Something Old....(Blogtember: Day 20)

Sep 30, 2013
Well, this is it!  Today is the last day of Blogtember!  I can honestly say this was good for me and the blog.  It gave me some time to think and I actually gained several new followers in the process.  Welcome to all of my new followers-thanks for being a part of my journey.

Today's prompt is: Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it's special.

Ya'll, I collect old things, and not just your random old things, I'm talking about the "this belonged to so-and-so" old things.  I have a good collection of things that were part of my family history.  Some examples:  I have my grandfather's SLR camera, the one that I always remember him having from the time I was little. Sometimes I unpack it from its bag and hold it in my hands and remember.  One day it will be taken to a camera shop where it can be given a proper once-over so that it can be used.

That camera, and several other things, are things I would grab in a fire.  

Especially this guy:


Snuggles, meet everyone.
Everyone, meet Snuggles.

Snuggles is twenty-nine (or so) years old and, as you can tell, has seen better days.  His arms and legs are floppy and he's not as soft as he used to be, but he's mine.

He has been my longest running best friend.

Snuggles has been with me through every scary thunderstorm, every ear infection, every hospital trip, every broken heart, and every "I hate my life" period.  He has been cried on, puked on, chewed on, and fever-broke on.  He's had chicken pox, bronchitis, ear infections, stomach bugs, viral infections.....(Yea, I was a sickly child....and honestly because I could just look at someone who was sick and I would get it.) 

Anyway, he's been through a lot.
He doesn't say much, but he knows everything about me.

He has been living on my daughter's dresser for the past year or so.

One night several weeks ago, when I was tucking L into bed, she pointed to Snuggles on her dresser, and said, "Mommy's."

I said, "Oh yes, Snuggles was Mommy's for a long time, but Mommy brought him in here so he could watch over you."

L:  "Story."
Mommy: *confused because my child has never said that word until now*  "Umm, you want me to tell you a story about Snuggles?"

L:  "Yes, Mommy."

So, having never made up a bedtime story before, I proceeded to tell her some crazy story of how Snuggles saved some puppies from an island in the middle of the ocean. (Yea, I know, but she's 2.....and she loves puppies....so...it kind of just happened.) 

And you know what she did?

She soaked in every word of that story, and at the end, when Snuggles valiantly swam to the island, made a make shift carrier, and swam those puppies back to safety one at a time, she clapped and said, "Yaaaay!"

And my heart melted because my daughter thought that was the best story on the planet.
Because Mommy told it.
And I so needed that moment with my daughter.

Thank you Snuggles for reminding me that I'm doing good at this Mom thing.  

Then again,
you always reminded me that I was okay.


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Dear Anonymous (Blogtember: Day 19)

Sep 27, 2013
Today is the second to last day of Blogtember, with Monday being the final day.  I can't believe that September is almost over already!  Geez! I will be busy this weekend preparing Monday's post and lining up my October blog calendar for sure!

Today's prompt was to write an anonymous letter to someone on our Facebook and we could be as snarky as we wanted.....

Um, well....I think that's kind of hypocritical, and well, rude.

I believe in a lot of things, two of those being: 

1.  If you have something to say, say it to the persons face.
2.  It's nice to be nice.

I am not a normal girl.  I am not snarky, catty, or generally bitchy on a regular basis.  I can be if you push me to that point, but I don't go walking around like the sun rises and sets for me only. 

With that being said, I will not be writing a snarky, anonymous letter.

Instead, I will be writing a hopeful one...

Dear Anonymous:

I've known you for a long time.  We aren't close, but we are friends on Facebook because we have something in common.  

I see your posts.  I see you post about your struggles, how much of a failure at life you think you are, and how you sometimes pray at night that it was just all over.

I see how you declare you have one, and only one, thing to live for on Facebook.  That one thing is your heart and soul, the sunshine in your day, and the reason you wake up each day, even though I'm sure some days you wish it was over.  

I don't judge you for your choices.  I don't ridicule you for your actions.  You are a human being-we all make mistakes.  That is part of life. 

I'm telling you to take those mistakes and use them as learning tools.  You can rise above your current situation.  You will rise above it because you are trying so hard to make a better life for yourself.  You can do this!  Just put one foot in front of the other and walk, slowly and steadily.  

If it is one thing I have learned, it is that slow, deliberate steps in life are the key to making it out onto the other side.  You can't race through life.  You have to make careful choices and decisions when first starting out, but after awhile, you will be in the pattern of only making good choices, and it will all even out. 

You will see your life change.  

I know you want your life to change.

It will.

