a little something just for you {giveaway}

It has been a very, very long time since my last giveaway, and because I love my followers very, very much, I thought a giveaway was in order! :)

We have 4 fabulous prizes and 1 fabulous coupon code up for the grabs today,  so how about them prizes!?

1. 8x10 Print Of Your Choice From Keri Bevan Photography.

She has a huge variety of absolutely gorgeous photographs to choose from and I am insanely jealous of the winner! 

2. Set Of Four "Whimsical Owl Cards" With Envelopes From The Owl And The Envelope.

Are these not the most adorable cards you have ever seen!?

3. "When Pigs Can Fly" Brooch From MyPipSqueak.

One word; Adorable.

4. 8x10 Print Of Your Choice From Eeebee & Jack.

I would love to have one of these sweet prints on my wall!

Also, the wonderful Jo, owner of 42 things has offered my lovely readers a coupon code! To spice things up a bit, we also decided to do a little interview:

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a whacky 35 yo, wife and homeschooling mom of 2. I live in Alberta, Canada and although I love it, I'm starting to really dislike the long dark winters. Snow is wonderful... but comeon! 8 months of cold dark? Maybe I better move south.

When did you first open your shop, and why?

I opened my shop in Feb. 2010 (although I signed up sooner). It was during one of those long dark winters and I just needed something to do for me. Something that I could leave and pick up at any time. little did I know it would become an obsession. I was very sure it was going to fail right off the bat.

What is your favourite thing to make?

Pretty much everything. Some things I balk at a little bit because it's so time consuming, like the paper beads, so I only offer a few kinds of them for sale as a supply as I enjoy making them into bracelets so much more. I can't say for sure which is my favourite item to make. Bookmarks are fun... they turn out so cute.

In your opinion, has your shop been successful?

Yes, I think it has. Maybe not HUGELY successful, but besides time I haven't invested a lot into it monetarily so that is one of my goals this year. Invest more money into the business so I can invest less time :) as far as learning new things and becoming more confident in my abilities as a business owner? I've been hugely successful.

Enter coupon code: LIVEYOURLIFE for 20% off your purchase until December 11th, 2011.

Mandatory Entry:

Follow my blog via GFC, and leave a comment telling me what your favourite thing about the holidays is.

Extra Entries:

Heart Keri Bevan Photography's Etsy Shop

Heart The Owl And The Envelope's Etsy Shop

Heart MyPipSqueak's Etsy Shop

Heart EeeBee & Jack's Etsy Shop

Heart 42 Things' Etsy Shop

Post About This Giveaway And Leave A Link In A Comment

Giveaway ends in two weeks, on December 11th, 2011. 

Have fun & Good luck! :) 

