My Memories {Review and Giveaway!}

September 23, 2011 by · 5 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by My Memories to see if I would be interested in trying their digital scrapbooking software, My Memories Suite.

I jumped at the opportunity, because currently, I have not tried to do ANY projects with ANY of my photos. With baby girl on her way, I thought these last couple weeks would be a great opportunity to play around with this software to learn it, and then be able to make some neat things after she arrives. I have always loved scrapbooking, and did a LOT of it in high school. But now with everything being digital, it just isn’t as easy for me to make time to do actual scrapbooking.

This software is incredibly user friendly, and it is rated #1 on Amazon.com!

I also discovered on their website that you can create your own photo books! I have absolutely no digital scrapbooking experience whatsoever, but I love this. It is very, very user friendly and a wonderful way to preserve those precious photos that are just stored in folders on your computer! I can’t WAIT to make one for baby girl when she makes her debut!

Here is the good news for you guys- I have the opportunity to give away a free copy of this software to one of you! How awesome! It is a $40 value and SO worth it. Here is how to enter:

1. Visit www.mymemories.com , click around the site, and tell me about something that caught your eye! That’s it! Your comment counts as your entry! Easy peasy. This comment counts as your entry!

2. As a bonus entry, visit their blog, http//blog.mymemories.com. There are some great tutorial videos here that will show you just what this software is capable of! Tell me ONE thing you learned from the blog!

2 easy chances to win!

BUT if you are impatient and want to try it out now, My Memories has offered up a coupon code – STMMMS30892 – to get you $10 off your purchase of the software. You won’t regret it! Good luck!

This giveaway will run from Friday, September 23rd to Thursday, September 29th. The winner will be announced on Friday, September 30th. My Memories provided the spoils for this giveaway, but my opinions are just that- mine- and cannot be bought. 

Filed Under: blog giveaways ·

Mary Kay Giveaway!

September 21, 2011 by · 14 Comments

My twitter friend, Sonja, has been a Mary Kay consultant for just a couple of months now- and wanted me to spread the word about her new business venture on my blog! I have used Mary Kay cosmetic products for as long as I can remember. Their face cleanser is the only thing that keeps my zits at bay, and their moisturizer is so light, I LOVE it. Of course, I use the makeup too. Their mineral powder foundation is amazing, and it covers so well, that I don’t have to mess with liquid foundation anymore!

Another plus about Mary Kay? They raise awareness for Domestic Violence Against Women and Breast Cancer- how could you not love a company that supports those causes?

Sonja is offering up a $25 credit for anything on her website! How awesome is that? And if you want to just order? She can accomodate that as well!  Just be sure to put my name or blog url on the order form! Here’s how to enter:

  • Tell me if you already use Mary Kay, and if you don’t, what you would like to try if you win the credit! (mandatory)
  • Follow my blog. If you already follow, just leave a comment and let me know that you do!
  • Follow me on Twitter. (extra)
  • Follow Sonja on Twitter. (extra)
  • Tweet about this giveaway! I will even let you copy this… “I entered the Mary Kay $25 giveaway from @basicallyjulie and @RunInPearls! http://back2basicsblog.com/2011/09/mary-kay-giveaway/”
5 chances to win! :) Good luck! This giveaway will end on Sunday, September 25th at 9pm CST and the winner will be announced Monday morning!
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Giveaway! (The Second Half)

September 12, 2011 by · 75 Comments

What are some good combinations in life?

Peanut butter and jelly? Chocolate and mint? Pancakes and bacon? (Can I get an amen?)

What about a good book and a nice cup of coffee?

How relaxing would that be?

Well, my bloggy bestie Maegan and I are hoping to make that happen for one or two or our readers! Here is how this will work:

I have a $10 Starbucks gift card up for grabs on this blog (plus a surprise!) and Maegan has a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card up for grabs on her blog! You can enter both giveaways (of course!) but if you win on one, you do NOT automatically win both. Entering for both does increase your odds, though! If you want in on both items, you have to enter on both blogs. Make sense? Good!

Here’s how to enter on my blog for the Starbuck’s $10 gift card!

  1. Tell me your favorite coffee drink. If you aren’t a coffee drinker, tell me another drink you love! (mandatory)
  2. Tell me what the best book you have read lately is.
  3. Follow my blog.
  4. Follow Maegan’s blog.
  5. Tweet about this giveaway! Include this link.
That’s 5 entries for this giveaway, and there are 5 ways to win on Maegan’s blog! Good luck!
Filed Under: blog friends, blog giveaways ·

Feature and Giveaway! Whimsical Poppysmic

August 1, 2011 by · 15 Comments

I have another giveaway for you guys today! It is from my friend Chrissy from Whimsical Poppysmic. I am not sure how exactly I stumbled upon her blog, but I LOVE it. It is one of my must reads every day! Here is what she has to say about the items in her Etsy shop.

