And the Winner is...

Gina from The Crave to Save -- Congratulations Gina! Enjoy your $65 gift certificate to CSN!!! Thanks to all of you for the great knock-knock jokes! I can't wait to share them with Kalia, so we can finally hear some variety around here!!!

Image: decor8 / danielle thompson photography

$65 CSN Giveaway...

...in exchange for Knock-Knock Jokes!

I know, I know! I haven't done a post in ages, and I don't have a great excuse for you, since the baby has not yet arrived. I guess I have just been busy preparing for his arrival.

Hopefully, I can make it up to you with a fabulous giveaway from CSN Stores!!! You wouldn't even believe the selection they have to offer from their 200+ stores, where you can get anything from a drop leaf table, to bedding or lighting, or something for your kiddos -- and just in time for the Holidays! The winner will receive a $65 gift certificate to use on any product from any CSN site. How great is that?!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post including your name, and your best knock-knock (or short) joke. (We must teach Kalia some new jokes -- IMMEDIATELY!) Jokeless entries will be accepted, but let's say a joke will give you an extra entry. Good luck to you all!

PS I will announce the winner on Saturday, November 20, 2010. Please leave your comment by midnight on Friday, November 19, and I am going to do a good old-fashioned 'name in the hat' drawing. I'm an honest person - I promise! Oh, and the $65 does not cover shipping.

Image: ateliegaaya.blogspot.com

Craigslist Junkie

Soooo, I am trying to find a unique, masculine dresser for our baby boy, and in the process of scouting, I have become a Craigslist addict. It's soooooo addicting! There are some great deals on there, only you have to scoop them up IMMEDIATELY, or you'll lose 'em to some other Craigslist junkie. I have also figured out that you have to sound incredibly interested - or practically even commit to buying before you see the piece, or you'll miss your opportunity. Anyway, I am going to check out an antique bedroom set this evening, so wish me luck! Here are some of my recent Craigslist finds and scores. I know these are dreadful photos, but you get the idea. I'll bet I know where you're headed next! I'll make it easy for you: Click HERE!


French Bed : $1950 -- this one is still available, as far as I know. It's a little out of my price range at the moment. Would it be offensive to offer $150?? (wink, wink)


Guess how much I paid for this little desk...$25. It needs a little TLC, but overall, it's a great piece for the price. It currently holds art supplies in Kalia's playroom.


We bought this table last year for $40! It's another project we're attempting to tackle before the baby arrives. It will be beeeeautiful when it's done!

I'm absolutely kicking myself for passing up this armoire. It was advertised on Craigslist, but was being sold at an estate sale. We were first in line to see it on the last day of the sale, so it was 50% off, at $140. Randy and I took too long discussing it, and in the meantime, some lady declared her intentions to buy. Ugh!

I think this one was selling for $130, but it's too small, and too feminine for our baby on the way. It was still tempting!

Happy Craigslisting!

Cherry on Top

I would like to introduce you to my friend TJ from Any Given Moment. She has become a blogging friend, as well as an e-mail buddy, and she's pretty swell! Recently, she gave out some blog awards, and I am supposed to choose one from the three she received. I am going with the 'Cherry on Top' Award - basically because it's cute, and it involves cupcakes! I would like to pass it on to 5 deserving bloggers.

1. TJ at Any Given Moment (Right back at ya!)

2. Ms. Bright at The Bright Life (We attended the same high school and college, and I LOVE her blog!)

3. Christina at Full House (She definitely has a beautiful blog - with that 'little bit extra'.)

4. Such Pretty Things (This is one of my daily reads. I LOVE it.)

5. Rebekka at Dear Friend (Rebekka was my first college roommate, and I love keeping up through our blogs. She sells adorable artwork on Etsy, as a fundraiser for her upcoming adoption.)

Pass it on. Thanks for the cute award, TJ!

Horsin' Around

Hi there! I just wanted to share a few photos from our little trip to Lexington. We drove by that beautiful horse several times, and I just loved how it reminded me of a teacup. I felt like such a tourist, getting out to take photos (especially since I actually lived in Kentucky for about 8 years!), but I just had to have a picture. Turns out, the horse was labeled 'Teacup'!

We took Kalia to see Keeneland, and although it's not racing season, she seemed to enjoy herself. The grounds are absolutely beeeeeautiful. Remember the movie Seabiscuit?? Well, Keeneland was one of the filming locations.

We also met some old friends for dinner at Saul Good, and I just adored the atmosphere. It was the perfect combination of glitzy chandeliers, red velvet tufted booths, and ornate mirrors. The fondue wasn't bad either!

I hope you're having a good Monday -- this is Kalia's second week of Kindergarten. I really thought I would be fine, since she attended the same school last year for Pre-K...but once I dropped her off, and walked out the door on the first day, I couldn't keep the tears from spilling over. Either it's just the pregnancy hormones, or what they say about sending your kids off to Kindergarten is all true!