xoxo - hope

bucket list

1. Visit each continent.
2. Witness a solar eclipse.
3. Visit and explore Italy.
4. Go on a grand trip around Europe.
5. Meet one of my favourite singers/actresses/actors.
6. Get married.
7. Become a parent.
8. Start a successful small business.
9. Go to Oktoberfest in Bavaria, Germany.
10. See the Monalisa
11. Ride an elephant.
12. Go on safari.
13. Learn to play golf.
14. Learn how to speak Spanish.
15. Learn how to speak Swedish.
16. Learn to surf.
17. Go shopping at The Grove.
18. Take a road trip across Canada.
19. Take a road trip across the United States.
20. Visit Banff National Park.
21. Drive through the Canadian Rockies.
22. Visit the Grand Canyon.
23. Go Bungee Jumping.
24. Visit New York City.
25. See the Statue of Liberty. 
26. Have a picnic in Central Park.
27. Visit all 50 of the United States.
28. Live in a foreign country for a month.
29. Read the entire Anne of Green Gables series.
30. Read the entire Harry Potter series.
31. Attend a New Year's Celebration in Times Square.
32. Go whale watching.
33. Ride a camel.
34. Go to Las Vegas.
35. Visit India.
36. Visit the Great Wall of China.
37. See Mount Rushmore.
38. Go to Disney Land.
39. Go on a cruise.
40. Solve a Rubik's Cube.
41. Cook my way through an entire cookbook.
42. Spend a day in silence.
43. Donate blood.
44. See/hold a koala bear.
45. Ride a motorcycle.
46. View the Aurora Borealis.
47. Ride in a hot air balloon.
48. Go white-water rafting.
49. Make cake balls.
50. Graduate High School.
51. Ride in a limousine. 
52. Sleep on a beach.
53. Get a tattoo.
54. Swim with dolphins.
55. Drive a convertible. 
56. Take a photo of a peacock.
57. Go to Mexico.
58. Visit the Eiffel Tower.
59. Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.
60. Get a pedicure.
61. Meet a fellow blogger in person.
62. See a live musical.
63. Stay up for 24 hours.
64. Stay up for 48 hours.
65. Get a manicure.
66. Paint each of my fingernails a different colour.
67. Ride a horse on a beach.
68. Write my name in the sand on a beach.
69. Take someones engagement photos.
70. Take someones newborn photos.
71. Shoot, or second shoot a wedding.
72. Take pictures at a fair at night time.
73. Eat gelato in Italy.
74. Visit Isle of Capri.
75. Watch a movie at a drive-in movie theater. 
76. Drive a tractor.
77. Go canoeing.
78. Go kayaking.
79. Go sailing.
80. Ride a jet ski.
81. Go water skiing.
82. Milk a cow.
83. Go scuba-diving.
84. Do a polar bear swim.
85. Visit the San Diego Zoo.

This list will forever grow, but for now, this is what I have.

What's on your bucket list?


xoxo - hope

why?

Because I am so, so grateful for all of my amazing followers friends and their encouraging words! Thank you, I really needed the lift.

Because it snowed 3 times this week, and I love snow.

Because I got a cell phone. LOVE. 

Because my dog is adorable.

Because I did a merchandise shoot for the local veterinary clinic. Fun? Yes.

And because I've already shared way too many pictures for one post, this post will now be ending! ;) 

Oh yeah, what do you think about the new design? :)

xoxo - hope

life

Life is a funny thing you know. It has it's ups and downs, good times and bad, and just when you think it can't get any worse, BAM, it hits you like a ton of bricks. 

It's no secret that my family has it's struggles. I mean, I grew up with a single mother and an alcoholic father who made no effort to be a part of my life. My family of 3 struggles in several different ways, and I'm not gonna lie, it can really suck.

I know that there's no such thing as a perfect life, and I know that every family has its own problems, but I also know that it's our turn to get cut some slack!

I mean, this past year has been SUPER stressful, with many tears shed, and I think it's about time that we should get our happy ending. I just want a happy ending, and soon. Is that too much to ask?

I had a nice, normal, and happy post planned for today, but this weekend has been everything but nice, normal, and happy, and I'm tired of faking it. My life isn't all butterflies and rainbows, and sometimes, it's nice to let things out, so I apologize for my rambling.

I get over things quickly, and no matter what happens I know that things will eventually get better, but prayers and positive thoughts would be greatly appreciated right about now.

Things will be back to normal soon I hope!

xoxo- hope

words and quotes

I love words. I love quotes. So when you put the two together;

 I'm pretty sure I have this:

Happy Thursday lovelies!

on the future, life, and everything in between

I've been thinking about life a lot in these past couple of weeks. I mean, life, with it's beautiful moments, days of laughter, and times of uncertainty, is something I think of often. But one of the main things that has been on my mind nearly continuously throughout these past couple of days is the future, and since reading this post, I've been thinking about it even more. 

It's a scary thing you know. Growing up, making decisions, and planning out what we're supposed to be doing for the rest of our lives. Sometimes I feel insignificant and lost. Others, I feel important, and just where I'm supposed to be. But I always, always feel worried, afraid, and unsure of what these coming years will bring.

Everyone says that your teenage years are some of the best times of your life, and while I totally, and completely believe them, I also believe that it's one of the hardest. 

