Tuesday, March 31, 2009

When we need a break....




When we need a break we head to our usual spot, Starbucks! I love the expressions on Will's face. Do you think he is enjoying his Chocolate milk?

Things have been crazy busy, a good crazy busy!!! It is so easy to lose sight of what is important so I cherish these dates with my little man.

So please give me some tips, tell me what you do when you just need a break.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Mixed Metal....


I wanted to share a sneak peek at a few of my NEW Mixed Metal pieces. They are a mix of Sterling Silver and Copper. One of the hottest trends is mixing your metals, no longer is it a no no to mix metals, so mix away! I will slowly be adding them into the shop.

The second picture the Mixed Metal Custom Personalized necklace is available here for $34.90.

Featured Reader: Let me introduce you to...

La Dolce Vita


Happy Monday friends! We had a weekend filled with friends, family, sunshine and some SNOW???? Yes we had a bit of snow so I guess we can't put away the snow boots. The snow didn't really stick so we will forgive Mother Nature.

I always love Monday's since not only do I get to know my featured better but so do you. I always learn a bit more when doing these features, so I guess even if you follow someones blog there is always more to discover.

I am pleased to introduce you to Kati of Country Girl, City Life . Kati and I have so much in common the girl loves Starbucks and the color pink, she had me at loving the color pink! Without further ado please grab your beverage of choice and get to know my friend Kati.

P.S. Just one more day to enter my contest to win a $50 gift certificate to my shop enter Here also I have a contest running for a Corneille CD HERE. Good luck!


Name:


My real name is Kati. No, it is not short for anything and is a totally unoriginal 80's name. My blog name is Country Girl, City Life.




Family:


I am married to the greatest man in the world, Heath. Kind of cliche, I know. We have 2 beautiful children together, Serenity (2.5 years), and Caeden (3 months).


How did you start blogging?


Boredom. Really, I was tired of myspace and the lack of real creativity. I love meeting new people without all the fake profiles and naked women. Blogging has turned into an obsession that I plan to have for as long as blogger exists.





What is your parenting philosophy?


My parenting philosophy? Hmm. Well, I was raised by my grandmother.. and well, I spent more time caring for her than being a kid. I pretty much wanted kids. My mom was a deadbeat who took off to England to avoid child support, and my dad was never around. I really believe in being there for your children. You MUST be an example to them. They depend on you to teach them what is right and what is wrong. I want to teach my children the value of giving and hard work, as well as the appropriate time to have a good time!


You will never find me without......


My purse. I carry everything in there. It is an endless pit of books, clothes, makeup, bottles, toys, diapers.. and crushed food!


Day job:


I am a SAHM, for the present time. I am currently a full time nursing student in the evenings. I graduate this summer and will be eligable to sit for my LPN test. In January 2010, I will begin the LPN to BSN program and begin working toward my RN. I MAY in the future go for my Masters degree, but that is still undecided. Don't get me wrong, I love being a SAHM.. but at the same time I feel it very important to keep a part of myself for me.. and my life.


Favorite Stuff:


Music: Country.

Food: I love carbs. It's bad, I know.

Tv/ Movies: Have at least one show per night on the DVR. Right now, I am obsessed with "The Big Bang Theory". Totally funny.

Reading: I don't really have a lot of time to read things other than my school books, but I did receive a Twilight book from a blog swap and I look forward to reading it.


If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it what would it be?


"I'm the Mommy That's Why".. I say it a million times a day!


Favorite stores to shop at:


I LOVE Old Navy. I buy most of the kids clothes from there. I buy my jeans at American Eagle (P.S. They now carry extra long).


Other good stuff from Kati:


I love to work out. I have a pink yoga mat, pink boxing gloves, pink shoes, a pink Ipod, pink work out pants, pink weights. Did I mention I like pink? I love Ebay and shopping. I believe in hard work and dedication to your cause. I am the sports junky in our house, NASCAR and Steelers football all the way! I have no fashion sense which is one reason I am going in to nursing.. scrubs! I play too many video games. I am constantly trying to eat healthy. I am all about self improvement... I have a long way to go! I am a Starbucks addict. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 19. My life is a little unconventional, but I LOVE it! I love meeting new people and being the center of attention!

