Joey's Auction 2011

Yesterday was the kick-off for Joey's Auction held over at Snap, Crackle, Pop - the home of my bestie, Jaclyn.  Over the next two weeks, Jaclyn will be auctioning off donated, handmade items to raise money in honor of her brother, Joey, who has a type of autism.  Jaclyn does a much better job explaining it all here.

So head over there to bid on some of the goodies!!!  Make sure to check back each day as more items are posted!

100 Followers Giveaway! [CLOSED]

I made it to 100 followers!  Thanks everyone for your support!

To celebrate, I think it's time for a "pretty things" giveaway!  I have teamed up with Jaclyn at Snap, Crackle, Pop for a great, personalized giveaway!!  Jaclyn is the seller behind Jaclyn1423 on Etsy where you can find completely unique and often upcycled jewelry.  There are so many things to choose from and possibilities to personalize.  Check out one of her best sellers - her best friend Rocks, Paper, Sissor necklaces set -

She also makes gorgeous, customized bridesmaids jewelry!! 

These were the necklaces for the girls in my wedding!!

Or something that decorates my neck quite regularly, my "Mommy Necklace"!

For this giveaway, Jaclyn is offering a personalized "shaggy" necklace.  You might have remembered me talking about how excited I was for my own - my personalized shaggy necklace! 

What is up for grabs?:

One, customized, shaggy necklace from Jaclyn1423.  The winner will get to choose color scheme.

Mandatory Entries:

[These count as single entry]

Must be public follower of this blog via GFC.

Visit Jaclyn1423 and comment below with the item you would love to give someone.  Who would you give it to?

Additional Entries:

• Fan Jaclyn1423 on Facebook  [1 entry]
• Sign up for email updates on Snap, Crackle, Pop [2 entries]
• Blog about this giveaway and provide link [3 entries]

Please make sure to leave seperate comments for each entry that includes your email address so I can contact you if you win!!  Giveaway ends January 31st at 11:59pm CST.  A winner will be chosen using random.org.  Thanks!!

Link to Giveaway - for Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

What a wonderful feeling to walk into a grocery store, turn on the TV, walk into a store or watch a football game and see the pink everywhere to raise awareness - but seeing pink is only able to raise the awareness for the cause.  All you ladies out there have to be responsible for your monthly self-checks (hey, I'll feel mine if you feel yours!!) and mammograms.

My bestie, Jaclyn - over at Snap, Crackle, Pop is doing a great giveaway and has a great post on some resources for more information!!  She is also holding a giveaway for a pair of Breast Cancer Awareness earrings! 

Definitely stop over to visit and enter for your chance to win!!

Waiting for William

It's a baby shower!!  We are "waiting for William!"

We have felt so much love from my family and friends and the showering of wonderful gifts to prepare for William!  I am still slowly washing sheets and blankets and clothes and putting things away and organizing the baby room - so pics of the finished room still to come.  In the meantime, here's a recap of two of my showers - one thrown by friends and another by family!  Thanks to everyone for all of their love and support!  [and apologies to everyone at the family shower when I wasn't much fun to be around while fighting off that ear infection, pain and no sleep!]

Friends Shower thrown by my sis and Jaclyn!

I love these ladies!

How many engineers does it take to set up the co-sleeper bassinet??  It appears 4.... 

So excited for the co-sleeper!!

Mom and aunts!

Rocking chair - Reserved for William :)

Homemade quilt and bibs from Alisha!!

Explaining how cloth diapers work - showing the Flip

Chad and Brandi Get Married!!

For our wedding number eight of 2010, Brandi and Chad get hitched!  They tied the knot outside in Peoria's Luthy Botanical Gardens - beautiful!

Congrats to the happy couple!!

Happy 21st Birthday, Joey!

Joey's Auction is complete and just in time for Joey's 21st birthday!!

Joey's big sister, Jaclyn, has been auctioning donated home-made goodies for the last two weeks to raise money for Joey's high school, Elim Christian School.  Joey has autism and is able to go to school thru his 21st year, so he has one more year to go.  All the money Jaclyn raised will be donated to help Joey's class!

Since Jaclyn can tell you much better than me - here is how it worked:  Joey's Auction

The auction is now closed and Jaclyn has been been able to raise over $700 with donations still rolling in!!

Wanna help?  There is still time to be able to donate to Elim Christian School - you can send payments thru PayPal to jaclyn1423@yahoo.com.

Another way to help support autism is by purchasing a Joey's Hot Dogs Necklace from Jaclyn1423 Etsy shop!  For every necklace sold, Jaclyn is donating $5 to Autism Speaks to support the treatment, research and finding a cure for autism.

Happy Birthday, Joey!!!!

Look What I Won!!!!

So Joey's Auction is coming to a close but there was an item I wanted before it was even posted (yeah, I had the inside scoop from the beginning...). 

I waited, patiently, for it to be posted.  I was not about to let anyone beat me out to win it over me!  I was willing to throw-down for this and made it clear to the other ladies bidding that they had met their competition. 

