I am a mom, therefore I need a blog, and you do too

{definition of my life during nap time}

Okay, so beyond the obvious reason a mom usually begins a blog, i.e.

to document the day-to-day preciousness of family life,

{one of the main reasons I got goin'},

I daresay I have found an equally important reason to keep that blog a-goin', or if you haven't started one yet, to hop on the ole' bandwagon:

WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AT THAT COMPUTER WITH EVERY INTENTION OF WRITING A NEW DAY'S POST, YOU ARE TRANSFORMED FROM THE WORLD'S LARGEST POOPER-SCOOPER INTO SOME SORT OF SELF-ENTERTAINING, STELLA-JUST-GOT-HER-GROOVE-BACK TYPE WOMAN.....SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN AROUND SINCE BEFORE THE PITTER-PATTER OF THOSE TINY, BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FEET IN THE HALLWAY.

{oh, you know, just entertaining myself pre-Babe #2}

{Am I wrong??!}

It's so true! Even if you don't particularly like to write, per say, just sitting there with your feet propped up and that cup of coffee in your hand while perusing through your favorite blogs transforms you, RIGHT?!

That has been my experience, at least.

It gives me a chance to breathe.

It gives me a chance to reflect.

It gives me a chance to laugh like a crazy woman at some story from halfway across the world.

Basically, it refreshes, inspires, relaxes.

{because every now and again.....}

Sometimes this perpetual-lack-of-make-up, forever-yoga-pants-appropriate, my-hair-has-no-reason-to-not-be-in-a-ponytail lifestyle makes me feel like I'm ONE OF THOSE MOMS who has totally let herself become ONE OF THOSE MOMS, but sit me down for an hour and let me read about OTHER moms who are living my same lifestyle with a little humor thrown in the mix, and suddenly I FEEL BETTER AND ENTHUSED!

{so enthused I would consider taking a picture like this again....funky lip and all}

So here's the botton line:
if you're a mom, you need a blog because that hour in front of the computer screen can qualify for some much needed YOU time, and that is simply GOLDEN.
{.....and so that way I can laugh at your family's funny moments without feeling like a creep-o. Ya dig?}

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But in OTHER NEWS,
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYBODY! 
Let's celebrate by heading over HERE to enter into my giveaway going on over at Casey's!
It's going to be super exciting.....

so head on over!!
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Today I will be linking up over here:



And you should check out this lovely lady's giveaway goodies, because she is awesome:

Instafriday!

{Our good ole' pre-carved pumpkins!}

Ahh, Instafriday!

How I love your functionality!

To just sit back and look upon the wonderfulness of our previous week is something I truly enjoy.

This week, though, has been such a whirlwind, my brain is dangerously close to overloading and spinning out of control, so I barely got any pictures which, being completely honest, would interest anyone other than myself.

{i.e.- multiple pictures of Carter sitting in his booster seat}

Anyway, you know how those weeks go, right?

I KNOW YOU DO!

Let's get going!

{Deceivingly obedient} 

So, contrary to the preciousness of Carter cooperating and taking a big boy bite of his pasta, he was actually being quite the little fussy-tempered tot....

{Score! I got mom to break the rules!} 

....which was weird, because all day long he had been a good boy. So in order to get us through the meal {live proof my brain is fried}, I broke the rules and gave him a little bit of juice FOR US TO SHARE.

Well, that juice unleashed the giggles, the tomfoolery, the overall cuteness that is our Babe.

It was like I had turned a switch!

So, thank you juice and all your sugary goodness, for getting us through dinner unscathed.

{Cars! Cars! Cars! Cars!} 

Here are a few of the guys, lined up neatly, just the way he likes it.

{The mischief!}  

And in more booster seat news...

Look at that foot!

Here's Carter, in all his I'm-about-to-be-a-2-year-old glory, pushing the limits.

He KNOWS that foot is NOT supposed to be on the table, and yet, there it is!

