My "Famous" Oh So Yummy Smoothie

We just got back from a family bike ride and had one of my famous smoothies. We have them often, they are easy, healthy and oh so yummy, not to mentioned give you a punch of energy.
I thought I would share it with you all.

What you need:

1. 1 banana
2. 1 cup of vanilla yogurt
3. 2 cups of frozen berries (they have to be frozen as this is what makes it thick - we love to pick fresh fruit when in season and freeze them but you can also use frozen fruit from the market). We have used fruits such as kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, melons, etc, etc. I have even used carrots which also adds a yummy flavor - ssshhhhh my family does not know ;-)
4. 1/2 cup juice of your choice (peach adds a nice flavor, apple, orange etc) if the smoothy is too thick add a little more juice until the smoothy is at a consistency you prefer.

Add all the ingredients to your blender and blend until mixed well. VOILA ~ an oh so yummy smoothy that I am sure will become a family favorite of yours as well ! Even my son loves these and he is not one to eat fresh fruit at all.

Enjoy ~
Stacey

Sharing the Love ~ Londyn Beanie Giveaway

Thank you all so much for sharing the love on facebook in honor of my daughter's benign biopsy results ! As you can imagine, as a parent waiting for these type of results is difficult to say the least. One would think that is gets easier considering this is not the first time we have waited for biopsy results and have cancer checkups every other month but it does not get easier and I am just as much of a nervous wreck each time around.

The following is the list of people that posted "shared" at the end of the list will be the random.org screen print with the number chosen.

1. J. Bunker
2. J. Shepherd
3. A. Whittard
4. Too Cute to Be Used Resale
5. J. Talbot
6. C. Torres
7. C. Beauparlant
8. Sarah Lewis
9. B. Simon
10. J. White Dyck
11. C. Struss
12. C. McMahon
13. D. Klassen
14. A. Lassard
15. K. Bremner
16. E. Kaczkowski
17. Lirome Creations
18. R. Cattani
19. M. Borkowska Lee
20. J. Lambert
21. Jenn Lambert Photography
22. C. Meadows
23. T. Lorencz
24. Forever Princess by Kristen
25. S. McKeage
26. K. Robertson-Poirier
27. J. Fulford
28.  J. Toulany
29. A. Johnson
30. M. Lovelee
31. Katie Ellement Photography
32. Kayla Hall
33. L. Serbinski
34. N. Gerbrandt
35. D. Swinemar
36. S. Coates-Welsh
37. Leanne Bennett
38. J. Campione
39. J. Mushaluk
40. Carson Abbie Closet
41. H. Stenberg
42. L. Malley
43. C. James
44. F. Carreiro
45. C. Thibeault
46. A. Guyot
47. N. Monkman
48. A. Swinemar
49. B. Merrill
50. D. Dalesandro
51. J. Plumer-Goldman
52. K. Kurylo
53. D. Carlotto
54. A. Honeyman

 AND THE WINNER IS....................... 

#34 N. Gerbrandt ~ Congratulations !! 

Please e-mail me at prairietots@gmail.com and let me know the size and colors you would like for your hat.

4000 FANS

Thank you all for your continued support, I have now reached 4000 fans.

Below are the list of names of the people and/or pages that shared my page to help me to get to 4000 as well as fan #4000. If you shared more than once (i.e personal page, business page, blog etc) your name with be entered according to the number of pages/sites you shared on.