Have faith.

One foot in front of the other, eyes clear and focused, and heart wide open.

Your life will get better.

With Love,
Sara 



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A Different Perspective (Day 18: Blogtember)

Sep 26, 2013
Today's prompt was for us to go somewhere and write that we usually don't.  The suggestion was a coffee shop and, as much as I LOVE coffee shops, I can't take a two year old to a coffee shop and expect her to chill out and let Mommy have some peace.  I started brainstorming other ideas. 

So, today, I am blogging from my sun porch. When we came to look at this house in our house search, I envisioned me setting up this space as a writer's nook.  Well, it's not heated or cooled.  So, I can only write out here when the weather is perfect.  Today, the weather is perfect.  I am a happy camper.

The second part of the prompt was to write about what makes us happy, sad, or anything that came to mind.

I'm a little tapped out on the "anything" part at the moment, but I will tell you what makes me happy at this present moment: 

1.  My blog hit over 10,000 views this week.  My Facebook page connected with the blog hit over 500 followers, and my Top 10 Slow Cooker Recipes has seen well over 150 views since I posted it on Monday. This is by far the most productive week I have had blogging since I started.  GO ME! And thank YOU! for making this all possible!

2.  I have managed to find a very supportive group of bloggers to bounce ideas off of, have them offer some advice, and we all show support on one another's blogs and social media pages.  I feel so blessed to have these ladies with me on my blogging journey.  Big shout out to all the ladies over at Two Girls Blog Share Extravaganza!  We are a private group, but if you are a blogger, and want in on some of the fun we have, let me know and I will send you an invite via FB! 

3.  My husband brought me home a Diet Pepsi.  I love him.  

4.  I had a nice, lovely, and long talk with my best friend forever last night on the phone.  I have missed her.  I always feel much more relaxed after I talk to her.  Love you, K!

5.  I ordered L's Halloween costume this morning.  She's going as Little Red Riding Hood and I. can't. wait.

What are you happy about today?

Have a great Thursday everyone! 



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Mistakes (Blogtember: Day 17)

Sep 25, 2013
Today's prompt is to write about a time when I screwed up or made a mistake.  

*ahem*

I could probably direct you to my Month of 30 Series that I did when I was turning 30, and that would probably give you a good idea of just how familiar I am with mistakes.

But!

I don't let my mistakes define me.  I learn from them and move on.  It took me a long time to realize that.  Once I was able to realize it, I could get through screw-ups and let-downs a lot easier.

With that being said, I do have one mistake that I made, but that I no longer regret, because I am on the other side of that now.  I realize what it had to teach me.  I needed all those lessons to get me to where I am today.

My mistake?

I went to college straight out of high school.

(I'll give you a minute to let that sink in...)

...

Yes, me the certified English teacher who is supposed to influence teenagers in a positive manner, regrets going to college straight out of high school.

Why?

I wasn't ready.  I was not prepared intellectually or emotionally.  I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I chose Business.  HA!  Me? Business?  Far from it.

I flunked out of college in the time it would have taken me to get a degree.  

I was trying to get a degree when I wasn't even feeling my life.  I couldn't function.  I couldn't stand to be in public.  I would go to class and duck out halfway through or not go at all.  I half-assed my assignments and couldn't retain any kind of information.

I used to think I had wasted those four years of my life.  

In reality, I needed those four years to learn what not to do in regards to my education.

It may have taken me ten years to get my simple Bachelor's degree, but by God, I got it.

And I learned valuable lessons you can't learn in a classroom. 


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A Review (Blogtember: Day 16)

Sep 24, 2013
Today's prompt is to write a review over a book, place, or product.  Well, this is easy!  Ya'll know I'm going to pick a book right? 

This is actually perfect timing because I just finished a book on Saturday and I have been dying to talk about it with someone!  So, if anyone wants to chat about this book I am about to share with you, hit me up!  I am about to explode at the seams!


If you have not read Gillian Flynn, you are missing out!  This lady can weave a story!  She had me on the edge of my seat several times.  Also, she kept my brain going.  I never got bored with Dark Places nor her other two, Sharp Objects and Gone Girl. I was always entertained while reading her books.


I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club… and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.

This book was hard to put down.  I found myself crawling into bed an hour early every night so I could read this book.  The way Flynn writes is intriguing to me.  She can weave webs throughout the story line so intricately and then she very carefully begins to unravel them.  You can even feel the edginess and anticipation of her character's as the webs unravel.   That is good writing in my opinion.

If you love suspense, thrills, plot twists....this is the author for you.  Go add her to your to-read list!

