Hepburn and Houndstooth

To the left side of the screen?  I have two new sponsors!  These “sponsors” happen to be hand-picked by me and I couldn’t be prouder to tell you about them!  I love them so much, I’ve provided ads to them at no cost.

Pretty Fun is an Etsy shop by cool-gal Sara.  She creates jewelry and purses that are to die for and there truly is something for everyone!  Check her out here and here.

The Gifting Spot features personalized gifts for everyone in the family and should certainly be your first stop for any monogramming.  The prices are good and the prints available on the products are right on trend.  Check it out here.

Be sure to stay tuned and add us to your Google Reader.  Mid-August is bringing a week of fabulous giveaways, including The Gifting Spot and Pretty Fun!

Every once in awhile, I have a day where I spend an hour salivating over material things online.  Well, this week, I’ve had several of those days.  Some of the things I’m obsessed with…

My dream is to own the Christian Louboutin Simple in both nude and black.  Who am I kidding?  My dream would be to have them in all available colors!  However, for an attainable substitute, loving Nine West Ambitious pump ($69 from Piperlime).

I love quirky things for the home and it’s important to me to remember where I came from and where I’ve been, no matter where I go.  I would love to scatter these on a huge white sectional, in all the states where either Dustin or I have lived or were born in.  These are from Etsy seller lovecalifornia.  The part is that you choose the color of the state and the location of the heart!  ($42)

We are not ready to buy a house just yet (I really need to start bringing in some money first), but this little hidden gem is just right for us.  And at $45,000, the price is right too!  I know it’s not much to look at (and you should see the inside!), but we want a bit of a fixer upper and it’s a good size in a perfect location!

Since we decided that we want one more baby, several friends and family members have announced pregnancies.  Naturally, I start obsessing over pregnancy.  We have never planned a pregnancy, so I’m really excited for the opportunity to actually try to conceive.  As much as I hated being pregnant with both of my boys, I know it’s a blessing and an honor to create new lives.  I look forward to facing the next pregnancy positively!

1. I’m so excited that it’s finally time for Independence Day!  It’s by far my favorite holiday.  I like to don my patriotic colors and celebrate.  We’re doing things a little differently this year, which normally would disappoint me.  But I’m on a new positive kick… at least I’ll be able to enjoy an adult beverage!

2. Saturday, my mom and I are taking Nick to his first movie!  Thomas and Friends Misty Island Rescue is hitting theatres!  Nick has been obsessed with all things Thomas going on 3 years now.  He is going to love this experience!

3. I have been battling ants in our house for nearly two weeks now.  I am beyond frustrated and am at the point where I’d rather camp in the yard.  At least the ants BELONG out there.

4. I am dreaming of a honeymoon with my husband.  We still haven’t had one and we need it really badly right now!  Sure, I’d love to go to Greece, Tahiti, Cabo, or NYC.  However, I’m definitely ready to “settle” for Chicago, St. Louis, anywhere in Florida, or somewhere in Texas.  I mean, seriously… I’d go on a honeymoon in the next town over at this point.

5. I’ve really been missing Orlando something awful this past week.  I kinda feel like I never gave it enough chance, since I lived there only about a year and a half.  We had a lot of tough times while living there and I think if we had gotten back to a good place, I would have been really happy there.  We had just started forming good friendships and becoming active in a church we both loved… then POOF!  We left.  I want to go back, but my husband doesn’t.

6. Again with the Facebook drama?!  This time, someone posted a somewhat political status that I strongly disagreed with.  I politely and intelligently commented with my opinion, only to be deleted from her friend list.  Wow.  And this was a middle-aged woman.  I don’t understand.  Is nobody allowed to disagree with her?

7. For what is certainly not the first time this year, I have come up with a perfect craft idea.  I won’t reveal it just yet, but I think I’m ready to get serious with my Etsy shop and starting making some extra cash!

8. Harper learned a couple of weeks ago how to blow kisses and now he has rounded it out by adding a perfect lip smack.  It is the cutest thing in the world.

9. I am about to start a new blog series that I’m very excited about!  I’m going to tell (true) stories of dating.  I have some good ones and can’t wait to share! Update: Just as quickly as I decided to do this, I decided not to.

10. I am trying to live life a little differently…to always look at the positive side of things and just refuse to be depressed!  It’s working out great.  I feel really liberated!

I have a love affair for making and eating trifles.  Actually, I think the love affair is with the trifle dish itself.  I love serving pasta salad and 7-layer salad from my trifle.  Naturally, when I saw this print by Anne Harwell (seller Annechovie) on Etsy, I fell in love!  Would love to hang this in my kitchen.

Definitely check out the entire shop, because she has some beautiful things!