Sister Sue Designs GIVEAWAY!

Yes folks, you read it right. I am hosting my first official Sister Sue Designs Giveaway! In honor of having my Etsy shop chosen by rossiessweetpeas to be featured in the EtsyKids Holiday Trunk Show tomorrow evening, I want to share with all of you!

The Sister Sue Diaper Tote has been a popular item and the subject of several review blogs as of late, so I'm giving it away! The diaper tote is a great way to carry several diapers and wipes (hard travel case or soft travel pack), with room to spare for hand sanatizer or a small tube of diaper cream. One reviewer said she fit 6 diapers plus wipes into hers! Whether you like to keep your diaper bag organized and diapers neat or just want to keep this handy (in your purse, glove box or stroller) for quick changes - they are handy!

So, how do you win?! Well, I happen to have several of these totes made up and ready to ship! If you could win, would you keep it for yourself? Give it as a gift? or want more than one?

Here's what you need to do to win. Head on over to my ETSY shop (click the link to the right) and then come back here and tell me, in a comment, which diaper tote you like the best. That's it, then you are entered. The winner will be chosen at random. Comments will close December 7 at 9 P.M. CST. Open to U.S. residents only.

Want to increase your chances at winning one of these lovelies? OK, I'm all about giving you more! Just write about this contest on your own blog and you'll be given an extra entry. But, in a seperate comment, you have to tell me you did this and post a link to it! Or, if you don't have a blog; simply watch the EtsyKids Holiday Trunk Show tomorrow night and send me a comment about another great shop that was featured.

This is so much fun! It's always better to give than to receive :) Be sure to log onto ETSY.com and visit the Virtual Labs on December 4 at 8 P.M. Eastern time to see my shop featured on the EtsyKids Holiday Trunk Show Debut!

A loss

Hard to believe, but just since Monday, I have lost 1 pound! Yep. I weighed in for the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans this morning (Wednesdays are our "official" weigh in) and was pleasantly surprised. I had already prepared myself NOT to be disappointed if there was no change. But instead, I smiled and felt a little more confidence that I can do this! So, my official weight today is 167.5 lbs. Yeah!

The Challenge Begins...

When I woke up this morning, I knew it was December 1st. The beginning (again) of my weight loss commitment. I have been thinking about it during the Thanksgiving break, and I am ready. Before hitting the shower, I weighed in for the first time in a LONG time. Not as bad as I anticipated, but still nothing to be proud of....168.5 lbs. My goal is 150. That is the weight I was PRE-children. I think it is reasonable...

Wish me luck!

They picked ME! Well, Sister Sue....

Today is shaping up to be a great day for Sister Sue Designs! I received a conversation in my Etsy mail today (this is totally unsolicited) here's what it said....

"Guess who is blogged on my blog page and we are sharing your shop on our Trunk debut on DEC.4 at 8PM...you of course. Please check out our link to your shop and stop by Dec 4 if you can...."

Really?! Wow!? So, I checked out rozzissweetpeas blog and it said this:

"After a lot of grunt work and lots of email, typing our fingers to the bone and working til way past midnite, we are down to the last few days. This is going to be so much fun, just a few minutes out of your time and you can sit back and meet in the ETSY VIRTUAL LAB WITH me and some other really nifty crafters. It's like sitting down with the CEO of Target or Walmart and they will show you all the stuff they are excited about.

We will be sharing with another ETSYKIDS shop to show off them too, we have picked this darling shop (http://sistersuedesigns.etsy.com) to show off."

So, in case you are wondering - YES! This is a BIG deal. Other indie crafters and Etsy shoppers will be checking out my shop and (hopefully) buying too. This is part of the ETSYKIDS Trunk Show on December 4th. I am honored that they want to share my shop and talk about the things I create.

As a thank you to my readers and customers....I am going to host a SISTER SUE GIVEAWAY. So, check back for the details and be sure to shop handmade this holiday season!

Steps in the right direction....many steps

Wow! I am a lucky girl. I think. Look at what my husband bought for us today! A brand new, shiny elliptical machine - minus the skinny chick. I will never look like this ab ripped young(er) lady. But, we are both dedicated to losing weight and this is just what we need to do it! No excuses. It will be right here, in our house. It will be delivered on Sunday and we are starting our NEW healthier lifestyle on Monday 12/1/08. Construction just finished in our basement and this lovely new member of our family will be parked right in the EXERCISE ROOM. Yep. We now have an exercise room. I am going to be steppin' my way to a thinner me for 2009.

But, for today, I am looking forward to spending the Thanksgiving Holiday with my family. I am going to control portion size, but enjoy it all! Because Monday is the start of a new me....

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for all of you.

Join the Challenge

I have decided that I need to lose some weight. This is no secret. Little by little, I have gained a few here and there. Since turning 35 this year, the newly added pounds are distributing themselves in some not so pretty places (*read: arm and back fat, eeewww*). My current weight is probably the heaviest I have been NOT post pregnancy. So, there's no excuse. I just love food.

Last night I had the conversation with my husband that "I am not happy with the way I look" and "I have to do something about it"; you know the drill. I must say he did reply, "I still like the way you look" ahhh, isn't he sweet?! Then today my friend Beth unveiled her new blog! PERFECT! It is called The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. It's like it is meant to be....

You have to check out this blog, I have every confidence that it is going to work for me! Look to the right side bar and click on her button to visit! She and some friends are going to host weight loss challenges, post recipes, blog about their weight loss and hold us accountable for losing weight. Amazing, I never knew weight loss could be so fun.

So, join me as I embark on this journey. I am going to blog about it here (for now) and on her site as I support my fellow sisters in their weight loss journey!

Now I'm going to go eat.....an apple :)

Recycled Buzz

Today it is a cold, windy day with a touch of drizzle to really hammer home the idea that it is November. Megan is home sick from school. And it just looks dreary outside. A.J. came downstairs this afternoon and wanted to know if he could wear his Halloween costume again. Sure, why not? That is why moms toil and stress over finding just the right costume - even though the kids change their minds 12 times before Halloween. Right? And why I go to the Disney Store and pay double what I would at a discount store! Well, here he is in all of his glory! What's with the mouse ears, you ask? Hmmm...not sure. We picked up those lovelies at Disneyland this summer. In his defense, they do have a glow in the dark Buzz patch with Buzz Lightyear green (glow in the dark) ears! So they match, or at least he thinks so! Our little Buzz is going to be around for a long time.....bought it big.