This Girl's Life

{playing dress up}

2012-02-01T08:36:00.006-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday! What are you loving to wear right now? The weather here has been crazy warm for January...it was 55 degrees yesterday! I've been wearing layers as usual...lots of cardigans!

Thursday I wore my favorite striped sweater...

Black top: Old Navy
Sweater: Target
Skirt: Walmart
Tights: Kohl's
Boots: Target
Necklace: Kohl's

Friday I finally pulled out one of my belts...it had been awhile!

Ruffle top: c/o maurices giftcard
Cardigan: Target
Pants: JC Penney
Flats: maurices
Earrings: Kohl's

Monday my trusty denim skirt and second favorite new sweater made an appearance...

Black tee: Walmart
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Sears
Tights and boots: Target
Flower necklace: The Bird's Papaya
Charm necklace: local craft show

Yesterday I sported my purple tights...even though you can't tell in the photo...

Black tank: Kmart
Purple top: Kohl's
Cardigan: Kohl's
Skirt: Gap
Tights and boots: Target
Earrings: Kohl's

And today I'm wearing my super comfy Vera Wang Kohl's dress and of course another cardigan...

Cardigan and dress: Kohl's

Tights and boots: Target

Necklace: Kohl's

Earrings: The Purple Attic

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Linking up with...

{maurices giveaway winner!}

2012-01-30T16:16:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to everyone that entered the maurices giveaway! 150 comments...wow! And I reached 100 fans on my new Facebook page so the lucky winner will also receive two cute sets of handmade Valentine notecards.

I used random.org to pick the winner and the lucky gal is...

Jessica 8:21 PM: I Follow you on Pinterest jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

Congratulations Jessica! Email me at *mandybeth01 at hotmail dot com* with your mailing address so I can send you your goodies!

{playing dress up}

2012-01-25T08:41:00.001-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

Before I get to my outfits from the past week, I have exciting news {if you aren't a regular This Girl's Life reader}. I'm hosting my second maurices giveaway, which means you have another chance to win a $50 maurices giftcard. Head over to the giveaway post to enter!

And now for my outfits...

Thursday was my favorite from this past week. I was inspired by this outfit I pinned...

Source: diylouisville.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

And here is what I came up with...

Dress: Target
Cream tee: Target
Cardigan: JC Penney
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Flower pin: SarieJune

Friday...

Long sleeve tee: JC Penney
Blouse: Kohl's
Skirt: LL Bean via Ebay
Tights and boots: Kohl's
Necklace: Kohl's
Earrings and cuff: Etsy

Monday...

Ruffle tee: maurices
Cardigan: Kohl's
Pants: Gap
Necklace: Target
Shoes: maurices

Yesterday I was inspired by this outfit...

Source: polyvore.com via Mandy on Pinterest

And here is my version...

Brown tee: Elder Beerman
Cardigan: Dillards
Skirt: Sears
Tights and boots: Kohl's
Scarf: Ebay {oooold}

And today...

Ruffle tee: maurices
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Gap
Tights and boots: Target
Necklace: Kohl's
Ring: Kate's Kreations on Etsy

So that's my week! Don't forget to enter the maurices giveaway!

Linking up with...

{maurices giveaway 2.0}

2012-01-23T10:28:00.001-05:00

Yep...you read that right friends.

Are you ready for another maurices giveaway??!!

The lovely and generous folks at maurices asked me if I would share some exciting news with you, and in return they have given me another $50 giftcard to give to one lucky This Girl's Life reader!

So what is maurices up to?

They are smack dab in the middle of their next Main Street Model Search!

They are looking for real girls in all sizes who embody what maurices is all about: fashion, fun and giving back. If that's you, you can enter the contest to be one of 12 women chosen to be a maurices Main Street Model. You could win fabulous prizes, including a fashion shoot in an iconic destination in the U.S., a $1,500 maurices giftcard, and $7.500 for a charitable makeover to be awarded directly to a community or charitable organization in your hometown. <---- this is my favorite part!

Here is a video featuring some of last year's beautiful and inspiring winners and how they have given back to their communities...

So do you think you have what it takes to be one of the next maurices Main Street Models? Be sure to enter soon...the deadline is noon (MST) on February 13th. You can enter here!

And now for the giveaway!

One lucky reader will win a $50 maurices giftcard, AND if I reach 100 Facebook fans, I'm going to throw in two really cute sets of handmade Valentine cards created by yours truly! Here is a little peek at one of the cards...

To enter to win, you can do one or all of the following, but be sure to leave a comment for each one:

1. Tell me what you would do with $7,500 if you could give it to a local non profit organization
2. Follow This Girl's Life {already a follower? Be sure to leave a comment letting me know!}
3. Like This Girl's Life on Facebook
4. Follow me on Pinterest
5. Like maurices on Facebook
6. Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, or your own blog {leave a separate comment for each}

Giveaway will be open until midnight EST Sunday, January 29th. Winner will be chosen randomly. Open only to US residents.

Good luck friends!

*maurices also provided me with a $50 giftcard for sharing their Main Street Model Search on This Girl's Life. Thanks maurices!

{DIY Earring Stand}

2012-01-21T15:06:00.005-05:00

For the past few months, I've been on the hunt for a stand/organizer for my stud earrings. Last year I shared my DIY jewelry organizer that holds my hanging earrings, as well as my rings and favorite necklaces. But that project didn't solve the storage solution for my stud earrings that I wear fairly often.

Then I came across this idea on Pinterest...

Source: alittleofthis---alittleofthat.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

And a crafty lightbulb went off!

The last time we went to IKEA, I purchased this $1 picture frame...

because it was 1. cute and 2. only $1. But since then I hadn't found a spot for it.

Until that little crafty lightbulb went off in my head. So I gathered my supplies which included the frame, my cropodile, and a pen...

This is where I have to apologize for the low quality pics...all I had on hand when this crafty genius moment hit me was my cell phone. :)

The frame came with two pieces of plastic inside, both of which were covered in a thin plastic film. The film made it very easy to mark off the plastic without leaving permanent marks. While the plastic was still in the frame, I traced around the inside of the frame onto the plastic. I then marked off one inch increments onto one side...

I then drew lines across...

And then used my cropodile to punch my holes {I eyeballed them because I'm lazy like that...I know they aren't totally even and I'm OK with that}

The only bummer is that my cropodile wouldn't reach into the center of the frame, but if I want to later on, I could use a small drill bit to make more holes.

And then for the fun part! I put the plastic back into the frame, added my earrings, and voila!

I can't tell you how much I am in love with this little piece of earring holding goodness. And I even have one more set of holes for some yet to be purchased earrings...

So with some Pinterest inspiration, $1 frame, and about 10 minutes, I created the perfect and simple solution to store my earrings.

Low cost + big impact = my kind of DIY project. :)

Linking up with...

{mail storage solutions}

2012-01-20T08:57:00.000-05:00

We are in desperate need of a storage solution for our mail and paperwork at our house. Please tell me we aren't the only ones that have this problem. Mail on the kitchen counter...the island...the desk...in my purse. It is out.of.control.

One of the problems with our house is that it is a split level, so you come in on the bottom floor but the bulk of our living space is upstairs. So I'm not sure where to keep our mail. Now that our office area is going to be in the rec room on the first level I think it will make more sense to hang something in the entryway, so it is convenient to drop things off when I come home, but I would also have our bills and paperwork close by to remember to file and pay things when needed.

Here are a few ideas I've pinned to cure our mail conundrum. This first is my favorite but I can't seem to find where to buy it...

Source: bhg.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: noodle-head.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: containerstore.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: amazon.com via Mandy on Pinterest

How do you organize your mail and paperwork? I would loooove some help here!

{not so DIY starburst mirror}

2012-01-18T11:48:00.001-05:00

With all of the great DIY starburst mirrors floating around the blog world and Pinterest these days, I had to poke a little fun at myself with the title of this post. I mentioned here how I was debating over DIY or buy in order to get my very own starburst mirror.

If you follow me on Facebook, you saw that I finally decided to splurge and buy the one I had been stalking at Hobby Lobby. It was half off, but still $40, which is a huge splurge for me on one home decor item.

But it is now hanging in our dining room...

And it was worth every single penny.

It makes me smile every time I see it. {picture this wall with white trim and beige walls for the full effect}

And yes...I did have to change up my little vignette to make it work...

I removed the chalkboard and hung the canvas on the wall to fill in the gap. Sadly our oddly placed heating control is now showing, but I'm OK with that.

I think the chalk board will go in our entryway...which will be a nice pop of color after the walls get painted. And now I'm really tempted to paint our entryway table top with chalkboard paint thanks to Emily at 52 Mantles...

