December 9, 2013 By 6 Comments

December 8 & 9 + Giveaway

Yesterday for our kindness advent we did a really easy and fun task.  We simply painted rocks with lots of bright fun colors and once it finally quits raining here, we’ll leave them at the playground and park near our house.  Crossing my fingers, the rain will cease when Harper gets home from school today.  The kids are crazy anxious to leave their happy rocks for unsuspecting people to find.

Today we were suppose to be decorating someone’s mailbox who could use a little encouragement with some Christmas bunting, but remember said rain from above?  I didn’t like the thought of fun, colorful, soggy Christmas bunting greeting someone when they got home.  So we decided to wrap the bunting up and mail it off to the person instead.

Tomorrow we will be gifting a single mom with a gift card.  I don’t know how they do it and I have all the respect in the world for single moms…and dads.

And I mentioned last week I was going to be a guest giveaway this week on my friend Jamie’s blog.  Well today the giveaway began.  Head over HERE and check out how you can enter to win this canvas.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend.  As always, thanks for stopping by and reading.  I totally appreciate it!

Happy Monday!

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November 21, 2013 By 552 Comments

Giveaway Day {because today is a good day}

**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED**

Ahhhhhh!  You guys are crazy awesome and kind and thoughtful and THANK YOU!  Thank you for such incredibly kind words yesterday.  I cannot truly express how much I appreciate them, but it’s a lot!

Today, today is going to be grand…I can just feel it.  So lets rock it out with an awesome giveaway.  While on my trip I met with Julie, the sweet lady who heads up Timbali Crafts.  I totally loved hearing her speak about all the amazing woman who are apart of Timbali Crafts.

Every Thursday around a 100 woman in Swaziland, Africa gather at a central carepoint and cut all their fabric for the week. They then go home and sew.  They sew for purpose.  They sew to help provide for their families and it is truly a beautiful thing.  These woman not only sew, but they also help feed kiddos at the surrounding carepoints every week.  They work hard and their work is good.  They are truly impeccable woman.

Not only do they get paychecks for the items they sew, but they also have an opportunity to set money aside each month for savings and at the end of the year, whatever they have set aside Timbali matches.  They are doing some fine work and I am always on the lookout for companies just like this.  Companies who are legit and honest and doing what they say they are doing.  They are providing jobs…they are empowering woman in Swaziland.

So let’s get to it.  It’s definitely a good day for a giveaway.  Winner takes all.

Here are the details of each item:

Revised Sling Bag.  I bought one for myself and haven’t quit carrying it yet.  Roomie and durable and well made.  Pockets on the outside and inside with a stellar Swazi made tree button.  This is a must have for sure.

Wristlet.  It’s adorable and light weight and perfection.

Padded Kindle Case.  These are not available on the website just yet, but I had to snag one while in Swaziland.  They are padded and colorful and so well made.

Timbali Headbands for Education.  These are actually made by Swazi girls working to pay for their school fees.  All proceeds go towards ensuring the girl has an opportunity for education.

Bird ornament.  Every year I buy the kids a new ornament.  My mom did this for me and for one of my wedding gifts it was all the ornaments she had collected for each of my 20 years.  20 priceless ornaments just for me.  So now I do the same for the wee Kelleys.  This year they each got a Timbali ornament and I am in love with them.  Harper got a bird, Huddy and Sol each an elephant and Amon got a giraffe.  They are over the top adorable.

Thrown in the Timabli mix are two Swaziland jewels.  We went to a candle and soap shop there and it was so stellar.  Watching them work was an honor.  It is truly a craft.  Everything was so well made and I fell in love with the soaps.  They are so clean and fresh and from all natural ingredients and smell out of this world.  So I brought a bar home for one of you guys 🙂

And these two beautiful necklaces were made by the kindest go-go at our Ngungwane carepoint.  The work she has poured in to these is unreal.  She asked me to advertise…so here I am…advertising.  I would love to help this sweet woman in some way…we shall see what God may have in store for her.  But until then I can send more of her hard work out into the world.

