tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41430024943699752952024-03-19T03:19:26.961-06:00by gillian claireColorado beauty, lifestyle and motherhood bloggergillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-24306973225071676432023-03-12T13:29:00.004-06:002023-03-12T13:32:55.892-06:00Finn's Custom Pet Portrait<div style="text-align: left;"><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-family: Montserrat, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><center><span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog post is a paid partnership with Responsival. All opinions expressed are my own.</span></center></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/52743539438/in/dateposted-public/" title="11B66DCF-D759-4B8C-994A-182F795D4DCE"><img alt="11B66DCF-D759-4B8C-994A-182F795D4DCE" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52743539438_fd89748e23_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div>I've been eyeing custom pet portraits for years. They have just the right amount of ridiculousness mixed with cuteness for any cat-obsessed household. I finally found the perfect <a href="https://www.mrmrspaw.com/">canvas style</a> that I couldn't resist on the Mr. & Mrs. Paw website.</div><div><br /></div><div>The process was easy. I simply uploaded a favorite, clear photo of my cat, Finn, and chose from the may available themes on the Mr. & Mrs. Paw site. Finn makes for the perfect renaissance man, don't you think?</div><div><br /></div><div>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/52743294484/in/dateposted-public/" title="837BDC00-7702-4BC4-80BC-686C2BA8910A"><img alt="837BDC00-7702-4BC4-80BC-686C2BA8910A" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52743294484_e05561a268_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
When my package arrived, I was really happy with the <a href="https://www.mrmrspaw.com/" target="_blank">high quality canvas</a> and the way they transferred Finn's photo into the image seamlessly. I then promptly burst out laughing because, I mean, this may be the most absurd yet wonderful piece of art I've ever owned. ;) I can't wait to pick one out for our other cat Melo!</div><div><br /></div><div>You can currently grab your own custom pet portrait on the Mr. & Mrs. Paw site for 20% off using code: ENJOY20OFF</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Check out the links below for some other <i>perfect-for-cat-person</i> items online!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1. <a href="https://catladybox.com/?_ga=2.190948458.1703579466.1678647033-86eeb9bd-4655-44e5-92de-95617bd8c6ea&_gl=1*1oyc7ze*_ga*ODZlZWI5YmQtNDY1NS00NGU1LTkyZGUtOTU2MTdiZDhjNmVh*_ga_ZX3EY0RENQ*MTY3ODY0NzAzNS4xLjEuMTY3ODY0NzE2NS41OS4wLjA." target="_blank">Monthly Subscription Cat Lady Box</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">2. <a href="https://www.catissus.com" target="_blank">Cat Paw-Shaped Lip Balm</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bTNVS" target="_blank">Personalized Cat Blankets</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bTNWM" target="_blank">Cat-Shaped Sun Catchers</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">5. <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bTNVV" target="_blank">Personalized Cat Portrait</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">6. <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bTNWO" target="_blank">Long-sleeved Cat Crew Neck Shirt</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">7.<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bTNVY" target="_blank"> Pink Cat Coffee Mug </a></div><div style="text-align: center;">8. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075P7R3VN?linkCode=ogi&tag=womansday_auto-append-20&ascsubtag=%5Bartid%7C10070.g.29480271%5Bsrc%7C%5Bch%7C%5Blt%7Csale%5Bpid%7C2b679ca9-9b6a-4281-8626-172e42b661b4" target="_blank">Colorful Cat Socks</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">9. <a href="https://basepaws.com/products/basepaws-cat-dna-test?variant=21200651911227&sscid=31k7_ge7f5" target="_blank">Breed & Health Cat DNA Test</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">10. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1350833611/cat-mom-sweatshirt-cat-mama-sweatshirt?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=cat+lover+gift&ref=sr_gallery-1-28&pro=1&frs=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1" target="_blank">Cat Mom Sweatshirt</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't forget to follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/finnstagramlife/" target="_blank">Mr. Finn on Instagram</a>!</div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-75892725670365203252022-11-27T15:00:00.003-07:002022-11-27T15:05:26.917-07:00Holiday Gift Guide for Teen Boys!<p style="text-align: center;">Shopping for teens is definitely challenging. Since I have a few years of experience shopping for my pre-teen & teen sons now, I wanted to share the wins to help you out this holiday season! If you're asking yourself, "What do I buy for a teenage boy?" - this post is for you.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Be sure to check out my <a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2022/11/holiday-gift-guide-for-pre-teen-boys.html" target="_blank">Holiday Gift Guide for Pre-Teens</a> post as well!</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i>*This post contains affiliate links. I truly appreciate when you use my links to shop!</i></span></p>
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<a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPdDT" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">heyday Suitcase Turntable</span></a><div><br /></div><div>Our 14 year old still loves his record player that we bought him a few years ago. He can connect it to bluetooth to play music from his phone as well!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPe8o" target="_blank">Portable Phone Charger</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Perfect for your teen's backpack or sports bag to make sure you can always get ahold of them. (If you know, you know...)</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPeeV" target="_blank">Intax Polaroid Camera</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div>Such a fun blast from the past and really popular with kids right now!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPefR" target="_blank">Mini Essential Oil Diffuser</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The perfect mini-diffuser to keep your teen's room smelling fresh. (Orange essential oil is my favorite!)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPe7V" target="_blank">Harry's Shaving Gift Set</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Such a fun gift set for the newest shaver in the family.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPedG" target="_blank">Carhartt Beanie</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>All the kids are wearing Carhartt these days, trust me.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPe6D" target="_blank">Touch-Control Light-up Speaker</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The perfect bedside table touch light that is also bluetooth compatible!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPe8A" target="_blank">Portable Waterproof Speaker</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This is on my teen's wishlist this year - because what's a shower without music I guess?</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPe76" target="_blank">Liquid IV</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Liquid IV is a <span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">non-GMO electrolyte drink mix and makes a great gift for the sporty teen in your life!</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073D257VD/ref=twister_B08H5KFPVR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Wallet</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Another one straight off my teenage son's wishlist this year... his first grown-up wallet. <span face=""Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Noto Color Emoji", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols, "EmojiOne Mozilla", "Twemoji Mozilla", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji Compat", emoji, noto-emojipedia-fallback">š</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPe7Y" target="_blank">Adidas Ultraboosts</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>These are apparently the "it" shoe this season! There are many different colors available, my son is asking for white.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPe96" target="_blank">Pimple Patches</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>These are all over the internet right now and would make a perfect stocking stuffer for those hormonal years!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPee4" target="_blank">LED Strip Lights</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div>My 11 and 14 year old sons both have these in their room. Easy to install and honestly look super cool at night!</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="Montserrat, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size: large;">What are you gifting your teen this year? Leave a comment below so we can swap ideas!</span></span></div><div><br /></div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-82248057669705246702022-11-27T11:21:00.010-07:002022-11-27T15:05:14.392-07:00Holiday Gift Guide for Pre-Teen Boys!<p style="text-align: center;">The pre-teen/<a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2022/11/holiday-gift-guide-for-teen-boys.html" target="_blank">teen</a> years are in full force at my house as Roman + Asher are 11 and 14 now. <i>(Can you even believe it?)</i> It was definitely a shift holiday-shopping wise, and I still a struggle to find gifts that my boys aren't going to roll their eyes at on Christmas morning! Now that I've found a groove with shopping for my teenie-boppers, I thought I'd share some of my best finds that have been a hit over the past few years! (Plus a few additional ideas.)</p><p style="text-align: center;">.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Be sure to check out my <a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2022/11/holiday-gift-guide-for-teen-boys.html" target="_blank">Holiday Gift Guide for Teen Boys</a> post as well!</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i>*This post contains affiliate links. I truly appreciate when you use my links to shop!</i></span></p>
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<div><br /></div><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPdDT" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">heyday Suitcase Turntable</span></a><div><br /></div><div>One of the best gift suggestions I have for your pre-teen! The best part is that these are bluetooth-compatible and able to play music outside of records as well. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPedt" target="_blank">Candy Claw Machine</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>How fun is this? Such a unique gift and the perfect game for your pre-teen to share with their friends as well. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPefn" target="_blank">LipSmacker Soda Collection</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been a LipSmacker fan since 3rd grade... so many fun options and this soda collection pack makes a fun pre-teen stocking stuffer!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPedK" target="_blank">Crocs</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I can attest to the popularity of Crocs by how many collect by my front door when the boys have friends over... My boys love to throw these on when they head out the door for basketball practice.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPefJ" target="_blank">Stranger Things Graphic Novel Set</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Is your pre-teen also obsessed with Stranger Things? Our whole family loves this show and this graphic novel set is a great way to convince your kiddo to "read" a little during holiday break.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPefR" target="_blank">Mini Essential Oil Diffuser</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>A cute mini-diffuser, perfect for your pre-teen's room as they enter the smellier years of childhood...</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPefw" target="_blank">Smithsonian Plasma Ball</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a hit present for our 11 year old last year!