a few of my favorite things...

lark and loon trunk show.

 
Hello readers!  Remember this fabulous company?  Lark and Loon is back and going to be at my house next week!  Well, not technically but I will be hosting a trunk show on Wednesday, October 1 @ 7:30pm.  If any of you readers are in the Dallas area and interested in attending please shoot me an email and I can kindly give you directions to my humble abode.   You will get to check out first hand how incredibly fabulous the clothes are.  The art work is so completely fun and whimsical and I can't wait to share it with you.  If you unfortunately do not reside near me you can still check out Lark and Loon's online shop and if you decide to purchase a goody just add my name [Molly] in the comment box.  Pretty simple!  Happy shopping and hope to see you here!

Everyday Beauty

Today I am going to talk about my favorite everyday beauty products. I probably shouldn't really call them "everyday" since I don't necessarily wear makeup every day. I used to wear it everyday when I worked out of the home, but then again I also used to wear lovely suits, dress pants, blouses, skirts, and heels too. Some days I miss getting dressed up and looking put together like that.

My number one favorite beauty product is Dermablend Cover Creme.

This is the best cover up known to man (I swear)! I have a sister with vitiligo who came home with this one day after a dermatologist recommended it to her. This company creates products firstly for those with skin disorders and flaws. I used to sneak swipes of it when my sister would leave for the day. Her little container of it was quite small (.25 - .5 oz.) and she had it for years. I bought my own years later, a slightly larger container at 1 oz. and still have it 4 years later. It is a product I use even when I am not wearing makeup, mainly to cover my "I'm a Mommy" dark circles. The best, the best, the best.

Here are some of the other everyday beauty products I use:

Oil of Olay Facial Moisturizer. My mom has used it for as long as I can remember, my mother-in-law uses it, my sister-in-law uses it, and I am sure some of you.

My MAC eye liner brush. This baby is perfection and the reason I haven't bought eyeliner in years. Just swipe this through your favorite shadow and voila - eyeliner in seconds.

Sephora Pearl No. 8 eyeshadow. I use this regularly as a base and highlight shimmer on my eyes. It goes well with anything and is a really great texture and softness (not actual color shown).

Maybelline Great Lash mascara. A classic and affordable gem. Hey, even the stars are fans - you can't go wrong. Love it.

Finish off with some shimmery Sephora Lip Gloss. This is a great sheer yet creamy gloss and it smells like something from my childhood (which I still can't quite put my foot on). Once again, not actual color shown.

So there you have my everyday beauty faves - a good mix of drug store and department store products.  If you love makeup, you should check out this book:

I purchased this book years and years ago after seeing Kevyn on the Oprah show. He was such a talented makeup artist who passed away in 2002. This book is full of lovely photos and instructional makeup tips. I love to just flip through the pages and get inspired. He also has a couple other instructional books, Face Forward and The Art of Makeup. You won't be disappointed.

Etsy Day

Today is Etsy day! Etsy is most definitely my favorite spot for inspiration. I check Etsy several times a day to see what is new in the "hand-picked items" spot on the front page, as well as the "recently listed" items.  I am continually amazed at the talented sellers that fill the site. I do a regular "Etsy Finds" post on my blog where I share some of my favorite shops along with my favorite items. I decided to do the same here today. I am sharing some of my very favorite shops I have previously spotlighted on my blog, plus a few new ones I just HAD to share with you.

Alicia Bock Photography - beautiful photography skills!  I love the antique/aged feel she is able to evoke in her work.  I also love to check out her blog regularly.

Yellena - amazing work, beautiful colors, patterns, whimsy.

Luxe Deluxe - gorgeous and fanciful jewelry.

Tollipop - just found this lovely artist and absolutely LOVE their style.  Such creativity and imagination.

Diddle Dumpling - love the re-purposed baby shoes.  Such original designs.  I know that this seller has donated an adorable pair of owl shoes for the benefit sale below.

Shy Siren - love these vintage-esque (is that a word ha, ha?) pieces of jewelry.  The colors of the jewels are amazing.

The only seller I have actually purchased something from is Luxe Deluxe and the item is the most lovely piece of jewelry I own.  I ordered this lovely locket for myself for Christmas.  As you can see in the second photo, it now holds a photo of my "love" in it.  I really love Luxe Deluxe and continue to be amazed at the beautiful items they continue to add to their shop.

