{Blove}

Hello, friends.  I've missed you.  Our week has been busy, but good.  Since we've last spoke, I've had an emergency root canal...woot, woot!  My dad (Papa) came in from out of town, my dear Abuelo is in the hospital, and the audiologist found fluid in my little man's ears.  Praise God they're not infected as he already has hearing loss - have I mentioned that before?  It doesn't sound like great things happened, but we've had some invaluable family moments that I wouldn't trade.  To mark the end of our week (and the beautiful day today), we took a family picture...

Now on to Blove!

BLOG + LOVE = BLOVE

This week's featured blog is called Smile Monsters (cute, right?).  No matter your crafting background or experience, you are going to love BLOVE this one.  Priding her projects as being simple and economical, you are sure to find something to top your to-do list!  

 As I navigate my way around Smile Monsters I think, "she makes it look so easy!"  Mother of three (two boys and a girl) and creator of a well established blog with followers, advertisers, and a killer tutorial and recipe list, Jo does it all.  Stop by and currently you'll find a great round up of Valentine ideas like these:

tic-tac Valentines

 Valentine cards

Valentine book marks

just to name a few.  

Stop by any other time and you'll find things like...

a really great behavior chart idea

this sooo cute rosey ring

toothbrush bracelet... that's right, bracelets made from toothbrushes

up-cyclers eat your heart out!

and these are just a few of the super creative ideas she comes up with!

Please stop by and show some Blove.  You will make her day, and she will definitely make yours!

Happy Monday!

Waking Wednesday #10

Well, hello there!  Welcome to the tenth edition of the Waking Wednesday link party!  Due to my desperate need to spend time with my family...and sleep, I do not have any featured links today, but you can check out the great entries from last week {here}.  I apologize to everyone who participated.  Next week I will post features from last and this week's party.  

Ok, 'nuff chit-chat.  Let's get this party started!

Here's what you do:

1.  Become a follower

2.  Post your great ideas

3.  Visit someone else's great idea

4.  Grab a button!

Thanks for stopping by, I'm so glad that you did!

Where is the Blove, the Blove, the Blove?

Hello, friends.  You may have noticed that I have not a Blove to share today.  I have surrendered to the fact that I must take this week off from being Lucia.  With several big doctor's appointments, family visiting from out of town, and many other logs in the fire I humbly admit that I can't do it all right now.  I will, however still be hosting Waking Wednesday, so please link up that I may continue to be inspired by your creativeness.  I will miss you dearly, but will return next Monday for a fresh, new edition of Blove!  

Have a productive and joyful week, see you soon!

... and the winner is ...

**Update** Ok, so apparently I have absolutely no idea how to publish my True Random Generator results, but the winner was comment number 1 - Flannery!

Congratulations to Flannery of Three Sisterz (or as the cool people call them, Tres Hermanas) who said: "I love the zebra and green one, but I think my fave is still the mustard and gray!"

This will definitely not be my last giveaway! 

Thank you so much to everyone who participated.  It means a lot to me that you would invest some of your {precious} time in my little bitty blog. 

Although I don't have anything even resembling a tutorial for you today, you're not leaving here empty handed.  Here's some cuteness for the road...

here's my little man reading the Bible...what? 
He can totally read.

...and here is one of the cutest videos I've seen.  My husband is convinced our son is going to learn to do this - he already has the bike picked out!

Have a great Thursday everyone!  If you work outside of home - just think, your week is almost over!  If you work at home... well... you're week's never over... but it's wonderful, isn't it?!

Waking Wednesday #9

Goodbye Monday and Tuesday, hello Wednesday!  Before we get started recapping all of the amazing talent from last week's party, I want to remind you that my Lucia Design's giveaway ends tomorrow at midnight.  You can enter here.  Also, my friend Jenna of Simply Jenna just opened a new Etsy shop and is giving away the cutest felt flower broach.  It's definitely worth checking out!


Ok.  So last week we had 5 wonderful Waking Wednesday participants, including some new faces I hadn't seen!  They were all great, so I'll just give you a quick recap...


My Life As Prose (I'm sorry, I don't know your name) shared what's been going on in her casa with her new bookshelf and lockers (how very clever!)  I love the gray.  

Jennifer over at the Life of Jennifer Dawn gives you a double whammy with her oh, so cute as a button hair clip and display card tutorial.  If you plan to sell any clips yourself, you'll definitely want to see her displays!

Lisa from The Pursuit of Happiness made the cutest pincushion pillow.  I lurve the fabrics she used and totally want to make a big version of this to use as a floor pillow!

Amanda of The Ivy Cottage gave such a pretty baby shower for her sister.  The chandelier was my favorite!

And Gail over at Can't Stop Making Things shows us how to do the coolest thing in Photoshop!!  She took a photo and, after cutting out the background and removing the color, replaced the black with words!  It really is neat, and she walks you through it so you can do it and then brag about how techy you are.

(This picture is before the words are added in)

Thanks, everyone for participating - you really did a great job!  Don't forget your button!

Now it's your turn:

1.  Become a follower

2.  Post your great ideas

3.  Visit someone else's great idea

4.  Grab a button!

Thanks for stopping by, I'm so glad that you did!

Lucia's {List}

Get:

Personalized Birthday Hoop

Gold Feather Headband

Hello Sign

Baby Boots

Make:

love sign

trinket keeper

Ruffled Chiffon Scarf

baby plaque

Win:

Lucia Designs (ends Thursday) 

Cute Felt Floral Broach  by Simply Jenna (ends tomorrow)

Happy Tuesday!

