Two Years & A Giveaway!

Congratulations Michelle. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your goodies! 

Winner was chosen via Random.org 

Time flies when you're having fun blogging! 

I've been writing this blog for two whole years. So much has changed since then her on the blog. I've changed names several times, oops probably not the best idea. I've designed my own layout and icons. (Still needing help with feedburner if anyone is knowledgeable). I've made some excellent blogging friends that I feel like I've met them. I have posted about a larger variety of topics including wedding planning, recipes, moving, Brandon's career, and more. It's been fun!!


When I started blogging I wasn't concerned with photos and presentation or even my writing style. As I've grown, and this blog has grown, these things have developed and become a passion of mine. I enjoy taking pictures of EVERYTHING, then try to hide it, and still get weird looks from the mr. I'm sure we'll be getting over that soon. I know I'll enjoy every picture I take even if its just of my shoes, fabric swatch, or him sleeping. HeHe. 

I love sharing our life with you, mostly the highlights and the crafty parts but I've stared sharing some of the knitty gritty. Lessons in marriage. Loss. Genetics or lack there of. I'm slowly starting to open up more and more. I'm looking forward to many more years of writing and sharing. 

I love to document our life and the changes we are going through. In just a few short weeks we will be packing up, again, and heading south to Florida for spring training. This will be BRAND NEW to me and I can't wait. Then the season begins and that too will be a new experience for us. Of course I'll do my best to keep you up to date about all of it!

If you're new to Lauren Darlings I can't do a full recap of the last two years but my highlights of 2011 is a good place to start. It captures some of my favorite posts and projects and a little bit about who am I and why I blog. I also encourage you to start a blog too. It's a great online diary of life and a good way to remember important memories and milestones in life.

Now for the giveaway portion of the post. YIPPIE!! As a thank you to my new and old readers I'd like to giveaway something special. This beautiful cosmetic bag made by yours truly. Isn't that fabric dreamy? I have a major crush on it. But..... that's not all. Inside will be some goodies and you won't know what they are until you win. I promise they will be good!  I do appreciate all the sweet comments and support along the way - THANK YOU!

bag measures 10x5

To enter this mystery giveaway you must be a follower of Lauren Darlings and leave me a comment about whatever your lil heart desires.

For extra entries: (make sure you comment for each extra...)

Follow @larnlevy on Twitter

Like Lauren Darlings via Facebook

Tweet about this mystery giveaway

Giveaway ends this SUNDAY January 29 at midnight. 
TUESDAY JANUARY 31 @ 10 pm

Thanks again for reading - you all are the best!

{Giveaway}

Hi friends. Just want to tell you I'm GIVING away a custom made sign over at the adorable Ruthie Hart's - Chronicles of Ruthie.

Something like this...

Like my kitty hehe?

I'm currently working on a sign that is SO cute. I can't wait to show you and add it to the shop. 

 Even if you hate my signs (I hope you don't) go check out Ruthie's blog she is seriously so cute and I can't forget her best bud Ernie! 

I think from now til the new year I will be doing a giveaway hoping to giveaway five. Also I'll be running some hot deals in the shop so make sure you check those out.

Happy Holidays.  

Give It Away

Hey everybody, I made gumbo!!! Okay NOT really but that is a movie quote I hear repeated all the time. Anyone guess it and I'll give you....... a nice big ol' shout out on the blog.


In all seriousness, I'm sorry I haven't been around but I know you understand. You can see that I'm not to down in the dumps and that time really does help the healing process. Also Brandon and I have had one another to help get through this rough time and I can say we've already grown closer because of the loss. 


Just wanted to give you a heads up that I'm giving away TWO free triple felt rosette clips over there at Home Is With You... 


They look like this: Ohhhh. Ahhhhh. 

They can be clipped to a metal or elastic headband or directly in your hair and they work for ALL ages.


I have a jillion colors available and if you win her giveaway I let you customize your own colors. Also at some point (no time frame set) I will have them available via Etsy. For now if you just can't stand not having one, shoot me an email or leave a comment and I will contact you. 


What colors would you pick if you won?

Easy Headband Tutorial & Giveaway

Tutorials are way more work than I thought they would be. Make the product step by step. Take photos along the way. Make sure hands and nails don't look nasty, or at least I did because I'm weird like that. Model the finished product or find someone to model. Edit photos. Watermark photos. (which I tried for the first time, hopefully it gets easier OR I get a program that makes it easier) Realize photos are forgotten to explain the tricky parts. Then post and explain everything. Enough about how hard it is and I'm excited to share my VERY FIRST tutorial. 

Supplies:

7/8" gross grain ribbon 

1/4" braided elastic (black or white)

Scissors

Lighter

Cut between 15 and 16 inches of ribbon color of your choice.

 Cut 5" elastic.

Hold flame near end of the ribbon, not on it, to finish the end preventing frays.

Fold top half over elastic and sew down. 

***If you are using ribbon that is not the same on both sides - sew elastic, like picture above, to the side that will show. You will see why in a few steps. For example if you have a leopard print on side a and tan on side b, make sure the leopard print is side you are looking at and folding over onto elastic. Sorry there is no photo explanation. 

Fold bottom half over elastic sew. 

Repeat on other end. 

Almost done..

Flip ends in so that finished side shows. 

Wear any way. All ways. Enjoy your new headbands for summer!

That was fun. I want to do another one right now. They are worth the hard work. Can't wait to see what fun headbands y'all make. 

Now even though they are easy to make, I'd like to give one of these AWESOME headbands away to three lucky readers. Leave me a comment telling me which color or print you would love this headband in & where you would wear it. Winners will be announced Monday night. Go on now --- tell ALL your friends!

P.S Nail color is Fiesta by Essie