The Blue Eyed Owl

Thrift Score Thursday Linky is Back!

2012-02-23T08:33:00.002-07:00

It's back and better than ever! This is the time and place to show off all your thrifty scores.

Usually I will show a few items that I were my favorite finds from the previous weeks hunt. This week is the week before a big market so my haul looks like this...

That's the view right when you walk in my front door. Oh, the glamorous life of a vintage dealer! That's only about a quarter of my current inventory too. Before big shows you will notice that my Etsy shop is pretty neglected. It makes no sense to spend time photographing and listing items that will most likely sell at the market in just a few short weeks.

If you are in Arizona, I would love for you to come meet me at the JunkRestore Market during Lehi days next weekend. Here are the deets...

I'd like to say look for the sexy vintage vixen like the one on the flyer. However, I'll probably be in yoga pants and giant shades to hide the bags under my eyes. Planning for a market is a lot of work!

I'll kick off the first linky by showing off one of my favorite thrift scores. One that I will never, ever sell.

Tons of 1930's and 1940's mail order patterns...sigh. Read the whole post about these here. I'm still planning to incorporate some of them into a tattoo. I love them so!

Okay, now it's your turn. Here are the guidelines...

Please link to a specific post, not your main page.

Take pretty pictures. I will be showing off some of my favorites from your posts!

The post can be about a vintage item or anything you bought second hand.

It doesn't need to be from an actual thrift store. It can be a yard sale, junk yard, etc.

I won't make you put a button in your post because I think it's a pain in the bootay. If you are extra nice you'll give me a shout out, right? :)

Feel free to follow via GFC, Bloglovin' or subscribe to RSS so you can join in all the TST fun!

P.S. I'm linking up over at Harper's Happenings too. Do you know of any other thrifty link parties?

Group Giveaway - $200+ in prizes!

2012-02-22T12:55:00.001-07:00

Have you checked out my sidebar lately? My sponsors are amazing. If you are using a reader, you might not get to see their pretty buttons so often. I promise you they are worth visiting ;)

They are offering some amazing prizes today. Winner will take ALL and the prize package is valued at over $200! Check it out...

$15 shop credit to {Whimsical Poppysmic}

Medium ad space on {Lariats and Lavender}

$15 shop credit to {Marigold Road}

$20 shop credit to {SheyB}

XL ad space & a $5 Starbuck's gift card from {The Cantelmo's}

$15 shop credit to {Mama's Nest Designs}

Bow clip set & a braided bracelet from {The Pink Ruffle}

Medium ad space & a beautiful necklace from {3 in 3}

Rosies for your ears or hair from {Cotton Lane}

$15 shop credit to {When Shutters Click}

Scrappy mini wallet from {Sew Tara}

Enter below & good luck!

P.S. It's my first time using Rafflecopter. Contact me if you have any problems. I did not make you leave any verification for entries to make it quicker for you to enter, but I will be checking the winner. Be honest please :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{March Sponsor Call}

2012-02-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hello there, bloggers and shop owners. I'm getting ready to send out info to my March sponsors! If you would like to join in the fun I'm extending my 50% off sale on medium spots for TODAY ONLY!

Just email me at blueeyedowl@gmail.com for info on making your $5 payment to secure your spot ;)

Love Food: Lose Weight & 30 Day Shred - Week 4

2012-02-21T09:38:00.001-07:00

I'm a couple of days late with my update. I took the 3 day weekend off to rest and relax because I have a super busy March coming up. I'm so looking forward to the Junk Restore Vintage Market, Creative Estates , and my birthday and anniversary!

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So one month in and here's how it's going...

Exercise:

I fell off the 30 Day Shred wagon hard this week. Things got busy and Matt and I didn't make it a priority. We worked out a few times, which is still good, but I really want to make daily workouts happen again. I've noticed my muscle definition coming back and that's super motivating.

Diet:

We stuck to the last week of the meal plan almost perfectly! We ended up taking the last Sunday "off" and indulging in some In-N-Out for lunch and ice cream for dessert. Breakfast and dinner were super healthy though. We love the Love Food: Lose Weight plan so much, we are going back to the first week and going through the program again.

Weight:

I decided to ignore the scale this week. Then on Friday right after I ate lunch and drank a ton of water, I decided to step on the scale fully clothed. I usually weigh myself first thing in the morning with nothing in my system in light weight pjs. I don't know what I was thinking, but I'm glad I did it...I weighed 161!

I think it's safe to assume I hit my first 10 lb. loss goal but I'm going to wait until I see 160 on the scale to give myself my reward. I'm guessing I'll be wearing my Mama's Nest Designs necklace by the weekend!

The main thing I've learned over the past month of this new lifestyle is that slow and steady wins the race. I'm not doing some crash diet and dropping a ton of weight really fast. I'm still able to enjoy weekend meals with my family and eat my favorite foods. I lost 10 pounds in a month. I have another 30 to lose. I'll get there, but I want to do it right. I want to be able to keep it off. I want to incorporate working out and eating healthy into my everyday life.

I'll be back with an update next week and I'll have Gina, the author of Love Food: Lose Weight, here to tell you a bit more about it. She may be super nice and giveaway a copy too :)

Check back later today for an EPIC giveaway from my sponsors. Seriously good stuff!

Thrift Score Thursday - Coupons!

2012-02-16T15:52:00.001-07:00

I'm super excited to bring back my Thrift Score Thursday series to show off my amazing thrift store finds and so I can see some of yours. The first linky party will be next week so get your thrift posts ready! You can link up any post that features a second hand item that you got a smoking deal on. It can be an outfit post or just a picture of all the goodies you scored.

I told you about Goodwill's coupons a bit ago. I decided to make it easy on everyone and just post them here so we can all save time, paper, and money.

Click HERE to download pdf

Happy thrifting! See you next week :)

Bookworm 2.15

2012-02-15T10:42:00.001-07:00

I read. A lot. One of my goals this year was to read 50 books. I went ahead and bumped it up to 60 at the beginning of the month because I like a challenge. I thought I would pop in here every once in awhile and share some of the books I'm reading this year.

If you're looking for a little light reading, this is NOT your book. Matt and I read Less Than Zero together and we really enjoyed it but let me warn you, it is raw. Set in the early 80's in L.A., this book tells the story of Clay's summer home from college. It's full of drugs, sex, money and what can happen when the young have limitless privileges and no morals. If you like the book or movie, American Psycho, you'll probably enjoy this book.

I just finished Rules of Civility and I loved it! 1938 New York City and a witty and strong female character. Highly recommend this.

Confession - I love me some dystopian novels, especially YA. I read Delirium last year and the next book in the series Pandemonium comes out next week. I'm so excited. So bad, yet so so good.

Currently reading: The Handmaid's Tale

So far so good, I'll let you know soon :)

What are you reading right now?

Happy Valentine's Day - Take 20% Off

2012-02-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

sourceHappy Valentine's Day! Take 20% in the shop with the code VDAY20 today only just because I love ya!

2Market2 Giveaway

2012-02-13T07:55:00.001-07:00

2Market2 is an online company based in the mountains near Aspen, Colorado. Our company was founded, created and launched with a mission to bring handpicked, timeless treasures, from all over the globe to you and your home. We offer a one-of-a-kind flair as we blend together a mixture of fresh, once loved, vintage and handmade into a curated collection that focuses on casual living.

Our team has a passion for personal style and interior design. 2Market2 features a unique line of clothing and accessories, along with unique goods for the home. Our team is inspired by the great west, mountain living, American’s lifestyle and the simplicity of the past meeting the here and now. Our goods are hand selected with an eye for unique craftsman/womanship that makes each piece a treasure to hold, to wear, to collect and to inspire.

2Market2’s collection features a mixture of handpicked goods with the perfect blend of time. 2Market2 designs, creates, sources and salvages our exclusive line of goods. We love the simple, weathered, worn, rustic, once loved, vintage, handmade, uniquely designed, timeless treasures, with a story that lives on, mixed with fresh inspiration of today. We search the globe for fabulous one-of-a-kind treasures and find what truly brings a space to life is what is acquired along the way. We combine our love for treasure hunting with a venture for special pieces. 2Market2 brings to you a rotating collection of eclectic finds culled from flea markets and hidden shops from all around the world!

2Market2 is offering an amazing giveaway!

To enter you must be a follower of this blog and do one or more of the following. Comment for each entry.

1. Visit 2Market2 and tell us your favorite item.

2. Follow 2Market2 on Facebook.

3. Follow 2Market2 on Twitter.

4. Sign up for 2Market2's newsletter.

5. Tweet/FB about this giveaway.

Good luck!

Giveaway open to U.S. & Canada residents only. Giveaway will end at midnight mountain standard time (Arizona) on Friday, February 17th. Winner announced on Saturday, February 18th on this blog.

Love Food: Lose Weight & 30 Day Shred - Week 3

2012-02-12T12:37:00.002-07:00

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Even with a few setbacks this week, I lost both pounds and inches and I feel great! The week started with a series of hormone headaches and I wasn't able to work out every day. I have been back to 100% since Thursday though and finally hopped on the scale to check in.

I have lost a total of 7 pounds and Matt has lost 12. The fat is melting off and the muscles (which weigh more than fat) are piling on, so I am happy with this loss, even though it will take me a bit longer to get my rewards.

The most excited thing is that I am a whole size smaller, which has seriously increased the size of my wardrobe. At my worst, I was a large. I refused to buy more than just a couple pairs of pants and a few t-shirts at that size because I didn't want to have an excuse to stay there. I am happy to report that I am fitting comfortably in all my mediums now! The larges have moved to my pj drawer or were sold in the garage sale. That felt great!

