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A Life Full of Laughter: October 2011

"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter...."

Join me as I blog about my love of quilting, knitting, gardening, reading, crocheting, pets, relationships, reviewing books & products, offering giveaways and just life in general!

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Monday, October 31, 2011

Fabric Giveaway #3

Who doesn't like a little mystery every now and then? I know I do! Especially when it is in regards to fabric. Really, any fabric is good fabric, right?!? For Fabric Giveaway #3, Crooked Brook and I are offering mystery boxes of fabric, that will contain a one of the following;

Organic Cotton Twill - Certified
Petit Point Pique - 100% Cotton 
Honeycomb Pique - 100% Cotton
Birdseye Pique - 100% Cotton
Cats Eye Pique - 100% Cotton
Baby Cats Eye Pique -100% Cotton
Seersucker - 100% Cotton
Gabardine - 100% Cotton
Denim - 100% Cotton
Ripstop -100% Cotton
Kente Cloth – 65/35 Cotton/Poly


Fun, right?!?



Saturday, October 29, 2011

How to Handle Time Management Issues

Gosh, do you guys ever get tired of listening to me posting the same thing over and over?  I kinda get tired of writing the same thing over and over but I can't help it!  I'm struggling so much with time management issues.  I'll be honest, this has always been an issue in my life. 

But now that I'm having some success with blogging it is becoming an even bigger problem. I feel like there are specific things I should be doing every day in regards to my blog, but I'm not exactly sure what they are.  Checking email, of course, writing posts, checking a few sponsored post sites, answering comments......what else?  Any advice? 

Then there are all the items I have here to review. I've been very pleasantly surprised by all the positive response I've received from companies.  Lots of them are more than happy to send me items to review.  That is so fun!  It's awesome for them because of the advertising, awesome for me because I get to try out new stuff, and awesome for all of you because there will be giveaways with most of them too! 

I think I need to get myself on a schedule.  Or atleast a check list of some sort.  Maybe a list of goals I want to accomplish every day.  Through the week my husband is away from home for work about 10 hours a day.  Those hours just slip by because of the computer - I get on when he leaves and next thing I know it's been 4 hours and I haven't accomplished anything.  If I had specific tasks that needed to be done each day it might help me stay on task.  Maybe even something like this.....

1 hour - blogging chores
2 hours - blogging paperwork for reviews/giveaways (need to get them all documented before I proceed)
1 hour - housework
2 hours - crochet on granny stripe (trying to get it finished by Thanksgiving!)
1 hour - schoolwork (going to college online)

Gosh!  If I got all of that accomplished in a day I'd be thrilled!  Plus that still leaves me a few hours to just piddle around.  Of course, it really boils down to self discipline - which I have none of!!! That is what I need to work on more than anything else.

The thing is, if I could make myself follow the list above (or something similar to it) I know I'd be a lot less stressed.  I'd be happy because I was getting things done & I'd feel relief from that.  Especially the paperwork for the reviews/giveaways.  That is where I feel the bulk of my stress right now.  It's looming in the back of my mind all the time.  I can't imagine the relief I'd feel if I got all my paperwork caught up and stayed on top of it! Blogging is supposed to be fun after all!!!

What about you? What type of blogging time management ideas of you have? How about blogging chores?  Do you have any type of list you follow each day? I'd love for you to share with me!  I feel like I'm a sponge just begging to soak up all the knowledge that other bloggers will share!

Bye,
Lisa

Straight Talk Cell Service Review

This post brought to you by Straight Talk. All opinions are 100% mine.

You might remember my last post about Straight Talk cell service.  I had just discovered them and thought their company was such a great idea.  Since learning more about them, I've decided that they would be an excellent choice to try out  a smart phone. 

With Straight Talk I have the option of a smart phone with a smart plan, and as always, no contract. They offer reconditioned phones from $10.00 with camera, mp3 player, mobile web access, and blue-tooth capability. Great for young users!  There are even amazing smart phones; touch screen phones, and app capable phones with features like voice navigation, camera, video recorder, music player, instant messaging, and Bluetooth®.  The power of Android phones, at only $45/month for unlimited use.  Awesome!

Imagine the amount of money you could save switching to Straight Talk. The “All You Need Plan” meets even the needs of heavy phone users with 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30 MB of web data. Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web. And the best part is that you are completely free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees! Feel Richer with Android!


