Cutest Kids Contest Results.............

Wow what a turn out.....We had an amazing turn out for the voting. We had an amazing 1357 votes. Not only did we receive an amazing amount of votes; we also received votes from all over the United States and even overseas!!!

The top Three for The Cutest Kid Contest

1st Place........ The winner with 379 votes is Alivia. Alivia received votes from all over the world with votes coming in from Canada, Mexico, Britain, and the Philippines. How amazing!!! Alivia is a very special little girl, who loves to have her picture taken. For those of you who do not know, Alivia is my niece and the inspiration behind DSL Kids and represents the Layne portion of the name. For that reason, my portion of the 1st place prize will be transferred to the second place winner.

1st Place Prize: Free Sitting Fee From Parkkenon Photography and a $50 credit for photos of your choice

**Because Alivia won the contest for Parkkenon Photography & DSL Kids, she isn't participating in the contest on the Cupcake Cute Contest.**

2nd Place.......

Second place goes to Ashlyn with 312 votes. Ashlyn is a beautiful little girl with an amazing personality. Ashlyn is new to both DSL Kids and Parkkenon Photography, but we both look forward to working with her in the future.

2nd Place Prize: Free 8x10 of your choice from Parkkenon Photography; Free outfit of your choice from DSL Kids and $15 credit for future purchases for clothing or accessories.

3rd Place......

Third place goes to Madison with 111 votes. Madison is a beautiful little girl who according to her mom loves the beach. Madison is a regular for Parkkenon Photography, but new to DSL Kids. I look forward to working with Madison in the future.

3rd Place Prize: Free 5x7 of your choice from Parkkenon Photography; Hairbow Set From DSL Kids and $10 credit toward future purchases for clothing or accessories.

**All Three Winners will be featured in Cupcake Cute Catalog**

All the participants will be featured in the DSL Kids website (http://www.dottiestripelayne.etsy.com/) and be featured in a post for DSL new summer outfits after the close of the Cupcake Cute Contest.

Reminder: Voting for Cupcake Cute Cutest Kid begins on June 24th at http://www.cupcakecute.com/ . Winner for this contest will be recognized on Cupcake Cute Website and also be feature in the catalog along with receiving a prize package from Cupcake Cute.

Upcoming Events: Parkkenon Photography and DSL Kids will be hosting a Back To School Bash July 27th - August 7th. Sign up begins July 20th. If interested in receiving information please comment to this blog and leave contact information and we will forward contest information to you by July 19th.

Breakdown of Votes:

United States

South Carolina: Greer, Simpsonville, Greenville, Pelzer, Cameron, Columbia, Landrum, Anderson, Campobello, Spartanburg, Easley, Chapin, Williamston

North Carolina: Maiden, Richlands, Columbus, North Wilesboro, Ashville

Georgia: Ranger, Lagrange, Atlanta, Pine Lake

Ohio: Columbus, Canton

Texas: Dallas, San Antonio, Pasadena

Alabama: Anniston

California: Palo Alto, San Diego

Florida: Jacksonville

Missouri: Perryville, St Louis

Tennessee: Maryville, Kingsport, Nashville

Arkansas: Little Rock

Minnesota: Osseo

New Jersey: Somerville

Washington: Brush Prairie

Canada:

Ontario, Waterloo

Mexico:

Torren, Coahuila de Zarayoza

Philippines:

Quezon City

Parkkenon Photography and DSL Kids would like to personally thank all the parents who allowed their little ones to participate, and a very special thanks to everyone around the world who voted. Thanks for helping to make our fist ever Cutest Kid Contest a great success!!!

To receive a detail breakdown of the top three contestant votes, please send an e-mail to dslkids@yahoo.com and one will be provided.

Parrkenon Photography & DSL Kids Cutest Kid Contest Voting!!!

Cutest Kid Contest

Parkkenon Photography and DSL kids teamed up to host a Cutest Kid Contest. The contestants are pictured below. Voting will end on June 22 and the Winner will be announced on June 24th.

(CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER VIEW)

Numbers go from left to right starting at top left corner

MaxCalli RaeRaidenNolanAshlynRiannKyleighMadisonEmileeAliviaMadison TLukeEdenCampbellAvaDylanKaitlynClaireReeceRiley

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Voting Ended 11:59 June 22, 2009....results will be posted no later than June 24th complete with 1st -3rd place and their prizes along with a breakdown of the top three contestants votes!!

Monica of Parkkenon Photography is wonderful to work with. Her photos speak for themselves. You can find a link to her site under my favorites to the right.

A very special thanks to all the parents for letting their little ones participate. Please keep us in mind for our Back to School Bash and Halloween Costume Contest that Monica and I will be hosting together.

Thanks again,

Chrissy

The True Meaning of Christmas.............

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the season, we forget the true meaning of Christmas. So many times we look at Christmas as a time to receive when we should look at it as a time to give. Just as God gave us the most wonderful gift of all, his son Jesus.

But from the time we are very small we think of Christmas as a time to get all the things we want. I remember as a child planning exactly what I wanted to ask Santa for. You know the list had to be perfect; as you only had one shot to get what you wanted. Then Christmas morning I would wake up with much anticipation (most of the time awoken by my little sister, who I swear didn't sleep at all Christmas Eve night:) as I just knew Santa had brought me all the things on my list. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized that wasn't how it worked for many children around the world. But not only children around the world, but children in our own neighborhood. Many children wake up to nothing or very little on Christmas. Some children don't know what it is like to even have presents under their tree.

For the past few years my mom and dad have started a place for under privileged children in Enoree, SC. My sister and I along with our husbands have the privilege of helping out with these amazing children. Kidztation offers these children a safe place to go on Friday nights, but most of all a place where they can learn that there is someone who loves and cares about them. Sometimes I think these children teach me more than I teach them. The real life lessons that I didn't know existed until much later in life are these kids reality.

This Christmas is Kidztations third year of giving Christmas to these amazing children. We started with about 15 our first Christmas; and this year we gave Christmas to over 53 children. Thanks to the help of some wonderful volunteers of both their time and money:)

While collecting the trash, I came to this little girl. The most precious child you will ever meet. I was going to take her paper, and she asked me if she could have it. Of course, I said OK without thinking much about it. It wasn't until I came back by her that I realized she had saved the tape as she opened the presents and was wrapping them back up. Not sure what she was doing, I explained to her that the presents were hers' that she could take them with her. She simply responded, "I am wrapping them back up, so we have presents under our tree.". It was this moment that impacted my life for ever.

The joy of a child is unspeakable. I would like to think that these children will remember this Christmas for the rest of their lives. But even if they grow up and forget, I will never forget the look on these children's faces as they opened their gifts. It was as if we had gotten them everything on their Christmas list. I am so grateful to have been a part of bring Christmas to children who otherwise might not have had a Christmas.

I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for stopping by to check on us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

~Chrissy~