Another reason today is Etsy day is to remind you all about the Nie Benefit Sale that starts this morning (10 am PST) and goes through tomorrow and possibly Thursday. 

If you are planning on purchasing something you had better be quick.  I think things will get snatched up pretty quickly, especially after seeing a preview of some of the items.  You're gonna love 'em!

I love Etsy, I love being an Etsy seller, I love being inspired.

martha stewart crafts.

Oh the goodness over at Martha Stewart Crafts is never ending.  If you want to go the crafty route but don't necessarily want to do it yourself then Martha Stewart Crafts is for you.  Inexpensive fun ways to dress up your haunted house for Halloween.  I especially like this garland.

knitting.

Ever since I read a fun fiction series that revolved around knitting I have wanted to learn.  Well, I found a darling little store not too far from my home and think I may need to take a beginners knit class.  Any words of advice or wisdom?

First Favorite

First of all, let me say it was an honor to be asked by Molly to do some guest posting this week here on "a few of my favorite things". I have been excited to share some of my favorite things with all of you. Let's start the week off with Halloween (a favorite for sure)!

I have adored Halloween for as long as I can remember. A major reason may be because it falls during autumn, my favorite season. The cool and crisp air, the crunching leaves, the caramel apples, donuts and cider, pumpkin carving, and early evenings. My mother always had the greatest decorations for our home. She would use window paint each holiday to create festive scenes on our two front picture windows. I can also still remember the spider tablecloths, wooden cat donut holder, and fan-skirt witch decorations. While on an extended vacation in the bay area of California, I discovered a treasure trove for Halloween decorations.

American Harvest, located in downtown Pleasanton California (East of San Francisco), will draw you in immediately through the amazing window display. The store is filled with antiques and other Halloween themed treasures. When I walked into the store I immediately thought of the Martha Stewart design team, which is always a favorite for me. You will find glittery pumpkins, vintage photographs that change when you look at them from a different angle (one normal and one skeletal and eerie), black candlesticks, skeleton garland, and black masquerade masks.

It made me so excited for Halloween I couldn't stand it! I went back and asked Sharon, the owner, if I could take pictures of her store and she gave me the okay. She also mentioned she has a website and blog (what a treat)! If you are anywhere near Pleasanton, please go check out this lovely store for yourself (or click on over to her sites).

I have also been thinking about Halloween Costumes for my daughter, Farrah. I enjoy making her costumes myself, which probably stems from the fact that my mother would make our costumes when we were younger. I don't ever remember having the cheap-o plastic costumes from the store (not that there is anything wrong with that!). Of course, I always had the hand-me-down costumes from my other 4 siblings but that was fine with me. Farrah's first Halloween fell just a few weeks after she was born, so I knew her costume had to be pretty simple and minimal. I ended up creating a felt leaf skirt to match a strawberry knit hat a friend had given me for her. She wore red tights and a red onesie and the costume was complete and SO cute. Last year I created a robin bird costume for her using lots of felt and a couple mini red feather boas. I put them together with a brown onesie, brown beanie, dark tights, ribbon, and safety pins.

For this year I am thinking a storybook or fairy tale character, possibly Little Red Riding Hood or Goldilocks. I saw these images of Little Red Riding Hood and felt inspired.

by John Everett Millais

by Henry Peach Robinson

I think I may have actually been Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween one year when I was little. Wouldn't that be fun to compare the photos?

I am really excited and am anticipating this Halloween season that is upon us. Hopefully you are too!

smiles across miles GIVEAWAY!

Do you want to make your life simpler?  Do you like fantastic customer service?  Do you have an event coming up that you'll need invitations or thank you cards for?  If so, than Smiles Across Miles is the company for you! 

I recently injured my hand and landed myself with 21 stitches.  I was also in the throws of planning my son Owen's 4th birthday party.  I was beginning to feel some trepidations about all I had to accomplish, until I came by Kerry's fabulous website.  Kerry is a stay at home mom who also owns a photo greeting card website called Smiles Across Miles.  This was the answer to my invitation woes!  The designs are fun, fresh, and completely customizable.  Not to mention the easy to use website, fast and friendly customer service, and quick turnaround time!  My son's invitations arrived within a week and looked absolutely perfect!  [The packaging was darling too!]  There is also the option to use the website to design your invitations and print them yourself at home!  Talk about easy!