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPed0" target="_blank">Funko Pops</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>My 11 year old has quite the collection of Funko Pops in his room. These are an inexpensive present and there are many options from sports players to superheroes to characters from all the popular shows.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPeeA" target="_blank">Bean Bag Chair</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div>What pre-teen doesn't want a bean bag chair in their room? If your guy doesn't have one yet - this is the year!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPeeV" target="_blank">Intax Polaroid Camera</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div>Such a fun blast from the past and really popular with kids right now.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPedS" target="_blank">Smiley Face Beanie</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div>The smiley-face trend makes me so happy... my boys both have smiley face socks & slippers. This may make it into the stockings this year.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/bPee4" target="_blank">LED Strip Lights</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div>My sons both have these in their room. Easy to install and honestly look super cool at night!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>What are you gifting your pre-teen this year? </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">Leave a comment below so we can swap ideas!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h1 class="Heading__StyledHeading-sc-1ihrzmk-0 jmSnUp h-text-bold h-margin-b-tight" data-test="product-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica for Target", HelveticaForTarget, Targetica, "HelveticaNeue for Target", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 23px; line-height: 1.25; margin-bottom: 12px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; outline: 0px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline;" tabindex="-1"><br /></h1><div><br /></div></div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-26623671133350571432022-04-03T20:29:00.093-06:002022-11-27T16:33:56.097-07:00Denver Staycation: Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This blog post is in partnership with Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station. All opinions expressed are my own.</i></span></p><p>Winter this year has felt <i>long</i> and my family has been in desperate need of a getaway. Since the boys are between basketball seasons right now, we planned a little Denver staycation weekend which was exactly what we all needed!</p><p><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/51980862293/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)"><img alt="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)" height="976" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51980862293_8baf273b66_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a></p><p>We stayed at the <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/denungi-hilton-garden-inn-denver-union-station/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station</a>, nestled right in downtown Denver between Union Station, Coors Field, and the Museum of Contemporary Art! This was such a perfect spot for a combination of relaxing at the hotel during the day and venturing into downtown in the evening.</p><p><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/51980797836/in/dateposted-public/" title="Photo Mar 26, 1 55 28 PM"><img alt="Photo Mar 26, 1 55 28 PM" height="1200" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51980797836_7dd9e9df82_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/51980963143/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)"><img alt="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)" height="976" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51980963143_c678d33923_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="falseee" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/51981156234/in/dateposted-public/" title="Hilton"><img alt="Hilton" height="1200" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51981156234_3bbd87e2d6_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/51979891112/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)"><img alt="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)" height="976" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51979891112_b57d0c3dc0_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a></p><p>Roman and I love exploring a new hotel and we had fun finding all the cozy lounge spots, with the real prize being the 54 foot heated indoor pool featuring an incredible view of the city! The highlight of the weekend for the boys was definitely the pool - we went 3 times!</p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/51981363990/in/dateposted-public/" title="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)"><img alt="Untitled (1500 Ć 1000 px)" height="976" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51981363990_287d8eefbc_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a>We enjoyed breakfast at the Garden Lane Canteen found right in the lobby! The kids loved the combination of ordering a hot breakfast but also being able to the enjoy all the perfect hotel breakfast buffet items as well. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Overall, our weekend was the perfect mix of relaxing in clean, white hotel bedding, laughing with the family at the pool, and exploring downtown Denver. I loved that the <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/denungi-hilton-garden-inn-denver-union-station/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station</a> felt more like a true "experience" vs. just a place to stay the night. We can't wait to return!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QuVHQrUcU_Y" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com0Denver, CO, USA39.7392358 -104.99025111.429001963821158 -140.146501 68.049469636178856 -69.834001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-63581472648945309262022-01-24T12:19:00.000-07:002022-01-24T21:09:32.895-07:005 Best Money Making Apps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">Are you like me and always looking for ways to make a little extra cash? It can be hard to tell which apps/websites are legitimate ways to make money. I'm sharing my 5 favorite resources that really work! These are all fun, easy ways that I earn extra money!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*contains affiliate links</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="www.bygillianclaire.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="5"><img alt="5" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50703104072_b35d49c460_c.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">1. <a href="https://share.acorns.com/Gillian5" target="_blank">Acorns</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I am thrilled I found <a href="https://share.acorns.com/Gillian5" target="_blank">Acorns</a> which is an investment/savings app rolled into one. I've earned money & <i>saved more as well</i> since opening my account! You can withdrawal money to your linked checking account at any time. This one does cost a few dollars a month to use but it's worth it compared to what you will quickly earn/save!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Experts do the investing for you in stocks such as Nike, Walmart, Grubhub etc. No prior knowledge is needed which is perfect because I had no idea where to start with investing!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://share.acorns.com/Gillian5" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Acorns</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> gives the option to round up your spare change on purchases made </span>with<span style="font-family: inherit;"> your debit card directly into your </span><a href="https://share.acorns.com/Gillian5" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Acorns</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> account, creating savings for you + investing your change at the same time! I've made over $100 in investments so far and saved a big chunk of money by simply automatically setting aside my spare change!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There are other ways to use Acorns as well such as depositing an extra $5 or $10 a week into your account. My Acorns account has been a game changer in stepping up my savings strategy. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">This app is literally awesome</i><i style="font-family: inherit;">. </i></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://share.acorns.com/Gillian5" target="_blank">Start off with $5 in your account by setting one up today</a>!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">2. <a href="https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/1005cd3f?friend_code=tddfoyb">Ibotta</a></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/1005cd3f?friend_code=tddfoyb" target="_blank">Ibotta</a> is the most lucrative coupon app in my eyes. I love using <a href="https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/1005cd3f?friend_code=tddfoyb" target="_blank">Ibotta</a> to earn cash back simply by scanning receipts! Once you earn $20, you can cash out to your bank account or PayPal. I've cashed out many times on Ibotta & you really rack up $$$ quickly!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">The easiest way to earn money on <a href="https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/1005cd3f?friend_code=tddfoyb" target="_blank">Ibotta</a> is from grocery purchases. Each week there are a selection of grocery items from different stores featured on </span><a href="https://ibotta.com/register?friend=tddfoyb" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #999999; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ibotta</a><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">. Some of the items are brand specific (such as Eggo Waffles) but there are also generic options like "bread" or "cereal". You go through the list selecting each item that appears on your grocery receipt, scan each item's barcode and then scan the receipt using your phone.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/1005cd3f?friend_code=tddfoyb" target="_blank">Download the Ibotta app to easily earn cash back from receipts</a>!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referraltext?code=U7MHM" target="_blank">3. Fetch</a></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referraltext?code=U7MHM" target="_blank">Fetch</a> is fairly new to me but I finally downloaded this app after reading great reviews and it's </span>proving to live up to the hype<span style="font-family: inherit;">! With <a href="https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referraltext?code=U7MHM" target="_blank">Fetch</a>, you easily add up points for every receipt you scan. Points can then be redeemed for gift cards or other prizes! On <a href="https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referraltext?code=U7MHM" target="_blank">Fetch</a>, you earn for specific items similar to Ibotta but also just in general for each receipt. There is no scanning items so you quickly and easily receive </span>points in seconds!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referraltext?code=U7MHM" target="_blank">Use my code: U7MHM or click here to get $2 automatically in your account when you sign up</a>!</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://getsk.co/fun321438" target="_blank">4. Shopkick</a></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222;">There are a few ways to earn points using </span><a href="https://getsk.co/fun321438" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-style: none; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;"><u>Shopkick</u></span></a><span style="color: #222222;">. My favorite and easiest way is to "check in" at different stores. You literally just open the app on your phone and click on the store that you are currently inside! Points can also be earned by scanning selected items inside the store or connecting the app to your credit card to earn points with purchases. Points can be cashed in for gift cards. I always get the Target gift cards and they can be scanned at checkout right off the app!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); clear: both; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Use my code: <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">FUN321438</span> or </span><a href="https://getsk.co/fun321438" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">click</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://getsk.co/fun321438" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;"> here to earn 250 kicks automatically after you use Shopkick</span></a><span style="color: #222222;"> for the first time!