Mingle Monday - 1.31.2011

Wow.... the last day of January already! This month has flown by!! PLUS... some really exciting news... we have officially reached 800+ followers!! For those of you who haven't stopped by since last week, you'll want to make sure you hang around for a bit! ☺

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Stop by here or click on my BIG GIVEAWAY tab on the top of this page to go enter. If you win, you choose one of 3 prize packages! Something for baby, for kids, and for yourself! Each package is worth more than $35!! Read the post for the details!!!

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Also, for those of you looking for my blog buttons, you can now find links to my button on my left sidebar. I created several size options for those of you with different blog styles! Hope you like them!

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Only 1 week left of blog hopping! The linky site that I use to create these fun linky parties has decided they will no longer offer this service for free. Unfortunately, with our new house payments and a growing business, I can't afford the cost to pay for a membership (unless anyone wants to become a sponser). So, next weeks link will be the last one... at least until I can figure something out. If you anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them! ☺

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Here's how to join:
1. Grab my Mingle Monday button and add it to your blog!
2. Become a follower of my blog through GFC.
3. Visit as many blogs on the list as you like -- just make sure to tell them you stopped by from Mingle Monday.
4. HAVE FUN!!

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CSN Stores Teaser

Most of you remember my CSN Stores giveaway a while back. Well, I am getting ready to do a review from one of their wonderful stores! CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish handbags, a corner TV stand, or great cookware!

CSN Stores contacted me and asked if I would choose an item from one of their stores to review. They have so many things it's going to be hard to choose. What do you want to see a review about? Give me some suggestions for what I should get!

Disclosure for this post and review only:  I was asked by CSN Stores to include the hyperlink to the keyword "a corner TV stand" as part of their promotion and as part of the agreement and terms of the review.  In this way, I am receiving a $40 compensation for advertising their store.  I am in turn able to receive an item to review.  I did this of my own choice and will conduct the review honestly.  This compensation will not effect the review in any way.
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My LARGEST Giveaway to Date!!

Giveaway is now closed. The winner will be announced on Monday, February 7!!

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 A BIG THANK YOU to all of my faithful followers and Facebook fans! In honor of all of you I am offering my LARGEST giveaway to date!! I am giving away things I have never given away before! I've done burp cloths, I've done receiving blankets, I've done notecards.... but nothing compares to this!!

I know that not all of you have children or grandchildred... and for that reason, I am offering the winner their choice in prizes!!! Yep... you read that right.. if you are the lucky winner... you get to CHOOSE which package you want to win!! How cool is that!??!

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Option #1:
Party Pack Set of 12 (You choose the design). 
A $60 value!!!


Package Includes:
• 12 - 5"x7" Invitations and Envelopes (You choose any design from my shop)
• 12 - 4"x6" matching postcards
• 12 - 2.5" matching round cupcake toppers
• 24 - 1-2/3" round return address labels (matching design)
• 12 - 3" round favor gift tags




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Option #2:
Boutique baby/toddler Blanket and matching boutique burp cloth. (print shown)
A $36 value!



Cute, gender neutral, print by Michael Miller.


Blanket is backed with my crisp white chenille. It measures approx. 32"x26". Matching burp cloth measures approx. 10"x17".

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Option #3:
Custom Family Stationary.
A $48 value.



This package includes:
• 24 - Custom family cards. They are half-fold cards (4.25"x5.5" when folded).
• 24 - white envelopes
• 24 - Custom return address labels
You choose the family members from this listing here for both the cards and the labels.

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Talk about some great deals!! The cost for shipping is of course included in the win, so you are getting an even BETTER deal!

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Now that you have seen all the great things you could win... here's how to enter:
• Mandatory Entry: Become a KdBuggie follower through GFC. Then tell me which option you would choose if you won!
• 1 additional entry: Become a fan on Facebook and leave a post on my wall here. 
• 1 additional entry: Take a look at my Etsy shop here and tell me what else you like from my shop. 
• 5 additional entries: Blog about this entry! (your blog must be public so that I can view your post) Please leave me the link to your post.