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We stuck to the diet again for the 3rd week in a row. The fact that it allows me to have wine on Friday, and a total cheat meal on Saturday night, makes it so easy to stick to. After 3 weeks of this plan I find that I am actually craving vegetables, which is unheard of for me. I can't get enough red pepper, kale, and cucumbers. Matt and I have already decided that when we complete the 4th and final week (level 7), that we will go back to level 10 and follow the plan again. We will keep doing this until we reach our goal, and then we will follow the tips in the plan for maintenance.

Ready to try Love Food: Lose Weight for yourself? It's only $11 and even if you just get it for the recipes, you won't be disappointed. Get your own copy HERE. You can even email the author, Gina, a million questions and she will be so nice about it :)

30 Day Shred is also going great. I was so sad to have to skip a couple of days, but planks and migraines just don't mix. We went a little off the path yesterday and went back to level 1. It was interesting to see how easy the cardio was for us and we were able to do all the advanced moves with no problem. My quads were a bit sore this morning because they are worked more in level 1 than in 2. We decided to mix it up like this every once in awhile to keep from getting bored and to work different muscle groups. We are trying to decide what we are going to do when 30 Day Shred is over. Maybe another Jillian Michael's video or possibly P90X or Insanity. Any suggestions?

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I wanted to show you all something Matt found last week that has been really encouraging to me. He found a site where a woman posted her 30 Day Shred results. He covered the weight loss # and asked me how many pounds I thought she had lost. Based on the pictures, I thought it had to be at least 15-20 pounds. Boy was I wrong. She had only lost 5 pounds but was so much smaller! That just goes to show how size & inches mean more than the number on the scale. Take a look for yourself HERE.

How are you doing on your get healthy goals?

insta-week // what i love // a decision

2012-02-11T10:15:00.001-07:00

Three posts in one...playing catch up was the theme of the week. This week was for...

Me time & babysitting this smoosh...

Mommy/daughter movie night, baby butts, and uno...

& garage sales...bleh.

This week I'm loving...

Vintage inspired date night ideas over at Oh So Lovely. So fun!

Pink scalloped blazer...I'm making this happen.

This DIY clothing rack. I need to make some!

This funny & true post about shopping at Target. I really do need curtains though...

- - - - -

The wedding photos at Bleubird. I mean, seriously... so dreamy.

I really want this print and the colors in this are gorgeous.

This list of 100 free marketing tips on The Lovely Poppy.

Diana's big moving sale is pretty great.

After lots of deliberation we decided on the style of sofa we want. Then when the swatches arrived we made a very informed decision on what would be the best color for us. We did this by rubbing the swatches all over Macy's fur and seeing which hides it the best...lol. Plus I'm digging the funky color and how great this orange will look with my giant aqua wall. So this is going to be our new sofa...

Thrive furniture has been amazing to work with. We've been emailing back and forth with a billion questions and they have been so cool about it. Take a looksy at their goods by clicking on the sidebar buttons. They are having a major sale right now (and they have an affiliate program - no shame in my game.) :)

What are you loving this week?

decisions, decisions: a new sofa

2012-02-09T08:35:00.001-07:00

There is nothing better than hearing your husband say, "You're right, we do need a new sofa." Okay, maybe world peace, an end to hunger, and a few other things, but it was pretty great! There is also nothing like your baby sister moving into her first home and needing your old sofa to light a fire under your butt to find a new one.

We went to a million furniture stores and just couldn't find anything that was our style. Not to mention everything is brown, black or beige. Mama wants color! I have searched for-ev-er for another vintage sofa but our current vintage, curvy, tufted French provincial sofa is hard to find a match for. Finding two amazing vintage sofas that coordinate is a pretty daunting task. We need something with clean lines to balance it out. So after hours of internet searching we have it narrowed down to a few. We are waiting on swatches to make the final decision.

1. The Tyler Sofa from Thrive Furniture. Most likely in orange or yellow to go with our ivory sofa and aqua wall but I ordered 10 swatches.

2. The Fillmore Sofa from Thrive Furniture, same colors.

3. The Blake Sofa from West Elm. In this dandelion color.

I'm leaning towards one of the Thrive Furniture ones. The owner sent me a personal email after I ordered swatches to see if I had any questions and he offered a discount code. It's also a small company based in L.A. and they offer free shipping. The only downside is we can't sit on it first.

So...opinions. Which is your favorite?

Our Valentine's Day Tradition

2012-02-07T10:05:00.001-07:00

print via tuesday mourning

Our Valentine's Day tradition originated when I was a teenager. My dad started it (my mom helped), and as a father of two daughters, it was one of the best parenting moves he made. I didn't realize the value then, but as an adult I can look back and see the big picture. My husband was brought in on the tradition, and now we will continue it with our daughter.

The problem was this. As a teen, I remember Valentine's Day as an extremely stressful time for most of my friends. The panic started mid-January with worries like: "Will I have a Valentine this year?" "So and so is getting a diamond necklace and my boyfriend only got me flowers." "Can you believe he broke up with her a week before Valentine's Day?"

Now, not every teenage girl was doing this, but it seemed most were basing their self worth on the status of their relationship...no bueno. This was only magnified on the day when you are supposed to celebrate the love in your life. Single girls had a big ol' pity party for themselves. I remember some of my girlfriends in tears feeling like they were "alone." Jealousy came out and the trash talk started when somebody's boyfriend had a giant balloon bouquet delivered to home room. It was just ugly.

It seemed the only two options were:

1. Have a boyfriend, go on some “fabulous” date, and be showered with gifts.

2. Cry into your pillow all night.

My parents must have seen early stages of this. They started the tradition of a family Valentine's Day dinner. My dad got all of us flowers and chocolates. He also made us a super fancy meal - usually steak & lobster...yum. We celebrated our love as a family. We felt special and loved even if we didn't have a boyfriend. Looking back now, I remember not stressing at all around the holiday. In fact, when I was dating someone, I either said I already had plans with my family, or they came over and had dinner with us. I never felt stressed about having a boy/man who loves me on Valentine's Day because I knew I would always have the love of my dad and family. Cheesy, but true.

I don't think my parents even realize the impact this had. They do now :) My husband and I continue this tradition with our daughter. Rather than get a babysitter and go on a date, we have a family celebration at home. She is only 7 now, but I hope having this tradition with help ease some of the stress during her teenage years.

Do you have any Valentine's Day traditions?

sponsor meet & greet: february

2012-02-06T11:16:00.001-07:00

{shop} {twitter} {facebook}

{blog} {twitter} {facebook}

{blog} {shop} {twitter} {facebook}

{blog} {twitter} {facebook}

{blog} {twitter}

{blog} {shop} {twitter} {facebook}

Don't forget my sweet swappers in the sidebar. Go introduce yourself to these lovely ladies. They are the very friendly ;)

Love Food: Lose Weight & 30 Day Shred - Week 2

2012-02-05T11:06:00.002-07:00

via etsy

I am now more than half way done with 30 Day Shred & the Love Food: Lose Weight program. You can read my week 1 update HERE. I am feeling great, but had a few hiccups this week. I could go into detail but I don't think you want to hear about my lady problems. Said problems caused a couple of things to happen this week. First, I had to skip 2 days of working out. It just wasn't going to happen. I was also unable to weigh myself because it was fluctuating so much and that's no good for my motivation.

I was very proud of myself for sticking to the diet without cheating again though. Last night was our 2nd allowed cheat night and I had to get in my second most craved thing after pizza, bar food. Ah, sliders and french fries and wings! Even though I was allowed to have alcohol on both Friday and Saturday nights this week, I only had it on Friday. I wanted to save the calories last night. It didn't even seem worth it to me.

While I can't share my weight loss this week because I've been ignoring the scale, I can tell you my clothes are fitting better and I feel great. Matt did weigh himself this week and he has lost 10 pounds! I've noticed a huge difference in the way his clothes fit too.

Here are some things I'm really loving about this eating plan...

I have found some new favorite foods. Seriously, I can't get enough red pepper.
It only takes about 15 minutes to plan the grocery list and menu twice a week.
Our grocery bill is less every time we go because a lot of the items are staples that last through several recipes.
We are eating a TON more fresh, organic foods. Almost no processed stuff.
The meals only take 15-30 minutes to prepare and cook.
A lot of the recipes can be made ahead of time.
Each week gets easier, and less strict.
All week you can look forward to the Saturday night cheat dinner.
The meal times adjust for sleeping in on the weekends.

The only negative so far has been that I have to make a completely separate meal for Bailey. This isn't that big of a deal though and it's only a problem because I have a picky eater on my hands.

I can't wait for things to get back to normal this week so I can workout hard and hopefully meet my first 10 pound loss goal!

I know a lot of you are working on getting healthy too. How are you doing?

{what i love} 2.4

2012-02-04T10:45:00.001-07:00

This mustard & lace infinity scarf from Cotton Lane...yes please!

This necklace and everything about the outfit.

Easy DIY color block Tees...cute!

These freebies at A is for Ampersand.

These magnets from Jane Dean.

The dates for the 2012 Junk in the Trunk Vintage Markets are set, and I couldn't be more excited!

The new camera clutches at Shey B!

These adorable floral napkin rings from 2 Market 2.

Natalie's adorable sparkle flats diy.

These mint green heart earrings from Acute Designs, perfect for Valentine's Day.

This HUGE Valentine's Day giveaway at Mom 2 Memphis & Ruby.

Bonnie is back! Her blog is so creative. Just check out the adorable themes for her posts.

