Featured Reader: Let me introduce you to...

Hello friends! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I always love Mondays since it means I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of my lovely readers. I have the great pleasure of introducing you to Natalie of The Bobby Pin. Natalie is just a doll and I am sure you will love her blog as much as I do. Please grab your beverage of choice and get to know my friend Natalie.

Name:

Natalie, my blog is The Bobby Pin

Family:

My immediate family consists of me, my husband and my dog. We were married in July 2007 and I’m still calling us newlyweds.

How did you start blogging?

I started blogging the day we returned from our honeymoon. I’m a writer by trade and at first it started as just documenting our lives and our move to San Diego. It later evolved into a way to connect with a community bigger than myself. Blogging allows you to find friends to meet at the park who live close to you, find people with your same interests far away from you to talk to, it’s awesome!

If you are a parent do you have a parenting philosophy? If not a parent what is your blogging philosophy?

I am a puppy mama and I’m a softie – always up for treats and cuddles. Unless Dahlia chews on something she’s not supposed to. Then I hold a grudge until she comes up and cuddles with me! I also believe in second chances. We got our dog from the San Diego Pug Rescue.

You will never find me without......my purse stuffed to the brim. A sweater because I’m always cold. A pen because I want to write my thoughts. My calendar because I’m worried I’m going to forget something. So basically my hands are always full.

Day job:

I’m a marketing coordinator by day. I write press releases, plan and coordinate press conferences, work on my company’s Web site and social media accounts and all in all give my best to a company that is struggling during this recession! I believe that the most powerful form of advertising is to be exceptional (Ranjit Mathoda) – so I truly believe in bringing my best self everyday while we work to become an exceptional company. I also freelance write and consult in marketing – but that’s at night after work. It all blends in to pay the bills!

Favorites:

Music: Country all the way

Food: Cheap sushi

Tv/ Movies: lame reality TV like the Bachelor. I get sucked into it every time.

Reading: I’ll read almost anything. I love Jodi Piccoult right now, I just finished Mercy.

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

"Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little." —Tom Stoppard, playwright

I just liked it. If that saying is too big – I would just have them write “Communicate.” It’s so important in marriage, work and wherever life takes you. If anything, it will at least get you the right tasting drink at Starbucks.

Favorite stores to shop at:

The Ann Taylor and Loft clearance rack. I love the $9 shirts I’ve scored there. If I had more money, it would be Anthropologie, but I can’t justify it. I still like to go in there and touch everything though – I’m a very tactile person. (apologies to the people who buy the clothes!)

Other good stuff from Natalie:

I love trying new things. I call it hobby ADD – I tried knitting this year and have a 10-inch scarf thus far, last year it was cake decorating. So far my true loves are traveling, writing and figuring out computer stuff. But I never know what will bite me next.

Please do not forget to enter my current giveaway for a lip balm from Soap Rehab enter HERE.

If you would like to be a featured reader please send me a message with your name and a link of your blog to klacustomcreations@comcast.net. Featured Readers have an opportunity to win a custom piece from my shop, Kristen's Custom Creations.

Upcoming Featured Readers:

Joelle The A-Priori Mommy 4/13

Melissa of Proud Mommy's Daily Deals and Drama 4/20

Anne The Tea Journal 4/27

Jo of Life's Perfect Pictures 5/4

And the winner is.....

The Featured Reader that won the drawing for one of my custom pieces is Shannon Of Welcome to the Nuthouse!

Congratulations Shannon! I never like being the one to pull the winner out of the bowl since I want everyone to win!

If you would like to be one of my featured readers please send me an email at klacustomcreations@comcast.net

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

Happy Monday friends! If you haven't stopped by in a few days I just had my 1 year Blogoversary, and can hardly believe it! Please be sure to stop back over the next week as I am going to be offering specials of the day on select items in honor of my Anniversary! Monday's are always fun at La Dolce Vita since I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of my Featured Readers. I am pleased to introduce you to Meg of Kiss My Style. Megan and I became bloggy friends through a social network and boy is she a crafty gal, I just love crafty gals! Please grab a cup of coffee and get to know my friend Meg!


Name:


Megan Calpin Hughes of Plush Designs PA





Family:

Husband Rob, Daughter Hannah (21 months), Kitty Maximilian (from the movie Rebecca 1940)

How did you start blogging?

