life in the married lane

{birthday girl!}

2012-02-13T22:17:00.001-05:00

We had a great time celebrating Emma's second birthday this weekend. My lovely sister was kind enough to take some photos for me. Enjoy!

I made the bunting for her cake using this tutorial. I love how it turned out!

Emma blew the candle out all by herself!

The bottom two layers are actually red and then orange, but you can't tell in the photo. I was really pleased with how vibrant the colors turned out.

Emma loves to draw with crayons, so I covered the coffee table with a white paper table cloth and put a big box of crayons on it. It was fun seeing what everyone had drawn once the party was over.

Not a party decoration, but I had to include this photo of my sweet Jack. He's getting so big!

Emma loves balloons, and this kit from Target made it easy to add some. We tied some with the typical balloon ribbon, but used twine on others. I love how it looked!

Since the party was at 2pm, I didn't go crazy with food. My mom made some great white pizza dip, my cousin assembled all the rainbow fruit kabobs, and my sister and mom did the animal shape sandwiches for me. It was great having so much help!

It's easy to get lost in the fun of making decorations and cakes, but I worked hard to make sure Emma knew that everything was for her, not for me. I think it was a success :)

{popping in}

2012-02-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

So it's February 13th already, and I said I'd be back in the beginning of February, not the middle! I feel like I blinked and January was over, then I blinked again and it was the middle of February. I suppose that's how it is when you've got two little ones and a busy husband! Our year has had a wonderful start, and the blessings abound as we celebrate Emmaline's 2nd birthday.

I can't believe my baby is 2 today... it went by so fast! Her birthday party was Saturday and she loved it. We were going for a Noah's Ark theme, with the whole 2 by 2 thing, but I decided I'd rather focus on the rainbow than the animals. I used lots of ideas I found on pinterest (who doesn't love pinterest?) to make her decorations and was so pleased with how everything turned out. I even made a rainbow cake that tasted as good as it looked (I thought all the food coloring might make it taste like plastic, but it was good!).

My sister took a bunch of pictures but still has them on her camera, so once I get them I'll share them with you!

As far as the blog goes, I'm going to slowly start posting again and see how it goes. I've enjoyed my hiatus, but miss blogging and am excited to share lots of photos I've been taking with my new camera.

{changing focus}

2012-01-03T11:12:00.002-05:00

{via}

After quite a bit of thought, I have decided to take another break from my blog, this time for the month of January. I do this every once in a while when I feel like I need to dedicate more time to the other things in my life.

Right now I am:

Training for my first ever 5k run/walk (mostly walk for me, I'm pretty sure!)
Sleep-training my 5 month old
Working on a design for my master bedroom
Trying to find time to read again
Getting back into weekly meal-planning

So I'm going to focus on those things and put blogging on the back-burner for a while. I'll be back at the beginning of February to share the results from my photo a day challenge!

In the meantime, be sure to follow me on Pinterest as I'll still be pinning like crazy!

{a photo a day}

2012-01-02T12:45:00.004-05:00

If you know me, you also know that I recently became addicted to instagram. We bought an ipod touch for Christmas, and I've been loving all the fun apps. When I saw this photo a day challenge on Fat Mum Slim, I had to join!

My plan is to take each photo and then at the end of the month I'll post them all. I think it will be a fun way to look back on the month! Here's a little sneak preview, mostly because I love my new haircut:

{1. me}

Have a lovely day. Here we go, 2012!

{post christmas craziness}

2011-12-30T15:25:00.002-05:00

{Jack and Mommy in DC}

Hey everyone! Sorry about the unannounced absence from my blog last week - we had Christmas with different family members from Wednesday until Monday. It was a busy week! I hope everyone had a wonderful time with family and friends. Our first Christmas with Jack was wonderful (he wasn't so into the gifts and food, but he was definitely fun to snuggle). Emma was adorable opening everything in sight (whether it was for her or not....) and Bran and I had a great time just getting to hang out.

On the Monday after Christmas I took the kids to DC with my mom, sister and her hubby, and my cousins Alex and Joey. We went to Bobby's Burger Palace for lunch, then headed to Georgetown to walk around. It was great, and the weather was beautiful! I'm loving how warm it's been!

Bran had LASIK surgery yesterday so we're spending New Year's weekend hanging close to home. What are your plans?

I'll leave you with this quote from one of my favorite authors:

“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.” — G.K. Chesterton

Happy New Year!

{ordered!}

2011-12-11T17:03:00.001-05:00

Think I'll be able to get them out before Christmas? We'll see! Here's a preview...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Are you sending out cards this Christmas? I love shutterfly. They are definitely my go-to for any kind of photo cards (I've used them for Christmas cards, announcements, and even a valentine's day card the first year we were married!). Who do you like to use?

{new look and a video!}

2011-12-09T08:33:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! Finally got around to updating the look of the old blog and I'm happy with the results :) I'm still threatening to switch over to my own domain (I own marriedlane.com, but haven't gotten a chance to mess with things to make it all pretty over there yet!). But for now I thought some vintage photography and new colors would be fun.

I'm totally in love with this clip. I hope it brings some summery warmth to your cold winter day (plus I'm totally going to try these next summer).

S'Meaches from Claire Thomas on Vimeo {via} .

{b&w}

2011-12-05T09:27:00.001-05:00

{woodland baubles; £25.00}


{via}

I'm always looking for new ways to use color, especially when it comes to Christmas. I'm not a fan of the typical red and green, which is impossible to avoid in some cases (NOT going to have a white Christmas tree). You can imagine my excitement when I got the latest catalog from Niki Jones and the featured colors were black and white! I'm thinking about doing some black and white with pops of color to add some variety. Would you use black and white to decorate for Christmas or are you too traditional for that?