The Mama's Nest Designs giveaway over at Moda Mama. I have a pair of her earrings and love them!

What are you loving this week?

insta-friday 2.3 & money saving tips

2012-02-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

This week was for...

This little girl's adorable style. She puts together the cutest outfits. I'm going to apologize in advance because "What Bailey Wore" posts are most likely coming in the future :)

My singing "embarrasses" my child. Nobody was even around! I'm just waiting for the day when she won't hold my hand in public anymore. I will cry in the fetal position for days I'm sure.

Babysitting this little bug again. My pj shirt still smells like baby and I don't want to take it off. Is that creepy? Don't answer that. I have baby FEVER!

I was a #janphotoaday failure. I'm giving it another go in February because I do like a challenge. Here are my 1st 2 days...

My view: 30 Day Shred makes me sick during this fabulous time of the month. I'm putting it on hold for a bit and just doing some cardio.

Words: To Do Lists. Overwhelmed doesn't even begin to cover it.

I wanted to share a couple money saving tips with you because I am the Queen of shopping on the cheep ;)

#1: I suggest bookmarking the coupon page at {Just. Lovely. Things.}. Every time you head the the craft store just hop on and print. You will save a ton!

#2: Sign up for emails from Goodwill. Every month they send out a 20% off coupon that can be used for all regular priced items. I print a ton and then Bailey cuts them out for me. I keep them in my wallet so I always have one. I usually give them to the people who are in line with me too. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Do you do coupons? What's your favorite site or app for them?

12 in 2012: February Update

2012-02-02T06:59:00.001-07:00

Remember those 5 tips for achieving your goals? Revisiting, revising and sharing my progress are really important for me to be successful. So that means you all get to see my progress every month. Dang, you are lucky! If you could care less, just look at all the pretty Etsy finds ;)

Here we go...

Bates Mercantile Co.

1. Get back to my pre-sickness weight

This is my #1 most important goal this year. I am finally on track after a bumpy start thanks to 30 Day Shred, the Love Food: Lose Weight plan, and my supportive husband. You can read more about all that HERE.

2. Learn to knit

Fail! My aunt says I had the wrong needles, or was it the wrong yarn? All I've leaned is that I need to take a class. My ability to learn from books is obviously fading with age. I'm pretty sure if I bring my stuff up to Creative Estates somebody will want to help me {wink, wink}.

3. Re-learn how to sew

I have 2 machines in my house. I'm afraid of both of them. I'm going to say the same thing for #2, maybe at Creative Estates?

Elle Moss

4. Read 50 Books

I read 5 books in January. I'm on track but I should probably pick up the pace a bit. I did some "heavier" reading so it was a bit slower. I think I'll indulge in a few YA series in February...one of my guilty pleasures.

5. Get dressed

I'm not even worried about this until #1 is taken care of. I'm slowly moving clothes from the too small pile into the fit pile so I'm making progress. As for now, my day goes like this:

Wake up. Work out. Shower. Put on work out clothes. Sleep in work out clothes. Repeat.

My plan to reward myself with fashion has turned out to be very motivating. I can't wait to get into those dresses!

6. Go to the Grand Canyon

No plans for this yet. We'll get there, probably in the summer.

Bunny Rabbit Vintage

7. Finish decorating my home

My husband said, "I think you're right, we do need a new sofa". It was like the Heavens opening up and Angels singing. This will seriously help my decorating project. Now to find the perfect sofa...

8. Take a photography class

Brandy from Bella Pop saw my 12 in 2012 post and contacted me. It turns out she has a photography website with a ton of online classes. She saved me a spot in her Shooting in Manual class that starts today. I'm so excited! I'm going to be reviewing the class on the blog. I really think it's the answer a lot of us are looking for and I can't wait to share.

9. Hit 200 Etsy sales

The shop is open! My inventory is abundant, fresh and fabulous. I can't wait to list more items! I've changed a lot of my policies and am giving back to a worthy cause with each purchase. I'm happy with the direction this little biz is headed.

10. ~~Find & cook 10 new slow cooker recipes~~

Scratch that! I originally wanted to do this because I was too tired in the evenings to cook. Well, when I'm eating healthy and exercising I have all the energy in the world to cook dinner for my family and I'm loving it. Matt helps and we chat about our day. My goal now is to keep this up throughout the year.

11. Do at least 3 tutorials a month on the blog

Only 1 in January...fail. I'll get there! My plan is to put the in the calendar at the beginning of the month so that I don't let it slip by.

12. Journal

I need to make this a priority. On the calendar it goes...

Sky Parlor

How are you doing on your goals?
Any tips for me?

Open for Business & Some Big Changes

2012-02-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

Have you noticed? The shop is finally open! I've listed some handmade goodies and there will be oodles of vintage to come. Before you stop by, there are 4 important changes that you should know about:

1. Giving Back

I have made a commitment to help support my favorite charity by donating 5% of ALL sales. Have you heard of The Shine Project? It's the greatest! When you purchase from The Blue Eyed Owl, a portion of that will be going towards great projects and college scholarships!

The Shine Project

2. Accessible Vintage

I have a passion for vintage and believe it should be affordable and accessible for all because it's just so freaking cool. You will notice that my prices are a bit easier on the wallet than last year. After countless hours of research on pricing and best practices, I've found there is a way for me to make a profit, and for you to add amazing vintage items to your home, collection, or wardrobe at a price you can afford. Which brings me to the next big change...

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3. No Fear Fashion

Do you love vintage fashion but are afraid of purchasing vintage online because you are worried about the fit? You can measure all you want but sometimes the item arrives and it's just not working. Well, unlike most vintage shops on Etsy, I will now accept returns on vintage fashion items! So, if you order a cute dress from me and it's too baggy, you can get your money back (minus shipping costs). All you have to do is shoot me a message and ship the item back. As soon as I receive it, I will issue a refund through Pay Pal. I hope this takes some of the fear out of buying vintage clothing online!

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4. Smart Shipping

Nobody likes to pay shipping and of course the post office just raised the rates. I've made an effort to minimize the impact this has on your internet shopping pleasure ;) All accessories & jewelry items have a low shipping rate and are ALWAYS shipped free with another purchase.

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I would love for you to stop by the shop and add it to you favorites so you can see all the new goodies ;)

What's your favorite new item?

Valentine's Day Fashion Inspiration

2012-01-31T09:19:00.002-07:00

The one day of the year we can wear red, pink, hearts and glitter and not look like a 5 year old. Embrace it, ladies! -xoxo

Do you dress up for Valentine's Day?

BlogCatalog

Mamahood Exposed Feature

2012-01-30T06:53:00.001-07:00

Today I'm guest posting over at Moda Mama. It is an exremely raw and honest post about my journey to motherhood and how this little girl saved my life.

Click HERE to read :)

Love Food: Lose Weight & 30 Day Shred - Week 1

2012-01-29T13:12:00.002-07:00

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If you follow me on Twitter you probably caught on that I have a new healthy eating & workout plan. You all know my #1 and most important 12 in 2012 goal was to get myself back to a healthy weight and to get back in shape. On January 1st I began making healthy changes and hopped on the treadmill a few times but it just wasn't cutting it. In fact, after weeks of this I was right back where I started at 170 pounds. I knew I needed to find a plan that was a little more strict and that worked with my lifestyle.

I started 30 Day Shred & fell in love. It's a great workout and it's only takes about 25 minutes to complete. A few days after I started I knew I needed to find an eating plan that would go along with the workout to get me the results I wanted.

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This is where my friend Gina came in. She sent me a copy of her e-book, Love Food: Lose Weight so that I can give it a shot and review the program for all of you on this blog.

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My husband quickly jumped on board and we fully committed to both programs. His support has been a huge factor in my success so far.

Every Sunday for the next 4 weeks (and maybe more) I'm going to fill you in on details and my progress. I'm mostly doing this for my benefit. It's holding me accountable. I don't want to have to admit to you that I ate an entire gallon of ice cream, so this is helping me be a good girl. But, I also want to share these great finds with you in case you want to give them a shot yourself.

Here are the results as of Friday...

After 8 days of 30 Day Shred and 5 days of Love Food: Lose Weight I weigh...163.6 pounds!

That's over 6 pounds lost!! My clothes are fitting great and I know it's only going to be a couple more days until I've earned my first reward and I start fitting back into some of my old clothes. My husband also lost 6 pounds and he is feeling great.

I'll go into more detail about the eating plan next week but I'll leave you with this. It's so yummy! The plan uses lots of natural, whole foods. The best part is that it allows cheat meals and it gets easier as you go along. Check out Gina's blog for more info. Hopefully by next Sunday, I'll be wearing my 160 pound reward necklace ;)

New Year, New Fans: Facebook Party

2012-01-29T11:57:00.001-07:00

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I am having so much fun meeting my readers and new creative ladies in the blogging/handmade/vintage community! One last party now...Facebook.

1. "Like" my page on FB - I'll "like" you back

Tips:

You have to follow from your personal page for it to "count".
This is what I do...follow with both my personal & my biz page, then I hide all the posts on my personal page & interact with my biz page.
Say hello, by writing on the page's wall with your personal page and "tag" your biz page.

2. Link up your Facebook page below

*Again...if you don't plan on following back, please don't link up.

3. Hop around and visit/"like" each other on FB

4. Tweet/FB about this party to help get the word out

Come say hello to me on Pinterest &/or Instagram - username: lizekstrom. I'll follow back there, too!

{winner}

2012-01-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

The winner of the big group giveaway is...

Chelsea from Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles!

