- Wonder Forest -

sponsor for june. + a super cute giveaway!

2012-05-25T11:26:00.000-04:00

It's that time again friends! I have a bunch of ad spots opening up in a few days and would love to have you featured on my blog! If you have a blog or a shop, check out my advertising page for all of your options and different sizes. I have two Large spots opening up and a whole bunch of Mediums too. You can reserve your spot right now for June. The process is super easy and you can buy your spot right on that page.(Repeat advertisers, contact me for a special discount!)

Now a little Friday treat for you! Jenny and Heidi are some of my May sponsors and wanted to give you a little something special! I am in love with Jenny's artwork (like, sooo much it's not even funny), and Heidi's greeting cards are so adorable! So this makes for quite an awesome giveaway!

blog | shop | facebook | pinterest

blog | shop | facebook

Pretty cute huh? There will be a winner for each prize, so enter below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

colour confident: yellow jeans.

2012-05-24T08:41:00.002-04:00

Can I tell you a secret? I pretty much never ever wear yellow. I think I only have maybe three yellow pieces of clothing in my closet. I absolutely love yellow as a colour, but I feel like wearing it on my upper half clashes with my skin tone. It simply does not look good on me.

Enter: yellow jeans. Being frightened of wearing this colour, I took a chance and got myself some yellow jeans. I figured that it would be on the bottom half of me anyways, which meant less of a chance it would make me look sickly... and you know what? I think it works.

Shirt: c/o Oasap

Yellow is a tricky colour to compliment when it comes to clothing, so why not turn to our trusty friend the colour wheel like in my last post!? Blue is yellow's perfect match. It just brightens up your whole look when you pair these two. Instead of a blue top, why not try a denim jacket with a simple white tank or chambray shirt? Perfection!

Don't be afraid of colour in your wardrobe. It's there to experiment and play with! Sure, basic neutrals, black, and white can pretty much go with anything, but they just lack that touch of fun!

Have you taken a dive into the pool of coloured denim yet? What is your fav colour combo, or what colours are you afraid to wear???

Check out my other Colour Confident posts:

mint | purple | turquoise

Blogging Wonderfully

2012-05-23T08:51:00.002-04:00

When I first began this blogging journey, I had absolutely no intentions of making my online space what it is today. I started the Wonder Forest blog solely for the purpose of sharing my handmade creations with whoever happened to stop by. I did not want to be a "blogger", and really wasn't too keen on letting the world know about my personal life.

I don't know what changed inside of me. I started reading other blogs and admiring others who had made theirs a part of who they were. I felt a connection. I thought that maybe my own experiences could resonate with others in some way. I thought, "hey, I have a voice too, why not use it?". Suddenly, I felt comfortable enough to open up and draw attention to my little place on the web.

June 2012 will mark the one year anniversary of the birth of Wonder Forest as a lifestyle blog. I've never really counted anything before that as "blogging" because I wasn't doing that. June is when I decided to take this thing seriously and opened my heart up to you guys.

Launching my Blog Wonderful eBook recently was a little nerve-racking and exciting all at the same time. I hadn't been around for as long as some of those other bloggers had, and wasn't sure anyone would want to listen to what I had to say. Maybe that gives me a different angle? Being newer to blogging and documenting things that worked for me while traveling along this road. Thankfully, I have been reassured by some of the lovely ladies who have taken the time to read my ramblings and because of them, I feel accomplished.

Here's what some of them had to say:

"I absolutely love Dana’s e-book, Blog Wonderful! Even though I’ve been blogging for awhile now, there were still so many great tips that I found extremely helpful. Everything from little design tips to how important it is to connect with your readers. The last chapter about making money with your blog has been a huge help! And I love that Dana points out that you need to build an audience before asking someone to pay you for advertising. I’ve recently started a sponsorship program on my blog, and the tips I’ve found in Blog Wonderful have really helped to make sure I’m moving in the right direction. I’d definitely recommend this e-book to any new blogger!"

Sarah
www.simplydove.com

"As a brand new blogger, I found Blog Wonderful to be a lifesaver! I learned SO much from design to commenting to advertising to things I never would have thought about or known before! This eBook is VERY well organized, so it’s easy to navigate and also very easy to read. It has so many little details that only an experienced blogger could know and is willing to share. I felt like Dana was talking to me as a friend and helping my blog become more successful like hers. You can really tell that Dana put a lot of time and thought into this eBook. I really can’t say enough good things about Blog Wonderful! I just finished the eBook today and I already feel like a more knowledgeable and confident blogger. Blog Wonderful is a great resource and I plan on revisiting it regularly!"

