And the Winner is....

Thank you to EVERYONE who entered! It was a long wait to see who the winner was and I love announcing who won, but I also dislike it because I know that everyone wishes SO BADLY that they could have won! Don't be sad, because with every lose... you get closer to a win!! Don't worry, there will be more!! :)

Without further or do... THE WINNER IS...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MICHELLE SA!!!! 

CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

I have contacted you and will be working with you to make sure you get every little prize shown!  So jealous and so happy that someone gets all of these amazing prizes. 

In closing, I have applied for a grant with Chase and Living Social to try to be one of the 12 selected to receive a very large grant for my business!! It would seriously change Andrew and my life as we make changes in the next year for him to go back to school. I would be able to offer more variety in my product and potentially set up an actual shop! It would be an unreal thing and although, I know my chances are slim... I am stepping out and going for it! 

I am only a few 25 votes away, today, from being qualified to go to the panel of judges and need your help! If you can take a few minutes to do the steps below.... it would mean the WORLD to me! Its pretty easy actually!! Plus, as many votes from consumers as possible will also show them how much my business is supported and loved and may in turn help my chances!! Thank you!!

1. Go to www.missionsmallbusiness.com

2. Click LOG IN and SUPPORT button on the right hand side

3. Type in FOR SUCH A TIME DESIGNS

4. CLICK SUPPORT/VOTE!!! 

5. Share on Facebook if you wish!! :)

I really appreciate all your support! I was talking with one of my friends mothers today about how blessed I feel everyday that God has given me this business and that it is taking off and thriving like it is. I feel so undeserving, but I cherish it. 

Thanks for all the entries and I hope you will support and give love to all the vendors who participated...some very talented individuals!! <3

See you soon...<3

Time for a Birthday Giveaway!!!

It's here, it's here...IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! My birthday giveaway!! I am thrilled and just SO SO excited to show you the vendors that have agreed to participate... they are all some of my favorites and I could not be more blessed to have such an awesome group!! The items that are being given away are all from shops that I admire and adore and the theme of the giveaway is basically what I would have LOVED to receive as gifts for my birthday! So...One lucky person is going to win everything I wish I had!! And of course...I will be SO jealous of the lucky winner!!

You will have a whole week for entries! Next Monday afternoon the winner will be announced!! Spread the giveaway around and give these talented shop owners some love when you visit their sites!!! <3

So, in no particular order... I now introduce to you the line up...drum roll PLEASE!!!!

Vintage Rose Wraps

Giving Away: $50 shop credit to their shop!!!

www.vintagerosewraps.com

Junghwa

Giving Away: Be A Square Knot Bracelet!!!

www.etsy.com/shop/junghwa

SewBeastly

Giving Away: $20.00 shop credit!!!

http://sewbeastly.storenvy.com/

Subtle Acts

Giving Away: Fox Notebook!!!

www.etsy.com/shop/subtleacts

The Lonely Heart

Giving Away: 2 yards of "I love you" ribbon on a tag!!!

www.etsy.com/shop/thelonelyheart

The Posh Daisy

Giving Away: "i love you to the moon and back" hand stamped necklace!!! 

*Winner gets choice of stone*

http://theposhdaisy.storenvy.com/

Motif Pillows

Giving Away: $20.00 shop credit!!!

www.etsy.com/shop/motifpillows

Peekaboo Lace
Giving Away: $50.00 Shop Credit!!!
www.etsy.com/shop/peekaboolace

For Such A Time Designs (ME!)

Giving Away: $30.00 Shop Credit!!!

www.etsy.com/shop/forsuchatimedesigns

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . 

WOW WOW WOW!!! 

Some amazing things to win here!! 

This values around $200.00 with shipping!!!!

Go ahead and sign in using the entry form below and GOOD LUCK!!
Can NOT wait to see who the lucky winner is!!!!

