Friday's Foot Fetish: Color Changing Cros

Abby Lu would LOVE to watch her shoes change color outside! What fun a toddler could have with these!

Spring Baby Shower with Birdies

I co-hosted a baby shower earlier this month for my friend, Heidi. Heidi is a school teacher with a wonderful husband and is expecting her first child, Lily, next month. She is one of the good people of this world that you want to bless. We had a lovely brunch with friends and enjoyed seeing the wonderful things others blessed Heidi and Lilly with. Let's just say she is well loved and will be dressed in such cute things for months!

The other hostesses gave me full reign on decor, so I went with a spring-like birdie theme using many items I already own. I have blues and browns with birdies in my master bathroom.

I incorporated reds, browns, and aqua blues into the color palette. I hung moss balls from the lighting, used bird houses, robins' eggs and birds throughout the table decor. I just love brunch food- we had bagels with an amazing dip, coffee cake, fresh fruit, mini quiches, bacon appetizers, a veggie tray, and a meat and cheese tray. Oh, and a fresh strawberry cake from my friend Kelly at Billa Cakes. I just loved the fat bird and the dimensional nest on top. Kelly also made my daughter's first birthday cake and cookies for her second birthday.

Along with about 10 ladies at the shower, we had these two little girls! Aren't their squished up nose smiles the cutest? My daughter was at story time since I can't seem to manage hosting and parenting at the same time!

Congratulations Heidi on making it this far in the Texas heat and best wishes for a perfectly sweet little girl real soon!

Deborah Lippmann Polish

Have you heard of Deborah Lippmann nail polish? She is a manicurist to the stars and came out with her own polish. It is 3-free which is always nice and is said to stay on for more than 7 days!

I stopped getting Shellac a few weeks ago. It started just peeling off my nails and my nail tech and I just couldn't make it stay. I don't know what happened! So, this long wearing polish was worth a shot to replace my Shellac. Pardon my cuticles- I am in need of a real manicure!

I've worn it for 5 days straight and it still looks good! It is expensive, so it is a splurge, but is cheaper than Shellac and can be used again and again!

See all the colors here. I bought mine at Luxe Apothetique in the Domain shopping center (in northwest Austin). You can also find it at Nordstrom's online.

Friday's Foot Fetish: My New Toms

I posted on Facebook a few weeks ago that I thought TOMS were so ugly and I didn't get it. I'll be honest, I hadn't seen them on anyone, just online, in pictures and at the store waiting to be sold. This past weekend, I saw the cutest little Mom in these silver glitter TOMS and I immediately wanted them. She had one a white boyfriend shirt, rolled up jeans, a red belt and these shoes. I was sold!

My Mother's Day gift didn't work out like I had thought it would so after a little return on his part, I ordered these instead. I can't wait to wear them on the weekends and this summer when my office goes to casual summer attire! We wear jeans and capris from Memorial Day to Labor Day!

I love that for Mother's Day I not only got new shoes, but I gave a pair to a child whose Mother can't. I feel like I am sharing Mother's Day with someone I don't even know whose love for her child is just as great as mine for Abby Lu.

Here are some other favorites in case you want to give and receive also!

Red Canvas Wedges

Navy Striped Espadrilles

Natural Burlap Classics

and, pink madras plaid Tiny Toms

Quick and Easy Teacher Gifts

Abby's school is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week and they gave us a list of what to bring each day for her teachers. It is simple small things to honor her teachers without spending a lot of money. Monday was candy day- here is our candy.

I have also given a big jar of Smarties for a friends graduation. Something fun! You could also play off Dum Dums!

Tuesday was fruit day- so we skipped the traditional apple and honored her "pear" of teachers Kristen and Sabrina.

These are both placed in the treat bags you can buy at Hobby Lobby or Michaels in the cake aisle and small gift tags from the scrapbooking aisle. I try to keep both on hand because they make great packaging for little items.

I have many friends that are teachers. To all the teachers out there- thank you! You do such important work, spend long hours and your own money, and put up with a lot from difficult kids, ungrateful parents, and do it all for less pay than so many other professions. Thank you!

Green or Pink?

It is like an espadrille purse! How could you not just love these two?

Cabana Stripe Raelin from kate spade

So tell me, green or pink?

Friday's Foot Fetish: Little Girls

My daughter says the door to her closet is the door to her shoes. Uh oh! Can you say problem? I try hard not to overbuy for her- she is just 2, is growing, and needs to be able to play and get dirty. Every know and then, I splurge and buy her something I just can't live without.

These are her splurge shoes- silver Pampili sandals. She will wear them most every Sunday this summer to church! I just love them!

They aren't in silver on Zappos anymore, but they do have white and pink!

Mother's Day Ideas

This post is partially for my husband, but in scouring the web for gift ideas for him, I came across a few too many things and thought I would share them here.

We operate differently than many couples- we share bank accounts and therefore I want to make sure I like my gift. To be honest, it isn't the thought that always counts with me. I know what I like and like to give him options including direct links. He has the final say in selecting what link he purchases from. And, I get to be surprised within reason :)

He also gets reassurance in knowing I will like my gift. No fake "thank yous" or awkward return conversations have to occur. It just works best for us! Sometimes he sends me links also, but often I just listen to what he needs, complains about, or looks for things they are worn out.

Here are some of my favorites I sent to him:

rainbow necklace, sewing machine, mason jar, kate spade red

ruffled apron, pink watch

As You Grow Up...with correct link

I saw this box frame in a sweet nursery on another blog and just fell in love with it. I ordered it for my entryway because in some ways, we are all still growing up.

You can find it here.

May Desktop

This month's desktop is a digital quilt in honor of my Mom and Mother's Day. So many of my crafty talents come from Mom. One day I'll take up sewing like her, though I doubt I will ever be a quilter with her- I just don't have the time and patience for quilting. Happy Mother's Day Mom!

To enjoy this desktop all month long, just right click to save the file and then open it and save it as your desktop. It should keep you cheery all month long!