{{ANNOUNCING}}: September Stocking Stuffer Swap!!!

Are you ready for LWTH's first swap?!?!?  

I am so excited and I think you will be as well!

Believe it or not, Christmas is right around the corner; just months away! Yay!

I thought this swap would be a fun way for us all to get some ideas for Christmas stocking stuffers this year.

<a border="0" href="http://lifewiththehawleys.blogspot.com/2012/08/announcing-september-stocking-stuffer.html" target="_blank"><img src=http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l640/Dhawley1207/SeptemberStockingStufferSwapButton.jpg></a>
So here is the deal, everyone who signs up to participate (see below) will be given a partner that they will send stocking stuffers to.  Then at the end of the month (September 28th) you will blog about what you received and link up your post.  When everyone links up there will be lots of ideas for stuffing stockings this year.  So not only will you get a gift, but you will also be able to do some window shipping.  

Fun, right?
  ***Note, you do not have to have a blog to participate *** 

How this works:

-Sign up for the SSS Swap at the bottom of this post.  The last day to enter will be Friday, September 7th. Help spread the word about the swap by posting the button on your blog and tweeting this post.

-When the sign-up is closed I will email you your partner's information.  Contact/email your partner as soon as possible to "meet" them so you know how best to shop for them.

-Have fun shopping for your new buddy.  The spending limit is $25.00, pre postage!

-Mail your stocking stuffers by Friday, September 21st.  Make sure that you have packaged everything well so it doesn't break/leak.

-When your gift arrives, notify your buddy so she isn't sitting around wondering if you received it or if it was eatten by an elf at the post office

-On Friday, September 28th, post about what you received and link up your post at LWTH so that everyone can see what you received and can "window shop"

***Please follow the rules if you sign up to participate.  It would not be cool if someone sent you a gift and they didn't get one in return.  If something comes up and you can't swap, please let me know so that I can reassign partners.

If you're on the fence on whether or not to participate, I will tell you that I have participated in several swaps and had a fabulous experience.  Not only have I received wonderful gifts, but I have also met some pretty awesome friends.  For some examples: Valentine's Day Swap, Mascara & Lipgloss Swap, Scarfament Swap, Bauble Swap, Book Swap, and a Foodie Swap.

Sign up below, grab the button and spread the word!!  You can also be extra sweet and tweet about the giveaway!!! "Join me at the Stocking Stuffer Swap at @DarbyHawley.  Check it out: www.lifewiththehawleys.blogspot.com"

<a border="0" href="http://lifewiththehawleys.blogspot.com/2012/08/announcing-september-stocking-stuffer.html" target="_blank"><img src=http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l640/Dhawley1207/SeptemberStockingStufferSwapButton.jpg></a>

The swap is now closed for entries

What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday: From the Vine (and a WINNER)

I don’t know about you, but I *love*  tomatoes during the summer.  They are SO delicious! With Labor Day next week, and the end of summer right around the corner (lets just save the conversation on how fast this summer went for another day), we’ve got to feast on our summer tomatoes while we can.    Personally, I love tomato salads with lots of different colored tomatoes; it’s just so much more entertaining for the senses. Right?  But there really are tons of recipes for tomatoes and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you today :-)

Two of my recipes that I’ve recently posted

Caprese Salad // Marinara sauce

Chicken salad stuffed tomatoes // Tiny tomato tarts

Crockpot Tuscan pasta with tomato-basil cream sauce // Caprese kebobs

Texas toast tomato sandwich // Tomato bread salad // Monster BLT

Beat and tomato salad //

Roasted red pepper tomato soup // Fired green tomatoes with bread-and-butter pickle remoulade

Tomato, corn and avocado salad // Heirloom tomato pizza

Grilled tomato bruschetta // Pico de gallo

Tortellini and tomato salad // Tomato and goat cheese tart

Ricotta and tomato toast // Fresh tomato soup // Tomato pie

Grilled green tomatoes with creamy basil sauce // Tomato cobbler

Mixed tomato cobbler with gruyere crust // Grilled chicken stuffed with basil and tomato

All recipes found here

After looking at all of these pictures my mouth is watering!  Goodness I’m craving tomatoes now!  Aren't you?