<3 One Winner Takes ALL!! <3

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A Campfire Gathering

I love parties. I especially love when there is thought put into the little details. Pinterest is an amazing thing and lately I get lost on it! Of course, it's advertisement and visuals of everything beautiful and pretty...So, I spend a half hour or two getting lost in dream world of all the things I would love to do, see, have happen or explore! I am fighting the temptation to go look at it now!!

Last Saturday, I put together a little party. It was for my birthday, but more so just an excuse to throw a party and invite a few friends over to enjoy a planned out event. I found a few ideas on pinterest and then had a few ideas of my own and when they collided... I was so thrilled with the outcome! I even made my first lattice top pie!!

I'd say it was an alright first try! I can't wait to experiment now with different pie crust tops!! After I got the pie in the oven... it was time to start making the homemade strawberry lemonade...LOTS and LOTS of lemons...

I then put the strawberry lemonade in these little jars that I made! Found the idea on pinterest!

I made a few other desserts and treats and then began to set the scene...

The picture above makes me so happy. It looks exactly the way I had dreamed it to look like after planning it in my head for the week before. Isn't it fun to make life pretty!!

We hung lanterns from string and put candles in Atlas jars around the walkways and the campfire... what fun Andrew and I had putting it all together.

Stay tuned... I have an AMAZING giveaway coming your way on MONDAY! I have contacted some of my very favorite shops and have rounded up some of the best to bring YOU a giveaway in celebration of me turning one year older!! You WONT want to miss this one!!

<3

A Beach Wedding

About 2 weekends ago, on June 1st, Andrew and I attended the wedding of Andrew's Uncle Scott and the beautiful, Terri!! We happily welcomed her into the Nickerson family! It was a small, intimate beach-side wedding with their immediate family and closest friends. It was such a joy to see them commit their lives to each other. I look forward to seeing how God blesses their commitments to each other! 

After the ceremony,everyone looked forward to the food, as they chose some New England favorites. Clam chowder, clams and mussels, lobster, along with delicious chicken and steak tips! Because of their meal choices, for the gift we decided to give them their own dinner sets, with clam chowder spoons (stamped in Boston Style 'Chowdah') and "I pick you" seafood picks! I took a few pictures of the finished product for your viewing pleasure...

I then wrapped them in some tan/burlap looking napkins that I picked up and handmade the "nautical looking" braided ties to hold everything together! Finishing with hand stamped silver gift tags and a gift note!

 I placed them at their sweetheart table so that they could either use them during dinner 

or at least get the feel for what the gift was for!!

The weather was great. A bit windy and somewhat cloudy... but right after they were pronounced Husband and Wife, the sun shown right through the clouds, 

as if God was shining down His favor on the couple.

Their beach decor was so CUTE!!

Terri was such a beautiful and stunning bride...

Scott and Terri made some wine together that they placed on each table. Someone from each table would win it! The label on the wine bottle was designed by my Brother-in-law, Seth Nickerson. He also designed my business logo!! Such a talented guy! Check out his stuff here. He also designed our wedding invitations and my mom sewed the envelopes...I loved them and still do!! <3 

What a fun and special night with my husband! It was a joy to be a part of this momentous occasion for the Nickerson family. 

On another note... June 10th, 2012 was a special day for my business, as one of my items was featured in The Sunday Boston Globe, in their Globe Magazine!! WHATT!?!?! Yes!! My heart skipped a beat or two when I opened it up, not knowing how big, how small, how much or how little would be written or featured! It's such an amazing feeling to have your product be recognized. What an honor and a blessing that I do not take for granted!!

<3 BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF!! <3

Honey, it's Date Night Smoothie!

 

I love what I do! I feel like I say it all the time! But, really... I feel so blessed to have a successful business that allows me to be home, create and be my own boss. This morning as my husband and I started to roll out of bed, he looked at me and said, "Why don't you reset your alarm and just go back to bed?" ...It did sound nice, although - even though I am sure I could take advantage of that luxury, I do have responsiblity to customers who are relying on me to get their orders out on time! So, I stumble out of bed, make our coffees and then get to work...which never really feels like work!