If you would like to be a featured reader please send me an email at klacustomcreations@comcast.net for details. Now please leave some comment love.


Saturday, March 28, 2009

Product Junkie Approved: Guilt Free Desserts!




Do you know what I love about the Candy Soap Collection, $25, from Bath Desserts? I love each and every scent, unlike the experience you can have with a box of chocolate. I find a box of chocolate sometimes disappointing as I typically only enjoy a few flavors, that isn't the case with the Candy Soap Collection. You won't be sorry with each piece of candy soap. I also love that they are 100% natural and are loaded with Hemp seed oil which is one of the most nutrient dense plant oils found on Earth, the soaps are non-greasy and have the perfect amount of lather. These soaps are so good it will be hard for you to share.

Product yummies:

The Candy Soap Collection caters to every dessert lovers fantasy! It is the first soap collection to turn soap into a sensuous, calorie-free indulgence! The collection is sold in an authentic candy box and includes nine miniature bars of soap. Rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids, your skin will feel soft and moisturized after using each delicious handmade hemp soap miniature. These beautiful guest soaps are a one of a kind treat!

9 delicious scents:

Lavender Oatmeal
Fresh Citrus
Coconut,
Totally Peppermint
Sweet Gardenia
Linden Blossom
Tea Party
Lemon Aloe
Ginger
Peach Tea

If you are looking for a very Dolce (sweet) bath experience you will not be sorry with the Candy Soap Collection. Please also visit Bath Desserts to see other yummy goodies for a truly luxurious bath experience.

The Candy Soap Collection is Product Junkie Approved!!!

Bath Desserts is kindly extending a special discount to La Dolce Vita Readers, use code CandySoaps to receive 20% off your order. This offer is good from March 28th through April 11th.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Fashion Friday: If the shoe fits BUY IT!

If the Shoe fits buy it!
If the Shoe fits buy it! - by klacustomcreations on Polyvore.com

I don't know about you but I am ready to wear sandals, the weather isn't warm enough but it will be before you know. First I do need a pedicure even if I do it myself!

Wedge sandals are all the rage for the coming warm months and there is such a variety available from studded, jeweled, some with fringe and even a pair that has the look of a gladiator sandal. Which is your favorite?

If you would like to read the entire article it was featured over at TwitterMoms HERE.

Don't forget to enter my current giveaways in the upper RIGHT HAND CORNER!

TGIF friends, make it a great day!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Are you a Night Owl?


When do you blog? I mostly blog at night, you see it is when things quiet down and my little guy is also a Night Owl so I am often up far too late.

This sweet hand stamped piece is available in my shop, just listed! Click HERE.

Thousand Words Thursday: A bit of this and that..

Lunch out at PF Changs (our new favorite restaurant) Do you like Will's expression??? Do you love PF Changs too??


Kane got a new bed and Will said there was "room for two" see the expression on Kane's face.... not happy but tolerating! Kane goes through about 4 beds a year.


This is a picture of a batch of orders that I got out yesterday, it is always such a good feeling to complete some work! Off to the next batch of orders! Thank you if you are one of my very special customers!

Carpe Diem.... Seize the Day!

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to my shop enter HERE

For more Thousand Words Thursday please visit my friend Jen at Cheaper Than Therapy.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Music to my ears: Corneille Giveaway!!!

One thing for sure is that I love music! I love all types and especially artists that have a story behind their music. When I am working on filling my customer's orders I like to pop in a great CD and brew a perfect cup of tea, when these two things happen I am most productive.