Hopefully I've given you some ideas for how to eat the last of your tomatoes this summer.  What is your favorite tomato recipe that I need to try?

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On a different note, I wanted to thank ALL of you for participating in the Grace Adele giveaway.  Y'all are seriously *awesome*!  

The winner of the Bauble Stud Earrings is

Breanna!!! 

Congratulations! You will be contacted soon for what color baubles you want :-)

Thank you SO much Sarah for sponsoring this giveaway! 

IF YOU DIDN'T WIN: Don't worry, there will be more giveaways around here at LWTH.  But I have something special planned for you this Friday and I'm busting at the seams to share it with you! I can't even describe how giddy I am!!!!

Happy hump day friends!

Southern Tour: A Hawley Roadtrip {Part 5}

For a review see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

You must be thinking, “How long is she going to drag this trip out?!?!”  Yes, it’s true we are now at Part 5 and not even close to the purpose of the trip: our friend’s wedding.  It was just such a fun trip that I had to break it down in little parts in order to not bombard you with photos.  Like I mentioned last week, the city I was most looking forward to on our 28 hour road trip back home was Savannah, Georgia.  I have been to Georgia several times in the past, but somehow always missed Savannah.  This was a problem that needed correction ASAP.  I could not wait to walk through the city with my hubby.

We walked through the city, stopped in boutiques, sipped on coffee, ran

through puddles in the rain, and sat on a park bench to watch the locals.

It was magical. 

The Mr and I are convinced that the next place we move (whenever that is) will be to Savannah.  We simply fell in love with the city.

If I had to pick my favorite part about Savannah, I wouldn’t have to think twice.  Visiting Paula Deen’s Restaurant, The Lady & Sons, pretty much rocked my world.  I was like a fat kid in a candy shop.  Dinner was superb and I felt like I was back home in my mamma’s kitchen. 

Paula and I are besties….she just doesn’t know it yet.  Goodness, I love her!  Unfortunately this was as close as I got to her, but I’m gunna pretend that this cut-out was real (at least until I meet her in person).

See? Wouldn’t you agree that Savannah was a-maz-ing? Oh I seriously can’t wait to go back!  Have you ever been to Savannah? What places can you recommend for the next time we visit?

Southern Lovely

***Don't forget about entering the Grace Adele giveaway!  Today is the LAST day to enter!!! Enter here***

Happy Monday friends!  Did you have a good weekend?

I am definitely looking forward to this week; this is the first real week of classes.  Last week was a bunch of introductory stuff, so this week it's really time to focus. I couldn't be more excited!

Today, friends, I am guest posting at one of my favorite blogs Southern Lovely!  I love Lindsay's blog and all of her awesome crafts.  She is so talented and always amazing me with her DIY projects!

I'll give you a hint on what I'm talking about at Southern Lovely today.  It has something to do with this:

and this:

So what are you waiting for?! Get over to Southern Lovely and leave her some bloggy love!

Have a great week friends :-)

Southern Tour: A Hawley Roadtrip {Part 4}

***Don't forget about entering the Grace Adele giveaway!  Enter here***

For a review, see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Last week I told you about Baton Rouge and Mobile.  After Mobile, we woke up really early and headed to the beaches.  We went to Destin, Pensacola, and Jacksonville, Florida, and then we went up to Tybee Island outside of Savannah, Georgia.

We got to see a rainbow on our journey this day :-)

I think Tybee Island was my favorite.  It was so peaceful.

Maybe I’m the last person in the world to know this, but did you know how hard it is to find dog-friendly beaches?!  Where I’m from, if a dog is on the leash they can be on the beach. Well let me tell you friends, that is not always the case.  Trust me, we learned that lesson. 