{console tables}

2011-12-04T20:30:00.001-05:00

{via}

Aren't these console table displays just gorgeous? I'm dying to find a place for one in our home, but am at a loss with no real wall space. Plus we've got those annoying baseboard heaters that make it so nothing can be flush with the wall.... so for now I'm filing these under "someday"!

{leftovers galore}

2011-12-01T12:21:00.001-05:00

We had a TON of leftovers after Thanksgiving this year (as in, thanks to there being 2 turkeys and a ham at Thanksgiving dinner, we got to keep our entire 18 lb turkey for leftovers!). So now I'm on the hunt for some yummy leftovers recipes. Here are some I want to try:

{Turkey Reuben sandwiches via Real Simple}

{Turkey and Corn Enchiladas via Real Simple}

{Turkey Noodle soup via Martha Stewart}

I think for lunch today we'll do turkey sandwiches with leftover cranberry sauce spread. Mmm! Do you have any go-to recipes that use leftovers in a new way?

{we're back!}

2011-11-30T16:08:00.001-05:00

Source: asortafairytaleblog.com via Claudia on Pinterest

Hey folks! We're back from a long weekend in West Virginia. Sorry for the unannounced hiatus, but we try to be careful about the whole "don't announce to the world that you house will be empty for 4 days" thing. Our vacation was so much fun, and just what our little family needed. Since returning home, I've started decorating for Christmas (not going crazy this year; stockings hung and nativity set up, tree will go up soon), Jack has started teething, and Emma got her first hair cut (done by yours truly!).

Hopefully things will return to normal soon and I'll be able to start posting regularly again. We've got a busy week and busy weekend ahead, so I'll pop in when I can. Have a great week!

ps. Isn't that ornament adorable? I'm thinking about doing those with Emma and Jack for our tree... they would make cute gifts for the grandparents, too!

{yum}

2011-11-21T11:34:00.001-05:00

{via}

I love chocolate chip pancakes and love the idea of doing this as a birthday breakfast.

Using ice cream instead of syrup is an amazing idea (especially if the pancakes are still hot!).

Have you noticed that I'm on a bit of a birthday ideas kick lately? I've been forcing myself to wait until after thanksgiving to think about Christmas, so I've been focusing on birthday ideas instead.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week {we'll be spending it with family and friends}. I might pop in once or twice but won't be posting regularly. Ciao, lovelies!

succulents

2011-11-18T12:14:00.001-05:00

{via}

I'm loving succulents these days. They seem to be the perfect plants for winter - low maintenance, simple, but pretty. Design Sponge did this post a while ago showing how to create a bouquet with succulents. I love it!

{emma style}

2011-11-16T10:17:00.001-05:00

Sweater - Gymboree (gift from Mimi)

LS Onesie - Oshkosh (gift from Mommom)

Pants - Old Navy

Shoes - Kohls

Emma loves slides. She's fearless and always goes straight for the slide at the playground. This one had lots of static and made her hair stand straight up!

{rock&shop}

2011-11-14T20:50:00.001-05:00

{via}

Aren't these photos gorgeous? The dress with the blazer is definitely my favorite look. They're from a promo shoot for the Rock and Shop Market in North Carolina. If you live near Durham, you should
definitely check it out. They feature local bands and local designers, plus their website is pretty :).

{hello, monday}

2011-11-14T08:40:00.001-05:00

How was everyone's week last week? I was glad to give myself a break from blogging. It was becoming
more overwhelming than enjoyable, and I'm definitely of the mind that if you're not having fun you
should do something different! We spent the week playing with friends, organizing our winter clothes,
and then ended it yesterday with a trip to Winchester, VA with the hubby and kids.
What were you up to this weekend?

Not sure yet if I'll be having a Monday Giveaway today, but check back later just in case!

{beautiful}

2011-11-12T12:23:00.001-05:00

{via}

Just stopping in to share this gorgeous photo with you all. I love everything in it: the snow on the trees out the window, the wreath, the curtains, the floor, the quilt (and I'm so not a quilt person). The gifts by the bed are adorable. Wouldn't that be a fun birthday tradition - waking up to all your gifts in a pile by your bed?

Can you believe it's almost winter? I've been keeping warm by snuggling my babies :).

Have a lovely weekend!

{taking a break}

2011-11-06T15:49:00.001-05:00

Hello lovely readers, I'm just popping in to let you know that I'll be taking a break from married lane this week. I've felt like things have spiraled out of control a bit and I need to take a week to pray, get rejuvenated and get back on track. Please pray for me if you think about it; I could use lots of encouragement and love.

2hands Week {a winner!}

2011-11-04T18:39:00.000-04:00

I'll email you with instructions!

Thanks so much to everyone for entering!

{be there!}

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

{via}

2hands week {vendor feature - whoop}

2011-11-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

{vintage bead necklace, $25}

{starry night "fascinator" hair clip, $15}

{up-cycled cocktail ring, $17}

Some pretty things from Dana's Etsy shop , Whoop. Bonus: they'll also be at the 2hands Indie Craft Market this Saturday! I'm especially in love with the cocktail ring. If I buy one do my chances of getting invited to a cocktail party go up? ;)

2hands Week {vendor feature - 2hands studios}

2011-11-02T10:55:00.001-04:00

Things have been a bit of a roller coaster around here lately, and I could use a break! So for today's feature, grab yourself a nice cup of hot coffee (or tea if you prefer), relax, and let the beautiful things available at 2hands Studios take your mind to a happy {nautical} place!

Who are you?