The Straight Talk Image... by LittleBard95

Visit Sponsor's Site

Friday, October 28, 2011

Newbie Blog Hop




I'm going blog hop crazy, lol!  This one is for all the newbies out there.  Come join and lets help each other!! :)

Bye,
Lisa

Follow Friday 40 and Over Blog Hop




Look at this fun blog hop!!  It's for all those bloggers out there that are 40 and over!  I'll admit that technically I shouldn't be taking part in this but I talked to the host and she said it was alright.  My birthday is in March and I'll be 40 then so it's close enough, lol!  It'll be fun to network with some people that are closer to my age and stage of life.  It's great to interact with all the mommy bloggers out there but I'm "old" compared to them, lol!  Head on over and sign up if you fit the age guidelines!  And of course, if you are visiting from the hop be sure to leave me a message so I can come & check out your blog too!!  Have fun hopping!!

Bye,
Lisa

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Funtote Review and Giveaway

Who doesn't need another tote bag?  I sure do!  I love them! Especially because of my multiple craft projects that are going on all the time.  A tote bag, especially a nice sturdy one, is an awesome way to store them! When I had the opportunity to review a tote bag from Funtote there was no way I was going to turn it down. Unfortunately, my motherly instinct kicked in and I thought that Ashley might love to pick one out instead. I thought it would be perfect for her to use at college.

She jumped at the chance, of course, and chose the Maple Tree School Tote Bookbag in charcoal and white.  As luck would have it, the bag happened to arrive right before she came home for her first visit during fall break.  As soon as we took it out of the package I realized I had made a mistake.  I never should have let her pick one out! I should've been selfish and just kept it for myself, lol!  She loves it though and has been getting lots of use out of it at school.


The bag is awesome!  It's a nice size, very sturdy and the colors are so pretty.  My only complaint would be that I'd like the straps to be slightly longer but that is probably because my arms are bigger.  One feature I love is that there is a side zipper pocket on the outside, which would be a perfect place for your keys or cell phone, as well as three pockets inside.  Very convenient!



The best news of all, and don't be silly like me and give this opportunity away, is that one of Life Full of Laughter's awesome readers is going to have the chance to choose a tote bag from the Side Zipper Collection for themselves!  Awesome, right?!?



"Dancing with the One You Love" Book Review




The topic of this book is a very touchy one for a lot of women.  As much as I'd rather say that it's easy for me that just isn't the truth!  Now, from the title "Dancing With the One You Love" you might think that I'm talking about dancing, lol, but I'm not!  I'm talking about something much harder......submission.  I've struggled with this a lot throughout the last 20 years of my marriage and I'm sure I'm not alone.

I really enjoyed this book a lot.  The author, Cindy Easley, mentions in the book that submission is something she struggles with too.  I like that.  I like the fact that she is honest and transparent about her marriage.  It makes me believe the book.  It also makes me feel as though I can make the necessary changes to do God's will in my marriage.


That is the basis of submission, really, and it is what this book brought into full color for me.  Submission isn't really about your husband.  It doesn't matter if he is a good husband, or if he could stand to improve in some areas, regardless you are not submitting because of him or even because he "deserves" it.  Instead, we need to submit to our husbands because this is what God intended.  This passage in particular really got my attention...."For whatever reason, God chose to place the husband as the head of the relationship. When we refuse to accept God’s design, we are, in essence, telling God we don’t trust Him. At times, being willing to follow our husbands is certainly difficult, yet that is what God asks of us."

I highly recommend Dancing With the One You Love: Living Out Submission in the Real World to all women, whether you are single, have only been married for a short time, or have been married for ages.  You will learn something from this book, I promise!

You can also find Cindy & her friends discussing Dancing With the One You Love on her blog , her twitter account as well as her Facebook page.  Not only will you get to learn from her awesome writings but you will also have a chance to interact with other women that are trying to follow God's will and submit to their husbands.

Bye,
Lisa

I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Quilt in a Day Pattern Giveaway!



Guess what!  Remember when I posted yesterday about my delivery from Quilt in a Day?  Well, they sent me an email and said to offer a pattern giveaway to my wonderful readers!  Yep, this is going to be a quick and easy giveaway.  Just leave me a comment - any comment you want - on this post and you'll be entered.  Only one entry per person!  The giveaway will be open for a week.  Next Thursday, November 3, I'll randomly choose a comment and that person will win a pattern chosen by the awesome people at Quilt in a Day!  Fun, right?  So,  leave your comments below.....

Bye,
Lisa

Custom Hoodie Winner!


Congratulations to Kristen!!  You are the winner of the Custom Made Hoodie Giveaway!!  I've sent you an email and hope to hear from you soon.  Everyone else....don't be discouraged because there will be lots more custom made hoodie  giveaways coming up soon.  Remember to keep checking back!  If you can’t wait, contact Crooked Brook  for custom made hoodies or custom hoodies.