</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> </span></span></span></div><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://app.adjust.com/oqlq9t9?label=1JT8KE1" target="_blank">5. Receipt Pal</a></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">I like <a href="https://app.adjust.com/oqlq9t9?label=1JT8KE1" target="_blank">this app</a> because it's super simple + fast. All that's required to earn points is scanning any receipt! For every 4 receipts, you earn 100 points, easy peasy. Points can be redeemed for Amazon gift cards and we all love Amazon, am I right?!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://app.adjust.com/oqlq9t9?label=1JT8KE1" target="_blank">Download Receipt Pal + start earning gift cards</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you found a new app or two to download today. You may as well earn a little money by simply rounding up </span>spare<span style="font-family: inherit;"> change or scanning </span>receipts<span style="font-family: inherit;"> before tossing them! I love using what I earn from my apps for Christmas presents + my Acorns account has truly stepped up my savings game for the future! Leave a comment and let us know if you </span>have<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a favorite way of making extra money that needs to be added to the list!</span></span></p>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-14540584611588644152020-11-01T12:24:00.007-07:002022-11-27T11:28:36.508-07:00"Take Two."<center><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50555088266/in/dateposted-public/" title="DDAA3182-B0A8-44C0-A949-5EB303B3FAA1"><img alt="DDAA3182-B0A8-44C0-A949-5EB303B3FAA1" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50555088266_20e2e6c423_z.jpg" width="512" /></a></center><center><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">Photos: 2017- Ash by the creek, our now house in the background.</span></center><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Life is lived in circles. Circling the sun, through seasons... and for the 7 years weāve lived in this neighborhood, weāve been circling around these paths & trails as well. I have countless pictures of my boys through the years in the same spots. Tiny with big trees, playing in front of mountains, standing by the creek soaked in sunflare. So many walks during some of the darkest times for me. Years ago, in therapy, I shared that the only time I felt peace was on my daily walk and my therapist suggested, ātake two.ā</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;">These trails hold many ghosts for me, good and bad. Walking to forget & distract but also to be with nature & with my sweet growing boys. I see them through the years, picking flowers, riding scooters, running, laughing, pushing our cat in the stroller... So many memories swirling and circling, sometimes my brain canāt catch up to how we got to today. But weāre here, feet planted as the world still moves.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;">In July, we bought a house right next to this creek & green path. Iāve been here hundreds of times, so many pictures and memories made. And in the background of those photos, now- I see my future. My fence, our house waiting.</span><br style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;" /><br style="caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;" /><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626;">One foot in front of the other, the loops donāt stop. Iām still prone to using distraction to cope. Quiet is always unsettling for me. As the memories spin, I try to sort through these collected snapshots flipping through my mind. I want to learn that I donāt need to constantly be on the chase. But when the stillness gets hard, Iāll keep walking. Circling the past, present & future- trying to make sense of it all.</span></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-size: 14px;">
</span></p><center><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(38, 38, 38); color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50554354243/in/dateposted-public/" title="06E499DE-6258-452B-AB47-E7CEA5715C5F"><img alt="06E499DE-6258-452B-AB47-E7CEA5715C5F" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50554354243_35bef8a341_z.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></center><p></p>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-5418309687417086782020-10-18T14:07:00.162-06:002020-10-18T15:25:31.604-06:00Idaho Sunsets<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50503126492/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2939"><img alt="IMG_2939" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50503126492_1ba1b1a49f_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50503126657/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2938"><img alt="IMG_2938" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50503126657_d233e56561_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><div>For months we've all been seemingly looking at the same things every day. Whatever our views may be... there is a similar sameness to the routine. For 7 months, we've been locked down. <p><b>For us, Quarantine has looked like:</b></p><p>-two parents juggling 40 hour work weeks,</p><p>-two bored kids doing 100% virtual school,</p><p>-losing my freelance Virtual Assistant work for the time being but being truly thankful to <i>not </i>be working extra during this time and for somehow maintaining a full-time job,</p><p>-house hunting like crazy & putting offers on 3 houses,</p><p>-buying a home in Colorado, <i>*a huge blessing</i></p><p>-adopting the little white kitten of our dreams, <i>*blessing #2, I've been manifesting this Colorado house & white kitten and they both came true this summer. </i></p><p>-many tears of overwhelm, guilt & stress, (why do we carry so much unnecessary weight?)</p><p>-moments of worry about making the right choices and keeping our kids safe,</p><p>-moving/packing/purging an entire home for the second time in a calendar year,</p><p>-diving into renovations, </p><p>-going off my antidepressants & struggling with a huge dip in emotions,</p><p>-thankful to be some of the lucky ones who kept their jobs & health but thankful amidst pure exhaustion.</p><p><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50387772942/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2950"><img alt="IMG_2950" height="1067" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50387772942_fd30027995_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a></p><p>The past 7 months have seemed consumed with an unbelievable turn of events on earth: a pandemic, mandatory mask wearing, rules & guidelines we never imagined we'd experience in our lifetime. Our nation has experienced a strong but inevitable divide as we approach this year's election. We've looked towards friends & family members and asked, "how?" as we find our beliefs so drastically opposing. Our land feels filled with devastation: floods, hurricanes & fires. Our fire here in northern Colorado has been raging & growing for over 2 months strong.</p><p>The past 7 months have been overwhelming & honestly lonely for me. One of the best decisions we made recently was to get away. We took a 4 day road trip from Colorado through Wyoming, Montana & stayed in Idaho. It was the best decision to spend 4 days constantly lifting our eyes towards something beautiful. </p><p>Our last night in town Aaron, Asher & I drove down the back road behind our resort looking for rocks and I took pictures of cows.</p><p>These were my absolute favorite moments of the trip... silence for miles around, massive mountains reminding me just how little our problems are. My husband looking for rocks with my sweet little boy, and me: taking pictures of some of my favorite animals standing strong as the sun went down. </p><p>The past 7 months have been so ridiculously hard.</p><p>I seem to be going through the motions but when I close my eyes, sometimes I still see this Idaho sunset. </p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50502360213/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2951"><img alt="IMG_2951" height="1067" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50502360213_8fca7aa3de_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50387772977/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2949"><img alt="IMG_2949" height="1067" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50387772977_d59d001a20_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="falsse" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50387596856/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2943"><img alt="IMG_2943" height="1067" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50387596856_9922625956_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50387596916/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2942"><img alt="IMG_2942" height="1067" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50387596916_5985d28f14_h.jpg" width="1600" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Island Park, Idaho</div><div style="text-align: center;">late September, 2020</div><div><br /></div></div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-77411114016239364912020-08-03T11:05:00.004-06:002020-08-03T20:16:13.636-06:00Of sunflowers.<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50182708562/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2586"><img alt="IMG_2586" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50182708562_1a2595206c_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In a world filled with disappointment, all I see here is goodness & hope for the future. In a sea of sunflowers, they are turning their faces towards you.</div><div><br /><div><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50182708257/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2592"><img alt="IMG_2592" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50182708257_40682090de_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50182450646/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2618"><img alt="IMG_2618" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50182450646_3520801840_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50181907918/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2600"><img alt="IMG_2600" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50181907918_835f0f06e8_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50181909283/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2530"><img alt="IMG_2530" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50181909283_62ec8d3251_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Roman, age 12</div><div style="text-align: center;">Windsor, Colorado</div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-37953821466117799172020-08-01T21:07:00.002-06:002020-09-26T18:31:09.529-06:00Our Little White Cat<div style="text-align: center;">Meet our new kitten, Melo!</div><div><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50126046996/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2428"><img alt="IMG_2428" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50126046996_35a5b1267c_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My desire to adopt a second kitty has heightened since COVID but we wanted to wait until we moved before bringing another cat home. Since we're closing on our house this week so I figured it's as good a time as any! (I couldn't wait any longer, I have kitten fever...)</div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I came across "Pyrite" on Instagram and fell in love when I came across the photo of this sweet white kitten.</div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Melo is deaf but it definitely doesn't hold him back at all. He is playful & curious as all get out but also the sweetest, most cuddly baby when he finally tuckers himself out. </div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Is there anything sweeter & more pure in this world than a kitten? Asher has dreamt of having an "all white cat" since he was very small. I'm so happy to have made his wish come true.</div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50126046946/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2430"><img alt="IMG_2430" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50126046946_7a29c789f2_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50126046906/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2432"><img alt="IMG_2432" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50126046906_2fb9eb03ef_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a>