After 10 bids later, I won!!!!  More money for Joey's Auction and I will get a gorgeous set like this!!

This is my other bestie, Alisha, who is a way uber-talented knitter!!  Since knitting can be such a time-consuming hobby, I am so excited to be one of the few people out there that will be able to wear one of her amazing creations!!!

What:  A handknit Start Crossed Slouchy beret in the winner's choice of color and a  Burberry-inspired cowl to match.  I prefer to knot these in Malabrigo Worsted, as it is super soft, warm and absolutely gorgeous.  Malabrigo Worsted is a "hand-dyed incredibly soft 100 percent Merino wool with the subtle variations in color and texture only hand dyed yarns have.  Pure Merion comes from a small family-run company in Uruguay," according to Ravelry.  However, if the winning bidder prefers a different fiber, we can work that out.  I will contact the winner regarding their color choice and purchase brand new skeins to knit from.  (from Joey's Auction)

Although it's been roughly 90 degrees for what feels like forever, it's hard to imagine wearing this knit cowl and beret.....but thinking about these and looking at these pictures, I can already feel fall coming!!!!  Isn't it purdy?!

Thanks, Leesh!!!!!!

It's not too late!  There are several items open for bid until tonight and another couple that close tomorrow night!!!  Take a looksie:  Joey's Auction

Look What I Got!!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was going to order a custom-made necklace from my bestie, Jaclyn, off Jaclyn1423 on Etsy.  It came in the mail today!!!! 

It is absolutely more beautiful than I had expected and the pictures definitely don't do it justice!  It's dainty and elegant and so much fun!  The neutral colors I requested (gray and clear) make it something I could wear out to a bar (while I drink a sprite or water) or to work or to formal event!  It's perfect!!

Want to buy it for yourself - Gray and Clear Shaggy Necklace

Want something customized?  Just message her on her Etsy site, Jaclyn1423, and she can work her magic in whatever jewelry way you both can come up with!!!

Auction for a Good Cause!! Check It Out!!

My bestie, Jaclyn, is holding an auction with lots of goodies to raise money!  All money raised will be donated to the school of her brother, Joey, who has autism.  The auction starts today and will go until August 16th - Joey's 21st birthday.

For all the details on the auction:  Joey's Auction Details

Each day, Jaclyn will be posting two or three crafts or goodies donated to her by friends, family or complete strangers and each will be up for bid!

Be sure to check it out!!!  And forgive me if I throw out friendly reminders everyday for the next two weeks!!  Hehe.

Auction Items:  Joey's Auction

Today's Items:

Decoupage photo box (donated by my awesome sister)

Orange pearl bracelet

HAPPY BIDDING!!!

Happy Birthday, Leesh!!

Happy Birthday to Leesh!!

Alisha has been a best friend for about 15 years now!  (wow, how can that possibly be!?)  She's been an amazing friend and wonderful roomie!  We've been thru so much!!

Miss you, girlie!!  Love ya!!

Weekend with the bestie!

Weekend doing girlie things with Jaclyn!  - crafts (yeah, we are nerds), manicures, sweets, food, movies, euchre.  It was loverly!  :)

Happy 4th of July!

Great weekend spent with family in Cincinnati!
Saturday I got my fix of Skyline Chili - whew....I needed that.  Then a trip to Babies-R-Us with Adam, Mom and Mel.  Adam and I were slightly overwhelmed.....but we got great parking - hehe.  I see those spots in lots of places and it's my turn!

Saturday night was grillin' out with family, corn hole and hangin' out.

relaxin'.....

a little corn hole....

the 'kids' with sparklers

We had to convince Mason that this kind of firework didn't explode and make a loud noise...

one of my fave pics from the weekend....lighting sparklers!

Sunday, I got to see my favorite Cincy girl, Alisha, and her hubby, Pat, for lunch and Coldstone Ice Cream!!

Sunday night, the 4th, was spent being lazy.  Puppies had a little pool party, grilled out again and watched a movie.  No fireworks - but that was fine since it felt like 1000 degrees outside and we were all enjoying the couch and AC instead.

Lucy and Tressel fighting over frisbee - which is hours of entertainment for the adults...

Puppy pool party!

Triathlon #2

Congrats again to Adam and Jimmy - who have now completed their second triathlon sprint of the summer!  They clobbered their previous triathlon times and each finished in a total of about about an hour and a half!

Since I'm the 'Adam and Jimmy triathlon photographer', I woke up at the crack of dawn to be there to cheer on the boys and take the pictures - that's love right there!

I still can't wait until I can fully train and hopefully compete in one myself!!

Way to go, boys!!!

Pre-race pose

Adam in the first leg - swimming

Jimmy heading to transition area for bike

Jimmy transitioning to bike

Adam transitioning to bike

Jimmy finished with the bike, next on to the run

Adam (back) coming in from bike

Adam finishing the run strong!

Jimmy (front) and Adam approaching finish

Post-race and still smiling

<3 him!