Ok...this miiiiiiight be considered a sweatshirt (it is labeled a "fleece tunic"),... but there is "life-threatening" weather approaching, you see?  (tunic...ehhh dress?  Bit of a stretch?  Oh, fail. Mope.  I still feel like a woman...a natural woman.)

VS FLEECE TUNIC, Gap jeans, UGGs, Forever 21 stud earrings.

Clementiny Clothing GIVEAWAY!

Clementiny Clothing is based in Buffalo New York and sells 
handmade, custom made, eco-friendly clothing made with recycled, re-purposed, and vintage materials.  Basically, is it clothing for the hippest people on earth!

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Here is a little bit about Clementiny Clothing (from her Etsy profile):

Welcome to CLEMENTINY!!!! 

I take a lot of pride in the clothes I make because it is something that I LOVE to do! I couldn't imagine doing anything else. All of my items are completely hand made by me using only 100% re-purposed and recycled materials. Most of what I use is vintage as well. There is nothing better than being able to make something beautiful out of something someone else thought was useless!! 

Help the planet and look GREAT doing it! 

I use a variety of textiles in my designs. I am 
inspired by beautiful and unique fabrics. All of the items in Clementiny Clothing are all my original designs so you won't find these styles anywhere else! Clementiny Clothing items are elegant yet functional that have a modern edge but still are very fun...


Clementiny sent me a custom distressed vintage mini-dress.  

 

First of all, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this dress (as you can tell I went a little crazy with the camera...yes, I was home alone, yes I took many more pictures than this--I probably only posted 1/8th of the pictures I took, yes I am a little embarrassed...just a little though). It is well made and the fabric is awesome. Secondly, I WILL be purchasing from her store in the very near future.  She was the most enjoyable person to work with.  EVER.  Not only did she provide WONDERFUL customer service, she worked with me and came up with an adorable dress that fits me PERFECTLY!  I feel awesome in this dress!  


I am TOTALLY excited for this giveaway!  I am dying to see what my dear Clementiny (isn't that just the cutest shop name??)  comes up with for the winner!  Clementiny Clothing is offering the winner one custom item from her shop.  


Here is how you enter: 

THE FIRST ENTRY IS REQUIRED)

1.  Follow me through Google Friend Connect.  Leave a comment on this post letting my know that you follow through google friend and provide me with your email address. (one entry)

(THESE ENTRIES ARE OPTIONAL)

2.  Get a friend to follow 'my big girl pants' through Google Friend Connect.  Leave me a comment with the name of the person you recruited and provide with me your email address. (one entry)

3.  Subscribe to my bog via email.  Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed via email and provide me with your email address.

4.  "Like" Clementiny Clothing on FB by clicking here.  

5.  Post this giveaway on FB, make sure you tag me and Clementiny.  Leave a comment letting my know you posted it on FB and provide me with your email address.

6.  Go to Clementiny Clothing and browse her items, choose your favorite one.  Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite item is and provide me with your email address. (one entry)

7.  Go to Clementiny Clothing and choose an item.  Leave me a comment telling me how you would be social and celebrate with this item. (one entry)

8.  BUY something from Clementiny Clothing.  Leave me a comment telling me you made a purchase and provide me with your email address.  (5 entries--this means, if you purchase something, you must leave me 5 separate comments in order to earn your 5 entries.)

This Giveaway will end Sunday February 6, 2011, at 11:59pm.

purpledayzeez GIVEAWAY!

HUGE thanks to purpledayzeez for hosting our next giveaway!

purpledayzeez is an Etsy shop based out of California that sells handmade fabric flowers and accessories.

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Here is a little bit about the owner, Jessica:

I'm am a wife, a mother of four, and a yoga teacher. I enjoy creating things and experimenting with different textures and colors. 

I just love big BOWS on little girls! My daughter can only wear so many, so my overflow has found it's way onto etsy. 

I was an etsy buyer long before I became a seller. Before heading to the chain stores, I look to etsy first for that perfect gift or item. I usually find exactly what I'm looking for! I hope you will visit my shop again if you are looking for something lovely to wear in your hair!

For the review, purpledayzeez sent me the Orange Chiffon Hair clip (I had the option of a hair clip or a brooch).  

I LOVE THIS HAIR CLIP.  Not only is it beautiful and made from a luxurious fabric, it is well made and actually stays in my hair!  The flower accessory is both delicate and makes a statement at the same time!  It is also a simple way to accessorize!  PERFECT!

purpledayzeez is offering the winner of this giveaway one item, under $10.00 (which is almost everything), from her shop!

Here is how you enter:

(THE FIRST ENTRY IS REQUIRED)

1.  Follow me through Google Friend Connect.  Leave a comment on this post letting my know that you follow through google friend and provide me with your email address. (one entry)

(THESE ENTRIES ARE OPTIONAL)

2.  Get a friend to follow 'my big girl pants' through Google Friend Connect.  Leave me a comment with the name of the person you recruited and provide with me your email address. (one entry)

3.  Subscribe to my bog via email.  Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed via email and provide me with your email address.