.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2017/10/we-got-pet.html" target="_blank">Throwback to kitten Finn</a></div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-8091620859442419142020-08-01T20:59:00.000-06:002020-08-01T20:59:50.437-06:009 years of magic<div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50140864897/in/dateposted-public/" style="text-align: left;" title="IMG_2206"><img alt="IMG_2206" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50140864897_536f7a9366_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">9 years of magic with this one!</div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">My rainbow after loss, my dream come true natural childbirth & my miracle NICU baby. I vividly remember asking God to protect this soul and I still truly don't take his answers for granted. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Ash. </div><div><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/50140871547/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_2208"><img alt="IMG_2208" height="683" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50140871547_8eb7d1908b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">.</div><div style="text-align: center;">9 years ago this month was when this blog was born as well!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a throw back to the <a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2011/07/meet-asher.html" target="_blank">post where I introduced baby Asher</a>. :) </div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-38940314287287426632020-05-17T09:06:00.001-06:002020-05-17T09:06:43.311-06:00Behind The Mask<div style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
Behind The Mask: my sweet firstborn who just graduated 6th grade from home! <span class="_5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 1px;"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/ted/2/16/2764.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 16px;">ā¤ļø</span></span></div>
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Iāve put in late nights with this one who hasnāt seen his friends in 50 days, who is missing his first season of track and whose dreams of āthe best summer ever,ā have been put on hold.</div>
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Despite his worries that Coronavirus will never go away, he is making lists of what he wants to do during this time, learning new basketball skills and making memories with his family. Stay strong sweet boy, this wi<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">ll end. </span></div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-38146002050036058112020-05-03T19:54:00.001-06:002020-05-05T10:07:25.255-06:00You are water.<br />
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I wrote about you, sweet boy, before you were here. My little Ash- I dreamt of you. First your name, then of your soft golden hair. You are the best secret I even wrote down on paper all those years ago.</div>
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If only I could write the rest of your life for you just as easily. I would say: be strong, be courageous, be a peacekeeper.</div>
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You are water. Sweetly rushing down the river always chasing the next thought.</div>
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Peace between the trees, you've offered the world your time.</div>
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You have a spirit boundless as the mountains...</div>
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don't forget to find yourself sweet boy.</div>
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gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-32259338546919646342020-04-27T08:00:00.000-06:002020-05-03T19:58:28.029-06:00grasping at snowflakesThis spring is obviously different than any before. Schools are closed and my boys are home doing online "homeschool." The neighborhood kids aren't knocking on the door and we're hunkered down, safer at home. Years ago, I thought homeschool was 100% what I'd choose for these little ones (<a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2013/09/kindergarten-first-day.html" target="_blank">here's a throwback</a>) but a lot has changed since then. Now I miss the enrichment of school for them and Aaron and I are both lucky enough to be still working full-time jobs but scrambling to make it all work behind the scenes.<br />
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I took these photos on April 16th during a 12 inch snowfall. Aaron couldn't get over our hill to work & I was working from home. I had my camera out after doing product photos for work and Roman said yes to a little winter wonderland photoshoot.<br />
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I couldn't be happier with these photos. I haven't had time in survival mode to make much art and my heart comes alive capturing memories of these boys.<br />
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This Northern Colorado spring day set the scene for the real life snow globe we are living in right now. Our world has become very small but it is so filled with magic and snowflakes. I am the luckiest mom alive. Grasping to catch these snowflake moments while also mentally exhausted as well.<br />
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Sending light & love. I hope you catch a snowflake or two today.</div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-878633634556181392020-01-18T09:37:00.001-07:002020-03-02T07:49:46.092-07:00To The Squad-less, The Tribe-less & The Ones Raising Kids Without A Village<div style="text-align: center;">
Seen on <a href="https://www.scarymommy.com/squad-less-moms-no-village/" target="_blank">Scary Mommy</a></div>
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In a culture hooked on buzzwords like "squad" and "tribe," I'm sometimes left wondering if I'm the only one over here scratching my head... One phrase that really echoes in my brain in regards to child-rearing is, "it takes a village." <br />
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But what if you don't have one?<br />
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I got married as a teenager and was pregnant by 20. When most of my high school friends were focused on figuring themselves out in college, I was figuring out breastfeeding and completely zeroed in on this new baby in my arms. I surprisingly didn't feel lonely during those young years on the narrow path. In fact, mothering was a dream come true for me and I poured every ounce of my being into caring for my son in our one bedroom apartment, $425/month. This was 12 years ago, before social media was there to remind me at the drop of a hat that I wasn't doing life the same way as everyone else. I carried on blissfully unaware in my little bubble where I truly felt like I had everything I needed.<br />
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My husband is very (as he absolutely should be) dedicated to this parenting gig, so I don't claim to know or even begin to imagine what single parents go through. But for me, outside of him, that "village" you hear of seems very elusive... I love my extended family but we were never in a situation of grandparents taking the kids for sleepovers and when our boys were 5 & 1, we moved across the country to start a different life alone.<br />
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Of course, I've asked for help from a select few in moments of need but mostly it's been me and my husband tag-teaming. I never thought much was unique about our setup until social media added it to my list of things to feel inadequate about. (Other things on said list include a house on par with Joanna Gaines' standards, the perfect mom bun & kids in matching, monotone pjs.)<br />
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Via Instagram, I've started to see that moms seems to have this magical "tribe" whom they couldn't survive without... that bestie who stops by and scoops the children over for a playdate when she's feeling overwhelmed. Friends Venmoing Starbucks gift cards on a rough day and dropping off a homemade lasagna when their kids are sick with strep throat.<br />
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"It takes a village," they always seem to say...<br />
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My reality has been that my husband and I worked opposite shifts for years to make ends meet, Netflix getting us through the hard times and the only "bestie" dropping off food was the Domino's pizza delivery guy. I don't share this to complain; I'm totally at peace with our lifestyle. In fact, I never felt like it went against the grain until social media gave me a backstage pass to the Jone's everyday. I am very independent by nature and enjoy functioning that way but it does leave me wondering if I'm the only one out here in trenches without my "ride or dies." Just going through the motions and hoping to God I'll get to take a nap or two on the weekends.<br />
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I am so grateful for the friends I've met along my journey whether they've stayed for a long time or briefly popped in and out. It's healthy to find human connection but I don't necessarily think I've created a "village" and I don't have a group of friends helping me with parenting, that's for sure.<br />
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I value time to myself and am involved in yoga and jump on the invite to join a book club or have dinner with other moms. There are people I enjoy spending time with when I get the chance but I wouldn't describe them as the "people I do life with" or my "tribe." Making friends as an adult is hard! Moving from Ohio to Colorado was one of the best decisions I've ever made but it also meant starting over and meeting people from scratch.<br />
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I will say, that even sans village, my kids seem to be making it ok. If anything, they know that their parents love them more than the moon and stars. Being their mother is still a dream I don't take for granted. No, my husband and I don't have a lot of "backup," our family lives hundreds of miles away, but we make it work. We are these boys' world and we will always find a way to provide no matter what.<br />
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So, the squad-less, the tribe-less, the ones raising their kids without a lot of help: cheers.<br />
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I'm here to say that I DON'T think it takes a village... but it sure as hell takes a lot of hard work.gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-33532906574066830962019-12-29T14:24:00.001-07:002019-12-29T14:47:45.631-07:00Look at the view from here...If I could have known at 14 that my life would lead here, living next to the Rocky Mountains with my childhood love & our two hilarious little boys, I would have thought my future life turned out perfectly...
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But what I wouldn't have seen are the real life mountains I had to climb to get here. I wouldn't have seen how low the valleys are in-between. I couldn't have understood the childhood trauma I'd begin to unravel: the anxiety, the confusion, the pain of losing what I once had. The journey and process of beginning to find myself again every day as an adult.<br />
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There's no way I could have comprehended what I know now and thank God I didn't know then. But damn, I've made it far. I'm working hard and grateful every day that driving towards the mountains means going home. I'm still chasing this boy from church camp, living out my dream as a mother raising two of my very best friends.<br />
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I wish 14 year old Gillian could see this picture and I'm glad it would make her happy. It makes me smile to think of the joy I'd feel and how naive & hopeful I was then.<br />
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Life is far from the perfect fairy tale I would have imaged looking at this photo, but wow- look at view from here...gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-73659405033669632272019-12-25T20:15:00.003-07:002019-12-26T18:18:59.263-07:00Holidays 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Holidays from our family to yours!<br />
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Here's to the fact that I got my boys to wear matching outfits and smile (begrudgingly) for the camera. These were taken on Thanksgiving after we had 16 inches of snow in Fort Collins.
