Fall in Love with Handmade ~ BrideBlu Giveaway!

As many of you are aware, supporting handmade is a action near and dear to my heart so when I learned of the Fall in Love with Handmade Giveaway Hop, hosted by Going Green with the Grizls , The Vagabond Studio, and Eight Days a Week, I jumped at the chance to be a part of this handmade movement.  The best part, it is a giveaway event which means that you have the chance to win TONS of awesome handmade goodies (and, hopefully find some new favorite shops to support!).

Before you hop on over to all of the other bloggers hosting handmade giveaways, using the Rafflecopter form below, you can enter right here to win one BrideBlu's Anabelle necklaces (winner chooses color!).  This is hands-down my favorite BrideBlu design ... it is elegant and a bit sparkling and, oh-so-classic!  I made myself one in the smoke color and wear it all the time.  This BrideBlu giveaway is open worldwide.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You'll find the list of all the other participating bloggers below so be sure to hop around and enter all of the giveaways. The more you enter, the more chances you’ll have to win the grand prize! Speaking of which, our hosts have also put together an awesome grand prize valued at more than $300! The grand prize includes:

• AI2 Cloth diaper from Green Grizls
• Boogie Bear Creations Nighttime Cloth Diaper
• Lil Montner Mama Cloth Set
• AI2 Cloth diaper from 4oh5 Fluff
• Organic Bonnet from Bonnet Friend
• Set of Cloth Wipes & Detergent from Tender Bottoms
• Natural Deodorant from Live Beautifully
• Hybrid Fitted Cloth diaper from Silly Bear Handmade 
• Bar of Soap from Bmbyx
• Original Artwork from NJoyArt
• GPS Bracelet from Motherhood Journey
• Fabric Lowercase ABC's from The Crunchy Farm Baby Shop
• $30 Credit to Babycake Boutique

You can gain extra entries into the grand prize by entering all of the giveaways on blogs participating in the Fall in Love with Handmade Event. Click here to access the grand prize entry form!

Poison Pear ~ A Giveaway!

Today I'd love to introduce you to the quirky, fun and all around super rad etsy shop, Poison Pear.  Poison Pear is a collection of unique screen-printed shirts, skirts, bags, and pouches inspired by the ocean, vintage appliances, and rock 'n' roll.

All items are designed and made by the lovely, sweet and talented Beth in her small home-based studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Since her goods are produced in small batches, everything is either limited edition, or one of a kind. Once they're gone, they're gone! 

Today, Beth is giving away a $30 shop credit to her shop!  Hooray!  What would you choose?  I would love to have this dress hanging in my closet and this pouch in my possession (my parents actually collect vintage grammophones!).  Enter via Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway is open worldwide.  Good luck!

Did you already have your eyeball on something?  Well, your in luck because Beth has graciously offered up a special, exclusive 15% discount to anything in her shop with coupon code: save15

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Decadent

This past weekend Andy and I stopped by a local apple orchard that also happens to sell the BEST muffins. So, naturally, I snagged a few (cranberry-pumpkin!). Jumbo muffins are my number one weakness but as a treat now and then, it is okay to indulge, right?

The Sweet Life

A month or so ago, I featured this lovely Etsy shop.  I was so smitten by Penelope's hand-screen tanks, I had to snag one for myself.  It has become my new "go-to" summer tank.  The perfect amount of cool and a little bit of sassy mixed in for good measure.  Hooray for handmade lovelies :)

How was your weekend?!?!?  On Friday night, the girls and I went to a greyhound play date (our first!).  While the fur-parents sipped wine and snacked, the hounds ran around and did their doggy things.  Juice and Gin now have a few new greyhound friends :)

White Owl ~ a giveaway!

White Owl was one of the very first Etsy shops I fell in love with in my "early Etsy years".   Needless to say, I am still a huge, huge fan!  Run by two sisters who love vintage and appreciate handmade things, White Owl is an accessories shop filled with the most beautiful lace necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Many of the materials they use are rescued from estate sales, flea markets and even their own Grandmother! As a diehard "rescuer" of vintage goodness myself, these ladies have captured my heart in the spirit in which they run White Owl.