You have a chance to enter up to 8 times!! Please leave a seperate comment for each entry. For example, if I blogged about this giveaway, I would leave 5 comments each saying I blogged about it and giving the link in each entry. Make sense?

All entries must be received by Friday, February 4th at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be announce with my Mingle Monday post!
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Enhancing Digital Photos - Tutorial {Salt Lake City Temple Photo Downloads}


This is a great, simple idea for scrapbooking, blogging, home decorating... and more!

You don't need to have awesome photo editing software, however, if you do, you are ahead of the game!

I do mine in Microsoft Publisher because it is one of my favorite programs! Open your picture on a blank page. Add either a textbox or a headline to your page. Choose your font and type your message. Move your text on top of your photo. Change the color so that you are able to see all the letters through your picture!

To save, use the select tool and select your entire image (picture and text) then group them together. Right click and choose 'save as image' (or something similar depending on your program). Save your image.

The possibilities are endless!

I use it for my Project Life Books... it makes it easier to keep track of my journaling cards!



My cousin-in-law, Shillawna (from Shillawna Ruffner Photography) recently got back from a trip with her family to Salt Lake City, UT where she took some gorgeous pictures including one of the LDS Salt Lake City Temple. I used it to create this:



(this image is copyrighted and a watermark appears)

View available sizes for purchase here.

I have also added this photo as an alternative. 

(This image is copyrighted and a watermark appears.)

View available sizes for purchase here. 

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Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

I have obtained special rights from Shillawna Ruffner to be able to sell these prints. Buying the digital file you agree to print only one copy for yourself. Please respect photographers and do the right thing!

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Mingle Monday - 1.23.2011

Welcome! Do you ever sometimes feel like you just need a BIG change? Well, I did... tha'ts why my blog is sportin' a new look! Feel free to scroll around and check it out. My tabs at the top of the page now link to external pages (finally figured out how to do that)! Found some cute fonts to use... and so far I am loving it!!

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While you are here this week doing some hopping, don't forget to click here and enter to win a 40% off code good on your entire KdBuggie Boutique or Designs order! (You can also find the link on my tab! - cool huh?) I added some really cute things to my shop. Click on the "My Store" tab on the top of the page to go directly to my shop to take a look at the new items! Here is a small taste of some of my newest goodies!

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Mingle Monday

Here's how to join:
• Become a follower of my blog (GFC)
• Grab my Mingle Monday button here and add it to your blog
• Add your name to the linky list by clicking on "Click here to enter" at the bottom of the post
• Visit as many blogs on the list as you like - make sure to tell them you are visiting from Mingle Monday!
• Have fun!!

** This blog hop is open to family friendly blogs only. All others will be deleted.  **
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Heart Tarts Recipe (Dairy and Egg Free!)

This recipe comes courtesy of the Disney Family Fun Magazine for February 2011! I thought it was a great one for Valentine's Day and one that kids will enjoy helping with!

For the Tarts:
• Prepared Pie Crust (I used Pillsbury - it's egg and dairy-free)
• Jar of Strawberry Jam
•1 egg whisked with 1 tsp of water (I just used water - no egg)

For the frosting:
• 2-1/2 c. powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 T water
•1 t. softened butter (I used Nucoa - a dairy-free margarine)
• 2 T light corn syrup
• Red food coloring (*optional - I didn't use it) 
• sprinkles or colored sugar



Let dough thaw. Roll out one pie crust to 1/8" thick.
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I was lucky enough to have Snow White helping me... after all she is a really good pie maker! ☺
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After rolling out dough, use cookie cutters to make hearts. My cutter was about 3" wide. Place them on either a baking stone (I love mine!) or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Then spread the strawberry jam on the middle of each heart. Add as little or as much jam as you like.
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Roll out second pie crust to 1/8" thick. Cut the same number of hearts out of that crust as you did the first crust. Using a pastry brush (or your finger if you just use water) brush the egg mixture around the sides on the top of each heart. Then place the newly cut hearts on top.
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Use the tines of a fork to press the two hearts together sealing the jam on the inside. Then place in a 400
degree F oven for 10-15 minutes until they are starting to turn brown around the edges.
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Let cool completely! While cooling you can make the frosting!! (My batch - following this recipe - made a lot more frosting than I needed. You could probably cut it in half.) I found that using a fork to mix it together worked the best. Add water a teaspoon at a time if needed to make it smooth and creamy. 
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Frost and sprinkle your tarts... and ENJOY!



