Hey Little Birdie | Shopping Blog

I am feeling a bit scattered lately. Hey, I heard that giggling… and that sarcastic “just lately?” seemed a bit much; don’t you think? Anyway instead of fighting my new and totally uncharacteristic scatteredness (wink, wink), I’ve decided to embrace it. So, here are several things that I am infatuated with lately.

(Images: 1. Vintage Inspired Fabric Headband 2. Freaking Love Card 3. Ivory Bloom Shoe Clips 4. Vital Bicycle Glassware)

Maybe if I bought all of them, it would clear up some much needed real estate in my foggy little head. Hmmm…where is my wallet?

There are too many reasons why I love these and too many perfect options to choose from so here are just a few:

Kate Spade. Beautifully classic bangles. And lovely little saying hidden on the inside.

“in a twinkling”

“rain or shine”

“on cloud nine”

“a penny for your thoughts”

The packaging is dreamy too.

Most are only $28-$42. Making them just right for gift giving of any occasion. (hint: if you google Kate Spade Idiom- there are many more versions not sold on the website to be found at retailers like Nordstrom.) These are definitely going on my Christmas list this year!

J. Crew is one of my favorite stores. It’s their mixture of preppy and feminine fused together to create an eye-catching result that honestly leaves me a little weak in the knees. So, yesterday I was internet-window-shopping, and I saw that you (or more importantly, me) can get an additional 30% off all their sale items through today at 11:59 ET by using the code SHOPNOW at checkout. Now as I type this, I am becoming extremely worried about the rest of you being my size and snagging my favorites. Ugh, the curse of being helpful and useful to others. Now I know how Santa Clause feels… and why he is always stuck in that red velvet suit. Poor Santa.

I love this clutch! And honestly I am starting to think that a good clutch is totally the way to go for a mom with a toddler. That’s right, my little girl is solidly in the toddler column now. No longer a baby, or at least she doesn’t consider herself a baby. How do I know? Well, we’ve had several heart to heart conversations about such topics. No, you silly readers; she’s not even two yet! Sorry, that was my sarcastic tendency rearing its ugly face (I just used rear and face in the same sentence; not everyone can do that so seamlessly). Instead, I know this because Lyla now insists on yelling out “baby, baby” every time she sees one. I have to admit the first couple of times was jarring, mostly because I hadn’t stopped doing the exact same thing every time I saw her. But now I think it is sinking in for me… she isn’t a baby. Wow. Do you guys need a second to process the weight of that too? {long, thoughtful pause}

Okay, back to the clutch. I mean, clutches are perfect for throwing in to a diaper bag. Although honestly, one this cute should go in a ziploc bag for preservation and then carefully placed in to that one protective pocket within your otherwise war zone of a diaper bag. Then on the occassion that you are let out of your house without your diapered child, you simply take your adorable and equally handy clutch. I mean you don’t have to pack for the wilderness when you are out for dinner with your husband, right? So a clutch is a perfect size.

Problem solved. Buy the clutch. You’re welcome.

(Maric Fine Goods has so many incredible bags; you have to check it all out.)

I’ve already shared that peonies are my absolute favorite flower. I still hold dear this silly notion that I could one day grow beautiful giant peony bushes in my backyard. Nevermind the fact that I live in Phoenix. Or that I sort of have a black thumb. It could still happen! Since my dreams of peony gardening are unlikely to become my reality, I am always on the lookout for ways to include my beloved flower in my life. I stumbled upon both this darling necklace

and this sweet handprinted pouch

on a recent etsy search. I can’t decide which one I like more. Both are display worthy and both could easily become treasured standards in my household. The necklace because it could make so many outfits pop with its statement making beauty. And the dainty pouch because I would agonize over what would be worthy enough to keep in it, only to finally decide that it has to be something I keep with me in my baby bag, just so I have the pleasure of seeing it everyday. Here’s to keeping my fingers crossed that my thoughtful husband is glancing at this post today! (I’m so subtle, aren’t I?)

