Oldie but goodie

Happy Halloween!

I haven't had a chance to take pictures of the kids today, but I found this picture from our first Halloween with kids in 2006.  The boys were chickens.  Love it.  My husband and I look so young!!!

Adorable Halloween Tree

This Halloween tree is my favorite decoration that I have seen so far this year.  I think it turned out so CUTE!  I love the stamped bunting.  I have actually seen it in person, as it was made by my darling friend, Janvier.  This girl is crazy talented in pretty much everything and one of the sweetest people you will meet.  You should check out her new blog, here.   

Photo via Bonadventure

The week my brain stopped working

One day I will laugh about the weekend that I caused myself and four friends to completely miss the Taylor Swift concert.  I think that day will come in a couple years, probably after I've actually been able to attend one of her shows.

Let me explain my complete and utter brain lapse in more detail.  First of all, please note that I consider myself to be a fairly responsible person.  I make mistakes just like everyone else, but for the most part I'd like to think I normally know what's happening in my life.  That is what makes this occurrence all the more frustrating to me.  Last APRIL, when we discovered that Taylor Swift was coming to our area, we (myself and 3 friends), got excited and decided that we would all go together.  We figured out how to purchase tickets in the presale, which we did. 

Lapse forward 6 months.  We are all getting excited for the big night out.  I check online to see when our concert date is so that I can let everyone know.  Completely positive of myself, I let everyone know that Saturday is the date of our extravaganza.  The week goes on.  We plan for our concert on Saturday.  Friday night we enjoyed an evening with friends.  Saturday is busy.  At 4pm I head to the computer to print out the tickets.  There is a problem with my order, Ticketmaseter tells me.  I contact them on the phone.

"Hi, my tickets aren't printing and there is a message that says I need to call you."
"Okay  I can help you with that."

I provide my order number, she looks them up and says, "Check the event date."

Epic FAIL!  Friday???  How can this be?  I have no idea AT ALL how I completely messed up the dates.  I was literally positive that the concert was on Saturday.  It's such a dumb and stupid mistake that it kills me every time I think about it. The worst part was calling all three girls to tell them we had missed the concert.  I obviously felt like a complete dork.  Luckily, I have the best friends on the planet.  Though I am sure they were all disappointed, not one of them let it show.  They were all so great and understanding of my error.  Even though there was no way I could make up to them the missed experience.  (Luckily we know she will tour again!)

Hopefully this will make someone out there who has done something equally crazy feel better.  Am I the only mega dork out there??

:o)

Cinemagraph & a discount code

A Pretty Poppy locket is featured cinemagraph style on this blog.  It's the coolest thing ever.  While you're there, check out the discount code being offered as well.  Good til the end of the month!


FYI:  There really are so many reasons you should read the above mentioned blog.  Hue and Hum (aka, artist and rockstar) are both ridiculously talented and inspiring.  Hum is a member of the band Fictionist, who I have blogged about before.  Their amazing band just got signed by Atlantic Records, which I think is so incredibly exciting.  I can't wait to start hearing their stuff on the radio.  You should all start listening now so you can be in the "cool crowd" who knew about them first ;o).  It's fun to follow their story through their blog.

Dream house

Check out this home transformation.  It's incredible.  Not sure that I would ever undertake the project of fixing up a complete wreck of a home, but I sure love what they have done with this one.  We used to live in Virginia, and loved taking long drives into the countryside where there are homes like this one all over the place.  My husband and I even picked out our favorite "dream house".  It looked a lot like this one.

Check it out!  Image via the Nate Berkus website.

Emmett's Fight -- Button Battery Awareness Campaign

Button batteries are all around us.  Remote controls, garage door openers, car key fobs, tea lights, bathroom scales, singing cards.  These seemingly harmless little batteries are the source of many tragedies, and sometimes even death, every year.  These batteries are easily accessible by small children, and if swallowed, can have extremely negative side effects.  Once stuck in a child’s throat, saliva triggers an electrical current which causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours.  This exact tragic situation happened about a year ago to a small child that lives in my town.  His name is Emmett and he is a living miracle and inspiration.  Upon swallowing a button battery, his esophogas was horrifically burned, and he had to have two inches removed.   Now age two, Emmett has undergone over 20 surgeries, and hasn't stopped fighting.  The campaign bearing his namesake was organized to promote awareness and provide  support to others in similar situations.  Go to www.emmettsfight.com to learn more about his story and this campaign.

Emmett's Fight is hosting a benefit during the first two weeks of November to raise funds and promote awareness.  I am honored to be a part of this event.  I have created a couple of items (see here) to sell for this wonderful cause.  100% of the profits from the sales of these items will be donated to the cause.  Other small business will be participating and sponsoring this even as well.  Tricia from Baby Night Night Boutique is selling t-shirts.  See them here.  

I am so grateful personally for this campaign in that it has helped me to become aware of a situation found within my own home that could be potentially very dangerous to my little ones.  Spreading the word will save lives!

A pretty bun for thin hair

I have thin hair.  Definitely my least favorite feature, but I have learned to embrace it (and hope for long, lush extensions one day).  :o)

When I saw this tutorial explaining how to create the look of a full bun using a sock,  needless to say, I was pretty pumped.  My hair isn't quite long enough to try it yet, but you better believe that I will be rocking this look come Christmas time.

Hope this helps some of my thin haired friends.  Anyone else have any fun hair secrets?

(Image via Say Yes To Hoboken)

Fall inspiration

Each year I get really excited to decorate the house for the holidays.  I think it stems from my mom always decorating when I was young.  Good memories.  I love Fall, and luckily, the weather here has been getting cooler this week too.  I am actually wearing long sleeves and jeans and not melting.  It's a miracle!  Here are some of the decorations I have out right now. 

Burlap wreath I made. So easy and inexpensive. I used the tutorial found at Jones Design Company.com. IE will not load up the tutorial so I can link to it for some reason. I will try again later. I did not use any hot glue -- just straight pins. Can't mess around with stuff that can melt in Arizona!

Pumpkins and my new little green star on the tv armoire.  The wooden blocks say Happy Halloween.  Possibly everything is from Target.

Card stock bats that we hung outside.  The kids love them.  Unfortunately it rained on them and many have fallen down.  They are also all crumply.  Oh well!  Maybe they look spookier.  Better believe I am not taking them down after how long it took to cut them out. 

A fun new fall wreath on the wall.  And my Blue Lily photos -- soon to be retaken in November!  Yay!

This little sis got her flu shots today.   Actually, her nasal mist (which we referred to as fairy dust to boost appeal.)  It must be Fall!

Earrings on sale -- Christmas in October

The Pretty Poppy is having a major sale on earrings.  All sets have been nearly halved in price.  Check them out here.  Have fun!