Summer of Love

There is something so special, so magical about summertime. It is full of iced coffee and driving with the windows down, and staying up late with the sun…having bon fires, trips to the lake, and being adventurous. It holds some of my favorite memories, and I want this summer to have that same kind of feel. That same kind of celebration.

So, I’m participating in my friend Kara’s “Summer of Love” art journaling and photography class to kick-start the summer season and savor each passing moment. She is a killer teacher and I am so looking forward to the journaling prompts and the night photography techniques she’ll be teaching.

The live class starts July 1st (yay!), but you can begin the e-course at any time because you access a blog site where all the content will be uploaded and stored and the students get a PDF of the content after the class. I could see this becoming a summer tradition…

Doesn’t this sound like a great way to welcome in the summer? I am excited to start and would love to have one of you readers join me too. Kara is letting me give away a registration to the course and bring you along with me on this fun little journey.

Just leave a comment below with your email and what you love most about the summertime to be entered to win. But, if you don’t want to wait and would like to begin tomorrow, you can do that too here. I’m sure Kara wouldn’t mind. Hehe.

Leave a comment below with your email and what you love the most about summertime to be entered to win registration to Kara’s “Summer of Love” e-course.
Winner will be selected on Wednesday July 3rd and announced on the 4th.

Hanging on blogs with Canadians

Its like riding in cars with boys, but better…

This month I am sitting in E-Ho’s sidebar over at Hope-Squared and got to take over her blog for a day this week. I answered some of her questions about my approach to blog design and together we’ve got a pretty terrific giveaway in the works. I’ve got a blog header design and a download of my handwriting font and Emily is offering a space for you in her sidebar next month. Pretty sure she’s going to make us all ‘blog famous’.

Here is your chance to enter the giveaway! Head on over and get to know Emily a bit better and take a peek at my answers to her interview questions. And follow the steps below for even more chances to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I can't wait to meet the winner of the giveaway and get to know them better as I work with them to make their blog pretty and make it feel like “home.” And even if you don’t win, check my blog design page for more information about what packages I offer and shoot me an email if you’d like to work together.

What is your favorite feature of blog designs?
What thing do you look for first when you discover a new blog?
How do you feel about fonts?

Blog Party Giveaway Winners!

First of all, I would like to say a genuine thank you to all of you who were here this month...maybe you'd read my blog before, or you clicked over from another blog, or you were linked here by one of my guest posters.  But you got here, you read, you commented and shared and it brought me so much joy this month.  

You are all worth celebrating!  But this post is to announce to 4 special people who are the winners of my blog party giveaways.  You'll be hearing from me! 

And the winners are: 

1. The handwriting font goes to: Danielle of Framed Frosting.

2. The $20 Starbucks card goes to: Heather of Heather's Corner.

3. The 52weeks book goes to: Stephanie [Rita] of Letters from Rita: 

4. The blog header design goes to Zelina of Honey in the Sun.

I had so much fun reading everyone's entry comments and loved connecting with you all.  I hope you'll be back again for more real life ways to celebrate the everyday. 

Thank you all! 

Celebrating Today

I am celebrating today with some fun news and a couple giveaways to share with you.  To begin with, yesterday I decided to talk to a couple friends and get their thoughts on having a Facebook page for my blog.  After reading their suggestions and advice I went ahead and started one.  I think it will be a great way for me to connect more with my readers and include everyone in future giveaways.  

So please, hop on over and LIKE Shadylane Blog on Facebook. :) 

This month I have had the pleasure of sponsoring over at Confessions of a Graphic Design Student.  Kirsten has been so much fun getting to know better and I'm glad she agreed to be part of my blog party this month with a guest post.  Yesterday she announced her "Blogger's Dream" group giveaway with all her sponsors.  Its another chance for you to win my handwriting font, along with free exposure and some design.  

Come check out the giveaway and enter as many times as you can.  There are some pretty great prizes. :) 

A couple weeks ago I joined this great new site by blogger and for bloggers called the Better Blogger Network.  I have made some great new blogging friends, shared and gained knowledge about blogging and have been having fun in the forums.  

Visit Better Blogger Network

From the BBN I was able to make a connection with Kate of A Creative Cookie.  She reached out in the forums looking for some more people for her giveaway.  So I sent her an email and got to be included in her May Group Giveaway.  She is so sweet, and it was an honor to be included.  Head on over and enter her giveaway too.  Lots of chances to win my handwriting font!!

This has been such a fun month of growth for my blog.  Thank you all for being a part of it, for your comments and encouragement and for being readers.  I hope that together we can remember to and encourage each other celebrate the everyday.  

How are you celebrating today?

Have you ever won a fun giveaway?  I'd love to hear your stories!

Giveaway: Blog Header

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

1. One Day at a Time 2. A Full Life with an Empty Nest  3. Adventures of a Disney Nut

Through the process of designing my own blog over the years, design has become something that I really love... and something that I want to share my passion for.  This month I have started taking on new blog design clients with some super fun results.  Here is my most recent finished design for my new friend Heather over at Chronicles of an Independent Spinster.  I had fun working with her colors and creating an online home that is just right for her.