2hands Studios is a collaboration between Jill, Ally & Carleen. We were friends first, each of us working on our own individual lines, which we still do. After many cups of coffee and lots of show and tell sessions, we decided to open a studio where we could combine our talents in sewing, felting and jewelry design and create a wedding accessories line.

Where are you based?

Annapolis, Maryland

{sentiment flag, ahoy, $5.75}

How did you get started with Etsy?

Etsy gives artists instant access to a demographic of shoppers who appreciate artist made. It's really a no-brainier to have an Etsy store and tap into their huge of community, not only for selling our work, but also for buying supplies and being customers ourselves. We're constantly drooling over other artist's work and getting inspiration from all the talent that Etsy showcases.

{personalized wedding hanger, $20}

What would we be most surprised to learn about you?

Well I don't know if this is much of a surprise, but we also organize a craft market called 2hands Indie Craft Market. It's this Saturday, November 5th from 10 - 2, at Holy Grounds Youth Center in Severna Park. There are 30 crafters and musicians on tap and the caliber of craft can be described in one word - awesome! More info can be found at 2handsmarket.com.

Is the studio your full-time job?

We are full time craftspeople. We also maintain our own individual lines which are also available through Etsy and at local boutiques and Whole Foods stores around the Mid-Atlantic.

{heirloom silk ruffled clutch, $45}

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

We are having so much fun cutting up used sails and up-cycling them into flower clips and flags. It feels so good to breathe new life and energy into something that was headed for the discard pile.

You can win one of their adorable flower clips here!

{recycled sail & ticking bouquet, $190}

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

It all started with the Ben Harper song, With My Own Two Hands. It's a beautiful song that speaks to how each person can change the world with small gestures. Our work is a catalyst for allowing us to donate to causes that are close to our heart. The name also reinforces that our products are handmade by us. Although, it seems we're up to six hands at this point.

Can't get enough of these adorable ladies? Like their facebook page and
follow them on Twitter and Pinterest!

Be sure to check out their shop and enter this week's giveaway!

{knittybutton}

2011-11-01T12:16:00.000-04:00

We're all a bit under the weather, so our halloween consisted of me putting Emma in her disney lion costume (Nala from the Lion King) and Jack in his winter coverall that has little lion ears and walking up the block to my mom's house. I didn't even take any pictures! So I thought I'd share this adorable photo with you instead.

This is my friend Ali's son, Sam. Is that not one of the cutest costumes you've ever seen? Ali knitted the costume herself! I absolutely love it. To see more of her awesome creations, check out her blog.

2hands Week {vendor feature - donna's decembers}

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Absolutely loving these things from Liz's etsy shop, Donna's Decembers! Wouldn't that scarf be cozy for the cold winter months that are {too quickly}approaching? And I'm loving her statement necklaces. You can either buy them from her shop, or come meet her in person at the market this Saturday.

{it's free, and there will be live music!}

Can't get enough of her shop? She's got an adorable blog, too! Check it out here.

{on being lefthanded}

2011-10-31T10:50:00.002-04:00

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!

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!
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.
Left handed men make more money.Well, I'm a woman and I make no money as a stay at home mom. Next!
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.
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!
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!
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.
Left handed people recover faster from strokes than right handed people. That could be convenient someday. Hopefully I'll never find out!
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.
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}

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

{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 studio s 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}

2011-10-29T22:22:00.000-04:00

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!}

2011-10-29T13:49:00.003-04:00

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

Congratulations!

{happy friday}

2011-10-28T17:12:00.000-04:00

{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}

2011-10-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

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}

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

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!}

2011-10-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

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!}

2011-10-25T10:45:00.000-04:00

{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

2011-10-24T11:36:00.003-04:00

{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

2011-10-23T20:16:00.000-04:00

{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!

2011-10-21T08:31:00.001-04:00

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}

2011-10-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

{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

2011-10-19T08:01:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-18T08:26:00.002-04:00

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!

2011-10-17T16:43:00.001-04:00

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

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

{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}

2011-10-15T07:55:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-14T07:30:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-13T14:48:00.002-04:00

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

2011-10-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-10-11T21:45:00.000-04:00

{via}

Another one for my series.

no hands

2011-10-11T11:55:00.001-04:00

"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

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-08T10:10:00.001-04:00

{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

2011-10-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

{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

2011-10-07T08:10:00.001-04:00

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

2011-10-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

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...

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

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...

all tied up

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

{via}

It's finally scarf season! I love wearing scarves (especially big ones that I can let double as a warm wrap for my little ones if need be!). This clip is fantastic - isn't she just adorable, too? I love the way they filmed it, and I can't wait to try out some of the different styles. Picture me standing with my scarf in front of the computer trying to keep up with her... :)

What is your favorite way to wear a scarf? Do you have any tricks for tying them?

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

you scream, I scream...

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Isn't that just adorable? Jenis Splendid Ice Creams sells organic, homemade ice cream in so many crazy combination flavors. They're based out of Ohio, but their ice cream is sold all over in natural food stores (like my local Whole Foods - I'm so making a special trip to get some!). The best part? Jeni wrote a cookbook! Get your copy here.

Which flavor would you try? My mouth is watering just thinking about the Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet!

Credit to Liz for sharing the video - can't wait to make some ice cream with you!

PS. Don't forget about this week's giveaway! It's a good one! :)

feature friday + a giveaway!

2011-09-30T07:00:00.000-04:00

*This giveaway is no longer accepting entries*

I'm really excited about today's post! Jenny from Horace & Mae is here for an interview and a giveaway!

Let's get started!

LML: Who are Horace and Mae?