I had the pleasure of receiving the new CD The Birth of Corneille. Corneille's music is soulful, smooth and easy to listen to. The lyrics get in your head and you can't get them out, which is fine by me since I really enjoyed the entire CD. Corneille is an artist that has withstood much tragedy yet took his grief and turned to music. Corneille's family members were killed in Rwanda during the genocide in 1994, and he alone escaped first to Kinshasa, and then to Germany, where he was taken in by some family friends. Here is a quote from the artist:

"Music has been the place where I could go to hide and forget about the world. I couldn't make sense of a majority of the things that happened to me, so I used music as a shield. But over time, music has become a vehicle to channel out everything that I've been keeping from myself for all these years. And the new album is definitely the most honest, real assessment of everything that's happened in my life, because I'm not trying to hide as much." Corneille

You can learn more about Corneille at Corneille music.

Would you like to listen to my favorite song? Too Much of Everything
If you would like to purchase The Birth of Corneille you can HERE.

Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway!

I have two Cd's up for grabs! If you would like to enter for a chance to win The Birth of Corneille CD please leave me a comment with your current favorite type of music:

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

**Follow my blog
**Tweet with a link to this post
**Stumble this post
**Add my blog button to your site

The contest closes on March 30th, Midnight EST. Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you win.

Good Luck!!!



Monday, March 23, 2009

Let me introduce you to: Featured Reader

La Dolce Vita


Hello friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. We had a very busy weekend but I managed to see the Twilight movie and it was so good, I loved it! We had lunch at PF Changs this weekend and it was the first time for Will and I, I can't believe it took me that long to try it. Can you say YUM!!

Monday's are always fun since I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of my fab readers. I am pleased to introduce you to Stefanie of Bizzie Mommy. Stephanie really is a very busy Mommy she has two kids, two jobs, and two blogs, now that is busy!! Please grab your favorite beverage of choice and get to know my friend Stephanie.


Name:

Stephanie Elie aka Bizzie Mommy



BizzieMommy.com- doing it all to reach financial freedom



Tell us about your family:


I have been married to my husband Craig for almost 9 years. I have a 13 month old son that we call Cam Cam at home, on my blog he's referred to as Bizzie Boy. I also have a 3 ½ year old daughter Bizzie Princess. We live in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California in a condo that we out grew over a year ago.

How did you start blogging?

My original thought behind blogging was to promote my online baby boutique; a good friend told me I needed to be more personal with my posts and that triggered a flood of writing energy. That led to the launch of BizzieMommy.com and I haven't been able to stop.

Tell us about your parenting philosophy:

My parenting philosophy is do the best you can with what you have, laugh often and ALWAYS buy Costco wipes.

You will never find me with out.....

You will never find me with my blackberry or moleskin notebook and now most recently my new SLR camera. I haven't been able to leave the house without them.

Tell us about yur Day job:

My day job. Well by day I work as an Online Associate Producer. But at night I am a Boutique Owner/Writer. I own LaLa Baby Boutique, an online baby boutique that focuses on modern and stylish products for modern and stylish parents.

Favorite Stuff:

Music: My iPod has a wide selection of music that is the beauty of an iPod. Right now I'm listening to Pink.

Food: Chinese food
TV/Movies: Lost, Fringe, House, Flash Point, Super Nanny, Wife Swap currently top the list for TV shows. I love watching thriller and action movies.

Reading: Really, I don't think I sat down and read a book for myself in years. I read a ton of children's books; my current favorite is the Big Fat Lie. I do read a lot of other blogs, hoping one day I'll be able to pick up a book again.

If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it, what would it say?

Life begins outside your comfort zone

Favorite shops: I used to be an Express girl but now I'm trying to branch out. I love Arden B jeans.

Special offer to La Dolce Vita Readers:

I would like to offer La Dolce Vita readers a 10% discount at LaLa Baby Boutique. Just enter: VITA02 at checkout to receive your discount.

Please be sure to visit Stephanie's blog and boutique also leave her some comment love below.

Don't forget to enter in my contest for a $50 gift certificate from my shop Kristen's Custom Creations. Enter HERE.