Have a great Tuesday!






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Life Lately (Blogtember: Day 15)

Sep 23, 2013
Well, today's Blogtember prompt is all about life lately and, let me tell you, this probably couldn't have come at a better time.

There has been a lot going on behind the scenes around here the past few weeks.  We are all in an adjustment period around here and it's been tough.  Husband started a new job, so there is his adjustment period.  L is changing every day, she has been in a constant state of adjustment for months now, and most days Mommy needs a glass of wine by the end of the day.  If her phase of the "terrible twos" is any indication of her teenage years, we're screwed. 

And me....

Well, I've been thinking a lot about the blog and it's direction lately.  When I started this, I said I was just going to be me and post what I want, etc.  Well, some things are met with great enthusiasm and, the things that I am really interested in, aren't.  It's frustrating and I was starting to think that maybe I should just call it quits.  I don't want to be like all the other blogs out there, but I don't really have a niche.  Or do I?  I've been doing so much reading on making a blog your own, etc. that my head hurts.  

Truthfully, I am impatient.

Truthfully, I am very hard on myself.

Truthfully, I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

Truthfully, I think I need to start from scratch.

I am toying with a re-branding of the blog, but before I do that, I want to ask my readers what they think.  I need some good feedback on what is working and what isn't working.  I believe that is the best place to start.  Look for a survey to be coming to the blog within the next week or so.

That about wraps it up; we are in an adjustment period and it is painful, but as we get molded, we become better people.


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Ten Slow Cooker Recipes

One of my favorite things about fall (besides cardigans, scarves, and dark nail polish) is that I get to pull out my slow cooker and make recipes like chicken and dumplings and honey barbecue chicken for my family.  I adore my slow cooker and am always looking for new recipes to try in it.

Here are some slow cooker recipes that are guaranteed to make your house smell yummy and fill your belly with nutritious goodness on those cool evenings. 


tomato basil parmesan soup

I also have a *bonus recipe* for you all!

Some of these recipes call for cream of whatever soup.  I have been known to use the cream of whatever soups from time to time, but this recipe is great!  Instead of spooning slop into your slow cooker, follow the recipe below to make a DIY mix that replaces slop in a can!

cream of something soup


What is your favorite recipe to make in the slow cooker? 

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Comfort (Blogtember: Day 14)

Sep 20, 2013
Today's Prompt:

React to this term: comfort. 

This song always comes to mind when I hear that word.


I raced along an empty highway.
I chased the dawn
And cursed the new day,
Out of town, till nobody was around.

Love came along, my favorite enemy,
We hit head-on.
Why you befriended me... I don't know.
There's no need for letting go
When you've already lost control.

My life is open wide
The more you live, the less you will die.
Outside, floating free,
I'm finally open to see...
Could you be any more comfort to me?

Could you be...

You've figured out the warnings
And the reasons why,
You smoothed me out.
I hope you know there's nothing
I could give,
For showing me how to live.

I don't know how
But you know just how I feel.
Sticking out,
Like a dark horse in a snow white field.
Stirred up by the breeze,
Strong but not at peace,
Free but unreleased.

My life is open wide
The more you live, the less you will die.
Outside, floating free,
I'm finally open to see...
Could you be any more comfort to me?
Could you be any more comfort to me?

Caught up inside, all I wanna be...
Try to survive, all alone,
Outside your company.

Could you be any more comfort to me?
Could you be any more comfort to me?

Pretty much describes the way I feel about my husband.

:)

Yea, I'm sappy like that.
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Nine Questions (Blogtember: Day 13)

Sep 19, 2013


Okay...so....I'm cheating today.

I chose my own prompt for today for the Blogtember series.  I wasn't feeling the original prompt, honestly.  My creative juices are slowly coming back, but not enough to sit down and type out a short story from scratch.  I just can't do it.

So, instead, I was browsing around blogs for inspiration and Bethany from In This Crazy Life had a post answering nine different questions.  I thought it seemed like fun, so, here we go!

1.  What is in your car's glove box?

Um, the manual, insurance card, probably a pair of sunglasses, tire pressure gauge (Dad never lets me not have one), and some scheduled service receipts. 

2.  You just got a mani/pedi.  Do the colors have to match?

Depends.  If people will see my toes because it is flip-flop weather, then yes, they have to match.
If it is not flip-flop weather, then no.

3.  If someone walking down the street in front of you had their underwear showing, would you tell them?

Depends.  Do I know them?  If I do, then yes.  If I don't, it isn't going to be me that tells them.