Jenny: We are a husband and wife (Horace is his first name and Mae is my middle name) who love to take pictures and get a kick out of cameras.

Why did you decide to start selling on Etsy?

I've been encouraged for quite some time to sell my photos, but felt like the kitschy tourist shop and postcard sales just weren't for me. So I decided to go to Etsy, which feels a lot more respectable. Maybe if I get desperate I'll move to postcards!

Sea Glass and Seashells

Is photography your full time job?

Photography is not my full time job right now, but I would love for it to be someday! I'm hoping to study it more (maybe even get a degree in it!) so that I could provide studio and portrait sessions. Those pay a lot more than the little projects I'm working on now!

Which do you like better: film or digital photos? Why?

I whole-heatedly prefer film. My parents started me off on photography with a really nice digital, but it just never got the refined quality that I noticed on so many peoples' photos. I assumed that this difference was due to my lack of editing skills/any knowledge of photoshop at all but have come to realize that film was the difference. I have one film camera in particular that takes the most amazing photos and there is no digital camera that can come close to the look and feel of this camera's photos. The warmth of the colors, the grain, the negatives, the sturdy click of the shutter release...its all a part of it.

Which of the photos you have for sale is your favorite?

My favorite is probably In the Sun I took this from another sailboat during the summer that Horace and I started dating and it just reminds of the warm days we spent on the water. I really like the spray in the bottom right and would love to make a cropped version of just the spray by itself!

In the Sun

Do you have any plans for the future of your Etsy shop?

Right now we're just trying to get it up and running, but in the future we hope to add framed pictures as well as customizable gift photos, with little sayings or quotes or something below the picture. We didn't name our shop "Horace & Mae Photography" because we want to leave ourselves the option to sell more than just photography related items.

Jenny "Mae" is even more adorable in person than she is in writing! Every once in a while she posts on her cute little blog and tumblr.

PS. Wanna know the best part? She's my little sister!

** Married Lane Readers get 20% off in her shop!

Enter LML091 before checkout!**

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now a Giveaway!

Jenny is giving away any 8 x 10 print from her shop!

To Enter: Visit Horace & Mae. Then leave a comment on this post that tells us which photo you would pick! A winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on Friday!

For an extra entry, become a follower of my blog by clicking the "follow" button to the left. To make things easier for me to keep track, please comment once for your first entry, then comment again letting me know that you're now a follower. If you already follow, let me know in a second comment.

Good Luck!

Open to USA residents only. Giveaway ends Thursday, October 6 at 11:59pm. Thanks for entering!

storms

2011-09-27T22:33:00.001-04:00

{via}

With all the storms and rainy weather we've had lately, we've had lots of moments of calm before the storm. I love how these images both capture what could be the very same moment in such different ways. Aren't the colors just beautiful?

monday.

2011-09-26T12:08:00.001-04:00

{via}

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a nice weekend. We spent ours close to home, doing lots of cleaning and organizing, then went over to my husband's parents for the afternoon on Sunday. It was fun helping them re-arrange things in their old office!

Today we're off to buy some new sheets for my bed and some teething medicine for my poor baby Emmaline. She was up on and off from 2am until 9am this morning, when she finally took a good 2 and a half hour nap. Praying for her comfort as she gets these big girl teeth!

Have a great week!

autumn.

2011-09-23T11:30:00.002-04:00

{via}

I got to crunch through leaves on my way home from the library yesterday, thanks to a big oak tree that's ahead of the game. My favorite thing about autumn is definitely the smell of those wonderful leaves... and then of course sweaters and boots and pumpkin spiced lattes! Speaking of lattes, have you ever had the 'bucks pumpkin spiced whipped cream? A barista at my local Starbucks offered me some and it was amazing. Like pumpkin pie in a fancy whipped cream can. You should definitely see if your store has it!

I'm loving...{howkapow}

2011-09-22T15:53:00.001-04:00

{via}

This dog lamp is so funky! Emma would love it. Check out the rest of their goods here.

Home, sweet home!

2011-09-20T15:39:00.001-04:00

After some encouragement from a friend of mine, I've decided to go ahead and share our before and "during" photos of our renovation (I'd call them afters, but we're really not done). So here's the kitchen when we bought our house back in June:

And exactly 1 month after we bought it, it looked like this! I call it our "Galley-Be-Gone" renovation. Bran tore out the walls that made it a galley and opened the kitchen up by adding cabinetry all the way around the room. We still need to finish the crown molding, buy a rug for under the table, and install hardware on the cabinets, but here she is, in all her "during" glory!

{click on photos to view larger}

The open floor plan kitchen, dining room, and living room is my favorite part of the whole house. My hubby did all the work, along with some of his buddies. New drywall on two walls and the ceiling, new pergo floors, re-claimed cabinets from his parent's old office space, laminate counter tops, re-claimed appliances from a kitchen Bran did last summer (they upgraded to stainless steel and let him keep the old ones - they're less than 5 years old so he said heck yes!). The dining table was free from friends of ours, and the chairs came from good will. We're hoping to replace everything in the dining area with something more contemporary (like this table and these chairs from c&b... I can dream, right?).

Then here's the master bedroom before:

And after...

Not a ton to see here. I definitely consider this a "during" photo, as I have plans to do some roman shades and hang more things on the walls. We didn't have to paint (the entire house was painted contractor beige before we bought it), but we hung my curtains (Waverly's paddock shawl in porcelain from Tuesday Morning) and artwork (on sale at Target), and added a headboard/footboard to our bed thanks to a hand-me-down from the in-laws (thanks, Karen!). I wanted the curtains hung higher, and I don't remember why they ended up getting hung where the did, but oh well. Maybe I'll have him re-hang them someday.... :) Oh and ignore the huge clock and the mirror on the floor in the first photo - we're not sure where they're going to go (if anywhere) so they chill there for the time being.

