Merry Christmas {2011}

Our 2011 Christmas card. Merry Christmas to you!

Christmas card from Silly Me Design on Etsy

Etsy Lovin' : Lottie Da Baby

It's been a long time since I featured one of my favorite Etsy stores. Yes, I am addicted to blogging, pinning and Etsy"ing". I know, I need help! But, I just love Etsy. I have found some of the most unique pieces from such talented people. It's like having a seamstress, graphic designer, crafter, and jewelry designer all in your back pocket. Love it! So, when it came time for this year's family pics I had the perfect dress in mind from Lottie Da Baby.

I ordered the dress about 2 weeks in advance with a note to the seller stating that I would need the dress by a certain time and if that couldn't be accomplished (since everything is lovingly made by hand) than I would need to cancel the order. Amy from Lottie Da assured me that I would receive the dress in time. Fastforward to three days before picture time...still no dress. So I cantacted Lottie Da Baby and to their suprise the dress had shipped and should have already been in my possesion days ago. Oh no!?!? Amy was very apologetic and I could tell she was truly sincere when she offered me a refund. I told her I would keep her posted and if I didn't receive the dress before our family pictures than I would like to get a refund. Picture day came and went and sadly, no dress. Amy refunded my money within minutes of receiving my email requesting a refund. I told her not to worry about it, that these things happen and do you know what she did next....she offered to send me the dress for FREE !!!! She said she just didn't feel right about me not recieivng the dress and knew how much I loved it. Can you believe it?? I almost cried when I read her email. You just don't get customer service like that anymore. Needless to say, this company has made me a customer for life!!

Malone in her Lottie Da Baby dress at the Arboretum. She loved the "punt kins" they were so "heaby"!

Here are a few other favorites from this adorable shop:

They also have custom baby bedding as well that is to die for! I wish I would have stumbled upon them when searching for Lo's baby bedding!

So hurry over to Lottie Da Baby and buy your sweet baby girl some of the most uniquely adorable and well made dresses you have ever seen! You will be so glad you did!

HAPPY 1 YEAR BIRTHDAY MALONE!!

Malone's birthday was awesome!

After some agonizing about what kind of birthday to throw, I decided on a small(ish) family only party. I didn't want Malone to be overwhelmed and our house is just way too small for a billion people to par-tay it up.

I didn't really have a "theme" per say, just a red and aqua color scheme (with a funky splash of yellow). It turned out just as I had hoped and we all had a blast celebrating this amazing little girls' 1st year! Hope you like the pics...cause there is a lot of 'em!

The birthday spread! Cupcakes, cookies and popcorn.

(Malone had none of the popcorn of course!)

The cupcakes and smash cake were uh-mazing! They were done by a local lady, Babycakes by Angie. The cake was soooo moist and everyone raved about how good they were. Chocolate chip cookies by me! Recognize those goodwill plates. How perfect are they?

Score on that one!

I found these napkins at Party City. I thought the saying was perfect for the day.

"Life is good, Let's make today very good"

I used the red wicker baskets from Malone's room to house the two different flavors of popcorn. One salty, one sweet.

Red/white striped staws from Hey YoYo. A white pitcher held the milk for the chocolate cookies.

Notice the utensil holder? My other goodwill find! Spraypainted a fun aqua!

This chair was given to me by my Mom. It was used to feed all 5 of her grandchildren. She retired it when Malone came along and I decided to spray paint it aqua. Perfect for the party and I may use it or give it to Malone one day for her babies.

The birthday banner and hat is from Joosy Card Co. The banner says, "Lo is 1."

Closer look at the birthday hat. Loved it!

Momma and Malone

Her headband is from Monkey Knots.

Onto her presents! She actually sat in my lap for the whole present business. I couldn't believe it? Malone is an "on the go" kid and usually doesn't have time to sit still. She must have really been excited about those presents!

Malone's t-shirt dress was made by my very talented Mother -in-law. The shirt is from Vintage Lucy's and I just purchased the skirt fabric and she sewed it right on! I gotta learn how to sew!

I made her flower pin on her shirt, just to add a little pizzaz! Tights are from Target and shoes from Wal-Mart. I thought she was adorable and she totally rocked her outfit!

Sweet girl!

The Hubs Meme made this precious Quiet Book. Malone loves it. I'll have to post more pics soon to show all the pages. Man, I gotta learn how to sew!

Malone got her very own red retro kitchen. She has played with it like crazy. She especially likes the phone. She will put it up to her ear and say "hi!"

Yay for Red Wagons! All of you Dallas area folk will know this is

gonna be a great Canton First Monday wagon!

Family birthday pic. Look at that adorable squinchy smile!

Here is my other goodwill find. I wanted a keepsake for Malone on her 1st birthday. I had everyone right a little wisdom for Malone on this goodwill chalkboard that I spraypainted. It was really sweet and I know Malone will cherish it when she gets older!

