Month: June 2013

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It’s The Little Things: Coffee Cups

How many of us have way too many coffee cups? I know I am not alone, because I have been to my friends’ houses. I have seen their collections. I have even used them. What is it about coffee cups that makes them so darn irresistible?

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I love a pretty pattern. The cheerful designs make me smile. These are coffee cups that I get a thrill out of using. We also have coffee cups that make me question our sanity. We keep every coffee cup we have ever gotten.

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I have even made my husband some coffee cups. And when I say, “made,” I mean I gave them a very sad paint job. Aren’t I talented?

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It’s the little things: cradling a beautiful cup in your hand and delighting in its warmth.

And, of course, I love more:

Anthropologie Swirled Symmetry Mug

This adorable gnome coffee cup on Amazon

This French Bulldog Coffee Mug on etsy

And this rad handpainted English Bulldog Mug, from the same artist on Etsy

Okay! I need to stop! I love them all!

What is your favorite coffee cup? Do you need to purge your collection, too?

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This Week In Outfits

This week has been crazy.

We are still sorting through our mess. We should get the house back together by tonight. Maybe tomorrow morning. I am so very grateful to be able to get these projects done. So grateful. But I am exhausted! I have gotten very little sleep. I keep waking up expecting to hear my kids falling over a ladder on the way to the kitchen or something crashing in another room.

It is done. Well, almost. I still have to get the Otomi design stenciled in the bathroom. And rehang the embroidery.

But close enough…

I attempted to recreate outfits I wore in the last few days. Because we just now found the camera! But my eyes could barely open. My hair has not been washed in three days. Pretty times around here! So bare with me. I still want to show I was not running around naked! I am wearing a medium in the skirts and tops in the following pictures:

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I wore this outfit to go to dinner and a movie on Sunday night with some girlfriends. We were celebrating Amy’s birthday. Happy Birthday Amy! We saw “The Great Gatsby.” It was very good. But now that song they play continuously throughout the movie is stuck in my head.

Still.

For the last couple of days.

But I love it!…

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I am wearing an Anthropologie top I purchased last year, because it has dogs on it. Dogs! They are right up there with horses! But I actually own a dog. Or two. It is called Animal Kingdom Blouse. I paired it with a skirt I patiently waited for a great sale price on. It is called Sanoh Gauze Skirt. It was priced at $168, but I just purchased it for $39.95.

The necklace was a wonderful gift from Simply Livly on Etsy (I am giving away a similar necklace this week! Do not forget to enter!). I love the necklace. It goes with everything I own. Thank you Pam! The skirt runs large. I forgot this and purchased the medium. It is fine with a belt.

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Recently, I purchased the Doily Skirt in blue from Anthropologie. It was on sale for $39.95. I could not pass it up. I do not know if it is still available in stores. It is sold out online. The link shows no longer available. But you can get the style number from it. I have it in cream, as well. The vibrant blue was mesmerizing. I like using it as a fun slip. This is how I wore it on a night I went out with my husband. This picture was actually taken almost three weeks ago. Before the chaos started. I am wearing it under an older dress from Anthropologie.

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I rarely wear jeans. And I NEVER wear shorts. But these in-between capris are the ones that hold my heart. I have had them for ten years. When I can fit in them, it makes me a happy girl. I purchased the Anthropologie Abstractions Tunic on a recent sale. I am also wearing the Simply Livly Milky Opaque White Icicle necklace in this picture. ‘Cause I love it!

Have you scored any good deals recently? Are you holding out for a big sale?

Have a great day!

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“The Wizard Will See You Now…”

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Okay, I did something bad.

I know I am going to get in trouble, but it will be fun while it lasts.

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I have always been a rule follower. If you tell me I cannot do something, I do not do it. But somewhere along the way, our homeowners’ association has lost me. It seems that they let some things slide. While others, they are extremely picky about. I think it has something to do with living in an older neighborhood.

You want to hang those holiday flags? Sure, why not. It does not matter that Easter was over two months ago. Colored eggs are so chic.

Naked statues in the front yard? Well, mermaids are adorable.

Peeling garage doors needing paint? Hmmm… It looks so shabby chic.

But dare to paint your fence color a different shade of beige than the beige that was chosen, and you will get letter after letter. With a final warning being that they are having a meeting about the “situation.”

And then come the fines.

I know.

I have done that very same bad thing.

And yes, we had to repaint our fence… From beige to more beige.

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I had my painter paint our front door bright green. Bright green. It went from brown to bright green. I am scared. Our neighbors have white, blue and the occasional red. I figured why not?

I probably figured wrong.

So, let’s enjoy the green door while we can. I give it one month. Then back to brown.

But, hey, I cannot say I did not try.

Do you have a crazy color for your front door?

I shared this on:

Savvy Southern Style!

And My Romantic Home

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“WOO! HOO!” Blog Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Thank you all who entered!

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Screaming! Hands flailing! Running around the house with joy!

It’s a blog!

It’s a giveaway!

It has been three months! I have been writing again for three months. After thirteen years… I am sorry to go on, but I never thought I would birth anything again. Let alone, this little blog.

And it has been fun.

And it has been hard.

And it has been heartbreaking sometimes.

It is hard to put yourself out there. To write something from your heart.

I am so grateful for all of you who drop by and visit my blog. For the people who follow this blog. For those of you who have stuck by me and those who are now joining me. It gives me the self confidence to move this blog ship forward through the sea of my own self doubts.

THANK YOU!

Now, on to the giveaway!

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This month, I am giving away my favorite necklace by Simply Livly. Okay, not my exact necklace. I will not part with mine! But one just like it. It is made of jersey with turquoise beads. It is fabulous. You can make it shorter or longer, simply by retying it.

She has a wonderful shop on Etsy. I love her. I have four pieces by her (Some she has gifted me. I will showcase them in posts to come. I am very grateful! Thank you Pam!). They are all very well made. Each one is unique and beautiful. I get compliments each time I wear one.

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To enter, simply leave a comment stating what you would wear with the necklace. Or hop on over to Etsy and tell me about another necklace that you love from Simply Livly. For no reason, other than I am a curious sort of girl. And I like style ideas.

You can earn a second entry by being a follower or becoming a follower (there are many ways to do so on the right hand side of this post). LEAVE A SECOND COMMENT stating you are following.

That is it!

Easy Peasy!

This giveaway begins Monday, June 10, 2013 at 12:00 am PST. All entries must be received before the giveaway closes on Thursday June 13, 2013 at 11:59 pm PST.

I will be drawing the winner from Random.org. I will contact the winner on Friday, June 14, 2013. I will post the winner’s name on June 15, 2013.

*Please enter the giveaway with a valid email address. I will attempt to contact the winner three times using the email given. If within fourteen days of the giveaway’s closing, I have not heard from the winner, the prize will be forfeit. A new winner will be drawn.

*Edited at June 10, 2013 12:15 a.m. PST to add: Do not forget to comment to enter. The comments are your entries! One comment per person. Except for the extra comment entry for followers.

Thank you! Good luck!