Guest Post: ...And Everything Nice

Hi lovelies!  I am so honored and excited for my very first guest post!  Please go check it out at my Cold Hands, Warm Hearts partner's blog, ...And Everything Nice!  She definitely has the artistic touch doesn't she?  My images just looked like a jumbled mess when I sent them to her... all I want for Christmas is to learn how to use that darned Photoshop and Illustrator!

Are you as cold as I am???  So glad I have my new gloves from Anna :)  This cableknit coffee is just what I need to top me off!

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Happy Hump Day!

Cold Hands Warm Hearts

Yay!  It's finally time to show our Cold Hands, Warm Hearts swaps partner gifts!  I had a lovely partner, Anna from ....And Everything Nice who you were able to get to know a little better yesterday.  I receive her lovely package this week...

Anna gifted me with some lovely cards from her stationary line (don't you love her label???) and the most best gloves ever!  They're J. Crew fingerless mitten gloves!  So stylish and also functional for taking my dog out in this cold, cold weather!! :)  Thank you so much Anna--this has been so much fun making a new blog friend!

Blog Du Jour: The Nice Blog

Happy Monday lovelies!  Sorry I've taken a little bit of a break from Blog Du Jour.... things have just been crazy!  If you'd be interested in being featured on Blog Du Jour, please shoot me an email :)

This week's Blog Du Jour features my lovely Cold Hands Warm Hearts partner, Anna Elder from ...And Everything Nice.  I know you'll love Anna, her blog and her stationary as much as I do... Enjoy and be sure to check back tomorrow to see our CHWH swaps!

Who: Anna Elder

What: ...And Everything Nice

Where: Edmond, Oklahoma

What made you start blogging?

I honestly never thought I would start a blog or what I would do with one if I did.  It came about when I was craving an outlet for design and things that interested me visually.  I wasn't working in a field that did much creatively for me so I started a blog.  The first name was Design to be Free and I thought it was kinda cheesy but I went with it.  I needed a place for my thoughts, designs, and visual stimulation.  I knew it would eventually morph into something focused more on my stationery which was and still is in it's beginning phases.

How did you come across the name of your blog?

...And Everything Nice sort of just came to me one day.  I was probably in the shower, where most of my prolific thinking happens.  :)  I was thinking of a name for what I wanted to call my stationery company.  Who was my target base, demographic, etc.  Obviously, young women and women in general.  And the saying "A little girl is sugar and spice and everything nice" popped in my head.  I liked the pause before ...and everything nice.  I think it's a keeper.

If you could trade places with one person for a day, who would it be?

Man, this is a tough one.  Do I go with an intellect or a celebrity?  Who is Jake Gyellenhal dating right now?  I want to be her.  Kidding.  I would want to be Dagny Tagert from Any Rand's Atlas Shrugged.  She's a tough, strong-willed, kind of mean woman with a mind of her own in a time when that's not very common and in a setting I can only imagine.  I would be curious to see that setting in real life.  I'd also be curious to see what it would be like to tall, thin, and angular.  I am none of those things.  Tough, strong-willed, and a little mean.  I am those.

What is the last thing you ate?

I actually just had a bowl of cereal.  Frosted Mini wheats.  I could live on cereal.  I should probably move on to lunch soon.

What is something most people don't know about you?

Another hard one.  I am like an open book to my friends.  However, the blogging community does not know about my irrational fear of moths and flies.  Moths terrify me.  I claim to be attacked by one and will divulge in that story if asked.  They are furry and fly and it's just gross.  I hate flies because of the buzzing noise they make.  I think I can hear one in another room.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

I haven't been to many places outside of the country.  I really want to go to Paris and London.  Last year I went on a cruise around the Tahitian islands.  That's probably my favorite place so far.  If it's sunny and has a beach, I'm there.

What five people would be in your circle for spin the bottle?