4.  Post this giveaway on FB, make sure you tag me.  Leave a comment letting my know you posted it on FB and provide me with your email address.

5.  Go to purpledayzeez and browse her items, choose your favorite one.  Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite item is and provide me with your email address. (one entry)

6.  Go to purpledayzeez and choose an item.  Leave me a comment telling me how you would incorporate your chosen item into your wardrobe (what outfit you would where it with, where would you where it to, what occasion would you wear it on, etc.). Also, provide me with your email address. (one entry)

7.  BUY something from purpledayzeez.  Leave me a comment telling me you made a purchase and provide me with your email address.  (5 entries--this means, if you purchase something, you must leave me 5 separate comments in order to earn your 5 entries.)

This Giveaway will end at midnight, Sunday February 6, 2011, at 11:59pm.

Express sweater tunic/dress, AE jeans, Gap flats, Express earrings.  Kick ass, my hair is down.  HOORAH!

Giveaways

I have two NEW giveaways to post tomorrow and another that I will post Wed.  I AM SO EXCITED about these giveaways.  Please participate and get your friends to participate as well!  FREE STUFF IS GOOD STUFF!

AE shirt (bought from daisy exchange, $8.00!), VS tank, VS zipper ankle leggings, TOMS, AE necklace, Forever 21 stud muffin--I mean stud faux diamonds.

It looks like I placed my "bump it" in the wrong place.  Oy.

"T-shirt" day at work again.

VS henley, VS tank, Gap gray flare jeans, gray TOMS, Forever 21 earrings (I had lost one of these earlier in the week...EARRING WAS FOUND!  WIN!)

Gap sweater, Gap vintage flare dark wash jeans, Gap silver flats, Express rhinestone cowboy--I mean--hoop earrings.

I spend a lot of time on my hair in the morning; I straighten it, I curl it, I hair spray it, I make is shine...THEN I get pissed off, rip it all out, run around with  a stick up my ass and yell at Jay (poor Jay)... and then huff and puff and finally wad up my hair and whip it in into a pony tail.  I think my hair is up in a pony tail AT LEAST 6 days out of the week.  WHY IS IT CALLED A PONY TAIL?  That is sickening. These are actual pictures I took of myself: me, fixing my hair, and me, after fixing my hair:

HELP. ME.

On another note, I am being social tonight and am looking forward to it (what a good feeling)!  I am doing some meal planning for a friend of mine and we have decided to meet once a week and cook healthily together.  It is a good way for me to invest in friendship and help someone cook healthily.   I'm bringing some pretty little aprons, a bottle of wine, and a cage for the kids.  

The winner of the Orglamix Organic Makeup Giveaway is...

Comment number 21  

The Stottlemyre Chronicles said...

I am a follower on google friends for you.
stottlemyre@att.net

January 11, 2011 11:34 PM 

Congratulations!  I will be emailing you shortly.  You have 48 hours to respond to my email before another winner is drawn.

Jay took this picture for me before I left for work.  IT WAS FREEZING OUTSIDE.  I never warmed up after I took off my coat for this damn picture.  NEVER.  My teeth are still chattering.  If you look closely, the freezing cold apparently stopped the blood circulation to my feet...it looks like I am wearing socks.  I HATE YOU COLD!

Old Navy tunic henley, VS tank, AE jeans (I wear these A LOT.  Hopefully I can make a trip to Daisy Exchange and purchase some new cheap jeans; in the mean time, get used to it, I will keep wearing these A LOT), AE necklace, Target earrings, gray TOMS...I am NOT wearing socks.

FOCUS, FOCUS...FOOOCUS..I can see clearly now.

I started this blog because I felt as though I needed to be more proactive, assertive, and take control of my self-esteem.  My blog is a way for my to be accountable to something other than myself and document my progress.

Lately, I have felt as though my blog was a bit...eh...how do I say this...self-indulgent, self-centered, superficial???  I am posting pictures OF MYSELF (which by the way, just so you know, I HATE), and talking about clothes, make-up, jewelry, fashion DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH GAG GAG GAG VOMIT.  I was really starting to feel insecure! Did people think I was full of myself?  Is this a misguided effort?  I was really bothered that I was starting to feel this way about my blog.  Dressing like a woman was really helping me feel confident, be outgoing, and enjoy my femininity.  It seemed ridiculous that CLOTHES were making me feel this way.  Why was I starting to feel this way about my blog?  I was really doubting myself and my efforts.  I thought about it, talked about it, researched it, and decided...I NEED TO FOCUS.  A goal of doing this blog was to feel better about myself and ease anxiety.  I realized, long held anxieties have a way evolving and adapting.  I think, these feelings that I am having are new manifestations of old, long held anxieties.  Well, self-doubt, you can kiss my tiny tan ass.  Socialist Republican political activist, Bernadette Devlin said, "yesterday I dared to struggle, today I dare to win."  What I am doing is GOOD.  Dressing IS making me feel better about myself.  I am not going to let these anxieties get to me; I am going to focus and continue wearing my big girl pants.