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Today is Christmas and I think I was more excited about waking up this morning than the kids and I hardly slept last night... Seeing my boys peek into the living room on Christmas morning is one of the happiest moments of parenthood for me! Santa brought bean bag chairs and a foosball table this year. Roman's face was absurdly cute when he was genuinely excited to see the foosball table after ripping off the paper. :) </div>
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I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day; thanks for stopping by. āŗļø</div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-44507289189561122802019-11-07T19:37:00.002-07:002019-12-26T18:20:14.311-07:00Camping on the Poudre River<div style="text-align: center;">
Camping on the Poudre River, Colorado<br />
Summer 2019<br />
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Summer is officially over and I'm kicking and screaming about it... (It's my blog and I can whine if I want to!) I miss the hot sunshine on my skin. I miss going on barefoot walks in my neighborhood. I've traded in bare feet for another Colorado winter where I take any glimpse of warmth as a chance to wear sandals. Cue people saying to me, "Aren't your feet cold??" all winter long... and yes they are cold just like my SOUL in wintertime.<br />
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Now that the whining is out of the way, I want to share a few photos from a camping trip we took in August! We fell asleep next to the rushing of the Poudre River. We tucked ourselves in by the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and I had to pinch myself that we were just down the road from where we call home. This summer marks 6 years from our move out West and I can truly say I'm still in awe.<br />
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So yeah, the winter starts in October here. We've already had a blizzard and several snowstorms but damn it- these views, this state, the wide open skies and mountain sunsets make it ALL worth it.<br />
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Happy cold season friends. It's time to trade in the sundresses for seasonal depression; I can't wait to ditch the shoes again this Spring.<br />
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(An absolute favorite photo of my two absolute favorite little boys!)</div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-79511120012319162212019-02-01T08:59:00.005-07:002022-11-27T11:29:26.635-07:00New Years Resolutions (For Our Cat!)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #proplanprobiotic #CollectiveBias</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's been a little while since I've shared some updated photos on our cute cat, Finn and I'm excited that my new partnership with <a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span></a> gives me the purr-fect chance!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finn is now about a year and half old and I still feel like bringing a cat home was one of the best decisions I've made for our household. He is a very social cat and never fails to add a little bit of humor, excitement or companionship each day in our house. Adopting a cat into our family was one of the easiest and yet most substantial moves I've made to enrich our lives</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we're heading into the New Year, I thought it would be fun to spin the idea of New Year's Resolutions onto our kitty! I'm not a huge New Year's Resolutions person but I do find that January is a good chance to re-evaluate things and make changes or shifts in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are 3 things I've decided that I'd like us to work on this year when it comes to our roles as pet owners:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1. Fix bad habits</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finn is such a joy but like any normal pet, he has a couple behavioral issues. Upon sharing some things with his vet, she recommended contacting a pet behavior specialist through our local cat shelter. This is something I'd really like to look into this year. I want to do everything I can do make sure things run smoothly and I don't always know the best answers to dealing with issues that come up! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Have you ever worked with a pet behavior specialist?</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">2. Keep Up With Finn's Nutrition</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes it can be tempting for me to buy the "cheapest" cat food to save money. However, I try to remember that my cat's health is a priority and look for the best nutrition at a good price for him. This year I wanted to change up Finn's pet food and I was really intrigued by the past that Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> has a new food out with probiotics! Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> has been fueling pets since 1986 (<i>also, the year I was born!</i>) and we recently had the opportunity to let Finn try out <a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Pro Plan<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> which with guaranteed live probiotics to support a cat's digestive health!</span></div>
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<a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="purina 3" height="259" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4887/46224864404_42f120136e_c.jpg" width="800" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Pro Plan<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Savor</a> offers the advanced nutrition your cat needs to live a healthy & active life in a variety of flavors and textures. We chose the chicken & rice dry food and Finn finished his helping very quickly! I like that real protein is the #1 ingredient in all <a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Pro Plan<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span></a> dry formulas.</span></div>
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<a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQp_cq_c5E0_ajyQHmi1_vUxzU020g0Oo_Q53rJ4Udi3JwWtJRbJfiHPgoHYChTXlUH8tm91Tw0YzRTh4iMd2CilunwioYpxN_e0hyROInPND_kHnmcYKCQuRUVMz8ie8iLtClg0Iag3T/s400/Purina+PetsMart.jpeg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We purchased this cat food at our local PetSmart which is also were we adopted Finn! Currently if you buy Pro Plan<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Savor Dry, <a href="http://cbi.as/a2ybl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">you'll get $10 back in the form of a digital prepaid card</a>! Click <u><i><a href="http://cbi.as/a2ybl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HERE</a></i></u> for the offer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check out the link: <i>HERE</i> to learn more about the $10 offer and Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Pro Plan<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Savor products!</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: #333333; font-size: x-large;"></b><br /></span>
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<b style="color: #333333;"><b style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">3. Most Importantly, Remember to Appreciate Him</span></b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Finn is such an affectionate pet and I've been noticing how sometimes I don't appreciate all the effort he makes. I want to make sure that the honor of having a special animal friend doesn't start to get ignored in our household. One little thing I've started doing is greeting him with a little head scratch when I first walk in the door. Finn always comes running to the door to great me (<i>yep, he's a little dog-like!</i>) and it only takes me a second out of my day to reciprocate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Are there any little ways you can show your pet you appreciate them?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope you enjoyed this twist on New Year's Resolutions and that it maybe sparks some ideas on how you can improve your pet's life this year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out the </span><a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">link: <i>HERE</i> to learn more about the $10 offer</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and </span><a href="http://cbi.as/a2y6m" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Purina<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span> Pro Plan<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"> </span>Savor<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">Ā®</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> products!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Find me on Instagram <i><a href="http://www.instagram.com/bygillianclaire" target="_blank">HERE</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some other kitty posts on my blog if you'd like to check them out!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2017/10/we-got-pet.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We Got A Pet!</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2017/10/fall-ing-in-love-with-our-kitten.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fall-ing In Love With Our Kitty</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2018/02/teaching-children-responsibility.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Teaching Children Responsibility Through Pet Care</span></a></div>
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gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-17451659938995758412019-01-29T13:44:00.000-07:002019-01-29T14:01:00.493-07:00Cleaning Up My Coffee Routine in 2019<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This post is sponsored by <a href="https://ooh.li/19783e6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Left Field Farms</a> but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.</i></div>
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Coffee is a huge part of my every day. It's weird to think back to a time when I didn't drink coffee every morning but having my second baby 7 years ago definitely changed that for me! </div>
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My health and finding natural alternatives are also huge priorities in my life and I started to find over the past couple years that my coffee habit was becoming a bit unhealthy.<br />
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<a href="https://ooh.li/c5cca7a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6277" height="534" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4809/46867066382_3dbd28b5d5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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My coffee intake certainly ramped up in frequency when I started working from home 2 years ago. I began my day with 2 cups of coffee as I sat down at my laptop to answer emails. In addition, I frequented the coffee<br />
shop drive-thru to grab a large iced coffee as a little afternoon break/pick-me-up.</div>
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That's a lot of caffeine, and because I like my coffee sweet: it was also a <i><u>lot</u></i> of sugar! So, I've been trying to clean things up a little bit this year.</div>
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I have tried to cut my coffee routine down to one cup at home in the morning and only an occasional <i><u>smaller</u></i> iced coffee out as a treat.<br />
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I've also been looking for a way to clean up the ingredients in my morning coffee since the coffee creamer I've been loyal to for years is full of chemicals and ingredients I can't pronounce. I'm so happy to have come across<br />
