Summer is...May Sponsors Let Ya Know!

Summer is....
the sound of crickets at night, little dirty feet running barefoot through the yard, crabbin' out on the water with my honey... 

 Wings and Willows (digital stamps on Etsy) has a sale running until June 15, buy three, get one free!

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Summer is...
a time for riding in the car with the windows down, music turned up way loud, in my favorite dress, sometimes with the dog in the back seat, on the way to get a yummy iced coffee, letting the sunshine in, crafting up colorful things, and making memories with friends and family.

Enjoy 15% off at Lova Revolutionary during checkout with code SCMAY!

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Summer is...
my absolute favorite time of year! Summer means, late nights, no schedules, and sleeping in. Its a time for FAMILY, bbq's, flip flops, tank tops, tan lines, swimming, AND my BIRTHDAY! I will be 28 this year, wow!! ;)


Enjoy 50% off at Agape Love Boutique using code LOVED50!

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Summer is...
freedom! No bedtimes, alarm clocks, or school uniforms....just fun!

Enjoy 20% off at Pretty Little Maniac with code SC2012!

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Summer is...
breathing. Deeply breathing in the oxygen from all the greenery in my back yard, the salt air at the beach, the ozone from a humidity-breaking thunderstorm. It's all about breathing deep and appreciating the many blessings of my life.

You can checkout Meredith and her sister here:

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Summer is...
laying in the sun sinking your toes into the sand.Sweet iced tea in your favorite cup with watermelon dripping from your face. Backyard barbaques with too much food. Fire pits that make your hair smell smokey but you can't get enough. Going to the fair and eating one of everything as long as it's fried. Photobooths and art exibits. Street fairs and car shows. Summer is love.

You can say 'hi' to Stephanie here:

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Thank you, lovelies, for sharing what summer means to you!
Now bring it on!!


xx

The Morning Captain America and I Almost Went to Fisticuffs...and A Mikarose Giveaway!!

Phil woke me up at 4am this morning.

Asking if I "heard the men's voices outside around 3 o'clock...and again just now??"  

I checked my sleep planner.  Nope.  I had been sleeping.  At 3 and 4am.  

Actually, I jumped out of bed.  In a little bit of a panic.  

Because evil men were outside our house.  

Planning something awful, for sure.

We crept around in the dark for 10 minutes.  From window to window.  I checked the house bottom to top, just to be sure no one was actually inside.  Phil was going to leave in less than an hour for work, so I told him I was gonna move the kids into the living room.  Camp out there till morning, because I can hear everything in the house from that room.

Phil decided to take a walk around the house outside, to double check for the men.zombies.monsters.  whatever was talking.planning.plotting outside our home.

I sat on the couch.  Waiting.  And then I heard them.  

Muffled.  

Assertive.

And definitely a man's voice that was not my husband's.

I did what any gentle-hearted, quiet, shy woman would.  I ran to the kitchen and opened the knife drawer.  Grabbed three of our biggest cutting utensils.  I figured the two in one hand thing would be extra scary. And headed outside.

Phil came around the house just fine.  I told him I heard them.

Just now.  

I think he asked me why I was holding two knives in one hand.  

Said that I really only needed one knife for the whole operation.

I would have better control that way.

"You can't be swinging around three knives."

Marines.

Anyways, we headed back in the house.  Niamhy was standing in the living room, wondering what we were doing outside in the dark holding knives.  I told her we needed to move into the living room, because dad might have heard someone outside.

She smiled.

That, Really? Really, guys? smile.

"That was Philly's Captain America under the pillows.  

He's been talking all night."

Well.

Captain America was decommissioned from service this morning.

He will never talk again.  

Sorry big guy.  

Now, about my dress:).

It is from Mikarose, an online shop filled with pretty and easy to wear women's clothing.  The cothing line is centered around modesty, a re-invented modesty that is:).  It isn't stuffy or ridiculously old-fashioned. All the pieces are pretty and tailored and stylish.  Who knew a girl could be modest and stylish:).  I'm wearing the Bailey in slate.  It was rainy today, and this dress went as well with my rain boots as a pretty pair of flats.  