If you would like to be a featured reader here at La Dolce Vita please send me an email at klacustomcreations@comcast.net, by participating you have a chance to win a custom necklace from my shop!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Feel Good Sunday......

Will and his cousin.

Cousins by chance, friends by choice.

Please be sure to enter my contest for a $50 gift certificate to my shop enter HERE

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Product Junkie Approved: Yummy for your hands


Let's just say I wash my hands a lot and since I do I need hand soap that doesn't dry my hands out. Just the other day I ran out of my favorite Bath & Body Works Foaming hand soap and had to use a brand I will not mention, after just a few days my hands were really dry. I just picked up this new scent Mint Nectarine and it is yummy. The Mint Nectarine is mild yet smells really good. I love the foam versions since I can also use them to wash Will's hands, he thinks the foam is fun. Running out of B & B handsoaps makes me just as panicked as running out of TP, if you know what I mean.

Here are a few of my other favorite scents:

Kitchen Lemon
Cucumber Melon
Tropical Passion Fruit

Black Raspberry Vanilla.


Right now these soaps are 3 for $10 and online they are offering free shipping with a purchase of $60, use code FREESHIP60. I also sign up for their mailing list and never purchase anything without a coupon, just the other day I had a coupon for 20% off my entire purchase so that made the soaps just $2.66 each. I think washing your hands should be a fabulous experience so I indulge for some yummy hand soaps.

Do you have a favorite hand soap that you can't live without?

Be sure to enter for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate out of my shop Kristen's Custom Creations. The contest runs until 3/31/09 enter HERE

Friday, March 20, 2009

The Ultimate Blog Party 2009: Hand Stamped Jewelry Giveaway!!!

This contest is closed please visit my shop to view my entire collection of hand stamped jewelry, Kristen's Custom Creations

La Dolce Vita

Ultimate Blog Party 2009

Hello Ladies! Happy Spring! For anyone that isn't a regular follower my name is Kristen Andrews and I am a WAHM who blogs about many different things. I love to feature my readers, blog about fashion trends, products that I love, a lot about my 3 year old son Will and of course my hand stamped jewelry. I hope you enjoy my blog and will return again soon! Enjoy your trip around the blogosphere but while you are here enter my contest!

To my regular loyal followers thank you so much and be sure to join in the fun with the Ultimate Blog Party with 5minutes4mom.com

Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to my shop Kristen's Custom Creations see below for details:



Here are just a few of my favorite pieces!





First entry: Visit my shop and tell me what you would buy with your gift certificate from Kristen's Custom Creations I also welcome custom orders!!!

Bonus entries: (leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

  • Twitter about my contest

  • Follow my blog

  • Add my Blog button to your site (code available upper left corner)

  • Add my Shop button to your site (code available upper left corner)

  • Stumble this post

You have 6 possible entries and the winner will be selected randomly on March 31st at Midnight EST. The contest is open to US and Canadian residents only. Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you. Winner must respond within 72 hours to receive the gift certificate. The gift certificate is available for items out of my shop and is not redeemable for cash. Good luck!

5minutes4mom is also offering a gift certificate from my shop at their site and you need to put it in your Ultimate Blog Party post it is USC #16.

Here is what I want to win:

#1
#58
#19
#91
#101
USC 9
USC 58

Fashion Friday: Spring For Some Florals

Spring for some pretty florals
Spring for some pretty florals - by klacustomcreations on Polyvore.com

With today being the first day of spring what could be more in style than a pretty floral piece to add to your wardrobe?

Flowers are all the rage for spring and are popping up everywhere. You can find something that is subtle or something that will make a big splash!

If you would like to read my entire article please visit TwitterMoms where I am a weekly contributor for Fashion and Beauty.

