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I read this blog yesterday by the lovely Kelly at Design Crush - and then...the world stopped. (Well, not entirely). But, my OCD-ness did get the best of me and I fell in love. I fell hard for the font used to create this beauty of a card by up up creative.



A little sleuthing here and there, the font was identified. Then, one thing lead to another, and I am now the proud owner of an additional 300 new fonts to play around with. Now that my repertoire has grown extensively, I feel powered to tackle any font hurdle that may come my way!

A few more beauties...

(Do not start the font-snowball-effect unless you are prepared to spare a few hours)

And I quote....

Self-ish-less Help Please

Well, I guess really self-less (sorta). My friend's hubby needs your votes to win his own jersey night!Please follow the link and vote for Kevin Hart!

How fabulous would it be to have your own jersey night?!?

Treasure

Months ago, when I was way deep into planning my wedding, bride-obsessed zone, I stumbled across this beauty below. What a perfect way to sort my response cards as they came in, or better yet, after my wedding, create a new “retro” address book that would allow for easy Christmas card distribution. A lovely design limited edition creation - only 1,000 crafted. I knew I needed it – but, didn’t have the $70 cash to spare. And like lighting – they were sold out.


I have searched for months and months to find a noble stand-in, but couldn’t find one that was just right. (Martha Stewart even tortured me by featuring the lovely design version in MS Weddings weeks after being sold out.) I also struggled with plopping down any cash for it, as I was afraid I would lose enthusiasm half-way through, and succumb to the wonderful digital address keeper my Macbook has to offer.

Then, in steps our heroine.

• Heavy, Cardstock tabs – check;
  
• Pretty Patina Wood – check;
  
• $1.99 – Winner!
  
  While it may seem silly to you, this was a victory in my book. Now all she needs is a few extra up-cycled cards added for a personal touch.
  

Nothing like a successful bargain hunt to brighten any day!

C.L.

I am in SUPER love with this Etsy shop!

She is having a secret sale and you can find out what it is after registering for her newsletter (I promise you – SO worth it.)
I think I am about to go kid-in-candy-store on her shop.

These are just a couple of the pieces my heart desires!

The Verna Necklace in
Sterling and Pearls.
(Can choose to be in gold or
colored cultured pearls as well)

This was a custom piece for
another customer. I adore the delicate
green color the "leaves" have contrasted
against the sterling.

These pastel moonstone colors would
be incredibly flattering!The subtle

hues are neutral enough to be

versatile for daily pairings.

Swoozies - Oh My!

I am racing (yes, racing) over to stock up on a few of these essentials!

Hurry - the $9.95 tag with free monogramming is only good this week. A perfect Mother's Day and MIL's (mother-in-law's) Birthday gift, if you ask me!

Marlo Noel Jewelry

I was fortunate enough to win the Wedding Chicks Marlo Noel giveaway and shop my hearts content in her amazing Etsy store.


Her work is even better in person! I had such a hard time deciding what I wanted to purchase, and I added several additional pieces to my "Honey-I-Want" wish list I keep for the DH to be inspired by at special occasions. Keep in mind this talented Ms. Marlo will customize anything you'd like. I received the adorable box in the mail yesterday, with a sweet note and a beautifully wrapped box.

Excuse the poor photography - picture here is the Mary 1
(I couldn't resist and am already donning the Anna)

I ended up selecting the Mary 1 Long Necklace in White Topaz and the Anna 4 - but customized it by replacing the Mystic Pink Topaz with the Champagne Citrine. I ordered both in sterling and am going to layer it with the wedding present from DH.



Please head over to her shop and check the beauties out - you will not be disappointed!

C.L.

Fridays will be "Currently Lovin'..." days and Today is:

Not a novel idea or a far departure in the slightest, but I do love a good monogrammed item any day of the week! Luck has it - I spotted a plethora this week - here couple of pretties I found. Enjoy!

Melamine Plates - Custom Ordered

Dress you can customize (embroidery, color, trim)
at Baby Thread's Etsy BoutiqueMonogrammed note cards on sale - 10 for $6! So fabulous
Available here at Cotton Idea Studio

Even Baby gets their own monogram at this Etsy boutique,
Tiny Tots Greetings

5 Custom Monograms for $20!
at MTKDesigns

Easter Festivities

Our first Easter as a married couple was wonderful. We spent the morning with our friends at Sunday School opting for an Easter brunch instead of our lesson; then the hubby and I headed home to enjoy a meal at our house prepared and brought over by my parents.

