Giveaway from Robin Blogs [and a winner]

You may have noticed that things look a bit different around here.

And by that, I mean things look amazing!

The talented Olivia from Robin Blogs contacted me with a great idea for a new blog design. With only a few minor recommendations, she had a design that was just perfect for me!

The greens and yellows.

The vintage bike.

The simple and clean look.

My bible verse.

Perfection.

I have been so nervous to work with a blog designer. I was afraid that we would go around forever and I wouldn't be happy with the final product.

Every time I open my new beautiful blog, I can't help but smile. It's just such a happy design!

Olivia was friendly, professional, and super fast. We decided on a design and it was up and ready in just a few days.

Robin Blogs features some great DIY blog tutorials as well.

You can also find some of her other blog designs.

Just lovely!

And of course, her own blog, Oh, Horsefeathers, is gorgeous too!

Robin Blogs offers a lot of great package options bound to fit into your budget.

She features seven packages ranging from $15 to $50. For those of us bloggers who are rather indecisive, she offers a fabulous Spontaneous Package. You give Olivia the basic feel that you're looking for and she surprises you with a beautiful new blog!

If you're just looking for a few items, Robin Blogs offers a la carte items at a really reasonable price. This would be perfect if you're planning a blog event and you're looking for a special button to go along.

Did you see my new button?

Too cute!

And if I wasn't happy enough with my own blog design, I am so happy that Robin Blogs is offering one lucky reader a $35 gift certificate! That would purchase her most popular package (the indulgent blogger), lots of a la carte items, or can be used toward a larger package.

Want to enter? 

Hop on over to Robin Blogs and take a peak around. How would you use your $35?

Giveaway will end Monday March 4th.

***

The winner of the Pie 'N The Sky giveaway is Kitty from A Law Student's Journey. I'm e-mailing you right now!

 

Praying for Each Other

Each Monday I will be posting prayer requests so that we can hold one another up and pray for each other throughout the week. 

 You can e-mail your prayers requests to me at iamalongfortheride[@]gmail[.]com. Feel free to e-mail today and I can add them. If you e-mail me throughout the week, I will post them next Wednesday.

Frames and Names: Can I ask for you to pray that God take the burden of fertility issues off my shoulders. I feel so broken and useless. I know there's a plan behind it all but right now I feel like it's a huge weight on my shoulders. Just want it lifted.

Jacqui: My hubby is going back to school for his masters, so he can teach. This puts a huge strain on us financially & we're already trying to dig out of debt. Pray that we'd trust God to continue to provide just as we trusted Him to lead us this far!

ChicGeek Designs: I need prayers for my health as it's now starting to affect my job. :-( I can't lose this job.

Andrea: Please pray that I have a safe flight tomorrow as I leave my babies for a couple of days

Samantha: I'm a photographer, but I also work in a special education class at my local high school.
Tomorrow morning at 7:30am a fellow co-worker and I will meet and pray for our students, I would love it if you would partner with us.

We will be meeting every Monday morning at 7:30am to pray for our students. Tomorrow is our first meeting. 

Hallie: God has been teaching me incredible things this semester through really not fun situations (and some fun ones). My prayer request is for peace and contentment in a time when I want to be doing more than God is calling me to at the moment. I'm not good at resting and He is calling me to rest when I want to be saving the world. To know that He is God and His plans are happening even when I don't see or feel anything.

Jana: Prayer for us to conceive. We have been trying for 9 months which I know we are not technically deemed "infertile" but it's been a tough ride. 

Rebecca: Strength to make it through this next week.  I am over-my-head busy!!

Me: I ask for prayers for continued healing for my grandmother who recently had surgery. I just pray that she can rest and recover and know that the Lord is guiding her steps through this process.

Ami- The Allison family needs prayers of patience. Patience that in God's perfect timing HE will see us out of this pit of financial ruin that we are in. Prayers also for my husbands 1st daughter as she is traveling down a very dark and destructive path that leads to nowhere!

 

How Can We Pray For You?

How can we pray for you this week? 

How can we lift up your worries, fears, concerns, struggles to our Father?

Feel free to e-mail me your prayer requests for tomorrow's post.
iamalongfortheride @ gmail . com

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...
Colossians 1:8-10

 

Psalm 98:4

source, text added by me

 

Saturday is Crafty Day #33

Welcome to the weekend!

I will be spending the day making these and these and these. What about you?

