{on being lefthanded}

Little known fact about me: I'm left handed! I got it from my momma, who is also left handed (she does everything but write right handed, though!). I'm a full-fledged lefty and do everything with my left. I found this list of 10 advantages to being left handed and thought I'd see how many of them seem to be true to me. Enjoy!

1. Being left handed gives you an advantage in many sports. Yep - this is definitely true. I think it's because talented athletes can do things ambidextrously. I played soccer and lacrosse growing up through my high school years and had a much easier time playing with both hands/feet because I started with my left. Plus, I have two female Athlete of the Year awards from my High School to show for my talent!
2. Lefties have a greater chance of being a genius, or having a high IQ. Haha. Not so sure about this one! I'm definitely not a genius, and was happily smack dab in the middle of my high school class ranking. Funny side story: I was in a class of 6! And not only that, but I was the only girl. And I married one of the guys (I like to say that he won!). So anyway I'm definitely not proof of this one.
3. Left handed men make more money.Well, I'm a woman and I make no money as a stay at home mom. Next!
4. Lefties adjust more easily to seeing under water. Huh. How could this possibly be proven? I can see underwater, but I feel like I adjusted just as easily as my brother and sister when we were little.
5. Lefties are better at multitasking. I give credit for my ability to multitask to having 2 children under 2, not to being left handed. But maybe it helps!
6. Some lefties have better memories. I'm definitely among the some that don't. Especially when I'm pregnant. Oh boy do I have a bad memory when I'm pregnant!
7. Left handed people are better at playing video games. I'm pretty good at video games. I loved them (and still would if I had time to sit in front of the tv for hours!) and once had a little boy I babysat excitedly tell me (and his mom) that he had "never met a girl that was so good at killing people!". Heh.
8. Left handed people recover faster from strokes than right handed people. That could be convenient someday. Hopefully I'll never find out!
9. Left-handed people are more likely to be more visual-based than language-based. Yep this is definitely true for me. I'm definitely a visual learner. Though, I would rather express myself through language than art.. hmm.
10. Lefties are better at learning to drive than righties. Before my mom and sister get all "oh no you don't" about this one, by "learning to drive" I'm sure they don't mean "taking the driving test". There's a rumor that I failed the written test twice and the driving test once. It might be true. But I am an excellent driver (reference, anyone?).

Are any of you left handed? Do you agree/disagree with these advantages?

ps. enter this week's giveaway here!

2hands Week! {giveaway monday}

{see it here}

I've got a special announcement for my local readers! The 2hands Studio Indie Craft Market is this Saturday, and I'm going to be featuring several of their vendors on the blog this week! I had the privilege of meeting the ladies behind 2hands Studios at an event they recently hosted, and I can tell you that their personalities are as sweet and lovely as the beautiful items they sell. Check back on Wednesday for a feature on their shop and the story behind it.

Alright well I can't think of a better way to get things started than with a giveaway!

One of my lucky readers is going to win a Coastal Recycled Sail Flower Clip from 2hands studios Etsy shop! To enter, visit 2hands studios and leave a comment below telling me which of their pieces is your favorite. Entries close Thursday, November 3 at 11:59 pm and one winner will be chosen using random.org on Friday.

For an extra entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment saying you do! Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed.

{friday finds, pinterest edition}

Friday finds {on saturday} are coming in late today, folks! Brandon ended up not having to work today so we got to spend lots of time just hanging out with the munchkins. After a long month full of side work for him, it was a welcome (and needed!) break!

For today's finds, I'm linking up with jessicaNdesigns and sharing some things I've pinned this week. Because I like things to be organized, here they are divided by board.

for myself

Love the color, pockets, and buttons.

Some pretty ankle booties.

schemes and fabrics

I'm loving all the neutrals.

for inspiration

The pop of pink is delightful.

for our tummies

Blueberry cupcakes with blueberry icing.

Have you pinned anything pretty recently? Don't know what I'm talking about? Request an invite in the comments below - you don't know what you're missing out on!