I was doing the dishes, and when I turned around after hearing, "Mom? Mom? Mom?" this is what I found!

So I know I was probably encouraging the behavior by taking a picture, but guess what?

It.Was.Cute.And.Melted.My.Heart.

{The butter to my bread!}

Ahh, mi amore!

Honestly, Chad can get me laughing even when I'm in my most horrendously exhausted states.

That night I was literally so dog-gone tired, I have no idea why I even attempted to create anything, but my man was in a whole different mind set.

I was doing something around the house, and then I came back to find this:

THE FABRIC PLANK!

He makes me laugh like a crazy woman.

LOVE.HIM.

So anyway, it was quite the week, and because of said exhaustion, I'm dedicating this weekend to PURE relaxation, with a little bit of celebration thrown in there for a fabulous friend's baby's first birthday! 

{Make sense?}


Other things we did this week, but have not one shred of photographic proof:
*I had my sorority ladies over for the first time in WAY TOO LONG to say good-bye to one of my best lady friends. Tear, tear!

*This week marked the end of Small Business Month, which I would like to thank EVERYBODY who made the challenge so darn wonderful! I truly am thankful and blessed to have met you!

*I officially think I have entered the nesting portion of my pregnancy, for reals. EVERYTHING is dirty to me, EVERYTHING.

Anyway!

Linking up here, once again!

And with her!

SBM's {final} MASSIVE GIVEAWAY: Day 3

Today marks the second to last day of Small Business Month!

What a ride it has been, that's for darn sure! 

{a happy, ridiculously informative, wonderful ride}

But ANYWAY!

Let's get down to business in the most fun way I can think of:

CELEBRATING THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS!

Are you ready?

thought so.


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Jen from Sunny Vanilla

GIVEAWAY:
- the "Pleated Bean" carry-all bag, 100% machine washable and measuring 18X10" -


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Kenye from Glow Kouture

GIVEAWAY:
- the "Majestic Oak Wallet Clutch" measuring 7.5X1.5" -


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Stephanie from Stephanie Linn Photography

GIVEAWAY:
- 5 digital copies of your own photos professionally edited to give them new life -
{both old and new pictures welcomed}




TO ENTER:


{leave a comment for each}
- must be a follower of Three's {4} Me blog {required} -
- follow Sunny Vanilla - 
- follow Glow Kouture -
- follow Stephanie Linn Photography - 
- Be social: like on Facebook, follow on Twitter, follow on Pinterest - {Sunny Vanilla: like - follow - pinterest}{Glow Kouture: like - follow}{Stephanie Linn Photography: like - pinterest}
- Share this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter -------------This giveaway will be available until Saturday, October 29th

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After the next twenty-four hours, we only have one more person to hear from, and she's a 

FASHION DESIGNER.

Hello, that will be uber-enjoyable, especially because she designs wedding dresses.

and...Hi, I'm ready to just kick my feet up and post that little piece of joy.

AND DON'T FORGET TO LINK UP!
Our final CHALLENGE:
what have you learned from Small Business Month, and what were your favorite moments?

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What We've Learned {link up challenge #8 - our last!}

Holy moly.

We've made it.

All.The.Way.To.Number.Eight.

we are badasses, that's for darn sure.

Okay! 

First of all, if you haven't done so already, head on over HERE to join the FINAL day of SBM's 

THREE-DAY-LONG-MASSIVE-GIVEAWAY

designed to celebrate small business owners in all of their awesomeness.

But let's get going here on our final final final final final FINAL challenge:

what have you learned from Small Business Month, and what were your favorite moments?

Oh, man. Where do I even begin?

I'm going to go bullet style, ya dig?

* Ashley from The Shine Project's mantra: Work smarter, not harder

* Casey Wiegand's emotional take on getting through sticky life situations, and how that can be applied to running your small business.