Alright.  There you have it.  Lots of goodies to mail to one winner.  Lots of love and hard work.  Lots of admirable women and a company who stands for justice and empowerment.

Here’s how you enter:

Please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

Entry #1  Go check out the Timbali Crafts website and tell me something you’d be stoked to purchase.

Entry #2  Go “Like” Timbali Crafts on Facebook.

Entry #3  Share this giveaway with your friends on your personal Facebook status or Twitter.  You can use the Facebook and Twitter button at the bottom of this post or just copy and paste the link at the top in your status or tweet bar.

Entry #4  Become a subscriber to the ole’ blog.  Check out the “Email Subscription” to your right in the sidebar…enter your email address, hit the subscribe button and boom…you’re done.

Again, please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

Giveaway will end this Monday, November 25th at midnight and I will announce the winner in Tuesday’s post.  Goodies will be mailed directly to the winner.

Thanks for entering and helping to spread the word about an amazing company and group of Swazi women.

Happy Thursday.

**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED**

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May 31, 2013 By 449 Comments

Summer Loven’ {It’s A Giveaway}

***GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***

We are super pumped about summer at the Kelley house.  Every morning we’ve been starting our day with blaring some Mowgli’s and right now I’m typing in my bathing suit because today is our first official pool day.  Yep.  We’re going to live it up.

So to celebrate I thought it only appropriate for a fun giveaway.  And giving makes any ones day better.  Fo sho’.

Up for grabs are several goodies…how about a camera strap.  This floral is to die for.  Totally my favorite print right now.

And two matching key fobs.  What, what!

And finally, this 5×5 “Whatever you are, be a good one.”  Abraham Lincoln canvas.

Camera strap, key fobs and canvas for one winner.

Here’s how you enter:

Please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

Entry #1 Share something you are super pumped about for summer…anything your summer-loven’-sharing heart desires.

Entry #2  Share this giveaway with your friends on your personal Facebook status or Twitter.  You can now use the snazzy Facebook and Twitter button at the bottom of this post.  Boom.

Again, please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

Giveaway will end this Monday, June 3rd at midnight and I will announce the winner in Tuesday’s post.  Goodies will be mailed directly to the winner.

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend.  And now we are off to the pool.

Happy Friday!

***GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED***

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April 13, 2013 By 15 Comments

Up & Away 5K

We’ve had a really busy Saturday and I’m just now getting to sit down and Random.org the stationary winners.  Here they are:

Laurensays:  April 10, 2013 at 12:57 pm • Edit

My very best friends from high school all live in different cities in different states but we stay in touch through hand written notes and little packages. Its more intentional than emails and texts and it speaks more love and joy to get things old school snail. I love it and hope your post today encourages more people to do the same

CHeyennE Wardsays:  April 10, 2013 at 10:06 am • Edit

I send things through snail mail almost daily. Even though it is the ‘slow’ way of sending things, there is just something about receiving a special note or package. Being able to touch and feel it… Just like printing off your pictures

(I know this one is suspicious, but Cheyenne really did win 🙂

Rhondasays:  April 10, 2013 at 9:12 am • Edit

I’ll tell you about a specific time that I received a handwritten note that really made my day. I was going through a particularly hard time about six years ago, and had asked for prayer at church. Well, I came home from work one day, and stuck in my front door was a handwritten card from the kids at church letting me know that they were praying for me. That card made my day, and brought happy tears to my eyes. I love to send cards, and have kept just about every card that I’ve ever received. They are stashed in a plastic bin, and I get them out from time to time to read them, and to remember.

I so enjoyed reading all the comments.  Thank you so much for sharing them with me and for entering.  And Lauren, Cheyenne and Rhonda, check your email for a message from me.

Now for another giveaway.  Again, not my typical giveaway, but I dig running and adoption, so here we go.

