Back to School- Top Tips for Staying Organized

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And boom! We are back in school. Gone are the lazy mornings in bed and evenings by the pool. We are up and "at em" early for volleyball and staying up late with homework, dance, and cheer. To keep it all together, we are doing our best to stay organized. For our family, a little prepping saves us time and our sanity. Want to know my favorite ways we "keep it all together"? I am sharing them all today- PLUS a fun $50 giveaway & free products for you!

Decorate without Adding Clutter + Pillow Giveaway

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Although I am sad to see the holiday season come to an end, there is something wonderful about the emptiness of January. Removing decorations and taking down the lights, my home feels beautifully bare. I love the simplicity of the white winter light and the cleanliness of the new year.

It seems there is a fine line between having enough decor to keep things interesting and over-decorating to the point of clutter. January is the best time to reevaluate what items are adding dimension to your style and what things are simply taking up space.

With your home freshly 'undecorated' after the holidays, consider these three ideas for decorating without adding clutter.

Vacation in Cabo and Hot Pink Lipstick (Butter London Lip Crayon Giveaway)

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My husband and I recently spent 5 amazing days in Cabo at the Esparanza Resort. He 'won' the trip for his performance at work. And wow- what a prize!!

While in Cabo we ate, drank and played. During the day we went on excursions like kayaking two miles out into the open ocean, snorkeling, boating and zip-lining.

The scenery was amazing.

And beyond all the activities, I really loved the chance to get dressed up every night.

In my bag for Cabo, I brought lots of sun dresses, heels and my new favorite lipstick. Can you spy the hot pink shade in all my trip photos? That's because I wore it the entire trip-- snorkeling & zip-lining included :)

It's the Butter London Lip Crayon. It wears like a lipstick, but is soft like a gloss. I felt like it protected my lips from the sun and wind too.  The crayon has a built in sharpener. It's an all-in-one, no liner needed. And I just really like the way hot pink lipstick brightens up my face.

So I am bringing a bit of Cabo fun to you-- in the form of some free Butter London Lip Crayons!
Win this bundle of 5 beautiful shades- then put on a sundress, swipe on your lip color and live it up.

Like my new favorite quote says, "Be a beautiful cupcake in a world full of muffins." 

(And who doesn't want a lip crayon that makes you feel like a cupcake?! Cupcakes are the best! )

To win, just use the Rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be chosen on July 22nd.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can't wait, you can buy Butter London Lip Crayons at Ulta $20.

The shade I am wearing in the Cabo pics is "Primrose Hill". I also really like "Trout Pout". 

 
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$200 Giveaway from Plush Rugs!

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I was so excited (for you) when Plush Rugs contacted me about doing a $200 gift card giveaway.  That is a great start towards a new rug and what better way to transform your home before the holidays than with a new contemporary rug! As things get colder outside, a cozy wool rug can help keep you warm.

Some items the winner should consider...

The "Jaipur Amina" in antique white and ebony. This is a flat woven contemporary rug that is also reversible.

The "Surya Market Place" in dark khaki and parchment is made from 100% wool. 

This "Surya Frontier" in turquoise and ivory is hand woven from wool and features a casual design.

This Loloi Felix in navy blue and ivory is made from 100% cotton and has a bold color and design. 

                      

 This Loloi Venice Beach comes in modern, hand-hooked designs. It is made of 100% polypropylene, making the rugs UV and mildew-resistant. 

Surya Reeds in winter white and slate blue is a thin pile jute rug with a wintery color palette. 

The Loloi Kensington in pewter is hand crafted from 100% viscose from bamboo. This collection updates traditional rug design with fresh color palettes. 

To enter, just use the Rafflecopter widget below.  For mobile users, enter here: http://bit.ly/141Uj8V

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Camera Talk: Shooting in Manual Mode and a Giveaway

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On Saturday, I went to Kristen Duke's "Say NO to Auto" Photography Class. I learned a ton about using my camera in Manual Mode. I have to admit, it does take a little more thought to shoot in Manual. But the difference in the quality of photos between Automatic and Manual is amazing. 

Like my camera strap? See how the free tutorial here and make one too! 

And although it can be overwhelming at first, it is possible to learn! :) I have a Canon Rebel, which I usually shoot in the 'CA' mode with the flash turned off. But after the class, I am ready to shoot in Manual Mode! Below you can see an example of "Manual Mode vs Automatic Mode".

Comparison of Manual vs Auto  (Image Source Here) 

I now own this book, "Say NO to Auto" which I am going to keep in my bag. It's kind of like a 'cheat sheet' for shooting in various lighting conditions until I get more comfortable with knowing what settings to use and when. Whether you take photos of your kids/grandkids, you are a blogger, or you have aspirations of running your own photography business-- shooting in manual allows you to really capture the moment in the most beautiful way. 

See more about the "Say NO to Auto" book here

And since we are talking cameras, I am excited to bring you a really fun giveaway from my newest sponsor, Sassy Steals!

Sassy Seals offers daily online deals on women's jewelry, women's trendy clothing and other handmade crafts. Visit SassySteals.com for women's fashion deals and weekly giveaways! 

Sassy Steals instagram @sassysteals.com -- Sassy Steals on Facebook.com/sassysteals.com

To celebrate the joy of capturing life's great moments with a camera, Sassy Steals is giving away a Polaroid 300 plus film to one lucky winner. 