SURPRISE!

(Discovering the jam in the middle! Even though she helped do it... I think she forgot it was there!)
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Shillawna Ruffner Photography... Pure Genius? I think so!!

Maybe I am a little biased because Shillawna happens to be my cousin-in-law... or maybe it's because these are pictures of my gorgeous sister-in-law... but no matter what, these pictures are absolutely STUNNING! So much so, that I am going to let them do all the talking. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? So this post is worth at least 5 thousand!!





This last pic is my ABSOLUTE favorite!!!

Check out the rest of her f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s pictures here on her blog! If you are in the San Diego (or So-Cal) area.... you HAVE to let her do your family pics! She is simply the best!!


[{You can also find her button on my sidebar... for those of you who want to just 'find and click' to get to her website!}]
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♥ SHARE THE LOVE♥

In honor of Valentine's Day coming up, I am offering an awesome gift. Why? Because I L♥VE my fans, followers, and customers!!

Want to win a one-time-use 40% off promo code to my etsy store?!?! You could get yourself (or a friend) a set of these:


Here's how to enter:
♥Leave a comment on this post telling me which item(s) from my store you would be most interested in purchasing. In your comment PLEASE leave your email address.... if you don't... you won't know WHEN you win!!♥

Here's the catch:
There must be a minimum of 30 entries. That means 30 DIFFERENT people must comment. SOOOO.... SHARE THE LOVE♥!
♥ Post it on FACEBOOK
♥ Blog about it
♥ Call your friends
♥ Send out emails
♥ TEXT IT!
♥ TWEET IT!

♥ Entries must be received no later than MIDNIGHT PST on Sunday, January 30th! Winner will be announced on Monday, January 31st! ♥


{(P.S. - this is NOT the H-U-G-E giveaway for reaching 800 fans.... which means.... there will be another giveaway REALLY SOON!!)}







or this



 or a some of these



or maybe this



or how about one of these?




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Mingle Monday 1.17.2011

Another week gone by! This week seemed to go by really fast, but in between unpacking boxes (still) and filling orders to ship, I did manage to post a quick and easy dairy-free recipe for Rice Krispie Treats. They were delicious!!


Mingle Monday
Here are the rules (simply put):
♥ Become a follower of my blog (when I reach 800 followers I will doa h-u-g-e giveaway!)
♥ Add your blog/website to the linky list.
♥ Visit as many of the others on the list as you like - make sure to tell them you stopped by from Mingle Monday!
♥ Copy the linky to your blog so more can join in!
♥ HAVE FUN!!


*Open to FAMILY FRIENDLY blogs ONLY!

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Dairy-Free Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

My little guy (2 yrs old) has severe food allergies, so I am always looking for ways to adapt favorite recipes for him to enjoy!

Here is my dairy-free recipe:
1/4 c dairy-free margarine (I use Nucoa)
4 cups dairy-free mini marshmallows (most are dairy-free)
6 cups rice krispies


Choose your pan(s) and spray with a non-stick spray.

Add margarine and marshmallows to your pot on the stove. Turn the heat on to medium and stir until all marshmallows are melted. Then add rice krispies and mix thoroughly.

I then spray my hands with the non-stick spray and use my fingers to press the mixture into my containers. Let cool completely. I used the Wilton silicone cupcake pans to make my shapes. I LOVE these pans because I can push the bottom of each flower shape to get the rice krispies out... and the rice krispie treats retain their shape.



I decided to add some frosting and sprinkles for a little extra fun! The only frostings I have found to be dairy-free are Pillsbury funfetti frostings... both white and chocolate. I mixed mine with a little extra powdered sugar to make it a little stiffer.







Yumm-Y!!! Enjoy! I know we did!!!
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Blog Review - Family Literacy and You!

Tina - over at this cute blog - contacted me and asked if I would do a little write-up about her blog! It is called Family Literacy and You!
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She offers insight on the latest books hitting stores. Not only does she give a summary of the book, but she tells about the author and where you can find the book. She is currently doing a giveaway for one of the books she just reviewed on her blog! Go check it out!!
 
