Personalized Pumpkins

I saw something similar to this last year, I think in Better Homes and Gardens (I am really not sure)...but it was way too close to Halloween...so, I thought I'd wait until this year came around!

And, whadda ya know...it did!

So, I went to Michael's and bought this pretty Antique White pumpkin (styrofoam or something like that!).....of course, for 40% off.

I gathered my supplies. I chose to use black paint (you could easily do this if you have a big ole die cutting machine..but I don't...so paint it is!)


I first printed the letter that I wanted.....I actually printed it at a 700 font. Then, cut it out.

I placed it on my pumpkin, and used some removable adhesive in just a few spots, to keep it steady.

Then, I traced it with a sharpie. Yes, I am very high-tech!

Yes, those are my toes, I am painting...sitting on the floor...and taking pics at the same time...forgive me :)

After tracing it, I filled it in with black paint. Two coats, please!


Almost done!

Then, I covered my painted area generously with Martha Stewart Craft Glue. I love this stuff, because it is so thick and creamy, but dries perfectly clear!


I sprinkled it with the Crystals! I almost did glitter, but I wanted it to kind of have a "matte-bling" look to it!


And, then....I set it up...amongst those plain-jane-orange ones! I love it!

Welcome Fall!!!

The Nate Show teaser-----

Awesome......um.......can you spot a familiar face...or two!!!

More NYC----And a TV Show Teaser

So, after our fun dinner at Ruby Foo's....we went back to Times Square, to take it in again....in the night-light....before heading back to our hotel.


After all, we had to get a teeny bit of sleep.....um......we are taping a TV show in the morning!!!!

oh yeah, that :)

So, we went to the M&M store, I mean, we had to do it!


3 floors of M&M's.....for the LOVE!!!!


And, then, back to the room.........

Yes, to get ready!

I can't give you any details.....but, I will say this!!!!!!!!!!


SET YOUR DVR'S FOR THE OCTOBER 1ST EPISODE OF THE NATE SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excited about...and for...the Gulf Coast!

I love the Gulf Coast.

I mean, I love the sandy beaches.

I love the fact that you can start in Gulf Shores, and ride for over two hours on the straight road, and go all the way to Panama City....all along the water! I love that.

I love the seafood. Oh, how I love the seafood.


I love that when we go, we go out to eat with sunburned faces, and tired, salty eyes, and the seafood is so good, I am just stuffed when I leave there! And, I don't ever get dessert.

I love blogging about it. I read about this traveling contest over at Traveling Mamas, so this post is part of the TravelingMamas.com Tripapalooza Contest.

I love eating ice cream at a little ice cream dive on the beach, like Scoops!

I love outlet shopping at the beach!

I love going with friends.

I love a quick day trip.

I love the beach! Can you tell!!!

So excited that some friends of ours are getting married at the beach in a few weeks, and we get to jaunt down there, and be a part of it!

How wonderful!

Toes in the sand, with vows being said!

GLoriOus! I can't wait!!!!

A Swagbuck a Day!

So, remember this post: Swagbucks 101.

Well, I keep learning.

Hey, I am not the brightest crayon in the box, ok, I admit.

But, I have not ever put two and two together....so I thought I'd pass along...in case you have not either.

First of all, if you have not joined Swagbucks by now...geez...what are you waiting for?! You could be earning gift cards and free swag like the rest of the cool kids :)

Now, here's what I learned.

If you click on "ways to earn" and then "trusted surveys" (STOP!!!!!! I AM NOT ABOUT TO TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO DO SURVEYS. DO NOT PANIC!)

OK, resume.

If you click on Trusted Surveys....every.single.day......you will get 1 swagbuck.

Just for clicking!

Come on, come on. That's an extra 365 swagbucks a year! Puh-leeeeze! Click it, already!

Ok, ok. Enough.

I just thought it was GREAT news! I wanted to share!!!

Again, join today, if you have not already! Here's the link:
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/covereddish

Good Morning, Coffee! (psst...and a giveaway!)

Ah, I love my morning coffee. I love it in the afternoon...I am not a biased..morning only coffee drinker. Oh no.

So, imagine my surprise when a lovely box of New England Coffee arrived on my doorsteps! What?! For MOI!

Oh, thank you little sweet coffee company. Thank you...ever so!

Of course, this called for a celebration-of coffee sorts :)

So, I brewed a pot, and began the sipping. The smell. The taste. The warmth.

You see, it's so much more than a cup of joe...oh no. It's an experience!!!