I was slightly disappointed and not being able to find the time (or items) to decorate for Easter, but I did continue the tradition of giving the DH an "Easter" basket (it was a little sparse this year - the grass was edible!) and Mums gave us a basket together.

Mum's basket to us and DH's on right

Secrets Out...

My DH was pleasantly surprised by the family room furniture last week I surprised him with. Surprised because: 1) it was already moved in with none of his muscle 2) he had never seen it before.


The Thursday before he arrived, my mother and I were out late galavanting productively at Wal-Mart, only to get lost on the way home in my new neighborhood. What a blessing that was!

We spotted our new couch and chair sitting on the side of the road. Perfect condition, neutral colors (my fave), and F-R-E-E, which just so happens to fit our shoe-string budget. All they needed was a little cleaning, and to retie the springs below! While I would not marry the pieces, it will help us save up for the fabulous ones we want and put off the purchase process to a more doable time.

When informed - DH's immediate response was, "What happens when we invite our neighbors over?!?" He was more calm when I explained that they weren't a street over (wink, wink)

What's Cookin' In My Kitchen

Our new kitchen is absolutely marvelous. It has everything I could ask for - huge pantry, tons of cabinet space, granite, and a low island perfect for entertaining. While nothing is "wrong" in every technical sense of the word, it does not fit the mold on the perfect kitchen I have always envisioned.




Wishin' & Hopin' for:

• White, Antiqued Cabinets - on hold for funding
• Farm Sink (DH said its a no-go - cannot alter/cut cabinets or granite)
• Taupe Walls - not a fan of the current rusty, brown
• Silver and Ironware Filling the soffits above cabinets - will have to create the look
• Copper accents throughout

Hurdles - there are always hurdles...budget - is painting perfectly fine oak cabinets worth pausing other necessary items, i.e. a new mattress? Painting the walls is just a matter of me lacking time. The appliances will be black and the refrigerator is almond (for now).

Disclaimer - Please forgive me for not knowing the source of all these lovely pictures.
I had collected them months and months ago, before I'd given a thought to noting the info.

Lacking

photo courtesy of Mpopp's flickr

My house is lacking accessories which is a direct correlation of me lacking time. I would love a few moments here and there to actually "move-in" the accessories so our home does not reflect that of a bachelor pad. Empty table, empty cupboards, empty - I have no one other than myself to blame as I was adamant not to be surrounded in boxes.

Which is better nothingness -OR- a box maze?

First Surprise Additions to the House

I gave myself a challenge as we settle in to our new home. My DH being a pilot allowing me several days a week while he is out of town to make aesthetic "home improvements". This is fabulous for two reasons - 1) I love surprises and 2) what person whom is home 48 hours a week wants to spend those previous hours in their new home unpacking and nesting.

The (secret) added bonus is the art of surprise allows decorating peace between us. I absolutely believe men fall into three categories of decorating: those that care, those that don't like change, and those that cannot envision. My DH is type three - and cannot envision how fabulous the end result will be, leading him to be hesitant when my bandwagon passes by. (To compat resistance in decorating see this article on This Young House)

Here is a quick tour of the decorations made with DH away this week. (I did not get a massive amount done - but, still impressed that Mums and I were able to do all this heavy listing ourselves!)

Welcome to the H.O.C!

We did it! We closed on our house and are now officially members of the H.O.C. - Home Owner's Club.

Our fabulous realtor asked at closing when we were moving in, and I promptly replied – “Tonight!”. Who could stand to wait any longer?

To be a foreclosure – the house is in pretty immaculate condition.

Tasks accomplished tonight:

• Vacuum entire house
• Change Door Locks (from Freddie Mac’s master key)
• Assemble Bed
• 2^nd Vacuum Pass
• Replace all 11 batteries for Smoke Detectors (insane amount of beeping)

I met a neighbor, who happens to be 8, and he was kind enough to inform me “that beeping noise is soooo loud; it’s been going on since before they left”. Duly noted and fixed!

Sidenote: The DH was slightly disappointed to learn, unlike on HGTV, they do not hand you keys at closing. You then must wait an additional 3 hours while they procure the funds. Definitely more anti-climatic then we were prepared for.

Blessings and Hugs,

S