GIVEAWAY from DaySpring...back to school style

I'm excited to have another opportunity to review some products and host a giveaway from DaySpring and {in}courage!  I received the I <3 Jesus and I'm Just Saying sets, on sale now for $19.99 for all eight pieces {reg. 23.99} to review. We've been shopping at big box stores for school supplies lately, and I would be hard pressed to find similar items of the same quality for under $20.  And...right now DaySpring is offering a buy 2, get 1 free deal on all back to school items!  With a variety of designs, one is sure to please the special kiddo{s} in your life!

When I signed up to host this giveaway, I chose these particular designs because I thought Daniel would like them best - I also really like this one, but I don't think it was available to choose.  The one set is girly and the other seems a bit deep for a fifth grader {however, if you are buying for girls or older kids, I'd totally recommend them}!  I knew he'd probably like them, but I wasn't sure what he would think...Would he just use them at home or put them in his backpack, along with all his other new supplies in preparation for starting a new school year?  I remember 5th grade, and at that time, I'm not so sure i would have felt comfortable sporting these notebooks at school.  Kids can be so cruel, and I was always the type to try and fit in.  But...when I showed them to him, he said, "Oh cool...I'll be able to use these for school!"  When I asked him what he liked best about the, he said, "They're about Jesus, Mom."  I guess we've done something right in molding him to be his own person and not care what others think.  He's the type of kid who will tell someone about God without batting an eye.  He sets positive examples, is a role model for his classmates, and for that I am proud.  He teaches me lessons about life all the time; it is so important to instill those values early, and what better way to share your beliefs than to carry these notebooks!  I personally like them because they make a statement without actually having to say anything.  Kids who carry these products to school can lead by example.

For your chance to win a complete set of I <3 Jesus and I'm just saying supplies {PLUS an Allie Bird plush & note card set} for your favorite student{s}, please comment at the end of this post.  For additional chances to win, share on Facebook or Twitter and let me know you did!!  Good luck :)

 Allie Bird Plush & these cute note cards read: Toothfully...I think you're awethome.  :)

Disclosure: Products were provided by DaySpring; all thoughts & opinions are my own. Affiliate links used.  Deadline to enter: August 31.  Giveaway is limited to US residents. 

pin-it friday --a hodge podge...

Our house has been full of Pinterest finds over the past couple of weeks :)
My older son and I hosted an Olympics party, and it was so much fun!  A few of our ideas originated from Pinterest.  We tweaked some and created a few our own. Visit my Olympics board to check it out!

 I think these Olympic rings Daniel made are my favorite  :)

 I made this to give Dan for our anniversary tomorrow. 

I'm hoping that we will both remember to take time to write back and forth on a regular basis :)

 I made these brownies for our family reunion last weekend.  

I used chocolate chips instead of pretzel m&m's on top. So yummy!

I've been busy all summer preparing my new owl-themed classroom!  Since our first day of school is right around the corner, I've been making lots of new Pinterest-inspired projects :)

I can't wait to try this out! 

Linking to 5 Minutes for Mom - Pin-it Friday.

wordless wednesday - baby ladybugs hatching...

I was watering my hanging plants last week, and this is what we found.  

For the record, no ladybugs were harmed.  

The leaf was returned to flower pot on the porch for safekeeping.   :)

Linking to Mama to 4 Blessings & Frugal Plus - Wordless Wednesday.

Olympics our way...

I don't know about you, but we are loving the Olympics in our house!  

I've loved them since I was a little girl, and I'm so glad Daniel is as into them as I am :)

We threw an Olympic party for Daniel's friends {and a few grown-up friends of ours} last Thursday.  

He pretty much planned the whole thing, from decorations to food to games - 

with minimal help from me.  

Inspirational message blocks are from DaySpring.

I love these...a bit of creativity & you can spell just about anything!! :)

I was cleaning out my closet and found these rings from old scarves.  

They were clear...Daniel spray painted them with Olympic colors and we hung them from our light fixture over the island in the kitchen. 

Total cost: $0 - We already had the rings, paint, and the string came from an old kite.

 

 We looked at a few stores for medals and couldn't find them, so we made our own.  We bought 3" wide ribbon and cut it down the middle and then hot glued gold, silver, and bronze coins to the ribbon.  

Total cost: $3

 Marble races!  We bought marbles & pool noodles and cut the noodles in half.

Total cost: $4

 Centerpieces- three vases: 

 frilly New Year's straws

a string of old gold Christmas beads with two napkin rings fastened around the vase

 sparkly filler

Total cost: $0 - we gathered everything from around the house!

 

Our DaySpring picnic basket was perfect to keep everything organized!

We hot glued coins to beads {top right} as welcome tokens when they arrived.

 Daniel's masterpiece :)

 Olympic torch cupcakes - the vision from the torch came from here...Daniel wanted cupcakes instead.

{Funfetti cupcakes baked in ice cream cones, orange icing, red & yellow sugar crystals}

 Olympic Jell-o pool - another one from Pinterest!

So their lanes are a bit straighter...we don't care ;)

{Blue Jell-o, Teddy Grahams, Twizzlers}

Other items on the menu: Hotdogs, crock pot mac & cheese, chips, Doritos, fruit & dip, mini soda cans, and bottled water.  Somehow I forgot to take a picture of all the food on display.  

They watched the Olympics while they ate dinner in the family room.

 Kickball!

 The carrying of the Olympic torch - inspiration from Pinterest - we just made ours bigger & better!!

{constructed from a wrapping paper tube, red & yellow tissue paper, and aluminum foil}

Total cost: $0 - we had all the materials

What's the game plan?

Games included kickball, wiffle ball, soccer, track, and marble races {all planned by Daniel}.  Medals were given for each game.  We had plans for a watermelon-eating contest and forgot!  

 However, if there would have been a blueberry-eating contest, Joel would have won - hands down! :)

Everyone went home with a patriotic marble maze and 

red, white & blue glo-stick necklaces in a blue zipper baggie :)

We all had so. much. fun!  What do you do to celebrate the Olympics?!

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Disclosure: Affiliate links used.