I love the flavor of this coffee, I love that it was not too bold, yet not too weak! I love that I started to discover it, just as the Fall temps are coming in...and believe me, I love my coffee in the Summer too, but something about Fall/Winter coffee....ahhhh.....

So, here's the best part!

New England Coffee Company has generiously offered one of YOU...my lucky readers...two bags of coffee!!! YUM!!!

So, here's how YOU can win!
**One winner will be chosen by random to win 2 bags of New England Coffee**
(Mandatory Entry must be completed FIRST)
1. Go to New England Coffee and tell me ONE flavor you would buy!!

(Bonus entries...you know, so you can rack up more chances for the loot!)
*Leave a comment for each*
*Total of Five Bonus entries possible*
1. Follow me on Twitter.
2. Follow me via google connect ----->
3. Subscribe to my blog via email ----->
4. Post about this giveaway on your blog, and post the link in the comments.
5. Share the link to the giveaway on facebook ,and post the link in the comments.

Good Luck, and I hope you win :)

Monday, October 4!!

***and, this one..........I MUST try it!!!!

***I was sent a package of coffee, to try and to review. I was not compensated for this post, and as always, these opinions--silly or not!--are my own :)

NYC (part 2)--The Late Show---

So, while just gawking at Times Square...and the massive-ness of it all....I decided we needed MORE pictures of us...you know...I can never have too many.

So, Scott chose THIS guy...to ask to take our picture. I said "no, not the guy with the clipboard...he's gonna try to sell us a timeshare or something". Scott insisted he was innocent, so I said -in my obviously too southern voice- "would you mind taking our picture?"....he said "sure...oh, hey...would you guys want tickets to the Late Show?"


UM HELLO.....MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW ME, BUT DID YOU JUST ASK ME IF I WANT TICKETS TO ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS NIGHTIME TALK SHOW?! HELLOOOOO!!!

So, I very quietly said "um, the Late Show...as in David Letterman's Late Show?"

He said "certainly."

I said "Let me see your badge?!" And, he quickly pulled out his "Late Show" audience staffer badge.

------Are you kidding?! Am I being punk'd?! ------

So, again, trying not to FLIP OUT.....I said "will we get to see Rupert?!" He just laughed and said, "ok, so you are fan... that is great"

I tried to contain myself, and then he said "ok, but the catch is, you have to answer a trivia question"

Scott just said "um....I'm out"

So, I obliged the guy and said "go for it". So he said "Every night...when David Letterman does the Top 10.....he reads from cue cards. What color are the cards?"

And I said............

................

.............

(just wondering if you know it)

................

Blue!

I said "blue" immediately.....and he said "correct! you get the tix" Scott said "how in the world would you know that?!" and I said "duh. I watch the show!"

So, the guy laughed and gave us a few pointers.....and off we went.....to take our little voucher down the road for tickets!!!! YAHHHHHOOOOOO!!!!!

Notice: tickets in hand!

So, we went in......and yes, this is GREAT.....we were placed on the 2nd row! Yes, that's right!

Christina Applegate and Tom Dreesen were the guests! It was fabulous!

And, then, here's how funny life is!!!!

Then, of course, as soon as the show was over, we skipped around the corner to The Hello Deli! We had to see if Rupert was there...and yes...he was! He was just being a cashier. Making sandwiches for people! So, very cool!



I was totally in love with the menu, and wish we would have eaten at this little dive! Just to say we did! (save it for next time :)

*crazy can't believe I met Rupert*

We bought a Coke! We felt bad, that we would just walk in there and look and admire, and take pics with Rupert and buy nothing....so....a Coke it was (and of course Scott, always pimping it out!)


That night, we were having dinner at this great little restaurant - Ruby Foo's- just off of Times Square,


(some of the best Sushi and calamari, btw)


And, we had a window seat......and just look who walked by!

Tom Dreesen! Is this crazy or what?!


We had just seen him ON the show! So, I quickly gave him the TIME OUT sign.....and he waved at us like old friends! So, he waited, as I grabbed my camera and ran out of the restaurant!

So, then, we had a little photo shoot on the street, and we told him that we were just in the audience, etc, we were from Alabama, etc...blah blah blah.....

And then.....when the server brought the check....this was my fortune! I *love* it!

We had a great time.....and, even better.......we are now friends with our new friend Tom on Facebook :)


........more to come!

Winner of the CSN giveway is........

Drumroll please..........

My sweet little pal, RIG, helped me draw :)

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

26

Timestamp: 2010-09-16 17:20:14 UTC

Congrats:

SolDucky said...