Email me ;)

insta-friday 1.27

2012-01-27T11:41:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday! I spent all day yesterday thinking it was Friday...no bueno. I am beyond excited for this weekend. We have been in huge relaxation mode on the weekends and I'm loving it. I honestly think I'm still recovering from the holidays. Here is a little peek at my week...

I'm obsessed with taking pictures of freeways lately. I love AZ freeways and all the geometric designs. Don't worry Instagram followers, I'm sure this phase will pass soon.

I am a healthy eating machine! I can't wait to share more about the Love Food: Lose Weight plan I am doing. More on that Sunday...

I finally figured out that the way to paint my own nails, is to do it in bed. Then I can sit still long enough for them to dry. I'm so impatient!

This little smoosh is the best reader. She reads to us nightly with the cutest expression and voices. Best part of the day!

This is what my studio looks like.

This is what I did instead of clean it.

Sneak Peek! Chalk tag necklaces coming Feb. 1st!

What are you up to this weekend?

currently craving: arrows

2012-01-27T06:45:00.001-07:00

aisle to aloha

miju and you

heather kent

native shop

wander sketch

with care goods

datter

heather future

betwixxt

slippin southern

melanie favreau

Be on the lookout for arrows when the shop reopens on February! I'll be back later with insta-friday.

How I Schedule My Day

2012-01-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

When you work for yourself or stay home with your kiddos, it can be hard to schedule your day. When I was a kindergarten teacher, my whole day was scheduled out, down to when I went to the bathroom. Seriously. When I made the transition to working at home, I found it really hard to get everything done. It's easy to find yourself thrifting for hours or pinning away on Pinterest while neglecting your to do list.

In order to avoid this, I make myself a rough scheduled outline of my day. Just like my goals I revisit it often and revise. I then plug these tasks and times into my google calendar to help me stay on track.

Here is my newly revised schedule...

I started the Love Food: Lose Weight plan (more on that Sunday) so my snacks and meal times are scheduled out as well. I make sure to schedule in free/lazy time as a little reward for working hard.

Do you plan out your day or fly by the seat of your pants?

48 Questions & Ask Me Anything

2012-01-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

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Good morning! I want to thank all of you who filled out my reader survey. There is still time if you haven't ;) What I've learned is that The Blue Eyed Owl community if VERY diverse. You all come to this blog for different reasons. I had originally developed the survey to help streamline content. Well, if anything, it made it harder to determine what is the best/worst things about this blog.

Then I realized, I LIKE MY BLOG the way it is! It's a little all over the place, because I'm a little all over the place. It's constantly changing and growing, because I am. I like a lot of different things, my tastes are very eclectic and always evolving. So, instead of catering to the needs of all my readers (which would be impossible), I'm just going to be true to myself and post what I love. Hopefully you will all stick around.

small talk studio via etsy

My friend Gina wrote a wonderful post on struggling to stand out when there are "too many cooks in the kitchen" and please others in her business and blog. She too came to the conclusion that she just needs to be herself. Very inspiring!

Another very helpful thing that came out of my survey were the questions that people asked. I plan on doing a full Q&A post in about a week to address those. I'm asking you to PLEASE add to that. Ask me ANYTHING in the comments or shoot me an email.

My friend Mindy did a fun little post where she answered 48 questions about herself. I'm snagging them because I thought it was so fun. Hopefully this will help you get to know me a bit more, and help you come up with some more questions for me ;)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30

2. How do you like your steak? Medium rare...nice and juicy. Do you still love me Diana!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

4. What is your favorite TV show? I watch a ton of TV so this is hard. Probably Breaking Bad or Mad Men. All time favorite is probably The Wire though.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? New Orleans (hub's hometown)

6. What did you have for breakfast? Smoothie & oatmeal from the Love Food: Lose Weight E-book

7. What is your favorite food? Rich comfort food; think Lobster Mac, Steak & Pototoes, Greasy Pizza. Oh, and sushi, lots of sushi.

8. Foods you dislike? Peas & lima beans. It's the texture.

9. Favorite place to eat? In the world...Bayona in NOLA : Local...D'vine (wine bar)

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch or fancy vinaigrettes

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Nissan Rogue & Chevy Silverado

12. What are your favorite clothes? Anything from Anthropologie

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? NYC (how have I never been there?)

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full always

15. Where would you want to retire? Wherever my kids/grandkids are

16. Favorite time of day? Evening

17. Where were you born? Suburbs of Chicago

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football!

19. What is your favorite fragrance? Whatever is gifted to me. I have NEVER bought perfume and I always have it. Maybe my friends and family are trying to tell me something...

20. What is your favorite face cream? Rose Hip Whip from a local spa

21. Favorite baby/kids products? Books!

22. People watcher? Yep, and I love it. I make up stories about peoples lives.

23. Are you a morning or night person? Depends on the day

24. Do you have any pets? Macy Moo the Rescue Mutt- love of our lives

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Always...Shop launch, Junk Restore Market, Creative Estates, 30 Day Shred, New eating plan, etc. I could go on :)

26. What did you want to be when you were little? It changed daily. The best was a sanitation worker.

27. What is your favorite memory? All of Bailey's milestones

28. Are you a cat or dog person? NOT a fan of cats. I wish I was, can't do it.

29. Are you married? Yep. 3 years next month.

30. Always wear your seat belt? Yes, always.

31. Been in a car accident? Lots actually.

32. Any pet peeves? Too many. Trying not to focus on negativity.

33. Favorite pizza toppings? Mushroom & bacon. Try it.

34. Favorite flower? Calla Lilly

35. Favorite ice cream? Anything with caramel & chocolate

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Taco Bell or In & Out

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None. My dad made me study like it was the SAT's!

38. From whom did you get your last email? Bailey's online reading program. 100% on her test :)

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Etsy

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Errrr...I've been boring lately.

41. Like your job? Love it!

42. Broccoli? Yes! Even better with cheese.

43. What was your favorite vacation? Honeymoon and both trips to New Orleans

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Hubs

45. What are you listening to right now? My chewing. Gross.

46. What is your favorite color? Aqua

47. How many tattoos do you have? 3 & more to come

48. Coffee drinker? Yep, with vanilla almond milk & stevia

Are you bored yet? Ha! Okay ask away, what do you want to know...

DIY Valentine Inspiration

2012-01-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

The internet is bursting with Valentine's Day inspiration. You can see my tutorial HERE for some cute V-day cards using paint samples.

My Pinterest board is full of all kinds of diy & foodie ideas I want to try. Check them out...

www.ohhappyday.com

www.onecharmingparty.com

www.greylikesbaby.com

www.marthastewart.com

www.creaturecomfortsblog.com

www.justlovelythings.blogspot.com

www.designsponge.com

www.laurawinslowphotography.com

Check out my Pinterest board for more inspiration ;)

I'm linking up with Melanie & Ashley! Check out their Valentine's Day themed parties...so fun!

Tutorial: Paint Sample Valentines

2012-01-23T13:52:00.003-07:00

You need: Paint samples, scissors, brads, tags, baker's twine & a round corner punch (optional)

Make sure you get TWO of each paint sample.

You can use the kind with 3 or 4 colors.

Cut into strips & round the corners.

Place in color order for an ombre effect.

Make sure the blank sides are all sticking up.

Attach a brad to make a fan.

Make cute tags & attach to the back of the brad.

Can you think of any other cute sayings for the tags? Leave them in the comments ;)

Voila...a cute little Valentine.

What do you think?

Do you make Valentine cards for/with your kids or buy them from the store?

Do you give cards to your friends or family?

Enter the group giveaway HERE. Link up your twitter page HERE.

Group Giveaway - $150 in prizes + Ad Space!

2012-01-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

A bunch of my fabulous sponsors are offering some great prizes this month! Please take a few minutes to hop around the web and get to know them, all while entering to win over $150 in prizes plus a medium ad space from me!

large ad space: $20 value

Mandatory Entry: Follow Michelle's BLOG

Extra: {Facebook} {Twitter}

Leather Bracelet: $25 value

Mandatory Entry: Follow Chrissy's BLOG

Extra: {Favorite Shop} {Twitter}

Large Ad Space: $15 value

Mandatory Entry: Follow Diana's BLOG

Extra: {Facebook} {Twitter}

Small Ad Space: $25 value

Mandatory Entry: Follow Joanna's BLOG

Extra: {Facebook} {Twitter}

Sewn Pouch & Earrings: $25 value

Mandatory Entry: Follow Katies's BLOG

Extra: {Twitter}

$25 shop credit

Mandatory Entry: Follow 2Market2's BLOG

Extra: {Facebook} {Twitter}

Green Cameo Locket: $15 value

Mandatory Entry: Favorite the SHOP

Extra: {Facebook} {Twitter}

Don't forget you must follow this blog & leave a separate comment for each entry ;)

Giveaway is open to U.S. & Canada residents only. Giveaway will end on Friday, January 27th at midnight mountain standard time (Arizona). Winner announced on Saturday, January 28th on this blog.

New Year, New Tweeps: Twitter Party

2012-01-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

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The New Year, New Friends, Blog Party was a huge success! I thought it would be fun to all become tweeps too! I have a bit of a twitterdiction. I love to connect online. So, this time here is how it's going to work.

1. Follow me on Twitter - I'll follow you back

2. Link up your twitter homepage below

*If you don't like to follow back, don't link up please ;)

3. Hop around and visit/follow each other on twitter

4. Tweet about this party to help get the word out

Should we do Facebook, too? This is so fun!

Liz's Twitter Tip: Make sure your bio line says something about your blog or your shop (if you have one). I follow EVERYONE back who has something to do with the blog/handmade/vintage community. But, if I can't see that clearly, I may mistake you for a porn star - just saying.

