Hey Little Birdie!

Do you remember that episode of friends when Joey thinks he knows French? Then Phoebe tries to teach him, and everything comes out like jumbled mumble-jumble. This is often how I feel when dicephering my two year old’s vocabulary of late. Now this fact really has no relevance to this post, but I wanted to preface everything with this, just in case I fall into an incoherent string of syllables followed by one recognizable noun… because such is my surroundings lately.

So, I have been kind of in love with several images… ideas… and items recently. Here are a few, in no particular order:

I want to DIY a pair of these like they did at The Yellow Cape Cod.

I want to purchase this for my master bedroom from FOUND.

I want to bake something yummy while wearing this from Anthropologie.

If you are looking for a theme, I would say black & white is speaking to me. But I think more than that, it’s the high contrast that black & white combination produces that I am so drawn to. I am thinking more balanced opposition should exist in my world, whether that be my home or wardrobe.

What about you? What are you finding yourself drawn to lately?

Oh, and… blah mer gumpt prfun silbety dun elephant… welcome to my world.

So, it’s February… which means it is time to shower those you love with lovely things… time to express what may go unannounced throughout the year… time to give and receive affection. And don’t think I am simply referring to my cute, Pride & Prejudice-watching husband. Although, side note: Did I tell you he asked to watch it this past weekend? I know, husband jackpot. Sometimes I feel it’s unfair, but at the same time, I am such a joy to live with all. the. time… he pretty much scored as well.

Anyway, believe it or not, this is about you. But not all of you, just one special one of you. But we’re not going to tell which one yet, because random.org hasn’t selected you quite yet. Okay, okay, enough mystery already, right? I’m talking giveaway! (Said with my best Oprah voice, but without the grandeur of a free car or trip to Australia). But don’t get discouraged, this is still good. And I know it’s good because I already own one. I love mine so much, I’ve decided you need one too. How’s that for a personal reference?

Dolce Vita Mia is such a cute etsy shop filled with amazing hair accessories. And if you are a Phoenician, she’s local. Can’t get any better than supporting those around you. Check it out.

Okay… the rules on how to enter:

1. Click on Comments and leave one on this post.

Then, earn 2 extra entries by:

2. Sharing this Giveaway on Facebook!

3. Tweeting about it on Twitter.

If you do anything on FB or Twitter, let us know in the comments, so we can give you extra chances.

You will have until Midnight next Tuesday night (2/8) to enter. Next Wednesday we will reveal the winner!

I noticed in my inbox yesterday that one of my favorite brands has a slightly new look. And unlike the Gap logo fiasco of 2010, Kate Spade has gone and updated their logo in a subtle but charming way.

Of course I adore it. In my eyes, Kate can never do wrong. Especially when it comes to design. I mean look how perfect their new ad with Bryce Dallas Howard is!

Colorful stripes just might be the happiest thing on earth. My only reservation with the logo is the focus on red. I hope is doesn’t mean they are changing their signature shade from kelly green. I’m thinking it’s just for the upcoming Valentine’s season since the logo in the Spring ad is bubblegum pink.

What do you think of the new logo and ad campaign?

I have a little bit of Christmas money left. By the way, I’m not saying this because I’m picky (I prefer the term “selective”), but I love getting money for Christmas. I’m a not one of those people who thinks that it is any less of a gift… or effort. I would always prefer an afternoon of shopping with funds in hand over a set of tchotchkes meant to line the shadowbox or curio cabinet that I don’t own. Just saying…

So, I have this Christmas money, and I was looking online at Ruche today, which was totally overdue on my part. I mean, they have such great stuff. And I love that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, which is kind of a gross expression if you think about it. And I’ve been noting that my wardrobe is severly lacking in dresses. And what do you know? They’ve got so many options in my leftover Christmas money range. So I thought I would share with you a couple I am deciding between. Maybe your vote can help me make my decision. What do you say to virtual shopping with friends?

So, what do you think? Which would you choose? Or do you have another that beats all others?

Sometimes I feel like this whole relationship thing we have is about you. Sometimes, it’s clearly about us. Today, well today, I feel like it should be about me. Why, you ask? Is something big going on in your life, where it is totally acceptable for you to take the floor? No. Not really. I just thought we should take some time to really… really focus on me.

So today, I am sharing some of my favorite Etsy sites. First of all, you should know I have well over 200 favorite Etsy sites, so consider this a sampling rather than an exhaustive list. But alas, here we go. How can you not care about what someone so refined like me has to say… I mean, I just used the word “alas” in a sentence.

01. Hellkat Design – Handprinted Rustic Bird Cushion

02. Fort - Web no17 Necklace

03. Quote - Pleated Leather Bag Purple

04. White Owl – Garden Flora Necklace Olive

05. Uncommon - Giant Chandelier Poppy

So last night, Lyla decided she didn’t want to go to bed. This may be commonplace in many of your households, but Lyla is what my parents’ generation would term a “go-getter”. Most of our friends have money on whether she will be a track star or Fedex’s most valued delivery employee. And she walks on her tip-toes too, so a non-Natalie-Portman-Black-Swan ballerina or one of those women who race up the Empire State Building stairs in their high-heels is not out of the question either. Whatever her future holds, her present is thick with action, and then eventually sleep. So, when she chooses that rest isn’t interesting to her, this non-exercising mom begins to careen towards a place of desperation.