<a href="https://ooh.li/19783e6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Left Field Farms coffee creamer</a> for a few reasons:</div>
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<b>1. Their creamers are non-GMO project verified</b></div>
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<b>2. Their cows are not treated with rBST</b></div>
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<b>3. No artificial flavors</b></div>
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<b>4. Made with real cream, milk & sugar</b></div>
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<b>5. Short ingredient list that I can actually read!</b><br />
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<a href="https://ooh.li/19783e6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6262" height="534" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4831/46194392264_02433d2d9e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
<a href="https://ooh.li/19783e6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6263" height="534" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4890/31978052277_c1f94908d9_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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I'm really happy to have found this <a href="https://ooh.li/19783e6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">better for you creamer</a> to incorporate into my morning routine. Since coffee creamer is something I use every day; it's important to me to find an alternative with<br />
safer ingredients without sacrificing taste.</div>
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<a href="https://ooh.li/c5cca7a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="Natural Creamer 7" height="293" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7891/39954747773_19f1390ccf_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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I found Left Field Farms creamer in the dairy aisle of my local Walmart. </div>
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(Leave a comment if you're a reader from Fort Collins, Colorado!)</div>
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.<a href="https://ooh.li/c5cca7a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="Natural Creamer 1" height="600" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7891/46194388784_eaceb1db89_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
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So, I want to know: what is <u><i>your</i></u> daily coffee routine?<br />
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Are you trying to cut down on caffeine or improve the quality of ingredients you put in your </div>
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morning cup of joe in 2019?</div>
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Let me know below!</div>
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Also, be sure to check out <a href="https://ooh.li/c5cca7a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Left Field Farms</a> and learn more about why they are a better choice for coffee creamer.</div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-20551624742374704322019-01-08T21:36:00.002-07:002019-01-08T21:46:30.327-07:00The Bachelor Recap: Colton's Premier!Ok, first let's talk about the elephant in the room... Colton's virginity... oh <i>WAIT</i>, production has been anything but discrete about this topic since we met Colton months ago. I've had some hesitations about this season because of how much they've played up the simple fact that Colton Underwood has never had sex. I mean, the whole "what does he have to lose" tagline- oh my god please make it stop.<br />
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Overall, I think it's really neat that this show has shed light on the topic of virginity with big names such as Ashley I, Becca Tilley... and now Colton. It's been refreshing to see a different perspective! I just had to roll my eyes through all the virginity jokes last night and try to enjoy the episode.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07OFH7AtrxT1J3qcsNS9vWFAVOBusTeAikdwS95yOAE4eRXAB_MjSJ4UEOJczfLbpLwGGGvGLgualL7vl1OjAN8oG6V6T599yvnr8q5INLixeVHXmgPBZoXQe-QCCRz3BziNt52MaA9bA/s1600/Bachelor+Night+One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="1600" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07OFH7AtrxT1J3qcsNS9vWFAVOBusTeAikdwS95yOAE4eRXAB_MjSJ4UEOJczfLbpLwGGGvGLgualL7vl1OjAN8oG6V6T599yvnr8q5INLixeVHXmgPBZoXQe-QCCRz3BziNt52MaA9bA/s640/Bachelor+Night+One.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Photo Via ABC/Rick Powell</b></div>
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So, night one. 3 hours. Wow. Because I'm a mom of two kids, I usually keep up with The Bachelor on Hulu. This year though, I'm trying something new. I moved the TV from the living room into my bedroom, grabbed my dinner, turned on my salt lamp (setting the mood here, guys) and shut the door for 3 hours. Bye bye family: it's Bachelor/Mommy time.<br />
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I liked the way they did the premier this time around. I felt like they mixed it up well with the different live viewing parties, the cute little mashup of all the Bachelor babies, and of course the tribute to Chris Harrison which literally brought tears to my eyes. (I need help.)<br />
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Which brings me to my next point... I also cried during the two fan proposals and <u><i>that</i></u> my friends is how you know I'm the type of person who gets sucked into a show as ridiculous as the Bachelor...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Limo Entrance Rundown</b></span><br />
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I can't even believe that I can still sit through this after so many years. I mean I kind of think episode one is a snooze fest every time but I'm a devoted fan so I must watch.<br />
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Here are my notes....<br />
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Demi: why exactly did she have to say "banana yellow" after Colton complimented her dress color? The next time someone compliments my, uh blue sweater I guess I'll come back Demi-style with, "That's sky blue, baby." Needless to say; I cringed.<br />
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<b>Photo Via ABC/Rick Powell</b></div>
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Did anyone else get serious middle school throwback vibes from Cassie's dress? I swear it's the exact type of dress my sister and I would wear to Easter Sunday mass in the 90s.<br />
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<b>Photo Via ABC/Rick Powell</b></div>
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Can we talk about Kirpa's hair... did anyone else notice?!? SHE WORE HER HAIR ALL THE WAY UP! She gets major props from me for this very un-Bachelor-esque first night move. Kirpa looked adorable. I love her.<br />
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The Sloth: watching Colton's face while The Sloth made her entrance was priceless... I mean he didn't even hide how much he hated this. This must be how people feel when they first see their Tinder date in person and they don't look like their photos.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Top 2 Eye-Roll Moments</span></b><br />
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Then we have those all those stereotypical Bachelor moments that make us all roll our eyes while simultaneously grabbing more popcorn because we love to hate them every year....<br />
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Here are my top 2 eye-roll moments:<br />
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The police car rolled down the driveway with sirens blaring and the girls all ran to look out the window like, "Oh my gosh what's happening??" What's happening? Um, a girl is using a police car as her entrance and you all know that perfectly well so PIPE DOWN.<br />
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When Demi grabbed Colton immediately after his speech for some one-on-one time and the girls are like "Woah, woah- it's happening now I guess." Some are seemingly shocked by how quickly she whisked him away... Ladies, have you ever even seen an episode of this show that you're on right now? What are y'all confused by and what did you think was going to happen? Maybe a nice sit down dinner before the sharks started feeding?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>One-On-One Time</b></span><br />
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Not even going to talk about the whole Catherine stealing him 4 times and girls getting up in arms. Been there, done that- Every. Single. Season.<br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"> Photo Via ABC/Rick Powell</b><br />
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I do want to make a quick comment on what it's like watching The Bachelor in my 30s. It hit me when I was listening to Miss North Carolina and Colton's convo about how they are apparently mature beyond their years. MNC talks about how she's been through a lot and that even at only 22 (read: basically a newborn) she seems much older. Colton responds with how he's experienced more than some people in their... wait for it, "30s" <i><b>gasp</b></i>! My question is; what if you <b><i>are</i></b> said person in their 30s who has also experienced and been through a lot in life? Does that make me basically 50 now? Seriously wondering.<br />
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Banana Yellow Demi is back... talking about she's not afraid to get dirty and says, "I know, I look so pretty right?" I now appreciate when she said banana yellow and wish she would have stuck with color explanations instead of the whole, "I'm soooo pretty, right??" Gag.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Best Quotes of the Night</b></span><br />
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"Wow, I really could have done better than a bag of nuts" DEAD<br />
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"He needs to know that I'm more than just fruit!" Preach.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hey, Let's Talk about the Virgin Thing Again...</b></span><br />
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Alright guys, premier night down. Bringing it back around to Colton's v... well ya know. On a more serious note, I'd like to point out the blatant blasphemy in the fact that if The Bachelorette was a virgin, <i>SO</i> much of this banter would be highly inappropriate and rightfully so! It does bother me how it's ok to poke fun at a guy about this topic. Why can't the issue of virginity be treated the same regardless of gender?<br />
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I think Ben Higgins did an excellent job approaching this topic on the Almost Famous Podcast today.<br />
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How do you all feel about this issue? Are we really being progressive by mocking an entire life choice?<br />
<br />
.... and on a lighter note... spill all of your favorite cringeworthy moments and <i><b>all</b></i> your feelings about The Bachelor premier with me below!<br />
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<br />gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-62138221050915219802019-01-07T13:40:00.000-07:002019-01-07T18:26:28.539-07:00Favorite Skincare Products 2018You all know by now that trying skincare products is one of my favorite things! I am always looking for my holy grail products and really enjoy having the opportunity to try new brands through my blog.
