Whoooo hooooo!!!!

It's FRIDAY!!!!  And hubby has the day off....and we have a FUN FILLED weekend planned!!!

Thus I am just stopping by to say I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!!

I'll catch you on Monday!!!  (Hopefully with some photos and stories to share!!!)

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!! We also specialize in original photo keepsakes(including our one of a kind photo Stars). Additionally we are in the process of adding a new "Honoring your Hero" line of products. Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

Good Reads...

Hopefully now that summer has arrived you will have time to pick up a couple of good reads....  Or if you are like me, you could care less what season it is because a day doesn't normally pass when I don't have my head in book!!!  LOL

I am in the process of reading "Room: A Novel" by Emma Donoghue. 

I have to say it is very interesting and has really kept my interest up!!!  The novel is told by a 5-year-old boy named Jack, who has spent his all life in a room (a fortified garden shed, actually) with his mommy, jailed by a man who kidnapped her 7 years before.

It totally wasn't what I expected and I truly can't wait to get to the end of the book, but at the same time I don't want it to end, if that makes sense.

I also just finished reading "Night Road" by Kristen Hannah.

This was a really really good book!!!  One of the better ones I have read in quite a while to be honest!! 

Night Road tells the story of Lexie Baill and the Farraday family. For Jude Farraday, her whole life has been dedicated to her family- specifically her two twins Zach and Mia. However, while Zach is the king of his grade, Mia has always failed to the wayside. Everything changes when Lexie moves to town during the twin's freshman year of high school, though. Scared yet brave, Lexie quickly finds herself part of the Farraday family- another daughter to Jude, a best friend to Mia, and possibly "something more" to Zach. As the years continue, the bond only grows strong...until one horrific accident. Faced with sudden and bone chilling tragedy, everything changes between them all, landing one in jail and the rest in emotional distress.

As I said before, it was really good and I stayed up late a few nights just to get a couple extra chapters in!  I was sad to get to the end - but was happy with the ending!!!

One of the next good read's on my list - one of my favorite authors has a book that will be released on the 14th of this month and I have already pre-ordered it to be sent to my Kindle on the release date. 

I have no doubt that it will be good - all her books always are!!!

So how about you - have you read anything new that you just loved?  What's on your to read list this summer?  I would love to hear!!

Until Next Time!





Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!! We also specialize in original photo keepsakes(including our one of a kind photo Stars). Additionally we are in the process of adding a new "Honoring your Hero" line of products. Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

Product Reviews....

A few days ago on Yahoo.com they posted a an article called "25 Summer Beauty All-Stars".  Did anyone see this article???  (To read it you can click on the link above and it will take you to it.) 

I actually did read it and while I am not a big make up person, I am into haircare products.... (a lot more than my hubby wishes I was!!! ) Bahahaha!!!  There were a few items on this listed I decided to "splurge" on and try them out... So today I thought I would give you my own "personal" review.....

The first thing on the list I decided to try was the Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Treatment Daily Shampoo. 

I purchased the shampoo and then I decided to get the conditioner as well... (I know, I know it wasn't on the list but you can't have shampoo without conditioner right?!?!!)  Let me start out by saying it isn't cheap!!! I paid $9 for the Shampoo and $14 for the conditioner (so that was $23 for both!!! YIKES!!!).  Now I have only used them once but I have to say I wasn't impressed.....  I think I might try using just the shampoo on its own and see if I like it any better.  Overall the shampoo and the conditioner while it did make my split ends seem less noticeable it really weighted my hair down (let me also tell you I have baby baby fine hair).  So while I will give this product another chance - (mainly due to the cost) I was NOT over impressed.

The next item on my list was the Goody's Simply Style Bun Spiral.

This item really looked like it might be a champ!!! I was excited to try it out so I purchased it at the Wally World for about $6 and brought it right home!!!  First let me say it is simple to use - really simple!!!  And if  I didn't have baby fine hair, I think it would be an awesome product!!  But since my hair is sooo fine the spiral was way to big for all my hair and wouldn't hold it!!!  Thus this product was a bust!!!! (And I have to say I was really disappointed!!!) 

I ended up taking the bun spiral back trading it for the Goody's Simple Style Spin Pin.

Now this product!! It was a KEEPER!!!!!!  Once again they cost about $6.  And while the directions tell you to use two of them to make a bun, my hair is sooo baby fine that I am able to make a bun with just one of the spin pins!  And to be completely honest with you, I have my hair in a bun with one of the spin pins right now while I am typing this and it has stayed in place ALL day without having to redo it.  But if I needed to redo it it truly only takes a second to get a bun and place the pin in place!!!  LOVE this PRODUCT!!!

I also found the Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Enhancing Styling Foam today at the local Rite Aid. 

They had a buy one get one free pack (two cans in one package) and it only cost $8!!!!  I actually have naturally curly hair and hubby loves it when I let it just dry naturally.  But I hate it, because it is always sooo frizzy looking when it does!  I am hoping this product will work like Yahoo said it will if so I will be styling curly hair much more frequently and that is time in the bank for me!!!!  (I'll let you know in the next day or so how it works!!)