Source: 52mantels.com via Mandy on Pinterest

What do you think? This is the table...

Chalkboard top and white legs? The walls will hopefully be gray soon. I loooove gray + turquoise right now so I think the chalkboard would be the perfect accent.

OK...so I went from my not so DIY mirror to redecorating my entryway. I'm all over the place. :) And you love me for it, right?

Linking up with...

{playing dress up}

2012-01-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

I'm a little light on outfits this week because of a busy holiday weekend and a still sick kiddo (boo). But I was able to manage to sneak in some Pinterest inspiration today so that is a first for me! So here we go...

Thursday is definitely my favorite this week. I am loving this new Target cardigan!

Ruffle tee: c/o maurices gift card
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Gap
Tights and boots: Target
Necklace: Kohl's
Ring: Kate's Kreations on Etsy

Friday it was COLD so I made sure to wear a warm scarf and a thick sweater. This Indiana winter has been crazy...20 degrees one day, 50 the next!

Sweater: Kohl's
Skirt: Dillards
Tights and boots: Target
Infinity scarf: Kohl's
Earrings: ummm...your guess is as good as mine! :)

Today I used this pin as my inspiration...

Source: polyvore.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Since I can't wear jeans to work I swapped those out with my curdoroy skirt and gray tights. The pashmina is a budget find from ebay at $6. Not sure why today's pics are a bit blurry but you get the idea. :)

Cream tee: JC Penney
Cardigan: Forever 21
Skirt: Gap
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Pashmina: Ebay
Earrings: The Purple Attic

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Linking up with...

{new facebook page!}

2012-01-16T11:48:00.001-05:00

Notice anything different around here?

I did a little sprucing up to the blog. A little makeover if you will.

And I added fun new buttons. See them over there? ----------------->

There are easy links to my Etsy shop. my Pinterest and the one I'm most excited about...

The new This Girl's Life Facebook page!

Be sure to head on over and become a fan! I'll be sharing fun extras including that won't be on the blog like links to great products, other fun blogs and linky parties and I'm sure there will be a giveaway in the future. :)

{Olympic ColorClix}

2012-01-13T15:33:00.001-05:00

I'm not one that is obsessed with apps for my phone, but when I discovered Olympic's ColorClix the other day, I think I squealed out loud. For anyone that loves color, home design, and the ridiculous instant gratification that smart phones offer, you will be instantly in love with this app.

Let me show you what this little gem of an app does...

First, I took one of my favorite photos that I had taken with my phone {this is a spot on our neighborhood road that I love}...

and loaded it into the ColorClix app. And then I was instantly given this...

Pretty sweet huh? The first thing ColorClix gives you is a selection of the main colors in the image, with the corresponding Olympic paint color names.

Then, if you touch on a part of the photo, it gives you that color and matching shades...

You can also get a mix of the complementary colors...

I could honestly play with this app for HOURS. And if that wasn't fun enough, the really awesome feature is that you can take a photo anywhere with your phone and load it right into the app to find matching paint colors.

So say you are out shopping and see the perfect piece of art or pillow that inspires you to paint a room in your home. Take a photo of it, load it into ColorClix, and get an instant list of colors to choose from.

Now I just need about 10 gallons of paint to accomplish my 2012 home goals and I'll be all set! Let me know if you try this out and what you think...I bet you'll be hooked too!

*This post is in no way sponsored by Olympic or ColorClix...I just really love this app!

{whoa! and low}

2012-01-12T11:28:00.000-05:00

I've seen other blogs feature similar items, whether they be home decor or fashion, that are on the high and low end of the budget spectrum. I don't know if this will become a regular feature on This Girl's Life, but I had to share these whoa! and low finds with you...

Kate Spade New York All Aboard Necklace...$248

maurices 5 Stone Bib Necklace...$25

And honestly I like the low necklace much better! What about you?

{playing dress up}

2012-01-11T11:00:00.004-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

Hope you all are having a good week. It has been sort of a crazy one at our house. All of us have been sick in one way or another, and late last night my little Benny had his first trip to the ER. He is OK thank goodness but we still need to take him back to the doctor to figure out what is causing his symptoms. So I'm blogging from home this morning in my pj's while the boys are sleeping and ready to share my outfits from last week. So here we go...

1. Last Wednesday I was feeling pretty puny and only worked a half day. I can't say this short boot and skirt combo is the most flattering but boy was it comfy!

Gray tee: Kohl's

Sweater: JC Penney

Skirt: Walmart

Tights: unsure

Boots: Kohl's

Silver necklace: local craft show

Flower necklace: The Bird's Papaya

Thursday I was feeling better and a bit more colorful...

Cardigan: c/o maurices gift card

Pink ruffle tee: maurices

Skirt: NY & Co.

Tights: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Flower pin: Kohl's

Necklace: F21

Friday I wore my new striped sweater and I think this was my favorite outfit of the week...

Sweater: Target
Dress: Kohl's
Tights: Kohl's
Boots: Target
Necklace: Kohl's

Monday I wore a fun new blue scarf and used some Pinterest inspiration to tie it in a new way...

Cardigan: Dillards
Gray tee: Kohl's
Pants: Kohl's
Scarf: Ebay
Shoes: maurices
Earrings: Kohl's
Ring: Katie's Kreations

And yesterday I tried a new color combo with gray and green...

Gray ruffle tee: maurices

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Sears

Tights and Boots: Target

Necklace: SarieJune

Earrings: Kohl's

Linking up with...

{2012 home goals}

2012-01-11T00:29:00.002-05:00

Following along with my one little word for 2012, commit, and being inspired by The Nester's 2012 Home Goals blog party, I've decided to make a list {a rather lofty one} of the projects I would like to accomplish around our house this year.

Before I go into each one separately, here is the complete list...

Told you it was lofty! :)

Do I expect us to complete all of them? Not realistically. But do I think it is doable in a year? Totally. A lot of these projects can be completed in a weekend {minus the kitchen renovation}. I just have to commit to completing them!

We've been living in a house that just isn't ours for over two years now and my hubby and I are more than ready to remedy that this year. A lot of these projects involve a simple coat of paint, which is inexpensive and fairly quick, especially if you have family members to ~~bribe with pizza~~ recruit to help.

So let's break down each one a bit shall we...

I've talked about this one quite a bit on the blog. It is an eyesore that I know can be beautiful with a little bit of paint and some wood to beef up the mantel. When we moved in it looked like this...

So far we've replaced the flooring, painted the concrete mantel white and removed the fireplace doors which was a good start. Here it is in its current state...

Next up is a scary coat of white paint on the brick {someone hold me and tell me it will look fabulous} and some sort of constructed cover for the skimpy and uneven concrete mantel.

Here are a few fireplaces that are inspiring me...

Source: designspongeonline.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: remodelista.com via Mandy on Pinterest

I know it can be a showstopper if I just stop procrastinating and jump into this project. And going right along with the fireplace is...

White and dingy walls + ugly stained woodwork = not a happy dining room {see above pic of our fireplace}. This one is pretty self explanatory.

The trim will definitely be going white. Not sure yet on the walls, but it will be something on the neutral side. A bit of inspiration for these walls...

Source: g-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: cape27blog.com via Mandy on Pinterest

When we moved into the house, Landons' entire room, including most of the trim, was smurf blue.

Seriously. I didn't photoshop that...they painted EVERYTHING blue.

I painted his room the same shade of brown as the boys' first nursery before we moved in, but neglected the closet, which is a really awful shade of royal blue...

We took the doors off when we got the carpet installed, Which cued my instant obsession with painting over those awful blue walls. My plan is to leave the doors off, paint the inside a lighter color, add some shelving and organize the heck out of it. And maybe add a reading nook.

A bit of inspiration for Landon's closet...

Source: google.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: yvette-keeping-it-real.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

I was so excited a few months back to paint our hallway. When we moved in it was two toned with a chair rail. I took this photo minus the chair rail before I started painting...

And I finally got around to painting it gray to match our family room. Before I did the trim it looked sooo much better...

And then procrastinator me waiting too long to do the trim, and the little bit of paint I had left thickened up. No problem I thought...tt will be fine.

And then it dried like this...

I wasn't going for the spotted leopard look.

So we need to repaint the hall. BUMMER. Thank goodness I have the numbers to color match the paint.

And while we're at it...the stairwell needs to get a coat of the same lovely gray. This will require a ladder on the stairs which I'm definitely not going to attempt. Anyone game? I'll get you your very own pizza!

And now heading downstairs...

I have never been a fan of yellow walls, so when we bought the house, I knew that the entryway would have to change asap. Two years later and it is still yellow.