Giveaway will be for one adult registration and includes a cool t-shirt.

WHAT: This is a family-friendly 5k with a great superhero Theme! Dress up in superhero attire (as little or as much as you’d like) and enjoy a morning full of fun with your family and friends. The more Super, the better!

WHERE: Parking and event at the Streets of Indian Lake.  The 5K will take place on streets surrounding the center.

WHEN: May 11, 2013.  Registration begins at 7:00 AM—Start Times:  Bike – 8:00 AM  Run – 8:10 AM and Walk – 8:15 AM

WHY: The Ho family is months away from bringing their 5-year-old daughter home from China and the Montgomery family will bring their baby home from Africa in 2014 . All proceeds will go toward upcoming adoption expenses for these two local families.

OTHER: For any questions or sponsorship information, please message via FB page or e-mail calvinho7@gmail.com

Kids 12 and under are FREE with $30 parent registration (must be accompanied by parent at all times).

Register here, Active.com

Facebook page for race

Sounds fun right?  The event is a fun, non timed event, so what a great way to get some exercise and support some local adopting families.  Win, win.

Here’s how to enter:

Entry #1:  Leave a comment…any ole’ comment will do.  Maybe tell me if you like to run, walk or bike…if you don’t like to run, walk or bike…what you may dress up as or just any comment you would like.

Entry #2:  Share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter or blog…however you want to share…go for it and leave a comment telling me you did so.

I will announce the winner this Tuesday.  Thanks so much to Erica Ho for asking me to participate in such a great giveaway.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Happy Saturday!

 

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January 10, 2013 By 6 Comments

Smorgasness {I made that word up}

Thank you guys so much for entering my Happy 2013/Thank You BIG Time giveaway.  I loved reading all your goals for this new year.  Thanks for sharing them with me.  And here are the 3 winners:

therese schulle stokes says:
January 8, 2013 at 9:23 am
Shared on fb: Awesome giveaway at Pitter Patter Art!! THREE chances to win one of three amazing art pieces!!

Crystal says:
January 7, 2013 at 8:13 am
Shared your giveaway on my Facebook page. Hoping some friends check it out too!

shannon herrmann says:
January 7, 2013 at 8:12 am
Fan on facebook!  have been forever.

Super congrats ladies and check your email for a message from me.

I’ve decided I need to teach Harper, Huddy and Sol how to fix their own breakfast.  Can you imagine the extra sleep?  It sounds magical.  Either that or I need to start buying Pop-Tarts and putting them in a low cabinet.

I’ve been cutting strawberries the way my Mom did.  I can distinctly remember the way she held the knife and the strawberry between her fingers…it was just so her.  I miss her.

When looking at this picture I feel like they have formed a small gang behind my back and are threatening me in some way.  Good thing I’m not easily intimidated by plastic screwdrivers or Donatello’s staff.

Huddy is my question asker.  I love this about him, but it also sometimes drives me semi insane.  One day this week I decided to document every time he asked a question over a 2 hour period.  This was just the tip of the question iceberg.  I love him.

Sol made the cutest igloo at MDO on Tuesday.  He was so proud of it and Huddy really…I mean REALLy…wanted to eat it.

I adore these little chubby fingers.  I adore how he fists his food and just shovels it all in.

Fixing school lunches may have joined folding laundry on my list of arch nemesis.

Pretty sure I now have one million pictures of Amon at this point.  That whole thing about not having as many pictures of your youngest child is soooo not true with us.  He rules this Kelley roost with his fabulous hair and crazy enchanting, dark as night eyes.  Goodness we may have a problem.

And that’s all I’ve got for today.  Things are busy in the Kelley house and I have quite the To-Do List for today.  I hope your day is grand.  Happy Thursday!

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January 9, 2013 By 6 Comments

Krazy Kelleys

Life with kids is seriously so crazy and so hard and so fun.  Being a parent is not only amazing, but extremely hard.  I mean I love them like crazy…I only love Jesus and Josh more…so they’re pretty high up on my list.  Life with the wee Kelleys is never dull…never, ever, ever dull.