So is there anything else on this list you have tried?  If so leave a comment and tells us what it is and if you give it a two thumbs up or a two thumbs down - or maybe something in between??!?!

Hope you have a GREAT day!
Until Next Time!


Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!! We also specialize in original photo keepsakes(including our one of a kind photo Stars). Additionally we are in the process of adding a new "Honoring your Hero" line of products. Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

Tuesday, Tuesday...

Today is a creating kind of day!!!  For all my followers out there... I have been designing like crazy the last couple of days.... and yes there is a reason for all the new flurry of activity here at Beloved Keepsakes.... but you will just have to wait a few days to hear more about that!!!

Today I thought I would share with you with my ball gown and spouse breakfast dress...  ah yes, it is that time of year again... We have a military formal coming up.... and this time I decided to be smart.... last year it was over 100 degree's at the beach where the ball is held.  So this year I went with a short dress. 

Here is my dress -

But it is actually in this color -

And here are my shoes -

I think it will look good with Hubby's dress blues.

Then on one of the mornings there is a spouse breakfast that is held at one of the upscale historical hotels - so I plan to wear this little dress (but I think I am going to pull the belt off of it) and at the prodding of my BFF and my Hubby I have paired it up with a pair of red wedge heels.

Which brings me to my next question - do you every wear shoes that don't match (color wise) what you are wearing?!?!? I can honestly say I never have... and it makes me a little uncomfortable.  This pop of red that doesn't match a blue and white dress!!! But hey what do I know?!?!?  What are your thoughts???

Well I think that is it for today... I am off to continue my design process!  Hope your week is shaping up to be a good one!!

Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!! We also specialize in original photo keepsakes(including our one of a kind photo Stars). Additionally we are in the process of adding a new "Honoring your Hero" line of products. Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

The Living Room....

First I want to shout out and say THANK YOU to all those that participated in my sale this weekend!!  I am so blessed to have GREAT customers like you guys!  It is only because of your support that I am able to continue to stay home and design!!!   I am soo blessed!!

Next I thought I would share the second room in our rental house that I "re-did".  The living room. 

Now over all the living room was tooo toooo bad.  The walls were an off-white grayish color.  But the owners had painted the fireplace a tan color?!?!?!  It really made the room look dated... and it wasn't a good year!! Bahahaha!!!

So here is the before photo.... (This was a photo of the house when the owner lived here.  As always you can click on the photo for a larger view)...

I changed the wall color to the same color I painted the dinning room.  Now normally this isn't a color I probably would have picked - but it is the same color that the foyer is in the house.  Hubby informed me that I absolutely could NOT repaint the foyer.  It is two stories high and he said he was not going to have me falling off the ladder and Lord knows what happening!!!!   (And ya'll know me - my close friends have started calling me Calamity Jane and there is a possibility that could have happened!! Bhahahahah!!!)

So I painted the dinning room the same color and the foyer and the living room the same color as the dinning room.  Then I painted the columns that separated the living room from the kitchen!!!  (They were actually three different colors, depending on which side you looked at!! Crazy!!!)

Here are the photos of the new and I think improved living room!!!

But I still wasn't happy so I returned the fireplace back to the original white color (that was a huge pain in the patooty!!!). I also repainted the doors and the window frames. Which I think totally made the whole thing pop!!! And brought it back to the current century!!!  Bahahahah!!

So there you have it...re-do number two!!! In the next few days I will show you the last two (and my favorites) rooms I have completed in the rental house!

Hope you have a GREAT Monday!!!

Until next Time!

Cya~

Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!! We also specialize in original photo keepsakes(including our one of a kind photo Stars). Additionally we are in the process of adding a new "Honoring your Hero" line of products. Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!

LAST DAY!!!

Today is the last day to get all BELOVED KEEPSAKES DESIGNS for 25% off !!!

Looking at my calendar this is probably the last sale until the end of the summer - so if there is something you are wishing for - make sure you get it TODAY!!!!!!
Don't forget this Sale even includes the "Land of Enchantment" Mega Pack!  So if you are planning a summer visit - pick up the set now while it is on Sale so you will be ready to scrap when you get back!!

(Please note that you will not see the sale price until you have added the item to your shopping cart!!)

Happy Shopping!!!!  Hope you are having a GREAT weekend!


Until Next Time!

Cya~


Lori McDonald, Designer

My cutter files work on many machines. Some examples are the: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the most common softwares involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create and Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, and Robomaster. These file are available exclusively at: VDBC!!! We also specialize in original photo keepsakes(including our one of a kind photo Stars). Additionally we are in the process of adding a new "Honoring your Hero" line of products. Make sure to visit our Store!

Don't forget to check back often as we host our scrapbooking digital cutting file freebies at least once a week!!!