4.  What is the name of the very first CD you purchased?

Haha!  Some people are gonna *flip* when they find this out!

Sublime (Self-Titled) 



5.  Finish this ridiculously overused saying..."Keep Calm and..."

Source
6.  Have you ever covered your hands in Elmer's glue, stuck them together, waited for them to dry then peeled off your "skin"?

Yes. In like the first grade.

7.  Charles in Charge or Doogie Houser?

Doogie, because I have never seen an episode of Charles in Charge. 

8.  What is one thing you never wore/done/ate but you would like to?

Oh geez, wow.  I would love to ride a horse, bareback, on the beach somewhere.  
I do believe that may be the romantic in me coming out.

9.   If you could listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be?

This.



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Literary Junkies: September Edition

Here we are with the September edition of Literary Junkies!  If you guys are new, take a minute to go see what our link up is all about!

If you are a book lover, this is a great place to get recommendation's on books to read.  If you are like me and are constantly running out of book suggestions, take a bit to browse around the link up-tons of good books out there that are just begging to be read!

Anyway, here we go with September!





1.  What are you currently reading?  Tell us about it.

I am currently reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.


Amazon.com Synopsis:

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice" of Kinnakee, Kansas.” She survived—and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, the Kill Club—a secret secret society obsessed with notorious crimes—locates Libby and pumps her for details. They hope to discover proof that may free Ben. Libby hopes to turn a profit off her tragic history: She’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club—for a fee. As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started—on the run from a killer.

2.  Autumn is coming! What's your go-to drink when curling up with a book at night?

Anything warm.  Hot chocolate, French Vanilla cappuccino, or herbal tea (usually mint, chamomile, or my Sleepy Time tea from Celestial Seasonings.) 

3.  Printed books vs. e-books: What are the pros and cons of each?

I am a strong advocate of printed books.  So, with that being stated, here are my pros and cons of each.

Printed Books
Pros:
They have "that smell" that book lover's adore
You can run your thumb over the pages, absent-mindedly, as you read
You can actually write notations in them and, when you pass them on to someone else, they will see your thought process throughout the book.  Nine times out of ten, they will ask you about it.  Nine times out of ten you will have a lovely conversation about it.

Cons:
As my husband says, they stake up space
They fall apart after so many times of being read
They become incredibly hard to let go of, thus inducing an argument with your husband about the seven boxes of books he has to move when you move into your new home. 

E-Books
Pros:
They don't take up space except on the memory of your reader
They all fit nicely in one location

Cons:
People can't come into your home and see your books on display so they can get to know you.  Yes, I'm one of those people that look at your book collections in your house.
You can't smell "that smell" with an e-book
It's not as personal of an experience (Meaning, you aren't holding the book...you are holding your reader.) 

4.  Buying books vs. library books: Which do you prefer and why?

I prefer to buy my books because I write in them.  I am always underlining things that stick out to me, writing notations on the pages, and having one-sided conversations with the character's in my books.  I have to do that.  It's part of my routine.  If I don't do it, I feel like I haven't really read the book.



You can find me on Goodreads to see more of what I have read here.











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Dear L (Blogtember: Day 10)

Sep 16, 2013
Today's Prompt: 

Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)

Well, the first person that popped into my head was Lynzi, so here goes...

Dear L,

This may not be much of a love letter as love letter's go, but what is behind these words is nothing but love.  

I want you to know that I will always do what I think is best and right for you. I will do my best to give you a safe and loving home.  You will never be hungry or hurting as long as I can help it, and I will go through hell to make sure of it.  

I will always try to see things from your point of view.  I may not always succeed at this, so please, be patient with me.  I will be constantly learning for your entire life about being a mother.  You didn't come with instructions, much to mine and your father's dismay.

I was young once, I remember most of it, but sometimes you are going to have to be patient with me and explain things.  I want to know about your life and your likes and your happenings, but sometimes, I won't get it.  I genuinely want to know, so please, just tell me like it is.  I will do the same for you.

Life is going to hurt sometimes.  Then, other times, you will be so full of happiness that you will feel like you are going to split wide open.  Remember how that feels on the hard days.  Look to fill yourself up with happiness every day, store it, and use it to endure the bad days. 

One day, a boy is going to break your heart into a million pieces.  Just come to me.  I will come with ice cream and an open set of ears.  

One day, your best friend will betray you.  Ice cream fixes that, too.  As does shopping.

One day, when the car is almost out of gas, rent is due in a week, there is barely any food in the fridge, and you have a huge paper to write in two days-call me.  We'll figure it out.