* The fact that writing out our goals was difficult for every.single.one.of.us. Honestly! I know this is sort of depressing, but we all had this in common. Every post had something about how difficult it was to write out those darn goals! But guess what? We all did it, and that IS AWESOME.

* The hilarious stories I read about people's first sales. I was just sitting here at my computer desk cracking up like a crazy woman. 

* Gussy's advice on hiring help to help your small business grow. It was first hand information, and that is always the most valuable.

* Finding out that someone had opened her shop in the midst of Small Business Month, AND made her first sale. Cheers, girlfriend!

* The ladies I have been in almost constant communication with for the past month. It has TRULY been a pleasure!

* Finding out that people love supporting small business. They do, they do, they do, they do, they do! {Hello, outrageously successful giveaways!}

* Reading the words, "be a GOOD person, and GOOD things will follow" from Heather of Just.Lovely.Things. True that, girl, true that.

So I guess I just compiled a list of my favorite things rather than what I learned, but you know what, I'm okay with that, because like I said,

IT'S CYBER DRINKS ON ME FOR ONE AND FOR ALL

due to the great success of this past month, and who needs to get specific right before hitting the town for a few cocktails?

I can't WAIT to read what you have to say!

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-------------------------------------------------------And if you didn't catch wind of this yet, we have ONE LAST Q&A session coming from none other than a FASHION DESIGNER!{hello, ultra enjoyable post!}and that will be the official end to what has been a wonderful month!

SBM's {final} MASSIVE GIVEAWAY: Day 2

Oh, DAY TWO of our MASSIVE GIVEAWAY,

how excited I am to welcome you!

Let's skip my {usually outrageously} long intro, and jump right into what we're here for:

TO CELEBRATE THESE FABULOUS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS!

Woohooo!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Amanda from Royal Daughter Designs

GIVEAWAY:- $25 design credit which can be used towards any blog design service --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Emily from Nap Time is My Time

GIVEAWAY:- beautiful infiniti scarf measuring 60" circumference, 10" height --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Breena from The Photo Mommy

GIVEAWAY:

- one customized digital photo card from The Photo Mommy's shop -

{winner has their choice of entire collection}

TO ENTER:{leave a comment for each}
- must be a follower of Three's {4} Me blog {required} -
- follow Royal Daughter Designs - 
- follow Nap Time is My Time -
- follow The Photo Mommy - 
- Be social: like on Facebook, follow on Twitter, follow on Pinterest - {Royal Daughter Designs: like - follow}{Nap Time is My Time: like - follow - pinterest}{The Photo Mommy: like}
- Share this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter -------------This giveaway will be available until Saturday, October 29th-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And I know I'm pulling teeth here, but we have ONE FINAL LINK UP CHALLENGE to round off SBM!Afterwards it's cyber drinks on me for all!Here's our CHALLENGE:what have you learned from Small Business Month?That's right: the good, the bad and the ugly y'all!{And let me just TELL YOU, I was literally cracking up at how everyone posted their work space yesterday! Every single one of us talked about how we just WISHED we had a work space like this, or like that, but alas, here is what we have! It's good to know that I'm not the only one who feels that way!}

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SBM's {final} MASSIVE GIVEAWAY: Day 1

Okay, I'm proud.

proud, proud, proud, proud, proud.

Proud of the community we have built.

Proud of the support we've given each other.

Proud of the advice-sharing.

Just darn proud.

We've literally accomplished everything I wanted to when we first set out!

I can say with a very full, happy heart that Small Business Month has been a success, without a doubt.

So now that we are into our final full week, let's truly celebrate these small business owners who have achieved great things, one of the most important being:
TAKING THAT INITIAL LEAP AND OPENING THEIR DOORS!

Let's GET GOING!

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But really quick!

If you are ready to link up and

show off that work space of yours, tonka trucks and princess crowns littering the floor, and all,

then click HERE!

