Instagram is my favorite form of social media! I barely use twitter & hardly ever get on facebook anymore.  Using way too many social media platforms can be exhausting! So I choose to do one well & allow myself to slack on others. 

Instagram feels real and authentic to me. It's so fun looking through glimpses of people's daily lives through their photos! 

I love using photo apps...who doesn't? Adding fun effects, graphics & text is not only fun, but makes your photos interesting & pretty!  

When I took the Instagram class (at SNAP) taught by Susan, Rhonna & Shelley, the first thing they said was to have pretty pictures.  It seems like a no-brainer, but there a A LOT of pictures that come through my feed that are dark, unfocused & just not pretty.  (mine included)

My photo apps.

My pictures are not always beautiful & prize worthy but I am constantly working at improving and making my pictures pretty!

One of the ways to do that is by using photo apps to enhance your photos! Above are the photo apps I currently use.  I don't use all of them all of the time. 

Right now my most used apps are Whitagram, Vintique & the new A Beautiful Mess App. I am completely in love with the A Beautiful mess app, so I chose to show you more of this one!

I just purchased the A Beautiful Mess App ($.99) & it is already my instant favorite. It's not surprising that this app is awesome, because Elsie & Emma are awesome. 

I have been playing around with it all morning and it is SO me! It has all the things I have ever wanted in a photo app all in one place!

Can I get an AMEN?!

The app includes pretty borders, photo filters, the ability to add your own text to photos (in 4 fun fonts), cute shapes & icons (hello speech bubbles and arrows!) & 12 pre made text phrases in super cute fonts. 

Needless to say I am in LOVE with this app! Way to go Elsie & Emma! 

WAY.TO.GO!

P.S. Have you ordered your stacking rings yet?? 

What are your favorite photo apps?

Who Needs Instagram?

I commented the other day on facebook that I wanted an iPhone just so I could use Instagram. Well, since I won't be getting an iPhone anytime soon, I searched for a program online that lets you "vintage-ize" {Yes, I made that up} regular pictures & found a FREE ONE! Pixlr has a program called pixlr-o-matic that allows you to add all kinds of vintage effects and cool frames FREE! I am beyond pumped!! 


Here are some different effects I added to the original picture {above}

I am pretty sure I am now addicted...Play around with it here...it is SO fun!

'The Lovelies 2011': I've been Nominated! (Updated)

I am so super excited that my shop & my blog

are nominated for The 2011 Lovelies!

 Vote for my Blog Here.

 

 Vote for my Etsy Shop Here. 

I would totally be honored if you would head over there and vote for me!  Voting is open until February 28th & you can vote by hitting the facebook like button beside my banner or by leaving a comment.

 

Thanks in advance!

Delicious Looking Candy Bar Parties

I have always wanted to do a candy bar party...
and these are just too SwEeT!

first 3 via

via

How super yummy would a party like this be?

I always feel a little guilty....you see my son's birthday is in January (he actually turned 3 on the 19th!) Anyway, it's the dead of winter...our house is teeny tiny...so we can't have a lot of people over for a big bash because of that.

Then there is my daughter's birthday in May, which we always have outside and have friends and family over and BBQ and have a good ole time... Makes me feel like a bad mom...I need to find a solution.

Maybe I can do a Candy Bar Party & make up for it! ;)

Friday Freebie: Alphabet Buntings

Valentine's Day is a month away so in celebration...
here are a couple free printables:

Be still my heart...this is so cute! I so wanted a Valentine Wedding....but had a June Wedding instead. But I could use these letters for Birthday signs, make a Valentine's Day Banner or a Welcome bunting on my door.

Download Banner Letters here.

Download Monogram Labels here.

A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H /I / J / K / L / M / N / O / P / Q / R / S / T / U / V / W / X / Y / Z / heart space

I love free downloads, especially super cute ones like this printable, customizable bunting from Ruffled I saw over at It's Simple Love.

Simply click on the letter (above) you want, print, cut and use a hole punch to thread a pretty ribbon through, hang & admire!

P.S. I decided to make Friday Freebie a regular feature around here! So stay tuned every Friday for a new Freebie! :)

I Got My Necklace...& I Love It!

My 4 year old daughter took this pic...

she loves taking pictures! :)

ANYWOODLE...

Remember how I won

Lilypie Accessories Giveaway?

Well my necklace came & I LOVE it!

I am pretty sure I will wear it all the time!

