Get $10 donated to Girls for a change!

The following is a post sponsored by Yahoo! Every time someone clicks here to make Yahoo! their homepage, they're showing their support for Girls For A Change.

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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Have you heard of Girls For A Change? I hadn't until the Clever Girls emailed me about it. It's a national organization that empowers girls to create social change. They invite young women to design, lead, fund and implement social change projects that tackle issues girls face in their own neighborhoods.

Girls For A Change envision a world where girls with strong voices become active leaders and passionately engaged citizens, impacting not only their own neighborhoods but also their nations as girls become informed and participating citizens in their civic, political and cultural communities. By connecting them with adult women trained to serve as volunteer coaches, girls develop trusted relationships with powerful role models for civic engagement while women become strong advocates for girls and their neighborhoods.

Really... it's a great organization! If you want to learn more about what Girls For A Change does... and plans to do... Click here.

How do you get $10 donated to Girls For A Change? It's so freaking simple! Just click here... and change your browser's homepage to Yahoo! I did it. Seriously... so simple for such a good cause! BUT, you do have to change your browser's homepage to Yahoo! through THIS LINK so it can be tracked for the donation. :D Just change your browser's homepage by July 1st and Yahoo! will donate up to $10,000. That's only 1,000 people! I have 1,400 followers... I think it can be done! :D

♡ Chelsey

Dressing my baby boo Ruari on a budget!

Thank you Old Navy for sponsoring my post today about baby and toddler styles. Old Navy is giving you 30% off everything in their baby and toddler summer collection, plus get an additional 15% off in-store.

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I absolutely refuse to pay full price for pretty much anything! Well... unless it's Anthropologie... I just can't help myself. ;D But, when it comes to Ruari... she grows out of everything so fast... why would I spend $40 for a dress she'll wear once? I don't ever spend that. I wanted to share a few of my favorite ways to barely spend any $ on your little babe!

{Strawberry Dress Via}{Bear Dress Via}{Blue Dress Via}

Thrift shopping: This is my #1 way to save money! Seriously. I've purchased the majority of Ruari's wardrobe from a thrift shop. Good things about thrifting... VERY cheap... the clothes are in great shape (most baby clothes are since they grow so fast!)... and a few companies (like Target) actually send the remainder of their clearance items to some thrift shops. :)


Clearance: I really only buy clearance if I buy from any store. My two favorite clearance racks: Target and Old Navy. Sometimes I can find shirts/pants/shoes/whatever for under $3! Crazy! Love it!

Coupon Codes: So many companies/etsy shops/etc. have coupon codes these days.... You can pretty much google any company/coupon code and something will pop up. Seriously. Try it!

One of my favorite vintage finds for Ruari... Her little checkered blue Easter dress! It was so sweet. AND... $2!!! Wow. Awesome.

So... that's it! My little tidbit of advice for dressing you baby on a budget! Do you like to dress you babe on a budget?

Votey vote for my bloggy blog?

❤ Chelsey

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I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Spreading the news via email!

Just a little note before you read on... I am NOT preggo! :D I can't get pregnant anymore due to safety issues... I just wanted to remember the day I found out I was pregnant with Ruari. Enjoy!

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Back in May 6th, 2009... here I was totally nauseous and exhausted... Yes, of course the day before was Cinco De Mayo and my friends did keep me out late... but, I shouldn't be feeling as sick as I was. May 5th is my Bff's (Courtney) birthday. We went to celebrate her birthday at a local Irish Pub (yup, on Cinco de Mayo :D). I just kept saying... "I'm SO tired. I can barely keep my eyes open. I don't know if I can keep going to celebrate your day. I should go home." Well, I didn't go home I stayed out with my friends.

Well, back to May 6th, 2009. I'm so nauseous. So sick. Why? Well... hmm... maybe I'm pregnant? No. Maybe? I dig deep in my drawers and find an old Dollar Tree pregnancy test. I pee on it. Two lines. Wha? No way. I call Kelsey.... she says, "A line is a line. You're pregnant!" Me: "Wha?" I don't know... I call Courtney and she suggest I go to the doctor or buy more tests.

Well... I did both. Ha! Of course the doctor confirming it was the for sure: "Duh, you're preggo.". So... here I am with 5 positive pregnancy tests. I'm WAY too impatient to do some elaborate bun in the oven display to announce the pregnancy... So, I take a photo of the tests together. Here it is:

Now what do I do with this? Occasionally I think I'm pretty funny... so, I thought it would be hilarious to send a group Email to my best girls and a separate email to Mike with no subject and the only sentence, "Please see attached." I attached the photo.

Within minutes I had responses from my friends that still make me smile. "Are you serious? This isn't some joke." "Hey! I need more info!" "Really? OMG! Congrats!" and so on...

