Guest Post {Southern Lovely}

Well hello there! I'm Lindsay, and I blog over at Southern Lovely. Being a busy mom of three, crafting is sometimes hard to come by. I love a good DIY, painting or sewing project. I usually do my best work after the kids have gone to bed. :)

  Today I am going to share a fun craft that my little 5 year old helped me out with.

Yarn Wrapped presents

Here is how you can make some for yourself--

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2x4's--3 pieces of the same length Yarn--more than one color if you are doing stripes paint for the wood Hot glue Ribbon

 

One tradition that I try to do each year with the kids, is some sort of craft. I knew this would be pretty kid-friendly, so I let my 5 year old have at it.


  To start, simply paint the wood your desired color, let dry, then hot glue them together, standing vertically. My special helper did all the painting, and was very precise at it--she is kind of a perfectionist, I wonder where she gets that from. :)


 





Next is wrapping the yarn around the wood. You can do stripes, or just one color, it's totally up to your preference. I started the yarn at the top by adding hot glue, then I let my daughter wrap it over & over again. It wasn't perfect, but that's okay, it gave it character, and I will always remember that she helped with it!

Then embellish it! We added red berries & ribbon, but I'm sure there are so many other options as well!

So there you go, little presents wrapped perfectly for the holiday--and having a very special helper made it even more memorable! Thanks for letting me stop by! Feel free to check out more ideas over at my place!

Sponsor Spotlight Interview {Vintage Gwen}

Meet Jennifer from Vintage Gwen!

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in Oklahoma, attended Oklahoma State University and got my Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel Merchandising.  Not using that right now as I’m doing the best job on earth….stay at home mom!  I’m very active in my church, I’m church secretary, teen mission trip coordinator, worship team member and nursery worker!!  I’m proud of my Godly heritage and got saved when I was in the 7^th grade. 

2. How you first got involved in with blogging?

When my son turned 1, I knew I wanted a big party and a unique theme so I searched and searched and while searching I found party blogs which lead to craft blogs which lead to me thinking “I can do that!”  My Soiree Day I have every Tuesday is sort of my way of honoring my entrance to blogging!


3. What do you find most challenging about blogging about your topic?

Actually I think having a few topics to blog about helps with the challenge of “what do I say”.
I like variety.


4. Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working on your blog?

I have met outstanding women!! Ashley of Eisy Morgan was my first follower.  I really relate to her not only as a blogger but as a fellow Christian, mom, wife, sister.  Natalia of Ma Nouvelle Mode is an early follower as well and was the first blogger to ask me to guest post.  A great opportunity!  She has an interesting life and I enjoy following her adventures.


5. How would (someone) describe your blogging style?

I would hope they would say, it’s fun and inspiring.  And truthful!


6. What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?

My 2 year old takes a lot of my time!  I enjoy time with my family and shopping with my big sis. See #1 ☺


7 .Are you a full time blogger? How did you get into blogging and why?

I am not a full time blogger but I should be!  See #2  I think a common ‘why’ is blogging is an outlet and it totally is for me.


8. What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging business?

Link parties are top!  I think Facebook and Twitter are good to but for me right now they don’t compare to participating in link parties.  I recently read an article about social networks and their impact and Stumble Upon was #1!!  I think I’ll give it a shot!


9. How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.

Having a weekly schedule helps so much!  And if something comes up that I want to share then great, the schedule isn’t set in stone.


10. What would you prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?

I’m not too familiar with SEO…but being true to myself is top because I don’t want to be fake,  then my readers, content then traffic.  It’s all really important!


11. What’s the best thing a blogger can give to her readers?

Gratitude, honesty, consistency.


12. What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?

Well I’ve done Facebook and Twitter pretty much from the beginning but recently added sponsors and I think that’s been a major boost for my visibility.  I never pass up on opportunities to guest post.  Cohosting Show & Share every Wednesday has been tremendous and I have something in the works for Christmas.  Just don’t let the opportunities pass by!


13. If someone was interested in blogging, what would be a few things you would suggest?

Research!!  If you admire a certain blogger then ask them questions!  I started blogging pretty much blind to all the ins and outs.  Blogging is fun but it can be time consuming!

50 Follower Giveaway

YAAYYYYYYY!!

