A Little Sparkle on the Side

So I'm trying this blogging thing AGAIN...

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:27:00 +0000

No promises as to how it will turn out, but in between diaper changes/feeding/working/laundry/overall (wonderful) LIFE, I'm trying to write a blog post here & there. Still not wedding related, but I'm never going to 100% rule that out, we'll see where the writing & inspiration takes me.

In the meantime, if you'd like to hear me rant about what it feels like to "play house", share my favorite baby(&mommy) products, figure out my new mommy identity & how snuggling my baby is the BEST thing in the world; I'm over here...

(still not head-over-heels for the name, but it was the best I could come up with on mommy-brain, you can read my explanation of it here)

Hope to see you there!

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A little Update

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Oh boy... this is a post I've been meaning to write for WEEKS (probably months) now....

I know that so many of you have been oh-so-patiently awaiting the return of Sparkle & Hay... and I really, truly, from the bottom of my heart am sorry that it hasn't returned. To be completely honest, this hack-job (literally) took the wind completely out of my sails. As of today, I still do not have access into the old files/posts... which means that an entire years worth of rustic chic wedding prettiness is stuck in a black hole in cyberspace somewhere. (Feb 2011 - Jan 2012, to be precise) please, please, please accept my apologies to all of the amazing vendors/creatives/brides who's work I featured in that time - or a future bride who was looking for information to plan her wedding with based on something that was posted on Sparkle & Hay in that timeframe. I'm still not able to access any of those files, so I am unable to re-post or even print them out. I know some of you have asked for feature print-outs, sorry! :( There have been quite a few times I thought it was within reach to get it all back, which made me so excited, but each & every time those opportunities were snatched away. And with those times, a little bit of my passion was dampened.

I'll also 10000% admit, that my dedication to the blog has waned considerably, given that I've been so crazy-busy with preparing for what will be my biggest "project" EVER in life... preparing for little baby sparkle (who should be making her appearance into the world in a little over 2 weeks from now!). Not to fall into every old cliche, but even though she is not here yet, the feeling of " oh my goodness there is a little person in my belly and I am her mommy - this is the most important thing in the world" has completely overtaken me. and I LOVE IT! (& I must admit that a huge software implementation project at my day job has also been consuming my life for the past months, but I won't bore you with that, not nearly as much fun as baby stuff)

So, I'm not quite sure where the future of Sparkle & Hay stands at this very moment. I do still have hopes that I someday may be able to resume the lost files, or that the urge to blog once again returns with fervor but in the meantime I just wanted to say Thank You. For your support, patience, and I truly hope that some of the old restored blogger portion of the blog http://sparkleandhay.blogspot.com might help to feed some of your rustic-chic cravings. When any progress is made or anything changes I will let you know. & though I've been slacking on it as of late, I will try my hardest to keep up with the Sparkle & Hay facebook page, sharing links to other rustic chic weddings I see featured out in the blog world, or other fun wedding ideas/deals that I see.

In the meantime, I'll still be over here. Blogging when I can or when the inspiration hits me. (who knows, maybe I'll be craving some blog typing time while the little one naps). One place where you can now find me (my newest most fun social media addiction) is on instagram - I'm erin_ethier. Feel free to follow along for lots of photos like these: beach walks, Cape trips, weddings I'm attending, flowers, cute everyday life stuff, ... and probably billions of baby pictures to come.

(classic cape cod)

(love logs)

(evening calm on the water, pretty sure I had an ice cream in hand when I took this photo)

(sparkly water on a beach walk at the town beach)

(sparkly cupcakes by Dulce Cakes for my baby shower)

(gorgeous florals by Hana Floral Design at my college roommate's wedding)

(Note, this was to celebrate our 3 year engaged anniversary on June 18th. 3 years ago we were in Paris & Dan proposed... 3 years later we were exactly 1 month away from our due date. How time flies...)

(nursery in progress, note the hank & hunt garland from our wedding is being re-used *again* )

Again, thank you so much for your patience & support the past few months (years, really). I'll be around from time to time, and truly never know what the future will bring! If you have any ideas or suggestions I'd love to hear them too. sparkleandhay <at> gmail <dot> com. (yes, my original sparkle & hay email is still on the fritz too :( ) I can't promise a speedy reply, but I will be checking it periodically!

Wheeew... I feel a bit better now... a bit sad... but better. :)

Salted Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:24:00 +0000

A long time mixer of salty & sweet (I have vivid memories of summers spend snacking by the pool stuffing handfuls of salty popcorn in my mouth & then taking a quick sip of lemonade to mix the 2 flavors... ok... vivid memories AND I still do it! But that's neither here nor there) I was super excited to try a taste of this salted dark chocolate.

Sadly, my excitement turned to near instant disappointment after my first bite... it was NOT what I expected. However, thanks to the resiliency of pregnancy cravings (dark chocolate, much?) over the course of the next few days I found myself going back for 1 more little square & then another & then another.... Then tonight as I ate my last little square it occurred to me - in its own sneaky little way I became hooked on the salty-sweet chocolatey goodness.

via

I'll be running out to the store tomorrow to buy another bar, but I'm so hooked that this weekend I may even attempt a homemade variation of my own.