Visit Lilypie {the blog} & her etsy shop here for more lovelies like mine!

Thanks Laura! :)

Welcome 2011: Here Are My Plans For You!

WOW! It is officially 2011...crazy how fast the years go by anymore! Isn't it kind of like mandatory to make goals and big plans every New Year? Well it feels like it is...so I will share a few of my own.

2011 Blog Plans:

1. I am excited about participating in Rachel Denbow and Elsie Flannigan's Project ReStyle! As they describe it: Project Restyle is a just-for-fun creative group focused on ReStyling damaged, unwanted or unusable goods into fresh, beautiful pieces.

I already have two items in mind that I can't wait to start on!
Of course I will share my progress with you all! :)

2. I am also excited about participating in The Bewitched Bookworms 2011 Audio Book challenge! I have already started on this one...I am currently listening to 'Infinite Days' by Rebecca Maizel. (Find out more about this here)

3. I am bringing back Monday Mash Ups, I will be sharing all the books I plan to read this year with you, I plan on documenting a few projects around my house I am going to be doing, adding many new designs to the Etsy Shop which I will be sharing here, having some fun giveaways & more!

2011 Personal Plans:

1. After baby #3 comes (due Jan. 24th) I plan on kicking it in high gear and gettin' skinny! (Isn't weight loss on everyone's New Years Goal list?!)

THIS SCARES ME.

2. I am pretty sure this was a goal last year that didn't get fulfilled...but learning to sew is another goal for this year!

3. I want to really grow my Etsy shop business & my personal Avon & Mark Buisness. I would love to bring in enough extra income & stay at home full time with my 3 kids! (I currently work 1 1/2 days outside the home)

4. I really want to get my home organized...we have a small house (970 sq feet) and soon to be 5 people living in it! It is crammed to say the least. We have remodeled the outside of our little cottage house & now I really want to find ways to make the most out of the little space we have on the inside!

5. I want to get my much coveted Nikon camera and work on my photography skills as well.

What are your Goals for 2011?

Chalk board Walls In My Future

Ohdeedoh

I LOVE chalkboards!

When I was a kid I had a big old school chalkboard & I used it all the time!
(Wish I knew where that thing got to!)

I am planning on painting a large part of both
my kids rooms with chalkboard paint
(Pics to come) and here is some inspiration I found:

How could you not be inspired to create in this room?

This pic is my favorite! Doesn't it look like so much fun!

Why not paint the whole room?

I also love the idea of doing their closet doors.

Not sure exactly what I will end up doing, but I will share it with you (when I get around to doing it that is!)

WIN a Silhouette From Little Miss Mama!

One of the blogs I (heart), Little Miss Mama is having an epic GIVEAWAY! She is giving away a Silhouette Machine!! I am so excited I had to share!

The Silhouette can be used to create scrapbooks, cards, home decor, custom apparel, school projects, glass etched projects, stencils, etc.

Here is what you can win:

Silhouette Machine

Software for Windows XP/Vista

Power cable, USB cable

2 Cutting mats (one for thick media, one for thin media)

Cutting blade

$10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store

GO HERE for all the details and to enter to win!

Super Cute, FREE Holiday Gift Tags!

I found these super cute FREE gift tags from
Jones Design Company.

You can download and print them yourself
on your own card stock paper and Voilà!....
instant super stylish gift tags!

Then, find some really great wrapping paper like she did
and make beautifully wrapped
presents for your loved ones!

candy corn.

I don't even really like candy corn...
but it just doesn't seem like Halloween without it!

I am still in the midst of planning my kids Halloween party....

what are you doing for Halloween this year?

my brown paper package has arrived!

A while back I participated in the Brown Paper Packages gift exchange.

I mailed out 3 of my favorite things to my exchange partner....

and yesterday my package arrived!!!!

Kristina from letting in the sunshine

sent me the most wonderful package!

cute little notebooks & notecards!

along with a card explaining why
she chose each item...

...and a great book titled kritsy takes a bow

I can't wait to dig into this book!

So Thanks so much Kristina!

I love my items!!

wish list wednesday: magical tree house.

this summer my husband wants to build a tree house for the kids! i am very excited about this! i always wanted a tree house growing up...but we never had one, so i always played with my neighbor in her tree house.

so this week a magical tree house is on my wish list....one something like these would do just fine:

image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5

Though I don't think ours will be this elaborate...it is nice to wish!

What are you wishing for today?