{blue eyes winner!}

Out of a whopping 87 entries, our winner no. 24, Melanie! 

Congratulations!

{happy friday}

{via}

I'm leaving you all with just a fun photo today. They're calling for snow on the East Coast tomorrow... how crazy is that? I'm definitely not ready. I want it to be fall for a little while first! Thanks to my manic Monday, every thing is backed up a day on the blog this week. I don't usually post on Saturdays, but check in tomorrow for some saturday finds, and the giveaway winner!

New feature! {emma style}

That's right! I'm adding a new weekly feature to married lane, and the star of this feature is none other than my 20 month old little girl! I've had several people (and not all of them relatives of mine!) tell me that they love how I dress Emma, so I thought I'd start sharing Emma's style with you all. Here's what she wore today:

h&m onesie - hand-me-down

leggings - macy's

belt - thrifted {it's actually a silky scarf!}

shoes - kohl's

handmade wednesday {on thursday}

I'm really excited to share this little interview with Stephanie from Blue Eyes & Bare Feet - her scarves are adorable, and her children's clothes look so sweet! Wanna know something awesome? She works from home while taking care of 3 kids! That was enough to tell me that she's got it going on. Read on to learn more about the great lady behind this great shop!

Who are you?

I'm Stephanie, am a mom to three little kiddos and wife to the world's most supportive husband.

{recycled jersey headband - $8.50}

Where are you based?

I work out of my home in a tiny, tiny town called Williams, Indiana. It is a town my husband's ancestors established! 

How did you get started with Etsy?

I was encouraged by several peers in the craft/art industry to give it a try so I did! It has been a great place to reach a wide audience faster than I ever could have on my own.

{hug a tree skirt set, $29.50}

Is your shop your full-time job?

  I have finally taken that 'leap of faith' this year to launch my business full-time. My leap of faith is backed by my enthusiasm, vision and experience of demand in the market for unique, quality, handmade children’s clothes. I believes strongly in originality and strive to create pieces that are not only functionally practical but that bring out the bold individuality and contagious spirit of children. As of now, I am the sole designer, operator, seamstress, promoter, janitor, and anything else in between.... :)

What would we be most surprised to learn about you?

I was a financial advisor for 7 1/2 years before I took the leap of faith to do this full time. Total right brain, left brain switch. The funny part is that I do even MORE manual math now designing and sewing than I did in finances! 

{recycled tee shirt jersey scarf, $22.50}

Of the items currently for sale, which is your favorite?

Right now, I have to say the Jersey Scarf because it is super comfy, stylish and recycled. Can't go wrong adding it to your wardrobe as I do almost daily!

And finally, where did you get the idea for your shop name?

My husband actually named my business. We had our first two kids when he named it, both with blue eyes so that is where the first part came from. Our third, though green eyed, ended up fulfilling the final part, bare feet, because I can't keep shoes on her!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Stephanie!

Be sure to check out her shop  to see more adorable clothes! 


**Married Lane readers get 20% off at Blue Eyes & Bare Feet! Use code LML20 at checkout!** 

card love {and a surprise!}

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner: 

Elizabeth from Love is the Adventure! 

 Shutterfly recently released this year’s slew of Christmas cards, and I’m ready to get my design on! I adore shutterfly, and use the site for photo books, Christmas cards, and birth announcements. Some day I’ll post Jack’s announcement on here, but I think I should get them mailed before I do! I’m also getting Christmas gifts for the kid’s grandparents and great-grandparents from shutterfly, but since their grandma’s read my blog, I’m not going to tell what they are yet!

I wrote this post last year about my favorite new designs, and ultimately ended up going with this one:

  

One thing I’m loving about this year’s cards is that they have them divided up into holiday cards and christmas cards. As someone who strongly dislikes the terms “happy holidays” and “season’s greetings” this made me very happy. They have lots and lots of cards that say “Merry Christmas” this year!