I would be over-the-moon to have a pair of White Owl's lacy earrings join my jewelry collection (particularly this pair).  I love lace earrings because you can go big and bold without looking over-the-top due to the fact that lace is so open and airy!  Interested in snagging some White Owl for your jewelry box?  Use coupon code: ENDOFSUMMER to score 15% off your purchase!

Today, one lucky winner has the chance to win White Owl's MUSE lace necklace in jonquil.  Giveaway is open to US and Canada as well as the following counties:  Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Enter via Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck!
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Wordless Wednesday

Gin and Juice on the way to the dog park.

August 12, 2012

Just Zoo It!

This past weekend, Andy and I hit up one of my favorite annual events at the zoo.  Basically, a bunch of delicious local Milwaukee restaurants set up temporary shop at the zoo and serve up the best-of-their bests while zoo patrons (like Andy and me!) enjoy taste testing while checking out animals.  Here are a few snapshots of our outing, should you like to see ...

Me and our zoo pass (which we love by the way ... plus, the proceeds go towards a great cause ... the zoo and animal/wildlife preservation!).

Fresh Finds: The Weekend Edition

iPhone case  // small cat bracelet // tattooed socks // cat sweatshirt 

cat nap pillow cases // temporary cat face tattoo // cat stud earrings

Even though I love our two hounds dearly (and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world), I will always hold a special place in my heart for kitties (darn Andy and his allergies!).  On a totally different note, so glad that the weekend is here!  Andy and I have plans to check out the zoo tomorrow.  There is a special event going on call "Feast with the Beasts" where a bunch of local restaurants set up temporary shop at the zoo.  Checking out animals while eating yummy food ... yes please!

Whatever is in store for you this weekend, I hope you have a good one!

xxCat

Claylicious - a GIVEAWAY!

Claylicious is a lovely little Etsy shop packed with a variety of handmade mugs platters, yarn bowls, jars, plates, trays and great unique home decor ceramics like inspirational owls ,wall hanging plaques, ornaments and more!  The owner, Eshkar, has a killer eye for color (think bright oranges, pinks, purples perfectly blended with earthy tans, creams and turquoises), a creative vein that pulses strong and true, and lots of rad owl items!

I am currently lusting after this owl soap dispenser (which would make the boring, yet necessary task, of washing my hands so much cheerier!) and this elephant planter.

Today, Claylicious is offering up one of these ceramic owls (your color choice!) to one lucky winner.  Enter via Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway is open worldwide.  Good luck!

BONUS!  Eshkar has graciously offered up a 10% discount with code cat10.  What are you waiting for?  Buy some pretties for your home :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Day in the Life: Fleamarket Adventure

Yesterday, I shared with you my top tips for prepping for a flea-market adventure.  Today, I'd like to take you "behind-the-scenes" and share with you the sights (and finds!) of this past Sunday's flea-market outing!

Work a Flea-Market like a Boss

When it comes time to count the number of summer activities I look forward to, walking around a flea-market is right around the top of the list.  Especially when the weather is a perfect 75 degrees and sunny, like is was this past Sunday.  Today, I thought it would be fun to share with you how to get the most out of a flea-market adventure, starting with what to wear ...

1.  A maxi-dress is the perfect garment for a flea-market.  Sure, you could wear shorts and a t-shirt as a flea-market is far from fancy, but a maxi dress is just as comfortable and looks so much cuter!

2.  A cross-body bag is a flea-market MUST.  It allow you to keep your cash close and your hands free.

3.  Speaking of cash, you want to bring a good chunk of change ... preferably in smaller bills so that you are in a better position to wheel and deal (you should never pay full price ... counter offers are totally acceptable and expected!).

4.  Wear a hat.  Lots of flea-markets are held in large open spaces with little shade (like county fairgrounds).  A hat keeps the sun off your face and, if you opt to go really early (to scout the best, least picked over selection) it helps cover up messy hair.

5.  Pile on the sunscreen.  As a fair skinned gal, I am not ashamed to pile on at least SPF 50 (refer to number 4 ... that sun will get hot and a getting a sunburn is never fun).