My skin issues are having breakout prone and sensitive skin. I am really careful about which products I try and always want to be honest with my followers are which things are winners as well as which products are absolute duds.<br />
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I have definitely had my ups and downs with my skin this year and wanted to put together a list of my absolute favorite products of 2018. These are all products that I currently use and love! I hope you find something that might work for you as well!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*This post includes affiliate links. Thanks for supporting me!*</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSUa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">1 / Desert Essence Organic Jojoba Oil</a></span><br />
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Delving into the Oil Cleansing Method this year has been one of the best decisions I've made for my skin. I grab this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSUa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Desert Essence Organic Jojoba Oil</a> from Sprouts and have found that it works as well or better than <i>any</i> cleanser I've ever tried. It removes all my makeup and doesn't irritate my eyes at all. It cleanses my skin and keeps it balanced when I use it religiously.<br />
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My favorite thing about the Oil Cleansing Method is the peace of mind of using a pure oil with absolutely no chemicals on my face everyday! I also love that the oil itself feels so nourishing and relaxing. To use the Oil Cleansing Method, I rub a dime sized amount of this oil between my hands and then all over my face. Next, I use a warm washcloth on my face to remove all makeup and pull dirt from my pores. I repeat the warm washcloth step several times until my face is oil free. My skin never reacts negatively to jojoba oil. If you haven't tried OCM yet; I highly suggest you try it out!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSUO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2 / OLEHENRIKSEN C-Rush Brightening Creme</a></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
OLEHENRIKSEN is a brand that literally impresses me every time. This <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSUO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">C-Rush Brightening Creme</a> is literally amazing and one of the only products I've ever used where I actually see a visual difference. I started using this as a night creme (before I was introduced to their <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSVv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum</a>, explained below) and woke up to really refreshed looking skin. I love that this product is free from parabens, sulfates & phthalates. I notice an actual difference in my skin's hydration and appearance after using this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSUO" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">creme</a>; I highly recommend this magic!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSWC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> 3 / DERMA E Anti-wrinkle Scrub</a></span><br />
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I am on the DERMA E PR list and I literally love, love, <i>love </i>this brand! They have a standard of ethical beauty meaning they never test products on animals and also care about the ingredients that they use! This <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSWC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anti-wrinkle Scrub</a> is what I currently use as an exfoliant and I love how soothing and gentle it feels.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSWJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">4 / SKINFOOD Bitter Green Cleansing Gel</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Jojoba oil is my go to cleanser but sometimes I like to mix something else into my cleansing routine as well. I highly recommend this <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSWJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SKINFOOD Bitter Green Cleansing Gel</a>. I love that the Bitter Green line from SKINFOOD is designed to "juice your skin" with green ingredients such as Kale & Broccoli. This <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSWJ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cleansing gel</a> feels very moisturizing and I love having a backup for when I'm out of my precious jojoba oil.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.vivopl.com/product/mineral-mud-clay-mask/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.vivopl.com/product/mineral-mud-clay-mask/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">5 / Vivo Per Lei Mineral Mud Clay Mask</a></span><br />
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Over the past couple years I have discovered the magic of charcoal masks! The trick to charcoal masks is that you have to find a good product that really works. <a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2017/10/skincare-benefits-of-kaolin-clay.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I worked with Vivo Per Lei last year</a> and ended up falling in LOVE with this Mineral Mud Mask with kaolin and charcoal clay. The mask itself is so smooth, cool and soothing and it really cleans out my pores. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSVv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">6 / OLEHENRIKSEN Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum</a></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Another winning OLEHENRIKEN product! This <a href="https://shopstyle.it/l/XSVv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum</a> uses a plant-based retinol alternative. This product feels very similar to their C-rush Creme to me and also gives dramatic visual results (in my experience). When I use this at night, I literally wake up glowy and my skin looks more plump and refreshed. This is seriously a miracle product and I don't use that term lightly!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Which products ended up being your 2018 favorites? I'd love to know!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year!</span></b></div>
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gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-73714993675198034262018-08-03T15:11:00.001-06:002018-08-03T15:11:53.397-06:00World Breastfeeding Week + Why I Don't Find Judgement "Natural"<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/9417008939/" title="IMG_3825 by {gillian}photos, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3825" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/9417008939_32fc96659a_c.jpg" height="534" width="800" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/9419775728/" title="IMG_3827 by {gillian}photos, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_3827" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/9419775728_9e92bb8d79_c.jpg" height="534" width="800" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This is a blog post I originally wrote in 2013 and wanted to revisit and share this year during World Breastfeeding Week. I hope you enjoy. :)</div>
.<br />
iām having a lot of conflicting feelings this year during
world breastfeeding week. i feel like it might be safe to say that i am as or
more passionate about breastfeeding as anyone. i have been breastfeeding for
the past 5 years of my life which isnāt much to some people but to most people iād
say it is. thatās a lot of breastfeeding.</div>
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.</div>
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breastfeeding is something that has become such a way of
life for me. personally, i always knew i would breastfeed. and now, i <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>feel like maybe i have a million different
breastfeeding topics that i could expand upon such as the many benefits of
breastfeeding, my journey and struggles breastfeeding a tongue tied baby, my
experience with extended breastfeeding, breastfeeding a second time around,
breastfeeding + the nicu, breastfeeding + co-sleepingā¦ and so-on and so-forth.</div>
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.</div>
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breastfeeding is something that i am passionate about. that i love. that is part of me. that is part of my children. but, this year
breastfeeding is bringing up a lot of of other feelings for me and one of those is the
feeling of exclusion. </div>
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in my life, i have definitely felt a lot of āexclusionā from
other people when it comes to my beliefs and parenting practices. and heck,
also my lifestyle in general. the list includes: getting married young, having
babies young, breastfeeding, breastfeeding (albeit modestly) in public (GASP),
breastfeeding my toddlers (FAINT),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>sleeping with my babies, sleeping with my toddlers, delayed
vaccinations/opting out of vaccinations, homeschooling, etc. sometimes this
bothers me a lot. it bothers me that people feel that they can say whatever they want to say
to me about my choices when i haven't said anything to them. this really bothers
me in any situation. i cannot<i> imagine</i> opening my mouth and judging someone
so openly. so harshly. iām sure all mothers can
relate to me here. there is just
something about becoming a mother that opens you up to this world of everyone
telling you what to do and most importantly what you are doing wrong. I will never understand
this. never, never - never.</div>
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.</div>
and then there is the exclusion on the other side. i
attended a breastfeeding event recently in my new town which is where this
observation really stood out to me. one part of me was very happy to be
attending this event. it was something special that i had planned to do with my
littlest son. it was fun to be around a lot of people who shared in my beliefs
and to be in a place where i did not have to feel excluded. however, it also
made me feel uneasy. it made me feel uneasy to be in a place where women who
donāt breastfeed or <i>canāt </i>breastfeed wouldnāt feel welcome. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>a place where you would feel guilty if you
planned a natural childbirth but ended up with a c-section. a place where you
might want to run and hide before whipping out the disposable diapers from your
bag when all the other babies were wearing cloth.
<br />
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.</div>
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i know that we āhippieā moms like to think of ourselves as
being so ānaturalā. i am pretty obsessed with the word natural come to think of
it. but i never want judgement to come "naturally" to me either. that's when i know something is wrong with the way i'm viewing motherhood.</div>
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.<br />
obviously, i am passionate about breastfeeding and i believe that ābreast milk is
best". i would love to inspire other women and help them to be able to feel that they too can choose breastfeeding for their families. however, i do not believe it is the end all. i do not believe that i am the best mother. not at all. i have so many limitations and weaknesses as a mother.<br />
.</div>
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i guess what i'm trying to say, is that even though people have definitely made me feel excluded
because of my parenting choices, i never want to make someone else feel that
way. iām <i>so</i> thankful that i have been able to connect with mothers out there who are doing
things all different ways and iām thankful that they have felt that they could
connect with me as well. each one of these mothers i admire for different reasons. i am thankful for their kind comments to me, and i am thankful that they have never made me feel excluded. letās all please continue to be
friends and build each other up. that is what i want most of all. </div>
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.</div>
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i have a lot of work to do to become more of the person that i want to be and of course i'm not sure what the answer is. i'm not saying that the event i attended was a "bad thing" or that i will never attend an event like that again. these are just the thoughts that are accompanying my mind as i celebrating nursing and what it has meant for my babies and myself.</div>
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.<br />
we all have a different story as it relates to feeding our babies. for me, it has been exclusive breastfeeding at birth and extended breastfeeding against societal norms for both of my boys. there have been great joys and also struggles. this year, during world breastfeeding week, i would love to hear what role breastfeeding has played in your life, <i>if any</i>, and what it has meant for you :) <br />
.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/9437419263/" title="IMG_9092 by {gillian}photos, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_9092" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7412/9437419263_7e05e916ca_c.jpg" height="534" width="800" /></a><br />
(asher, breastfeeding, november 2012)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.topbabyblogs.com/cgi-bin/topblogs/in.cgi?id=gillianh" target="_blank"><img alt="Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com!" border="0" src="http://www.topbabyblogs.com/topblogs/images/poshlittleblogs_125x125.jpg" height="125" width="125" /></a></div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-84656691320616893422018-06-18T13:44:00.002-06:002021-10-23T09:17:17.910-06:00New Gummy Vitamins for the Whole Family!<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Monday!<br />
Today I'm sharing <a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the new gummy vitamin brand</a> that has become a part of our daily routine.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post is sponsored by Natrol but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i></span><br />