 

Oh, now this is an easy one!  How can I keep it to only 5?!  Paul Rudd, Jason Schawrtzmen, Zachary Levi, Zach Braff, and my husband.  I guess I have a thing for people that make me laugh.

What is your "Must Have Today"?

I really always have something I'm obsessing over.  Right now, it's Rayban Wayfarer's optical glasses.  I haven't been to the eye Dr. in years and I don't wear glasses.  I think I might need some, but I mostly just want these glasses!  I have the sunglasses, but I love the frames!!

What is the Tiny Bit of Sparkle in your life?

Since the word 'tiny' is in this question I think I can get away with saying my pug.  My pug Winston makes my days.  He's my little fur child and I love him to death.  He's always there to listen and cuddle as well as play with.  Really, my whole little family of me, my husband, and our two dogs are my everyday sparkle.

My Life According to Tim McGraw; His Life According to George Strait

 {Brian Kvidera}

I don’t often fill out surveys, but my sister did this one and it was actually pretty fun. By pretty fun, I mean a freaking blast!! Here were the rules:

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 15 people you like and include me. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)"

This is mine:

My Life According to Tim McGraw
Are you male or female: Don’t Take The Girl
Describe Yourself: I’m Just Me
How do you feel: Unbroken
Describe where you currently live: Sing Me Home
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Louisiana
Your favorite form of transportation: Memory Lane
You and your best friends are: By My Side
What’s the weather like: She’s My Kind of Rain
Favorite time of day: She’s Only Happy In The Sun
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: Set This Circus Down
What is life to you: I’m Amazed By You
Your last relationship: Like We Never Loved At All
Your fear: Nothin’ To Die For
What is the best advice you have to give: Live Like You Were Dying
Thought for the day: Watch The Wind Blow
How I would like to die: Where The Green Grass Grows
My soul’s present condition: Smiling
My motto: We Carry On

It made my day when the boy above did his.

Justin’s Life According to George Strait (Chosen strictly from his 50 #1’s album)
Are you male or female: You Know Me Better Than That
Describe Yourself: So Much Like My Dad
How do you feel: Living and Living Well
Describe where you currently live: Heartland
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?
Your favorite form of transportation: Blue Clear Sky
You and your best friends are: True
What’s the weather like: The Chill of an Early Fall
Favorite time of day: One Night at a Time
If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: We Really Shouldn’t Be Doing This
What is life to you: Round About Way
Your last relationship: Run
Your fear: A Fire I Can’t Put Out
What is the best advice you have to give: You Can’t Make A Heart Love Somebody
Thought for the day: I’d Like To Have That One Back
How I would like to die: Ocean Front Property
My soul’s present condition: Carried Away
My motto: If You Ain’t Lovin’, You Ain’t Livin’

My sister and I are making each other our survey lists as mixed tapes and gifting it to each other for Christmas. Her band was O.A.R. and I can't wait to listen to it!

Now, it's your turn!

Hi, I'm Cindy.  I live in Kansas City and date often (eh..)  regularly sometimes. I date. I dated a guy once that lived in the Northeast. He described Kansas City as utterly Midwestern. His description of the women here? Farm fresh and corn fed. I hate to admit it, but that sums me up in 4 words and an ampersand. Yes, yes, I am a personality girl whose verbosity and crazy antics sometimes gets the best of her. Yet, it always makes for a damn good time. (well…)  

love, love,

cin

Giveaway Winner!

Happy Friday folks!  Today is the day I announce the Livy Creations winner... drumroll please...

Kate Bright from 

The Bright Life!

Thank you all so much for entering and for reading Tiny Bit of Sparkle.  Sorry I keep apologizing for being MIA but again, I apologize! 

Sugar, [Ginger] Spice and Everything Nice

When it's cold out, I love nothing more than a hot cup of coffee and some Gingerbread Spice Bread.  Now I realize making bread is quite the formidable task but William and Sonoma has made it easy for us with their Gingerbread Spice Quick Bread Mix.  My Mother-in-law first introduced me to this addicting holiday treat and I can't get enough!

