Freshly Picked Giveaway {September 2014} + Fall Printables Giveaway!!

It's September, ladies and gentlemen!! Fall is just around the corner and I am pumped for the start of it. We're ready for the cooler crisp air (not the cold though, folks!) and ready for the crock pot meals, pumpkins on the porch, and fall beers (in about a month for me!). September could potentially be our new baby girl's birth month as well! That's crazy talk if you ask me.

Happy, Happy Labor Day & Happy, Happy September!!


To celebrate Labor Day and kick off the {almost} start of Fall 2014, we are giving away a pair of my most favorite baby and tot shoes -- Freshly Picked Moccasins, of course - in your choice of color and size (a $60 value!) Did you see Susan on Shark Tank with these beauties?! And also giving away all SIX Fall printables I made for my shop {The Barrtique}.

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Many of you remember E's gorgeous gold Freshly Picked moccs. While we had tons of other baby shoes, nothing beat these babies! They were the ONLY shoes to stay on her baby feet and they were certainly the cutest, too. She got compliments everywhere we went. From kids to sweet elderly women passing us by -- everyone commented on those shiny gold moccs!

And then, our baby girl learned to walk in her Freshly Picked moccasins. They were wonderful for a new walker, and even on ALL terrains. The best part about it was her adorable baby foot prints that are forever marked on the bottom of the moccasins.

This year, we're rockin' the Freshly Picked Golden Rod Limited Edition moccasins, which go along perfectly with our yellow front door we painted - just in time for Fall!

I think this tot is happy to have these comfy beauties back on her little feetsies!

She's such a curious explorer, and she's happy to wear them anywhere - grass, dirt, beach, indoors, etc. I hope they are her favorite cause they are definitely mine :)

Just doin' what she does best - explorin'.



Actually, if you know E, you know what she does best is RUN. Run, run, run. Anywhere I go, I am always asked if my child even knows how to walk because she's only ever running from here to there, there to here, and no lie, in circles around anything and everything. She's a quick one. And Freshly Picked moccs are even awesome for all her marathon running endeavors!



Thankfully, they protect her feet well from all her falls; her knees on the other hand -- well they're not lookin' so hot these days!

E and I are really ready for Fall, and almost ready to meet her baby sis, who will surely be getting her own pair of FP moccs soon!!



In the meantime, while we wait for the official start of Fall, let's celebrate!

If you'd like a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins for your own little one, or for the PERFECT shower gift for a momma-to-be or your favorite new baby in town, these will surely be a hit so enter below!!

And if you'd also like to win ALL SIX of the new Fall printables by The Barrtique (so you have an option to choose which to hang in your home or give as gifts!), enter below as well! They are available on SALE NOW for $4 each as instant downloads in my Etsy Shop. (If you win, I will refund you).



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The fine print: There will be one winner. Contest begins Monday, September 1, 2014 and ends Sunday, September 7, 2014. Winner will be announced Monday, September 8, here on the blog {www.becomingthebarrs.com} and will be notified via email. Contest open to US residents only. The winner of the giveaway can not have won any other giveaway including a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins within the last 60 days.

To win, you must be a blog follower of Becoming The Barr's {click on the right side of the blog to follow}. In addition, there are many extra ways to earn your entries below! Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Labor Day Sale} New Invitations Added to The Barrtique | Fall Themed Invitations

Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone!! & Of course, Happy College Football Weekend! Love that background noise, love watching College Game Day in the mornings, and love the Fall feeling weather -- too bad it's still in the 90's here and too bad my hubby is working a 13 hour shift today. Hoping to get to that Fall weather soon to make football days feel that much better!! :)

To kick off Labor Day Weekend, there have been some new items added to the Etsy shop {shown below} - some Fall inspired invitations to suit your fall showers and celebrations :)

This weekend only (throughout Labor Day), shop at The Barrtique and use coupon code HOORAYLABORDAY to save 15% off your order!




















Enjoy!

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Be sure to check back here on Monday! To celebrate Labor Day week on Becoming The Barr's, we will be giving away a free pair of our very favorite FRESHLY PICKED moccasins!! {your choice of color and size - a $60 value}

Happy October!! {from my not-so-festive self}

We are 10 days into October, folks! By this time, I am normally well over a month deep in orange and hay and pumpkins galore. See here,  here, here, and here. (wow, looking back, I freakin' love Fall!) A festive mantle and a "Don't-I-Just-Scream-Autumn" wreath traditionally take over our home and porch in an abundance by now. But, ladies a gentlemen, sadly (or not so sadly?), that is just not the case this year.

I am in Florida. It is 90 something degrees outside. And I am on vacation at the beach for a week. And did I mention I don't live in my own home currently? Oh yeah, and my beloved decorations are stowed away not so neatly in a pretty little storage unit that houses our whole entire boxed up home. Fall projects, decor, and baked yummies - you may have to wait until next year for our little Barr family. Sad, yes, however I know I will make up for it when time permits! And dammit, you betta believe I will make time permit.

Amidst a beautiful week at the beach with family, hanging in the gulf on my husband's back, little cousins surrounding us - we caught a front row view of dancing dolphins in their natural habitat. It has been great and I have nothing to complain about - Beautiful, breathtaking, and memorable - yes. Just not so 'fall-y' if ya know what I mean!

With that being said, we found a pretty little pumpkin patch nestled in the heat of South Florida. Beyond exciting for this momma -- it was Baby E's first trip to the pumpkin patch!



The hay ride may have been hay-less, but did my baby girl notice? Heck no.



She loved crawling amongst the pumpkins and trying hard to avoid her photo-overboard mother following her around with a camera. That screams 'fall', right?!