I struggle just like most parents out there to find balance and to be fun, but firm and to not lose my ever loven’ mind every day and to be patient and to love hard and to care and instill and invest and apologize when I yell and make mistakes.  That’s a lot to try and do on my own.

One of my goals for this year is to let God have His children back because I’ve been holding them a bit too tightly and acting as if they really are mine, when they are really God’s and He’s just entrusted Josh and I with them for a bit.  So I’m trying to get back to letting God teach me how to parent His wee Kelleys.

That’s kind of hard for me to do because I have these little pictures and all these dreams for what I imagine Harper, Hudson, Solomon and Amon will be.  And then God reminds me, “Maybe that’s not what I have planned for them Laura.”  This past year, more than ever, I have been learning to embrace and love and cherish the fact that God has walked our days out ahead of us and to plan in pencil because God has His plans and they far exceed anything I could ever imagine.

So I’m learning to let Him guide me in this crazy thing called “parenting.”  It’s terribly hard for me, but goodness knows this is a lesson I have needed to learn…I’m pretty good at botching things up and there are 4 wee Kelleys who I certainly don’t want to botch.

And a high-5 or fist bump to all you parents out there today because certainly you could use a bit of encouragement…this is not an easy task, that’s for sure.

Ephesians 2:10  “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Happy Wednesday.

PS:  Giveaway ends tonight at midnight.  So excited to see who the three winners will be.  CLICK HERE to enter.  Hooray.

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January 8, 2013 By 7 Comments

Baking The Day Away

I have totally missed baking some crazy good treats since I was sick for, ummm, like 3 weeks.  And clearly really sick people should not bake and then share.  Germania.  So I’m feeling so much better and decided I would do a bit of baking today and try some new recipes.  I had this really cute little helper.  His name is Amon.  He’s adorable.  And has fabulous hair.  You should really meet him one day.  Your world would be rocked.

Okay so here’s what we baked.  Sugar Cookie Squares.  OMG.  I try not to use texting language, but let me say again, OMG.  These are amazingly delicious.  Yeah, just go ahead and make these right now.  Like right now.

Next up…Twinkie Cupcakes.  Yes, you read that right.  These were top notch as well.  Josh LOVED them.

I used a new ingredient with the cupcakes…cake flour.  I’ve read about it before, but usually avoid all recipes that have an ingredient I’m unfamiliar with.  Time to try new things, so I sought out cake flour at Kroger and then rocked some Twinkie cupcakes with the cake flours help.

I also made the most fantastic Nutter Butter Balls.  I’ve made these before, but they are just so so good and extremely easy.  I dip mine in white chocolate and then immediately need to give them away because I would easily…I mean easily, eat the entire batch.

And at the end of the day…you know it was a good day when the top rack of your dishwasher is full of measuring cups.

Hope your day was good too.

Happy Tuesday.

Oh and the New Years/Thank You SO Much Giveaway is still going on.  It ends Wednesday night at midnight.  I have so loved reading all the comments.  Cannot wait to see who the three winner are going to be.  CLICK HERE to enter or scroll to the post below.

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October 31, 2012 By 349 Comments

Tuesday {+ Giveaway DAy}

**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED**

Tuesday’s kindness acts are done.  Boom.  This is how we rolled yesterday:

#1  Doughnuts to school.  I was a kindergarten teacher so I know first hand what a hard and under paid and joyful job being a teacher is.  I was thrilled to be able to bless Harper’s school staff with something simple and yummy like doughnuts.  Yesterday morning’s kindness acts started early…I literally rolled out of bed and left the house in the clothes I slept in plus boots and a jacket.  It’s cold here in Tennessee now.  I was looking H.O.T.  My friend Brea said she looked like “death on a cracker” the other day.  Yep, that was me yesterday morning.