I opened my Etsy shop last December after showing some of my creations on my blog! I got a lot of positive feedback from fellow bloggers and a lot of my bloggy friends even asked, where they could buy them!
I get my inspiration everywhere! I love going thrifting, I love spending time at craft stores and craft fairs and ,of course, I spend a lot of time browsing the internet for new ideas!
Right now I am doing this mainly for the fun of it. It’s a hobby to me and I just love creating new items! It would be great to take this to the next level and attend some craft shows – but for now, I am just enjoying the process of it all!
The best part about selling handmade is getting a positive feedback from my customer, letting me know how much they enjoy their handmade item! I absolutely love custom orders, it is so much fun creating something the way the customer had invisioned it to be!

Chrissy was nice enough to offer up an item from her shop- and the best part is? The winner gets to choose one of these two items!

Felt iPhone, iTouch, Blackberry cozy
OR

Leather Bracelet, single wrap with bronze leaves. 
I told you, she makes some amazing things! She and her family are getting ready to move back to Germany, so if you want to order something from her shop, use the code BIGMOVE20 at checkout to receive 20% off your order!

To Enter:
- Tell me which of those two items you would choose if you were the winner!
Bonus Entries:
- Follow this blog.
- Follow Chrissy’s blog
-Follow me on Twitter
-Follow Chrissy on Twitter
-Tweet about this giveaway! Make sure that you put @basicallyjulie in there so I can track it! 
That is a total of 6 possible entries! Also, in one of your entries, include your e-mail address so I can notify you if you win! This giveaway will end on Friday, August 5th and the winner will be announced on Saturday, August 6th! Good luck!

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Guest Blogger: Sarah from 2Paws Designs

July 27, 2011 by · 9 Comments

Another day, another featured guest over here! :) Today, I bring you Sarah from 2Paws Designs. It is thanks to her that Brayden had a cute (albeit crooked- that’s my doing) Cars birthday shirt! Her son Dylan turned 2 the week before Brayden, and she sent me the iron on that she already had made up! Awesome, right? She is super crafty and oh so talented! Here is a recap of what she did for Dylan’s Cars birthday party- and stay tuned, there is a giveaway at the end!

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I love crafting and creating with my hands whenever I have the opportunity. I’m a stay-at-home-mom to my 2 year old son & 10 month old niece so that usually means nap time & after my son has gone to bed – don’t disturb me! ;) It’s my “me” time. A time to relax, refocus, and let my creativity flow. Earlier in the month I used that time to finish lots of party related projects for my son’s 2nd birthday. Being crafty + cheap thrifty, I created as much of the decor as possible.

I made Dylan’s Lightning McQueen ’2′ t-shirt, bean bags for our toss (into the spare tire from DH’s car! Free! See, I’m very ‘thrify’. LOL), a ‘Dinoco’ oil can from an empty formula container, box ‘cars’ for the kids to play in, etc. Truthfully, I had lots of fun in making these things and seeing my ideas come to life.

One of the final decorations I came up with was a subway art print. I love seeing those online and thought, “I can do that!” The moment my son & niece were down for their naps, I was at my computer clicking away in Photoshop. I shared with result with Julie a few days later. Seeing as both our boys were about to celebrate turning 2 and both were having Cars themed parties, I thought she might enjoy it. I kept the design more general, but did use colors to match the theme and a Cars related font for “happy birthday.” On the day of the party, I inserted it into a black frame we already owned & hung it up next to a hubcap we found at a scrap shop.

Now, here’s where this post gets much more fun. You have the opportunity to win a copy. The winner can specify age and colors (up to 4). I’ll then email a high resolution image file ready for printing & displaying at your child’s party (hanging it next to a hubcap is up to the winner’s discretion ;) ). The file is sized to 8.5×11 so you can easily print at home.

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Here is how I displayed Brayden’s at his party:

Not quite as awesome as Sarah’s idea, but I did get TONS of compliments on it! Here is how to enter to win your very own!
1. Mandatory: Tell me when/what you would use it for! And leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. 
Extras: 
2. Leave a comment with the color combination you would want.
3. Be a follower of my blog.
4. Follow Sarah’s blog. 
5. Follow me on Twitter- @basicallyjulie
6. Follow Sarah on Twitter- @2pawsdesigns
6 entries! Good luck!!
Filed Under: blog giveaways, give ·

It’s giveaway time!

July 10, 2011 by · 17 Comments

I’m not even sure how I ran into Ashley’s blog or shop, but that really doesn’t matter! She sells some of the cutest stuff! The newest item in her shop are her Subway Art Digital Prints. 

Star Wars
Office Space
Aren’t they awesome? She will be adding more to her shop soon, and she even does custom ones as well! 
So what’s up for grabs? 
One winner will receive a Subway Art print of their choice (emailed to you as a high resolution file) and one winner will receive any custom print for just $5! 

Awesome, right? Here’s how to enter:
Mandatory entry: Visit Ashley’s shop and tell me something else from there that you like! Also- include your email address. 
Bonus entries:   1. Be a follower of this blog, or tell me that you already are! 
                          2. Follow me on Twitter– @basicallyjulie
                          3. Follow Ashley’s blog
                          4. Follow Ashley on Twitter– @afterninetofive
That’s 5 entries total! Good luck! :) This giveaway will run until Friday, July 15th and the winner will be announced on Saturday, July 16th. 
 