Kerry has been kind enough to offer up 50 4x6 photo greeting cards of any design on her site to one lucky winner.  Wouldn't you love to make a statement with custom invitations for your next party?  If so, just follow the giveaway rules below and good luck!

*leave one comment with your name and email [that is how you will be contacted]
*contest expires Thursday, September 25 at midnight (cst)
*one random winner will be announced Friday, September 26
*the winner will be contacted by email

Bonus: Kerry has been so generous to our readers!  She is also offering a 10% discount to any orders placed on her website.  Just enter WELCOME at checkout.

welcome carly.

This week should be lots of fun, full of lots of fabulous posts!  Carly from Chuckles and Grins is joining us this week to tell you all about her favorite things.  She is bursting with talent from design to photography to creating beautiful things with her hands.  I will admit I am a bit envious.  But since I can't claim all those talents for myself, I'll settle for surrounding my life with people who do.  So without further ado, let me introduce you to the one woman show!

[Basic Info]
My name is Carly Farnsworth and I live in the greater Ogden area of Northern Utah.  I live in the same place I was raised and would dare say it is the prettiest place in the country.  I have an almost 2 year old little girl named Farrah who keeps me busy and happy at all times.  I do most of my creating during nap time and once the little missy goes to bed.  Sometimes I stay up way too late (okay, MOST nights I stay up way too late).  It is the only way for me to get anything done!

[Tell us about your passion for designing + creating]
I would say my passion for creating things stems from not being able to afford the things I see and love ha, ha.  I have a tendency to get more satisfaction if I create something myself from start to finish than if I were to just buy it.  Another great thing about being the designer and creator is that you can customize it to fit your needs.  If I have something in mind I want, I would most likely have a difficult time actually finding something in a store that would fit the picture in my head.  Instead, I go searching for elements that can be combined to create the finished product.  This also makes it way more fun!  Who doesn’t love a really great fabric store, art supply store, thrift store, etc.?  Same thing goes for graphic and digital design.  It is nice to see something and say, “that would be a great inspiration for a design.”  I also love trying new things and creating something totally unique!  To me that is what makes it so special.

[What do you love most about blogging?]
The things I love most about blogging is staying in touch with friends and family and most of all being continuously INSPIRED by others in the blogosphere.  I get so giddy when I run across a crafty/sewing/design/photography blog that I have never seen before.  I can usually tell right away if it will be a favorite.  Remember, first impressions actually do make a difference! 

[Favorite time of year]
My favorite time of year is hands down Autumn/Fall – no question.  I love the clothes (sweaters, cute jeans, boots, layers – layers- layers), the colors, the temperature, the holidays, the traditions, college football (Go Michigan!), the food, the smells, the changing leaves, so basically EVERYTHING!

[Favorite beauty product]
One of my very favorite beauty products is Dermablend Cover Creme makeup.  I plan to expand on that during the week - so stay tuned.

[Favorite blog you check daily]
Sugar City Journal (www.sugarcityjournal.blogspot.com) is a must read.  Those gals are so amazing and inspiring.  I also check C Jane Enjoy It (blog.cjanerun.com) daily for beautiful writing and Nie updates.

[Favorite baby must-have]
Pedipeds and Baby Legs.  I have/had several pairs of each for Farrah.  The great thing about Baby Legs is she can continue to wear them for years and years.

[Favorite clothing store]
I have always loved Nordstrom because of their fine quality clothing and great customer service; however my budget is much tighter since my little missy was born.  I mostly shop at the fun affordable stores like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, H & M, and Target.  Sometimes I will indulge on more expensive items from a department store – like a pair of shoes, cute jeans, or a great bag.

Thanks Carly for joining us for the week!  I think I can speak for everyone when I say we are excited to have you!!  Welcome, welcome.

checks and balances.

My new favorite face wash.  Has a clean refreshing smell and works great with combination skin.  I wash my face twice a day, so being in love with my face wash is a must!!  What do you use?

 

hold the onions.

A fabulous food blog that was just brought to my attention [thanks Melis!].  I have yet to try a recipe but have added a few ingredients to my grocery list to help get me started.  The recipes seem simple enough yet the dinner's sound delicious!  A winning combination in my book!