Giveaway! Jack and Winn

We’re big hat fans here at our house. If Pat isn’t working, you can usually find him wearing one, along with our boys who have been wearing hats since they could sit up. And lets face it, I’m a sucker for little boys in a cute hat :)

We recently took a trip to Vegas for Spring Break and I wanted new hats for the boys since the ones we owned were becoming a little snug. 

I decided to try some from Jack and Winn, a hat company I’ve followed on IG for quite awhile. I let each of my boys pick out a hat I can’t even explain how happy we have been with them!

The company is located in here, in SLC, UT and to be honest, I was a skeptical about how well they would hold up, but I’ve been so impressed at the quality! They are made just as well as any adult hat Pat has worn, they fit well, and they have so many cute styles to choose from. I honestly will be buying more in the future. We get compliments on them wherever we go, and can we all agree that not having to do hair every single morning is a big plus?

I love sharing products that I love or that make my life easier, so I was excited when Jack and Winn agreed to team up to give away TWO $50 gift cards to their store! They have an awesome selection to choose from, including some really cute girl hats, along with matching hats for dads.  

TO ENTER: Head over to Instagram and like both of our pages.

@thesullengers
@jackandwinn (Their shop is named after their two boys, how cute is that?)

Like @thesullengers photo.
Tag two friends on @thesullengers post and that’s it! You of course can tag more friends in separate comments for more entries.

Giveaway will run today and tomorrow, (May 12-13), and will close at 11:59 MST.

Good luck! I hope you love these hats as much as we do. I’m sure you’ll see my boys wearing these all summer long.

Favorite Things Giveaway!

As part of November, I’m sharing a few of my favorite things! Last week I shared one of my favorite purse/bags on Instagram and this week I’m focusing on the kitchen. 

I’m not a food blogger, but I do spend a lot of time in kitchen. Last year I attended a Favorite Things Party where my SIL gave us her favorite Baron and Smith Premium Silicone Spatulas. I’ll be honest, I thought, “Isn’t a spatula, a spatula?” But to my surprise, I’ve learned it isn’t :)



I seriously love my spatulas and get upset when they are dirty. They’ve replaced all my big spoons while cooking and just like my SIL said, they have become one of my favorite things in the kitchen.

Here are a few reasons why I love my spatulas so much:

• The spatulas are made with 100% FDA grade premium silicone.
• The silicone is BPA free, and heat-resistant up to 500℉! This is my favorite detail, they don’t melt! They will not warp, discolor, chip, or melt, and are stain and odor-resistant.
• They are one solid piece, with no seams for bacteria to grow or food to get stuck. Makes cleanup really easy.

I reached out to the owners and I was thrilled when they agreed to host a giveaway! The owners of Baron and Smith Premium Silicone Spatulas have agreed to give away THREE full spatula sets. Each set comes with 2 large and 2 small silicone spatulas and one whisk. Yay! Which also means we get to pick three winners!
Here’s How to Enter:

1. Like Baron and Smith on Facebook.
2. Like The Sullengers on Instagram.
3. Like the picture (Most Recent posted) of Baron and Smith’s spatula set and tag a friend. Each friend tagged will count as an extra entry.
4. Winner will be announced Wednesday at 10pm.

And for those who don’t win, the owners have agreed to give our readers 15% discount, which makes the spatula set the cheapest its ever been! How cool is that? I’ll definitely be snagging a few for Christmas gifts.
Enter code: NZ5WSYVD at checkout.
The code is good until 11/28.
Happy shopping!

Let There Be No Empty Chairs

If I have one dream,
to be surrounded by all my children.

Ezra Taft Benson, a former President of  the LDS church, and his wife used to make their home their top priority. As they would teach their children the gospel, they would also emphasize they wanted their family to have no “empty chairs,” in the eternities.

Months ago we bought a new kitchen table. It seats six and contains a leaf that creates plenty of room to grow. I instantly fell in love with this table when I saw it in the store. It was being sold with gorgeous white tufted chairs, but with three young boys, I instantly knew they would be ruined after one meal. So I swapped them out for something sturdy that I knew could withstand our crazy boys… One day right?

After the table was delivered, I was absolutely giddy. I could hardly wait to eat dinner on it. For eight years we had owned a tiny little table that was difficult to fit our entire family around. Often times, Pat or I wouldn’t eat at the table with the kids, it was just too small.