So last night, Lyla was making a statement – crib contents dumped on the floor, a constant rat-tat-tat of “mama…mama…mama”, all followed by my grand entrance into her room…

Me: What Lyla? What do you need?

Lyla: Goats. Elephants. Binky. (She’s obsessed with animals, and don’t kill me, but we haven’t broken her of the pacifier yet, even though I … know … we … need … to.) Normally this type of talk would have totally distracted me of my bedtime goal. I mean, who doesn’t want to list the various animals found at the Phoenix Zoo. Often I find myself just cataloguing random office supplies or movie actors, so normally I’m game.

But last night, I wasn’t hoodwinked by her quick and steely repartee. Instead, I laid down the law. I made a statement. I prevailed. I got my child to go to sleep.

I wish I could remember the actual words I used to penetrate her sound defense, but it went something like this…

Me: Lyla, that’s it. You have to go to bed.

Feel free to use that yourselves next time your wee one gives you a struggle at bedtime… at least until I get it copyrighted. It’s a powerful tool.

Anyway, next time I have to make a strong statement, I hope to do it with one of these instead. So much more fun… and colorful… and still effective at changing the mood in a room. All of the products at Allora Handmade are crazy good. Check it out!

(Image Credits: 1. Stuf Yellowbird; 2. Zara Button Jacket Dress; 3. roughdrAftbooks Y Journal; 4. Cynamonn Honey-Gold Linen Necklace)

Every once and a while I find myself overwhelmed by a particular color combination. So today, I have a treat for you – a retreat into the crevices of my mind. Don’t be scared. Today, it’s a wonderful place. Now yesterday, I wouldn’t have taken you there… but today it is nothing but sunshine and unicorns and pastries… because who can stomach unicorns without a muffin or danish, really. If I am completely transparent, I find unicorns slightly unnerving. I think it’s their obsession with rainbows and their ability to impale me at a moment’s notice.

But this color medley has nothing to do with rainbows. I know it’s a bit autumnal, but I love fall. So suck it, Mr. Unicorn. Sorry, I had no idea I felt so much hidden resentment towards the mythical horsey with a horn.

What about you? Are you still red and green and Christmasy all over? Or are you already looking forward to spring colors? Or do you buck all trends when it comes to colors? I didn’t intend to “pun” there with buck, but I’m leaving it in because I am that rebellious.

Birthdays are kind of a big deal to me. I don’t know if it is a product of being the baby in my family growing up. My parents were not the spoiling kind, but they did indulge me when it came to my birthday. And boy did I run with it. Poor Mike, he had big shoes to fill when we got married. And needless to say, he has risen to the challenge.

Although it should be noted that now that I am a mature thirty-something, I have tried to dial back my need for birthday extravagance. Instead of requiring an entire week of celebration honoring my introduction to the world, I settle for a day. Huge strides, right?

And while Mike and I are the same age, and excessive birthday mayhem was never a part of his upbringing, that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get such overload now… at least that’s my theory. Maybe it’s the guilt talking. Or maybe I am passive-agressively hoping a big birthday for him will secretly translate into a big birthday for me two months later. Maturity only gets you so far.

All of this to say, when his birthday surfaced in February this past year… (By the way, no one should have their birthday in the first two months after Christmas. I mean, you are just getting over the hangover of December-induced presents, and then, pow, more. It’s a lot for this little Santa to come up with.)… I decided to string out the festivities even longer by giving him a gift on the 12th of every month until his next birthday. Yes, 12 months of gift giving. Call it an attempt to budget out his birthday goodness. Call it excessive. Call me crazy! It has been so much harder than I thought it would be. But I will say, his appreciation has made up for it… I think. And plus, I’m almost done.

I wonder how many times in one post I could say “all of this to say”. I think I often dangle at the precipice of too many times. Oh well. All of this to say, here was last month’s gift.

Now I figure you know by now how much I love Jane Austen, but you may not know that I was gifted from God above with a husband who enjoys watching Jane Austen movies with me. Yes, I said enjoys, not tolerates. He’s a keeper. And while he hasn’t yet read one of Jane’s books, I feel certain that my feminine charms will someday persuade him to. If not, I intend to remind him of this particular year of 12 months of birthday gift giving. Like I said, maturity only gets you so far.

Update: Brookish is currently on vacation through Christmas. You will have to wait to buy this shirt for the February birthdays in your life. Make sure to have Etsy tell you when they return.

I’m hoping after this post my dear husband will be making a list and checking it twice. Ha ha! So much for subtle hints, right? Anyway, here is a smorgasbord of items that I would delight in discovering in my stocking!

Twirl by kate spade perfume rollerball

Pride and Prejudice Ornament by Brookish

Divine Twine

Emily Bracelet by Tamar

Slurtles (choco-beer-pretzel caramels!) from Liddabit

Oh my.  How perfect is this dress?  I love the color, the ruffle, the sweater, the cut.  I can picture it with some sweet boots.  And, this is weird, but how did Anthropologie know that I’d also like to lounge against beautifully sculpted busts as if I was one myself?  How did you know this Anthropologie?  How!?  (Is it magic?)

Quick!  Someone invite me to a (Grecian) holiday party!

LOVE!!!

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