And lastly, Emmaline's room before:

And after:

This vintage yellow settee is my most favorite piece of furniture in our entire house. Can you believe I saved it from the trash?! It was in my grandfather's basement for years and years, but is in nearly mint condition. I brought it home, gave it a good cleaning and put it in Emma's room. She loves it!

Her room is also very much in the during phase. I have art that needs hung, a cute paper lantern and plans to hang a canopy above her settee. I'll post more about that later :)

Here's a look at her little bookshelf/toy storage area (you can see the lamp in the foreground of the photo above). The canvas print came from my sister, and the bookshelf was another hand me down from Karen.

The two rooms I haven't posted yet are Jack's nursery and the laundry/playroom (you can see hints of it through the openings in the kitchen). They're both still very much in the before phase but as soon as I have afters I'll post them, too!

What do you think? Not bad for having only lived here for about 3 1/2 months, huh? :)

figs.

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

{via}

Have you ever had fresh figs? I haven't, but after seeing these recipes I think I might have to add them to my next peapod order...

Prosciutto, figs, AND blue cheese? I'm so there.

Fig, goat cheese, and pistachio. I've never been a big fan of pistachios, but I love goat's cheese so I'd try it.

Fig tarts and pistachio whipped cream. This is the one I think I'm most likely to try, just because I LOVE pastries sprinkled with sugar. Yum.

is it Saturday yet?

2011-09-15T14:23:00.000-04:00

{buy it here}

Just a cute print for you today. My week has been interesting, with a cold going through the house and Emma and Jack both having trouble sleeping as a result. I'm really praying that next week is more restful! Emma is much happier when she's well rested, and happy Emma = happy momma.

Wisdom from Olivia

2011-09-13T15:42:00.000-04:00


{the "cast" of Olivia}

We have cable for the first time in our married lives together, and as a result I know more about kid's tv than I ever have. Every once in a while I catch my husband singing the theme song to Little Einstein's and make fun of him for it :)

There are not many kid's tv shows I like (no Yo Gabba Gabba for us... it creeps me out!), but I have found that Olivia stands out from the rest. The most recent episode Emma and I watched (read: she watched it stuck in her highchair since she wouldn't take a nap and I listened while I caught up on emails and facebook) was all about Olivia getting to know her Grandma. This line caught my attention:

"It's good to learn new things about family members - and then remember those things" - Olivia's Grandmother.

My mother-in-law is fantastic at this. One of the many things she does is always asks close friends and family what their favorite thing to drink is and then makes sure that she has it on hand whenever they visit. It is such a wonderful display of hospitality and I really want to follow in her footsteps by doing the same.

Karen with Emmaline in February of 2010

What do you think? Have you ever learned something new or interesting about a family member? Do you have your own way of making your guests feel special?

happy weekend!

2011-09-10T19:34:00.003-04:00

What is everyone doing this weekend? We're so glad the rain has finally stopped - I feel like it has been months since I saw the sun! Now if that cool fall weather would get here, I'd have nothing to complain about. I've been going through our photos for the past few days, editing and sorting, and thought I'd share some of my favorites. See you Monday!

Emmaline at 2 months

Jack at 1 month

wedding wednesday: Horace & Jennifer

2011-09-07T14:55:00.000-04:00

{all images via}

How gorgeous is this seaside wedding? I'm definitely partial to it, especially since Jennifer is my sister!

Jen and Horace were married on June 11 of this year, and these photos are really only

a peek at their beautiful ceremony.

Visit Jen's blog for more photos (and leave her a comment telling her I sent you !).

right now I'm loving...

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

{foundstyle}

Tommy Smythe (of "Sarah Richardson's cute and quirky sidekick" fame) linked to foundstyle and I can't stop browsing! Unique finds reasonably priced - just like a thrift store. Now if only they were US based so we could avoid high shipping costs....

Here are some of my finds:

{Model T - $30}


{Hammam Towel - $15}

{Wooden Puzzle - $20}

Check out their website and see what you find!

ps. I was in no way compensated for this post; I just really like their site!

2011-09-06T15:27:00.001-04:00

Glad to have someone to snuggle with on this chilly, rainy day.

We can't play outside, so we baked cookies and did laundry.

How do you spend rainy days?

pinterest challenge

2011-09-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

Sherry, Katie, Lana and Emily are just a few of the bloggers who took on this summer's Pinterest Challenge, a challenge to get off our bums and actually make one of the awesome things we re-pinned on the world's most amazing inspiration bulletin board.

I'm not brave enough to attempt my decor pins yet (I do, however, have plans to make a simple wreath for my front door) BUT I did decide to take the challenge as an opportunity to make some of the recipes I've been collecting. I LOVE collecting recipes on pinterest. It's addicting. And my first pinterest recipe discovery, enchilada soup, made it's way onto my always have the ingredients to make this on hand list. The hubby is really loving this whole pinterest thing!

my pulled pork enchilada soup

Do you pin? Have you made any of the things you found on pinterest?

bed.

2011-09-01T09:54:00.000-04:00

{via}

I'd love to crawl into that bed every night.

Nursery Mood Board!

2011-08-30T22:41:00.000-04:00

1. diy pallet wall inspired by bower power
2. blackout roman shades
3. diy chalkboard globe
4. numbers artwork - I can't find the link back to it! It's from etsy.
5. vintage eskimo fan
6. chalkboard plaque
7. diy pallet shelf
8. already own - large cadillac print. We're going to custom frame it with more reclaimed wood.