In addition to book reviews, she has links to seminars across the country that help with raising tennagers, and information on book fairs. 
 
Feel free to go take a look at her cute blog... especially if you are a book worm (or would like to encourage your kids to be bookworms!) 
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Mingle Monday and Thirty-one Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Thirty-One Giveaway! The lucky winner (thanks to random.org) is #3 ... serra.

Please send me an email [{kdbuggieboutique@yahoo.com}] within the next 48 hrs to claim your cute caddy!


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Welcome to Mingle Monday!

Starting next week I will no longer be doing the spotlight blogs... there are so many great ones out there that it is hard to choose just two! ☺
Mingle Monday

Here are the rules:
1. Open to family friendly blogs only... PLEASE!! All others will be deleted.
2. Feel free to copy this linky and add it to your blog to encourage new minglers!
3. Visit as many of the blogs on the list as you like!
4. HAVE FUN!!!

Spotlight Blog #1: Simple As 1-2-3

Spotlight Blog #2: From Mess Hall to Bistro








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Mingle Monday - 1.2.11

I hope everyone had a GREAT 3-day weekend!! I know we did! We spent a lot of our time doing some home improvement projects: patching holes in the walls and ceilings, hanging blinds, hanging doors, and laundry!! ☺

Just a reminder... if you are reading this on Sunday... you still have a couple hours to enter my Thirty-one giveaway here and have a chance at winning a really cute striped caddy!!

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Also, since this is a blog about not only fun things, but also my etsy shop... here are two of the latest listings on my shop. Each is made from two brand new prints by designer Michael Miller! They just came on the market and I LOVED them, so I made these the same day I got the fabric in the mail!!

Lime Kaleidescope Edged Boutique Baby/Toddler Blanket


Lime Kaleidescope Boutique Chenille Burp Cloth Trio

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Welcome to Mingle Monday

Mingle Monday

Here's how to play:
1. Become a follow of my blog - once I reach 800 followers I am doing a h-u-g-e giveaway!!!
2. Grab my Mingle Monday button and add it to your blog somewhere so you remember to stop by next week!
3. Visit and comment on the spotlight blogs for this week.
4. Stop by as many other blogs on the linky as you would like. Make sure to tell them you are stopping by from Mingle Monday.
5. Have FUN!!

**Family Friendly Blogs ONLY!! All others will be deleted!


Spotlight Blog #2: Six In the Nest


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Welcome 2011!!!

I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve last night! I can't believe 2011 is here already!! I thought I would write a brief reflection post since it is the beginning of a new year!

Here are some highlights from 2010 (good and bad):
• I opened for business on February 1. It has been exciting and tim consuming, but I have loved every minute of it.
• My daughter started attending an hourly preschool. It was great for her, and fun for me to spend some mommy time with my son!
• I learned how hard it is to have to use an epipen on my son. Lots of tears, lots of fear, but so much relief to see it work immediately. Thank goodness for modern medicine!
• I learned how so read ingredient labels on foods and have memorized all the different forms of milk to be able to recognize them.
• My sister and her husband had their first child. It was so exciting to see them become parents! They are GREAT parents!
• We took several family trips to Disneyland (l-o-v-e having an annual pass).
• WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOME!!!! After much prayer and debating we decided to house hunt. Found one we really liked, put in an offer, and got it!
• I have learned what life is like without CABLE TV! It has been really hard. I love TLC, The Food Network, and the Disney Channel. Thanks to Netflix I can still see some of  my shows.
• I have begun to figure out what it is like to raise a little boy. Everyday is a new injury -- some more serious than others -- but he is the sweetest little thing!
• I am convinced my daughter is a 13 yr old in a 3-1/2 yr olds body!

It has been a great year full of ups and downs, much learning, and much excitement! I hope you had a great year too!!

I am offering a 15% discount on everything in my shop starting today for the next week! Use promotion code NEWYEAR11 at checkout! Tell your friends! Post it on your facebook account! Get a gift for someone else! Treat yourself to some custom stationary!

Happy New Year!!
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