ANOTHER BLOGGING AWARD

January 30, 2009

It is always a wonderful feeling when another blogger recognizes you either as a friend, or just someone who writes something they enjoy reading. My dear blogging friend Carrie~gigi over at Under the Willow Gifts presented me with two new awards. 
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HEAT TRANSFER METHOD TUTORIAL

January 28, 2009

Ok ladies, this is my little post about the Heat Transfer Method (BTW/who coined that term??)

I learned about this a while back, I think first from snowdrift farm?? possibly. Maybe Steph @ Playing with Soap?? Anyway, over the summer I asked some ladies at the SOAPMAKERS CORNER about it. After learning a little more from HEIDI at SOAPAHOLICS ANONYMOUS and TRISHA at SUDS TO LOVE, I gave it a go. At first I convinced myself that it wasn't working, something about the soap wasn't right, but it was just my way of refusing to change and experiment. Call it... being a chicken. But once I realized it was a huge time saver and well, yes, it does work and works great, I decided not to go back to the old fashioned way of soaping ever again.
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100 BOOK CHALLENGE

January 27, 2009

I have this whole "spring renewal" thing going on for myself and part of that includes challenging myself to do things I know are difficult. I love to read but have a tendency to buy books I think are interesting and then place them on the bookshelf. I've accumulated 3/4 of Barnes & Noble and really need to read my books before I buy anymore, so I've decided to take the 100 Book Challenge listed over on J. Kaye's Book Blog.
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WHY I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY CHILDREN: WEEK 1

January 26, 2009

We all know there are million reasons to be grateful for our children so to pick one a week is a bit challenging because I'm inclined to list them all. But I promised myself I'd stick to one each time and this way, when my girls read this, they can appreciate the reasons more fully instead of running through a list of reasons and just forgetting about it. 
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HERE IT IS, MY FIRST BLOG GIVE AWAY!

January 21, 2009

Well, I thought I'd have my blog giveaway posted a few days ago but ended up commissioning doodlebug designs for a new blog look and decided to wait until that was finished. As you see, it is all done and I love it! I hope you like it too.
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OUR TIME IN HAWAII (OAHU)

January 18, 2009

A little photo journal of our time visiting Hawaii.
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BACK FROM OAHU!!

January 17, 2009

As expected, we had an absolutely glorious time on the island. When we arrived it was a bit cloudy and rainy but through the rain there was sunshine and the best part... lots of warmth. I missed the 27 below zero temps we reached here in Minnesota (THANKFULLY!). Didn't manage to connect with the Oils of Aloha people but that didn't stop me from buying their wonderful products. So for those of you who have not tried their kukui nut oil I am having my first blog giveaway. I did manage to slip in a Soap Factory tour and so I will be adding one of their products to the blog giveaway, a lipbalm and wooden turtle. The lipbalm is made with both kukui and macadamia nut oils. Another great place on the island is Island Soap & Candle Works. I arrived as they were setting some of their soaps out to cure and it smelled so wonderful so I picked up the pikake scented soap with matching scented candle. For those of you who have not used pikake fragrance in your products, it is a must!
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