What do you think? I want something masculine and strong rather than the typical pastel baby stuff. His crib and changing table are white and the walls are beige, so they'll keep things from getting too dark. I'm excited to get started!

good reminder

2011-08-30T20:53:00.000-04:00

{via}

More nursery inspiration

2011-08-26T13:50:00.000-04:00

Loving these rustic accents, including barn doors, deer sheeets and more re-claimed wood. I'm leaning toward a "Rustic Route 66" theme, and I'll explain the route 66 part later!

{via}

First image Source: bohobedlove.tumblr.com via Channing on Pinterest

Second Image Source: frenchbydesign.blogspot.com via Sumati on Pinterest

{via}

Little Guy Nurseries

2011-08-24T10:36:00.001-04:00

After spending so much time renovating the living room/kitchen area of our house, we've put the other rooms on the back burner. I'm itching to do Jack's nursery, though, so until Bran is ready to dive into another project, I'll be spending my time gathering ideas.

One annoying thing about the homes in our neighborhood is that they completely lack architectural detail. They were built in 1947 and were some of the first prefabricated homes (see this really interesting article Building a House an Hour about the prefab process). They're made of steel and concrete so they're sturdy as heck but generally pretty ugly.

I love architectural details, and so making the rooms interesting by adding them is my main decorating goal. We added crown moulding in the living room and created a column effect with some bump-outs at the entrance to the hallway:

In Jack's room, I want to add an architectural feature wall like the one seen here on Bower Power:

They created their wood paneled feature wall using pallets and mounting the pieces directly to the wall. I love this idea (which surprised me a bit since I generally hate wood paneling, but this is sooo different than the 70's stuff we had in our old basement!) and I think it really brings a masculine feel to the room. I think it would look great. Thoughts?

already?

2011-08-23T20:56:00.000-04:00

Jack Harrison

I can't believe it's been a month already! He's been doing great (even though he's screaming in his bouncy seat as I write this - I swear he sleeps most of the time!). He has his 1 month appointment on Friday and I'm thinking he's a full pound over his birth weight at this point, which would put him at 10 lbs 5 oz... we'll have to see how close my guess is!

At a month old, he...

...loves to sleep
...almost as much as he loves to eat
...doesn't like his bink, but has been experimenting with sucking on his fingers/thumb
...can hold his head up like a champ, but still flops his head against my shoulder every once in a while
...still has his wavy hair, which sticks straight up after a bath
...has only had 2 real baths... I suppose he takes after his dad in the cleanliness department :-p
...has started showing signs of recongition and looks me in the eye from time to time
...is very loved by his big sister!

Can't wait to see what month 2 brings!

Baby!

2011-08-11T10:34:00.000-04:00

Jack Harrison Antkowiak 7/26/2011 9lbs 5oz.

Our little guy has been keeping me busy! Ok, that's not true. He's been sleeping like an angel and eating like a champ. His big sister has definitely been keeping me busy, though!

As far as the blog goes, I'm dying to get back into it. Things got very much put on hold when my hard drive crashed a few weeks ago. I'll hopefully be ordering a new one tomorrow to be back in business on the computer front. It's so hard not having one, and only getting to surf the web for an hour at night on my hubby's!

Once the computer is fixed, I'll hopefully have more house photos for you, too! We've done a "second look" in our living room thanks to a "new" used rug and some different curtains. I love it, even though it's not what I would do if I had no budget :)

drumroll please....

2011-07-22T15:51:00.001-04:00

It's been a long time coming, but I finally have a few after photos of our living room to share with you! The kitchen photos will be a while longer, since we're still waiting on our upper cabinets (and don't want to ruin the surprise with "progress" photos - we want you to get the full after!). But anyway, here's how the living room looked when we bought the house on June 1st:

Talk about blah. It was dark, ugly, and needing updating in a big way. On to the after:

Ta da! My hubby took out the closet that you see by the front door (you can't really see that it's gone in these photos... I'll have to take one of the entertainment center to give you a better idea), replaced the drywall on 2 of the walls and the ceiling, and then painted everything, installed new pergo floors, did base trim and crown molding. I LOVE it! What do you think?

give me some sugar

2011-07-06T16:37:00.000-04:00

{via}

I really want to try this recipe for diy sugar cubes. How cute would they be at a little girl's tea party?

excuses, excuses

2011-07-06T16:35:00.000-04:00

Sarah Richardson, {via}

I miss blogging so bad. I really do! Once we've got internet at the house (and once I have a computer again... macbook + milk = fried hard drive) I have big plans to do some major blogging. Then Jack will come and I'll be out of commission for a few weeks while I get used to having 2 little ones underfoot. Blogging is therapeutic for me - it's the only thing in my life now that is just mine, my own quiet little corner of the world, and I miss it. So if you're a reader (or ex-reader...) of mine who agrees that I should get back into it, tell me! There's nothing like the encouragement of others to get you going.

So last time I posted I promised to post a photo of our new living room that afternoon, and I didn't. Shame on me! I have to be honest, though - I had every intention of posting a photo until I uploaded the pictures I took and was so embarrassed at how badly they turned out! The lighting was terrible and really didn't do my pretty living room justice. I know, you're thinking "We just want to see it! We don't care about lighting!" but it was really bad. You'll have to take my word for it. So I'm going to get my sister's help to take some good photos that I can be excited about sharing :)

I just posted that photo above because I think it's pretty. I have so much going on at the house right now that I can't wait to show you. Hopefully I'll actually get to!

the blogging mom

2011-06-30T09:07:00.000-04:00


{via}

I just came across this article about how blogging has changed motherhood. It's fantastic! I hope you'll take a minute to read it. The etsy print above is so cute, and I think it fits with the theme of the article.