{what i love} 1.21 & a winner

2012-01-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

This Valentine's Day coffee cozy from The Cozy Project.

This Diana lens & adapter for my Nikon DSLR.

These antlers. I need a pair for a little project.

The "Share the Love" linky party series! Great prompts for fun Valentine's Day posts!

This vintage textile from 2 Market 2...dreamy.

The Momma Bird's post on utilizing social media to help promote your sponsors.

The list of blog conferences on Just Lovely Things...great resource!

I hear my reader quiz is pretty fun to take ;)

The winner of the Hollie Rogue giveaway is...

Katie from www.fashionfrugality.com!

I'll be back in a few with a new blog party & tomorrow with a huge group giveaway!

Reader Quiz

2012-01-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Pretty please, please take a few minutes to fill out following quiz. This blog is growing really fast and I would love to get to know more about the Blue Eyed Owl community!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

insta-friday 1.20

2012-01-20T08:05:00.003-07:00

More snowy weekend shots...

"Mom, this song is about butts!"

Prepping vintage for the shop relaunch.

Supplies came in for new accessories.

Learning some new skillz.

DIY Valentine tutorial coming soon.

I didn't lose any weight over the weekend because I had a few glasses of wine. This is my new evening treat. I need something fancy for some reason ;)

Happy Weekend!

My Diet Motivation Tip: Rewards

2012-01-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

I am super excited about getting healthy this year. You know that is one of my 12 in 2012 goals. Even though it's something I am determined to do, a little extra motivation doesn't hurt. I like to motivate myself by getting little rewards for reaching certain milestones.

I recently bought myself some gifts from Mama's Nest Designs and from the Modcloth Cabin Fever Sale. The catch...I can't really have them until I reach a certain weight. So here is how I'm going to reward myself.

I'm going to go ahead and put my starting weight out there for the world to see as well... embarrassing!

Starting weight: 170...bleh

Gift for reaching 160:

This necklace from Mama's Nest Designs

Gift for reaching 155:

This bag from Modcloth

Gift for reaching 150:

These wedges from Modcloth

Gift for reaching 145:

This dress from Modcloth

Gift for reaching 140:

This dress from Modcloth

It helps me to buy the items first and then not allow myself to wear them until I reach my goal. Staring at that cuteness in my closet will be an extra motivator. Maybe I'll even make a sign that says, "Hey Fatty, get on the treadmill so you can wear this". Plus, there is the added motivation of wasting money. Those dresses won't fit me unless I reach those milestones. I will be so mad at myself for spending the money on them, if they go to waste.

After 140, I will be aiming for 130. Then I'll allow myself to splurge ;)

So, do you think I'm crazy?
Would you buy clothes that are to small as a motivator to lose weight?

P.S. I have big plans for how I'm going to arrange my closet for extra motivation...stay tuned!

February Sponsor Call

2012-01-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

More info here...

(Feature Spot not available until April)

Email me ASAP to reserve your spot ;)

{censored}

2012-01-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Find out why I'm silent today at http://sopastrike.com/strike/

Our Winter Weekend

2012-01-17T14:25:00.001-07:00

We spent the long weekend at the condo in Pinetop. It was so snowy and magical. We ended up staying an extra day because the roads were a bit scary. Here are a few shots from our play time in the snow. Tomorrow I'll be back in the studio getting ready for the February 1st shop launch and blogging more about how I'm sticking to my 12 in 2012 goals.

She insisted on squeezing her head into this hat from when she was 3. Kinda cute though :)

Smoosh.

Snow Angels are the best!

Making a snow dog because she "doesn't like men." Goof.

Tall, tall trees.

Can you spot our little friend?

Blowing snow kisses.

Take a few minutes to meet Andi from The Hollie Rogue & enter her giveaway HERE.

Also, we have over 100 blogs linked up in the New Year, New Friends Blog Party. Come join us HERE.

The Hollie Rogue: Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-01-16T10:53:00.001-07:00

Hi, I'm Andi and I'm the momma of 2, wife of 1 (thank goodness), elementary teacher turned SAHM, crafter, wannabe photographer, and lover of all things vintage or antique. You can find me most days writing and photographing our daily lives, craft tutorials, recipes, and reflections on real life at The Hollie Rogue.

I'm also the oldest of three girls and my sisters and I recently (November 2011) opened an etsy shop together--The Hollie Rogue Shop where we sell our handmade vintage-inspired accessories.

Today, I'd like to share a little about my blogging journey and what steps I took toward opening my own online business.

Like I said, I started blogging in February of 2011--shortly after having my second child. I guess, looking back, I mostly started because I liked the thought of having something of my own that was a creative outlet, but also to keep my long-distance family updated. I had about 4 "followers" and was afraid to even tell people about it for fear of....who knows what.

Very shortly after I started the blog, we discovered that my baby son had craniosynostosis (his soft spot was closed) and had to have major surgery to repair it. The blog became such a blessing as I was able to reflect and write about that journey for all of our friends and family to read.

Skip ahead a few months, and I started sponsoring Casey Wiegand's blog--CaseyLeigh. I felt such a connection with her and she was always so sweet to return my emails and answer questions. Through that sponsorship, along with joining link parties, commenting on lots of blogs/day, and social media, I slowly grew my readership. I have met some really amazing, genuine woman through this journey and look forward to meeting many more of you in the future!

In September, I won a professional and complete blog redesign from Jessica at Southtown Creative and began taking on sidebar sponsors. It seriously makes me so happy to share about other handmade businesses and positive, inspiring bloggers.

During this time, my sisters and I were throwing around the idea of opening an etsy shop, but I really didn't think I knew where to start. We each settled on a couple of items that we felt were good ideas and started putting it all together, photographing product, and in November, officially opened for business. It was such an exciting time--new beginnings with a new challenge.

Now here we are in the new year and I'm really looking forward to all it has for The Hollie Rogue blog & shop. If you are a new blogger or shop owner, like myself, my advice is that you not worry too much about the "numbers" and comparing yourself to everyone else, but to embrace WHO you are and WHAT you have to offer (we all have something--because God made us so unique). And, I, for one, would love to get to know you better so stop by The Hollie Rogue and say "hello" sometime!

Thanks to Liz, for having me today!

Blessings, friends & soon-to-be friends~

Andi

********************************

Giveaway:

One vintage-inspired ring (winner's choice from the rings pictured) & an XL Ad Package for the month of February!

Mandatory: Follow Andi's BLOG.

Extra Entries:

Tweet, FB or blog about this giveaway

"Like" The Hollie Rogue on FACEBOOK.

Visit the SHOP. What's your favorite item?

Follow The Hollie Rogue on TWITTER.

Giveaway open to residents of the U.S. & Canada. Giveaway will end on Friday, January 20th at midnight mountain standard time (Arizona). Winner will be selected using random.org and announced on Saturday, January 21st. Good luck ;)

New Year, New Friends: Blog Party

2012-01-15T10:56:00.001-07:00

Rule42 on Etsy

I have been thinking of an easy way to check out my reader's blogs and get to know some new creative ladies. I think a good ol' blog hop linky party might be just the ticket. So here's how it's going to go down.

Step 1: Follow my blog

Step 2: Link up your blog - I will follow everyone!

Step 3: Hop around and get to know some other members of the Blue Eyed Owl community.

Step 4: Spread the word about this linky to your blog and social media pals so we can all make some new friends!

I'll leave the linky up for a couple of weeks and then maybe a FB or Twitter party...we'll just have to see ;)

vintage collections: cocktail rings

2012-01-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

I have a ton of little vintage collections. Things that I obsess over and covet. When I find a deal or something really special, I build them. One of my favorites is my vintage cocktail ring collection.

It's small. Only 4 so far. Two were my great-grandmother's, one was a gift from my mom and one was purchased at an antique show that I go to every year in Pinetop, AZ. Sometimes I wear one of these in place of my wedding ring for fun ;)

Here are a few that I wouldn't mind adding to my little collection...

via jean jean vintage

via snow flower pie

via bumble & buck

Do you have a vintage collection?

Want to share with us via guest post? email me ;)

{winner}

2012-01-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

via www.startsomethingthatmatters.com

The winner of the Start Something That Matters giveaway is...

Congrats, Chelsea! Email me ;)

PLEASE visit the Start Something That Matters site for some great inspiration!

{what i love} 1.14

2012-01-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

Watercolors by Caitlin McGauley found via Caitlin Wilson Design.

Chrissy's post about the "givebox." Such an amazing concept.

These new arrowhead rings at Moorea Seal.

This cute teepee on Jen Loves Kev

This tutorial on Delightfully Tacky. This is happening in my house soon.

Also...

This honest post about motherhood by Joanna on Tricia's blog.

Diana's Top 10 Tutorials Using Items You Have Around the House.

The Jason Wu for Target Lookbook via HuffPost Style.

This post about 29 ways to Stay Inspired & Creative on Oh, Sweet Joy!

And, you know I'm loving art journal supplies from this post.

Have a great weekend!

{in my bag}

2012-01-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today's #JanPhotoADay prompt was to show what's in our bags. I just happened to clean mine out because are headed out of town. So here is a little peek minus the usual receipts & trash.

