GRAND OPENING and a GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of my new online store!!!

Mandy Jane was inspired by my mother and daughter who share the same middle name of Jane. I began creating bows 6 years ago when my daughter was born.  Since then I have made a bow for every outfit she owns! Thanks to the encouragement and advice of my mother, I have decided to open this shop and share my creations with others. What a blessing to use the talent God has given me and be able to share it! I am grateful for the opportunity to create unique, one-of-a-kind bows for God's precious little girls.

In celebration of my grand opening, I'm offering one Burkett Blessings reader one bow of her choice!!!  Here's how to enter my giveaway...
 
Check out Mandy Jane, then come back here and leave a comment letting me know your favorite bow!  That's it!!  The giveaway will end Sunday, November 7th at 9:00pm CST.  Make sure you leave your email address with your comment or have it visible in your profile so I can contact you if you win.
 
Many, many more bows are in the works and I can also do custom bows.  Feel free to contact me with your questions and comments!

Aren't we cool?!

Just a quick post to share our cool sunglasses from our Sonic kid's meals!  :-)

Papa and Mallory

Jack

Misikko Giveaway Winner

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Christina F. won my Misikko Giveaway!!!!

Christina I have emailed you with the details.  Thanks to everyone who entered.  Check back soon, I have another giveaway in the works!  :-)

Mallory's Birthday and our trip to the Pumpkin Patch

I don't know about you, but I am so glad the weekend is HERE!  :-)  YEA!!!  It's been a good week, but a busy one.  I guess as the holidays get closer and closer, things just seem to get busier and busier.

This past Sunday, Mallory turned 6!!!  I can't believe my BABY is six years old!

We had a "P" party on Friday night for our families and some of Mallory's friends.  We had a puppet show, served pizza, had a cake with pink and purple polka dots, played games with prizes, and opened presents.  It was a lot of fun!

I think the most fun was had the next day at Pappy's Pumpkin Patch.  This wonderful experience has become a yearly family tradition. My mom made each of the grandkids a monogrammed pumpkin shirt.... SO CUTE!!!  They all looked adorable in them!

Mallory posing on the pumpkins

Jack and Mallory in the barn

Jack hugging Grant when he got there.

Jack, Mallory, Grant, and Micah

Me and my sweet boy

All the kids and grandkids!!

Mallory BEGGED to ride in the barrel train with GRANT!  They had so much fun together!

Nana and Papa with all 7 grandkids

Walking hand-in-hand to the pumpkin patch

SO SWEET!!!

The boys check out the tractor

Papa pulling Jack and Micah in the wagon.  This was probably Jack's favorite thing to do!

Jack checking out the scenery!

Precious Mallory

It was a WONDERFUL time!

Wonderful Wednesday

Today was a great day!  I took Mallory a Sonic kids meal for lunch today and got to spend her lunch time with her.  Afterwards, I worked on getting all the posters and red ribbons ready for Red Ribbon Week.  In case you're wondering, red ribbon week is one week during the school year dedicated to teaching children about the dangers of drugs.  The kids wear red ribbons and vow to stay drug free! 

Each day has a different theme and the kids get to dress up to match the theme.  Monday's theme is Texans Give Drugs the Boot - the kids will wear cowboy boots, jeans, and cowboy hats.  Tuesday is camouflage day for Don't Let Drugs Find You.  Wednesday the kids will dress in orange for "Orange" you glad to be drug free.  Thursday's theme is Team Up Against Drugs and the kids can wear their favorite team jersey or t-shirt.  And finally, on Friday, all the kids will wear red to show they are "RED-y to live drug free and make a difference".  Doesn't that all sound like fun!?!?

Back to today... I had lunch with my mom and dad.  It's such a blessing to get to have lunch with them everyday!  Then, Mama and I ran a few errands and shopped at Hobby Lobby.  After picking Mallory up from school, I got a few more bows made before Mallory and I had to head out for church tonight.  My bow count is up to 53.  :-)  Gotta have 100 by next Wednesday night.  I can do it!  :-)  Once they are all done, my plan is to open my online shop.  I'm really looking forward to that and can't wait to get it up and going.

Make sure you've entered my Misikko giveaway!!!  It ends Sunday night!

It's Giveaway Time!!!!

Things are busy, busy, busy around here... what about you?!  I've been blessed with MANY review opportunities and can't wait to share them all with you! 

One of the wonderful companies I am blessed to work with is Misikko!  They have AWESOME hair tools and products!!!  And their customer service far exceeds any expectations I'd ever dreamed of!  Lucky for you, Misikko is offering two of their best selling products to one Burkett Blessings reader!!!!

Chi Silk Infusion and Hana Shineshield Heat Therapy can be yours!!!!

Here's how to enter...

Main entry: Check out my review of these two fabulous products and see what all I have to say about them! Then come back here and leave a comment telling me something you learned. (Make sure you leave your email address, or have it visible in your profile, so I can contact you if you win.)

Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

- Follow Misikko on Twitter (@misikko)

- Join Misikko’s newsletter

- “Like” Misikko on Facebook

- Interact with Misikko’s Facebook – Comment on a post or picture, or write on our wall (please make sure you don’t just write “extra entry for Burkett Blessings blog’s giveaway” or “Burkett Blessings Blog sent me!” The Misikko Facebook is one place where customers can access Misikko's beauty experts directly. You can ask questions about products or hair care, or comment on a recent trend or style – anything relevant to beauty!)

- Follow my blog via Google Friends Connect

- Subscribe to my blog via email

- Grab my button for your blog

- Post this giveaway on your own blog and link back to this post - please leave your blog address in your comment

- Link up this giveaway in a giveaway linky - comment with which blog you linked it up with

This giveaway is for U.S. and Canadian readers only and will end Sunday, October 24th at 9:00pm CST. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified through email as well as announced on this blog. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.  Please note that Misikko giveaway winners are limited one product per household per calendar year, so if you have won a Misikko product in the last year, you are not eligible to win this time.

 

Good luck!!!

Halloween and HERSHEYS!!!

I don't know about you, but I look forward to Halloween for several reasons.
#1 - It's my Daddy's birthday, so celebrating with him is what I've always looked forward to!
#2 - Dressing up in costumes is fun!  As a child, it was so much fun to decide what I was going to be each year.  Now that I'm grown up, I love to help my children get all dressed up and lookin' cute!!  :-)
#3 - HERSHEY'S!!!  Don't you just love getting Hershey Miniatures as Halloween treats???  I remember my Nanny always putting a Hershey bar in my trick-or-treat sack... and what a TREAT it was!!!!

This year, we plan to have plenty of Hershey miniatures on hand for all our trick-or-treaters and a stash for us, too!!!  :-)

Check out this link at Hershey's website to see other ideas for celebrating Halloween with Hersheys.  :-)  CUTE, CUTE and YUMMY!!!!

***I have posted this information in order to enter a contest for a Hershey’s Halloween prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.

Bow Makin', Party Plannin', and Quick Trips

It's been a busy few days here at Burkett Blessings! 

Monday, my mom and I took the kids for a quick trip to Dallas.  And, I mean it was quick!  We hit several fabric stores and a few places I had to go to get some bow-making supplies.  We had fun and the kids were great, but we didn't have near enough time!

Tuesday I played catch-up!  Catch up on the laundry, bow-making, and housework!  Plus I shopped for Mallory some birthday gifts.  Her birthday is the 17th, but we're having her party on Friday.  It's going to be a "P" party!  More details on that soon!  :-)

Today, my mom and I drove over to Longview for another VERY quick trip.  I needed to buy a particular toy that our Target was out of.  We got to eat lunch at The Butcher Shop, so that was an extra special treat!  We were back in time to pick up Mallory from school and then get ready for church.  After a fun night in kindergarten choir, I headed to adult choir practice.  We're working on our Christmas music!!  :-)  When I finally got home, I got the kids their baths and put them to bed and then started working on more bows.  I took a little detour from my big bow order and made Mallory one to wear with a new outfit for school tomorrow.  My computer is not letting me upload pictures right now, so I'll have to post my bow pictures another time.  :-(

I'm also in the process of getting my online shop up and running!!!  I've got some fun things planned for my Grand Opening!  :-) 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you have a very blessed day!!

Big Shoes and Winner Announced

A few days ago I walked into the living room to find this...

Brad had left his shoes in the living room and Jack had put them on.  He was just standing there watching tv!  It was really precious, so I snapped a picture.  I know I will blink my eyes and he'll actually be able to fit into these shoes!  In the past several weeks, I've learned something very important about this little angel.  He doesn't like change!  It took me awhile to figure it all out, but I'm so glad I did!  The first major change he had on his little life was when Mallory started Kindergarten in August.  He would cry and beg to stay with her in the mornings.  It just broke my heart!  He would cry "Deedle Dee" and put his arms out for her as we would leave her every day. 

Not long after Mallory started school, our church had promotion Sunday and Jack was promoted into a new Sunday school class.  This was extremely traumatic for him!  I finally had to go and stay with him the entire time so he would be comfortable and not cry.  For 4 weeks, I missed singing in the choir, my own Sunday school class, and attending the worship services.  Something finally clicked and I began to realize that Jack was resisting change.  As I became aware of the problem, it became easier to work towards a solution.  I knew that his behavior wasn't just because he turned two and had hit the "terrible twos".  He was struggling and it was my job to help him.  Little by little, with a calming voice, each day I talked about his Sunday school class,  his friends, and his sweet teachers.  And little by little he began to get accustomed to his new surroundings and each Sunday was less and less stressful.  Each Sunday, I spent less and less time in his classroom.  Finally, today he walked into his classroom all by himself and went straight to play!  He was fine the entire time and didn't even want to leave when I came to pick him up!  Praise the Lord!!!!  I can't tell you how many prayers have been lifted up for Jack and this situation.  I am so thankful for God's blessing today and that Jack had such a great morning!  Now when the next transition happens, if he gets upset, I'll know what the problem is!  :-)

As you can guess, I've been making bows for the past several days.  In fact, I made 24 in two days and have run out of several supplies!  I'm making a quick run to Dallas tomorrow to pick up some more stuff.  Mallory is out of school for a teacher work day, so my mom, the kids, and I are going to have a fun day in Dallas.