GFC blog follower

August 30, 2010 1:12 PM

***Email me your info, and we will get you your CSN Gift Certificate!!!

Save a TON of $$$ on Halloween Decor

I found this AWESOME blogpost from Crafty Momma........check out her fabulous Dollar Store comparison shopping........go save some $$$$$!!!!

Another EXPO Tryology- from Kraft

And, yes, another great program from Expo! This one is a GREAT opportunity to have some fun in the kitchen, AND....the best part is.....you get a FREE $20 gift card, just for uploading your video!

Now, who can beat this?! Make a fun sandwich, make a video, and get a gift card!

I am all about it, and getting my gift cards piled up, ready for Christmas :)

Before you can be invited to the Tryology, you have to be a member of ExpoTV. Join today, it's free, it's fun....and.....um.....you get cool stuff!


Here's a few details, or you can click THIS LINK to find out more about the Expo Tryology program!

Show us your Outstandwich!

Whether it is taking a traditional sandwich and putting a twist on it or a homemade sandwich inspired by your favorite restaurant/sandwich shop, we want you to show us how you make truly outstanding sandwiches that give you a break from the ordinary.

Sign up today to see if you qualify for this exciting Sandwich Recipe Program. If selected, grab your camera and have some fun sharing your most mouth watering sandwich recipe using KRAFT products.

**I was compensated for this post, but, as always, my opinions are all mine :)

New York CIty?!?!

Well, at this very second, I can't go into all of the FUN details of exactly *why* we went to New York City....but, I *can* tell you that it was because of a TV Show, and I was the most excited girl in the world when they invited us to come!!! Ok, before I get into trouble....Enough said!

We arrived at LaGuardia (which by the way, has been a silly dream of mine...always wanted to fly in/out of LaGuardia!) And, to my silly surprise, they picked us up WITH A SIGN!!!!! It was crazy when they picked me up for the Bertoli trip, and still so crazy to see them with a sign for Scott this time (yeah, the legal first name...David!)


Then, onto our hotel, and he took us "the long way" so that we could see some neat things in the city. Here's a shot of the Plaza....rainy view from the window!


It was a little sad, that when we arrived, it was a rainy dreary day in NYC, but, that was NOT going to stop us!

We got to the Flatotel, a very nice hotel in the heart of NYC......and Scott said down on the bed to take it all in, and I just love this shot!


We quickly grabbed my camera, and out the door we went...to see the city!!



I love this shot of Times Square and I was NOT AT ALL disappointed when this girl threw her umbrella right in my picture! What a colorful fun umbrella! Just another sign of the fun mix of people right here in the middle of this city!
.......

more fun details to come.......in another post :)

3 Elfen on Etsy- A Giveaway

3 Medium Shirts! From 3Elfen!

That's what I have up for grabs!

3 medium shirts!!!

These are the cutest little fairy shirts! So, fun, so funky...so fairy like!!!

I mean, have you checked out their Etsy shop?! Those hoodies are TO DIE FOR! So cute!!!! Oh my!

Plus, I love how their models act like fairies! Kind of cute, in a crazy, fairy kind of way!!!

So, here's how YOU can win! ***3 winners will be chosen to receive a Medium 3Elfen Tshirt!
(Mandatory Entry must be completed FIRST)
1. Go to 3Elfen and tell me ONE thing you would buy!!

(Bonus entries...you know, so you can rack up more chances for the loot!)
*Leave a comment for each*
*Total of Five Bonus entries possible*
1. Follow me on Twitter.
2. Follow me via google connect ----->
3. Subscribe to my blog via email ----->
4. Post about this giveaway on your blog, and post the link in the comments.
5. Share the link to the giveaway on facebook ,and post the link in the comments.

Good Luck, and I hope you win :)

Contest ends September 19th.

Breyers Sundae Scoop off!

Here's an awesome awesome contest!!!!



Breyers® is in search of the next great sundae with the Sundae Scoop-Off Contest and you have a chance to win! From now through September 13, 2010, the Sundae Scoop-Off Contest is challenging America to create original, family-friendly ice cream sundae recipes including 10 or fewer ingredients. View complete contest requirements and enter the recipes at www.breyers.com for a chance to win $10,000, a trip to Chicago featuring a private cooking lesson with renowned pasty Chef Gale Gand and one year of FREE Breyers® ice cream. The sundae recipe entries will be judged on taste, creativity, use of Breyers® ice cream and presentation.

And, go Like them on Facebook while you are at it!
And follow them on Twitter!

Disclosure: I am posting in the blogger promotion on behalf of Breyers and may receive product as a result of my post.

Another EXPO Tryology

Expo has a great new Tryology out there! A new recipe program with KRAFT foods! This program offers you the opportunity to earn 2,000 points and a $20 gift card!