It's a weird position we're in at this age. No longer a child, but not quite an adult either. Growing up, but not quite grown. The transition into adulthood is so not what I expected, but I know that I'll get through it, and so will you. 

Until then, I'll be living life to it's fullest, relishing in the small, miraculous moments, and most importantly, making memories that will last a lifetime. 

How do you feel about the future?

11-11-11

Today is November 11th, 2011. 11-11-11, and since this date only comes once every hundred of years, I thought it seemed right to be posting on this awesome day! ;)

In 6th grade our class made making a wish at 11:11 a part of our everyday. Not only would we make a wish, but for some reason we also decided that you must keep your feet off the ground until the clock hits 11:12 (picture lying on the ground in PE), and I'm happy to say that I still make an effort to make a wish at 11:11 every single day!

Make an epic wish at 11:11PM tonight lovelies, because it's a once in a life experience! :)

a little, little boy in a big, big world

the secret to life

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."

Life is strange, life is beautiful, life is confusing, and life is magical. Life is comical, life is lovely, life is precious, and life is extraordinary. But most of all, life is ours, and life is what we make it.

I found the above quote on the internet a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with it because it perfectly describes my view on life. If you wake up in the morning determined that it will be a horrible day, it most likely will be. Likewise, if you wake up in the morning and decide that the day will be a great one, it most likely will be. It goes without saying that there will be bumps in the road, but how we react to them makes all the difference.

A lot of my friends have asked me how I'm so okay with everything, or how I can take things so well, and I'm not saying that I don't break down and cry sometimes, because I assure you I do, but a lot of the time I'm able to get through it because I know that things will get better, I know that it will eventually blow over, and I know that I'll be able to make it through this. And guess what? Not only does it work, but the very idea of it is extremely comforting to me.

Whatever religion, whatever beliefs, and whatever faith, we all have the ability to make our lives what we want them. It sometimes bothers me how people are hurting for me or pitying me because I'm not a christian and am not a follower of God, because to me, it doesn't make a difference. I'm a happy person and I live a happy life, and I do believe in fate, and I do believe that everything happens for a reason. In a way, Fate is my God, because I do have a purpose, and I do have a path to follow, christian or not.

Those are just my thoughts and I truly hope I haven't offended any of you! Religion is a sketchy topic, and I have been debating whether or not to post this for quite some time now and decided that it would be alright, so please don't take it offensively!

I'd love to know:
What are your thoughts on this subject?

reminiscing

It has been awhile since summer has parted and autumn has made it's debut, but no matter how long it's been I'm still having troubles saying goodbye. This summer was filled with long, care-free days of wearing no makeup, staying up well past midnight, and sleeping in far past noon, and although I honestly love every little thing autumn has to offer, I'm stuck reminiscing over some of this summers greatest memories.

There are plenty of wonderful memories that won't be forgotten, and although I'm sad that summer has ended, I know that summer 2012 will be here before I know it, and it will be a fabulous summer that will include many more long, care-free days of wearing no makeup, staying up well past midnight, sleeping in far past noon, and even a trip to New York City to celebrate my Sweet Sixteen! Oh yes, summer 2012 will surely do me good.

Until then I'll just enjoy these fabulous, crisp, fall days.

What about you? What are you looking forward to?

how time flies!

 I took a trip through memory lane last Friday night by going back to my first post, and reading all the way up until my last post. Having all of these memories safely tucked away in one place is truly incredible, and I can only imagine the happiness I'll feel while reading them when I'm 34 and have been blogging for 20 years.





After about an hour of reading I came across this post and almost instantly had tears welling up in my eyes. Wasn't it just a couple of days ago that I was counting down the days to summer vacation? 65, 64, 63, 62, 61... I remember mentally crossing each day off of the calendar and getting so excited when there was only one month left.

And now it's November 4th. We've been back in school for nearly two months, and I'm almost positive that Christmas, New Years, Spring Break, and Summer 2012 will all be over before we know it, and that saddens me.

I want time to slow down, and I want each and every day to mean something. So please, let's stop the clock and relax. I'm in no rush!