Here are my favorites:

 

 

So why am I posting about Christmas cards when it's still October? Because I've got to give you guys a chance to get yours ordered in time to send them out for Christmas. Oh, and did I mention that one of you will be getting yours for free? 

That's right! I'm giving away 25 Christmas cards from shutterfly! To enter, you must be a follower of married lane and leave a comment below. The winner will be chosen next Wednesday (November 2) using random.org. Good Luck!

p.s. Don't forget to enter this week's other giveaway!

giveaway monday {on tuesday!}

{see it here}

How cute is that scarf? It's made from a tee shirt, and one of you are going to win it!
To enter, visit Blue Eyes & Bare Feet Designs and leave a comment below telling me which of their pieces is your favorite. Entries close Friday, October 28 at 11:59 pm and one winner will be chosen using random.org on Saturday.

For an extra entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment saying you do!

This giveaway is closed.

fall = boots

{Gap sweater, Calvin Klein jeans, Double-H boots, and thrift store scarf}

I'm not usually one for fashion posts, but in an effort to let my new readers get to know me a bit better, I thought I'd share a bit of my fall wardrobe. We went to an apple orchard and a dairy farm on Saturday, then had a picnic lunch at a state park and I got to break out my cowgirl boots for the first time this fall. Bran gave them to me for christmas the first year we were married, and I love them .My favorite accessory is my little boy, Jack. He's my wardrobe essential these days :) 

Do you have a favorite pair of boots? How do you get your pants to stay in them? My trick: I wear a pair of tall soccer socks with my jeans tucked into them!

case of the mondays

{via}

Just wanted to pop in to let you know that "giveaway monday" will be happening 

on tuesday this week. My hubby spent the weekend celebrating his brother's 

21st birthday in San Antonio, Texas and I'm exhausted aftera busy weekend with the kids! 

So I'm taking the day off to recover and will hopefully have a giveaway ready to go for tomorrow. 

Have a great day!

giveaway winner!

Congratulations! Email me, marriedlaneblog{at}gmail{dot}com, with your address and which 

set of 3 branches you'd like and we'll get them to you asap!

{friday finds}

{via}

 

Because I'm a design junkie ('66 is my favorite).

This list of 50 rules for Dads of Daughters is adorable.

Waste a few minutes playing with Lytro's focus and zoom feature.

 More photos, this time a new perspective on New York City (43 is awesome).

We're going apple picking this weekend. 
I'm excited to finally do something "fall". 
What are you up to?

handmade wednesday: Jane Joss

We've gotten a great response to this week's giveaway. Thanks to everyone who's entered,

and don't forget that it goes until tomorrow night (so there's still time to enter if you haven't already!). Today we get to know a little bit more about Jane Joss and the great ladies behind those beautiful leaves!

Who are you?

Jane Joss is a joint effort by Alyssa (Jane) & Joslyn Krismer.  We are sisters-in-laws, best friends,

and both mothers of two!

{pinstripe linen fabric flowers, $30}

Where are you based?

 Arlington, Texas.

How did you get started with Etsy?

Late in 2008, Joslyn was given a free sewing machine.  We taught ourselves how to sew and began brainstorming for something fun to create.  We found inspiration in a large artificial tree made of capiz shells for leaves.  After much trial and error, we produced something too cute to keep to ourselves!

We stumbled across Etsy and thought it would be the perfect place to sell our leaves.  Turns out we were right.  We got our first custom order request within 20 minutes!

{woodland owl fabric leaf branches, $21.50}

What would we be most surprised to learn about you?

People are always surprised to learn that Joslyn and I are married to twins.   

Is Jane Joss your full-time job? If not, what do you do?

I am a full-time mother of two young boys, and while  Jane Joss started off as a part-time job it has expanded into full-time for me.  Joslyn works in the graduate school at The University of Texas, Arlington.  

{zebra stripe potted plant, $20}

 Of the items currently for sale, which is your favorite?

I think our Zebra Stripe Potted Plant is my favorite right now.  
It is the perfect size and price for a gift (for someone else or yourself!).  

I am very proud of that one!