It's perfect:).

Mikarose is giving offering one reader a $50 gift card to their online shop!  

(Open to US and Canada residents only.)

Here is what you can do to enter the giveaway!

*You must be a follower of Saturated Canary

*You must leave a comment with your favorite Mikarose piece.

Extra Entries--

*Like Mikarose on Facebook.

*Pin your favorite item from their online shop.

**Leave separate comments for each, so you get more chances to win!**

Giveaway ends Sunday, June 3rd.

Good luck girls!  

xx

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shoes/ Blowfish

If you are The Scrapping Factory, you just won a pair of Blowfish shoes, girl!!

Please email me to claim your prize!!

xx

To the Lake!

bottle cap/doily/tag/yo-yo c/o Freckles and Pigtails

Sharing just one more peek before Friday:).  I'm on a bathing suit kick this week!  Niamh and Philly are stocked with summer swimwear.  We have the patterns and characters covered-- from SpongeBob to the Avengers; cheetah-print to peace signs.  

They actually played all day in their suits on Sunday and Monday.  It was SO hot, that's all they wanted on:).  I think they may be onto something!

This bathing beauty is called "To the Lake."  I'm not much of a lake swimmer, but she looks ready to hop into the water with a bunch of friends on a Friday night:).  Hope you like her!

Have a lovely night.  

xx

Marigold Road, Mindy

Hello friends!  Meet Mindy from Marigold Road...

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

My name is Mindy Harris and I write over at Marigold Road, the blog that practically saved my hide as I transitioned from career woman to full time mom. Four years and nearly 1,000 posts later, my site has evolved into an inspiring lifestyle blog showcasing captivating photos, darling crafts, my nearly-perfect children, and desserts. When not parenting or blogging, I craft inventory (women’s headbands, jewelry, yarn wreaths) for a local boutique that I co-manage, as well as estate sale, entertain, and run. 

What type of blog do you have?? Is it personal, crafty, fashion-inspired, family oriented, or something all together different? 

It's an inspiring lifestyle blog that indulges the senses with posts about motherhood, motivation, crafting, and baking. 

Top Three summer activities on your 'To Do' list? 

1) Go to my fave theme park 2) Camp out 3) Back patio BBQs 

One thing you can't go a day without: 

SUGAR

One summer fashion find: 

White dress with red polka dots! 

What are you reading? 

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner 

Last good movie you saw? Last bad movie you saw? 

Good: The Vow, Bad: What's Your Number? 

Can you share one goal you are actively working towards this year?

Reopening my Etsy shop, losing weight 

Finally, just for fun, give us your first thought for each word: 

July: flag cake

Hero: my husband 

Suntan: from a bottle 

Gross: boogers 

Giggle: girlfriends 

Color: Teal, Peach 

Hug: my babies forever 

Avenger: Haven't seen it 

Delete: Spam Mail 

Song: Flo Rida Wild Ones 

Are there any other ways to check ya out?? 

Facebook

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Thanks Mindy...

Nice getting to know you:).

xx

*comments turned off so you can hop on over to tell Mindy 'hi':)...

An Old Story Made New.

headband c/o Pretty Little Maniac

I've been reading The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.  It was recommended to Phil and I by our [former] assistant pastor.

For all the years of Christian school education, faithful Sunday School attendance, and a Christ-centered up-bringing, I have never seen salvation (or myself, my own heart) like this book is revealing as I flip through its pages.

It is a tiny book.
An 'easy read.'
Deceptively small in content.
149 pages and hardly the size of my hand.

In the book, Keller tells that old, old story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32).  I must have heard it 100 times before. I know the story inside out.  Or so I thought.

As I've gone through the pages (and I'm not quite done yet), I've realized I missed the whole point of Jesus' parable to the pharisees.  I didn't realize the focus of the story is as much on the older son as it is on the youngest.  More than that, I never realized he was hugely at fault.  If anything, I think I identified with his feelings of entitlement.

