Winners of Lovelie's Giveaway

Hello everyone and sorry for the delay. I've contracted a not so lovely cold and completely zonked out last night after work. As I write this, I'm in a complete daze. Anyway, the winners of the contest are (surprise, surprise - only two people entered!):

Theresa of Threads of a Gypsy Blog and
Kirsten of 6th Street Design School

Thank you ladies and I will be sending you your exclusive discount code shortly. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Hello! And btw here's a giveway!

Well hi there! I know I've been sort of absent. And I apologize! I had every intention of blogging at my new job. I'm a computer lab monitor at my school. I work in the music department and basically make sure nobody steals anything and that they all sign in - but my job also came with another part. I'm putting my graphic design skills to work making posters for upcoming musical productions, as well as the programs that go along with them. I really thought I would have time to blog, but it's nuts! [Not to complain here, but] they give me assignments with no deadline so I can't pace myself and it gets a little crazy sometimes. I'm still finding my way. And hey, it's a good job with some perks for a single mom and student like myself. Oh and some good news on the jobfront - the dean of the art department has asked me (yes, me!) to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new art building - eek!!! Very excited that I, and I quote, "came highly recommended," and definitely excited about what this could do for my reputation, job, etc. Good things, good things!

Anyway, I came on here to let everyone know that Lovelie is having a Holiday/Clean Sweep sale. It's been really hard to keep up the stock in my store, as I really haven't had time to go treasure hunting. My listings are about to expire and I would hate to pay more etsy fees (wah!) so I'm offering 20% off with code GIVECHEER annnnd two lucky winners will receive an exclusive sale code for an additional 10% off. That's a total of 30% off! Spread the word and increase your chances of winning - and help me sell out and restock so I can bring you more goodies :) Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Here are the rules:

1. Visit Lovelie and choose your favorite item(s) from the shop. Come back here and leave a comment along with your email address, mentioning your favorite item.
2. For an additional entry, link to this giveaway on your blog, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address.
3. For an additional entry, tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address.
4. For an additional entry, link to this giveaway on Facebook, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address.
5. For even more entries, POST again (Blog, Twitter, Facebook) at any time later in the week, come back here and post an additional comment with the link and your email address.

**You may enter up to FIVE TIMES for FIVE CHANCES to win! Good luck!!!**

The winner will be randomly chosen and posted on the blog on Friday, December 10th...I will notify the winner via email with their exclusive code. Please help spread the word so everyone gets a fair chance :) 

Sneak Peek

Hello everyone! Just wanted to stop by and say hey. I'm still busy busy busy like a bee, but I wanted to throw together a little something so ya'll could see what I've been so busy doing lol. I never realized how much time it took to upkeep a web shop until I really started getting into it. All my life I've had web shops (my family and I used to run a T-shirt and screen printing business) but it was one of those mass produced type of things where you have a certain number of designs you do and thats it. But with vintage things, it's EVER-CHANGING! And I take pride in my shop so I want my pictures to be perfect. So I slave over them haha. I don't know if I'm putting too much into it or what. But I think I'm starting to develop a method of running this ship so I'm not haphazardly doing things. Is anyone else here an Etsy seller? Or someone who runs a web shop? If you have any tips at all, please please please do share haha. I have no problem admitting that I need help! And by all means, leave a link to your store! Other than that, HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Babies & Bears - A Photoshoot

Hey everyone. I can't believe its 2 am and I'm still up. I've been like a little choo choo train building, making, mending, cleaning, photographing..the list goes on. I'm re-stocking my shop and trying to get things in order now that I'm back in town. Anyway, in the midst of ALLL that, I stopped to "smell the roses." I had been photographing and staging things in my room, when my daughter woke up from her nap. She was being awfully cute so I decided to snap a few photos since I was in that mindset anyway. Well, I'm so glad I did, because I got some of the best photos of her I think I've ever gotten. The best part? In the photos I'm about to show you, she is holding my teddy bear, named "Corduroy." I got him when I was about three and took him everywhere and I slept with him all the time. Seriously, I was still clingy to this bear in the 4th grade (I know, at 9 years old it's a little weird huh?). I think I even cuddled with him when I was pregnant, on those stressful nights when I thought my whole world was going to topple on top of me and leave me buried in the rubble. Though I've grown apart from that bear, every now and then I look at him with her, and I think of that little sparkle in his eye I used to see. I guess you could say it just makes me happy; that a little piece of my childhood is seamlessly being woven into hers. My goodness I'm a sap, gettin' all misty and teary eyed over here! Oh well, I'm sure you momma's out there know this feeling too :) So I guess the moral of the story is, cliche as it may be, "Stop and smell the roses" and enjoy your children. 