Bye,
Lisa

Winnie the Pooh DVD Winner!

Congratulations to Julie for winning the Winnie the Pooh DVD Giveaway!  I've sent you an email requesting your address and phone number.  Thanks again to everyone for entering and please be sure to keep watching for lots more awesome giveaways!

Bye,
Lisa

UPrinting Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Kathy!  You are the Super Quick UPrinting Giveaway winner!  I've emailed you for your address and phone number and look forward to hearing from you.  Thanks again to everyone for entering and be sure to watch for lots more great giveaways!

Bye,
Lisa

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Awesome Delivery from Quilt in a Day!

Wow, wow, wow....I received an awesome delivery from Quilt in a Day a few days ago and wanted to share it with you.  You've heard of them, right?  Who hasn't really?  Eleanor Burns is one of the icons of the quilting world!  She's just so sweet, personable, knowledgeable and fun to listen to.  I love watching her "Quilt in a Day" show on television and have been known to DVR them to watch over and over!

Anyhow, Quilt in a Day and I have joined forces to offer you some awesome information as well as maybe even a contest or two down the road!  Yep, that's right!!  Be sure to keep your eyes open for those! The package I received from them is going to be just perfect for Thanksgiving.  They sent me Eleanor's Fabric Frenzy pattern, all the necessary material, and an awesome project bag.  Isn't that generous!  Here is a picture....

Doesn't that look yummy!  I can't wait to jump in and get started.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  And, of course, keep your eyes open for our upcoming contests!  So fun!

Bye,
Lisa

Baby, It’s Cold Outside – warm up with a Kindle Fire from Susan May Warren

Warm up to Chrismtas early this year with Susan May Warren's Baby, It's Cold Outside! To celebrate the release of her new Christmas book with Summerside Press, she and the publisher are giving away a Kindle Fire and hosting an early Christmas Party on Facebook!

About the book: Baby, It’s Cold Outside





Hope finds the hopeless when a storm hits.

It's Christmas weekend 1949, and despite the threat of a storm, the townspeople of Frost are determined to continue their holiday traditions, if only as a means to forget the war that they had all just suffered through. But the suffering hasn't ended for Dottie Morgan who lost her only son in the war. She's preparing to wallow in her isolation for the weekend, when Violet, nearly a spinster at age 29, dares to make a request that will force Dottie to publicly revive the memory of her dead son.

When a storm traps the two women at home with a strange young man who has an unbelievable confession and a neighbor with more to do with Violet's past than she would like, no one can predict how this Christmas will give them all a second chance.

Read an excerpt here and find out the story behind the novel.

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

About Susan:


Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.






One festive winner will receive:

  • A brand new Kindle Fire
  • Baby, It's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. Giveaway ends on 10/26!



But, wait there’s more! Join Susan May Warren on 10/27 for merriment and a few early Christmas presents at her Baby, It's Cold Outside Christmas party! Grab your Christmas sweaters, socks and pj’s and join Susan and a few friends for a fireside chat about her recent books (Heiress & Baby, It’s Cold Outside), holiday traditions, favorite Christmas recipes, a trivia contest and more! Invite your friends and don’t miss the fun!



RSVP here and we'll see you on October 27th at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST!



Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Super Quick UPrinting Giveaway

Hi everyone! This is going to be a very quick giveaway (only about 2 days!!!) sponsored by UPrinting.  They are an awesome website that offers online printing.  They carry a wide variety of products including calendars, letterhead, brochures, and business cards. For this giveaway they are offering...

50 pcs Brochure printing for One (1) Winner


8.5" x 11"

100lb Paper Gloss

With Folding (Half Fold, Trifold/Letterfold, Z-Fold, Roll Fold, Accordion Fold)

Front and Back Printing

2 Business Days Turnaround

*Free shipping
Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only


Awesome, right?!?






This blog post is sponsored by UPrinting.com, an online printing company. No monetary compensation was given and I will receive brochure printing services for hosting. Please visit UPrinting.com for more details.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Raw Honey Winner!

Congratulations to Rebecca!!  You are the winner of the Raw Honey Giveaway!!  I've sent you an email and hope to hear from you soon.  Everyone else....don't be discouraged because there will be lots more raw honey giveaways coming up soon.  Remember to keep checking back!  If you can’t wait, contact Mohawk Valley Trading Company for raw honey and maple syrup.

Yarn Tamer Winners!