The best response was from Mike. He called me and said, "Hey. Soo. What's that photo?" I told him I was pregnant. Mike: "Oh. Huh. Ok." Ha! Later when he got home he was so excited and was ready to tell his parents. I just love the shock my email gave him.

I've had an email address for SO long (since I was maybe 13) I don't even know what I would do without it! Imagine how it will be for our kids! It's a part of they're lives from the beginning. I love that I could spread my good news with one small sentence, a photo, and a click. That's it. I love this little I'm sorry video from Yahoo! How would your life be without email?

❤ Chelsey




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Thank you to Yahoo! Mail for sponsoring this post about staying connected. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

An important woman in my life.

I wanted to really say thank you to my friend Kelsey. She has been a lot of help this past year and a half (most of my friends have)... but, Kelsey has really been there for me. From supporting my crazy blog obsession to babysitting Ruari when I really need to get some work done.

A year ago I was going through some pretty tough post par-tum... lots of crying... depressed... unhappy. Those hormones can be hard on you! She was there for me and really helped me make a decision to take care of my depression. I'm am feeling one million times better today... but, I know I wouldn't have gotten here without the support of my friend.

The photo below was taken almost exactly a year ago. This was when my post par-tum was at it's worst. That's when I started this Paper Mama Blog. Thanks Kelsey! You are a true friend.

I also wanted to share a discount code with you guys... Mother's Day is coming up and I think it's a pretty neat idea to buy a gift that's not only pretty... but, is for a good cause. These items are made in Haiti and support their livelihood. Use this code: CLEVERGIRLS from May 3rd to May 5th to get 15% off Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace products. Here's the link: Heart of Haiti

❤ Chelsey

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I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.

My baby girl.

Thanks to the makers of Pine-Sol® for sponsoring my writing. A study shows a clean smelling home can help children succeed, so Pine-Sol® is supporting Reading is Fundamental (RIF) this year. Click "Like" on Pine-Sol®’s Facebook page here and they will donate books to RIF!

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When you have a baby things change. Fast. I didn't immediately accept these changes when Ruari was first born... but, I do more and more each day. I accept (and truly enjoy) my role as her mother and what it takes to help her grow into a beautiful and lovely person.

As parents we really can feel pushed to do this and do that to make our kids #1 and to grow up to be child prodigy's or young geniuses. I can only imagine the push is even greater these days with the online world. I don't know about you... but, at almost every point during the day I am somehow connected to technology.

So, here I am... concerned that I'm not doing enough to help my baby progress to the next stages in her life... Do I read to her enough? Do we go for enough walks? Do I give her enough attention? Is she getting enough healthy food? All these questions have run through my head more than once. 

Even though I may not have the "correct" answers to the above questions... I know the best thing I can do to help Ruari achieve is to give her my love. To do this I need to take care of me (mind, body, and soul). Enjoy the moment I'm in. Cuddle. Kisses. Be silly. Take breaks when I need them.

I just need to love my baby. And, I do.

A vote for the blog? :D

❤ Chelsey

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Bottom of post: Don't forget to click over to Pine-Sol®'s Facebook page to support our children's success. I was selected for this Pine-Sol® sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

My favorite blogs...

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend's wish!

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Do you ever visit a blog and wonder... "Hmmm... I wonder what blogs this blogger reads EVERY day..." Well, I thought it would be nice to share a couple of my faves... BUT, I'm limiting myself to five blogs for today. I will be sharing more later of course. But, for now: Just 5.

It was So freakin' hard to pick just these 5. There are many... and I mean MANY blogs I read at least on a weekly basis. But, these blogs I always find myself visiting... always.

Reasons I love each of the following blogs: They update often... their photos are always beautiful... 99.9% of the time their posts have photos in them (I'm such a visual person that a photo in a post is always a plus)... AND, these ladies are all very nice (unless they're totally faking ;D)...

Here are the first round of favorite blogs:

Ashley Sisk

Oh, Ashley. This lady is pretty awesome. I met Ashley in the blogging world WAY back when... It really seems like forever ago, but I think I actually met her in June 2010... June 23rd, 2010 at 3:10 pm... Just kidding, I don't remember the exact date. But, she entered one of my Paper Mama Photo challenges. I checked out her photo entry and wandered through her blog. Her photos were just gorgeous!

As time has gone on we've exchanged many emails and the occasional instant message. I really consider her a real friend. I wish she lived closer. Probably best that she doesn't... kidding. If you haven't checked out her blog... you are completely missing out on something awesome. Give her a visit. Ramblings and Photos.










I Rock So What

The lovely Jess. This girl cracks me up. I love visiting her blog. She's so open and honest and FUNNY! Her posts are always great to read.