1. Kendra Monk
2. Christie Anderson Meadows
3. Dayna Cote Photography and Design
4.  Sunny S-h
5. Sunny S-H Photography
6. Kaylee Kurylo
7. Michelle Hasanovic
8. Charlene Simundson
9. Corey Jonasson
10. Peggy Colon
11. Keri Scurfield
12. Stacey Coates- Welsh
13.  Holly Mahon
14. Kayla Blanchette
15. Adrienne Rudolph
16. Jamie Noordman
17. Tammy Cannon
18. Cindy Balkwill
19. Rock That Shot Baby Props
20. Christine Wheeler
21. Christine Kaplar
22. Jamie Pescitelli
23. Shannon Allen
24. Kristy Arbeau-Figler
25. Sherry Anne
26. Yesenia Tuckwiller
27. Andrea Young
28. Point of You Photography
29. Jaimie Hutlet
30. Tiffany Trump
31. Gail Iris Gillingham Wylie
32. Erica Wood
33. Becca Aubertin FB Page
34. Becca Aubertin ~ Blog
35. Dayna Cote
36. Rebecca Lopez 4000^th FAN

 AND THE WINNER IS...............

#17 Tammy Cannon ~ Congratulations and thank you for sharing !

Please e-mail me to claim your $25 gift card to be used towards your purchase in my shop.

My next milestone goal is 5000 fans. I have big plans for this one... right now it looks like and estimated $500 in items and products from me. These with be items made my me, new items I will be adding to my product line, items I have ordered just for this milestone celebration and.... it is hard to say what else I may add. More information to be posted the closer I get to 5000 fans !

Have a blessed day ~

Stacey

APRIL ~ Love, Loss and Celebration !

April ... always my favorite month ~ Spring has arrived, no snow (usually) and everything is blooming AND it is my birthday month. This month is special to as we are now home from the hospital and my daughter's surgery went well. She will be home to celebrate with me. She did so well and is so strong and never lost her smile even with a head full of staples and sutures. After surgery and once we were settled in her room, the nurser had asked her if she wanted a princess sticker. The nurse named a few princess' and Miss. L said no to them all, so the nurse asked her which one she wanted and Londyn said, "Princess Shayna". The nurse looked confused and I teared up.. Shayna is my oldest daughter, her sister. They have such an amazing and close bond. It was a very special moment.

This year I will have a fundraiser/auction and donate the monies raised to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in memory of my Dad. All items will be made by me and each one special to my dad and I. I was hoping to do it this month but it may happen in early May. I will keep you posted. Most items will be new items, made specially for this auction !!

I was also hoping to reach 5000 fans for my birthday but not sure that will happen as I have been a little quiet, so much going on and as always, work is keeping me busy. But once I do reach the 5000 fans... we will celebrate. Off course items from me including some new creations, a few special items I have ordered just for this and... hhhmmm we shall have to wait and see what else I can come up with. My brain is always on overdrive... so it is hard to say what I may come up with at 4am. :-)

I also hope to be able to have bi-weekly RTS (ready to ship) items to offer come May. The demand for my items has continued to remain very high, which affects my lead times and sometimes waiting is not always an option. These RTS items will eliminate the lead time wait and will be sent out immediately after payment.

I hope everyone has an awesome Spring!

Have a blessed day ~
Stacey

I cannot take credit for making the below item, I thought it was neat and I had to share. (This is a great idea, I may just have to make one.. I love wood working too) My was my hero and first love.

"LOVE STORIES"

I apologize in advance for not being a very good writer.. definitely not a strong quality of mine - I had to share the following.....

The other day I sat down with my baby girl.. I wanted to read her some of the sweet messages, thoughts and prayers we have received over the last few weeks... 150+ of them. Wow... I am so touched by all the love, there are no words adequate enough to describe how you have made me feel.

We would read a few messages and then look at "Princess pictures"... she loves to look at princess pictures (this is what she calls pictures of herself - too cute) So we would read some e-mails, look at some pictures, read e-mails, look at pictures etc. We came to one e-mail and it was talking about how beautiful and strong she was, she turns and looks at me and said, "that lady just said I was beautiful.....yes I am beautiful." (she looks back at the monitor, head tilted and nodding) and says, "I know I am beautiful, thank you Lady." Oh I had to chuckle..it was so sweet. I have to agree, she is beautiful..... inside and out. She has one of the sweetest, gentlest souls I have ever come across. I am so blessed to have her as my daughter and beyond honored to be her mother !
We continue to read your kind messages and look at pictures... as we were taking a picture break.... she turns to me and says, "mom let's read more love stories for me." I paused, looked at her wee face as my eyes started welling with tears (she just interpreted the messages as love stories for her - I was left speechless - I really had to hold back the tears)..... More "Love Stories" it was and we read each and everyone of them. I was not expecting a two year old to sit there through all of them but she did and she genuinely enjoyed it.
Your kindness not only touched me but it touched her as well... her eyes sparkled at each message read and off course she made other comments but the "love stories" and thanks lady comment really stuck.