This exclusive program invites qualifying members to upload a KRAFT sandwich recipe. As you probably already know, EXPO loves giving consumers a platform to voice their opinion. The Sandwich Recipe Program allows them to share recipes and tip while earning rewards. For more information on how the program works, check out http://bit.ly/SandRec. There you will get all the details and information on how the program works.

If you have not started doing video reviews on Expo, now is a great time to start, and start earning some great prizes, gift cards, etc!

Are you ready for some Football!

I know that we are VERY much ready!!!

Last week, I had the extreme joy of going to the new premiere of the new Nick Saban movie, GAMECHANGER!! Scott had a big hand in the setup of the whole thing, and he had worked very hard to get things together, so I knew it would be "kind of a big deal" :)

So, when we got there, the Red Carpet was out, the cameras were flashing, and it was way too much fun!


The Hoover Cheerleaders were in the lobby, jumping, flipping, cheering, "here we go Saban, here we go".


It was really kind of fun, if you ask me!

Then, Mr. Mal Moore walked in, and well, to be honest, I just *love* him! He is such a little doll! I have never met that Mean Mr. Moore that they try to show on TV. Nope, this guy, is a sweetheart. Every. Time.


And, then, I was just thrilled to bits when Mrs. Terry Saban came in. She immediately began apologizing to Scott....."I tried to get Nick to come, he's just busy with the boys". Very cool. She was just as sweet, I felt like I'd known her forever!

Of course...my favorite Sports guy was there, and anytime I see Jim Dunaway, I have to have my picture made with him. He laughs every time I do. But...he agrees!

And, of course, what would an Alabama party be, without the VOICE of Alabama Football, Eli Gold!

I really wanted to ask him to scream "TOUCHDOWN ALABAAAAMAAAA!"

Then, we all went into the theater for the movie. And it was good. No joke.

***AND, then the BEST part of the movie.....was that my Scott had a quick spot IN the movie! Yes, my hubby on the Big Screen!!!!

Of course, when it popped up...I was shocked!!!!! I looked at him and said "did you know that was in there?" he shook his head no....and so I did what any good wife would do.......

I grabbed my phone and updated my facebook status:)

Swagbucks 101

So, those that know me quite well, and especially my facebook friends, know that I am a HUGE advocate of Swagbucks.

Why?

Because Swagbucks is SO CRAZY EASY, and I have earned a TON of free gift cards, just for doing something I was already doing. Searching the internet!!!

So, that brings me to this post.

Swagbucks 101

1. Don't over-analyze it. Don't think about it, and try to "figure it out". You earn random swagbucks, every time you search the web. Period. The end. Easy peasy.

*Now, that being said, there are OTHER ways to earn:
a)take their surveys
b) buy things
c) shop online
d)blah blah blah

*I don't do any of that.

2. The best way to start earning, is to download the Tool Bar. Go to the Swagbucks home page, and do it NOW. Don't read any further (well, you can, but I don't recommend it!)
3. Now, here's the best tip (in my very silly opinion). Every time (and I mean EVERY.SINGLE.TIME) you are going to go to a webpage....use your Swagbucks Tool Bar. Here's how: If you are going to CSN, for example. Don't type in www.csnstores.com......No, No, No, my friend. You need to put CSN stores in your Swagbucks Tool Bar! And, then, click on www.csnstores.com from the Swagbucks search results. Yes, I know, what you are thinking. (ask me how I know...because I thought it too) "man, that is too much trouble". Girl, please! No it's not. It's one more click. And you know you are "mouse-click impatient" anyways, so it gives you something to do :)

4. Again, I repeat, the best way is to use your Swagbucks Tool Bar like it is your address bar. You will earn FAST!

5. If you can remember, take the Daily Poll. On the Swagbucks home page, you can click on "Ways to Earn" and then scroll down to Daily Poll. Every day they have a quick poll (it takes about half a second). And you earn one point. I have earned more....but only like once or twice. **Now, I try to remember to do it, but I don't always** They way I try to remember, is when I earn my first points for the day, even if it is noon....I try to let that job my memory to go take the poll.

6. Invite your friends. I mean, come on, share the love, they wanna earn free Swag too, ya know :)
**And, just as a bonus, when they earn, so do you! For every friend you invite (they MUST use your invite link), when they earn, you earn (up to their first 1,000) points.

Ok, enough for now! So, have you signed up? If not, use my link :)
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/covereddish

And, start swagging!

And, if you are already a swagger, I would LOVE to hear in the comments, what you have earned for FREE from Swagbucks!