Michelle
sewingrocks.blogspot.com

"Thank you so much for your E-Book for Bloggers!! I'm only half way through it but I'm already understanding how to do so much more with my blog :o) And my blog has been getting frequent facelifts as I go - so it thanks you!! I've fallen back in love with blogging now. Looking forward to reading through the rest of my E-Book :o)"

Mel
www.misstango2.com

"Blog Wonderful has been an excellent resource for me and my fledgling little blog. From post layout tips to how to utilize social networking to planning your posts properly. She holds your hand through every step, and makes it easy to understand. Formatted like a blog itself, you have the option to ask questions and comment, which makes the tools truly interactive. I think the best part for me was the gentle reminder to just be yourself and share your life (or your business or whatever you're blogging about). Good things will come when you're genuine. And Dana, the Wonder Forest, and Blog Wonderful are truly genuine. A killer investment that you won't regret."

Jackie
perchedup.blogspot.com

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy this ebook or not when I first came across it... But I am SOO glad that I did! Not only has it given me a lot of awesome tips but it has really inspired me to be a better blogger and best of all.. to be MYSELF. I think that Dana is such a real person, I love her blog, her style and her shop so I knew that she would have intriguing and useful info to share, and she definitely did! What I have enjoyed most about Blog Wonderful so far is Dana's urge to not just follow the crowd of bloggers but to do what feels right to you. Since I started reading this, I've been more inspired to write which has led to more views and followers. I love the blog format and I find myself reading through Blog Wonderful daily. Thank you Dana!"

Tia
sewcalmama.blogspot.com

"As someone who has been blogging for just over a year now, I couldn't help but wonder what Dana's secret to (seemingly) overnight blogging success was. So when Dana announced the release of her new Blog Wonderful eBook I just had to grab myself a copy.. and I'm so glad that I did. Whilst I have to admit that there was some info in there that I was already aware of, there is just something about Dana's online voice that makes you want to put that knowledge into action. My favourite chapters were definitely the last 3 chapters as I just couldn't stop jotting down all of the awesome points that Dana made into my bloggy notebook. Oh, and did I happen to mention how wonderful the design of the eBook is? Blog Wonderful indeed! :)"

Felicity
www.pursuitoffelicity.com

"Blog Wonderful is by far my favorite e-book about blogging. The information is very well written and the design and colors are just plain amazing. If you've got a question about blogging, this e-book covers it, without a doubt. Loved it!"

Laura
www.lauratoeniskoetter.com

You can also check out this interview and mini-review of my eBook over at Holding on to The Little Things.

You can get your own copy right here :)

Thank you all for making this blogging journey so enjoyable so far.

I'm curious, if you are a blogger, what made you decide to start blogging?

leather and lace

2012-05-22T09:01:00.001-04:00

The top in the photos is c/o Oasap and is one of my new favs. Perfectly flowy and accented with gorgeous lace. It's the same one I wore in my Self Portrait Saturday shots. Which, by the way, I have enjoyed looking through all the linkups!! You can get it here if you like, it comes in black too!

I'm sad that the weekend is over. It was such a great one and we had amazing weather to top it all off. Bonfires and a long time friend. I tried my first s'more (it was just okay...). I started a new garden. We yard sale hunted. I got a bit of a tan. We stayed away from the incredibly busy beach and miles of traffic leading towards it. I enjoyed the sun for the first time in a year. Can I just take my own 2-week vacation now please?

Do you like s'mores? I wasn't too fond of mine.

shirt: oasap
stretchy slick look leggings: by silence & noise. from urban outfitters a long time ago.

Places to go...

2012-05-21T10:16:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday, friends! I think this is the first Monday in a while that I've been excited for... and that's only because it's the long weekend! That's right, no work for me today! I'm taking a day off from everything and hanging out with one of my BFFs who's up visiting! That doesn't mean I've forgotten about you though... which is why I have a few other places for you to visit today!

* * *

Meet Violet

"I am a self taught photographer from Bulgaria. I love escaping into the world with my camera, and then out of it with the use of colors and textures. Not really limiting myself to one style, I always let my inspiration guide me in its own direction. From moody landscapes of the sea, the rain, the sky, to vintage inspired still life, travel and ttv photography. Self portraits are another way for me to experiment with my art, usually diving into daydreams and the surreal. Concert/rock photography is also a big passion of mine. I sell my photographs on Etsy and Society6."

etsy shop 20% off coupon code on Etsy: WONDERFOREST20

society6 shop | website | blog | facebook | twitter

Meet Cat

"Hi all! I'm Cat and I'm a mother to three rambunctious little kids. In my 'spare' time I write this blog. Here I like to share with you stuff I love, share my favorite kid-friendly books and recipes, and spotlight some of my favorite charities/shops/blogs. I also host 3 weekly link-ups, 1 monthly link-up, and post the occasional giveaway, anecdote or scripture. Thanks for stopping by!"