And finally, where did you get the idea for your shop name?

The name was Joslyn's idea and I love it!  

It represents both of us, is easy to remember, and looks great in print!

Thanks so much for stopping by, Alyssa! 

Be sure to check out their shop for more great fabric decorations! 




**Married Lane readers get 20% off at Jane Joss! Use code LML20 at checkout!** 

letterpress

Trip Print Press & The Making Of FreshSox from Brought To You By ... on Vimeo.

Loved this clip about Trip Print Press and their letterpress process. You should definitely head over to his website and click "portfolio" to see some of his beautiful work (my favorite is "five golden rings"). 

ps. The giveaway is going strong! Enter here!

J. Crew - baby edition!

J. Crew just opened their Baby specialty online store! As adorable as the few items available are, I just can't bring myself to pay over $100 for something that is going to be spit-up on (or worse). I'm sure the cashmere blankets are amazing, but unless someone gives me one we'll be sticking with cotton.

That striped onesie is adorable, though, and at $17.95 I can comfortably put Jack in it without being all "don't you spit up on that!"

What about you? Are you really good at laundry and not afraid to put your baby in cashmere?


ps. Giveaway Monday happened earlier today - have you entered yet? 

giveaway monday - closed

{autumn forest}

{orange spice}

I don't know about you, but Monday's are not my favorite. That's the main reason I'm so loving my giveaway Mondays - it gives me something to look forward to! Today the creative ladies over at Jane Joss are making our Monday better by giving away any set of 3 branches from their shop!

To enter, visit Jane Joss and leave a comment below telling us which of their pieces is your favorite. Entries close Thursday, October 20 at 11:59 pm and one winner will be chosen using random.org on Friday. Open to US and Canadian residents only.

For an extra entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment saying you do!

Check back on Wednesday for a post featuring Jane Joss, and a discount code for Married Lane readers!

friday finds {on saturday}

Since I've made this cookie recipe about 5 times, it might be time to see if these are any good.

Remember this post about 25 ways to wear a scarf? Well, here's the companion episode.

Slow cooker applesauce sounds so good! And even better? Slow cooker apple cider.

Have you seen this video? Emmaline would love those stairs.

And finally, the 250 Best Movies of All Time {as a subway map}!

dunleadogg winner

Thanks to some fancy number choosing over at random.org, 

our winner is number 36, Kasie!

Check your email for instructions on how to get your bracelet!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! Come back Monday for another giveaway!

paper cuts

Aren't these paper cuts cute? They're from a solo show done by Olly Moss.

I think they'd be adorable in a kid's room! 

handmade wednesday: dunleadogg

Ciao everyone! I'm excited to tell you a little more about this week's featured Etsy seller, Dunleadogg. Jill was kind enough to do this little interview with me all about her and her shop. Enjoy! 

{buy them here and here}

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I'm Jill, a sailor, skier, and kayaker who loves animals. I have two rescue dogs and two cats. 

My husband (a college professor) and I live in a cabin in the woods outside of Annapolis, MD, the sailing capitol of the world. We sail an Albacore (#2997 built in 1967) named MAX, inspired by "Where the Wild Things Are."    

How did you get started with Etsy?

I've been Etsy-obsessed for about two years now, and I have over 5000 favorites. Everything from my wedding rings to nearly all my jewelry to the bag I carry to the art on my walls, as well as every gift I ever give, is of Etsy origin. As we've been updating our Albacore, I've been enthralled with the beauty in the form and function of sailing hardware and decided to start making bracelets from it. I got enough compliments and gave enough away that I thought I'd try selling them on Etsy. I figured it would at least give me a chance to get away from school books every now and then! 

{buy it here}

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

I grew up horseback riding, but I didn't start sailing or skiing until I was a teenager, which is a little late for those sports. I taught skiing and snowboarding in Telluride, Colorado for a couple of years, and then lived in Indiana for four years. I love boxy older cars and I hate wearing jeans.    

Is your shop your full time job? If not, what do you do for a living?