"Mom, why is this thing on my head!"

Birthday cake time!

Classic!

What I Wore Wednesday #15 and a New Sponsor!

I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy, No Model Lady and Jewelscapes

Shirt: Forever21, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Can't remember

Check me out, I have a new sponsor!

Do you guys remember my very first giveaway?

I just got my shirt in this past week and I LOVE it!

Etta Grace has graciously decided to sponsor the blog and I am so pumped about it!

Here is me, in my Etta Grace shirt!

Hat: Target, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Toms

Closer look at the detail on the shirt. So sweet!

Here are some more lovelies from her shop:

So go take a peek, they are awesome!

I want this room and a Giveaway!

Have you seen NieNie's new room by Alice Lane?

Oh.my.goodness!!!!

If every single room in my house looked like this I would be one happy girl!

Go to NieNie or Alice Lane to view all the pics. Loves it!

****

Time for a giveaway!!! Cross My Heart designs is giving away this little lovely bracelet.

These dominos are handmade. I thought this bracelet was so darn cute! If you do to here is how you can win:

1. Go be a fan of Cross My Heart Designs facebook page

2. Become a follower of Cross My Heart Designs blog

3. Go to Cross My Heart Designs Etsy shop and tell me which of their items you love best

Then, leave me a one comment for each of the things you did.

*must be a follower of I like it, I love it to enter

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, March 8th through random.org

Etsy Lovin' (sort of)

I had originally found this shop on Etsy but when I went to write this post, I discovered they had moved. Why anyone would want to leave Etsy is beyond me (greatest website in the world)!! Oh, well still love their shop so I HAD to feature them anyway! Since I purchased my camera, I have been dying to buy a camera strap cover. Etsy has several shops that make them but I really wanted one with some extra pizzaz. That is when I came across Eclectic Whatnot. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Mine is no longer on the new website. It is green, chocoate brown

and white toile fabric, with a chocolate brown ruffle running

through the middle. The reverse side is chocolate brown

and white zebra print, so cute!

Another company that has some great camera strap covers is Shey B. Such great fabric combos. They are so unique. I love it!

I bought my sister this one, loves it!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

I have been searching for weeks now for the perfect Christmas card. I have spent hours of my life that I won't get back looking at Snapfish, Shutterfly, Minted, TinyPrints, etc. and still couldn't find the perfect Christmas card. Okay, let me re-phrase that. I found plenty of beautiful cards...for the cost of my first born child! I mean seriously? $175 for 50 Christmas cards?!?! I just couldn't justify that. So, it dawned on me today...Etsy! Why have I not thought of this before? The self-proclaimed Etsy Queen? Well, let me tell you I have hit the Christmas card jackpot! The selection is so huge that it is almost overwhelming. So, of course, I decided to post some of my faves here and you can take a look for yourself. Once you find the card you like, (most shops will do any tweaking for you) you purchase the file, send your photo(s) via email and the shop will send a proof back for you. Once approved, they will email you the file and you can use any online print shop you like (Shutterfly, Snapfish, Photobucket, etc) to print the card for you. Simple as that! I haven't quite picked mine yet. I have it narrowed down and I am thinking I can spend around $75 for 75-100 cards plus envelopes plus stamps and I think I am overshooting the price here. Aww, once again. Etsy has saved me!

SPBdesigns

Less Ordinary Designs

Gwen Marie Designs

a chessmore design

mjcorder designs

Etsy Lovin': Jellybean Apparel

Cute, cute, cute! Jellybean Apparel has some really fun stuff for the arrival of your little one! They have great maternity shirts for the days when you need to hit the grocery store or check off all those to do's. They are perfect to just throw on and still look cute when you are knocking on delivery's door. They also have t-shirts for the other members of your family too. Great for the hubby, grandma or grandpa to wear on D-Day. Here are some of my favorites!

My Man sporting his shirt on false D-Day!

Etsy Lovin': Vintage Lucy's

Oh boy, how I love Vintage Lucy's and oh boy, how I hate the price tag. I almost feel bad for writing this post because I know a lot of you are going to die for their unique clothes and then you are going to realize that you just can't and won't let yourself spring for the $60 t-shirt dress for your little one. But, oh how adorable and out of the ordinary are these cute prints. They go on to explain how their items are original prints, not ironed on, completely serged and professionally tailored, I know...blah, blah, blah, blah. I will say, there IS something to be said about buying a garment that is well made (said the girl who buys all of her clothes from Forever21). It will last a long time, keep it's shape, not fade and it can be passed down or treasured for a long time. If nothing else you could get some great ideas and create your very own $60 t-shirt dress for a fraction of the cost! They also have tons of other great items that are pretty reasonably priced. Hope you enjoy!