Thanks to The Londoner!

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Sharpie Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:53:00 +0000

Another stroke of simplistic DIY decoration genius... what do you get when you mix a blank lampshade and a sharpie marker???

Yeah... pretty much nothing short of amazingness! via the cutest creative blog ever; Little Glass Box.

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Everyday I Love You

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:27:00 +0000

My mom cross-stitched this little saying as part of my bridal shower decor & it still makes me smile when I wake up & see it on the dresser everyday. While it's in our room now, something tells me that it may be relocated to the little one's room eventually...

(sorry, I need to fix that photo that has slipped down in the frame)

p.s. I'm now on instagram, you can follow me at erin_ethier

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Kruos Bracelet from Anthropologie

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:38:00 +0000

Tiny pinch of sparkle mixed with a little boho chic... I see these amazing new Kruos bracelets from Anthropologie as something of a sophisticated update to the old rope sailors knot bracelets you'd wear in the summertime as a child/teen. What do you think?

(& at $15 each I think I may need one in each color!)

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If I lived in Venice...

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I should think that I'd very much like to do my flower shopping from a floating gondola shop...

via

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Book Bookshelf

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:55:00 +0000

I think I'm on a book kick lately... spotted this adorable shelving idea & can't get it out of my head. Imagining it with vintage fairytale books for the little one's room... or maybe even with books spray-painted gold for a statement "self" / work of art. (& cuter mounting hardware, of course)

via

Thanks Jeanette, for pinning. :)

Baby Lit Love

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:05:00 +0000

Can we talk about how darling these books are??? Teaching counting & colors, I love this fun little take on the classics... & what a way to impart a love of literature at an early age! Baby Sparkle will definitely have some of these on her bookshelf.

buy them on Amazon

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Doily & Burlap Mason Jar Tealights

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:01:00 +0000

By popular demand, I'm re-posting this reader/crafter favorite - the mason jar luminary. While I'm still working to recover the original post on Sparkle & Hay (sadly, it was in that last years worth of posts that are still garbled/lost in cyberspace) I thought I'd give a little re-tutorial for you here. Such a sweet, & super simple little decor craft - perfect for wedding/shower/home!

All you need is:
Glass jars
Adhesive spray (like Elmer’s Craft Bond)
Doilies
Burlap
Twine, buttons, and/or ribbon

Full tutorial details can be found right here on Crafts by Amanda!

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Fall into the Gap

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:21:00 +0000

Not gonna lie... I'm kind of impressed with the Gap lately...

Brights & neutrals & sparkles all in one! Not that I can fit into any of these, but they are super ca-ute!

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Flip Flops

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Are what I will be wearing ALL weekend long. I had to fly twice for a business trip this past week, and while it was not a long flight, it was enough to make my feet puff up to at least 1 shoe size larger than usual. (Note, the story/advice you get about your feet swelling while flying when pregnant is NOT an old wives tale, it is true!) Despite my taking proper precautions & wearing stockings along with some well-worn low-heel business pumps (which I wear on a regular basis) by the time I had walked from the gate to my rental car my feet were so blistered & sore that I was practically hobbling. So much so, that I had to stop at a store & purchase a new pair of shoes, neosporin, and band-aids. So, to give my feet some much needed rest-time this weekend, I'll be sporting a simple pair of these. (Which, I might add, I was especially excited to find this year because really, who can keep a pair of all white flip-flops clean through the summer? This black & white combo is perfect!)

Now let's just hope that the New England weather cooperates with my plan!

Have a wonderful weekend all. As for me, I'll just be over here tending to my poor toes!

martha

p.s. If you've ever wondered how to make those pretty flowery J.Crew-esque flip-flops yourself (& not spend the $20+ that I always do at least 2x a year because I end up somehow ruining them after only 2 wears) you must check out this little make your own flowery flip flop tutorial over at I Heart Nap Time.

I Heart Nap Time

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Strawberries

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:55:00 +0000

You always hear stories about women starting to crave foods that they never liked before while they're expecting... I did not think this would be the case for me; until this past week. I have become OBSESSED with strawberries; and judging by the amount of squirmy kicks I'm getting, the little one is too. I didn't dislike them 6 months ago, per say, but I definitely didn't love them enough to each them by the overflowing pint (on a daily basis). Thankfully, with the warm weather coming the produce section at the market is now overflowing with them; a perfect springtime treat. A few of my favorite ways...

Plain! Rinse & Eat - you can't beat it!

via

Almost equally as much, I love them dipped in yogurt!

via

that being said, I'm dying to try to make these!

frozen yogurt covered strawberries

& these!

strawberry yogurt swirl pops

As a healthy lunch...

strawberry poppyseed salad

or a perfect brunch treat...

strawberry crumb bars

& for those of you who can partake in such yumminess...

strawberry jello shots

strawberry margarita popsicles

& lest I forget about the little girl who is the cause of my sudden love of strawberries...

chickadeeandme

I can already picture her little diapered bum in this adorable cover-me-up!