On another note, did you watch Design Star last night?! I won't spoil it for you, but I really enjoyed the last two weeks of the show. Oh, and did you see Southern Girl Desserts on The Antonio Treatment last week?! It was fun to see a cupcake shop makeover, and I got some great tips on frosting and decorating cupcakes. Hopefully you can catch it again, if you missed it. I'll be back soon with an award post, and some party inspiration for Kalia's October birthday!

Holy Hohan!

What happened to July?! I can't believe Kalia will be starting Kindergarten next week! I hope you all had a lovely summer. I just wanted to share these beautiful dress photos from Maria Lucia Hohan's showroom, taken by The Cherry Blossom Girl. Aren't they gorgeous?

I will be back soon, to share a few photos from our li'l trip to Lexington.

Images: The Cherry Blossom Girl

Peekin' On Pickin' - Kalia's Room

Hello, friends! I unintentionally took a verrrrrry long break from blogging. I hope you're still there! I realized that I haven't shared any photos of our new place. We moved in January, and are still in the process of decorating and settling. Kalia's room is the closest to being complete, although I'm never truly finished decorating! A few of her furniture pieces could use a fresh paint job, and I would love to find some more flower pins for the lampshade...but I have some bigger priorities at the moment. We found out that we're expecting a BOY! We are trying to decorate the nursery, and I'm working on coming up with a gender-neutral playroom design. I will try to photograph our progress, and share little tidbits with you. In the meantime, I would love to hear any advice you might have on raising boys. It's all new to me!

Oh Baby!

I can finally justify purchasing one of these cuties from Chickabiddy Baby Boutique on Etsy! I fell in love with them probably over a year ago, but Kalia was a bit too old for a rattle...but guess what! We're expecting another little blessing in November!!! I wanted to get through the first trimester before sharing the news - and now that you know, I would love to share my ideas for the nursery and playroom once we get started. Hopefully the baby will cooperate, and we will find out the gender at the end of June. Then...let the design process begin!!!

PS Chickabiddy Baby Boutique has some masculine rattles too ~ so no worries if it's a boy!

Happy Thoughts

Beautiful quilts for an outdoor picnic on a sunny day...


Wide, open spaces...


A sweet kiss...

Cute li'l books...

Flowers blossoming in Spring...

Hangin' out in the sunshine...

1 dress, design & decor 2 It's Mary Ruffle 3 Utterly Engaged / Max Wanger

4 Design Is Mine 5 Chocolate Therapy 6 My Serendipity

Aprons for Beda

Do you remember Rebekka?! She was my very first college roommate, and holds a special place in my heart. Now, she and her husband Manley are raising support to adopt a sweet little girl (Beda) from Ethiopia. Rebekka has been busy whipping up these adorable child-sized aprons to sell on her website, and is now offering matching adult-sized aprons! You can help fund her adoption by visiting her website, and purchasing a sweet li'l apron or two. If the one you love is 'Sold Out', be sure to check back, because the site is updated frequently.

If you want to get to know Rebekka, or follow her through the adoption process, visit her beautiful blog. You may get to peek at the new loft she and Manley just purchased in Nashville! I have added an 'Aprons for Beda' button to 'So Pickin' Cute', so you can easily find the apron shop if you come back for another visit. I just purchased this sweet little yellow apron for Kalia, and can hardly wait to see it! Be sure to read the descriptions Rebekka included by each apron...they are so endearing!

Caravan Campin'

How are you?! Did you have a nice Easter? We hosted dinner at our house for the first time this year, and I would definitely do it again! I got really lucky in the husband department ~ he is a huge help in the kitchen...in fact, he really should have gone to culinary school.

Anyway, Kalia is on Spring Break this week, and although we are just hanging out in Indiana this year, we have an extensive list of things to do! I'm hoping to run all my boring errands today, so we can enjoy the rest of our break. I just wanted to pop in since I have been MIA for the last week or two, and share these adorable caravan pix. I wouldn't mind spending a couple days hanging out in there with that beautiful wallpaper. That's my kind of camping!!!

Images: Lovelane Caravans / Daydate

Party Plannin'

Did you catch this little party post on Decor8? The minute I saw it, I just knew I couldn't keep it to myself! Kalia has announced that she would like a "Bakery Birthday" this year ~ and I'm trying to plan ahead, before she changes her mind! (There is plenty of time, since her B-Day is in October). These vintage party photos taken by Jeremy Harwell are definitely going in my party inspiration file. I love it!

Images: Harwell Photography

Harwell Photography Blog

Decor8

Pink Loves Yellow

(Beautiful Things to Share)


(Absolutely Beautiful Things)


(Decor8)


(Snippet & Ink)


(Beautiful Things to Share)


(The Enchanted Closet)


(Sarah Magid)


(Crayon Castles)


(Rebecca Thuss / Mary Ruffle)


(Martha Stewart Weddings)