No, not at all. I'm actually a post-baccalaureate pre-medical student at Georgetown University in DC. It's a program for people who decide they want to go to medical school a little later in life (i.e. non-traditional students). I was an English major, and then I got a master's degree in biomedical ethics (my thesis for my bioethics master's degree involved poetry and cancer patients; it's a perfect meld between science and humanity). I'm essentially a medical student, and I started my Etsy because I needed a creative outlet separate from all the hard science.         

{buy them here and here}

Of all the items you have for sale, which is your favorite?

I love the snap shackles; they are so elegant and technical at the same time, and the smallest I've ever seen. They are designed to open and close in high-wind, high-pressure racing situations. My second favorite are the bow shackles with the splice-eye rope thimbles. I love the little flash of stainless steel with the curve of the bow.

How did you come up with your shop name?

I've been riding horses for a long time, and my favorite pony at a day camp at which I was a junior counselor was named Dunlea. We called her "Dunlea-doggie" as a nickname because she was so friendly. It was my plan at the time to get a puppy and name her Dunlea, but it never materialized. The nickname has always been a default. If I knew I would have a shop eventually, I would have probably picked out a more appropriate sailing-related user-name! But Etsy doesn't allow changes, so Dunlea lives on :)

{buy it here}

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jill!

**Married Lane readers get 15% off in her shop until November 12!

Enter LML15 at checkout!**

ps. Don't forget to enter to win one of Jill's bracelets!

{via}

Another one for my series.

no hands

"Golden Tree" by Martin Brooks from Ninian Doff on Vimeo.

 {via}

I'll never forget the hours my brother and I spent riding our bikes around our block with no hands. 

This clip made my heart glad and made me want to go bike riding again.

My favorites are definitely the sobriety test and beginner!

Can you ride with no hands?

ps. Don't forget about this week's Etsy Giveaway!

giveaway monday

Alright folks, ready for an exciting announcement? Giveaway Mondays are going to become a regular feature of the married lane blog! I have so many great giveaways lined up over the next few weeks and I am especially excited about this one.

Today we're giving away a nautical sailing hardware bracelet from the Dunleadogg Etsy Shop! Jill is the creative mind behind these cool bracelets (I love that they'd work for a girl or a guy) and she is offering her nautical sailing bracelet v 1.5 in the winner's choice of either red or navy!

To enter, visit Jill's shop and leave a comment below telling us which of her pieces is your favorite. Entries close Thursday, October 13 at 11:59 pm and a winner will be chosen at random on Friday. Open to US residents only.

For an extra entry, follow this blog and leave a separate comment saying you do!

Check back on Wednesday for a post featuring Jill's shop, and a discount code for Married Lane readers! 

This giveaway is now closed.

ch-ch-changes

{buy it here}

Couldn't resist the David Bowie throwback in the title! As I find myself having more time to blog, I've decided it's time to make some badly needed changes to the blog. Hopefully these changes will greatly improve your experience as readers and my experience as a blogger. And what better time to make some changes than in the fall? Everything around us is changing: weather is cooler, trees have pretty yellow and red leaves, Emma has learned how to open every door in the house and thus has toys everywhere.... Ok so some changes aren't all that great. But the blog changes will be.

For the next week or so everything will stay the same, but be on the lookout for some big changes in the near future. You're welcome, blog world!

So what can you do? Make suggestions! What would you like to see different? When you read a blog, what do you enjoy most? Do you want to know more (or less?) about me and my family? How about our house - would you enjoy a post dedicated to the contents of my fridge or what things really look like every day? Spill! I'm all ears.

friday finds

{via}

Loving this list. 

I've always wondered how to do this.

It's all in b flat (you'll want to pause pandora before you try it!).

This tool would have really come in handy for those high school science classes!

These bracelets are so effortlessly cool (and I'll be giving one away on Monday!).