I'm thinking of a darker gray for this space with a white table and other light/bright accents. Here are a few photos that are inspiring me...

Source: decorpad.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Ahhh the rec room. Haven't really shared much about this space with you all {if any at all now that I think about it!} It is a really great extra room on the first floor of our house that we're slowly turning into a play room/office.

And guess what? Its yellow too! {duh duh duhhhh}

We have our spare couch and TV on one side, and the other side houses our treadmill and miscellaneous stuff for now. The plan is to divide the room with a large IKEA Expedit bookcase and add a desk, which would move our office space down there from where it currently is in our family room. This photo shows a similar concept...

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Mandy on Pinterest

The Expedit will give us a TON of storage, which is a good thing because the plan is to move my scrapbooking and crafting supplies down there. The hubby is bit scared about that one. I think I might have to do a little bit of supply purging.

The room also needs a fresh coat of paint. I think that the ever popular "silver sage" paint color would look great in there. Here is a sample of it in my friend Beth's home...

Lots of work to do in there but I'm excited to make it a fun and functional space for the whole family!

Tiny space + bright yellow walls + outdated vanity = help!!

At least it is a small space and painting will be a quick job. This photo has me inspired for this space...

Source: jenniferjohner.typepad.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Fresh, light walls and a gray vanity. Eventually we want to turn this into a full bath, so we won't be putting much money into this space for now.

And of course I left the most monstrous project for last. Our kitchen.

Here it is in all its glory when we moved in, carpet and all...

We've since replaced the flooring with laminate, painted the upper cabinets white and added a DIY island...

And now we've decided that it just needs to be gutted. No more 70's falling apart cabinets, gold speckled counter, dingy white sink, painted tile backsplash. It all has.to.go.

But of course we are going to be doing this on a very small budget, so we will probably be tackling it in stages. The bottom will most likely be first so we can replace the sink, faucet, counter and non-functioning dishwasher. As for the top, we hope to remove the soffet and replace some of the upper cabinets with open shelving, both for the aesthetic appeal and also to save some money.

We will almost definitely be going the IKEA route with this renovation. We know we want to get the same farmhouse sink we had in our old kitchen and butcher block counters. Here are a few inspiration photos I've pinned...

Source: thestanleyclan.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: perfectlydisgraceful.typepad.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Whew! Are you still with me?

If so, congrats, because I think this was the most involved blog post on This Girl's Life to date.

Now your mission is to stick with me through 2012 to see how many of these goals we can accomplish.

Are you in?

{weekend find}

2012-01-09T09:06:00.004-05:00

Don't you love it when something on your wish list ends up in the clearance aisle?

This little canvas came home with me from Hobby Lobby over the weekend and it fits in just perfectly, don't ya think?

And it was $4. Yep.

This is my favorite little nook in the house right now. I love how all of the elements work together. I think I have this vignette thing down now...it is all about layering and moving the eye from one element to the next. Adding in items with sentimental value, like my Grandma's training case and milkglass lamp, and the retro clock that was a housewarming present from our first home, make it even more special. And of course a little owl, my button flowers and my DIY chalkboard pull it all together.

But that canvas, oh it is my favorite at the moment. :)

What is your favorite little nook in your home right now?

Linking up with...

{boxed in}

2012-01-07T22:40:00.000-05:00

Just a typical Saturday night...playing in boxes...

And Ben demonstrating his acting skills. Who knew sitting in a box could bring out so many emotions?

Happy...

Angry/frustrated...

Excited!!!

Goofy...

And one more for the ladies...

Hope your Saturday night has been equally expressive!

{DIY or buy}

2012-01-05T16:18:00.000-05:00

We all know that I love a good DIY project. But with the demands of being a full time working mom, lately I just don't have the energy to make stuff. Which totally bums me out by the way. But life is crazy right now, and I have to cut myself some slack, right?

Enter one of my latest obsessions...

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Danae on Pinterest

The starburst mirror.

I reeeeeally really want one to hang over our record player cabinet in the dining room.

Yeah...I'm already over my funky gallery wall. I want to simplify.

There are TONS of DIY starburst mirrors in blogland right now. Just search on Pinterest and you will find a nice array, from ones made with shims, others with dowel rods, and even versions using free paint sticks. Here are a few DIY ones that I've pinned...

Source: thethriftyabode.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: thejollyjames.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com via Mandy on Pinterest

All of these are very affordable projects and probably wouldn't take that much time. But do I have the energy? Especially when Hobby Lobby has a really gorgeous wood one that I could snag when the mirrors are 50% off.

So what would you do?

DIY or buy?

Remember I'm a 8-5 working girl with two insane three year olds at home. :)

{playing dress up}

2012-01-03T23:37:00.005-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday! And happy 2012!

Here are my first few outfits from 2012...actually the first one is from 2011.

Thursday I wore two pieces that I've had since before I had my boys. It never fails to make me feel good when I can fit into my pre-pregnancy stuff.

Sweater: JC Penney

Skirt: Dillards

Tights: Target

Boots: Kohl's

Earrings: Dillards

New Year's Day I did some solo shopping at one of my favorite places, Kohl's, and we had dinner out with the hubby's family. It was a great way to kick off the new year. I took these pics near the end of the day in case you're wondering why I look a little worn out. :)

You can see the Christmas tree lights on my glasses... :)

Black tank: JC Penney

Cardigan: Target

Jeans: Kohl's {LC by Lauren Conrad...love them!}

Flats: Maurices

Flower necklace: The Bird's Papaya

Charm necklace: local craft fair

Earrings: The Purple Attic

Monday I had another day off of work and was feeling puny from a cold that came on, so I lounged around the house in my new poncho from my New Year's Day shopping trip at Kohl's. And another day for my hair up in a bun...easy when you aren't feeling so hot.

I didn't wear the boots all day {another new purchase!} but I slipped them on to go out to get the mail and kept them on for pictures sake. Love these boots...they are lined with soft fur and are super comfy.

Yesterday it was back to work. I wasn't so excited about the work part of the day, but I did wear another new Kohl's purchase so that helped me get up and out of bed in the morning. I love this purple top...it is so flattering. And it is hard to tell but I'm wearing purple tights too...another first for me.

Love the detail on the shirt...

Brown tank: JC Penney

Purple top: Kohl's

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Sears

Tights: Target

Boots: Kohl's

Necklace: Kohl's

That darn cold hit me harder today so I'm home from work and I guarantee I'm not picture worthy. :)

Are you wearing any gifts or new purchases this week? I'd love to see!

Linking up with...

{loving}

2012-01-03T14:07:00.004-05:00

Simple things are making me happy today.

Like the flameless candles Aunt Debi got me for Christmas...

A fun new picture frame on my desk at work {from Mom #2}...

And my new mittens and purple tights...

Love how they turn into fingerless gloves...

The mitten part is like a little blanket for my fingers. Love.

Where have these things been all my life?!

Tell me...what are you loving today?

Linking up with...

{the year ahead}

2012-01-02T23:20:00.002-05:00

Source: elembee.com via Cherie on Pinterest

I don't know about you, but January is usually a rough month for me. The mixture of cold weather, letdown from the holidays and short days all can create quite the debbie downer.

But this year for some reason I feel different. I feel so optimistic. Hopeful.

Dare I say excited?!

Maybe it is the fact that the weather here in December was unseasonably warm. Maybe it was because we had a really wonderful Christmas and I'm still on a high from all of our time spent with family. Whatever the reason, I'm so pumped for this new year and everything that it could hold for me and my little family.

Last year, I started off 2011 by participating in Ali Edward's One Little Word challenge, and my word was action.

Looking back on 2011, I did take a lot of action, especially here on This Girl's Life. I started participating in What I Wore Wednesday, which was a big leap for me. I interviewed a Project Runway alum. This time last year I would have never thought that was a possibility. I was featured on at least 10 different blogs and websites, including Ohdeedoh, Tip Junkie, and The Frugal Girls. Whoa did I have a really amazing blogging year.

I am also very proud to say that I took action at home to be a better wife and mother, which any spouse or parent knows is a daily challenge. Along with my hubby, we have made it halfway through the thrashing threes {which are MUCH harder than the terrible two's}. Some days I wonder if we will make it out with our sanity, but we are tackling it as a team and that feels really good.

In 2012 I'm going to continue with a similar theme of action.

Source: sofiasjournal.com via Josie on Pinterest

My word for 2012 is commit.

Commit to all of the home decorating and organizing projects we need to complete. {with A LOT of help from Pinterest}

Commit to working every day to be an even better wife and mother.

Commit to treating my body better by eating healthier and exercising. {starting tomorrow with a smoothie for breakfast!}

Commit to adding new and exciting content to This Girl's Life.

