Mommy Monday

Happy Monday everyone! This mama is resting on the couch with Antz on in the background still in her PJs! Why?! Well, as life tends to do, we have been thrown another curve ball. After we sold our last company, I made the move to work from home (which I LOVE!). Now, not only am I full time working from home, but I'm also a full time stay at home mom! I've blogged about our fabulous nanny before, and we are incredibly sad to lose her! She will still hang out with Dablet when Kyle and I do date nights, and she's on our coed softball team so she isn't gone for good! I am looking forward to this new exploration of life with Dablet. Mondays will be Mommy Mondays because Kyle is in classes from 7am to 5pm (which means he leaves at 6am and gets home around 6pm) and Dablet and I can get into all kinds of trouble!
Today's "trouble" comes from the new Fall 2012 collection from Stella & Dot! As you may know, I'm co-hosting a virtual trunk show with Lindsey, from Lindsey Anne Interiors and blogging over at Pinklet & C, so the fun is open to everyone no matter where you live! While I would love to have a giant trunk show at my house, it's a bit "out of sorts" trying to purge just about everything in our yard sale 12 days from now!
Here are my favorites from the new fall line:

Gigi Studs

Olivia Bib Necklace

Lakra Bangle

These three items are from the Mod Safari collection within the new 2012 Fall line! I love these looks because they remind me of my trip to Kenya, Africa in 2007. The bangle has a "mate" with a zebra design that is called the "Kalahari Bangle". Africa holds a special place in my heart! If you decide to buy an item from the new Mod Safari collection as part of my Trunk Show by following this link PLEASE leave me a comment on this post! For each Mod Safari item sold I will make at least a $5 donation to the Kenyan Children Foundation. 

Another way to benefit the Kenyan Children Foundation is to shop my Etsy Shop Africa Photo Prints. I took all of these pictures on my trip in 2007 traveling with my family and the Kenyan Children Foundation. We worked at Nyumbani, an orphanage for HIV positive children, and two schools in the slums of Kenya. A mandatory activity was safari on the weekend to break from the emotional stress of the work. I will never forget how Africa touched my soul!

Here are my other favorites from the 2012 Stella & Dot Fall collection:

Lucia Bracelet

Pippa Necklace and Arc Drop Earrings

Another fun find is the Foundation Bracelet that benefits the Stella & Dot foundation aiding women and girls. It comes in a coral and teal (perfect for this season's colors!):

Let me know with a comment below if you snag one of these through the Trunk Show and we'll up our donation! 

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Mine was spent taking a break with my family before Kyle went back to school this week, softball games, house organization (perfectly inspired by the OlioHop from last week) and a great date night last night!

Happy Monday everyone!

Passion in the details

I've been working on building social media connections for Dabble in Chic, and though the work I've been introduced to some fabulous brands, bloggers, and "women in charge". It makes a certain amount of sense that the design and planning world is saturated with amazing creative independent women who are living out their designing dreams through their (often times self-made) dream jobs!
Yesterday I talked about one way to satisfy the design ADD that plagues so many of us, and today I'd like to give you another that "tags along" with you! JEWELRY!!!! When Tiffany & Co. isn't in the budget, or maybe some David Yurman, it's nice to have some great stores to go to to give you some big bang for your buck!
Last year when I was pregnant I purchased a few simple pieces from Stella & Dot. I went simple because I had a massive bump, read watermelon, under my shirt and I didn't feel like carrying any extra weight. My center of gravity was already thrown off enough, you should have seen me trying to bowl at 32 weeks pregnant, I didn't want any excess sending me into early labor!
This summer, I'm all about some statement pieces! If you want to check out all of my Jewelry dreams check out the board on Pinterest. If you just can't stand it, check out these goodies from Bauble Bar and if you'd like $10 off your first purchase click the link on our Facebook page!

Blush Stacking Ring Duo Cuff Lime Elliptic Bib  Coral Rope Cuff Think Pink

Enjoy these delightful inspirations! Grandy (Abby's name for my mom) is in town this weekend and is closing on a townhouse she bought in the area. I'm sure I'll be full of new decorating tips, cooking ideas, and family fun! If I don't come back before the weekend, enjoy your Friday Frolicking!