A typical day for me starts with getting up, making coffees and Andrews lunch (sometimes I am a bad wife and make him make it! HA!), then I jump on the computer, turn on some music (mostly worship or christian music) and get to checking emails and writing down my To-Do list for the day! Then its stamping, constantly checking messages to respond promptly to customers, and then the daily post office run! After I have completed what I have to do, I go for a run or swim!!

Wednesdays are special though. Why are they special? Well, IT'S DATE NIGHT!!! Andrew and I go to a restaurant not too far from where we are living called Thai Place. They have the BEST lemongrass chicken dish and crab rangoons that we have ever had. In fact, we order the SAME THING, every Wednesday! Yes, it's THAT good! :) On Wednesday, I normally try to eat light for lunch since we normally stuff ourselves silly with the yummy food!

Today I decided to make a smoothie. As I was making it, I thought it looked really neat with the different colors of fruit, so I took a picture. Then, I thought... "hmmm, if this is really good, I will want to remember it and maybe share the recipe!!" Now, dont hold me to it... but I personally thought it was REALLY GOOD! I put some honey in it and every so often I would get a little honey in the straw...MMmm!! <3

Add Fruit - 1 Mango, 1 Banana, and 3 Strawberries

Add about 1/2 cup of Milk, a splash or two of cream, a handful of ice, and drizzle some
honey over the top of everything to give it some natural sweetness!

I drizzled some honey along the sides of the cup before I poured in the smoothie so that
I could have some sips of honey drops in there too!!!

And I now present before you....

Now, I do not claim to be a food stylist by any means! I am sure some food stylist could have walked in and presented this smoothie to you in a much more eloquent way. However, it looked good to me and I drank every last drop!! :)

I felt this smoothie was a light and delightful way to have a lunch in preparation for date night tonight, therefore, this recipe will forever be named "Honey It's Date Night Smoothie".

You can tweek it anyway you wish. My husband is the smoothie maker in the family and his smoothies are TO DIE FOR! I do my best... and today, I felt that I had made one of my best. Let me know if you try this one out, if you like it, and how you may have made it better. Smoothies are one of my favorites, so feel free to share some good recipes with me if you have any!!

Thats all for now!!! <3 Thanks for reading!

Vacation's Over : Back to work!!

 

Today was my first day REALLY back to work here at the shop! We got back from our last day in CA on the 30th and we had a wedding on the 1st! I will be blogging about that one in a few days. I put together a little DIY gift for the Bride & Groom to go along with their Beach Lobster/Clam Bake Wedding! It came out pretty cute (at least I think so) that I took pictures to share!! 

I realized that I never updated about the LAST day of our trip! So here is a little recap with pictures...

We went to an Olive Oil tour and tasting in Napa valley

We drove up to see the Golden Gate bridge and found some cool little places to take some pictures

We then finished off the night with a stroll down Sausalito, CA streets and a lovely meal at the Plate Shop!

We stayed at a really nice hotel on the last night. The bed litetally felt like a cloud! We got a great night sleep before the 6 hour plane ride back to Massachusetts! Such an amazing trip and so many  memories. I feel closer to Andrew than ever before and it was a great one year trip for us!! I love this man!! :)

Its been a tough transition from the 3 hour time difference. Tougher than we thought! Andrew got sick soon after we got back and we both have been accidently sleeping in a little too late! Try NOON on Saturday!! My oh My!

This morning I started off the day right with some honey nut cheerios, strawberries and blueberries and a much needed Ice Coffee!! I love stirring in my LOVE (aka: caramel) into the cup with one of my newer additions to the shop!!! What do you like in your ice coffee?? Caramel ALL THE WAY for me.... and LOTS of it!!

MMmmmm!!! It was delish!!! I may have added a bit too much caramel as I was taking these shots!! I'll have to put it a little bit of a longer run today!! OOOps!! :)

Thanks for stopping by!