blog | twitter | facebook | bloglovin' | pinterest

Meet Jenny

"Hi there! My name is Jenny Holiday and I adore all things vintage holiday, birthday, bakery, and cute! I paint, decorate, collect, bake, blog, and teach at fabulous art retreats all across the country! I live with my partner of 19 yrs and our 2 chihuahuas on the NJ Shore. I adore art journaling, creating faux cakes and sweets, the sound of wind chimes and anything vanilla, coconut, almond scented! My fave colors are Aqua, Pink, Black, Cream and Gold! Come visit my tiny corner of blogland!"

blog | shop | facebook | pinterest

self portrait saturday!

2012-05-19T08:50:00.003-04:00

Happy long weekend! It's a long weekend here, is it where you are? This is the weekend when our touristy town starts to get really busy!! Our population grows from just 16,000 to around 200,000 over the summer. It's nuts!

Anyways, today is special because it's another Self Portrait Saturday!!! Grab your cameras and get ready to link up your own shots! I didn't pick a theme this time because I wasn't sure if there was enough notice. But if you'd like to try a theme, how about "something white"?

I'm hosting this shindig with my favourite American, Heather of Just Lovely Things, so head on over there to check out her shots too!

I wanted to try something I haven't done before. I'm not sure why I've never tried it, but I wanted to capture some "birds eye view" shots by positioning my tripod directly above me and aiming the camera straight down. I set myself near some bright windows for natural light. My idea originally consisted of white flowers in my hair to pull of a certain look, but sadly, no white flowers in my house. Oh well, here are my two fav ones that I took:

I really think this type of pose would work for someone with nice long wavy hair. You should try it and link up if you're one of those lucky ones with beautiful hair! I'd love to see!

I got this top c/o oasap. I am in love with it, but am saving it for another outfit post!

JOIN US!

- Grab your camera and take some awesome self portraits!

- Create your blog post and insert the Self Portrait Saturday banner into it so others can join in

- Link up your post below!

*Enter your blog post URL not your actual blog URL.
Anyone linking up their actual blogs and not a Self Portrait Saturday post will be removed.*

Don't forget to visit the other participants!

instalife friday

2012-05-18T11:50:00.000-04:00

bow finger // bye bye healthy diet

mr. benny // struggles with strapless

wholesale order // draw something obsessed

Follow me on Instagram!

For some reason after visiting my mom, she always sends me home with terribly delicious treats. I'm not just talking one cupcake... I'm talking four of them, plus butter tarts, nanaimo bars, and strawberry pie. Let's just say that this week my diet hasn't been all that great. Seriously, who can even resist all of that stuff... somebody HAS to eat it!

It's been so nice here weather-wise lately. I decided to pull out a little strapless dress. Strapless has to possibly be one of the worst ideas ever. Does this really actually work for anybody? I'm pulling it up about a thousand times a day. If somebody has some secrets, please spill them!

I've been working on a wholesale order. My little DIY Cupcake Keychain Kits (sold in our Fawn & Flora shop) are going to be sold at Dots Cupcakes in California! I'm pretty excited about this! If anybody knows the place be sure to check them out... whenever I finish putting 100 of them together that is.

My most recent obsession is Draw Something. For reals, I cannot stop. If nobody is around to play with me I'm continuously grabbing random partners. If you play this, find me! My username is wonderforest of course!

Finally, tomorrow will be another Self Portrait Saturday linkup! So get ready!!

Cupcake Topper DIY {by Krista} + a Giveaway!

2012-05-17T10:29:00.000-04:00

The lovely Krista from Saturated Canary is taking over my blog today with this sooo cute cupcake topper tutorial! I'm seriously in love with her artwork! Without further ado, take the reins, Krista!

Hello! My name is Krista. I am a mama, artist, and blogger. You can read about my art, adventures, crafts, and love of fashion over at Saturated Canary. I love green tea lattes and diet cokes. (Sometimes together, but mostly not:)...I love Jesus and my babies. I married my blind date. I have a particular attraction to amazing tattoos, vintage pinup girls, colorful nail polish, and ball hats. I'd love if you stopped over, say 'hello' and check me out. (Yup. Go ahead and check me out;).

I am so excited to post a tutorial on Dana's blog today. I love visiting her niche of cyber space. It is so lovely...like scrolling through a dream in rose colored glasses. I'm always smitten with her photos!

Okay! Onwards! Here is a quick and easy tutorial using my digital stamps to make pretty cupcake toppers. Having a little girl myself, I know the need for some amazing, pretty, and girly party eats...and these are perfect for any girly shindig!