For more information on what I offer please check out my Blog Design Page.  I think that good design along with great content will maximize your success as a blogger. If you're searching for someone to help you create an online home and personal brand, I would love to work with you! 

And so as part of that, today I am offering a free blog header design to one special reader.  And if the winner wants a full blog makeover, they can get the header price discounted from their design package. :)  I am so excited about this giveaway!! 

>>>> GIVEAWAY REQUIREMENTS:

Leave a comment on today's post sharing your favorite thing about blogging. 

>>>> BONUS ENTRIES: 

Be a blog follower.

Follow me on twitter (@shadylane14)

Tweet about the blog header giveaway or my blog design services.

Like Shadylane Blog on Facebook. 

Spread the word via social networking.

Please leave a comment for each additional entry. 

The winners of all 4 giveaways will be posted on the last day of this month-long blog party.  Don't forget to enter for the other giveaways too!  Links in the right sidebar.  

Looking forward to hearing from some of you and getting to work with you on a blog makeover that matches your spirit and personality.  Please feel free to email me: shadylane_14(at)hotmail(dot)com with any questions. 

Giveaway: 52weeks Book

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

One of the greatest lessons I learned about celebrating the everyday came back in 2010.  That year I embarked on this project:  52 weeks: a poem and a self-portrait for every week of the year.  I blogged my poems and portraits along the way and at the end of the year turned my project into a book on blurb.com.  This project taught me so much...about myself, about photography, about life and how I cope with trauma, revelations, love and joy.  Its a part of me that I'm honored to share with the world.  I am more than that girl  now, but only because of her.  

This book is my heart on paper.  And I would love to share a bit of myself with you.  One of you will win a copy of my 52weeks book.  Here is a little sneak peek at what you'll be receiving. 

52weeks by Shaina Longstreet | Make Your Own Book

And if you don't win you can always purchase a copy! ;)  It is available through Blurb.com HERE in either soft or hard cover.  I'm pretty proud of it.  

>>>> GIVEAWAY REQUIREMENTS:

Leave a comment on today's post sharing a bit about a personal project you've done or one you'd like to try. 

>>>> BONUS ENTRIES:

Be a blog follower.

Follow me on twitter (@shadylane14)

Tweet about today's giveaway.
Like Shadylane Blog on Facebook. 

Spread the word via social networking. 

Please leave a comment for each additional entry. 

The winners of all giveaways will be posted the last day of this month-long blog party.  Don't forget to enter the other ones too! Links in the right sidebar.  

Personal projects are a purposeful way to celebrate the everyday.  I'm so glad I finished what I started that year and can look back on it now with joy and a full heart.  So come on!  Comment, share and try to win my 52weeks book.  I'm excited for you to see it in person.  

Giveaway: $20 Starbucks Card

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Sometimes the best way to CELEBRATE THE EVERYDAY is with something delicious and caffeinated in a cup.  And that's what I'm giving away today.  If you lived here in my tiny town and we could get together for coffee or tea I'd take you to the little bookstore here in town.  They make my favorite coffee.  But alas, this is the world wide web right?  So I'll buy a Starbucks gift card, send it to the winner and we can pretend we got to go together.  Deal?!  Deal! 

>>>> GIVEAWAY REQUIREMENTS:

Leave a comment on today's post sharing your favorite thing to buy at Starbucks and if its something you celebrate with regularly. 

>>>> BONUS ENTRIES:

Be a blog follower.

Follow me on twitter (@shadylane14)

Tweet about today's giveaway.

Like Shadylane Blog on Facebook. 

Spread the word via other social networks.

Please leave a comment for each additional entry. 

The winners of all giveaways will be posted the last day of this month-long blog party.  So please, comment, share and put your name in the hat to win a Starbucks treat on me.  

Today is worth celebrating!! 

Giveaway: Handwriting Font

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

One of my favorite parts of my blog redesign was creating a font from my handwriting to use.  I'm a bit of a font collector, and handwriting fonts are my favorite kind.  But having a font created from my own hand was probably one of my favorite things from last month!  

And today I'm giving it away to one of my readers!!  Its a true type font that you'll be able to download directly to your computer use with any programs you have.  It's called shainalongstreet (so original, I know! lol.) and I want you to win it! 

>>>>GIVEAWAY REQUIREMENTS: 

Leave a comment on my blog telling me one way you like to celebrate the everyday. 

>>>>BONUS ENTRIES: 

Be a blog follower.

Follow me on twitter (@shadylane14) 

Tweet about the font giveaway. 

Like Shadylane Blog on Facebook. 

Please leave a comment for each addition entry. 

The winners of all the giveaways (I've got 4 total!) will be announced at the end of the Month as we wrap up this blog party.  So please, comment, share and try to win this fun handwriting font! 

Little Miss Momma: Giveaway Winner!