The Polaroid 300 takes business card size instant color photos, It is has an auto adjust falsh, electronic shutter 1/60 second, and manual exposure compensation. It has four scene settings to help capture the perfect shot in any light. The camera works with Polaroid 300 instant film and comes in purple, blue or black (winner chooses color)!

Want to win this fun camera from Sassy Steals? Simply use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

So do you 'say NO to auto'-- are you shooting in Manual mode? What camera do you use the most to capture the joy of everyday life? 

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Craft It: Tie Dye for Kids (the easy way)

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I grew up making 'tie-dye' shirts at Vacation Bible School. I loved them. Messy, imperfect, and very 'summery'. Since then, I haven't attempted tie dye again because it seemed 'too messy and imperfect'. But then I received a kit from Craft Project Ideas.com and I knew it was time to give tie-dye another shot.

The kit came with enough dye to make a whole bunch of shirts. I only had two white t-shirts, but I wish I had stocked up and made tank tops, shorts, and pillowcases too. So if you try it, make sure to have a lot of items on hand, you will want to dye everything!

Summer Tank Giveaway from Skip N' Whistle

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It's hot here. If you live in the south, you know what I mean :)

Disclosure: I received a tank top from Skip N' Whistle to review. All opinions are my own. 

Luckily, there are some super cute ways to stay cool and still look good. I recently partnered with "Skip N' Whistle"- a feel-good, lifestyle brand based out of New Orleans, LA. 

                Connect with Skip N' Whistle on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Did you know I used to live right outside New Orleans? It's where my oldest daughter was born, so the fact that this company is in New Orleans and they make super cool designs--- well, we're a pretty good match :) 

Enjoy Your Backyard {Cutter Insect Repellant Giveaway}

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*Sponsored Post: I received product from Cutter and was compensated for my time. All my opinions are my own. 

We spend so much time in our backyard during the summer. And the best way to enjoy the yard is to keep the biting bugs away!

My sponsor, Cutter, sent me some great products to protect my family against insects. And now, one of you will win a prize package of Cutter Insect Repellent products.

Mother's Day Giveaway: Earrings from Blue Nile

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**Sponsored Post: I was given product to review for this post. All opinions are my own. **
It's "Mom Week" here on Crafty Texas Girls. 

And today I am bringing you a fabulous 
Mother's Day Giveaway from Blue Nile! 


This Mother's Day, Blue Nile is showing their appreciation for all of your hard work 
with a special 'Thank You' --these beautiful earrings!

Everything's Bigger in Texas: Spring Mega-Giveaway (NOW CLOSED)

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It's Spring---finally, it's here! 
After months of cold weather and gray days, Spring is here.
To welcome in the warm weather, I have teamed up with some of my favorite Texas bloggers to celebrate the arrival of Spring with a fabulous giveaway. 

But this isn't just any giveaway-- no! 
Because we Texas bloggers know that our readers are the best, 
we want to show our appreciation for all your support in a big way.  
So we put together a big ‘ol Texas-sized THANKS, Y’ALL, 
with the ultimate Spring Giveaway. 

Check it out! 

"Everything's Bigger in Texas" Spring Mega-Giveaway! 

(Wow that's a mouthful! And of course- this contest is open to everyone- not just Texans!) 

I am happy to be included among these lovely hostesses- 
who are all from the great state of Texas!

Your hostesses are:

Emily from 52 Mantels

Aimee from It's Overflowing

Kristen from Capturing Joy

Abbie from Five days…5 ways

Samantha from Crafty Texas Girls

Holly from Holly Mathis Interiors

Lisa from The Pennington Point
Kelley from The Grant Life

Lindsay from Makely School for Girls

Jamie from C.R.A.F.T.

……………………………………………………

And have we got some incredible prizes for you!

They come in two packages:

GRAND PRIZE

A $100 gift card to Anthropologie:

{WHY, oh why, can’t I enter this giveaway???}

$100 to Lisa Leonard Designs

Swimsuit Giveaway from Kelly's Kids

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Guess who is back on Crafty Texas Girls?

Kelly's Kids with Jennifer Anderson! 

Who doesn't love adorable, affordable clothes for both girls and boys? 

Kelly's Kids with Jennifer Anderson is kicking off Spring

 with lots of great new looks for your little guys and gals. 

You can host a party and free earn clothes or simply shop from the comfort of home. 

 And since Jennifer loves Crafty Texas Girls, 

she is offering a swimsuit to one lucky reader! 

 Want to win? I know- me too! Here are the details.

THE PRIZE: One swimsuit from Kelly's Kids with Jennifer Anderson. 

(Choose from a pair of seersucker trunks for boys,

 and either a one-piece or two-piece seersucker swimsuit for girls.)

HOW TO WIN: Follow the directions on the Rafflecopter Widget Box below.  
As you can see, there are lots of ways to participate- you choose how you enter. 

**PLUS, you can come back and ENTER EVERYDAY til this contest closes! WOOHOO!**
The more entries, the more chances to win. 

CONTEST DATES: Feb 1, 2013- Mar 1, 2013. 

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN A NEW POST ON THIS BLOG. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck, I hope YOU win!

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