Check back later today - I finally snapped some "in-progress" photos of our new living room! I would call them afters except that we still need an area rug, to hang artwork, make new pillows for the couch and just some general decorating. I'm super excited.

We're In!!

2011-06-27T16:51:00.000-04:00

{via}

After spending almost the entire month of June living out of our suitcases, we're finally in our new house! The next few days I'll be unpacking, then I should have some {amazing} after photos for you! Stay tuned!

espresso

2011-06-21T10:51:00.000-04:00

Source: greenlikebathwater.tumblr.com via Uncle on Pinterest

I can't tell you how many times this thought has crossed my mind.

shoe love

2011-06-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

{via}

Really really loving these espadrilles from madewell. Don't they look like perfect slip-on summer shoes?

bag love

2011-06-16T10:26:00.000-04:00

{images via}

With Jack's due date just around the corner, I've finally been getting my head into baby mode. My favorite way to do this is to add things to my wishlist! A dear Aunt of mine gave me a beautiful diaper bag when I had Emmaline, but after a cross country move and a year and a half of use, it's seen better days. So first on the baby no. 2 list - this bag from Moop. I love the rugged feel, especially since it looks like something the hubby wouldn't even mind carrying for me every once in a while (totally an important diaper bag feature!).

Renovations!

2011-06-03T21:59:00.000-04:00

We closed on our house Wednesday night, and Bran started demo last night. It went from being all put together and move-in ready to a mess! But it's a good thing! He's already torn out the two closets we wanted to get rid of in the living room, and is working on tearing out that wall that makes the kitchen a galley tonight. By tomorrow our living room, dining room, and kitchen should all be one big open space and I can't wait to see it!

Due to the amount of concrete dust and nastiness in the house while they're demoing, I won't have many during pictures (I've been doing my best to stay away - gotta keep myself healthy for this little guy!) but I'm going to try and have Bran snap some tomorrow. Of course we don't have any before photos because we're lame and forgot to take them. But we'll definitely have durings and afters.

In the meantime, check out this beautiful mudroom. It's my current inspiration for the addition off our kitchen:

Isn't that door incredible! And I love the built-in bench. We could totally do this in that room, and I think it would really add to the function of the room. I guess I should let Bran finish with the current renovation first though, huh?

June already?

2011-06-02T07:59:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the absence - things have been ridiculously crazy around here! After having our offer accepted in April, it took until yesterday for us to close. It was a crazy headache and mess of paperwork, but now it is officially ours. Let the demo begin!

We're babysitting my sister-in-law while my in-laws are in Europe which means posts will most likely continue to be sparse. I'm going to try and get back into regularly updating after Jack comes in July. He's due the 31st, but I'm praying he goes early. Come before August, baby!

Until then, Happy Summer!

in a bit of a rut....

2011-05-18T21:25:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately! My time has been split between lots of packing and chasing an energetic 15 month old. This lovely weather isn't helping with my blog inspiration either....

So thankful for a nice weekend to look forward to! We're supposed to spend Saturday at the park with family for a going away party (my cousin is headed to Indonesia for a year!) so some sunshine will definitely be appreciated. Hopefully the week after next will feel more spring/summer like!

plan update

2011-05-05T09:55:00.000-04:00

Valerie commented on the last floor plan post, asking about our lack of countertop space. The previous layout actually added about 2 feet of space to what is currently in the galley kitchen, which isn't much but in a house this tiny (988 sq. ft to be exact!) it's something. My biggest concern with the layout I showed you last time was the placement of the fridge. Not only did it break up what could be a nice long section of countertop on the far wall, it also made it so we had a big spread-out work triangle. In the layout above, which is our most recent concept, we're sacrificing pantry storage space for more countertops and a tighter work triangle. I'm used to not having a pantry anyway, and think we could make it work. Any thoughts?

rainy day encouragement

2011-05-04T09:19:00.000-04:00

{via}

1. Know that you are valuable and important to God, and made in His image.

2. Know that you are unique and that people want to know you more.

3. Focus your will onto something meaningful (relationships!).

4. Lean into your fears; learn that things do not have to be perfect.

5. Learn that people usually don’t care about the things that bother you.

6. Learn to take a small hill. Start small and invite people into your life.

7. Make soul-friends, friends who get what you are all about.

8. Love the unlovely. Does it really matter what your house looks like?

9. Combat materialism. You don’t need the newest or the best.

10. Fight cynicism, which can drain us of hope, creativity, and energy — all building blocks for courage.

{via}

preggy pants

2011-05-03T14:23:00.000-04:00

No, not a new nickname from the hubs for this pregnancy (transformers had just come out when I was pregnant with Emma and he affectionately took to calling me "pregatron" any time my hormones got the best of me).

"optimus preg" {not an original drawing, but I can't remember where I found it}

I had a pair of Karen T jeans when big in the belly last year, thanks to my MIL (whose name happens to be Karen!). She got them for me at a little boutique in Idaho and I haven't found them anywhere since. I LOVED them and couldn't understand why women are always complaining about maternity pants. They have the low elastic waist band and fit just like my normal jeans, but with extra give. They're awesome.

This time around, I got some jeans from Motherhood Maternity and found out why people hate maternity pants. These have a full belly panel, and fit very comfortably until they start to fall down the second you move in them. And I know it's not the size - I tried L, M, and S and they all had the fall-down problem. After wearing them for a while and doing the hike-them-up-every-2-seconds-thing, I got frustrated and started trying some different approaches.

No-fall-jeans trial #1: Roll down the belly panel.