I randomly found her blog one day through Allie from It's a Wonderful Life (another amazing blogger). I've been hooked ever since.

It's been great watching her beautiful photos of her son turn into amazing/awesome photos! If only she lived closer... I bet we'd have many playdates.... Please give my friend a visit if you have a moment. I Rock So What.




A Sorta Fairytale

Miss Mandy and Bennett. Mandy's blog is one of the earlier "mom blogs" I found. She had entered one of my earlier Paper Mama Photo challenges and I was SO in love with the photos of her little Bennett. They were all so beautiful.

I was lucky enough to meet her in person a couple of times now (here and here). She is so amazingly sweet. And, little Bennett is so cute! I just love wandering through her blog and all her beautiful photos. Please give her blog a visit! A Sorta Fairytale.















Harper's Happenings

Mandy and Harper. I love this blog. I don't really know what took me so long to find her blog. Melissa from Hi, Baby told me about her awesomeness probably in August 2010.

I wandered over and explored her blog and LOVED it. Harper is one of the cutest babies ever! And, Mandy's pretty cute too. :) She's such an interesting person and a wonderful story teller. I love to go and check up on her and her family. Please, check her out! Harper's Happenings.






Christopher and Tia

The beautiful Tia. I've been following and loving her blog for.... ummm.... over 2 years now? For some reason I feel like I started reading it October 2008. I even donated something to her old Monday Suck Days... :) Her little Charlie was still in her belly growing.

Tia is a wonderful story teller. I love reading her posts. The photos that go along with them... the way they're written... beautiful. She recently turned off her comments (to spend more time with that family of hers) but, don't let that stop you from visiting. I love it. You will too! Christopher and Tia.

WOW WOW wow. That was so hard to just choose 5. I wish I could pick my top 1,000! More later. I'd LOVE to see what your favorite 5 bloggers are! Feel free to link up your 5 favorite blogger's post below!

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend's wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Tutorial: Gumdrop wreath!

Thanks to Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape for sponsoring my writing about crafts. Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win free sample rolls to help with your upcoming holiday needs.

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Remember when I Ruari and I went shopping for a massive amount of gumdrops? (if you don't... you can check it out here).

Well, here's what we I did with them! I made a Gumdrop Wreath!!! I plan to put it up on my door in early December. It's just one teeny bit of a massive amount of decor I'm making for Ruari's candy themed birthday party!

Creating this gumdrop wreath is SO SO simple.

Supply list:
- Wreath (you choose the size and type. I went with a straw wreath. It was cheapest. :D)
- Gumdrops. I ended up needing 5 pounds of gumdrops for my wreath!
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks. I probably went through about 30 sticks of glue. Maybe a million. I'm not sure.
- A bowl of water. This is for when you get hot glue on your fingers (cause you will). Dip your hand in there real quick!
- Ribbon.
- Wire (optional)
- Clear acrylic spray (optional)
- Wreath hook.
- Time. It took me quite some time to create!


Step one: Go out and buy those gumdrops! This is a VERY important step! I purchased mine in bulk.

You will probably need a helper for this step.

Step two:
Gather together all of your supplies (see supply list above). Again, a helper is nice. ;D

Step three:
Start gluing the gumdrops (larger side of gumdrop glued down) on your wreath! I chose to leave the plastic that wrapped the wreath on. I thought the glue might adhere to that better than the straw.

Note: because of the sugar coating on the gumdrops, a few will fall off. BUT, just glue them back on. I have extra gumdrops for this.

Step four:
This is optional. You can spray a clear acrylic spray on the wreath to seal it. I chose to do this because I live in Oregon and we get some windy/rainy days.

Step five:
Now that your gumdrops are all glued on to your wreath, you can now glue on the ribbon! Pick any sort of ribbon you'd like! I chose this blue since that is the main color for Ruari's birthday colors. :D Glue it down to the top of your wreath.

Step six:
Place your wreath on your wreath hook. Since this thing is SO heavy, I chose to tie it on to the hook with some wire. That's optional.

Step seven:
You MUST enjoy your wreath!!! :D

If you make a gumdrop wreath, let me know! I'd love to see it!
Amanda at Pretty Little Life made one here!

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Giveaway:
And, Scotch wants to prepare all of you for all your gift giving! Ten winners receive 1 roll each!

How do you win? Just leave a comment below! Everyone that comments below is automatically entered to win. (Just leave a note that you do not want to be in the giveaway). That's it!

Giveaway ends on November 19th, 2010 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

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And, don't forget about the Holiday Card Challenge!

If you thought this tutorial was TOTALLY

awesome, I would love a vote!

Would ya could ya? Vote for me?

Please learn more about Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape and other Scotch(R) Products, and join the conversation on the Scotch(R) Brand Facebook Page and via Twitter. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.