1. Hand sanitizer - Bath & Body Works (gift)

2. Shades - Target

3. Reading glasses - Anthropologie

4. Hoops - Target

5. Bobby pins

6. Zipped pouch - Pleated Poppy filled w/ meds & "lady" products

7. Wallet - Urban Outfitters

8. Pinwheel clip - made by me

9. Lip stuffs - Burt's Bees, E.L.F. & Maybelline

1. Keys - Nissan Rogue & Chevy Silverado ;)

2. iPhone charger

3. Nikon Camera with strap from SheyB

1. Measuring tape - I use this A LOT actually

2. Paint samples - swiped from Home Depot for B's art projects

3. Post-its & my favorite pen

4. Business cards

5. Goodwill coupons - always be prepared

What's in your bag?

insta-friday 1.13

2012-01-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

Eeek...Friday the 13th. Here are some shots from this week...

Last weekend consisted of date nights and one amazing lazy Sunday.

I had fun making prototypes of some new designs. My little model is so cute!

Uno & coloring are two of my favorite activities. Bailey gets so competitive, cracks me up.

I felt like I was fighting off a bug all week. I had a lot of pj days and puppy snuggles.

#JanPhotoADay is still super fun (although I've skipped a couple of days). Above are some childhood pics (check out that hot 80's fashion), our messy comfy bed, and closeup of some nails from a new studio project.

I had a couple of setbacks but I jumped right back on the healthy eating train and I'm loving it.

One of two amazing quilts my grandmother gave me. My great grandmother made them in the 50's. I'm in love!

I'm getting ready to tackle some new crafts and I have lots of planning and sketching going on in the studio.

Follow me on instagram @ lizekstrom

We are headed up to Pinetop for a lovely winter 3 day weekend. I hope you enjoy yours!

Don't forget to enter the BOOK GIVEAWAY & the easy giveaway on my FACEBOOK page.

{quick & easy FB giveaway}

2012-01-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

"LIKE" me on Facebook, find this pic on the wall and say hello!

You can win a bow of your choice...easy peasy ;)

*winner announced on Monday morning - U.S. & Canada

5 Tips for Achieving Your Goals

2012-01-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

source

Remember my 12 goals for 2012? Well, writing them is easy. Achieving them is another story. Here are my 5 tips to keep you on track.

1. Write them down.

Everybody talks about their grand plans. Writing them down, on your blog, in your journal or on your fridge, makes them real.

Free PDF from Julie Ann Art

2. Keep them visible.

Don't just write them down and shove them in the bottom of a pile. Display them is a creative way so that you have a daily reminder. You can type them up in a cute font and frame them in your home, keep them listed on a cute handmade chalkboard, or create an art piece like my girl Diana to keep them visible.

DIY from Dianapantz

3. Revise them.

Don't consider it a failure if you need to tweak and adjust your goals as you go. Once you dive into something new, you will find ways to fine tune your goals, and make them more realistic or more challenging.

Here is how my 12 in 2012 have already changed...

1. Get back to my pre-sickness weight- I've added a specific number to this...130.

2. Learn to Knit- This is not as enjoyable as I imagined. I WILL be taking a class, but for now I've changed this to cross stitch/embroidery.

3. Re-learn how to sew- same

4. Read 50 books- I'm reading faster than planned and loving it so I'm adjusting this to 60 to challenge myself.

5. Get dressed- same, although failing miserably because of #1 (more on that later)

6. Go to the Grand Canyon- same

7. Finish decorating my home- same

8. Take a photography class- same

9. Hit 200 Etsy sales- same

10. Find & cook 10 new slow cooker recipes- Bleh, not a lot of healthy slow cooker recipes. This has been changed to try one new healthy recipe a week. I've found that when I'm eating healthy, I have the energy to cook in the evenings anyway!

11. Do at least 3 tutorials a month on the blog- same

12. Journal- adjusted this to art journal (see post one & two)

Notice that most have stayed the same, but some have added improvements.

Goal Clip Board by Decoy Lab

4. Revisit them.

Every once and awhile you need to self check and make sure you are on track. Analyze what steps you've taken and what steps you still need to make. You need to have a plan.

Here are a couple of examples:

#5: Get dressed - I am failing mostly because I don't have a ton of clothes that fit me. I decided that I need to set weight loss milestones and award myself by adding a piece to my wardrobe as a reward for reaching them. This will then get me excited about getting dressed again. I realize this goal will be more long term.

#3: Re-learn to sew: I borrowed my mom's "easy" sewing machine, purchased a book, and have a plan for a first project.

source

5. Share your progress.

Not only is it important for your to check in, but you need to share your progress to hold yourself accountable. I plan on doing this in two ways.

I will share my progress with all of you on my blog at the beginning of every month. I will be a lot more likely to stick with my goals if I know I have to post my successes and failures for the world to see. Also, Matt & I regularly discuss our goals and plans. It helps to have somebody to bounce ideas off of and to cheer you on.

print via the spotted fox

What are your tips for sticking with your goals?

Start Something That Matters: Review & Giveaway

2012-01-11T09:46:00.001-07:00

via amazon

If you read one "business" book this year, that book should be, Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie. Inspirational doesn't even begin to cover how I feel about this book. I devoured it in two nights, and my husband snagged my copy and started reading before I was even finished!

via toms

Blake is the founder of TOMS shoes and begins the book with the TOMS story. This story alone is enough to make you want to jump right in and chase your dreams. He also includes snippets of info and stories about other successful businesses, from small start ups to big corporations. The "One for One" concept is explained in detail. The first thing people probably wonder then they hear about this simple formula is "what's the catch?" or "how can you make a profit that way?" It's all explained in the book.

my toms

The main point of Start Something That Matters is this: Find your story and jump right in. Be fearless, and follow your heart. No matter how small your bank account or how few your resources, you can build something great. The key is, make sure it matters. Incorporating giving into your business model enables you to contribute to social change, make a positive impact AND make a profit.

Sound difficult? No worries, Blake will explain it all. Seriously, read this book. Even better, read a FREE copy. I received my copy through the Books for Bloggers Program. Which means they sent me an extra to give to you!

Here's what you need to do...

Mandatory Entry:

Leave a comment telling me how you give back (or plan to).

Extra Entries:

Follow TOMS on Twitter

Follow The Shine Project on Twitter (my favorite charity)

Visit The Start Something That Matters Site - tell me something your learned

P.S. This book has inspired me to incorporate giving into my business model for The Blue Eyed Owl. Stay tuned for how I plan on using the strategies in this book to make my indie biz matter.

Giveaway is available to residents of the U.S. & Canada. Winner will be selected using random.org. Contest will close this Friday, January 13th at midnight mountain standard time (Arizona). Winner will be announced via this blog on Saturday, January 14th. The book in this giveaway is c/o the Books for Bloggers program.

currently craving: art journal supplies

2012-01-10T08:43:00.001-07:00

{one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, & thirteen}

Do you keep a traditional journal or an art journal?

{how i journal}

2012-01-09T10:43:00.001-07:00

One of my goals for 2012 was to keep a journal again. My definition of journal is a bit non-traditional. The way I like to journal varies from day to day. So my journal is bit of a mix. One day it may look like a sketchbook, and another day a planner, or a list, a scrapbook, a diary...you get the picture.

I use a sketchbook rather than a notebook so that I can doodle and add pictures. I just mod podge'd some pretty glitter paper to the front cover. I also use a little clothespin as a bookmark.

Some days I may look for prompts online. Others I may just print a picture and write how I feel about it. Sometimes I may need to vent and I'll write a list of the top ten ways my husband drives me nuts ;) It serves many purposes. The main thing is that I get my thoughts out in a creative way that doesn't take too much time out of my day.

I hope to show some pages through out the year to help inspire you and give you a little peek into my world.

Do you keep a journal?

P.S. I really want to take this e-course a la Red Velvet to improve my skillz. Who wants to buy me a present?

{what i love} 1.8

2012-01-08T13:17:00.001-07:00

Gina's gorgeous pics from Ireland. I'm hiding in her suitcase on her next trip.

This pretty rainbow wedding featured on Miss Indie.

Heidi's new designs for RowHouse14.

This sweet vintage dress in Bailey's size! Of course, she doesn't like it :(

Ashley's new Shine Project video and her endless inspiration.

Katie's list of the 10 Sewing Tutorials to Try in 2012. I'm hoping to gain the skills to try some of these!

This section of Jac & Elsie's shop that supports autism and cancer.

This cross stitch pattern. I think cross stitch maybe added to my goals this year.

My "Healthy" pinboard on Pinterest...motivation!

What are you loving?

insta-friday 1.6

2012-01-06T07:59:00.001-07:00

His & Hers...coffee date.

I'm loving this callenge! Follow everyone via Twitter & Instagram via #Janphotoaday.

Knitting & NOT loving it. I think I need to take a class.

Started & finished Blake Mycoskie's book. Loved it! Hubs is reading it now. Stay tuned for a review and a giveaway!

Got my first Instagram pics back via PostalPix and I'm so excited to display them in creative ways.

Hubs brought me flowers "just because" {sigh}

It's crazy warm here. Wore a sundress and TOMS yesterday. Love it!

Who wants to come organize my ribbons?

Seriously healthy eating going on in this house. Look at all those veggies!

What are your plans for the weekend?

My 3 Favorite Photo Apps

2012-01-05T12:03:00.001-07:00

Lately I'm loving taking pictures of pretty objects, events and people in my everyday life via my iphone. I've had it for a few weeks now, and have discovered 3 apps that are essential. If you have an iphone you should check these out.

1. Instagram

It's free. It's easy. It's fabulous. Instagram takes beautiful pictures and enables you to share them quickly via your social networks. Instagram is also a social network itself. You can follow others to see what your friends are up to and see pretty things. You can also gain followers to share your life and promote your blog or business. It also saves the pics to your camera roll on your phone so that you can access them anytime.

Here are some of my favorite Instagram photos that I've taken so far...