I find that when my life feels more chaotic and stressful, I gravitate towards home organization endeavors. I guess it’s just natural that when I can’t control things like my daughter’s seizures or questions about her future, I grab ahold of the things I can fix. Like the mess my necklaces are making on my bathroom counter. It might sound frivolous, but having one small thing that I know I can make right helps me cope in some way. I’ve been playing with the idea of DIYing some hanging jewelry storage, but my list of DIY projects is huge and I don’t know if I should take on another. As a ready made solution, I do find this wall rack from Urban Outfitters very charming-

and with a price tag of only $24, I like it even more. The metal lattice would be perfect for displaying my favorite earrings and the hooks would be so useful for necklaces. I also love the idea of wall organization since it frees up vital counter space and ultimately makes it look less cluttered. Ah, see? I already feel a bit more clarity invading my mind. If you’re in need of some inner peace like I am, this little darling also come in aqua and yellow.

I was at Starbucks the other day and watched two women sitting and talking. One had brought the other a beautifully packaged gift and surprised her friend with it stationed in front of her chair when she returned from the restroom. To see the woman delighted with such unexpectancy was sweet. I could hear tidbits of her exclamations, and they mirrored what mine would be in that situation – “The box in and of itself is so cute. It’s enough right there. Who cares what’s inside.”

Anyway, it filled me with such pleasure, such gratitude for being a woman. You just don’t see men often greet their friends in a coffee shop with a surprise present wrapped exquisitely. And what a gift it is to find favor in a piece of who you are… in how you were created. The simplicity of it all gave me a contentedness that I needed right then and there.

I never got a chance to sneak a peek at what was inside. But in my mind, it was something like this. One of these beauties from the etsy shop, Local Library. They are amazing and might be the perfect gift for the friend you are meeting next week for coffee…

I love cardigans. Too much. Especially for someone living in Phoenix. And it being the middle of summer makes me even more crazed about them. Is anyone else being tortured by the fall fashion previews all over place? Just yesterday I was driving in my car, imagining a chilly fall breeze, the scent of pumpkin bread and cute trench coats walking down the street. Ugh. I wish! Anyway, back to cardigans. Love them. This one from J.Crew is extra lovable. Not only is it short sleeved which drastically improves my odds of wearing it more that 3 months out of the year, it also has bows. And bows and I are best friends. But wait- it gets even better! Through this Thursday, every sale item is an extra 30% off with the code EXTRA30. This means I can score this super adorable, CASHMERE (and J.Crew cashmere is lovely) cardigan for about $63!! (two exclamation points = can you tell I am very excited?!) So take a peek dear readers, there are many, many beautiful things in the sale section right now.

One of the most cherished regularities in my life right now is… my amazing book club. It is comprised of a handful of intelligent, witty, and creative people. And everytime we meet, I am reminded of how full and enhanced my life is because of each one of them. (Gosh, I hope you all are reading this… I mean, this type of love doesn’t ooze often.)

It’s really unbelieveable that I wasn’t in a book club before this (we are only 4 or 5 months old). I mean it combines some of my favorite things in the world… books, conversation, and friends. Add in a little coffee and possibly a pastry, and you can imagine how I might as well keel over in complete bliss once every month when we get together.

So… last week, highlighted somewhere on the world wide web, I saw these Book of the Month clutches from Kate Spade. And while they are more than I could spend, I couldn’t help but show you in case you haven’t seen the likes of this cuteness anywhere else. Right now there are three to choose from… Great Expectations, The Great Gatsby, and The Importance of Being Earnest. What book would you like to see Kate Spade clutch next?

I love baking more than many things on this earth. It is my ultimate stress reliever, my favorite creative outlet and my most treasured way to show others that I care. I’m also a sucker for cute displays. And in my book, nothing is sweeter than a cake stand.

I am drooling over the gorgeous cake stands from Fishs Eddy. After spotting them in a recent issue of Martha Stewart Living, I am fixated on their vintage, classic quality. I especially adore this jadeite version, it’s not a material you see commonly any longer. They also carry milk glass stands, another timeless material from days gone by. Fishs Eddy is overflowing with must have housewares that are unique, nostalgic and totally current all at the same time. It’s my new go-to shop!