Have a lovely weekend, everyone! Check back in on Monday for more giveaway goodness!

horace&mae winner

Congratulations! Thank you all for entering, and don't forget that the

discount listed in the giveaway post is still valid!

handmade wednesday: heyer designs

 Hey everyone! I'm very excited to share a new feature that will hopefully become a regular thing here at Married Lane: Handmade Wednesdays! Today I'm featuring....

Creations by Heyer Designs.

Brandon is a software developer by day who makes these awesome journals in his free time. He was kind enough to spare some time for an interview! Here's a little bit more about the guy behind the journals:

LML: Tell us a little bit about yourself!

B. Heyer: I'm a 25 year old living in Glen Burnie, Maryland (yep - he's local!) with my girlfriend Amanda, and our dog (Mae) and cat (Kessi). I graduated college two years ago with BS in Computer Science and a BA in Graphic Design and I'm interested in everything from photography to video games to reading.

What made you decide to open an Etsy store?

My Etsy started with a push from Amanda to put up some of my photographs. I was reluctant at first and when nothing really sold we decided my photos weren't a unique enough product. She then pushed me to start listing journals, a random skill I picked up somewhere along the way. While I love photography, I am glad I made the switch. I am not certain whether the photographs will stay or not, but there will certainly be more journals!

Is your shop your full time job? If not, what do you do for a living?

My shop isn't my full time job, but simply something for me to focus on and de-stress from life AND my actual full time job. I work as a software developer for a government contractor, and while I love what I do it is nice to have an ongoing creative project to come home to and to take my mind off things. I am also working on expanding my freelance design client base.

Of all the items you have for sale, which is your favorite?

My favorite journal would be this one that just sold. It was a lucky find in a bag of scrap leather I had purchased, and I managed to get just enough to make two covers out of the scrap. Sadly, the second cover has some gashes in it, so I'm not sure if I will be re-listing it or not. As for items currently for sale, my Rust Brown journal is probably one of my favorites.

 

 What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

I have the utmost fear of a blank canvas. If a project is too vague or too open I have a very difficult time starting it. Also, I can come off as a very messy individual (just looking at my desk at work or home would prove that), but if I start to invest enough time into a project, my OCD kicks in and things do a 180 and get hyper organized and structured.

 Thanks so much for stopping by! Anything else you'd like to add?

I've recently switched over to a stable supplier of leather and there are some great ones in the stacks of covers I recently cut, but they aren't listed yet. Be on the look out for A LOT of new journals soon! 

**Brandon is offering Married Lane readers 15% off their orders for the next week! Enter code LML15 at checkout to get your discount!**

ps. Don't forget about our giveaway! Entries will be accepted until 11:59pm tomorrow night!

hair-raising...

I love having short hair, and especially like to cut my hair short after having a baby. Mine was just cut a few weeks ago, and just wasn't loving the cut. It was a little long over my ears, a little awkward in the back, it just didn't feel right. So I decided to hop on one of my new favorite blogs and see if she had any advice that could help me make it more me.

After poking around on her site for a little while, I found this tutorial where Kate (she's the blogging hair-dresser over at it's the small things) shows how to do what she calls the "bouncy curled under".

"I can so do that" I thought. So I grabbed my blow dryer and did the first step, which is to blow dry upside down. When my hair was long that was the only way I could dry it without making my arm fall off, so it was no big deal. Or so I thought. After I felt like my hair was sufficiently dry, I flipped my head right-side up, and here's what greeted me in the mirror:

 I know, right? Whoa baby! See those awesome "wings" I've got going on out by my ears? Yeah that's the long-over-the-ears thing I was trying to hide. Looks like I definitely accentuated it....hah. So it was back to the drawing board... er... sink. I got my hair completely wet again (after trying to just use my brush and blow dry it down and failing) and this time decided to blow dry with things right-side up.

{sorry about the blurry photos! I'm buying myself a new camera for Chirstmas!}

SO much better! Still a little funky in the back, but at least my ears look normal again. Not quite the "bouncy curled under" but close enough!

Have you ever tried to style your hair and had it go terribly wrong? Do tell. I can't be the only one out there...