Dabble

Getting Ready for BHI-Part 2

Bald Head Island Family Adventure 2012 is just 5 weeks away!!! What better way to get back into the "planning" project than some inspiration. I'm getting ready to brave the bikini scene post baby, but I thought I'd start with a Ferry Outfit. After all, that's the first "step" to getting to the island. (It's actually the packing and car ride...but that's stressing me out right now and not as much fun as this!

The Gingham Earrings are from Tory Burch, the Amanda Sandals are from Tory as well. I'll admit I have an obsession with Tory sandals, and bags, and jewelry, and clothes....but it's all just a dream right now! For the top and shorts I pulled inspiration from J. Crew. The Raindrop lace top is a fun chic way to pull of a "standard tee"and the 3" Chino Shorts come in 12 colors and at least 2 other lengths. I love colorful and patterned shorts this season! It's a great way to give a bit of pop to an outfit, and with colors like these, your legs will look even more tan!

I cannot wait to feel the ocean air blowing through my hair and see the look on Abby's face when she has her first boat ride! There is nothing I don't love about BHI, and I am looking forward to expanding our tradition of going to include our growing family!

Next to come for the BHI prep posts will be Abby's wardrobe, fun essential items for a beach vacation with an eight month old, and maybe a signature drink or two!

Until next time

Dabble

Showing the love....

Did you thank someone today? Tell someone you love them?
About 30 minutes ago my phone buzzed with an email saying I had a comment on my blog. REALLY?!?! Someone wanted to leave me some feedback? I had a flash of a moment of "Julie and Julia" thinking, "well, it must me my mom"...nope. I got a thank you from Kendra Scott for "showing her some love" when I posted a pair of her earrings. I think I blushed slightly and was giddy like a 5 year old, then Kyle reminded me Abby was sleeping and I had to kick back into mommy mode....shhhhh....
Sure, my blog has about 1,000 views. Not too shabby for someone without a "following".  What I realized in the moment of awe was that just a simple thank you means the world sometimes when you've had a rough day, and most of all, when you are not expecting to receive it. So, what should I do in return?
How about a feature blog around Kendra Scott's jewelry. If you love what I post here check out her online store!
In the spirit of "statement pieces"m because I have been drooling over things like this to pair with a simple top and cut off shorts....we'll start with a Paley Cuff

I have to add another cuff, because she has SO many that I am dying over. I could absolutely build an outfit around some of these pieces. Fashion has moments when it's not about turning heads from across the street, but when you reach up to tuck your hair back and "BAM"...there's the Lande Cuff

Ok, so to all of my friends and family who are thinking "Who is blogging in place of Kate...she doesn't like yellow gold", I have to admit that with pieces like these and against the bright corals, (and you should SEE the teal version of this!) and a tan....I'm starting to accept yellow gold into my family!

When it comes to necklaces, I'm usually wearing a piece Kyle bought me when Abby was born that is an engraved "birth certificate" with her "specs" on it...so I'm a hard sell on pieces to replace it, but this is classic. Also, it's the logo for Kendra Scott, so it will stand the test of time of her brand

Not to leave the upper atmosphere of ourselves "unattended" let's jump to earrings. If you are the type of person that likes statement pieces - you'll trip over your feet running to her site...if you like vintage - you'll feel right at home in your own era. You've seen my pick of long, so let's look at the Carly Botanical Stud

If you haven't already bookmarked her site, well....hopefully you've at least visited it. And at the very least, you'll notice that all of this free press or word of "mouth" came because she thanked me. Maybe I'm only blogging to a small pool of people, but my people LOVE jewelry! So if you like something, talk about it...pay it forward, and the thanks you get will make you feel warm and fuzzy!

That's my Chic Moment for the day, and the idea behind it all is my Chic Mommy Moment, I hope Abby learns the power of saying "thank you"

Until Next Time

Dabble