Again, I am going to toot my little horn-not for the sake of tooting; in order to make a point.  For years, I have lived healthy lifestyle in the areas of diet and exercise.  I watch what I eat.  I know why I should eat certain things and do.  I know why I should NOT eat certain things and refrain from doing so.  I am very aware of what I put into my body.  I do this because I like my body to work to the best of its ability.  I like my hormones to be balanced.  I like my skin to glow.  I like my hair to be soft.  I like my weight.  I like feeling energized.  I know what good foods can do, and I take advantage of that.   I am well informed in the science of food and nutrition.  I lift weights three times a week.  I run/walk an additional 2-3 day a week.  I like being strong.  I like having endurance.  I like having my mood lifted. I like being disciplined.  I ENJOY these things.  I take time and effort and put it into these things because I am aware of the importance and benefits; I am aware of what happens if I do not do these things.  I understand why diet and exercise are good.

I was confused on why clothes, make up, jewelry, a pretty little apron I wore while making dinner the other night, made me feel good about myself.   How could it be good?  It seemed so superficial and petty.  I knew it was making me feel better about myself, but I also knew how much I outwardly HATED (secretly envied) people who partook in those things.  How in the hell could I justify doing this?  It seemed so selfish.

In a very real way, dressing like a woman is another form of being healthy.   Superficial, yes...because it deals with the surface of things.  But more than that, it is taking the time to say 'I am worth the effort'.  Self worth is something that I cannot lose BUT I can lose sight of it. I can forget my value.  Is it selfish or self-indulgent to dress like a woman?  It can be, sure.  It can also be very empowering, enlightening, enable me do other things,  and set a good example for my family and my children.  Is it selfish? I think it is responsible.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."  That is what I intend on doing.   Dressing like a woman, wearing my big girl pants is just another means of health.  I need to be responsible.   I need to be the best Vanessa I can be.  Jay needs me to be the best wife I can be.  My children need to me to be the best Mommy I can be.  I NEED to make the most of myself.  That is my mission.

Piece of Cake GIVEAWAY!

My New Years resolution was to dress like a woman, everyday, for 365 days.  My hopes in doing this is that I would regain confidence, relieve social anxiety and enjoy people again.  This giveaway, though not directed toward dressing like a woman, is however, directed toward being social and celebrating others.

Cakes have become a symbol of celebrations.  We have cakes at Birthdays, on holidays, at weddings, baby showers...I had a cake when I survived Y2K.  Why not celebrate people in your life?   According to the University of Chicago, loneliness kills (read article HERE).  More importantly, the Blues Brothers say, everybody needs somebody.  I need people, YOU need people...why not celebrate the people in your life with a cake.  If you know Eddie Izzard, it's CAKE OR DEATH!  So welcome to the church of holy cabbage, lettuce pray, win this cake, be social, celebrate the people in your life.

Here is a little bit about Piece of Cake:

Owned and operated by Megan,  based in Yukon, Oklahoma, Piece of Cake is a custom cake, cupcakes and goodies shop.  Piece of Cake focuses on providing you with high quality treats.  Megan works with you and does everything she can to meet your expectations, 100% guaranteed!

Here is more about Megan:

My name is Megan Stottlemyre, and I am a stay at home mom of a 2 year old and a 1 year old. I started making cakes about a year ago, and I knew that this was what I wanted to do when I grew up. I can't believe that I am doing something that I thoroughly enjoy. I have been through three of the Wilton classes, and the rest I taught myself.

My company is based on the belief that my customers' needs are of the utmost importance. I am committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of my business is from repeat customers and referrals.

I would welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the industry.

I, personally, have known Megan for a long time.  She is a wonderful beautiful person, very talented, a good baker, a good mother, and a good friend.  I LOVE YOU MEGAN!

These are my favorite Piece of Cake goodies:

Piece of Cake is offering the winner of this Giveaway a dozen cake balls, a dozen cupcakes or one small cake.

Here is how you enter:

THE FIRST ENTRY IS REQUIRED)

1.  Follow me through Google Friend Connect.  Leave a comment on this post letting my know that you follow through google friend and provide me with your email address. (one entry)

(THESE ENTRIES ARE OPTIONAL)

2.  Get a friend to follow 'my big girl pants' through Google Friend Connect.  Leave me a comment with the name of the person you recruited and provide with me your email address. (one entry)

3.  Subscribe to my bog via email.  Leave me a comment saying that you have subscribed via email and provide me with your email address.

4.  Post this giveaway on FB, make sure you tag me.  Leave a comment letting my know you posted it on FB and provide me with your email address.

5.  Go to Piece of Cake and browse her items, choose your favorite one.  Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite item is and provide me with your email address. (one entry)

6.  Go to Piece of Cake and choose an item.  Leave me a comment telling me how you would be social and celebrate with this item. (one entry)

7.  BUY something from Piece of Cake.  Leave me a comment telling me you made a purchase and provide me with your email address.  (5 entries--this means, if you purchase something, you must leave me 5 separate comments in order to earn your 5 entries.)

This Giveaway will end at midnight, Wednesday February 2, 2011, at 11:59pm.