That night as we sat down for dinner,  I happily looked around the table. I had cooked one of our favorite meals, our boys were spread out and weren’t fighting or stealing each other’s food, (Amazing right?) and everything seemed perfect. As I sat across from Pat, my eyes unexpectedly fell on the empty chair next to him. Without warning, tears started streaming down my face. That empty chair screamed to me that we were missing Preslee. 

I was instantly embarrassed. The last thing I wanted Pat to see was me crying after he bought me a brand new table. As I tried to hide my tears, I felt two little arms wrap around me. Ledger, my observant little five year old, had quietly climbed out of his chair and walked over to give me a hug. He didn’t say anything, he usually doesn’t, but he just stood there with his arms tightly wrapped around me. As I stared at that empty chair, the direct thought came to mind, “It won’t be forever.”

Since then, that empty chair has served as a reminder that Preslee is still our anchor up in heaven. Though life and trials can be difficult and consuming, it really is true, they won’t last forever. I desperately hope Pat and I can teach our boys that they can do hard things and though it won’t always be easy, hopefully my dream will one day come true—that there really won’t be any empty chairs.

"God intended the family to be eternal," President Benson has said. "With all my soul, I testify to the truth of that declaration. May He bless us to strengthen our homes and lives of each family member so that in due time we can report to our Heavenly Father in His celestial home that we are all there - father, mother, sister, brother. . . . Each chair is filled. We are all back home." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, page 493.)

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I loved President Benson’s message so much that I reached out to Robin, at Chirp Chirp Designs to create a rustic custom sign to be hung above our table. I absolutely love how it turned out and everything it stands for. Robin has agreed to team up with us for a $50 giveaway for one of our readers to her shop! She’s incredibly talented and wonderful to work with. She has now made three custom signs for our family, all of which I love. 

TO ENTER:

1. Follow The Sullengers and Chirp Chirp Designs on Instagram.
2. Like the photo of the sign shown above on The Sullengers Instagram account.
3. Comment on the same photo tagging two friends. Each other friend tagged will be an extra entry.

The winner will be announced Saturday night at 10am MST. Good luck!

i (chart) you

Just following Preslee’s death, my grandpa persuaded me to give genealogy work a try. I agreed, feeling it would be something positive to fill my time with since I was pretty lost without my daughter. When we pulled up my fan chart, and I saw that Preslee’s name and death date had already been added, I immediately panicked (Read about it here)

It took me a few years to log back in, but I can officially say I’m back at it again. As I dive farther into it, I’m surprised how much each one of those names mean to me. I realize they all have a unique story and ironically, I love them because these are the people my daughter is with.

I’ve genuinely learned to love genealogy work.

 

 Last year I discovered a unique company called i (chart) you, that creates and sells ready-to-print modern genealogy charts. After swooning over many of their prints for more than a year, I finally ordered some of my own! Not only do I love their couple’s charts, but their individual ones as well. In the end I ordered a chart for each of our boys, along with the one above.

I was so impressed with their company that I asked them if they would be interested in hosting a giveaway.

I was thrilled when their answer was YES!

Our chart is 20x20! Really big! So it’s easy to read in our home.
I ordered smaller prints for the boys.

I was literally giddy while hanging our prints up, they are incredibly unique and add a fun splash of color on our white walls. But to my surprise, Ledger was just as excited! He loves his blue and green print. He thinks it’s pretty neat that his name is in the middle, along with mom, dad, and Grandma’s and Grandpas! I honestly can’t think of a better picture to hang in our kids’ rooms.

i (chart) you has agreed to give three ready to print files to three of our readers. A $25 value for each winner. We’re super excited!

Here’s How to Enter:

I’ve decided to change it up a little, and host this giveaway on instagram.

1. Follow i (chart) you and the sullengers on Instagram.
2. Like the same picture on both accounts!
3. Comment below on either picture letting us know you did this.
And tag a friend (or two!) for extra entries!
Winner will be announced next Monday (26th)

Good luck! 

i (chart) you has also agreed to offer our readers a 20% discount. Just type in Sullenger20 at checkout.

Happy Shopping!

Winner!

The winner of the Disney gift card is Trisha Larson! Congratulations!
Be on the lookout for an e-mail :)

Disney Gift Card Giveaway

It seems like everywhere I turn, I hear someone talking about how they are planning a trip to Disney! So I thought why not team up with one of our sponsors, Krystin Turner, (Find her here) a Disney Vacation Planning Expert to giveaway a $40 gift card to Disney Store or Disney store online. I asked Krystin a few questions, posted below, to help explain how she can help anyone planning a trip to any of the Disney Parks. I know when the boys get a little older, we’ll definitely be using Krystin to help us plan our own trip to Disneyland! 