TwitterMoms has over 12,000 members and Redbook magazine says it is "the hot new obsession among web-savvy moms" why not check it out for yourself!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Thousand Words Thursday: Lunch out



Over the weekend we had lunch at Bd's Mongolian Grill, Will loves it. Will loves eating with the kiddie chop sticks, too much fun for a 3 year old. Take a closer look apparently holding on to the ledge helps!

Today is a very special day, it is my Mom's Birthday, Happy Birthday Mom! We are looking forward to having lunch at the Henry Ford Estate today with you! (my Mom reads my blog so I can't show you the necklace I made her, so I will share later)

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Looking for bad guys...


Will is looking for "Bad guys" fortunately for us he didn't find any. This adorable reversible cape is available at a fellow Etsy shop Homemade Heroes

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Photo by phoolanlevis

For those that celebrate St. Patricks Day I hope you enjoy the day and I hope it is a very lucky one! May you have the luck of the Irish not just today but everyday! I know I am lucky everyday for being a Mom! The above picture isn't Kane our greyhound but I just love it, isn't he cute! At least Kane was spared from being dressed up once again.




The handstamped "Lucky Mom" necklace is NEW and available in my shop Kristen's Custom Creations.

Are you doing anything special for St. Patrick's Day???

Monday, March 16, 2009

Featured Reader: Let me introduce you to....

La Dolce Vita



Happy Monday friends! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. We had a weekend of sunshine and 50 degrees which meant a lot of time outside playing and a bit of yard clean up, it was refreshing! I can hardly wait to plant flowers, in Michigan to be safe we have to wait until after Mother's Day. Now on to my fabulous featured reader.

I have the pleasure of introducing you to the very sweet Lolli of Life is Sweet. Do you ever meet a Mom and wonder how she does it all? That is how I feel about Lolli, not only is she sweet as can be but she also is an amazing Mom of 5 kiddos, she runs several blogs, has a joint business venture with her husband and is a photographer! Lolli's blog is always very inviting and is a must read on my list. Please grab a cup of joe and get to know my friend Lolli!


Name:


Lolli of Life Is Sweet.




Family:


I have been married to my husband for almost 14 years, and we have 5 great kids--ages 12, 9, 8, 6, and 3. The 8 and 3 year olds are my boys--the other 3 are girls.


How did you start blogging?


I started blogging in October 2007 after reading some friends' blogs. I was inspired and decided to jump on the blogging boat. I blogged about my family and our comings and goings pretty casually for a year, and then kicked things up in November 2008, when I started blogging daily.




What is your parenting philosophy?


My parenting philosophy? Hmm.....each child is different and each day Boldis different for each child. In other words, there are no rules that are universal cure-alls, except LOVE. I jsut love my kids, teach them good principles, and take one day (or minute) at a time.


You will never find me without......My camera. I'm a little obsessed!

Day job:


I am a teacher by degree, and a mom by choice. I stay home with my kids, and blog and do photography on the "side." In my "spare time" I am helping develop and promote our new business, Peanut Butter~Language Learning That Sticks (www.peanutbuttersticks.com). It is the hardest thing imaginable to run a start up company and to put all our eggs in one basket. It's a pretty cool language learning program, so we're hoping for big things from it soon!


Favorite Stuff:


Music: Country!


Food: I love anything that's well-seasoned. Meat, pasta, you name it. I love to eat just about anything I didn't prepare.


Tv/ Movies: I love LOST. We don't have cable so anything we watch is either on DVD or online.

Reading: I love historical fiction. I recently joined a book club and have enjoyed reading lots of different types of books.

If you had to wear a T-shirt with your favorite saying on it what would it be?


Who knows?! Maybe "Smile!" since I'm always snapping a picture.


Favorite stores to shop at.....Strangely enough, my favorite store (the one I'd pick every time) is a thrift store called Unique. I get a thrill every time I find a great deal.


Other good things from Lolli:


I love blogging and all of the great women I've gotten to know through my blog. It's such an empowering place!


Please leave Lolli some comment love! If you would like to be a Featured Reader please send me an email at klacustomcreations@comcast.net