I have been through a lot in my life and I used to ask myself, "Why me?"

When the nurse put you in my arms for the first time, I knew why.

It was so I could be your mother.

And that is what I will do until I can't anymore.

Love always,
Mom

Source










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Toddler Activities

The past couple of weeks it has been HOT here in the Midwest.  We saw triple digits a couple of times, and on those days, L and I stayed inside.  

Of course, those were the days that L really wanted to go outside, so I was left trying to entertain a toddler who was mad at me that we couldn't go outside.  

Ladies and gentlemen, I am ill-prepared when it comes to keeping my child entertained with new things to do.  We do have reading time where we curl up in her bed and we read countless books until she or both of us fall asleep. I try to bring out toys she hasn't played with in awhile, but she just gets bored after a bit and wants something else to do.  We color.  We play with stickers.  I don't have anything else in my arsenal for her to do.

So, I made a plan one evening last week that I would start gathering supplies to be able to have more things in my arsenal.  My Pinterest board, Kiddo Crafts and Activities, has a huge collection of things I could be doing with my kid.  I started going through the things that I had pinned, and I think I have come up with a pretty good arsenal of crafting, gifting, and learning things for L to do throughout the winter months.

Links are found below the photos. 




Links:
one||two||three
four||five||six
seven||eight||nine

I am especially excited to do number eight because L loves to high-five!  What better way to teach her colors than to have her do her favorite thing while learning her colors?  The Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom activity will be fun, too.  She loves that book!

What are some things you do to tame your toddler when it is too hot/too cold/rainy to go outside?











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Fall Fashion Inspiration


Fall is my favorite time of year.  I love fall evening bonfires, the changing of the leaves, and being able to breathe deeply while the crisp air cleanses your lungs.  

I also love clothes.

So, when fall and clothes go together.....we have my favorite time of the year to shop!


I have steadily been working on my fall wardrobe (pining, list making, bargain hunting) since about mid-July. That's when I started seeing things pop up on Pinterest for fall.  I immediately started taking notes on what I just had to have in my closet for my most favorite season of all.
How would you guys like to see some of my inspiration for my fall wardrobe?  You can find these outfits (and SO much more) on my Style Ideas  board on Pinterest!  EDIT: Links to the exact pins are located below the pictures.





Links:
one||two||three
four||five||six
seven||eight||nine

If you will notice, there are a lot of scarves, flats, boots, and leggings.  Those are my favorite things to wear in the fall.  I strive for comfortable, yet put together and warm.  I'm the mom of a two year old-I have to be able to move. Ha!

 What about you?  Have you been working on your fall wardrobe?









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Social Media (Blogtember: Day 8)

Sep 12, 2013
Today's Prompt:

Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

Oh wow.  Well, this is something I have actually been thinking a lot about lately.

I have recently become aware-really aware-of how attached I have become to social media.  I have also become more aware of what I should and should not share on social media.

I have been contemplating for some time removing all social media apps from my phone.  I removed all but one game from my phone a little over a month ago and I haven't missed it.  However, I do go into my social media apps more, so deleting my games didn't really help my problem.

I am addicted to those silly little icons on my phone and it annoys me!  During a down moment with L, I'm always clicking on them.  I can't just sit and watch a movie with her. It seems I always have to be on my phone!

I never thought about it until I became a parent.  I didn't.  I was never concerned with how much time I spent on my phone doing things before L.  Now, I am constantly aware of it.  

It needs to stop.

I believe the time has come for me to start weaning myself from the phone.  I have thought about setting a timer when I'm on it.  I have even thought about setting a timer to initiate when I can look at it.  I have already shut off all notifications so I don't hear emails, Facebook, etc. any longer, but I am still picking the darn thing up to check! 

Does anyone else have this issue?  What are you doing about it?  I could use some tips!
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Shopping (Blogtember: Day 7)

Sep 11, 2013

Today we are supposed to share some of our favorite online shops!  Well, if it is one thing I know (much to my husbands dismay) it's how to shop!  These are in no particular order:

MODCLOTH || If I wore dresses more, this is where I would get them from.  I love the vintage look, what can I say?



KINTAGE ||  By far some of the cutest things I have seen in a long time!  Unfortunately, they are closing, BUT they are having a HUGE 50% of sale PLUS free shipping in the US!  I want the following:



CLOUD NINE DESIGNZ  ||  You may remember that I wrote about this shop back in July.  I love jewelry-especially if it is handmade.


What are some of your favorite shops? I am linking up with Jenni from Story of my Life for Blogtember, come join us!



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