What is a Disney Vacation Planning Expert?

I get this question all the time. People just don't quite understand what exactly it is that I do. I plan Disney vacation packages for families- although sometimes I feel like the CIA. Well don't worry- I can tell you exactly what I do.

How Much Do You Charge?

My services truly are free. No fees. No surcharges. Disney pays me a commission on what I book so you don't have to pay me a dime. Imagine how many people go on a Disney vacation each year. Now imagine how many people need help, or have questions. Disney would have the largest work force in the world if they hired enough people to plan and assist in guests vacations. Instead, there are travel agencies and travel experts like myself that are here to answer those questions for you. I am very fortunate to say that I am employed with one of the absolute best agencies, Dreams Unlimited Travel. Also please note- I am not a travel agent that will treat you any different if you are spending $2,000 or $20,000 on your trip- I am not motivated by the commission or money I make. My passion is making people happy, and ensuring they have the trip of a lifetime.
That being said. I also don't have a book of special prices- I will find you the same package price that you would get if you went on disneyworld.com or called Disney yourself.

So why would you want Krystin planning your vacation, even if it's free?
For one, there are a million options when it comes to even thinking about planning a trip. Want to know how much a trip may cost? Here's where we start:
-Party Size of your Group
-Ages of your Group (yes, there are different prices for certain ages)
-Potential Travel Dates
-Preferred Resort
-Days of Park Tickets (and do you want to park hop, have your tickets expire, etc.)
-Tickets to special events (like Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party)
-Dining (there are different plans that fit different needs)
And I try to do all of this while staying within a specific budget. Of course, sometimes that doesn't always work- for example, if you have a large group or family, sometimes you'll need two or more rooms...you can't fit eight people in a room that Disney only accommodates four in.

After I book your trip- for a price that accommodates your checking account, we move on to the fun trip planning.
I'll try to make sure you meet specific characters, while spending the least amount of time possible waiting in line. I want to make sure you utilize the MyFastPass+ system, so you don't miss out on a ride because you spent 4 hours waiting to meet Elsa and Anna. I'll give you specific advice on which restaurants to visit or avoid, and make reservations for you, if you desire. I'll help you navigate the My Disney Experience website and app on your phone, which can be confusing.

There's also some troubleshooting I can do for your Disney vacation. Sometimes it's the good stuff- Disney comes out with a discount for your dates, then I spend hours waiting on the phone to get you the discounted price. Sometimes my clients don't even know they qualify- so getting an email saying you saved hundreds or thousands of dollars is certainly a fun surprise. Other times its the not so good stuff- maybe you have a medical issue or family emergency before or during the trip. I'm able to provide specific on what you should do and what your best options are.
I provide an almost always available contact for something that is a very large purchase. Purchasing a Disney vacation is exciting, but it's also a risk. If you are going to invest thousands of dollars in a trip, you want to make sure you have the trip of a lifetime...no matter if you go once every thirty years, or two times a year. My job is to make sure each trip is memorable for the right reasons. And I love every minute of job.

What Disney Parks do you work with?

I plan all Disney properties- Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, Adventures by Disney, as well as Universal.

To enter to win a $40 gift card to Disney Store or Disney Store online, use the Rafflecopter widget below! Good luck.

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Chirp Chirp Designs Giveaway!

After taking a little bit of a break, I’m back! And what better way to come back than with a giveaway? It was nice to spend some uninterrupted time with the boys, but I’m ready to get back to posting more often.

I’ve discovered a FUN new little shop called Chirp Chirp Designs. They are the newest sponsor on the blog, and have agreed to participate in a giveaway. I’m excited, I think you will like them as much as I do.

Chirp Chirp Designs makes custom signs. The owner, Robin, is talented, and and told me she could do just about anything. With Pat graduating in just a few months (Eek! We’re excited!), there’s a good chance we’ll be moving, so I couldn’t help but order that custom Idaho sign up above.
I’m an Idaho girl through and through.
She matched the yellow to my throw pillows, which makes it fit perfectly in my front room.

Here are a few of my other favorites sitting in her Etsy shop.

Chrip Chirp Designs has agreed to GIVEAWAY one custom sign to one lucky reader.

That’s up to a $50 value.