{Blove}

Prepare to have your mind blown.  Too much?  Ok, well at least hold on to your pantelones (pants) because I have such a great blog for you today.  

Meet Melanie, creator of You Are My Fave blog and You Are My Fave Events.

Putting aside the fact that she's so darn cute, her blog is one great big ball of inspiration.  As the name suggests, Melanie shares some of the most fabulous finds around the www she calls her faves.  And let me tell you, homegirl has awesome taste.  From all things mustard yellow to pom poms and centerpieces, I guarantee you will fall in love, ehem, blove.  Oh, and to add to her coolness, she's a quite talented event coordinator.  Have a looksy:

Pinwheel Birthday

Baby Shower

(she made the cake stands.  mad skills.)

Backyard Harvest

So even if you don't accomplish a solitary thing this MLK day, stick your tongue out at that pile of dirty laundry in the corner and visit this blog.  You will most definitely fall in BLOVE!

Happy Monday!

{Inspiration} Sunday

Via

John 8:36

See you Monday!  Don't forget to enter my Lucia Designs giveaway.  A winner will be announced on Thursday!

Fashionista Friday

I have a love affair with my mascara.  If you were to tell me that I was going to be stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one thing with me, it would definitely be mascara.  Ok, maybe not the smartest answer, but you get the picture.  Well, in honor of my beloved mascara, this week I'm doing sort of a Fashionista Friday meets That's What She Said kind of a thing.  I give you (drum roll please)- THE GREATEST MASCARA EVER REVIEW (**greatest referring to the mascara, not the review... how shallow do you think I am?? )


**Ok, so YouTube decided to pick the absolute worst thumbnail to represent my video.  Don't let my creepy eye scare you, it gets better!  Whew, what a humbling process. 

On another note, I bumped into this little product on the web.  It's supposed to give you the perfect ponytail.  You can find it here.  Looks promising and something I might have to try.  Anyone else have any experience with it?  

Oh, and don't forget to enter my Lucia Designs Giveaway here!

Happy Friday, see you Sunday!

Lucia Designs Giveaway!

Hey guys!  So you may have caught on (by my subtle hints) that I've opened an Etsy shop.  I've been having so much fun making things for it, and I'd like to host a Giveaway of any hair clip to one lucky follower!  

Here's what you have to do:

1.  Become a follower.

2.  Stop by my shop - here -  and choose a hair clip

3.  Leave a comment on this post telling me which one you like best.  

I will choose a winner at random and announce it next Thursday. 

Good Luck, and thanks for participating!

 

Waking Wednesday #8

So, the Three Sisterz (or Tres Hermanas, as I have decided they should be called) came up with one of those "how cute!  I should have thought of that!"projects.  It's a super chic, yet super easy fleece scarf.  You can't see it that well, but it has a great black tassel on the ends.  Click here to see it better.

This next tutorial is really great because it's practical, economical, and do-able!  Amanda from The Ivy Cottage shows us how to beef up a saggy couch.  How impressed would your hubby be if he came home to a newly stuffed and plumped couch?  Quite impressed, I'm sure!

Love, love, love this idea!  Jennifer made the cutest thing for her daughter.  Alphabet Water Canvases!  What a great activity for a little one.  I will definitely be trying this one out when my little guy gets old enough.  For now we're working on rolling over.

And finally, Shantel puts your pile of Christmas cards to good use.  Gift tags!  I didn't even know they made such cute punches.  Way to upcycle!

Wow ladies, what great ideas!  Thanks for participating, I love that you think to stop in and link up - don't forget your button!

Now it's your turn:

1.  Become a follower

2.  Post your great ideas

3.  Visit someone else's great idea

4.  Grab a button!

Thanks for stopping by, I'm so glad that you did!

{Blove}

Blog + Love = Blove

I happen to be quite excited about this week's Blove.  I stumbled across this one the other night as I was caught in one of my many and frequent blog rabbit holes (you know - a link, leads to a link, leads to a link, etc.).  Well, I'm so glad I did because this was really a find!  If you have little girls, you'll be in heaven.  If you have little boys, you'll start daydreaming about having a little girl (or at least how to get a ruffle on your son without your husband getting too miffed).  Seriously, it's that cute.  It's called Girl. Inspired. 

In a word: sweet.  This mommy of 3 beautiful girls comes up with the most gorgeous creations.  From dresses to pinatas, her choice of fabrics and texture turns every picture into absolute eye candy.  And of course everything must have either a ruffle, bow, flower, or better yet - all three!  Even these diy party hats she made for her daughter's birthday are covered in frills!  You'll most certainly find great tutorials, but if you want the frills without the work, Girl Inspired has an oh, so lovely etsy shop which you can get to here.  I very much encourage you to check this one out and guarantee that you will leave Girl Inspired, well, inspired!


Happy Monday, friends.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inspiration Sunday

In light of the new year, and our culture's sometimes tragic portrayal that more is best, I thought this fitting. and lovely.

via

 Happy Sunday.

Fashionista Friday

Welcome to Fashionista Friday!  Today we're taking a closeup at this super cute Anthro look.  What I love about this is it's so versatile.  Wear it as is to work or out shopping, then slip off the sweater for a fun night out with the girls!

 

 Don't forget the bag!

 

Anthro dress, bag

Now Get The Look For Less

Dress, Sweater, Shoes, Bag

Want a sexy, messy hairdo to top it all off?  Try this out.

Now that's what I call a hot mess!