Source: flickr.com via Barbara on Pinterest

So how are you feeling about 2012?

If you need some extra excitement, I think I have some to spare. :)

Linking up with...

{happy}

2012-01-01T09:21:00.000-05:00

Some happy thoughts for a Happy New Year...

Source: polyvore.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Ashleigh on Pinterest

Source: yellowbrickblog.blogspot.com via Ruth on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Tracy on Pinterest

Source: facebook.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Hope each and every one of you have the happiest year ever!

{2011 blog recap}

2011-12-31T14:21:00.000-05:00

With 2012 right around the corner I thought I would do a little recap of the most popular, and my favorite posts on This Girl's Life for 2011. It is amazing to me how much more traffic I haven gotten this year, and I'm so honored and thankful for all of my readers and blog friends.

Without a doubt, the most popular post from 2011 was my DIY t-shirt scarf. This post, thanks to Pinterest and Craftgawker, has received over 15,000 pageviews since I posted it in August!

The second most popular post of the year, and definitely one of my tops faves as well, was my recap of the boys' Despicable Three birthday party. It has had over 5,600 views since I posted it on May 29th.

And coming in third is my post about prettying up our fireplace mantel with a DIY chalkboard. It is amazing how much attention just a little bit of chalkboard paint can get!

And now for my faves...

#1 without a doubt is my interview with Project Runway's Christopher Straub and my maurices giveaway. This was definitely the highlight of my blogging year!

Here is the interview again if you missed it...

I also really loved my DIY artwork for my son Ben's room...

And our super easy kitchen island project...

And finally I was very excited to share our little office space makeover...

It has been a fun and exciting year for this little blog of mine, and I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store. One of my resolutions is to complete a lot more home decorating and organizing projects this year, so stay tuned, and thanks for coming along for the ride!

{a little Christmas recap}

2011-12-29T10:48:00.002-05:00

Who am I kidding...this will probably not be a little recap due to the 100+ photos I snapped between Christmas Eve and Christmas day and the three different present opening extravaganzas we had with the boys. To sum it up in a nutshell though...we had a truly wonderful and blessed Christmas. I feel like the word blessed can sound so cheesy but it is the only word I can think of to describe how I feel. Lots of family, more than enough love, and a plethora of presents and food surrounded us.

So here are just a few of my fave photos...I will try to edit...really I will. :)

Uncle John reading to Ben...

Spiderman!

Landon looking so grown up...

Back at home on Christmas Eve...the boys were looking up the fireplace for Santa...

Of course we had to leave him a little snack...

Took this one around midnight...all the presents finally wrapped and waiting!

I was actually a tad bit domestic on Christmas morning and made this yummy cheese danish that I found on Pinterest...

It turned out great!

Once the boys got up we went straight into unwrapping their presents. Ben's favorite was his Batman that he had been obsessing over for weeks...

And of course new trains!

And Nerf guns! {although I think the hubby might be having more fun with those ;) }

My Grandma got the boys snuggies and they are already loving them...

My Mom with her new monogrammed pashmina...

My parents got the boys a really cool barn playset...

Dan and I opening a sweet gift from my parents...

Later on Christmas day we headed back to my Mom #2's house to do the rest of our gifts and enjoy time together...including a super fun game of Apples to Apples.

My sister-in-law and nephew...

Candy Land!

And more trains of course...

My hubby makes the cutest psychotic faces ;)

Mom #2 and I...

And then when we finally got home around 12:30 {pm!!}we all crashed.

Hope everyone had an equally wonderful Christmas!

{playing dress up}

2011-12-28T09:04:00.003-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday! If you are new to these posts, I started participating in Lindsey's weekly wardrobe posts over at The Pleated Poppy to inspire and motivate me to have more fun dressing up every day.

I'm sporting a few of my fun Christmas gifts this week...love getting new clothes and accessories.

I wore this last Thursday and spent most of the day in the house, so I'm wearing my new moccassins c/o Maurices. They are shoes but I'm using them as slippers...they are lined in fur and are so comfy!

Brown tee: Elder Beerman
Ruffle top: c/o Maurices giftcard
Jeans: JC Penney
Moccassins: c/o Maurices giftcard
Earrings: The Birds Papaya
Necklace: Local craft fair

Christmas! No full outfit photo but I have to share the cute striped sweater my hubby gave me. I love it!

Sweater: Target - see it here
Aunt Debi: Most fun accessory ever! :)

Yesterday...first day back at work and major Christmas hangover. But I wore my new Target sweater and boots from the hubby so that helped me feel a lot better. :)

Pink tee: Dillards
Sweater: Target - see it here
Skirt: Sears
Tights: Kohl's
Boots: Target - see them here
Necklace: SarieJune

Today I'm suuuuper tired and it shows in my hair. :) Darn toddlers waking me up at 5 am to remove their new pillow pet from their bed, turn on their turtle light and reassure them that the shadows aren't going to hurt them. Despite my deliriousness I think I still managed to look semi put together today...

Turtleneck sweater: Maurices
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Gap
Tights and Boots: Target
Necklace: Kohl's
Earrings: The Purple Attic
And thank goodness for long hair!

Linking up with...

{and a Happy New Year!}

2011-12-24T17:05:00.000-05:00

Hope your holidays are filled with wonderful memories with family and friends!

And for a little fun...here are the outtakes from our Christmas card photo session. Ben's expressions crack me up...he is such a little actor!

{playing dress up}

2011-12-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

The two outfits I have to share today have something fun in common...they both include items I purchased with the giftcard I received from maurices when I interviewed Christopher Straub from Project Runway. I finally found a few minutes to head over to the mall over the weekend and picked up some great pieces.

On Monday I wore this amazingly soft ruffle cardigan. I love something that is dressy but feels like pj's...

Black lace tank: Kohl's
Ruffle cardigan: c/o maurices giftcard
Pants: Gap
Flats: Shoebille
Necklace: F21

Yesterday I wore this super comfy and flattering ruffle tee. I'm tempted to go back and get one in pink as well...

Ruffle tee: c/o maurices giftcard
Cardigan: Kohl's
Skirt: Sears
Tights: Kohl's
Boots: Target
Necklace: Target
Earrings: The Purple Attic

Thanks again to maurices for adding some fun pieces to my wardrobe! I also bought a very cute pair of moccasins...I'll be sure to share those in a future post. {not too shabby for a $50 shopping spree, right? I know how to stretch a dollar!}

Linking up with...

{a new tradition}

2011-12-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

The holidays are SO much more fun with children and my favorite part is creating new traditions with the boys. This year we added another one to the list, thanks to my parents. They brought over a gingerbread house kit the other night and we had so much fun putting it together and watching the boys decorate it. It was actually the first time any of us had made one!

Here are a few pics from our gingerbread adventure...

Ben sneaking some candy... :)

And my Dad too...see his hand? LOL :)

Nana helping the boys decorate...

Sneaking more candy...

Ta da! It turned out so cute!

I'm so excited to make this a yearly tradition. Maybe when the boys get a bit older we will attempt making our own gingerbread. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

{playing dress up}

2011-12-14T09:05:00.000-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

Nothing whitty to say this morning so let's just get to my outfits from this past week, OK :)

Friday...

Blouse: Kohl's
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Gap
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Necklace and Earrings: The Bird's Papaya

Monday...

Brown tee: Elder Beerman
Gray Cardigan: Kohl's
Skirt: Sears
Tights and boots: Kohl's
Wrap: Gift from my Mom {She got it at Hallmark!}
Earrings: Dillards

Tuesday...

Black tee: Old Navy
Sweater: Sears
Skirt: Walmart
Tights and boots: Target
Necklace: local craft fair
Earrings: The Purple Attic
Headband: Love Stitched

Today...

Ruffle tank: Maurices
Cardigan: Target
Pants: Target
Flats: Maurices
Earrings: Kohl's

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Linking up with...

{little chefs}

2011-12-13T10:49:00.000-05:00

Sunday night the hubby made homemade pizza dough and we thought it would be fun to let the boys make their own pizza. They loved it!

From the flour everywhere...

To rolling out the dough...

Spreading the sauce....

And adding the cheese...

Here were their finished pizzas...

{Can you tell which boy likes to line things up?}

Which by the way they wouldn't eat.

Gotta love picky toddlers! Oh well...the process was still super fun and a great memory. What do you like to cook with your kids?

{decking the dining room}

2011-12-10T22:05:00.002-05:00

I have a few more Christmas decorations from our dining room to share tonight! I made a little centerpiece for our table with a chipboard house I painted and covered with buttons a few years ago...

My milkglass cake plate is the perfect stand, with a few vintage trees and a sparkly garland and ornaments around the base.