We did it! 50 followers! Well, actually 53. This giveaway is a few days late, as our ENTIRE family has had the lovely stomach flu that has been going around. Eww. The stomach flu WITH a family is whole new ball game folks. It just went from bad to worse with each passing hour. Just after the 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit on Saturday night (I don't know why I think that is relevant), Austin started getting sick....HORRIBLE. You know, you never really think about how a 15 month old doesn't know how or where to barf. Well, he got the how down...just not the where. I stayed home with him on Monday and did more laundry than I ever have in my life. By mid-afternoon Wise crawled home and started his round...aannnnd just when I thought I was in the clear, it hit me Monday night.

We have all been able to eat a little bit this evening and keep it down. I could not be more excited to go to work tomorrow! (I have problems.) Am I the only person that feels like I can't take a sick day? And by can't, I mean I am the only one beating myself up about it. I care WAY too much about what my co-workers think of me. Or maybe I just judge other people when they take off work for illness. Either way, I need to lighten up.

On to the giveaway!!

:::THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED:::

I absolutely love the blogging community and the talent that is showcased within it. Two of my all time favorite bloggers and sisters also happen to have an Etsy Shop! Have you guessed who yet?? Here's a hint: Lauren at From My Grey Desk and Kate at The Small Things Blog!

They make some beautiful jewelry and have recently added some really fun wall decor! So...the winner of this giveaway gets their pick of one of the following from Elisabeth Ashlie Jewelry:

Green and Pink Wall Decor

Black and White Wall Decor

Here is how you can enter!

{Entry} 
Follow Feeding My Temple via Google Friend Connect (go hit that blue "join site" button in the right side bar), email, or reader. Leave one comment telling me you did so.

{Additional Entries} 
Like Feeding My Temple on Facebook HERE. Leave one comment telling me you did so.
Follow me on Twitter HERE. Leave one comment telling me you did so.
Post a status update on Facebook and/or tweet about the giveaway. Leave one comment telling me you did so.

Wow. That's up to 5 entries!

This giveaway will be open until MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, November 15th, 2011. Winner will be announced Wednesday, November 16th!

Good Luck!!

:::THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED:::

Sponsor Spotlight {Pineapple Lily}

I am excited to start my first month with sponsors! I'm even more excited to call all three of them fellow Oklahomans! Please see my sponsor page for more details on swapping in December.

First up-

Pineapple Lily




I would have to say that Melissa was my first blogging buddy (aww, sweet, I know). I really look up to her blogging style. She keeps it classy and unique and I like that. She is 100% transparent and genuine. In addition to being a fabulous blogger, she is a mommy to 3 kiddos! 3 (with 3 of the cutest names)! If that's not admirable, I don't know what is. Oh! And totally random, but she married a guy I went to high school with! Small world, friends, small world.

Stay tuned for my blogger interview with Melissa. In the meantime, head on over to Pineapple Lily. It's a lot of fun. :)

How Great is Our God {Worship Wednesday}

I know...its a long video...


In other news....I was featured by these lovely ladies! I really love the blogging community. I have met so many friendly people. :)

Friday Feature and Babies!

Happy Friday! I'm proud to announce two more Friday Features over at The Little Birdie Blog! If you are visiting via Rachael, Welcome!

And if you popped over from Truly Lovely, hello!! I was featured on their Facebook Page!

Yesterday, a dear friend and co-worker gave birth to her first baby! There really is no way to explain how happy I am for her! You really just don't get it until you are a parent. 

My sister had her son before I had mine. I seriously could not get enough of the kid when he was born (and still to this day.) 

I just want to pinch his little cheeks!! 

But for me, I just didn't get that indescribable, unconditional love you have for your own child until Austin was here!

Pardon the puffy, sleep deprived face...cute.

Before I was a parent, I had no idea how much a child would change my life. I think we all sort of know what its all about, but this truly is one of those experiences you must be in to "get it."

Despite the moaning and groaning of pregnancy( a healthy one at that), the horrifying thought of weight gain, and bad skin, I would do it all over again....a million times. 

I was featured!

Yay!!! My first feature! Go check it out, there are several other tasty recipes that I reeaaaly want to try.

In case you missed it:

Tortellini with Mushrooms and Artichokes in Light Lemon Butter Sauce

LOOK!

That's right. 59 degrees. Guess what that means?? BOOTS!! The world has become a normal place again!

I'm cozy.

Let's try that again...

Nope...still not right. But there sure is someone cute back there...

There we go. And I'm in long sleeves!

My Land O Lakes Fat Free Half and Half was polished off at work yesterday, so I was able to open my new creamer!

Yummmmmm. I honestly cannot taste any difference. I may or may not have been drinking more coffee so I could finish my Land O Lakes and open this yummy carton. 

Have you made the switch to any non-dairy products??