6.  Wear comfortable shoes.  Your going to be standing and walking around a ton.  If your feet are happy, you'll be happy.

Secret Garden

I have been lusting after adding a garden table, chairs, and an umbrella to our back patio.  I can totally see Andy and I unwinding on a warm summer evening ... sitting outside, enjoying a glass of wine while the girls hang out in the grass.  Perhaps we would even sneak in a game of scrabble while enjoying a summer breeze.

A huge bonus would be the entertaining space that it would add!  Andy and I live in a small house ... a perfectly sized (for us!) 950 square feet but when we have people over, it can feel a cramped pretty quickly.  Adding an outdoor seating area would be a great way to add some extra space during spring, summer and fall.  One these medium-sized garden tables from Littlewoods would be perfect ... seating 4-6 people, which is a perfectly sized group :)

Do you entertain outdoors or have outside furniture?  Do you use it?  I secretly have a fear that if Andy and I were to make this investment we wouldn't use it as frequently as we are hoping too.

top image found via, all other images via Littlewood

Fresh Finds: The Weekend Edition

ikat red pillow cover // bangle // decorated mason jars 

vintage party dress // red airplane print // big red bow tank

This weekend is deliciously packed with fun social obligations.  On Saturday, we were invited to a barn party (complete with live music!).  And then on Sunday I'll be going to a flea-market (weather permitting) to *hopefully* score some new finds for the shop!

What is in store for you this weekend?  Whatever your plans, I hope you have a lovely one :)

xxCat

Cherished Memories

I am getting much better at bringing my camera with me everywhere I go (thanks to blogging!) which is a good things because now I have a lot more memories captured (most recently: our trip to Disney, the zoo and the State Fair).  The bad thing is ... how to display them all?  I realized just the other day that our house is at maximum capacity for photo frames.  We just don't have any more shelf space left!

Enter the lovely folks at Jessops Photo.  You bring the memories and they'll show you ways to display it in a momentous, worthy way.  One of my top "to try" things is creating a photo book.  At Jessops Photo you can download special software (for free!) and build a book of memories page by page including adding in text, clipart, and backgrounds.  Making a photo book sounds so fun and easy, don't you think?  Plus, they would make for interesting conversations starters when you have company over.

Photo books not your thing?  How about a canvas print of a favorite picture to fill up some of that white space on a wall?  Or a photo calendar with each month dedicated to a memory for the year before.  I love the idea of tying in a theme to corresponds with each month whether it be last year's trip to the pumpkin patch for October or a picture of the birthday girl front and center during her birthday month. 

What is your favorite way to showcase your photos?

Oh Snap!

Today, I'd like to talk a bit about cameras and photography.  Now, I am by no means a photo expert but here are a few tips I have learned along the way (through trial and error) on snapping a great looking picture ...

1.  Camera.  To set a solid foundation for a great picture, you are going to need a quality camera.  I've learned this lesson first hand when I upgraded earlier this year to a Canon PowerShot SX130 (it was a Christmas present from my parents ... thanks mom and dad!).  You don't need to buy the most expensive camera on the market but you should do your research and select a camera that is most compatible with the types of photos you plan on taking.  Since the majority of the photos I take are of jewelry, I went with the SX130 because it is particularly strong in taking highly macro (close-up) pictures in low-light.  In fact, once I started using this camera, a number of my photography friends thought I was shooting on a digital SLR camera!  If you are in the market for a new camera, may I recommend Jessops, a wonderful online camera store full of awesome-picture taking camera options!

2.  Lighting.  You just can't beat soft, natural lighting.  I've found the best lighting to be in the early morning or early evening as the sunlight is softer (direct sunlight can be harsh and tends to blemish a photo with sharp shadows).  When I don't have natural light to work with, I will take photos with the help of photo lights ... which are super bright lights that mimic natural sunlight.

3.  Composition.  There is a wise old saying that a picture is worth 1,000 words.  Use your words wisely by setting up a lovely stage in which to feature your subject in.  When I take pictures of my jewelry, I like to use props in the background to create some visual interest but taking care not to take the focus off the jewelry I am photographing.