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Casey from Casey Leigh

GIVEAWAY:- small ad on Casey Leigh blog, valued at $30, to promote your blog/small business -
-------------------------------------------------------------------Jenna from The Duty Family

GIVEAWAY:- pink and white baby girl headband - 
-------------------------------------------------------------------Frank from Faces by Frank

GIVEAWAY:- one 11X14" colored caricature of you or your loved ones -
TO ENTER:{leave a comment for each}
- must be/become a follower of Three's {4} Me blog {required} -
- follow Casey Leigh -
- follow The Duty Family -
- for Faces by Frank: tell which one of your loved ones you would like to have a caricature done of - 
- Be social: like on Facebook, follow on Twitter, follow on pinterest -{Casey Leigh: like - follow - pinterest}{The Duty Family: like - follow - pinterest}{Faces by Frank: share link on Facebook/Twitter - cartoonfacesbyfrank.com}
- Share this giveaway on Facebook and Twitter ---------------This giveaway will be available until Saturday, October 29-----------------------------------------------------------------
And once again, remember to LINK UP that work space!



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Work Space {link up challenge #7}

WELL, HELLO THERE, LINK UP CHALLENGE #7,

you arrived quicker than I ever would have thought!

I'm so darn excited for this one!

We've made it through the trenches {hello, writing out our goals and hindrances}, we've climbed the mountain, we've made it through the swamp, and 

NOW IT'S TIME FOR SOME FUN!

But first!

Head on over HERE to enter the first day of SBM's

MASSIVE-THREE-DAY-LONG-GIVEAWAY

to celebrate and support small business ownership!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO! 

Okay, let's get a-goin' on showing off these work spaces!

{are you ready for mine?}

I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling a little bit timid about posting these pictures, considering I really have no specified "space," per say, but rather just a general area of chaos where I have plopped down my sewing machine.

I have basically disrupted where my family eats breakfast, lunch and dinner.
{sorry, honey!}

Yep, that's what I've done.

My poor husband. Now whenever the three of us sit down to eat an actual meal together we are all catty-corner around the table. It's quite awkward, but you can't just get up and move a sewing machine everyday, now can ya?

So on the kitchen table it sits.

But first, here is where I start the process:

{all these pictures have quite poor photo quality...Major lack of natural light}

Messy, eh? Well, here is where I cut patterns, pin fabrics, disrupt the flow of traffic in the hallway, you know, normal stuff like that.

Honestly though, I love this "work station." Not only can I stand and talk with my man while he's sprawled out on the couch, but I can also watch my shows or stand guard over the little man while he rolls around on the floor. It's quite the perfect position, albeit slightly in the way of our lives.

{and overflowing....onto the couch....}

Once the cuttin' and a-pinnin' is done, I move on over to my nook, where I can still see the living room and am surrounded my natural light. 

Look! I even have an advantageous view of the plants I'm babysitting for my mother-in-law which, by some miracle, have not rotted yet!
plants in my house that are not dead = success!

Ahh, and my view of the kitchen.

You know, I literally CAN NOT sit down to sew unless all the dishes are done. It's like the forces of nature won't let me do it. Which is a good thing, I'm thinking.

{Can I just insert here that my kitchen table AND chairs was a $40 find? It just needs a good old fashioned refinishing, and she'll be set to go!} 

And in real life.....Here's the ole' sewing machine just hanging out with the family.

Like she does every.single.day.

Yep, she just sits there and joins in on family fun times.

Carter doesn't mind, but I'm sure Chad is just a tad bit sick of her constant presence. 

Ahh, family LOVE.

So there you have it:

my minuscule work station!

And even though there has to be quite a bit of re-configuring in order for me to be able to sit down and actually sew a stitch, it makes me very happy.

happy, happy, happy, happy.

Now I'm SO EXCITED to see yours!

<center><a href="http://threesforme.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g471/nicolecisneros1223/nicole22.png"/></a></center>{Have I ever mentioned that these sort of things are my favorite types of link up parties? They are just so darn fun!}
and could you vote for me?

THANK.YOU