Tomlin entertained herself by finding rocks and bringing them to Phil.  She hates the water so this was how we kept her busy instead.Rooney, on the other hand, preferred to eat the sand LOL
This was his first trip to the beach and I think he tolerated it much better than Tomlin.

The next stop was Savannah, Georgia.  This was the city that I was most looking forward to so I’ve got to dedicate an entire post to it.  So be looking out for part 5, coming soon!!!
Have a great weekend!

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday: Grace Adele {{GIVEAWAY!}}

Today for What I'm Lovin' Wednesday I've got an awesome surprise for you!!! Get excited people!!!

I think by now everyone has heard of Scentsy; I know that I have raved about the company & products before here and here.  As of August 1st the company has launched a new brand: Grace Adele!!!!  These products are so fun, and you're going to love them!

Sarah, a wonderful friend of mine from college, donated some earrings that I am giving to one lucky reader from LWTH!!!
How exciting is that?!?!?

****GIVEAWAY TIME***

Check out these shiny beauties that could be YOURS!!! 

These studs come in 6 different colors.  I can't decide which is my favorite!  The giveaway winner gets to pick her favorite color :-)

You can enter NOW through next Tuesday night below. The winner will be announced next Wednesday (remember to come back to see if you won!)

In order to enter you must be a follower of Life with the Hawleys.  After that, there are various other ways you could enter using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Plum Salsa

Ever heard of it?
Nah, me neither!
I love plums.
I love salsa.
I love lamp.
(hehe sorry I couldn’t help myself)
But seriously, adding plums is such a fun and sweet spin on traditional salsa.  Try this and tell me what you think :-)

Stir together 2 diced plums, 1 small jalapeno (membranes and seeds removed), 1 tsp dried basil, 2 tbs chopped red onion, 2 tsp lime juice, and 1/4 tsp salt.  Let this sit together for at least 45 minutes for the flavors to marry. 

I served mine over grilled chicken (with a 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cumin, and 1/2 tsp salt rub) and sugar snap peas.  The Mr really liked this salsa and even said it was "refreshing"!

So what do you think? I was I going cray cray with this recipe?

Also I want to let you know that I've got a BIG surprise for you tomorrow!  Don't forget to come back and see what I've got for you :-)

Fancy Font Fixation

Since getting my Silhouette Cameo, I have become what you could call “obsessed” with different fonts.  I wont even tell you how many new fonts I have downloaded because I’m embarrassed LOL.  With that said, just in case you’re “obsessed” like me, I wanted to show you my favorites :-)

All fonts can be found here for free :-)

What fonts do you love right now?

Also I want to let you know that I've got a BIG surprise for you on Wednesday!  Don't forget to come back and see what I've got for you :-)

What Type of Woman Are You?

I saw this on Pinterest and it was beyond thought-provoking.

What type of woman are you?

source
Have a great weekend friends!

Southern Tour: A Hawley Roadtrip {Part 3}

To catch up, click here for Part 1 and Part 2.
The first couple days of our trip we visited Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama.
When we went to Baton Rouge it was Memorial Day weekend.  There was no body around!  It felt like a ghost town.  This was kind of a bummer because many restaurants were closed, but the good part was that there wasn’t any traffic or waiting in lines so we could explore the city.

One of our first places we visited for BBQ (which is a must on a road trip with the Mr), was The Brick Pit.  This restaurant was featured on Man vs Food and it was good…but it wasn’t my favorite from the trip.  My favorite was in a different state, so stay tuned ;-)After Baton Rouge, we were off to Alabama :-)Some things just don’t change…even in a hotel.  Poor Mr Turtle LOL Downtown Mobile was such a cute city filled with Southern CharmDuring the day, the Mr and I gorged on BBQ, but in the evenings, we feasted on scrumptious seafood.Crab bisque and seafood au gratin.

After Alabama we went to Florida, and it was Rooney’s first trip to the beach… stay tuned for Part 4!!!

Have you ever been to Baton Rouge or Mobile? What did you think?