I also added our advent calendar to the record player cabinet...

I love how it looks with my green lamp and button flowers.

And here is a better look at the boys' tree...

I added a white garland that I knitted last year. If the skirt looks a bit disheveled, here is why...

The cats have set up permanent camp there. :)

You can see our fireplace mantel and other decorations here, and our tree here!

{Linking up with The Nester, the Inspired Room, and Kelly's Korner for their 2011 Christmas Home Tour}

{love list}

2011-12-08T14:39:00.000-05:00

A few things that are making my heart happy...

1. My new headband from love stitched...

I bought it through through Groopdealz and I absolutely love it. So comfy and an easy way to dress up a ponytail/bun for work or going out. I'm on the hunt for more to add to my accessory wardrobe!

2. These mason jar travel cups...

What a GENIUS idea and so cute!

3. Granny square scarves...

{This one found here}

My mother-in-law is going to make me one!! Squeee! Now I just have to decide on colors...

4. Our now annual tradition of going to the Christmas train display in town...

We went Tuesday night and the boys both rode the little train together for the first time! Landon was too scared last year so I was so proud of him.

What are you loving today?

{playing dress up}

2011-12-07T09:05:00.000-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

If you are new to WIWW, let me give a quick explanation. It isn't just me posting pics of what I wear because I'm super narcissistic. :) Lindsay over at The Pleated Poppy started WIWW to help stay at home moms get out of their sweatshirt and jeans rut and dress up for a change {or at least throw on a few cute accessories.} I'm not a SAHM, but I thought it would be fun to participate and find inspiration to try new styles.

Soooo here are my outfits from the past week...

Thursday...

Gray tee: Kohl's
Sweater: JC Penney
Pants: Gap
Scarf: Kohl's
Shoes: Shoebilee
Ring: The Purple Attic

Friday...

Gray tank: JC Penney
Sweater: Kohl's
Skirt: Gap
Tights: Kohl's
Boots: Target
Necklace: Walmart

Monday...

{Thank goodness for longer hair and ponytails on a rainy day! You can tell from my boots.}

Brown tee: Elder Beerman
Cardigan: Dillards
Skirt: Sears
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Necklace: Etsy {can't remember the shop}
Earrings: The Purple Attic

Tuesday...

Gray tee: Kohl's
Cardigan: Dillards
Skirt: NY &Co.
Tights and boots: Target
Necklace: Kohl's

Linking up with...

{a glowing Christmas}

2011-12-04T01:36:00.001-05:00

I feel like it is really Christmas in our house now that our tree went up today. And I'm so excited with how it turned out! We've had the same artificial, pre-lit tree (red, green and white lights) for the past 5 or 6 years, and this year the lights finally gave out. Last year, I went with a simple mix of red, green and silver {shatterproof = toddler proof} ornaments...

But this year, since the lights needed to be changed, I decided to go with an entirely different color scheme and bought light blue and brown ornaments to mix in with our already owned silver ones, and all white lights. Here is this year's tree...

Don't these pictures have an awesome glow?!

I can thank my friend Beth for teaching me on her blog, Unskinny Boppy, how to get a great glowing Christmas tree photo. Her photo of her glowing tree from last year has blown up all over the internet and on Pinterest, and you can see it and her instructions on how to get your own glowing tree photo right here...

She is also hosting a linky party to show off your tree photo, so head on over and link up!

Just for fun, here are a few pics of the boys decorating...

And Landon having a bit too much fun with the ornament packaging. :)

They sure kept the decorating process...challenging. :) Gotta love life with two three year olds!

{maurices giveaway winner!}

2011-12-03T23:24:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to everyone that entered the maurices giveaway!

And thanks again to maurices and Christopher Straub for making This Girl's Life quite a bit more exciting!

And now for the winner.....

AubreyLaine 11:33 AM: I like Maurice's on FBlittlegray88 at yahoo dot com

Congratulations Aubrey!! Your comment #45 was the winner!

Stay tuned to see what I purchase with my giftcard...I see a little shopping spree post in the future. :)

{sort of Thanksgiving recap}

2011-12-02T11:39:00.000-05:00

As obsessed with picture taking as I am, I'm ashamed to say that I did not take one.single.photo. on Thanksgiving day. I guess I was partly just enjoying the time with family too much, and partly too distracted by the three crazy boys running around our house to think about taking photos.

But on Friday we did a second sort of Thanksgiving with my parents and my Grandmother and I made sure I took a few photos. We only see my Grandmother a few times a year so these visits are always special for me, and for her and the boys. We enjoyed a mish-mash of leftovers and helped the boys decorate their toddler-sized Christmas tree.

Here are a few pics from the day...

Grandmother and granddaughter...

Mother and daughter...

Grandmother brought the boys a sticker book...it was a huge hit...

Nana enjoyed some cuddle time...

And papa read Landon the Christmas story...

Aside from my head cold, it was a nice, relaxing day. And a great way to get a jump start on the Christmas season!

{last call}

2011-12-02T08:33:00.002-05:00

Today is the last day to enter my giveaway for a $50 maurices giftcard!

So head on over and enter!

Oh, and happy Friday! :)

{playing dress up}

2011-11-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

It snowed here last night...winter has definitely arrived! It was just enough to cover the ground and the tree branches and make everything white and sparkly. But the roads are nice and clear...my favorite kind of snow. ;)

Before I get to my outfits from the past week, I just wanted to remind everyone to enter my $50 maurices giftcard giveaway! I will take entries until midnight on Friday, December 2nd, so head on over and enter {and watch my interview with Project Runway's Christopher Straub!}

Now for my outfits...I was sick over the weekend so I don't have very many to share.

Saturday...{I was feeling the full affects of my head cold but decided to dress up cute anyway}...

Top and cardigan: Target
Jeans: JC Penney
Flats: Kohl's
Necklace: SarieJune

Tuesday...

Brown tee: JC Penney
Sweater: Dillards
Skirt: Sears
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Flower pin: SarieJune
Earrings: Kohl's

Today...

Long sleeve tee: Target
Dress: Kohl's
Tights and boots: Target
Necklace: Kohl's
Earrings: The Purple Attic

Hope everyone is having a lovely week! And don't forget to enter that giveaway! ;)

Linking up with...

{decking the mantel}

2011-11-28T15:22:00.001-05:00

The fall decorations have come down and our fireplace mantel received a Christmas make-over yesterday! I'm really happy with how it turned out...so fun and whimsical. And it includes lots of inexpensive and DIY decorations...

And did you notice we took the fireplace doors off?! It still needs to be cleaned a bit around the doors, but it looks sooo much better.

I made the wreath last year by hot glue-ing ornaments, yarn balls and felt flowers onto a grapevine wreath form.

The drying rack to the left of the wreath used to be on the opposite wall in the dining room. I switched it out with the blue chalkboard to add a neutral white piece to the display.

I created the "joy" burlap pennant banner in just a few minutes with some inexpensive supplies. I cut the triangles out of burlap I had leftover from my table runner project. Then I used a red sharpie and free-handed the letters right onto the burlap. I added a button to each triangle, and then threaded them together with red yarn. Easy peasy!

The two silver trees were one of my first ever DIY Christmas projects that I made when my husband and I were in our first apartment together. They are basic styrafoam cones with fun silver trim and small green berries glued on. Another really simple and inexpensive project.

The cute white tree in the middle was a gift a few years ago from my friend Dusty.

And finally, the cute Christmas subway art is a free printable that I found on Pinterest...isn't it adorable?

The colors and words were exactly what I was looking for. And I already had the frame up on the mantel, so I just switched out the fall tree photo I had in there and voila!

I also hung the boys' stockings on our hutch...

and the boys' little tree on the other side of the fireplace...

Finally something to fill that corner! Maybe I'll just leave it up year round. ;)

And if you're wondering what I did with that cute blue chalkboard, it is across the room on our record player with a Christmas message for everyone that walks by...

With my button flowers and a sparkly little tree...

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet? Next will be our tree and the entryway, but I've had a horrible head cold the past few days so I haven't gotten around to that yet. I would love to see your decorations...link up in the comments section!

{Christopher Straub Interview and maurices Giveaway!}

2011-11-25T10:02:00.002-05:00

I'm still on a high and have a huge smile on my face from my interview Wednesday with Christopher Straub of Project Runway fame. He was extremely fun to chat with and shared some great information about his new holiday line at maurices. And he actually asked me a few questions too!

But before I get to our interview, let's see what Christopher has been up to...

He has created a super fun, flirty and affordable line of holiday clothing and accessories exclusively for maurices, one of my favorite shops.