She also agreed to give all my readers a 10% discount code.
Seriously, go check out her site, their signs are very affordable. Just enter ‘SULLENGER10’ at checkout.
I can’t wait to see what you all order :)

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Body Image Breakthrough

I’ve had four kids, including twins. When I came home from the hospital ten months ago, I’ll admit I cried. My body was completely different. I’ll spare you the details, but the twins did a number on my body. This time around, it’s been much harder to lose the weight. A few months after having the twins, my Aunt Jaci announced her very first book was being published, called Body Image Breakthrough. I was lucky enough to receive a copy.

Jaci is incredibly honest in her writing, and shares many of the insecurities she’s faced over the years related to body image. She then takes the reader through personal experiences of how she overcame her insecurities. The book reminded me to stop worrying and stressing over the baby weight I’ve yet to lose, and instead, focus on being healthy. I know with time, I’ll figure out how to balance everything I need to.

Anyway, I’ll let Jaci introduce the rest.

Congrats Jaci, what a huge accomplishment!

I don’t remember when it all started, really. It’s just always the way it was. And I

never thought twice about it. After all, don’t most teenage girls feel self-conscious

about how their backside looks in a pair of jeans? Don’t most teenage girls diet and

weigh themselves over and over in hopes that the numbers will change? To me, it

seemed to come with the territory of being female. Throughout my teen years and

on through my 20’s and 30’s, I was a woman on a mission—a mission to change my

body. I thought the only way I could feel comfortable in my own skin was if I got

down to a size 8. Or even better, a 6. Then I could put all the dieting and obsessing

behind me. Then I could move on with my life and feel good about the person I’d

become.

Only I was wrong. All that time, I was so, so wrong.

The truth is that I was caught up in something much bigger than just a negative body image. I was caught up in the worship a very powerful false god. But before you think I’ve lost my mind and move on to another blog, give me a chance to explain. To worship something simply means we’re devoted to that thing (you can look up the definition if you want). And what was I so “devoted to” for more than 2 decades? To modeling my body to fit the image of today’s “ideal woman.”

Just look at the billboards along the freeway or the ads in the magazines or the

celebrities that walk the red carpet . . . and you’ll come face to face with this woman.

She’s a false god that really does reign supreme in our generation. No matter how

hard we try, we can’t escape her intimidating gaze. She smiles back at us every time

we watch TV. She follows us as we walk the aisles in Walmart. She even sneaks into conversations we have with other women. Not only is she extremely thin, but she’s also got thick, gorgeous hair, perfect teeth, bright, shiny eyes, full lips, and of course, flat abs. She’s everything we’re not, and for many of us, everything we think we need to become.

Well, I bought the whole thing hook, line, and sinker. Never mind that this particular

woman isn’t even real. Never mind that the models in the magazines have been

photoshopped right out of reality. I thought the only way to be happy was to look

just like her, so I spent hours and days and years devoted to that very end. Though

I would never have told you this is something I worshipped, my thoughts and

behavior proved otherwise. I compared myself to that image almost every day of

my life. Sometimes it caused me to hate my body, and sometimes I led me to obsess over finding new clothes or new makeup or a new workout that could help me lose weight. I lived in her shadow constantly, and did all I could to make her look my own.

But now, after years of torment and self-loathing and frustration, I can finally tell

you that I’m at peace with my body. And it’s not because I learned to say positive

affirmations in the mirror or because I adopted some sort of shoulder-shrugging

resignation where I just accepted myself the way I am. I’m talking about something

much more profound than that. I’m talking about being fully healed from the inside

out. And this kind of soul-deep deliverance came in only one way—through the

power of my Savior. Only He was strong enough to dig deep inside my heart and

root out the lies I’d believed all my life. Only He could wrap me in a sense of peace

and joy that completely eclipsed all pressure to look like the ideal woman. It’s like

nothing I’ve ever experienced before. In fact, it’s been so liberating and life-changing that I’m now a woman on a new mission—to spread the word far and wide that Christ really can heal our negative body image. And He can do so in such a way that we’ll stay healed for the rest of our lives. In the end, the power to overcome our negative body image isn’t going to come through the next weight loss drug or the latest plastic surgery technique or even finding a new haircut that makes us feel cute. It can only come if we turn the whole mess (meaning all our fear, inadequacy, self-hatred, addiction to food, or whatever we’re dealing with) over to Christ. Then we must listen very closely to everything He has to say. I did that, and it changed my life forever.

 

~Jaci

 

Would you like to win your very own copy? Enter the rafflecopter below!

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