It may seem like a coincidence but both of the Yarn Tamer Giveaway winners name's are very similar!  Congratulations to Debbie H on winning the 4 1/2# and 8 1/2# Yarn Tamers.  And congratulations to Debra Lee on winning the Double Yarn Tamer.  I've emailed both of you for your mailing addresses!  Congrats again!

Bye,
Lisa

Join the Universal Craft Blog Directory

CraftyRie

Wouldn't it be great if there was a place on the web that contained a listing of all the awesome blogs out there that are craft related?  Guess what....there is!  It's called the "Universal Craft Blog Directory" and you really should check it out.

If you are a crafty blogger then you want to add your blog to this listing for the exposure.  Just think of all the people who may happen upon your blog through this website.  And if you are a crafter, whether you blog or not, you'll want to visit the site to have access to a huge list of fantastic crafty blogs.

So head on over to the "Universal Craft Blog Directory" and link up!  I've added Life Full of Laughter!  Now, I need to find time to visit some of the other great blogs!  So much inspiration! :)

Bye,
Lisa

Camping Is Fun

My husband and I love to go camping.  It's been a fun family activity since our daughter was little.  Now that she's gone off to college we've been talking about going ourselves - just the two of us. Not that it isn't fun with Ashley, because it is of course, but it'd be nice if we were able to go alone sometime.  Unfortunately it just got too cold too quickly this year.  We're already planning a trip in the spring though!

We have a nice tent and it gets the job done under normal circumstances, but sometimes it would be nice to have a "fancier" type tent.  I recently discovered Canvas Tent Shop and am amazed at the products they offer! Their canvas tents are amazing.  They look so sturdy and warm.  Not only do they offer awesome tents, but they also have frames and tent stoves as well.  On top of that, there is a huge amount of tent and camping information available on the website.  I highly recommend visiting Canvas Tent Shop if you have any interest in camping!

Bye,
Lisa

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Technology Can Be Funny!

Have you ever heard of the website "Buzz LOL"?  It is so funny. Basically it catches all the funny mistakes that happen because of technology.  With various forms of technology being such a staple in all of our lives it could happen to any of us!  Of course, it's more fun to just laugh at other people's "boo boos" sometimes, lol!

For instance, you will find shots of hilarious Photoshop fails.  Pictures where people tried to change something about themselves in a photo and it just didn't quite work.  Funny!  Or what about when you're texting or typing and you have a funny auto correct incidence? You'll find lots on the website. And finally, although I've never heard of this, there is a whole page dedicated to girls doing funny duckface poses.  Silly!

If you need a laugh just visit the site - you'll be glad you did!

Bye,
Lisa

Horseback Riding?

Have any of you ever been horseback riding? I haven't but I would love to go sometime.  It seems so fun and freeing to just be up on top of the horse and able to go anywhere as fast as I wanted.  Of course, I'd probably be a little scared too since I've never really been equestrian riding before.

Maybe someday I'll convince Tom to take me on a vacation where we could be riding horses in wine country.  Wouldn't that be romantic! I can only imagine how beautiful it would be.  Of course, we'd need to visit a tack shop of some sort to get all the necessary equipment.

What an awesome trip that would be.  I need to start dropping some hints and looking cute, lol!

Bye,
Lisa

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Granny Stripe #2 Yarn

I've jumped in with both feet and I'm so excited!  I really love this pattern.  And I love the yarn too!  I've just spend the last hour and a half winding all of my yarn into cakes.  Gosh!  At least I have a yarn ball winder from KnitPicks or it would've been terrible!  Here is the fruits of my labor...

So pretty, right?  I'm using Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride Worsted yarn.  It's awesome and the colors are just so vibrant! I'd really like to have as many different colors as possible in my blanket. These are the ones I have so far and am very interested in gaining more.  Any color at all - the only stipulation is that I want them to all be solids.  The variegated ones you see on the edge are going to be the borders. Here are all the solid colors I have so far...

M-03 Gray 
M-06 Deep Charcoal 
M-23 Fuchsia 
M-28 Chianti 
M-57 Brite Blue 
M-78 Aztec Turquoise 
M-186 Golden Mushroom
M-191 Kiwi
M-120 Limeade 
M-34 Victorian Pink
M-183 Rosado Rose 
M-110 Orange You Glad 
M-145 Spice 
M-101 Bing Cherry
M-81 Red Baron
M-14 Sunburst Gold 
M-174 Wild Mustard 

I'm going to check out Ravelry too but if anyone reading this has some they are willing to part with I would really appreciate it!!  Free is best of course but cheap is great too! Please let me know ASAP.  I'm hoping on getting the whole blanket completed by Thanksgiving.

Bye,
Lisa
 
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