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Did you win?

May 7, 2011 by · 1 Comment

Sorry I didn’t post this yesterday! I took the chance to have a girl’s afternoon out with a good friend, and wasn’t home until late last night! So without any other delay, the winner of the goodies from Elle The Heiress is….

#20- K to the A! :)  


Thanks for ALL of the entries- you guys really loved her shop!

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Goodies from Elle The Heiress

May 2, 2011 by · 31 Comments

One of my Twitter/Bloggy friends, Lillian (@elletheheiress) has a really, really cute Etsy shop and today, she has offered up two cute things for you guys to win!

But before I show you the cute jewelry, I must tell you a little bit about her!

Lillian is a SAHM to Sebastian and Genevieve (cuties!) and is also a consultant for Close to my Heart scrapbooking and stamping. She’s a busy, creative gal! She started her Etsy shop last winter and currently offers cute, girly earrings, rings, and bobby pins. She specializes in clip-on earrings as well! She doesn’t have her ears pierced and always had a hard time finding them that didn’t look too costume-y. I told you she is creative!

In addition to the jewelry she makes, she also offers handmade cards (sold individually or in sets) and gift tags. All things we need to help personalize a great gift, right?

Now, onto the good stuff. Here is what is up for grabs! :)

“Which do you like better, white chocolate or dark? With this lovely duo you don’t have to choose – you get them both! Each flower measures right about half an inch wide, and the posts are right under half an inch long. More information and photos available upon request. All Elle The Heiress jewelry purchases come wrapped, ready for gift giving, or just as a special treat to yourself!”
“This large pink flower is perched beautifully on top of a silver base that reminds me of a doily. Ring is just over one inch at its widest, and is fully adjustable. More information and photos available upon request. All Elle The Heiress jewelry purchases come wrapped, ready for gift giving, or just as a special treat to yourself!”

One of you will be winning both items! And, if you can’t wait to get your hands on something from her shop, you can use the code BASICALLYJULIE to get free domestic shipping until this giveaway ends! 


To enter:
1. Visit Lillian’s shop and tell me what you love!
2. follow me on Twitter (@basicallyjulie)
3. follow Lillian on Twitter (@elletheheiress)
4. Like Elle The Heiress on Facebook
5. Tweet about the giveaway! 

5 chances to win! :) Good luck! 
This giveaway will run from today (Monday) until Thursday, May 5th at 9pm CST. The winner will be picked using random.org and will be posted Friday, May 6th. 
Filed Under: blog giveaways ·

Winner!

April 27, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Thanks to random.org, the first prize from Letter Photography goes to…

#2- Bridget!

And second prize goes to…

#6- Jill! 

Thanks to all who entered! :) Winners, I will be passing along your e-mails to Tyler from Letter Photography to get you all hooked up! Enjoy! And please blog about it so I can see what you ordered!

Filed Under: blog giveaways ·

Letter Photography: Part 2

April 21, 2011 by · 8 Comments

Back in December, I posted here about a company called Letter Photography. They sent me a wonderful set of refrigerator magnets and 4×6 photos of our last name for me to frame and put in our house! Awesome, right? Well, I had the photos sort of ready to hang up, and we decided to demo the front porch- so it never really got hung up, and I left 1/2 of my part of the deal undone.

Luckily, the creator/owner, Tyler, is an awesome guy- and emailed me asking me to finish my end of the deal and in return, he would offer 2 awesome prizes for YOU guys. Rock on, right? 
So first- here is what I have so far. 
As you can see, this is a work in progress. But let’s not focus on that. Let’s focus on the photos themselves. How cool are these? They are printed on age resistant paper, and when they arrived, they came individually in plastic sleeves to help protect the photos during shipping. And you know, for the week they sat on my desk before I got to putting them in a frame. They come in either 4×6 or 5×7 size and there are several choices for EACH letter, so you can customize it anyway you want! I really like the beach style letters they had, but they didn’t really go with my more country/contemporary home. If you live somewhere that is warm 90% of the year, you should definitely check those out. 
Now, let’s talk about my work in progress. Obviously that frame isn’t long enough- but you guys will be in luck! Within the month, Letter Photography will be partnering with a framing company that will be able to offer TONS of framing selections to fit your needs. Clearly, I need to do some work on my framing, but I have some new ideas in my head! 
Let’s get to the fun part- the giveaway! There are 2 prizes:
1st prize: $40 gift card to Letter Photography and a magnet set of your choice
2nd prize: $30 gift card to Letter Photography

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, this is a PERFECT gift idea! 
To enter: All you have to do is find Letter Photography on Facebook, like them, and comment here and tell me that you did! That is it! :) Easy, right? Good luck! I will be announcing the winners next Wednesday!

This giveaway will end on Tuesday, April 26th at 9pm CST. Winners will be chosen by random.org. Please leave an e-mail address with your comment so that I can contact the winners when the giveaway ends. You must be 18 years of age to enter. 

Filed Under: blog giveaways ·
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