I started it as a portfolio of my work, then I added personal tidbits about our life and now it serves for work, family, promotion of handmade artists and a catalog of upcoming pieces for Kiss My Style.

If you are a parent do you have a parenting philosophy?

We teach Hannah manners, sign language, kindness, love, affection & compassion. We believe in discipline, but its very laid back. We say “no” do time outs and explain, we always ask for an apology & a kiss to make up. So far, we have lucked out and she has taken to all that we teach including our love of arts, crafts and music – what a little dancer!

You will never find me without...... my knitting needles & a skein of yarn and lip gloss

Day job:

I own Kiss My Style and design pieces for it. It currently is an online boutique that over 30 artisans sell their handmade pieces. 100% handmade – 100% fabulous! I am always looking for new artists to sell & I currently have been expanding my line into wholesale!



Favorite Stuff: Hannah’s laughs, fiber, yarn, music, the outdoors and family time.

Music: techno, spa, classical, classic rock
Food: Italian & Chinese
Tv/ Movies: True Romance, CSI LV, The Office, How I met your mother, The Mentalist
Reading: I love witchy girl humor like Jen Lancaster

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

Kiss My Style

I love the name of my business b/c it has attitude while being cute at the same time – plus everyone always asks what it means. lol

Favorite stores to shop at:
Etsy, mom & pop shop’s and then Gap & Jcrew – I’m 5’11 and they have long lengths in classic styles that last forever!


Misc stuff from Megan:

I could knit anywhere at any time. I love fabric. Libraries smell good and the outdoors makes me happy. I love my family & my friends and I hope to give Hannah a brother. J

As a reminder if you would like to be a Featured Reader at my site please send me an email at klacustomcreations@comcast.net

A new blog design calls for a new piece in my shop...

I have received so many requests for rings and had this design in my head for the longest time. I wanted to wait to unveil it with my new blog design so here it is!! I call it the Hand Stamped Dangle Birthstone ring. When I was wearing it, Will kept saying "I like it, it dangles" I wanted to create a ring that was really unique and unlike any others, and feel it truly is unique.

I wanted to shout out to Nicole of Apron Strings Aflutter. Nicole is responsible for my blog redesign. I am so pleased and Nicole delivered exactly what I expected. I am a very picky business owner and the pickiest customer so I thank Nicole for putting up with me through the design. It may just be me but when I look at my blog, it just makes me HAPPY!

What do you think of the new ring?

Product details:

The "Dangle Birthstone" ring is a pea size sterling silver disc that you can have up to 3 letters stamped and up to four birthstone crystals. The available sizes are 5-9. Please indicate in the note to seller the size, birthstones, and letters that you would like stamped. Artist Note: The letters on this ring have been hand stamped one at a time, I do not use machines. The letters will not line up perfectly and this should not be considered a flaw but part of the charm. The letters have been blackened/antiqued and slightly brushed to make the letters stand out. This piece has an aged appearance and will appear slightly tarnished but rest assured it has been given a good polish and all by hand.Thank you for visiting my shop. Please convo me if you have any questions or would like a custom piece designed.The "Dangle Birthstone" ring is Copyright of Kristen's Custom Creations and is not to be duplicated in any manner.

Please visit my shop to view my entire collection: Kristen's Custom Creations

Wordless Wednesday: Lunch with the girls

I know it is suppose to be wordless but I couldn't resist. These are Will' s girls (as he refers to them) don't they look like they are having a nice lunch? Right before I snapped the picture Will was telling Angelina that she couldn't sit next to him and he was pushing her, keep in mind it is her house and her table. After a bit of coaching(ok persuading) he enjoyed his lunch with his girls.

Aren't these little ladies adorable?

Someone actually thinks I rock besides my own Mother....

I received this nifty award from Jennifer over at The Dirty Shirt and Jenn at The Peacock's Nesting place, please stop by and say hello to Jennifer and Jen, they both blog from the heart. I would like to pass this award on to some of my New bloggy friends:

Tena, from Punky Monkey

Jenni, from Jiggity Jigg

Angela, from Unexpected Art

Juliana's Site

Christy, from Shake the Salt