4.  Editing.  Very, very rarely to I use an unedited photo.  Having a photo editing tool allows you to tweak a photo to its best place.  I typically use Photoshop Elements (which is a less expensive version of Photoshop) but also have found that Microsoft Office Picture Editor works quite well, too!  When editing a photo, I rarely mess with the color (t is a huge benefit of taking a photo in natural light ... colors come through true) but I almost always brighten the photo (make it lighter and brighter looking) and tweak the contrast (so it doesn't end up looking too washed out).

Happy picture snapping!

Shell Collector ~ DIY!

Andy and I have been fortunate enough to take a handful of tropical, beachy vacations (including a glorious, completely unforgettable pre-wedding "honeymoon" to the Bahamas).  Along the way we've amassed a special collection of shells and sea glass with the intention of doing something special with them but what?  Earlier this year at a flea market, I happened to spot a wooden "L" and was instantly inspired (seriously ... you never know when a creative idea is going to slap you in the face :).  A glue gun, our personal shell collection, my recently acquired "L" and a weekend afternoon later, I now have an awesome monogram to display at home covered in the shells Andy and I have carefully collected during our travels.  It was so easy and I loved the way it turned out.  Here are the steps to make it happen in-case you'd like to find a "home" for your shell collection (or any special collection for that matter ... like buttons, rocks/stones, small toys, etc.)!

STEP 1:  Layout your shells on your monogram letter.  This is probably the hardest (but most fun!) step ... deciding which shell fits best where, while still creating visual interest.  Make sure to set aside a larger shell (preferably some sort of conch shell) as the "lean support".  NOTE: you could opt to paint your letter first ... I debated doing this but in the end decided that I liked the organic look of plain wood best.

STEP 2:  Using a glue gun, carefully glue each shell into place.

STEP 3:  Now it is time to attach your "lean support" shell on the back of your monogram.  This will allow for your monogram to be freestanding on a shelf!

STEP 4:  Find a special place for your shelled monogram and enjoy the beachy memories that flood to mind when ever it catches your eye!

Vera Bradley: A Giveaway!

I have been a long time luster of Vera Bradley.  At first, I was a bit turned-off by the bright colors and paisley-esque patterns but quickly I came around and now am border-line obsessed!

Today, I am joining Giveaway Promote and RockStarMomLV (a luxury travel and lifestyle resource dedicated to highlighting events, people and places on the Las Vegas Strip and community that appeals to the sophisticated local and tourist, with or without their little entourage.©) in offering up a Vera Bradley Travel Set!  One lucky person will win this Vera Bradley travel duffel, satchel and matching umbrella in the Doodle Daisy pattern (includes: The Grand Traveler ($120 ARV), The Hipster ($60 ARV), and Umbrella ($34 ARV).



Enter via Rafflecopter form below.  Open to all US and Canadian residents.  Giveaway will end 11:59pm on August 12 2012.  Good luck!

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Take a Seat!

When Andy and I moved into our current house we were a little light in the furniture department and on a tight budget.  We ended up purchasing a number of inexpensive bookshelves (to help us get organized), picture shelves and a dinning room set to get us by until we could afford nicer stuff.  Fast forward 5 years later and I am so ready to upgrade, especially our dinning room chairs which are rigid and uncomfortable.  Plus, when sitting at the table they are too tall (or our table is too short) for me to tuck my legs up underneath me which is my preferred sitting style.  Lately I've been dreaming of new dining room chairs and, perhaps while I'm at it a new dining room table. Lakeland Furniture has quite the selection of cozy and modern chairs and bar stools should you care to take a peek (I love this breakfast bar stool ... it reminds me of an old-fashioned diner!)

While I wasn't so sure about them when I first saw them, ghost chairs are really starting to grow on me.  Their translucency gives them the deception of not taking up much space which would be perfect in our small house.  I also love the easy look of miss-matched chairs that somehow go together in an easy, cozy way.  And you really can't go wrong with a collection of colorful eames chairs.

I am officially drooling and completely inspired ... I think some chair shopping is in my new future.  Happy weekend everyone!

image credits:  top image found via brunch at saks dining room image credits:  1 // 2 // 3