I know that out of the two, I'm that elder brother.  I think my whole life, I've tried to control God by obeying him.  I've lived out my faith in fear and mis-trust.  Trusted in my actions/faith/works to bring me what I deserve and keep me from getting what I don't deserve, what I fear.

Fear.  I hate the feeling, but know it well.

This beautiful book is making a clear argument for my lack of trust and hope and joy in my Father.

It hasn't been easy to read, after all.
It kinda made me uncomfortable.
And maybe even a little mad at times.

But that is a good place to be in your faith.

Comfortable isn't growing.  

It's stagnant.

And luke-warm.

It isn't passionate.  It isn't moving.  It isn't heaven-bound.

I'm so thankful for being presented with an old, well known Bible story in a complete and real way.  It has put my own faith, salvation, and human existence in a new light altogether.

"The choice before us seems to be to either turn from God and pursue the desire of our hearts, like the younger brother, or repress desire and do our moral duty, like the older brother.  But the sacrificial, costly love of Jesus on the cross changes that.  When we see the beauty of what he has done for us, it attracts our hearts to him.  We realize that the love, the greatness, the consolation, and the honor we have been seeking in other things is here.  

The beauty also eliminates our fear.  

If the Lord of the universe loves us enough to experience this for us, what are we afraid of?  To the degree we "see his beauty", we will be free from the fear and neediness that creates either younger brothers or older brothers. "

~The Prodigal God

Awesomely-Awkward, Jamie!

Meet Jamie from Awesomely-Awkward! ... 

She is a fun-loving chick from Nevada, loves the rain, eating in bed, and wearing her pj's.  Sounds kinda nice:)...

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 
Hi there... I'm Jamie. I have a little blog called Awesomely-Awkward. I just graduated college (so did the hubs), I work full time, I blog, I have my own jewelry shop on Storenvy... I feel the need to be busy at all times, obviously. I love my cat almost to the point of weirdness.

What type of blog do you have?? Is it personal, crafty, fashion-inspired, family oriented, or something all together different?
My blog is kind of a mix of everything. It's mostly just about the funny or random things that happen in life. I throw in some style, crafts, and every once in a while a recipe comes along that I don't screw up. 


Top Three summer activities on your 'To Do' list??...Think fun, not chores:). 
I'm not sure if any of these will actually happen but a girl can dream, right? 1. Go to a warm beach and have a drink with an umbrella in it. 2. Get a bike and ride it everywhere... 3. Learn to wear color

One thing you can't go a day without... 
Oh so much stuff. Coffee, kisses from hubs, so cliche but my iPhone.

One summer fashion find...
Colored denim and these sweet little leopard Keds are pretty much all I want...


What are you reading? 
Does Cosmo count? I actually just gave into the hype and bought the Hunger Games books. I haven't started yet though.


Last good movie you saw? Last bad movie you saw? 
The Avengers! Super awesome. Iron Man rocks my world. Last bad movie? I don't know I've seen a bunch of good ones lately.


Can you share one goal you are actively working towards this year? 
Figuring out life... that's a big one I know. With me and the hubs both graduating this year we are looking forward to actually being settled in a place for a bit. I just need to figure out what I want to do with my life in general. Wish me luck.


Finally, just for fun, give us your first thought for each word: 
July- Fireworks
Hero- Enrique Iglesias (haha, first thing that popped in my head)
Suntan- Need one (spray tan, here I come)
Gross- cat poo
Giggle- snort (this happens when I giggle a little too much)
Color- green
Hug- love em
Avenger- Iron Man
Delete- The man who hacked my computer and deleted all my stuff. I will punch you if I ever find you.
Song- This is for Real (Motion City Soundtrack)

Finally, are there any other ways to check ya out?? 

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Thanks Jamie...It was fun getting to know you!

xx

*comments turned off so you can visit Jamie!

Toes in the Sand. Sneak Peek.

flatback & yo.yo c/o Freckles and Pigtails

My beach bag is ready.

I have the kid's suntan lotion.  

And my coconut-smelly-lotion-oil stuff.  