You all were busy last weekend. Here are a few of my favorite projects.

Apron from Sugar Bee Craft Edition (isn't she the cutest??)

I don't like jello, but I want to make this right now! Rainbow Jell-O from Funky Polkadot Giraffe

Live, Laugh, Love canvases from My Girlish Whims

Tricky table cloth from Musings of a Glamourpuss

Shamrock heart bouquet from Childmade

Rotating wreath from Blissful Meandering

Adorable baby shower from My Creative Escapes

Link up your latest projects!!

Also, I'd love to pray for you. Feel free to e-mail me your prayer requests for my post on Monday (iamalongfortheride[@]gmail[.]com)

 

Ideas Wanted

So I am less than 50 people away from 1000 followers.

This is big. This is huge. So I want to celebrate...

I just have no idea how.  Can you help me?

I'd love to hear your ideas of how I should celebrate. 

Should I hold a huge giveaway?

Multiple giveaways?

Blog series?

Blog hop?

Although I love giveaways, I kind of wanted to stay away from it, unless I could get something really big. Instead, I was pondering on the idea of '1000 acts of kindness' where I could ask folks around blog world to write about a way in which a simple act of kindness they did made a difference in someone else's life. Then when I reach 1000 followers, I can give the go ahead and we would all post it. 

It would be like the kindess heard around the world. Or at least the blog world.

What do you think?

I want this to be big. Bigger than big. But I need your help. Please comment with any ideas. Or if you like the kindness thing, let me know. Even better, let me know if I can count on you to participate and spread the word.

 

Shops I Adore: Cotton Lane

There are just so many gorgeous handmade shops out there that I want to start sharing some of my favorites with you. Those shops that catch my eye, make me happy, bring a smile to my face.

Simply, shops that I adore.

***

Cotton Lane

I've been a fan of Caroline's blog for a while and I just think she has such cute accessories in her shop. 

How cute and creative is that?!

Some of my other favorites...

Interview with Caroline:

What is the story behind your shop name?

My mom and I actually sat and brain-stormed a while trying to come up with a creative name for my shop. I don't really know how we ended up where we did, but I love it and think its pretty perfect for my products.

What inspires you to create?

I draw inspiration from just about everywhere. I love looking at magazines (especially wedding ones :) and flipping through crafty books. When I begin designing things I usually start with color and go from there...It's all kind of random, and I usually have some sort of "Ah-Ha" moment, am inspired, and can't stop creating!

What can be found in your shop?

I love all kinds of accessories. Whether that be for your house, your hair, or your purse. My shop is stocked with everyday goodies that add flair to your normal routine and look! (i.e. headbands, pillow covers, receipt holders, etc!)

What is one word to describe your work?

Bold

Thank you so much, Caroline, for letting me feature your beautiful shop! And guess what, folks? She's getting married soon! You should probably hop over to her blog and wish her congratulations!

 

Sponsor Giveaway: Pie 'N The Sky + Winner

This week's giveaway comes from the beautiful Melisa at Pie 'N The Sky!

Melisa has an adorable shop filled with all kinds of goodies.

Melisa is offering one lucky reader two Pie 'N The Sky headbands!

Top: Autumn Love

Bottom: Pearls Before Twine

Want to win?

- Visit Melisa's shop and leave a comment with your favorite item

- Follow the Pie 'N The Sky blog and leave a comment

- Spread the word (FB, blog, tweet, etc) and leave a comment

Giveaway will end next Monday.

***

The winner of the Flamingo Toes  giveaway is Katy! I just sent you an e-mail. Congrats!

 

Today

Wearing red shoes and thinking happy thoughts.

 

Praying for Each Other

In case you missed my post last week, each Monday I will be posting prayer requests so that we can hold one another up and pray for each other throughout the week. 

 You can e-mail your prayers requests to me at iamalongfortheride[@]gmail[.]com. Feel free to e-mail today and I can add them. If you e-mail me throughout the week, I will post them next Wednesday.

Courtney- I am now 28 weeks pregnant, so the countdown is ON.  Everything is great, I am only stressing about one thing – having things ready for when the baby comes.  Five years ago we bought a fixer-upper, and it isn’t quite “fixed” yet.  On the immediate (before the baby’s born) to-do list is reroof the carport (tree fell on it) and tear down plaster/insulate/re-drywall/paint the nursery (yes, the nursery isn’t even close to being ready – can we say stress??).    As soon as possible after that, we need to rebuild the hall bathroom that has been gutted for 3+ years.  Not only is time a factor, but obviously these projects take money.  I guess my prayer request is patience and peace for me and the ability to move quickly on these rather large projects. 