From the bottom of my heart, from my family to you... thank you so very much for all your love, support and prayers. I will hold each message close to me this week as we are at the hospital. I am praying for a successful surgery and quick recovery. I will not leave her side until I can bring my baby home ~

Remember to always take a moment to enjoy the simple things in life and to give your loved ones an extra just because hugs and kiss !

Have a blessed week ~
Stacey

MARCH MADNESS

Wow I cannot believe we are 3 months into 2012 and Spring is around the corner ! As usual I have been crazy busy and March has been no exception, if not a little busier as I prepare to take some time off at the end of the month.

I am pretty good at keeping my personal and business life very separate however as some of you know why I will be taking time off. I thought I owed it to all my fans and clients a brief explanation as to why. Not because I am being lazy or taking vacation, (oh how nice a vacation would be) etc. My 2 year old daughter will be having surgery (#2 of 16) as she continues her battle to stay cancer free, so I will be caring for her. It is quite possible she will require at least a week in the hospital post-op, so if you do not hear from me for a few days, I am at her bedside and will be there day and night until I can bring her home. I will try my best to get back to you all when I am at home and she is settled and comfortable.

I am hoping to get all orders out before her surgery and will try my best to do so as per conversations and apologize in advance if I have been a little tardy or if I am in the coming weeks. It drives me nuts but life happens and the health of my children will have to take priority and I think that would be the case for anyone, I hope you can all understand.

To those of you have already been sending me words of admiration, thoughts and prayers.. from the bottom of my heart ~ Thank You ! I have read each e-mail and may have not replied to all but appreciate each and every single word spoken.

I was hoping to release Prairie Tots new face in April and will do so as soon as I can as well as a few other things I have planned. Perhaps a little later than anticipated but will do so as soon as I am able to.

Thank you for your patronage and continued support !

Have a blessed day ~
Stacey

January 2012 Giveaway for Photographers

This month I decided I wanted to say Thank You by giving away one "Eye" Love You Monster hat. I was inspired one evening to make it as I was relaxing with my kids watching Monster's Inc. ~ we all love that movie !

It just made me smile and I had to share and hope that the smiles will be contagious~ smiles are my favorite, they are so simple yet say so much and really do go a long way.

Thank you all so much for your continued support and for sharing the smiles ~

The names have been listed below in the ordered the shared comments were received.

~ CONGRATULATIONS SUNNY S-H PHOTOGRAPHY ~

Thank you again everyone for sharing - I hope to something like this again in the near future !

1. Axsys Design - Biana
2. Sweetpea Photos by Kelly Morin
3. SicaBelle's Photography - Jessica
4. K. Tobin Video -Karina
5. Sunny S-H Photography - Sunny
6. Annie Jane Photgraphy
7. Unforgetable Memories Photography - Melissa
8. Mandy Wark Photography - Mandy
9. Michelle Hansen Photgraphy
10. A to Z Seen Photography - Alicia
11. Erin J. Leslie Photography
12. Bonnie Herschmiller Photography
13. Baby Envy Photography - Kimi
14. MD Lynch Photography
15. JAB Photgraphy
16. Creations Dial par Lori
17. Through My Eyes Photography
18. Michelle Weaver Photography
19. Simply That Photography - Erin
20. Photography by Shelley Roy
21. Southwind Photography - Tammy
22. Marsie Leighs Photography
23. Chaotic Perspectives
24. Shutterbug Photography