I have a new beach towel for each of us.

And a load of magazines to read through.

Sunglasses.

Surfboards.  

Check.

Check.

Check.

Now, if only I looked like her in a yellow-polka-dot bikini:).

Oh well:)...Summer, here we come!!  

xx

Nonsense Things, Traci...

I'd like you to meet my sponsor Traci from Nonsense Things.  She is pretty rad.  Look at the awesome hair!  A girl after my own heart:)...

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I'm a blue haired, tattooed, and offbeat gal from beautiful Northwest Connecticut where I live a happy (and sometimes weird) life with my crazy husband James and my son Raine. Recently I quit my job and am now navigating life as a stay-at-home mom. There always seems to be some sort of nonsense going on in my life and I love it. It keeps things fun and interesting ;)

What type of blog do you have?? Is it personal, crafty, fashion-inspired, family oriented, or something all together different? 
Nonsense Things probably can be described as a family oriented lifestyle blog. I tend to go on about my husbands strange antics and my sons cute behavior but I also blog about all the random crazy things that go on in this head of mine. Sometimes there's crafts, sometimes reviews, and sometimes I just ramble.


Top Three summer activities on your 'To Do' list??...Think fun, not chores:). 
1) Buy a house! We've been looking forever it seems.
2) We would like to sneak in a vacation before we start trying for baby number two. A few days at the beach? Yes please!
3) Swimming, swimming, and more swimming! We love being in the water but last year we didn't get to as much as we like so this year it's a priority :)


One thing you can't go a day without... 
Other than my family I'd say coffee. It doesn't even need to be caffeinated so it's not a caffeine thing. I can't explain it I just love coffee!


One summer fashion find...
I'm LOVING this dress, but I was a little slow buying it and now it's out of stock! If Modcloth brings it back I'm snatching it up this time!


What are you reading?
It's been so hard to find time to read since I had my son but I am about to dive into Stephen King's Under The Dome. It's a thick one so this may take me awhile. ;) I really do miss the days when I could immerse myself in a book for hours and finish it in three days but there is some enjoyment in enjoying a good book over time rather than rushing through it too.


Last good movie you saw? Last bad movie you saw? 
The last good movie I'd have to say I saw was The Hunger Games. I'm usually not a fan of movie adaptations of books but this one surprised me. The last bad movie I saw was Everything Must Go with Will Ferrell. It's about a guy who decides to live out on his lawn after getting fired from his job and thrown out by his wife. I found that the acting was good but the storyline was just a little drab and sort of numb.


Can you share one goal you are actively working towards this year?
You know, I could say that it's to lose a little bit of this extra baby weight I'm holding on to or that it's to finally find a house to raise and grown our family but honestly I'd like to just find peace. Peace inside of me and peace around me. I tend to get a little antsy sometimes. I worry a lot and this can lead to negative thinking. I've been working really hard to change all of these things and just find peace. That's what I really am working on and want to gain this year.


Just for fun, give us your first thought for each word: 
July: Swimming in the hot weather!
Hero: My Mom. That woman is amazing. Even if she IS a little crazy ;D
Suntan: Not for me. I'm too pale. It's more like sunBURN.
Gross: This humidity that Connecticut has been experiencing the last few days. It's definitely gross.
Giggle: My son's giggle. It brightens up my day =D
Color: My hair. I'm really debating pink next.
Hug: Again my son. He's really into hugging lately. Sometimes this isn't good when he's hugging every stranger in Target.
Avenger: I NEED to see this movie. I'm thinking a date night is in order.
Delete: Some of these emails in my inbox have to go. I can't stand the clutter. It's been piling up.
Song: I can't get Kimbra's "Two Way Street" out of my head. It's my favorite song right now.

Finally, are there any other ways to check ya out??

Facebook

Pinterest

Instagram

Thanks, Traci!! It was fun getting to know you.

I'm dying over that wedding dress, girl.

Beautiful!

You can hop on over to Nonsense Things to say hi!

xx

*comments turned off so you can visit Traci:)