoga has the ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.


In honor of my new found love of Yoga, I thought i'd let you know about several amazing offers from one of my favorite companies.


$20 off plus Free Standard Shipping on all orders of $100! Hurry, limited-time offer valid 3.25 to 3.27.11!

Gaiam's Green Sale! Save 25% off all-natural Bedding Basics: comforters, pillows and mattress pads. Hurry, inventory is limited - sale ends 4.15.11

Final Days! Save 30% off Marisa Tomei hoopBody Kit - sale $27.98, was $39.98. This product will be discontinued on 3.31.11. Hurry and purchase your very own today!

***CLOSED*** Giveaway

Our giveaway today is brought to you by Bugs and Blooms Bowtique.  This little shop produces some of the cutest things, she's very creative.  Today she's allowing one winner to take home 2 of her darling clips.  Now just because you don't have a girl doesn't mean you shouldn't enter the giveaway, these would make darling gifts.  She is very detailed in her work, every clip is done to perfection.

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:  In order to be considered for the giveaway, please visit her Etsy shop and then come back to us and tell us which is your favorite product.  For an extra entry you can share this post on your Facebook page.
**Giveaway ends on Monday March 28th at midnight.  Winner will be announced on Tuesday morning.

* Cakes By Diva

Big J and I were talking about what traditions we'd like to have for our kids and their birthdays. I've been eyeing this cake designer for some time now and she lives in SLC! I am dying over her Mommy to be cakes, the belly cakes are so cute. I can't wait for one of my friends to get pregnant so I can get this cake for their shower.

She's fantastic right??  I'd love for O to have a homemade cake made by his mother but I just have no desire to do it, so we decided to get the best looking cake possible.  She's making O a Batman cake, I can't wait to see how it turns out.  I didn't give her any other direction except the flavor, filling and theme, the creative process is up to her.  I have no doubt she'll turn out the best.  I'll post on Saturday after the party.  For now, here are a few more of my favorites.

She can also be found on FB, check her out!

WINNER OF THE PHOTO SHOOT GIVEAWAY

Random.org generated a winner for us today.

D'Lynne or Robert Esplin. Please contact KC Photography within the next 24 hours to make arrangements for your shoot. This prize is non transferrable, please contact her to schedule your shoot! Congratulations!

* Eggs

Backyard chickens are all the rage these days and we decided about a year ago to join the fun and start doing things and making choices to help us become more self reliant. Big J made us a coop out of an old dog house that wasn't being put to use anymore and some wood from all the salt pallets he accumulates over the winter from his snow removal business. We love our coop and so do the chickens, we have really happy fat chickens. They require very little maintenance and don't create smell, like some would have you think, they also eat all your table scraps. We feel weird when we put ANYTHING down the disposal. Since we are a small family, we often find ourselves with a surplus of eggs so we like to give them away when we have the opportunity. I went on Picnik and made this cute label and tied it with a ribbon and gave it away to one of our neighbors.  We feel so fortunate to be able to do these little things for others.  They are small but often provide others with the greatest amount of joy.  Spread it around today if you are able!

* Busy Bees

As some of you know, we have a beehive in our backyard. Yes, we have children and yes, we did this on purpose. My husband (Big J) used to work with a bee keeper in his younger years and really loved doing it so he's taken up the hobby once again. We have 6 unbuilt hives in your garage right now and as I look out my back bay window, I see him hammering away building the new bee boxes. Don't worry, they won't ALL be in our back yard, well, only for a month :{ We will be planting them in various places around the city but need the weather to improve before we do so. I don't worry too much about O getting stung, it only takes one sting and they'll stay away from the hive for good. Should be interesting with 6 hives though. Tomorrow O's preschool has asked us to come in and give a 20 minute presentation on bee keeping. We are so excited to do this! O keeps talking about it and getting us totally into it. He thinks his parents are really cool! I know that changes with the different stages of life but we'll take it while we can.
Bees are so important to the life around us. We want to help sustain life and keep things beautiful and blooming! We will be planting a bunch of lavender bushes against our house in the backyard. The honey we get from our hive should have a lavender hint to it. YUM!

* The Puj Tub

Puj Tub

Puj Tub - The Soft, Foldable Baby Bath Tub, White

Why oh why did I ever deal with those bulky baby bath tubs that sort of fold, don't shape the baby's body have to put them in your bathtub causing you back pain that you don't ever need after labor.   Living in a small house, I don't have room to store big bulky baby items, this would have been perfect!  I'm learning these things a little late in the game I know.  Hopefully I can help you all avoid some of the "I should've's".

* My Favorite Bottles in the UNIVERSE!!

Lifefactory Glass Baby Bottle Starter Kit, Girl Pk/Hotpink, 9 Ounce & 4 Ounce

These bottles are my favorite things EVER.  I bought 5 of them when I had Vi.  I wish I had known about them when I had Big O.  They don't break when they fall to the floor, they have a silicone sleeve around them for grip and protection from breaking.  I always worry about the BPA found in plastic and since I heat my baby bottles these are the perfect solution to avoid all of that.  PLUS, when your baby is done with bottles they come with a cap that replaces the nipple and Voila, you have a snack container or a water bottle.  Eco friendly, reusable, durable, functional and healthy.  What more could you ask for in a product.  I love the fact that the glass is made in France.  I love France :)  ZERO COMPLAINTS!

**Shower Gift Tip:  I always attach a small bottle (they have a really cute blue line) to a package of diapers, oh and a headband of course (if it's a girl) !

* I DON'T Sew!!

I have never  been able to sew more than a straight stitch in my entire life.  I decided to get brave and make superhero capes and masks for Big O's 4th birthday coming up here toward the end of the month.  I winged it!  I looked at a TON of tutorials online but didn't like any of them so I just drew it out on my material cut it out and away I sewed.  It was actually fun!  I'm looking forward to many more projects in the future.  Next time i'll do a tutorial.  I just didn't think I had the skills to document this one.
P.S  Later that night I hemmed my pants that were too long.  I kept the original hem.  Dangit, yesterday was the day to document the tutorial.  Next time, I promise!  Happy St. Patty's Day!!