This only made things fall faster, which is no bueno.

Yep, I'm that big already.

No-fall-jeans trial #2: Keep panel up, but tuck in an undershirt.

We have a winner! Tucking in the under shirt gives the panel something to grab on to so it doesn't move when I do. The only problem I can see with this is when it's mid-July and I've got 3 layers of fabric over my huge belly. Definitely looking for some low-panel elastic waisted shorts!

Happy May! And more Kitchen Ideas

2011-05-02T14:25:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it's already May - this year is flying by! The warm weather and less rain will be a welcome change for me and my little lady (she loves playing outside!). We didn't let April's showers hold us back, though; we used them as opportunities to try out our rain coats:

She's quite the cutie if I do say so myself!

When we're not playing outside, we're making plans for our new kitchen. I'm so excited and nervous about finally getting to renovate our own place. I've only gotten to see a little bit of the work my hubby's done in other people's homes and I can't wait to see how ours turns out - he's so good at what he does!

We've already got the cabinets and countertop, thanks to a job he did a few weeks back. We've also got flooring and appliances thanks to another job (he always asks homeowners if he can snag stuff they're going to be getting rid of - most of the time it's not very old and it's going to save us a huge chunk of change!)

I'll try to take photos of my floor and countertop samples soon so you guys get a sneak peek, but for now we'll start with layout. Here's what it looks like now:

FYI - floorplanner.com is my new best friend. You should definitely check it out!

And here's the plan:

We'll be turning our cramped, tiny living room/dining room/kitchen area into one big open room. I'll go into more details about what the changes will look like in future posts, but for now what do you think of the plan?

eat.

2011-04-27T08:00:00.005-04:00

Here's some of my latest kitchen inspiration... Galley-be-gone! I'm seeing open shelves, a nice u-shape and a dining area.

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: inspirationfordecoration.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: kitchen-interiors-design-ideas.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: sarahrichardsondesign.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: traditionalhome.com via Ashley on Pinterest

a new leaf...

2011-04-26T10:42:00.000-04:00

For a few months there I was so good about posting regularly, then life got busier and I spent less time on the computer (probably a good thing!) and my poor little blog has suffered. BUT I'm happy to announce that we have a big life change happening soon that will lend itself to lots of blogging... and I'm not talking about this:

Jack at 25 weeks

I'm talking about this:

We bought a house! It's teeny tiny and has an ugly awning and we love it. It's also literally 5 doors up from where we currently rent in a little neighborhood near Baltimore. We have big plans for a kitchen renovation, taking down some walls, sprucing up some of our existing furniture to go with a new decorating scheme, and lots of more fun stuff, so stay tuned!

little things

2011-04-20T20:45:00.000-04:00

Stumbled across this tumblr today and fell in love... here are some "little things" I loved about today:

new favorite

2011-04-12T22:44:00.000-04:00

{via}

Favorite photo from new favorite online magazine, Trad Home.

Birthday!

2011-04-05T16:39:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the absence - I've been busy sleep-training a 1 year old and planning my sister's bridal shower. My sister flies in from Idaho on Thursday and will be here all next week, so I'll do my best to post some photos of the shower between now and the time she leaves. In the meantime, I'll be eating cake and being sung too :)

front and center, take 2

2011-03-28T13:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I posted about Emily Henderson's latest design endeavor, pointing out that I simply wasn't impressed. Here's the official after photo of the room:

{via}

Lindsey left the following comment on yesterday's post:

You were right, Lindsey - the other curtains were horrible and did nothing for the height of the room. I definitely think these curtains are different from the ones in the last photo. They must have swapped them out last minute! Here's a close up of the new curtains:

{via}

Even though I really don't like this room, I love that shot - to me it looks like it came out of a different space! But anyway the curtains have a really nice vertical stripe that I think lends itself well to the tall windows. They also don't stick out quite so much as the white ones did in the photo from yesterday.

Evidently the couple she was designing for wanted a "tv-watching living room", so I suppose that's what they got. I still feel like there would have been a better option than making it the focal point!

So what do you think? Do you like today's photo better or still not buy it?

front and center

2011-03-27T08:53:00.000-04:00

I haven't gotten to watch her show, but I've really enjoyed reading Emily Henderson's blog. She does episode recaps and posts photos of the spaces she designs. So far this is the only one that made me go "huh?"

{via}

At first glance it looks like something I'd love - casual, light, airy, and comfortable. But something just felt off. I realized pretty quickly that this living room has as its focal point the tv! There's no conversation area - everything but the couch and the tiny green chair in the corner faces the tv. I hate it! Were this my room, I would have ditched the chaise, gotten another chair/ottoman combo to match the white one and flipped them so they were facing the couch. I'm not even going to think about the attention being taken away from what is most likely a beautiful fireplace in the lower right hand corner....

What do you think?

5 things I'm loving right now

2011-03-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

1. Pandora's toddler station. Emma is getting to the stage where she loves music and dancing, and their awesome toddler station has saved me as a mother. We now rock out to hakuna matata and the itsy bitsy spider instead of Your Body is a Wonderland by John Mayer. Their college indie station is a nice break during nap time, too. Thank you, Pandora.

2. Spring Flowers. Tulips have been a favorite of mine for a long time. It's so lovely having them back in my life for the summer!

3. Project: Simplify. This week's hot spot was toys and it went great. I'm definitely not looking forward to when we have to organize the kitchen, though. Mine's a disorganized mess!

4. Martha Stewart Weddings. So many great ideas that I'm going to use for Jen's bridal shower!

5. My growing baby girl. She's a ham just like her dad and I love it.

2011-03-21T09:16:00.003-04:00

{via}