The best part about this year -- which beats a hay-filled hay ride and fall colored leaves --  is baby girl getting to spend the season with family.

Does it get better than that?





I plan to return to this gem at least once before Halloween, to soak up some more memories and get us in the spirit after returning from the beach. Baby E had a blast with her cousins and little friend :)





Four little beauties playing together at the pumpkin patch makes this mommas heart happy!









It's certainly not about the weather, the leaves, or finding the perfect pumpkin -- while those things just add that festively fun touch -- it's about creating the perfect day for perfect memories, at least in the eyes of a child. As adults, we can point out imperfections everywhere, but these sweet girls' whose eyes lit up at the sight of pumpkins, well they had a blast being outside, being with each other, and ultimately sleeping soundly on the way home. I just need to remind myself about the little things that matter most!

A perfect day in their eyes, indeed!



To make up for my lack of fall decorating and festiveness, prepare to see such said missed decor at baby girl's first birthday party. Yes, I said first birthday -- which is ONLY one month and 3 days away. Sigh.



My little pumpkin melts my heart every single day. In every single way. I don't need cool weather to be reminded just how wonderful it is to have the pleasure of raising this sweet girl every day.

38 weeks {Happy Halloween!}

38 weeks..filled with a date night, pumpkin carving, friends, delicious food, football, lazy days with the hubby and puppy, lots of listening to the new T-Swizzle CD, Halloween soon, and currently chilly, chilly temperatures with the wind howling outside my windows. Brrr!

38 weeks

This was taken inside thanks to that nasty cold wind out there!

• How far along?: 38 weeks, 4 days
  
• Baby is the size of a: Pumpkin! How appropriate and just in time for Halloween!
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• Total weight gain/loss: +27
• The Bump: Big, and dropping a little.
  
• Symptoms: Random pains here and there... Also, my hands still hurt to move sometimes, and 2 of my fingertips have been numb for over a week now..apparently normal and should go away within weeks after delivery.
• Food Cravings: Nada.
  
• Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Nope.
• Sleep: Getting up early again. 4:45am this morning. But actually, this weekend I slept very nicely and was happy my husband got to sleep in with me -- with windows open :)
  
• What I miss: Nothing...but I think I am going to miss having baby in my belly and with me all the time while feeling her little squirms. But I know it will be wonderful to have her here to stare at and admire!!
  
• Weddings Rings On or Off: Off :(
  
• Any Names Picked Out Yet: Yes, actually, this came very easy for us contrary to what everyone told us about picking out names...but you'll just have to wait ;)
• Gender: Baby Barr is a girl! :)
  
• Movement: I actually tried recording some of her movements that look like she's trying to bust out of my belly, but she usually gets shy just as soon as I hit record, or 2 seconds thereafter!
  
• Maternity Clothes: Same as every week...not too much..but the shirt in this chalkboard pic is maternity from Motherhood. I highly suggest every preggo gets the belly band so you can wear most of your regular pants. This is the one I have from Target .. I love it!
• Labor Signs: Not too much, just a few random pains here and there and pressure once in a while...BUT, I am 1cm dilated and cervix has softened and moved toward the front..so now it's just the waiting game! Boringgg
• Best Moment of the Week: Hmm..hearing that things are beginning to progress and baby should be here soon! 10 days until the due date! Oh and I also learned how to use my sewing machine thanks to my wonderful friend Erica! So needless to say, I have made mucho items for baby!
  
• What I’m excited about/looking forward to: Hopefully by next week labor will progress lots and baby girl will make her debut!! Her mommy and daddy are ready to hold her and kiss her and love her! And her big bro is ready to lick her toes when she gets home :)

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We took advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend brought (which was much nicer than the current weather status!) On Saturday, we had friends over to celebrate the season..oh yes, fall and Halloween coming up is indeed a reason to celebrate! I'll find any excuse for a celebration..why not! I think I've watched Hocus Pocus three and a half times in the past week, and friends even played a drinking game while watching. We found one online but made up our own as it required mucho sips of beer or wine or whatever you prefer to down while watching a classic childhood movie.

Rules are simple:
-Drink every time Thackary Binx says "Emily"
-Drink every time Bette Midler says "Sistahhhs!"
-Drink every time Max is called "Hollywood"
-Drink when the black flame candle is lit

Not many rules there, but I can assure you that you'll drink more than you think. I'll have to try it out next year!

And well, what is a fall night without friends, fall beer, or backyard corn hole?

And you know it isn't a fall night without a delicious pot of chili filled with bacon, topped with tots and cheese...



Mmm... can't forget the treats :) Or the pumpkin pie thanks to Erica!

These ghost cookies were very easy to make! Just dip nutter butter cookies in melted almond bark (or candy chips) and put 2 chocolate chips on for the eyes. Simple and quick!

Gotta love the pirate costume..



And better yet, a man in a pirate costume trying to scare the 3 year old..


Yup, J decided to confuse the crap out of him.. I still don't think Ben knew it was J ;)

Ended the night with some pumpkin carving and baked pumpkin seeds..



Nights like this just make me happy..Now if only the weather would stay put the way it was this weekend..it just calls for a good mood!


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And the rest of the weekend was spent with the hubby and puppy -- relaxing, enjoying the weather, watching football, and getting stuff done around the house. I must say I'm thankful for my wonderful husband who has helped me clean up around the house, made our delicious dinner Saturday night and breakfast Sunday morning, helped me carve a pretty pumpkin, has helped fulfill my love for fall decorations, and has just made things easier on me while pregnant. He may not give me all the massages or OMM treatments in the world that I would like haha, but hey, if he were perfect, I'd probably be worried! He's been great and I am so thankful for him and can't wait to see how great of a daddy he will be to our little girl :)

Lazy days are wonderful!