And here’s a little Krispy Kreme tip for you the Krispy Kreme lady shared with me.  If you call ahead with an order of 10+ boxes they will give them to you for $5.10 a box.  I did not know this prior…now I know and am passing the info along.

#2  Flowers for Mrs. Sherry.  Mrs Sherry is the custodian at Harper’s school and I figured she would appreciate some pretty fall flowers and some yummy cookies.  You can never go wrong with either.

#3  Gift card for a single mom.  God bless you single mommas our there.  You work crazy hard and deserve some extra love.  I thought a pedicure and some extra grocery money would do the trick.

#4  Treat for photographer.  We had family pictures taken yesterday afternoon and our regular go to photographer Cheyenne of Shots by Cheyenne was completely booked.  She passed on the info of her partner Laci of Barefeet Photography and Laci was able to get us in…and was amazing…to say the least.  When I saw this picture…big tears people…big, big tears.  I adore this child.  And Laci is having an awesome “pay it forward” photo session giveaway right now…CHECK IT OUT HERE.

And while I’m “God blessing” people…God bless Laci for putting up with a hot mess of wee Kelleys.  The boys had MDO yesterday which means no naps, plus they had Halloween parties.

Well let’s just say I had to take my wooden spoon with me when we left the house…for all you parents who spank, you know what this means 🙂  {Side Note:  If you don’t spank, that’s cool…different strokes for different folks.  Un-Side Note}  Laci totally earned her little treat…some cookies and a Starbucks card.  Thank you so much Laci for your patience and hard work…we appreciate you.

As we drove to our photo destination Harper said, “Do you think this is what Green Lantern girl would look like?”  Ummm, yes.  Nailed it.

When we got home the back seat looked a little like this.

And Amon practiced his photo bombing skills after everyone was in bed.  I love this kid.

#5  Chalk door hangers.  I bought these awesome hanging chalkboards for super cheap a while back on Pick Your Plum.  When I bought them I had no idea what I was going to use them for and then it dawned on me.  The boys and I hit up all our unsuspecting houses before I dropped them off at school.  My favorite part was when I stepped in dog poop at one house and Huddy said, “Dogs should really learn to wipe their bottoms.”  Yes, that would solve my problem.  The door hangers made an easy little act of kindness.

**See that reflection…that is a “death on a cracker” reflection.

And when I got home this was hanging from our kitchen cabinets.  Let’s do one more “God bless”…God bless Josh Kelley.  He’s a keeper.

#6  Share Sonic happy hour.  $5 gift card taped to the order board at the beginning of happy hour and Bam!…Happy Sonic Happy Hour to the next person to pull into our spot.  And I may have ordered myself a cranberry sprite while I was there.  Getting crazy on day #2.

And today’s list is a good one.

Plus it’s Halloween…my favorite holiday.  Don’t judge.  I know some people are not fond of the holiday, but I am a big lover of it.  Sadly, I’ll be rocking it out with Amon…aka Superman…at home.  Handing out candy and being away from germs.  The wee Kelleys will be going door-to-door with Josh.  Fun will be had.

And I almost forgot…see #4 on my list for today.  Yep, it’s an art giveaway for you guys.

Up for grabs is this 10×10 Mumford & Sons Canvas…”So I’ll be bold, as well as strong and use my head along side my heart.”

Here’s how you enter:

Please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

Entry #1 Tell me if you’ve done some kindness acts of your own this week…or what you’re doing for Halloween…or any old comment will do.

Entry #2  Share this giveaway on your personal Facebook status or Twitter.

Entry #3 Subscribe to PPA to receive posts by email.  Check out the right side bar and enter your email address under Email Subscription.

Entry #4  Become a fan of PPA on Facebook HERE

Again, please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry.

Giveaway will end tomorrow, Thursday, November 1st and I will announce the winner in tomorrow’s post.  Canvas will be mailed directly to the winner.

Happy Wednesday!

**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED**

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