Barbie- 1.  My husband has been unemployed, off and on, for 2 years now.  This week, his unemployment ran out. We are waiting for a letter to see if they will extend.  More importantly, he needs a JOB!

2.  My husband's truck broke down a few months ago, and we decided not to fix it.  Just Tuesday, the transmission in our SUV blew.  It's going to cost $4,000 to fix.  We need's God's provision.

Me- My grandmother had surgery last week to remove cancerous tumors from her neck. The surgery went well but left her face affected because of nerve damage. I could use prayers for her to heal quickly and for her to know how beautiful she is, inside and out.

Carly- My baby Mason was born with a heart defect. He had his first surgery at 10 days old and will be having his second, an open heart surgery, on March 3rd. He'll be 3 days shy of 8 months. Obviously the surgery is a major deal but I have all faith that he'll make it through, he's a very strong little guy. My biggest anxiety is if there will be complications/infections afterwards that will keep him hospitalized longer than expected. So my prayer request is of course that the surgery itself goes great but also that his healing will be fast and without complications and that he will be protected against all infections and will be able to come home in the 1-2 weeks as planned. 

Amber- I would use prayer right now for exams that are coming up this week... eek!

As well as just being a good leader for the girls in my dorm (I am the Resident Assistant).

Piper- I would like to request prayers for my husband (David) and I to find work. We have been without income since December.
Sharon- My husband is self-employed as an electrical contractor. As are many others in the construction industry, we are in need of work. I would also appreciate prayers for a special family situation.

Lindsay- I am a graduating college senior with two graduate school interviews over the next two weeks. I will be traveling from Missouri to Texas to Ohio in the period of a week and could use prayers for safe travel. I would also like prayers for boldness in talking to new people and sharing Christ's love with them. Lastly, I would like to ask for prayers for peace and calmness for the actual interviews; I'm ready for God to show me where he's taking me next!

Rachel- I need to discern what it is that the Lord has planned for me. I am currently going to Cal Baptist University, pursuing my bachelors in education. I have a year left, however, I do not know that I want to continue this because I want to do full-time ministry. I have a campus ministry at our local community college and it needs plenty of attention-- attention I cannot give if I teach kindergarten.  I also want to become a housewife when I get married so that I could be the primary caretaker as my husband would be the provider and head of the family. So, the dilemma is whether I should continue with my bachelors, or if I should pursue classes that will help me both with my ministry and house-wife duties (i.e. bible classes, cooking classes, sewing classes, etc). I really only need to be still and seek the Lord in this decision, and I need your intercession to be that the Lord reveals His will to me. Thank you for your prayers!

 

1 Timothy 4:12

source, text added by me

 

Saturday is Crafty Day #32

Welcome to the weekend!!

Thanks for stopping by! Here are a few of my favorite projects from last weekend.

Crocheted beaded earrings from Mommy Tyme Gifts

Anthro inspired bag by Artfully @ Atelier Caroline

Waxpaper garland by The Little Apartment

Recipe coffee sleave by Life...Unscripted

Chalkboard cabinets by the Crafty CPA

I can't wait to see what you've been working on!

p.s. don't forget to enter the Flamingo Toes giveaway.

Praying for Each Other

I've been thinking a lot about how I can continue to spread God's love through this here blog and create a stronger community of faith. You have all blessed me with your encouraging words, and in my own little way, I have tried to pray for you all. But what else can I be doing? How can I continue to help us grow together... even though we're miles apart?

I would love it if you'd join me in praying for one another. Each Monday I would like to post our prayer requests so that throughout the week we can spend some time thinking about one another and building one another up. I think we do a great job commenting on our blogs and supporting each other in that way, but I for one believe there's so much more.

If this isn't your thing, heck, I usually post again at noon so wait to read my blog until then. Or by all means, skip Monday's posts altogether.

But if this is something you'd like to do, I'd love to have you along.

If you have a prayer request you'd like to share, please e-mail it to me at iamalongfortheride[@]gmail[.]com. 

I will list each prayer request on Monday along with your name and blog link. If you do not want your blog to be linked, please just let me know.