I'm sorry it's taken so long to post the WINNER for the Franklin Batting Glove giveaway!  I've been SUPER busy!  As always, I used the random number generator from random.org to pick the winner. 

The lucky number was #15 - Amanda!!! 

I emailed Amanda back on Thursday and she has graciously accepted her prize! 

Congratulations, Amanda!!! 

And, thank you so much to those of you who entered!  I have some more giveaways in the works, so check back often!  HAVE A WONDERFUL, BLESSED WEEK!!

Bows, Bows, Bows!!!

It's official!!!  I am officially in the bow-making business!!!  Today I received an order for 100 bows!!!  Yes, that's 1-0-0!!!  These bows are for a precious booth at Canton called "Daisy's".  For those of you who frequent Canton every month like I do, it's in Arbor 1, booth #50.  :-)  I've got to make 80 Christmas bows and 20 zebra print bows before October 27th!!  Whew!  I am THRILLED to have this opportunity and can't wait to see where it leads.  God is so good!!!

Today I made a bow for a friend's little granddaughter.  She wanted pink, brown, and BIG!  I just love this color combination!!  Here's what I came up with...

Mallory loved being my model!!!

I'll keep you posted on how the bow-making is coming.  I just finished bow #1!  Only 99 to go!  Yippee!!!  :-)

Winner Announcement!!

WOO-HOO!!!!  We have a winner of the $40 CSN Stores Giveaway!!!!

Congratulations to Shelby Brigham!!! 

Shelby, I have emailed you.  :-)

I appreciate all of you who take the time to enter and those of you who faitthfully read my blog.  I  hope you'll continue to come, read, and be blessed... and you just never know when YOU'LL win!!!  Ya'll, I have another fun giveaway starting on Tuesday!!!  Come back and check it out!!!

Weekend Recap and Big News!

On Friday, I went with my mom, sister, and sister-in-law to Canton.  We had a blast but RUSHED like crazy!!!  This was the first month that I've gone without my little sidekick!  Mallory had to go to school, so we left town right after I dropped her off and left Canton in time to pick her up.  That didn't leave a whole lot of shopping time, but we hustled!  :-)

Believe it or not, we had 4 kids with us, but you'd have never known it!  Our little ones were wonderful!!!  Here's what Jack did almost all day!  HA!!

Isn't that precious?!

Now for my big news!!!!  While shopping in one of the precious children's booths, I began talking with one of the vendors.  Long-story-short, she wants me to start making hairbows for her!!!!!  I am thrilled!!!  Do you remember this post from back in May????  I got so many emails and wondeful comments that were so helpful!!!  Well, I have been continually praying about what I should do.  Today God confirmed that.  Thank you, Lord!  In the meantime, I plan to broaden my business and put my bows on my blog, too!  This is a work in progress, but I hope to be open for business very soon.  Here's a sneak peak at one I made for Mallory to give to a little friend for her birthday.   

Like most of my boutique bows, this one is BIG and fun. I plan to have several Halloween and Christmas bows ready for purchase for the grand opening!!!  :-)

Reminder.... TODAY is the last day to enter my $40 CSN Stores giveaway!!!!

Good luck!!!

Outlast Hand Sanitizer Review

MomSelect has partnered with OutLast™ Long-Lasting Hand Sanitizer to remind families about the importance of hand hygiene. Unlike leading hand sanitizers that work for only two minutes, OutLast™ Hand Sanitizer kills germs on contact and can control germs for up to 6 hours. OutLast™ Hand Sanitizer works longer because of its unique patented formula that was originally developed for hospital use. Now, that's exciting news to share with any mom! You can learn more about it by visiting www.outlastgerms.com/moms.

Thanks to Mom Select and BSM Media, I was given the opportunity to review Outlast Hand Sanitizer.
Outlast claims to last up to 6 hours and kill 99.99% of germs!!  While I have no idea how to prove that, what I can tell you is what I thought about it overall.  I used Outlast on myself and on my children.  The consistency is much thinner than other sanitizers I've used, so it definitely felt different.  I liked the fact that it wasn't sticky!  It has moisturizers in it, so it leaves your hands more silky than sticky.

To get your own free sample of Outlast Hand Sanitizer and get more information about it, you can go to https://www.outlastgerms.com/moms.  You'll have to pay $4.95 for shipping and processing.  Outlast is also now available at select Albertsons grocery stores throughout Texas and Louisiana.