His line includes some adorable party dresses, including this little black dress, which he told me is his favorite piece in the collection...

And inspired by his first, and winning, design on Project Runway...

His collection also includes some great separates like this black top...

And I love this pendant cluster necklace...

So now let's hear more about Christopher's new line from the designer himself!

**Please disregard the annoying "call recorder demo" line across the video...pretend it says something like "Best Project Runway designer interview ever", alright? :)

Thanks so much to maurices and to Christopher for giving me the opportunity to interview him...it was an honor and so much fun!

And now for something exciting for my readers!

maurices has given me and one lucky This Girl's Life reader a $50 gift card! And this is the perfect time of year for a little extra cash, right? Use it to buy that cute little black dress for a holiday party, or use it for Christmas gifts!

How to enter:

1. Leave a comment and tell me your favorite piece from Christopher's new line at Maurices.
2. Follow This Girl's Life and leave me a comment.
3. Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter or your blog, and leave a comment for each.
4. Like maurices on Facebook.

Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on Friday, December 2nd. Only available to United States residents.

So what are you waiting for? Good luck everyone!

{so thankful}

2011-11-25T00:37:00.000-05:00

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone.

The boys are asleep in their beds.

Some of the Thanksgiving leftovers are still sitting on the kitchen counter.

Our dining room table is still covered with the tablecloth that was hand embroidered by my husband's grandmother.

I just ate my second slice of pumpkin pie of the day...covered with a layer of cool whip as thick as the pie itself.

They hubby and I just watched 50/50...quite the tear jerker. I actually sobbed.

Chloe is sitting by my feet, staring at me and waiting for me to let her up in my lap.

The house smells like the perfect holiday scent of pine thanks to the candle my mother-in-law brought me today.

I get to see my parents and Grandmother tomorrow and decorate the house for Christmas.

I'm so very thankful.

{playing dress up}

2011-11-23T12:33:00.002-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

It is a very special Wednesday for me, because today I'm interviewing Christopher Straub from Project Runway for my Maurices giveaway! {read here if you missed my pinch me post!}

Be sure to check back in a few days for the interview and your chance to win something awesome from Maurices!

Now onto my outfits from the past week...

Friday...

Brown top: Target
Sweater: JC Penney
Skirt: Sears
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Earrings: Maurices
Acorn ring: Gift from my friend Kelly

Sunday I was super casual and hanging out around the house...

Black tee: Walmart
Pants: Target
Earrings: The Purple Attic
Necklace: local craft fair

Monday...

Top: Kohl's

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Walmart

Tights: Target

Boots: Kohl's

Earrings: Kohl's

Flower ring: The Purple Attic

Tuesday...

Purple tee: Target
Sweater: JC Penney
Pants: Target
Gray flats: Maurices
Earrings: Kohl's
Bracelet: Claire's

Today...getting the house ready for Thanksgiving {AND interviewing Christopher Straub!!!} I'm in our rec room here by the way...it is the boys' favorite place to play these days.

Brown tee and top: Elder Beerman
Skinny jeans: Dillards {Levi's}
Flats: Maurices {super old...can you tell?}
Necklace: Gift from my Mother-in-Law
Earrings: The Purple Attic

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Linking up with...

{confession}

2011-11-22T10:28:00.000-05:00

I'm already on my second carton of this stuff...

Most people call it egg nog.

At our house it is lovingly referred to as snowman juice.

I know...sounds kind of weird/gross right? Or when you think about it...snowman juice would really just be melted snow, right?

Anyway...to explain how it got that name...last Christmas when Ben saw what looked like a juice carton with a snowman on it he exclaimed "SNOWMAN JUICE!" One of the most adorable things I've ever heard come out of his mouth.

So that's what we call it. And now the boys are hooked too.

What is your guilty holiday pleasure? {I have plenty more but I'll just share this one today}

{sunday morning}

2011-11-20T14:33:00.000-05:00

Eating breakfast at the island...

and enjoying homemade buttermilk biscuits...

They make the best egg and bacon sandwiches...

Yum.

{pinch me}

2011-11-19T23:00:00.001-05:00

You all. I'm so.darn.excited!!

I have some pretty awesome news regarding this little blog of mine.

Those of you that have been following my blog for the past few years know that I'm a huge fan of Project Runway. And for the past few months I've been participating in What I Wore Wednesdays by sharing my weekly outfits, a lot of which included pieces that I've purchased from one of my favorite local clothing shops, Maurices.

What do Project Runway and Maurices have in common, you ask?

Wellll if you are also a PR follower, remember this guy?

That's Christopher Straub, a contestant from season 6, and he is launching a new clothing and accessories line at Maurices. And the folks at Maurices contact me, yes ME, asking me if I would feature his new line on This Girl's Life.

That in itself is pretty cool...but then they told me I could interview him as well!

So next Wednesday, I have a Skype date with Mr. Straub.

AND...wait for it...one lucky This Girl's Life reader will win a Maurices sponsored giveaway!

Yeah...you could say I'm pretty darn excited about this.

So be sure to check back next weekend for all of the details about Christopher's new Maurices line, our Skype interview, and a fabulous giveaway!

Did I mention that I'm SO.DARN.EXCITED?! :)

{warmth}

2011-11-18T15:18:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I posted a pic of me wearing a heating pad. A super cute one covered in Amy Butler fabric. It has been a constant friend to me the past few days, after I woke up Tuesday morning with an awful pain in my back. Just a few minutes in the microwave and it provides a good hour of deep, soothing heat mixed with the calming scent of lavender.

I received it from someone close to me for my first Mother's Day. A fitting present for a new mom to twins, right? At the time I appreciated it for its cute fabric and sweet smell. But this past week, I've appreciated it for a whole lot more.

The person that gifted it to me is someone I've known my entire life. And things aren't well between us right now. It is difficult. And with the holidays coming up, I'm going to say that I'm honestly very sad about the reality of our situation.

But this cute bundle of lavender wrapped in Amy Butler fabric is such a comfort to me right now. It not only soothes my aching back, it also adds warmth to a place in my heart that has been hurting for awhile now. It is a reminder of a happy day when we celebrated motherhood. And it gives me hope that things will get better.

And for that I am very thankful.

{new etsy shop design!}

2011-11-18T09:47:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to unveil my new Etsy shop design. I've been working on it for a week or so and I'm so excited about how it turned out...

The squirrel is wearing one of my hats! I love how fun and playful the design turned out. It just screams ME! :)

To celebrate, I'm offering 10% off your order today...just enter coupon code NEWSQUIRREL when you check out! {my Etsy shop only}

{accessorizing}

2011-11-17T08:33:00.000-05:00

My outfit is pretty blah today, but I added some color with a cute new ring, my lavender scented heating pad {tweaked my back a few days ago...ouch!} and a free Starbucks vanilla latte...

Just the pops of color that I needed, right? :)

How are you accessorizing today?

{playing dress up}

2011-11-16T08:53:00.000-05:00

I feel like I'm back in my WIWW saddle this week...more outfits to share AND my first pair of skinny jeans. And I love them!

Thursday...

Blue tee: Elder Beerman
Sweater: JC Penney
Skirt: Sears
Tights and Boots: Target
Earrings: Walmart

Friday...skinny jeans!

Sweater: JC Penney
Jeans: Dillards (Levi's)
Shoes: Shoebilee

Monday...

Blouse: Kohl's
Sweater: Target
Skirt: Gap
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Earrings: The Purple Attic {my sweet friend Laura's shop}

Tuesday...

Sweater: Kohl's
Flower pin: Kohl's
Pants: Gap
Shoes: Shoebilee

Today...

Gray tee: Kohl's
Cardigan: Dillards
Skirt: Sears
Tights and Boots: Target
Earrings: Dillards
Necklace: local craft fair

What have you been wearing this past week? Any new additions to your wardrobe like my skinny jeans that you are excited about?

Linking up with...

{burlap + hot glue}

2011-11-14T09:54:00.002-05:00

I don't sew.

I mean, I made a ~~dress~~ hospital gown in 8th grade home-ec class, and a pillow that looked like an ice cream sundae {I wonder what ever happened to that thing...} but since then I haven't layed a finger on a sewing machine.

But like some Project Runway contestants, I do work well with a hot glue gun. We are like BFF's really. So when I decided our newly refinished (!!) dining room table needed a runner to dress it up {and cover the one yucky spot in the finish}, I started brainstorming ideas that could work without a needle and thread.

And then it hit me yesterday...

BURLAP!

So of course I headed to Pinterest to see what inspiration I could find. One of the first pics that came up was this lovely ruffled number...