Adorable Vintage Baby Shower

Hi everyone! I feel like I've been away from here for awhile..actually, scratch that, I KNOW I have been away from here for a while. Life just gets so busy, with so many things to do and it's like sometimes I don't know when to do what or how long to take doing it. And especially with this blogging thing, I tend to get lost in what I'm doing - really with any computer-related task I seem to get lost in the work (i.e. graphic design projects). Anyone else feel the same? Anyway, I was checking my twitter when I followed a link to this blog called Jen Loves Kev and I fell in love a little bit (understatement!). She's youthful, vibrant and fun-loving - oh and she's got a baby on the way. Which warms my heart because as you all know I have a little one :) Anyway, I know for sure it will be a site I will be frequenting. Well, as I was perusing her posts (and tearing up at the letters she and her husband write to their unborn baby girl) I came across a post about the baby shower they threw. And it looked FABULOUS! Check it out! (original post here)

(the expectant mommy & daddy)

How great is that party?? Right?? I love the old-fashioned vintage charm - and the outfits were pretty cute too (i.e denim, suspenders, hats). And the invitations were great! The type of thing I aspire to design to. You can tell someone put a lot of time and effort into this. It really is the small details that make get-together's memorable. Don't you just love those pickle jar labels? Oh and the mustaches!!! Ugh, what a great celebration. I wish the best for this young couple and their new little bundle :)

Image Source: Jen Loves Kev on Flickr

Ten Things I Learned this Month (July)

Okay okay....mostly this month. But some of these are just things that I had to share. Come on, would you really want me keeping valuable information from you? I think not :)

1. Storing your batteries in a fridge or freezer can extend life, depending on battery type.
• Alkaline batteries can lose up to 25% of their power a year if stored in a hot garage or attic.
• Rechargeable batteries lose 1-2% of their charge every day at room temperature. Storing them in the freezer preserves about 90% of a charge in a month. (Better Homes and Gardens Publication: Storage, Summer 2010)
2. Making your own laundry detergent can be done in less than an hour and can cost you just a penny per load! Learn more here. (I myself have been doing this for a year or so now and it is so easy to make and very customizable since you choose what bar of soap to use)
3. Save money by buying gift cards for up to 30% off their face value at sites such as plasticjungle.com, giftcardrescue.com, and giftcardsagain.com (via AARP)
4. Are you a fan of pastels? The next time you're doing a small painting project, instead of buying a whole can of a particular color, buy a sample a few shades darker than the shade you want and mix it with that spare white paint you have at home. It should save you about $10 and you'll use up that paint that's lying around. (Personal tip)
5. Here's a two-fer-one on painter's tape:
• After you've installed your molding, put the tape just a hair above where you're going to caulk to give you a straight line and no mess on the walls. (originally found here)
• When you're trying to get a crisp line with painter's tape, first use very minimal paint on the brush (dry-brush) and go over the border of the tape. Then, on the second coat, you can apply more paint. The first coat creates a seal so the second coat doesn't seep through. (seen on HGTV)
6. If you've got kids, then you've probably had a virtual smackdown in the dining room over the subject of vegetables. In lieu of that, why don't you use a little smoke and mirrors and hide their veggies (in their food of course). Try this recipe which cleverly disguises cauliflower in mashed potates. For more 007 recipes, try Jessica Seinfeld's book Deceptively Delicious.
7. Ok ladies, I know we all have atleast one pair of "sacred" shoes. To preserve their "holiness" spray them with acrylic matte sealer, which can be purchased for as little as $4 and change. This way, when they get dirty, all you have to do is wipe clean! And no one will ever know :)
8. When cooking a casserole, use ceramic or glass baking dishes; these materials outperform metal and will allow you to lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees, saving both energy and money (via Danny  Seo's Do Just One Thing Calendar)
9. Use a vintage apron as an organizer. Put mail, sunglasses, pens - whatever! - in the pockets and hang it across a door. Just tie the apron strings around the door and secure with double-sided tape. (Country Home February 2008)
10. Adding color to your room can sometimes be intimidating. Unless you are completely confident in you skills and taste, it's best to spend "big" money on pieces that are neutral, and instead bring in color with low-cost items. (Unknown)