2. Diptic

Diptic is an app that allows you to make collages of your photos. You can then share them easily and save them to your camera roll. Diptic is free, although I did purchase the upgrade to have access to more options. It was a whopping 99cents. I know...big spender.

Here is a collage that I made using Diptic...

3. PostalPix

PostalPix is a free app that allows you to order prints directly from you iphone and have them delivered to you at home. You can order the prints from you camera roll including Instagram pictures. It could not be easier to use, it's reasonably priced and the quality is great.

Here is the list of the sizes and pricing...

Here are some of mine...

I have all kinds of crafty ideas rolling around in my head for how I'm going to display them.

What are your favorite apps?

sponsor meet & greet: january

2012-01-03T11:31:00.002-07:00

{blog} {shop} {facebook} {twitter}

{blog} {twitter}

{blog} {facebook} {twitter}

{blog} {shop} {facebook} {twitter}

Don't forget to check out my other bloggy buds on the sidebar ;)

Spring 2012 Color Trends

2012-01-03T10:00:00.001-07:00

It's coming sooner than you think...Spring! It's time to start thinking about your wardrobe and accessories. Once again, Pantone, the leader in all things color, has come out with it's report on what's hot for the upcoming season. I have to say I am excited about these hues...

via Pantone

My favorite shade of pink & aqua made the cut. I am loving navy as a neutral for Spring and the brightened up version of mustard. Tangerine Tango, also dubbed the color of the year, was a surprise but it has grown on me. I could never pull it off from head to toe, but it's perfect for adding a pop of color with an accessory!

Check out the full report from Pantone, as well as the men's versions of these colors HERE.

What is your favorite?

{the $5 bracelet}

2012-01-01T12:45:00.001-07:00

My new bracelets were a huge hit on Instagram so I thought I'd share where you can get yours. They are only $5 and 100% of that goes to a great cause. My friend, Ashley, from The Pink Ruffle, is making them to help send her sister and her husband on a Mission to India. Here is Ashley's post...

My sweet sister and her husband are going to India in 3 weeks! Remember this post? Well, this time my sister, Sarah gets to go again but have a whole new experience.

She gets to go with her husband.

Something about serving the Lord in another country with your husband is so sweet and so special.

It is a memory that Grant and I will treasure forever.

Missions are a wonderful thing and is something I believe everyone is called to do whether we do it where we live or in another country.

Doing them out of country is so amazing yet very expensive.

It is expensive for one person to raise money, but for 2?? Double the costs! They have to raise over $6,000 and guess what? They only have around $650 to go! This is pretty great! But...the trip is in 3 weeks. That is a lot to raise in a short amount of time. If they don't raise it all, they will just pay out of pocket.

So, as I have been praying for my sweet sister and brother in law, an idea came to mind!

This is where you all come in :)

I am going to sell these bracelets for $5.

There are 3 different styles and a bunch of colors...

{1}

{2}

{3}

100% of everything sold will go straight to Mission of Mercy in helping them pay all their costs of going to India.

My sister has no idea I am doing this, but what a blessing this could be for them!

You in??

Email me at thepinkruffle@gmail.com

Let me know what number bracelet you want and then you can choose from:

GOLD or SILVER

and

COLOR OF BRACELET:

teal, mustard, cream, black, brown, tan or purple

Once you email me and let me know what you want, I will send you a paypal invoice and I will ship out your bracelet the next day if not the same day! :)

If you are not a bracelet person, I have another option too! Go to my SHOP and email me which headband you want and I will sell it for $5.

They leave January 6th, so get your orders in and lets help Sarah and Justin get to India without having to pay anything out of their own pockets.

I know we can do it! :)

So just email her if you want some. I love mine :)

{what i love} 12.31

2011-12-31T12:33:00.001-07:00

Temporary tattoos, Bailey would love 'em!

1,000 Doors by South Korean artist Choi Jeong-Hwa...so cool.

Shey's new shop, Gossamer.

Katelyn's New Year's Eve sound makers, so fun for kids & adults!

Coley's t-shirt scarf tutorial...she's so cute :)

This adorable video that's all over the blog-o-sphere.

Some other things I'm loving:

The Letter Project over at 3 in 3.

Joanna's ring in this post.

These skirts at 2 Market 2.

Andi's Chicago pictures here & here. I'm itching to go back soon.

{source}

Happy 2012 to you! Be safe ;)

insta-friday 12.30

2011-12-30T08:50:00.001-07:00

I babysat this little cutie for an exhausted mama friend. I had a helper ;)

Planning new designs.

I'm starting this as soon as I finish my current book.

Choosing Spring felt colors to order from Giant Dwarf.

Planning new things for the blog in 2012.

My dog loves my sofa as much as I do. Here she is taking in the vintage loveliness.

Banana, peanut butter & oatmeal smoothie. Want the recipe? Here you go...

1 cup - crushed ice

3/4 cup - skim milk

1 or 2 bananas

1/2 cup - oatmeal

1 Tablespoon - Peanut Butter (I used natural)

Blend & enjoy! 400 calories and keeps you full for a long time ;)

12 in 2012

2011-12-28T07:57:00.004-07:00

I hate resolutions. Mostly because I never stick to them. I do however, love goals. I especially love making lists of my goals. I find these very easy to accomplish. Especially when I post them on the internet and the whole world can call me out if I'm slacking.

Here are my 12 goals for 2012:

1. Get back to my pre-sickness weight

source

Cliche...yes. It needs to happen though, so it's on the list. I've never written about it but in 2009 I had horrible stomach issues. I had to take medical leaves, was bedridden and had countless surgeries and procedures. It basically sucked...the only word to describe it. In the process I lost a massive amount of weight and looked like death. When I recovered, my metabolism did not. Now I am the heaviest I've ever been. I used to be able to drop 5 lbs a week with little effort and those days are over. I need to make a serious commitment to clean eating and exercise in 2012.

2. Learn to knit

source

My Aunt learned to knit this year and I love seeing all the pictures she posts of her projects. I have also developed a serious case of can't-sit-still-itus. I can't just sit and watch TV or a movie anymore, my hands have to be in motion. I think knitting will help me finally relax a bit.

3. Re-learn how to sew

source

At one point in my life I knew how to sew. I haven't touched a machine in years. I really hope it's like riding a bike...

4. Read 50 Books

source

I love to read, and read a ton. I've never really counted though and I want to read more. I think 50 is a reasonable goal to start off.

5. Get dressed

source

My husband and I both work from home. We live in PJ's. It makes me lazy. It has to stop. I hope to starting doing What I Wore Wednesday posts to hold me accountable. I'm so much more productive when I'm pretty :)

6. Go to the Grand Canyon

source

I've lived in Arizona for almost 20 years and I've never been to the Grand Canyon. Everyone I know has been including my husband who grew up in New Orleans. I blame my parents. In fact, I think they should pay for my trip this year. What do you say, Mom?

7. Finish decorating my home

source

My house has been a work in progress ever since we moved here 3 years ago. I've been "too busy" first with teaching, and now my business. I am determined to get it done this year. I hope to document my projects on the blog too!

8. Take a photography class

source

I just bought my first DSLR camera and now I need to learn to use it. I love photography and I want to be able to take beautiful pictures of my family and my work.

9. Hit 200 Etsy sales

source

Technically I'm almost, but of course Etsy wouldn't let me carry over my 70+ sales from my second shop when I closed it. Oh well...

10. Find & cook 10 new slow cooker recipes

source

I have loads of energy in the morning (right after my coffee) and I would love to be able to get dinner going then. I hit a wall at about 5. I know I would cook more if I learned to utilize that crock pot of mine.

11. Do at least 3 tutorials a month on the blog

source

Usually I make something on a whim and then don't go back and photograph the steps to post a tutorial. It's pure laziness and it has to stop.

12. Journal

source

I used to do this. I stopped. It was a bad decision.

Do you set goals or make resolutions?

What would you like to accomplish in 2012?

P.S. Have you discovered the amazing freebies over at www.irocksowhat.com yet? You should. Seriously.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Christmas at Mama Owl's Nest

2011-12-27T09:08:00.001-07:00

I don't know if you've heard, but my mom's house is THE place to be at Christmas time (or Festivus, whatever you celebrate). It's appropriately nicknamed, The North Pole. My mom goes crazy with the decor and the result is something magical. Everything is traditional red and green, and based around her extensive collection of Santas. There is all sorts of handmade and vintage charm thrown in the mix. The whole family gathers there for Christmas Eve and Christmas. Here are ~~a million~~ some shots of our little Winter Wonderland.

My two favorites...the bar with festive napkins and drink accessories and her Pottery Barn plates. I always claim Vixen.

She wraps all of her art to look like giant gifts on the wall and she has the most amazing collection of vintage and handmade Santas.

The amazing table, where all the eating of delicious foods goes down. Those adorable Santa blocks were a Holiday Shoppe find from Simply C Boutique.

My dad's favorite holiday decor item is that vintage scotch box purchased from the Junk in the Trunk girls.

Fresh flowers galore and every little detail attended to.

Serious cooking and eating going on. There is Mama Owl teaching my cousin the secret to the family lasagna recipe.

My sweet B with too short bangs and missing teeth in front of the tree. She was so goofy-cute this year :)

Christmas wouldn't be complete without the boys all parked in front of the TV watching football.

And of course, the kiddos have to open their jammies on Christmas Eve.

Hubs & my sis's fiance played along again with the matching pjs. Later that night they watched a rom com on the sofa, matching polar bear jammies and all. I don't think we are ever going to let them live that one down...