The person that made that runner probably sewed it. But whatever. I knew all I needed was some burlap and my trusty glue gun. So I headed to JoAnn and grabbed two yards of burlap at just $3 per yard. And while the boys were napping I got to work!

First I laid it out on the table to eyeball how wide I wanted it to be. No measuring here...I just used our centerpiece to figure out what width would look right.

And thanks to the lines in the burlap it was easy peasy to cut a straight piece.

I won't lie...at first I was just going to leave it like this...

But the ends looked really sad and weren't hanging down very well. So I cut two long strips {about 1 1/2 times the width of the runner} and used hot glue to make them into ruffles. I forgot to take pics of this process because I was busy trying not to be burned by the hot glue seeping through the burlap. Ouch!

But here is the finished product!

I think it turned out pretty darn close to my inspiration. What do you think?

Now I just wish we were hosting Thanksgiving so I could show it off!

The cool wooden bowl on the table was hand carved by my husband's Grandpa...pretty amazing huh?

And yep...still need to remove the ugly brass fireplace doors, decide whether or not to paint the brick, and figure out what to put on the left side of the fireplace. Ideas?

Linking up with...

{tis the season?}

2011-11-12T22:59:00.001-05:00

Please forgive me for what I'm about to talk about.

I just can't help myself.

I'm already into the Christmas spirit. Big.time.

It started when I spotted these two old friends at Walmart the other night...

Oh how I've missed them. I haven't broken in the candle yet, but let's just say the mint m&m's are mostly history.

And today I actually got a few Christmas gifts marked off my list. Mom #2 and I took the boys to our local Christmas Village, which is a huge craft fair at our fairgrounds. This year it did not disappoint...about 5 minutes in I had already oohed and ahhhed over quite a few lovely things.

My favorite buy of the day? Button.flowers. Yes...that's right...

Aren't they ADORABLE? Be still my heart. Anything with buttons grabs my attention and these were so darn cute. And $10 for 6 flowers with the vase? Sold.

I picked out colors that would go with our dining room, and for now I have them on our record player cabinet. I have a feeling they will make an appearance on the mantle sometime soon though.

And I'm super excited about the Christmas presents I purchased, which of course I can't share here in case a few special someones are reading. ;)

And I may or may not have listened to some Christmas music today.

But don't worry, I'm SUPER excited about Thanksgiving, and our tree will not go up until the day after turkey day.

So tell me, how excited are you about the holidays? Have you done any Christmas shopping yet?

{holiday shop update}

2011-11-10T09:03:00.001-05:00

I've been busy working on santa caps for my shop...do you have a little elf that needs one?

They are available in 0-3, 6, 9 and 12 month sizes and I can do different combinations of colors. Traditional red and white, pink, green...your choice!

I also have other great styles and colors in the shop like this winter white one...

And a super cozy cream button cap...

Perfect Christmas gifts! The santa cap was my biggest seller last year and so far it is looking like it will be again this year. Be sure to get your order in soon if you want one for the holidays!

*And be sure to head on over to my Love Squirrels Facebook Page and become a fan! Find out about new hats in the shop and special promotions!*

{playing dress up}

2011-11-09T16:11:00.000-05:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

I've been bored with myself again lately so I only have one outfit to share. My winter wardrobe is very full of browns and grays...need to work on that! I could wear these boots EVERY day though...so comfy!

Tee: Walmart
Sweater: Kohl's
Skirt: Walmart
Tights: Target
Boots: Kohl's
Necklace: SarieJune
Earrings: Kohl's

Life has been crazy busy the past week with my biggest work event this past Saturday, so that explains why I've been MIA. So glad that things have slowed down a bit! I have lots of projects and holiday ideas in the works so I can't wait to share some of them!

Linking up with...

{playing dress up}

2011-11-02T09:05:00.000-04:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

Two outfits to share today...I've been a bit bored with myself and have skipped taking photos every day. The weather has been challenging here lately...30's in the morning but getting up into the 60's in the afternoon. But I'm not complaining!

Last Friday...

Sweater: JC Penney
Brown long sleeve tee: Elder Beerman
Skirt: Sears
Tights and Boots: Target
Flower pin: SarieJune
Bracelet: Claire's

Today I'm wearing a new scarf. I wasn't sure about the color on me but seeing it in pictures I think I like it! I love the peacock feather pattern too. WDYT...is turquoise my color?

Black tank and Cardigan: Kohl's
Denim Skirt: NY & Co {it is really dark blue...hard to tell in the pic}
Belt and tights: Kohls
Boots: I can't remember! *blush*
Scarf: Dillards
Earrings: Kohl's

Linking up with...

{Halloween recap}

2011-11-01T23:07:00.001-04:00

We had SUCH a fun Halloween with the boys this year. I'm still on a high from it...or is it from all the sugar? Maybe a mix of both. :)

I did a little last minute decorating on Monday afternoon and hung a DIY "trick or treat" banner in the entryway...

{I obviously didn't dust though...shhh}

And a fun tin sign welcomed trick or treaters...

And now for just a couple pics of our two "punkins"...

With Nana and Gigi...

And their Papa...

And our cutie patootie nephew Noah was the cutest scarecrow ever...

Last year we only made it to two houses, so I was hoping this year to improve on that record. Not only did the boys enjoy it, but we made it around our entire neighborhood which is quite a treck...lots of hills...

And leaf piles to jump in along the way...

Noah got a lift on his momma's shoulders...

And after getting over his fear of the first few houses, Landon was all smiles...

My Mom took a lot more photos that I forgot to copy, so I might be doing a Halloween recap 2.0 post later in the week. Hope your Halloween was fun and sugar filled!

{halloween fun}

2011-10-29T20:55:00.000-04:00

We've been having a fun Halloween themed day at our house complete with pumpkin decorating {and un-decorating}, making Halloween cookies {break and bake...don't judge} and watching the Great Pumpkin.

My mother-in-law came over and helped the boys decorate their pumpkins. We cut out lots of different felt shapes and let them go to town. I loved seeing what they came up with...

The pumpkins looked like this for about 10 minutes, then the boys proceeded to rearrange their facial features and relocate them to other areas of the house, like the fireplace doors, the walls, and the bottoms of their socks.

Their Gigi made a cute little ghost banner that we hung over the fireplace...

After dinner we made the easiest ever Halloween cookies. They came pre-made with pumpkins, ghosts and witches on them. Maybe tomorrow we'll make some from scratch. Maybe.

They were SO impatient while they cooked...they kept checking on the oven...

Ben liked them so much he had one for each hand...

Landon contemplating another cookie or a drink of milk...

I think we are definitely ready for Halloween, how about you?

{love list}

2011-10-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

Ahhh....the weekend is almost here friends! And it is Halloween weekend! I'm just a tad excited about trick or treat this year, even if it is technically on Monday. How about a little love list to kick off the weekend?

1. I love when I find a little {and sometimes not so comfortable} reminder of the boys in one of my shoes...

There's a train in my boot! {get the Toy Story reference?}

2. Scrapbooking inspiration...

Source: amytangerine.blogspot.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Source: crate.typepad.com via Mandy on Pinterest

I've been pinning lots of layouts to get myself inspired and energized to get back into it. I think I'm going to attempt Ali Edward's December Daily this year.

3. Taco Pizza...

Source: newlywoodwards.com via Mandy on Pinterest

Yes, please.

4. This.

Source: omami.ru via Mandy on Pinterest

Really. I like people that make me coffee.

5. This room...

Source: smileandwave.typepad.com via Mandy on Pinterest

So soft and lovely.

What are you loving today?

{playing dress up}

2011-10-26T14:19:00.000-04:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

I feel pretty blah about my outfits this week. I was a slacker again but managed to photograph three outfits. None of them really get me excited, other than the fact that I wore my new brown boots twice. I'm itching to buy some new fall/winter clothes! Anywho...here we go...

Friday...

Green tee: Kohl's
Sweater: Dillards
Skirt: Sears
Tights and Boots: Kohl's
Necklace: Kohl's

Monday... {can you tell I got my hair done on Saturday?!}

Warning...this outfit is blahhhhh with a capital B! But I do love the sweater. I think I just need a colored skirt to pair it with. What do you think?

Love my new hair color!

Sweater and black lace tank: Kohl's
Skirt: Walmart
Tights: Kohl's
Flats: Shoebilee

Today...

I love this sweater...it s from the Vera Wang line at Kohl's. It has pockets and an a-line shape. But it photographs not so well...so just pretend you can see me IRL and it looks not so tent-ish.

Sweater: Kohl's
Skirt: Gap
Tights and Boots: Kohl's
Necklace: Kohl's {yeah...same one as outfit #1...I need some new necklaces!}

Linking up with...