Have a wonderful weekend & if you have anything strawberry please think of me - I'll be sending you a "cheers" with berry in hand.

p.s. I just realized I didn't include a strawberry smoothie in my list... also one of my top favorites, but after a quick look around the web I realize they don't seem to photograph that well. I'll leave you to picture it in your mind! xo

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Pick your (color) Sparkle

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:35:00 +0000

Because YOUR sparkle is 1 of a kind, pick your color to shine in these Mini Druzy Necklace by 1OAKbySara. Love 'em!

1OAKbySara

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DIY Doily Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:54:00 +0000

I know there a millions of doily bowl how-to's out there but this one just seemed so simple. & How charming is a doily bowl filled with cherries?

that bowl came from this!

Check out the full DIY on the Thrillz of Hillz right here!

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Hatch!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:44:00 +0000

Oh how I'm adoring the Hatch Collection. Making pregnancy (& after) fashions look so effortlessly chic...

Hatch Collection

I only wish I looked like this right now... or any day, for that matter! Sadly, many of these are outside of my maternity clothing price range... anyone have any other suggestions for some "not your average" bump-wear?

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Sparkle Star

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:27:00 +0000

A little treat to start your week...

have you always wondered where you can actually buy these pretty sparklers? I know I have... until now! So go get yourself some right here!

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Wear your Heart on your Sleeve... or Elbow!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Prepare to entire DIY cuteness overload... when I spied this elbow patch how-to over at honestlywtf I let out a squeal so loud that the cat jumped off Dan's lap with a huge poofed tail. (you cat people know what I mean). I'm LOVING this tutorial & 100% going to give it a try on an old lightweight sweater for springtime. Wait a minute... strike that... I just realized that I'm going to have to buy a new lightweight sweater in a maternity size if I want to wear it this year since NOTHING FITS anymore. :( But really - YOU should try this with an old sweater, perfect to slip on for those chilly spring nights - & wouldn't it look adorable with a pair of shorts?!

honestlywtf for the full instructions!

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Oatmeal Creme Pies

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:41:00 +0000

The old wives tale that sweet cravings during pregnancy signified a baby girl is 100% true for me. Thankfully, a good deal of my cravings have been of the fruity-sweet variety (while I usually can take it or leave it, this year I cannot WAIT for fresh watermelon) but today I find myself craaaaaving some oatmeal creme pies. I may try to make a batch myself...

a spicy perspective

but more likely, I'll end up purchasing some of my favorites from Wicked Whoopies. (a treat I was turned on to last year at a *very special* wedding, were they were given as the sweet couple's favors! Yuuuuumy!

Wicked Whoopies

Although... these iced oatmeal treats look preeetty delicious too!

bake-aholic

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Amy & Carter's Farmhouse Midsummer Night's Dream Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:01:00 +0000

Well aren't I behind on the times... I didn't even know these two cuties were dating let alone married! I spotted their beautiful Midsummer Night's Dream inspired, eco-friendly farmhouse wedding & was instantly smitten by the adorableness of it all - especially some of the sweet little details!

photos by Ben Harrison / Startraks Photo via Celebrity Bride Guide

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Casual with a Side of Sparkle

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:44:00 +0000

These chunky, sparkly, bling-filled necklaces make my day. Casual with a side of sparkle; can these hang around my neck, please?

Fashion Dork via EAB Design Pinboard

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Newsprint Art

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:27:00 +0000

I was watching an episode of Dear Genevieve a few weeks back & absolutely went crazy for some beautiful seaside-inspired hand drawn sketches on newsprint that she used in one *super* luck family's dining room make over. (Seriously, may have been my most favorite dining room I've ever seen). Of course, they were custom made by a "friend of" hers, who is also an illustrator... translation = impossible to get or if possible, definitely out of my price range. Happily; I was browsing around the home section of Shabby Apple this weekend & found these cuties which reminded me a bit of the ones on the show. (but at a much more palatable $22 each!) Perhaps for a playroom?

love, love, love. All from Shabby Apple.

p.s. how adorable is this little munchkin in her pretty dress?! Cannot wait until next summer!!! :)

Ruffle My Feathers Dress

p.s. THIS was the episode, in case you're wondering.

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Pineapple Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Nothing to say but "wow"...

via

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Salad in a Jar

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:44:00 +0000

It's nearly lunchtime.... & this makes me hungry... layered grain & veggie salad with orange-ginger dressing... mmmm... I can taste the fresh yumminess just by looking at it!

Full directions & ingredients on OhSheGlows

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Painted Diamond Corkboard

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:24:00 +0000

Jazz up your workspace with a little DIY corkboard idea from the fab The Happy Home Blog. In a world full of online "pinning" & collages, I still love the use of old-fashioned tangible cork boards to hold all of your pretty inspirations; don't you?

Get the look above just from this!

See the full DIY on The Happy Home Blog

How great would that look with a little sparkle or colored paint?

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