Do you have any useful tips? Let me know and maybe I'll include it in my next tips post :) By the way, I realize I'm 3 days late but hey what can I say..better late than never right? haha

Image Sources:

Family (unknown), Paint (Twig Hutchinson), Clothesline (bal93 {new Icon})

Fresh like a lemon

Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the absence these past few days - I'm always apologizing I know, but until I go back to school and work, and the rest of my life is on a nice decent schedule, this blogging thing is going to be pretty haywire too. And if you follow me on Twitter, you know that I've been having some medical issues recently (don't worry I'm ok now, thanks to free antibiotics from Publix). Anyway, here is a small does of refreshing inspiration for your day. While yellow isn't my absolute favorite color, lately I've been drawn to it, especially when paired with grays, black, and white. It's just so sophisticated that way, don't you think?

via Style at Home

via House and Home

via roomforcourt

via Hus & Hem

via h4ndz

via Apartment Therapy

Office Space - Inspiration & Organization Tips

I've been thinking that my craft area needs a little healthy redo. It's pretty disorganized and just a jumbly-bumbly mess. So if any of you are thinking of re-organizing, re-doing, or anything of the sort, maybe these photos will help you. I've really learned to not just "oooooh" and "ahhhh" over photos, but to really study them. Look at how they use like boxes of the same color, or pegboard to organize frequently used items and keep them close at hand. See how they use both new and old cannisters, cans, baskets, and bins to corral items. Take a good look at these photos and see what you see.

via Chez Larsson

 via Country Living

via Country Living

via Ideal Home Magazine

via Country Home

via A Field Journal

via Apartment Therapy

via House to Home 

via Amor Designs

Feeling inspired? You may not be able to do it all today, but if you do have the day, try these quick tips to "prettify" your craft space!

1. Label EVERYTHING. Labeling is the easiest way to organize. No more guessing and you know exactly where it goes. Honestly, it seems like a no-brainer, but I just recently started to realize (duh!) the power of a label. Find some gorgeous (and free!) printable ones here, here, or here.
2. Have a bunch of mis-matched shoe boxes? Try spray painting them all the same color. They may be different shapes/sizes, but a uniform color will help unite them. Or if you feel up to it, wrap them in a pretty wrapping paper or contact paper. When you're done, tag on a label or some metal label holders, which you can typically find in the scrapbooking section at your local craft store (as seen here)
3. Get in the habit of corralling items in containers. I have found (yes, yet another duh moment) that it makes life so much simpler when everything is contained within a little box. And a plus-side to this: it instantly makes items mobile. 
4. Go shopping in your china cabinet. Apothecary jars, mason jars, tall/wide cylindrical vases, bowls, saucers - even gravy boats! - can make great containers for buttons, paintbrushes, colored pencils, etc. 
5. Recycle! Use old soup cans, coffee cans, pasta sauce jars, jam jars - whatever you have - to hold things. Just give them a fresh coat of paint and maybe wrap some pretty scrapbook paper around it.
6. If you're a magazine hoard lover like me, you probably need a place (make that a big place!) to store them. You can either:
• Flip through your precious mags and tear out your favorite pages. Store them in a binder inside clear protective sheets. I usually sit down with some post-its and write down what I like about each particular page. Another good practice would be to keep a piece of paper with any websites/stores you would like to look up later or just have on file. Then, comes the hardest part which I still haven't done yet: throw away the rest :( or...
• Leave the aforementioned project for another day and make some DIY magazine files. Check out these holders which use cardboard boxes wrapped in paper from Apartment Therapy. Or what about these genius cereal box version?

The basic idea is to see what you have in a different light. Maybe you have an old dish drainer you're not using just stored away. Pull it out and spray paint it a nice happy color and use it to hold your mail an put pens in the silverware holder. "Use what you have" as my momma always tells me :) And if you think you need some new stuff, go garage saling! You can find so many neat dishes and caddies and it'll cost you next to nothing. Anyway, I hope some of those ideas got your creative juices flowing for some quick organization - in your creative space and the rest of your home. 