{warm it up}

2011-10-23T17:07:00.000-04:00

Got my hair done yesterday and I'm in love with the color. I had been getting highlights for so long that my natural color had gotten really washed out, so I got a semi-permanent color in a rich brown, with some subtle highlights. And got rid of all of those pesky split ends of course. Here is a before pic...you can kind of see how washed out my color had gotten {and I had quite a few grays}...

And here is the after!

Better, right?

{sunday morning}

2011-10-23T10:36:00.000-04:00

Eating fruit loops...

And sharing the green ones {they know green is my favorite}...

{balance}

2011-10-21T14:27:00.001-04:00

I've never been the biggest fan of Oprah, but I came across this quote from one of her magazines and it really spoke to me {and made me like her just a little bit more}...

"What I know for sure is that the only way to endure the quake is to adjust your stance. You can't avoid the daily tremors. They come with being alive. These experiences are really gifts that force us to step to the right or left in search of a new center of gravity. Don't fight them. Just find a different way to stand.

Balance lives in the present. The surest way to lose your footing is to focus on what dreadful things might happen. When you feel the earth moving, bring yourself back to the now. You'll handle whatever shake-up the next moment brings when you get to it. In this moment, you're still breathing. In this moment, you've survived. In this moment, you've found a new place to move your feet so you can step onto higher ground."

Here's to a balanced weekend and plenty of living in the now.

{owl crazy}

2011-10-20T15:37:00.000-04:00

Ever since I decorated the boys' first nursery with owls, I've been a tad obsessed.

And lookie! West Elm is too! {I'll take one of each please!}

For my coffee...

For my butter...

For my sugar...

For my sofa...

It isn't too early to start my list for Santa, right?

{playing dress up}

2011-10-19T09:01:00.000-04:00

Happy What I Wore Wednesday!

I was a total slacker this past week and only have today's outfit to share. I forgot I had this sweater so it is like having something brand new to wear. I love pulling out fall and winter stuff and finding forgotten treasures. :)

Brown tee: H&M
Sweater: TJ Maxx??
Skirt: Walmart
Tights and Boots: Kohl's
Earrings: Kohl's
Scarf: Dillards

As always linking up with...

{THAT mom, and a zoo trip}

2011-10-17T10:23:00.000-04:00

The boys had their first trip to the zoo yesterday.

And I became that mom.

You know, the mom a lot of us used to judge before we had kids {or maybe we still do}. The one that drags her toddler, kicking and screaming, onto a ride, or Santa's lap, or insert possibly scary situation here.

Yeah...that was me yesterday at the zoo.

The whole car ride there, and pretty much the entire time we were at the zoo leading up to the infamous train ride, it was all Landon could talk about. Not "I want to see the elephants!" like Ben. Not "I want to feed the giraffes!"

Nope..."I want to ride the train!"

But Dan and I knew that the minute we actually went to get on the train, his tune would change.

And boy did it ever.

The second we went to step foot onto the train, his 40 lb toddler body went into flight mode, pushing his heels into the sidewalk, fighting me with all his might. But I got him on there. And I held him while he flailed and cried, tears streaming, for what felt like 10 minutes until the train started.

Yep...I'm that mom.

We were near the front of the train, and I could feel the burning of eyes in the back of my head. I turned around at one point to see if Ben was OK {he was sitting with my sister-in-law} and there was a woman behind her giving me the giant side eye of disapproval.

You are ruining him! I could see it in her look of disapproval. Or maybe she was just annoyed that a screaming three year old was going to ruin her ride.

I looked over at my mother-in-law and she reassured me that I was doing the right thing. So I stuck to my guns.

And you know what? The second that train started moving, the tears stopped. Well, his did. And then I shed a few. But not enough to keep both of us from enjoying that short train ride around the zoo. I held him tight on my lap and told him how proud I was of him.

I don't want him to be scared of the world, of new things.

I want him to explore and learn and grow.

A big parenting triumph that I'm hoping will have lasting effects.

But I still won't force him to sit in Santa's lap. Or that creep Easter Bunny. I don't really want to scrapbook a photo of my child crying in some stranger's lap.

{And another bonus...I did get quite a workout from that 10 minutes of toddler wrangling. My arms are sore today.}

And just to show that our zoo trip was mostly fun and fear free, here are a few photos...

Hard to see it but there is an elephant in the upper right corner :)

I think the boys' favorites were the ring-tailed lemurs {Ben loooved them} and the penguins. That might have just a little bit to do with the fact that they love the Penguins of Madagascar show. :)

{leaf jumping}

2011-10-13T16:49:00.000-04:00

This is the stuff a perfect fall day is made of...

The pure joy of a child jumping in a pile of leaves...

The giggles of excitment as they fall down around their little body...

The joy that nature can bring...

The absolute innocence of the experience that takes you back to a simpler place...

Hoping we have a lot more leaf jumping days before fall comes to a close!

{playing dress up}

2011-10-12T09:16:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday friends! Time to participate in WIWW {What I Wore Wednesdays} and link up with Lindsay over at The Pleated Poppy.

The weather warmed up quite a bit here in Indiana this past week, so my outfits aren't quite as cozy as they were last week. Kind of nice to break out the short sleeves and bare ankles for a few more days. :)

Thursday...

Sweater: Maurices
Pants: Gap
Necklace: Kohl's
Flats: Shoebilee

Friday...

Top: Target

Cardigan: Dillards

Capris: Kohl's

Flats: Maurices

Earrings: I honestly can't remember!

Monday...

Everything...Kohl's! :)

Tuesday...

Our anniversary and I forgot a whole outfit photo! I did take one of my shoes and cute purse though, and you can see my denim capris...

Today... {cooler weather!}

What do you think of yellow on me? Yes? No? For some reason I feel like I should be going to a football game in this outfit. Who's school colors are yellow and gray??

Tee: Target
Sweater: Dillards
Skirt: Sears
Tights and Boots: Target
Bracelet: local boutique
Earrings: Etsy {can't remember shop}

Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

{8}

2011-10-12T08:52:00.000-04:00

The hubby and I celebrated 8 years of marriage yesterday by getting out of town for a bit while the boys hung out with their Nana and Papa.

We crossed the border...

I wore my favorite brown corduroy flats and carried a perfect fall bag...

Had some yummy Mexican food...

I tortured him with a photo...

And we ended the day with yummy coffee drinks from Panera for the ride home.

It was a perfect day...lovely weather just like the day we got married. And just for fun, here we are enjoying the dinner at our wedding reception...

We.were.so.young.and.skinny!

{punkins!}

2011-10-10T09:52:00.000-04:00

We saw lots of punkins {I just love how the boys call them that} yesterday when my Mom took us to the local orchard. By far one of my favorite and most anticipated of fall activities.

We picked out two perfectly toddler sized punkins, drank cider slush {the boys had theirs out of cute little apple and pumpkin shaped cups} and took A LOT of pictures. I just can't help myself. So here are my faves...

The only crazy part of the day was the swarm of bees that attacked our picnic table. Here we are before the swarm...

And after...in the back of Mom's car :)

So now we have our punkin fix for the year! Not that I wouldn't mind going back again. :)

{sunday morning}

2011-10-09T09:14:00.000-04:00

Up before everyone else and enjoying my coffee plus a little extra something...

{yep...that's cool whip. yum.}

How did you start off your Sunday?

{love list}

2011-10-07T12:27:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday Friends!

It is a GORGEOUS fall day here in Indiana and I'm feeling very blessed and grateful today. So how about a little love list to kick off the weekend?

1. The new Smash line from K&Co...

Oh my little scrapbooker's heart about exploded when I saw these amazing new books. Life has been way too hectic the past year or so to scrapbook but I think if I had one of these in my pretty little hands it would seem doable. The books come with a pen/glue stick and have pre-printed pages with fun graphics. I can't wait to get my hands on one!

2. This adorable spoon from Jessica N Designs...

I would love to have this cute little number to stir my morning coffee.

3. This quote...

"At the end of the day and at the end of my life, I want to know that I contributed more than I criticized."

Another excerpt from Brene Brown's blog. Love her. {here is the entire post}

4. This cute fall art idea from my friend Mandie...

Isn't it adorable? I think I need to do this with the boys.

5. And finally but certainly not least...OCTOBER!

{my favorite autumn tree in the parking lot at work}

Ahh how I love this month. I got engaged and married in this lovely month {8 years married on the 11th!}. This month of bright orange trees and clear blue skies...sweaters and boots...pumpkins and apple cider. I don't see how a month could get any lovelier.

The weather here is supposed to be beautiful all weekend so I'm excited about spending a lot of time outside with the boys and hopefully take a trip to the orchard. What are you loving today?