 Gingerbread Spice Quick Bread Mix

You can whip this up for your neighbors or friends, wrap it up real pretty and you've got a simple, but delicious holiday gift!

Also, be sure to enter my giveaway to win this lovely pillow from Livy Creations before Friday!

What are some of your favorite holiday treats?

Wrap it Up

I love beautiful gift wrap.  I've never been much of a wrapper though.  Mine usually turn out a little "off" and I can certainly never seem to get the bows and accessories down.  I would love for my packages this year to look like the ones right below but I'm thinking I'll work toward some of the simple, fun, personalized (user-friendly), and still beautiful ones I've also included.

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Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win this lovely pillow from Livy Creations!

Giveaway Time!

I know you all are probably screaming and crying as much as Oprah's audience on her Favorite Things show at this point... If you're not, you should be :)

Agnieszka from Livy Creations has graciously donated one of her beautiful pillows to a lucky Tiny Bit of Sparkle reader!

There are a few ways you can gain entries to win this 20 x 20 3 color burlap flower pillow:

Please leave a separate comment for each:

1. Become a follower of Tiny Bit of Sparkle
2. Heart livycreation's Etsy shop and tell us what you like most
3. Tweet about this giveaway (use @tinybitsparkle and @LivyCreations)
4. Like Livy Creations, LLC and Agora Fine Art Marketplace on Facebook
5. Follow me on Twitter (@tinybitsparkle)
6. Follow Agnieszka on Twitter (@LivyCreations)

Also, if you're in the Atlanta area, please be sure to check out Agnieszka's work at the Agora Fine Art Marketplace, where Artists and Designers get together -presenting unique and one of a kind pieces of Art.

Agora Fine Art Marketplace

Friday, December 3 at 4:00pm - December 5 at 7:00pm 

3925 North Stratford Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30342

Here's a few of my favorite items Livy Creations...

 

Burlap Pillowcase with accent ruffles 

Burlap Christmas Pillows

Love Pillow

Red Flower Pillow

The winner will be picked via random number generator on Friday, December 3, 2010!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my sparkly readers!  I hope you all stuff yourselves silly with turkey, mashed potatoes (my absolute favorite) and all the most fattening things you can think of!  This is one of two times (next being Christmas) of the year you can eat more than your body can physically take and get away with it.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my ah-mazing giveaway!

xoxo,
Sarah

If I could do it over again...

I might choose a non-traditional wedding dress.  Why can't we have multiple weddings so we can do all of the things we didn't think of before??  I've always loved the short, cute dresses but honestly didn't have the guts to try them.  They definitely make an impression and it takes  certain type of girl to pull them off..

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Also, happy almost Thanksgiving to everyone--be sure to check back in on Friday--I'm hosting an AH-MAZING giveway!  You will love for sure :)

What do you think about short wedding dresses?  Would you be willing to go non-traditional?

Silhouettes Please

Lately silhouettes have caught my eye.  I think they're that perfect grouping that has just the right mix of personal touch and class. 

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When I first started blogging, I posted about an adorable etsy shop, Le Papier Studio.  She has lovely custom silhouettes in addition to some other fun items (i.e. the moustaches).  My favorites are these custom couple silhouettes--loving the reverse silhouette especially!

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I also saw this amazing DIY silhouettes project over at The Nesting Game recently I've been wanting to try...  Molly did an amazing job and I love the colors she chose for her own silhouettes!  She was first inspired by Jonathan Adler's

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and she ended up with this:

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Have any of you tried your hand at any DIY project lately???

Storage Envy

I have a major thing for pretty storage and organization...

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Tiny Bit of Sparkle: For the Holidays

For the holidays!

 

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As you can see, I'm quite ready for Christmas--although I can't wait to stuff my face next week with turkey and mashed potatoes!

Ruffle My Feathers

Sorry for my neglect this week.  The new job has been great but definitely leaves less blogging time!  A few swoon worthy "feathered" friends for you...

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