Pinterest Challenge!!!

For those who follow along on Facebook, you know I LOOOOOVE Pinterest.

In fact, when the Pinterest iPhone app wasn't working one night, 

I had to find something else to "soothe" me to sleep.

Nothing like a little "eye candy" to influence my dreams.

If you don't know what Pinterest is,

you are seriously missing out.

Think about a virtual magazine FILLED with beautiful, lovely, crafty pictures.

Then imagine that you can CLICK ON each picture and be taken to the original site!

If you like what you see, you can "pin it" to your board.

It's basically a visual bookmarking system.

You can categorize, organize, and label to your heart's content.

Here's a Screenshot of all my boards:

Then here is what you'll see when you click on just the "Great Ideas" board:

Problem is...

I bookmark all these great ideas and tutorials and never get around to making any of them.

I need some motivation.

Enter PINTEREST CHALLENGE!

Anyone who wants to join in:

You have from now until July 15th to pick ONE pin from your Pinterest board to complete.

It can be a photography angle you want to try out.

A recipe you've been dying to taste.

A craft you can't get out of your mind.

A new organizational idea.

Anything...

you just have to have gotten inspiration from some pin on Pinterest.

Then, when you finish, send me a picture of your project to my email (as well as the original inspirational pin).

I'll collect them all up and do a massive Pinterest Challenge Blog Post on Saturday, July 16th.

I'll divide entries into categories (if necessary) and we'll all vote on our favorite Pinterest Challenge Piece.

The winner(s) will get $10 credit to the Better Life Bag ETSY shop.
Because I KNOW you've been dying to get a bag/clutch set, right?

So, get pinning

{or better yet... stop pinning and get WORKING!}

And remember... as soon as you complete your project/picture/DIY piece... send me a picture to enter into the contest!
betterlifebags@gmail.com

PS... if you want to follow my Pinterest board, just click the link on the right side of my blog.

{the one that says "Follow Me On Pinterest" in red}

If you need a Pinterest account, just go to the Pinterest Home page and request an invite.

You'll thank me later.

From the Archives: Patchwork Shower Curtain

 It seems that I tend to take "blogging breaks" during June and July.

Last year there were absolutely NO posts during those months.

What can I say?

I LOVE the summer months and don't want to be stuck behind a computer screen.

I'd rather be getting dirty in the garden,

kissing sweaty cheeks,

or visiting zoo animals!

So...

Enjoy this post from the archives today.

And think about making your own!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, for the month of February, I've been redoing our bathroom upstairs.

You've seen me get rid of excess products so far.

I just finished updating or plain white shower curtain.

This seriously cost me $5.

 

All I did was cut different sizes of squares in two different patterns.  I ironed in all the edges 1/2 inch (so it wouldn't fray), pinned them to the curtain, and sewed them on!

I love how it looks to brighten up our small bathroom!

Some wall art is coming soon... as soon as the necessary piece finds it's way to my house via snail mail!

{Originally posted on 2/24/10}

Meet Diddy (aka Lady Bug)

Just a little "eye candy" for you today.

 

I'm going to start calling "Lady Bug" by a new name 

when I refer to her on this blog.

"Lady Bug" just doesn't fit her ever blossoming personality.

Ever since she was born Little Bug has called her "Dit-ty"

{his version of "Sissy"}

 

The nickname has stuck and we often find ourselves calling her

Diddy

or C-Diddy.

{C is the first letter of her real name}.

I don't want to share or use their first names on here to protect my kids.

While I trust my readers and have become really good friends with many of you, I don't know what "Strangers" are reading this.

Call me paranoid... it's okay.

So, meet Diddy,

or C-Diddy,

or Lil' Diddy,

or Pretty Diddy.

All of those are acceptable and much more appropriate for our peanut than Lady Bug.

PS:

Can you believe all these photos were taken and edited on my iphone?!

Technology is amazing.

Kiva Team Update and a Giveaway Winner!

Remember the challenge?

Well, we got CLOSE to 50.

27 members to be exact.

And I'm SO happy that each of you have joined!

So happy that I decided to do the giveaway anyway.

Just to say thanks.

I used random.org and had it pick a number between 1 and 27.

It chose #20, so I counted to the 20th person to join and the winner is....

CAITLIN!!!

I sent you a message through our Kiva Team page.

Caitlin wins a $25 KIVA gift certificate to make her first loan!

AND she gets to design her own Tracey clutch!

Congrats Caitlin!

Email me at betterlifebags@gmail.com to claim your prize!

If you forgot, or just didn't get a chance to sign up under our Better Life Bags Kiva Team,

please consider?

We were ranked #3 this month under the category "new members"!

I promise it's free to sign up and only takes a few minutes.

Plus, you never know when I might just randomly pick another winner from our Kiva Team!

How to Fold Your Clara Lynn

How many of you LOVE your Clara Lynn Market tote?

How many of you have taken it grocery shopping with you?

Here's everything I fit into my Clara Lynn today:

Pretty impressive, right?

I was impressed!

And I even walked to the grocery store with my two kids!

I'm loving summer.

I thought I'd include a handy "How-To" on folding up your Clara Lynn.

It's easy once you figure it out.

For those of you who haven't read my mind, yet - here it is:

How to Fold Your Clara Lynn Market Tote!

Things Just Keep Getting Better..

I've been doing Better Life Bags for two years now.

It's crazy to think back to August of 2009 and think about how far we've come.

I'm proud to say that many of my original customers have come back multiple times to order more and more Better Life Bags.

{and I'm not talking about my mom!}

I'm so grateful.

I'm also grateful that I never stop improving the quality of my bags.

I'm a little embarrassed at those first Better Life Bags that got shipped out.

I've learned SO MUCH in two years!

One of the newest improvements is to the Emily Diaper Bag.

This bag has been a great seller for those fashionista moms who want an original diaper bag.

I was originally using magnetic snaps for the flap, but after using MY Emily bag for a year, it started to rip and tear.

Unacceptable.

SO, I went back to the drawing board and discovered invisible magnetic snaps that sew inbetween the lining and the outside of the bag.

See the snap below?

Look for the sewn square on the bag.

It's hiding behind that!

Perfect.

No more ripping.

And durable since we moms open and shut our diaper bags SO MUCH!

And it's a strong magnet.

I've been using mine during the entire California trip and no matter how full my bag is, the snaps always find each other and hold on tight.

Love the improvement.

I've also added another option for the Emily Diaper Bag.

You can now add on an adjustable strap.

For those of you who don't want to upgrade to the convertible backpack option, you can now add on the adjustable strap made out of durable belting material.

{side note: the convertible backpack bag now comes standard with the belting straps.  I've found these to be stronger than the adjustable straps made out of fabric.}

The hardware on either side of the bag adds some glamour and sophistication, too.

Many of these improvements have come from suggestions from you, my customers.

If any of your bags are having problems or issues, PLEASE email me at betterlifebags@gmail.com

I promise to make you 100% satisfied!

Thank you for telling people about my little shop.

Thank you for supporting our business.

Thank you for making lives better {including mine}.