I have something fun to share today. Thank-goodness! ;) 

A couple months ago one of my favorite bloggers Ashely of Little Miss Momma did a super fun post about Brooke White and did a giveaway of a signed copy her latest collaboration album Jack and White's Gemini.  

I was so excited to see the post and to get a chance to learn a little bit more about Brooke.  If you don't know who she is, I first learned of her through American Idol where she came in 5th place in the seven season.  I fell in love with her voice then and voted for her every week.  Now she is making music and having fun with her Girls With Glasses show.  So of course I commented on this post and entered the giveaway....

AND I WON!!  

Ashley was so sweet and commented on my blog to let me know I'd won.  And then yesterday I got my signed cd and a gift from Ashley's shop in the mail. 

I just love the ring I got.  Ashley has some adorable things like this in her shop.  Check it out HERE. 

So far I've listened to the cd like 7 times all the way through and my favorite track is the last one called "Feathers."  You can listen, download and learn more about Jack and White on their website HERE. 

That is happy something today.  And let me tell you, I sure needed it.  Road trippin tonight to stay with my parents for the weekend in our huge rental Yukon, and I'm sure this cd will be on repeat.  

Thanks Ashely and thanks Brooke.  You made my day. 

one more time!

im excited to take another quick moment to share that Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is being featured over at Cathy Zielske's blog today with yet another giveaway!! 
2 of our DT's pages are featured using our PURPOSE kit.

its such a pretty kit.  and its been quite a journey with the theme this month.

here is a sample of one of the challenges we have going over on the forum this month:

Meaning: Do you know what your purpose is? Does your work, your family life, your avocation give you a sense of meaning and value? What parts of your life aren’t working, and what could you do to change that? Do you believe that there’s a purpose for your life that was decided for you by a greater force, or do you determine your own meaning? Is there such a thing as ‘mattering’? How would you know if you did matter?  Please create a LO about your purpose and how it is divided between the different parts of your life.  For the design twist, show us the slices of the pie of your time...maybe it's a brownie pan...in any case, break something up that you normally wouldn't!

we would love to have you join us and create with us.  :D

you can win a PURPOSE kit

i am so honored to be a part of the amazing design team over at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out and today we're being featured on, not one, but two manufactures blogs with giveaways on each!!  The kit this month features the Crate Paper Restoration line and Lush from Kaisercraft.

i have already shared my page that has the most Crate Paper on it (those amazing flowers!! yum!) and so today i'd like to share one of my layouts that features one of the beautiful papers from Kaisercraft. this line is flowery and soft and feminine.  it was a pleasure to work with.

my journaling reads:  it is a goal of mine to lead a purposeful life...to dream big and live out loud.  sometimes it gets hard...life can bring me down fast.  but i keep trying.  living life on purpose.

click HERE to leave a comment on Crate Paper's blog.
click HERE to leave a comment on Kaisercraft's blog.
you can win a kit on both!! 

your chance to win

one of the DISCOVERY kits from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out is up for grabs today on the fabulous Donna Downey's blog.  if you've been pining over the yummy papers and embellishments in this kit all month, put your name in for a chance to get your hands on it.  winner will be announced tomorrow. 

and if you do win, here are a couple of our challenges from the forum to get your mind working in the right direction....

*

Don’t Tell Me: What do you shy away from knowing to protect yourself? Are there difficult truths which you avoid in order to keep feeling good, or to avoid feeling bad? Are these truths about you and who you really are, or about the roles that others play in your life? Are there stories in your family that are kept secret which you choose not to pursue? What do you hide about yourself from others, and why?

All men should strive to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why. James Thurber

Please create a LO about something you avoid/have avoided discovering...are there untold truths that you'd just as soon not know?

For the design twist, please separate your photos from the truth - be it your title, or another representation of the thing you avoid.

 *

End of the Road: What is your image of success, the outcome and destination of your efforts? What do you wish to accomplish in the different realms of your life – personal, professional, physical, mental or spiritual? How will you know when you’ve reached your destination? Have you striven to accomplish a goal and found out when you reached it that your goal had actually moved? How much pressure do you feel to ‘accomplish’ rather than be in the moment and in the process? Does the end always justify the means? Do you value the journey, or only the destination?

Please create a LO about what you see as the 'destination' for you...how will you know you've arrived at your goals?

For the design twist, please show us how lofty your goals are by placing their images or descriptions high on your LO...it's a switch!

its been such a pleasure working with this kit and being a part of this community over at Scrapbooking from the Inside Out.  are you inspired just by the challenge??  you don't need a kit to play along!!  come join us. :)  hope to see you there soon. 

win a kit

one of my favorite papers from the COURAGE kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out was this glorious soft yellow one.  i used it on the last page that i shared HERE.  the company that makes this paper is called GCD Studios and all their lines are pretty, soft and usable.  but the best part about them you can't see... you have to feel.  the texture of their paper is unique and i just want to touch it and use it all the time.  :)

and today i have good news for you!  GCD Studios is doing a giveaway on their blog of one of these fabulous COURAGE kits so you can get your hands on this paper!  hop on over to their blog to read all about it!  :D