Cheers! I hope you had an amazing holiday filled with family and friends just like I did. The shop is closed for a bit while I get ready for the 2012 relaunch! I'll be back later this week with my goals for the new year. I am anti-resolution, it's all about the goals!

insta-friday 12.23

2011-12-23T09:49:00.002-07:00

I got an iphone...yay! Here is a little glimpse of my life from the past week. I hope you enjoy this new weekly series!

Super delish & fancy steak dinner courtesy of the hub's company. See that martini? Hennessy Sidecar...yummo!

I live in my Minnetonkas lately. So comfy.

A picture of pictures...

Looking at old pics of my grandmother. That's my dad on the bike :)

Taking pictures on a car ride.

Seriously messy desk after taking a week off.

Etsy order...

Another Etsy order.

Bailey got a new feather. Look at those lashes!

My reward after braving the crowds this week to finish up shopping.

Macy's new Christmas tree dress...she is less than thrilled.

This is going to be a wreath.

Another Etsy order. Look at those colors!

Cookies from friends. Sugar coma!

Do you have instagram? Follow me! username: lizekstrom :) Leave me yours in the comments.

holiday gift swap

2011-12-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do around the holidays is to participate in some sort of a gift swap or secret Santa exchange. It's a fun way to get gifts that are unique and a total surprise. My pal, Diana organized the best handmade blogger swap ever this year. She even sent out these adorable feather ornaments to the participants. Bailey stole mine, it's so cute!

Of course I forgot to take pics of what I sent my exchange pal but here is what I got!

This bag is amazing. I especially love all the pockets on the inside. It's so well made!

These headbands are super comfy.

And she nailed my colors!

These adorable magnets are already on the fridge holding up B's art work.

This little mirror is the bee's knees I tell you. It's in my purse.

These were all made by Tiffany from Minnesota, she's Diana's Zumba instructor. If you like Zumba, you should check out her site. You should also hop on over to Dianapantz to see everyone's posts. Make sure you follow her so you can participate next year!

Did you do any gift swaps this year? What did you get?

Our Holiday Traditions

2011-12-21T09:32:00.001-07:00

I've had a couple of guests over to tell about their family's holiday traditions, but I thought I'd share a few of mine as well. We are a bit obsessed with tradition in my family. If something changes we go into panic mode...it can be quite comical. My sister and I are getting older though and adding my husband and her fiance into our family has forced us to loosen up a bit. There are a few that will never change though.

1. Christmas Eve Lasagna: Every year we make a huge Italian feast the night before Christmas and stuff ourselves. We only make it once a year so we will never get sick of it. I look forward to this even more than Thanksgiving dinner.

source

2. Matching Pajamas: Every Christmas Eve we open one gift and it's always matching pajamas from my mom. My husband hates this tradition, but he's a trooper.

source

3. White Christmas: We watch this every Christmas Eve. I can recite the whole movie by heart :)

source

4. HoneyBaked Ham Co.: Our Christmas dinner ham must come from The HoneyBaked Ham Co.. One year my mom tried to pull of a ham from Costco...we're still mad about it.

source

There are a bunch more, but I won't overwhelm you. Our Christmas runs on a pretty tight schedule to fit them all in but we love it.

We are breaking with tradition this year when it comes to Christmas brunch. Instead of our usual breakfast casserole, my sister's fiance is make chorizo and a traditional Mexican breakfast. I'll let you know if anybody needs to be sedated or hospitalized. We've had the same brunch for at least 27 years...

Sponsor the Owl In January: 50% Off!

2011-12-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

Want to sponsor? I would love to have you!

Sponsor spots are 50% off in January!

It's my first month with paid sponsorships so I'm giving my little guinea pigs a smokin' deal!

Email me blueeyedowl@gmail.com

xoxo

Holiday Traditions: Joanna from Moda Mama & A Message from Liz

2011-12-19T07:43:00.001-07:00

Hi friends. You may have noticed I've been absent from the blog and social media lately. My sweet grandmother passed away last week and I'm taking some time off to be with family. Because I work for myself, and my husband is the greatest man alive, I was able to spend her final days glued to her side talking about memories and keeping her comfortable. My whole family is in town now and we are enjoying our time together. Today is her memorial service and then after I dig my way out of the mess that is in my studio, I'll be back at it.

Lucky for me, I have amazing bloggy friends, that write guest posts to keep you entertained while I'm away ;) Today, Joanna is sharing her family's holiday tradition with you. Here she is...

It's Joanna here again, from ModaMama. As November winds up, my mind turns firmly towards the Christmas holidays: Christmas trees, twinkly lights, presents, egg nog, DieHard, Santa...wait! What? Die Hard? That's right, Die Hard. You see my family's a little different than most.

On Christmas morning, most families open presents, play, have breakfast and maybe listen to carols. Mine? We stumble down the stairs heading for the coffee (sometimes because we had a little too much the night before), grumble something unintelligible to each other, and plunk ourselves down on the couchin front of the Tv. You see, we're Polish. For us, Christmas Eve is the big deal. That's when we have a huge (think 500 gazillion courses) dinner with free flowing vodka and wine followed by presents, inappropriate jokes (usually involving the relative who dressed up as St. Nick this year), and more of the aforementioned various adult beverages. So by Christmas morning we're done. My mom, me and my sister somehow find our way onto the couch and stumble on top of each other under a thick blanket, nursing our coffees in our Pjs. Then we hit play. And the opening sequence of Die Hard starts.

Don't ask me how this little tradition started. I have no idea. But for as long as I can remember we have watched Die Hard, followed by Die Hard 2 on Christmas mornings. Only the first two though. They're the only ones that are Christmas themed. So they're the only ones we watch.

Forget “It's A Wonderful Life,”nothing says Merry Christmas to me like Bruce Willis crawling barefoot across broken glass, or Alan Rickman threatening people in a German accent.

When I got married, my Husband accepted this quirk of mine readily. He got a kick out of the fact that he's the lover and I'm the fighter. But when we spent last Christmas with his parents and I managed to coerce his very conservative Mom and Dad into continuing the tradition he was very surprised, but mostly because his parents actually really enjoyed the movies.

Now that I have my own little girl, I'm going to have to curb my tradition temporarily. The movies aren't child friendly, so I'm going to have to change things up a bit. I'll be moving my Christmas Willis to the evening, after she's gone to bed...until she's old enough. Then, we'll stumble down the stairs heading for the coffee, grumble something unintelligible to each other, and plunk ourselves down on the couch in front of the Tv. You see we're Polish, so by Christmas morning we're done. My Husband, my daughter, and me will somehow find out our way to the couch and stumble on top of each other under a thick blanket, nursing our coffees in our Pjs. Then we'll hit play and the opening sequence of Die Hard will play.

I don't think what family traditions we have matter so much as we have families to make traditions with.

So this holiday season, from my family to yours, “Yippeekayay mother******!” (AKA Happy Holidays)

xoxo

Holiday Traditions: Kristen from Life by the Book

2011-12-13T07:24:00.001-07:00

I've invited a few friends to guest post this month about some of their holiday traditions. My family has so many traditions our holidays run on a pretty tight schedule to fit them all in...lol. We have learned to let a few of them go over the years but we still try to fit everyone's favorite in. It can get pretty ugly if somebody misses out. We will never let my poor mama forget the year she bought the ham fro Costco instead of the Honey Baked Ham Co., that was a huge mistake! Up first is my friend Kristen. Here she is...

Hi everyone! I'm Kristen from life by the book and the Etsy shop by the book paper, and I'm so happy to be over here at the Blue-Eyed Owl today! When Liz asked about people's unique holiday traditions, I was thinking, well, we have family traditions, but there's nothing really super-special about it, except that we get to spend it together. My mom's family is quite large and we spend Christmas eve together, and then my dad's family, which is not exactly small either, spends Christmas day together. It's really fun to get to see most all of our family within a 2-day span.

Anyway, as I started thinking about it, I realized that I do make a special treat each year in honor of my dad's family heritage. His parents were both Scottish immigrants who came over in the 1920s. Though I never got to meet my grandfather, when we would visit my grandmother, she always made strong tea for the grown-ups (and had a nice plaid tea cozy for the pot) and had cookies ready. Shortbread has always been a favorite of my dad's, and my mom and I would often get him a box of Walker's for Christmas or his birthday (which are two weeks apart).

Years later, I started making shortbread for him and my uncles every Christmas. I have a recipe from Good Housekeeping 1999 that I have found to be the best and I've made it every year since. It is very easy to make- only four ingredients- even for the most hesitant baker. GH calls it pastry-like, but I would refer to it more as crumbly and flaky. Great with a cup of tea.

Scottish Shortbread

1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened (No substitutions! Margarine will make it chewy.)
1/2 cup confectioners' (powdered) sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a square 9" by 9" metal pan with foil. (8" x 8" is ok, too- just adjust your baking time to account for thickness.)

In a large bowl, with a mixer at medium speed, beat butter and sugar until creamy, occasionally scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula.

With clean hands, mix flour and baking powder into butter mixture just until crumbs form. Do not overwork the dough or it will be tough.

Pat the crumbs into the baking pan. (As done by my helper.)

With a fork, prick the dough all over in a decorative pattern. Or straight lines if you're me.

Bake shortbread 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned around the edges. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Use the foil to lift the baked shortbread out of the pan.

Transfer to a cutting board, and while still warm, cut the shortbread into 3 strips, then cross cut it into 8 strips (24 pieces total). Cool pieces completely on a wire rack. Store the cookies in a tightly covered container up to 1 week. I'm going to freeze mine until Christmas.

See? Nothing to it. I hope you decide to give these a try. They are a great, classic holiday treat. Enjoy!