Co-hosting That Friday Blog Hop and a Sponsor Spotlight!

Nothing like getting right back into the swing of things after an awesome Thanksgiving!  My belly might be filled with turkey and I may be fighting the Tryptophan with all of my might (trying not to fall face first on my keyboard), but I’m still SUPER excited to be co-hosting this blog hop with the lovely Rebecca, Tiffany, and Chrissy this week!  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are ready, with bellies full as well, to party with us!

Our $100 “just because” giveaway!

Do you know what I like to do? I like to give away things for no reason at all, just because I feel like it!  I don’t need a blogiversary, holiday, birthday, or even 1000 social media followers to celebrate!  My readers , yeah YOU, are reason enough to make me want to celebrate and give something special away!  Sort of a “thank you” for all the times you’ve read my posts, left comments, shared my content, provided me with blogger opportunities, supported my ideas, sponsored me, contributed to my website, but, most importantly, were there when I needed a friend!

With that said, a group of us decided to contribute some of our hard earned money to fund this monthly giveaway so we could present the eGIFT CARD by American Express to all of you today! 

Easy Banana Coconut Mini Muffins and Giveaway!

I don’t know what it is about me, but I could never pass up a banana muffin, bread, cake, etc.  Banana anything really!  With my mom always making banana bread growing up, I was sort of doomed from the start.  I guess the banana and I were meant to be!  And the apple, or should I say banana, didn’t fall far from the tree as it pertains to my little one, Aliva.  Like her mama, she loves bananas as well!  She must have gobbled up 2 banana coconut mini muffins in a matter of 10 minutes!  Just to give you an idea, it takes her a good 45 minutes, or so, to eat lunch.

Parenting with Parents

I have an excellent blog recommendation for you today.  Parenting with Parents is a blog dedicated to the many adventures that occur while raising 3 children under the age of 6 in a house with your in-laws.  It is also about recovering and living with depression.  You can find everything on this website from hilarious family stories and product reviews to tips on keeping a very full house running smoothly.  What I love most about Parenting with Parents is Andrea’s Giveaways for a cause which I’ve co-hosted in the past.  Entrants are required to visit the cause of the week in hopes to spread awareness! 

Looking for Blog Help or Design Services?

What can I say about Janine?  Do you know Janine, the woman behind J9 Designs?  If you are not familiar with her work, I highly recommend checking out her design services.  She provides services for everything including troubleshooting, blog design, migration, transfers, and in case that weren’t enough, she even offers blog support.  Her prices are very competitive, and her dedication to her clients is impeccable!  Don’t take my word for it though; just read some of her testimonials!  You can also find great blogging and design tips and tutorials on her website like her most current post, NoFollow Links-Wordpress Widget That Rock.  So, what do you think?  Would you like to get to know her better?

Katherine’s Corner

I’ve got a great blog site recommendation for you today! For those that aren’t familiar with Katherine over at Katherines Corner, trust me you need to check her out!  If you didn’t you’d be missing out on some wonderful and yummy recipes, fun photographs, giveaways, product reviews, and life stories!  Katherine also shares blogging tips and has a weekly blog hop on Thursdays called FAVORITE THINGS!  Additionally, as if that weren’t enough, Katherine also offers custom blog design services! 

17 Fall Fashion Finds!

I have something a little different for you today!  I thought I'd switch it up a bit and share some of my Fall Fashion Finds!  If you are familiar with my blog you’d know I've published posts in the past providing you with children's clothing and shoe recommendations, but never a post on women's attire, accessories, shoes, etc.  What a drag right?  Go ahead, you can say it!  I don't get offended easily.  Promise. 

I'm a HUGE Fall lover.  It's my favorite season!  I love the foliage, crisp air, smell of burning wood, apple picking, and curling up on the sofa with a mug full of hot chocolate and whipped cream.  Mostly, though, I love Fall apparel and the look and feel of layers!  I would be lost without warm and comfy oversized sweaters, a pair of knee high boots, legwarmers, newsboy hats, and the wrapping of beautifully patterned thin knit scarf around my neck.  And the colors!  Don’t even get me started on all the beautiful colors of Fall!  Colors like rich plum, cranberry, sienna, cream, taupe, burnt orange, bright green, and deep yellows are some of my favorites to wear! 

Want to contribute to Cropped Stories? (oh, and enter a GIVEAWAY)?

It’s a new day.  It’s an EXCITING day!  Why you ask?  Well because today I’ve decided it would be fun to have interested parties contribute content to Cropped Stories!  Why contribute?  Well let’s see…

In addition to getting to work with me (by the way, I’ve been told I’m extremely fun to work with) and building a new friendship, how about free exposure for your website?  Interested to know how much exposure?  No worries, I would want to know too!  Check out my blog stats currently updated specifically for this post:

Tarnished Royalty: Jewelry to Cherish

If you like jewelry (or perhaps are a jewelry addict like myself),  I have a special treat for you today!  I don’t know about you, but I can’t go anywhere without jewelry and when it comes to choosing a piece, I’m all about making a statement!  If you like unique pieces that make a statement, I have a feeling you are going to love the one of kind hand crafted pieces that Ann over at Tarnished Royalty designs herself from bits of old hardware, lace, broken jewelry, and other found objects.  Ann loves to reclaim weathered objects and transform them into original pieces of art.  Each and every product that Ann designs has a little part of her and lots of love poured into it!   

If you missed my previous introductory post on Ann, feel free to catch up HERE.  She is one of my July sponsors!  Even more important, she just happens to be one of my first sponsors ever so I’m extremely excited to be sharing some additional tidbits about Ann with you today!

7 Educational Mobile Applications for Kids

Since it’s been rainy lately, Alivia and I have been forced to spend time indoors.  So today, while I was on my computer, I gave Alivia her Nexus to play with.  It wasn’t long before I dropped what I was doing to join her.  In no time at all, we were engulfed in some educational and fun applications!   It was then it dawned on me that I haven’t written a post on mobile applications for quite some time.  What a shame too because I had quite a few to recommend!  With that said, I have 7 of them to share with you today!

A sponsor spotlight and the dog days of Summer giveaway!

I have some exciting things for you today including a sponsor spotlight and giveaway!  First, I’ve got a serious question for you.  Have you guys met Ann and LaShawn?  If not, here’s your chance to meet two lovely ladies who just happen to be my July sponsors!  And not just any sponsors, but my first ever!  That’s right!  With the publish of this post, Ad space finally available, Ann and LaShawn were quick to jump on board and I couldn’t have been more thrilled!  These two ladies really put a smile on my face and helped me to achieve a HUGE blog milestone!  So for that, I am extremely grateful!  Now, before I go getting all emotional on you, I’m going to stop right here and start with the introductions already.

J9 Designs and My Eclectic Loft (have you met Janine and Nancy)?

When I published my post, Ad space finally available, I was beside myself with how quickly these two gals took advantage of my promotion and made a purchase!  I was so excited to have my very first Sponsors!  It has been such a huge milestone for this little ol’ blog o’ mine and I have a feeling it will be  a tough one to top!  Of course, that will not keep me from trying.  I see great things in the near future for Cropped Stories so I hope you’ll stay tuned!  In the meantime, I’m relishing in my most current accomplishments and am especially excited today for you to meet my featured Sponsors!