<center>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6218" height="800" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/28013971597_59a3873955_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></i></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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In our house, vitamins are <i>so much</i> more likely to be taken each day if they are in gummy form. I'm not just talking about the kids either; this is true for my husband and I as well! Tell me I'm not alone in taking adult gummy vitamins... There is something maybe psychological about eating a "treat" vs. swallowing a pill that helps me remember to take vitamins each day!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natrol's new line of Multi Gummies</a> offer something for everyone in the family. We have been using their <a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Women's, Men's and Kid's Multi Gummies</a> which are specifically tailored to each person in our family!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6205" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/29010675518_db82943560_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6206" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1805/41982530875_e990a69a7e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are some things that stand out to me about <a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natrol Gummies</a>:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug administration. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent and diseases."</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Made with 85% organic ingredients</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Non-GMO</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Made with 26 fruits and veggies</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">No artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners or preservatives</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natrol Gummies</a> are also vegetarian and gelatin-free!<br />
<br />
Additionally, these gummies taste <i>so good</i>! They make a perfect little treat for me during the day and my kids always ask for their vitamins now that we have <a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natrol Gummies</a> in the house!</div>
</div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6209" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1732/29010656178_b51d633c1a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6213" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1728/42834526332_59bdf9aa21_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>
<br />
<br />
I'd love to know: does your family use vitamins/supplements? I'm really working on getting back on a good routine of daily vitamins for my family and I'd love to hear which supplements you think are important in addition to a multi-vitamin!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natrol Gummies</a> also offer a Pre-Natal vitamin as well as Melatonin and Hair, Skin & Nails.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6215" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1757/42834522982_442d1952f7_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6224" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/29010509098_d47230da7c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a>If you'd like to try out <a href="https://ooh.li/acefddd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natrol Gummies</a>; Just look for the purple bottle top in stores!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Also, it's great to know that <a href="https://ooh.li/0eb2b3e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Natrol</a> offers a money back guarantee if you aren't happy with their product!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>XOXO, Gillian</i></span><br /></div>gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-74506157627585757412018-06-08T13:58:00.004-06:002021-10-23T09:16:59.866-06:00How To Go Multiple Days Without Washing Your Hair!<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Secrets for going days between washing your hair...</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This post is sponsored by <a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Dove Hair Care</a> but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.</i></div>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6201" height="800" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1739/27794351127_3555f2926a_c.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
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<br />
Ok, I want to know: how often do you wash your hair? I used to wash my hair <i>every day.</i> I became so used to the routine that I convinced myself I looked dirty if my hair wasn't freshly washed.<br />
<br />
Oh how times have changed, <i>hah</i>! I can proudly say that I now only wash my hair 2-3 times a week and I consider that a win! I have long hair and it is so much easier getting ready in the morning when I don't have to squeeze in washing my hair, letting it dry & styling it each day!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm partnering with <a href="http://this%20post%20is%20sponsored%20by%20dove%20hair%20care%20but%20the%20content%20and%20opinions%20expressed%20here%20are%20my%20own./" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Hair Care</a> today to share some tips for going days between washing your hair!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ooh.li/e83586b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6151" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/27808320487_aaaccd62bb_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><i><a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Thickening Ritual Shampoo</a>/<a href="https://ooh.li/e83586b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Thickening Ritual Conditioner</a></i></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Give your Hair Time to Adjust</span></b><br />
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Did you know that your scalp actually produces more oil the more often you wash your hair? Your scalp gets used to its oils being stripped by hair products and tells your body that you need more. It can take a little while for your scalp to adjust so my first tip is to give it time! Try washing your hair every other day to start out and build up to more days in between.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Style on Day One</b></span><br />
<br />
I find it easier to style my hair when it is freshly washed and clean. Some people find it easier to curl second day hair but I usually always do it on day one and make that style last for a few days. (Side note: I do NOT style my hair every time I wash it. I work from home and my hair is honestly usually in a side braid!)<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><a href="https://ooh.li/3e1ec81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6160" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1725/28803749898_0333e8e26e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://ooh.li/3e1ec81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6166" height="534" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1730/41960008924_69690ece9f_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Thickening Ritual Shampoo</a>/<a href="https://ooh.li/e83586b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Thickening Ritual Conditioner</a>/<a href="https://ooh.li/3e1ec81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Compressed Extra Hold Hairspray</a></i></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Use Light <i>(not heavy!)</i> Products </span></b><br />
<br />
If you coat your hair in product, it will be harder to squeeze more time in-between washes. I'm a minimalist and take a "less is more" mentality even when it comes to my hair!<br />
<br />
When I curl my hair, I use a <a href="https://ooh.li/3e1ec81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">little hairspray</a> after to keep the curls especially since I want them to last a few days. I recently tried out the <a href="https://ooh.li/3e1ec81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Compressed Extra Hold Hairspray</a> and I love how light and airy it applies! My hair remains very touchable and soft even after sleeping on it.<br />
<br />
I also tried out the <a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Thickening Ritual Shampoo</a> <a href="https://ooh.li/e83586b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">and Conditioner</a>. These products both leave my hair feeling very fresh, clean and bouncy. This <a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">shampoo </a><a href="https://ooh.li/e83586b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">and conditioner</a> really did give me more volume after one wash and I love the flowery scent it left on my hair!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Touch-Up Style on Day Two</span></b><br />
<br />
My go-to way for styling my hair right now is to put in some loose beach-y curls with a curling wand. I can then easily touch-up a few curls with another pass of the curling wand and it's ready to go for another day or two!<br />
<br />
The curls will be a little looser and softer the following days but I like that! I add a little <a href="https://ooh.li/3e1ec81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove Compressed Extra Hold Hairspray</a> each day after touching up the curls. On day 3, I'll keep the curls but do a pony tail to mix it up as the curls are getting looser.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://ooh.li/3e1ec81" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="IMG_6190" height="800" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1754/41945716264_2d9959a820_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Do you use any <a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dove products</a>? All of the products I mentioned in this post + used in all of these hair photos can <a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">be found at a Walmart near you</a>. Check out the video below to see how soft + bouncy my hair looked after using <a href="https://ooh.li/56e8326" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these Dove products</a>!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">XOXO,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Gillian</span></b><br /></div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143002494369975295.post-18628120646676674732018-03-06T15:55:00.003-07:002018-03-06T15:55:46.311-07:00Custom Invitations with Basic Invite!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">I'm partnering with <a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Basic Invite</a> today to share a little bit about their "truly custom" invitation website! You may remember that I have worked with </span><a href="http://www.bygillianclaire.com/2016/09/custom-cards-with-basic-invite-free.html" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Basic Invite in the past to create custom thank you cards</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> which I </span><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">loved</i><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was compensated for this post by <a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Basic Invite</a>. All words and opinions expressed are my own. Thanks for reading along!</span></i></div>
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<i style="font-size: small;"><a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/40660867421/in/dateposted-public/" title="high school graduation card"><img alt="high school graduation card" height="533" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/40660867421_29d5503ec4_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></i></center>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">photos provided by Basic Invite</span></i></center>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Basic Invite</a> is truly the best invitation website I have come across and they offer hundreds of beautiful options to choose from for wedding and birthday invitations, birth and graduation announcements, customized business stationary and more!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The <a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Basic Invite website</a> is <i><u>super</u></i> easy to use and almost every little detail of their products are customizable! They offer over 180 different color options for each element on the card so that you can make them look <i><u>exactly</u></i> how you want down to the littlest detail! Their website also allows you to preview your design as you go along. The option to customize and personalize so many details is what really sets Basic Invite apart from other invitation companies! You can even order a sample card to see how your finished design looks and feels in person before placing your final order. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/25787209167/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="sweet sixteen party invitation"><img alt="sweet sixteen party invitation" height="799" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4751/25787209167_5d58ebf436_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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One of my favorite features of <a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Basic Invite</a> invitations are their gold foil designs! They offer foiling in gold, silver, and the <u><i>best</i></u> in my opinion- rose gold! How gorgeous are these gold foil Sweet 16 cards? Basic Invite also offers over 40 different envelope color options and all of their envelopes are peal and seal which is such a time saver!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/35952459@N07/40660869171/in/dateposted-public/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="graduation invitation"><img alt="graduation invitation" height="799" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4604/40660869171_0fa7d57661_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
Graduation season is coming up quickly and Basic Invite offers the <a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/events/graduation-announcements-invitations.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">best graduation announcements</a> and invitations with over 300 designs to choose from and customize! They also offer hundreds of options for college and <a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/stationery/thank-you-cards/graduation.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">high school graduation thank you cards</a>!<br />
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Do you have children graduating from high school or college this year? My littles will be "graduating" 1st and 4th grade and I can't even believe how quickly it's going! Next year will be the last year that they are both in elementary school together and it's literally <u style="font-style: italic;">breaking</u> my heart!<br />
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Be sure to check out <a href="https://www.basicinvite.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Basic Invite</a> if you are looking to create beautiful, personalized invitations or stationary! </div>
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<i>Use code <b>15ff51</b> for 15% off your purchase!</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">XOXO, Gillian</span></b></div>
gillian clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13055568960515022533noreply@blogger.com3