Do you have any organization tips? Would you like to share your creative space with me? I'd love to hear from you :) Leave me a comment below :) and HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Clever DIY

I typically try to publish all original/originally curated material on here and not to simply repost, buuuuut....I found a really awesome tutorial that I wanted to share with you guys. I just thought it was so ingenious. It's great for those of you who have a tight budget but would like to update those old linoleum/vinyl floors from the 70's. Caution though, it is for extreme DIY-ers. Learn more here.

via Apartment Therapy

Bzzzzy like a bee!

Hello everyone! Just popping in real quick to say hi and let you know that I'm here, but I'm busy busy busy. The lovely Miss Danni of Oh, Hello Friend is accepting buttons for her official blogroll (here) so I've been agonizing over THE perfect button. I should've just had one in the bag, ready for this moment whenever it came. But alas, I am one of those girls who isn't always prepared (but not to worry, that's on my revamp list for 2010! if not 2011 0_0). I've also gotta finish up that moodboard (in which I've hit a rut). Anywho, as you can tell, I've got lots of things to do, so I must be going now! Hope you're having a good day! And do something good for yourself today wouldja? Even if it's technically "bad" for you ;) Such as eating one of these...mmmmmmm

via The Cherry Blossom Girl

Bathrooms Bathed in Beauty

I love bathrooms. You can really have a lot of fun designing a bathroom if you open yourself up to the possibilities. There are so many options to choose from between flooring, wall coverings, fixtures, lighting, and furniture. I enjoy a good challenge and bathrooms are pretty good places to be faced with that. You have to be sure to fit as much storage as you can within what's usually a small space, be sure you use easy to clean surfaces and textures, provide adequate lighting for various tasks, and infuse your own sense of personal style all at the same time. 

via Country Living

(love the utility-esque light above the sink!)

via Vintage Simple

(delicious texture throughout - love the floor tile! You should see the rest of this lady's house too. I got a lot of inpsiration from her for decorating my house:])

via Better Homes and Gardens

via Country Living

via KitchenBathIdeas

via House and Home

via House and Home

(I love how the bottom two-thirds of the room is white with splashes of teal on the bathtub and sink and how the teal is echoed up at the top. I think if the walls were done half-white, half-teal then it wouldn't have been as successful - the tub and sink wouldn't pop as much and they would be in competition with the color on the wall.) 

via House and Home

As I looked through these pictures, I realized that there are seven things I am absolutely in love with in a bathroom:

1. Subway tile
2. Hexagon tile
3. Beadboard
4. Fresh colors
5. Unexpected furniture pieces
6. Unique storage (vintage caddies, baskets, etc.)
7. Unusual tubs or sinks (such as the colored ones pictured)

What are your must-have's in a bathroom? Any dream ideas you have for a bathroom? I've always thought it would be nice to have a nice big spa tub in the middle of the room with french doors in front of it opening up onto a balcony. That way, I can soak and enjoy the beautiful countryside and hear the birds chirping all at the same time. Then afterwards, in my bathrobe, I can go out onto the balcony and eat a lovely little breakfast - a homemade belgian waffle accompanied by some fresh fruit. Sounds like bliss doesn't it? One day...one day :)

Artisan White

Hello everyone! How is your day going? Good I hope. I thought I'd do a quick little post on some things I came by today. Lately I have been just inexplicably drawn to white. I love how when something is white, it allows the form to speak for itself. The texture, the shape, whether it is shiny or matte - it's all put on display. It's a beautiful thing, I think. Take a look at the pieces below and I think you'll agree.

via Yulia Brodskaya

via Alyssa Ettinger

I had heard of Alyssa Ettinger before and thought I'd share. I know a lot of you probably have heard of her, but I figured hey, maybe there is one person who hasn't and would like to see her beautiful pottery. I think it is so clever what she has come up with. It's so simple but sooo incredibly pretty. And Yulia! I have a lot of respect for anybody who does paper art. It is a lot of intricate cutting and you really have to develop a skill for it. It's not like painting or drawing where you can cover something up - one slip of the blade and it's ruined. My favorite piece of hers has to be the first one, "The Magic is in the Telling."

Do any of you have a favorite artist of any kind? I'd love to know :) Let me know and I'll definitely be sure to check them out!