First, I color in a few of my digital stamps.

Then I added a pretty little bow to each one.

I took a photo of each colored stamp with my iPhone.

(Totally lazy. But, it works!)

I use Instagram. The 'Earlybird' affect.

Then I save them to my computer and print them out tiny, four to a sheet.

Easy. Peasy.

I cut them out with some fancy scrapbooking equipment.

Here is all you need: two sided tape, toothpicks, and scissors.

(I forgot to add the scissors to my photo:)...

Take two matching faces and flip them over; keep the character upright.

Place a small piece of the tape at the bottom of each topper.

Put your toothpick in place.

Then place the toppers on top of each other, closing your toothpick in the middle.

TADA!

Push 'em into your cupcakes. Or muffins. (My grocery store is super low on cupcake choices...so we went with banana nut muffins and strawberry yogurt.)

My boy thought they were delicious, even with the girly toppers:).

My daughter thought they were gross (she doesn't like bananas)...but super cute:).

So, I think it still counts as two thumbs up!

I hope you liked my cupcake toppers! They can be customized for so many different occasions. Super unique and perfect to spice up a party!

I'd love for you to stop by my shop and check out my artwork. It is kind of like digital coloring book pages, for those of you who aren't stampers. You can print my artwork and color it however you like:). Use it for projects, crafts, parties, and of course card making and scrapbooking! It's pretty fun. And kids like them, too!

And I'd love to offer you something as well! I'm giving away a featured ad spot on my blog for the month of June ($30) and two Smash Journals! Don't know what Smashing is? You can check out one of my pages here:). Please stop over, say hello, and let's be friends!

Thank you Dana...It's been a pleasure, friend! xx

* * *

Thanks Krista! That was so easy and adorable! Be sure to check out her blog and shop, friends!! You won't regret it! Enter to win below!:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In my bag... right now...

2012-05-16T12:24:00.002-04:00

My purse is usually pretty less than exciting... I don't stow away cute things in there, or have amazing souvenirs from distant travels hiding in the pockets. I pretty much just carry this basic stuff around with me wherever I go...

Not one, but TWO pairs of gloves. You know you're in Canada when...
Breath fresheners
Cute Dooney & Bourke cell phone case... (I liked it because those are also my initials) complete with Hello Kitty charms.
My Thomas Wylde giant embossed skull wallet. Love it. Had a matching purse but I sold it.
Coupons!! I might just be a bit of a coupon nut...
Cute pack of tissues
Some promo postcards for my design company
A bathing suit strap... no idea why this is in here.

My fav part of my wallet is the cute little crystallized skull zipper pull. I also usually have a bottle of water floating around in there for possible emergency water situations.

Boring? Possibly. Practical? Definitely. What's in your bag?

p.s. I added some new Zip Pouches to the shop!

Purse: Louis Vuitton denim neo cabby

Blog lovers - How to support a blog 101!

2012-05-15T10:16:00.006-04:00

Sometimes when you become so accustomed to doing certain things that seem so common to do, you totally don't realize that there are other people who might not know the same. I didn't even think of this blog post topic until it was brought to my attention that some of you amazing readers might not know the ways in which you can stay updated with your favourite blogs and support the authors at the same time... for FREE!

So, I suppose this post is a super basic run-through about that. The first thing that I should mention is Google Friend Connect. See that little widget over there --> with all the little icons and a "join this site" button? That is Google Friend Connect.

You probably see this same widget on a ton of other blogs you read. "Joining" or "Following" the blog is basically a way of both supporting the blogger by saying "hey, I like your blog!" as well as a way to stay updated on their latest posts (if you like). Clicking that button will allow you to "connect" to their blog by using one of many preexisting services such as your Google account, Twitter, Yahoo, and more (and yes, it is FREE of course!)! Making your connection "public" will display your little profile icon on that widget and help add to the blogger's GFC count so they know you care!

By connecting to a blog this way, you are also subscribing to their blog feed via Google Reader. You can jump on that site any time to see all of the latest feeds from all of the blogs you have joined! Pretty neat-o huh?!

You can also "subscribe" to a blog by visiting their RSS feed. A lot of blogs have a link somewhere on their page that says "subscribe" or "RSS". If you've ever wondered what that is, clicking this will bring up their feed (for example mine is here). From there, you can choose to add their feed to a feed reader, which basically is a place where you can read through all of your fav blogs at once.

*Update* I wanted to include a little something about Bloglovin' and Hello Cotton as well, but thought that the post might start to get confusing for some people new to the blogging world... information overload maybe? However, I've had it mentioned to me a couple times now by some of you, so I decided to include this info:

Bloglovin' is another blog network that you can use to follow your fav blogs. A lot of blog visitors prefer this reader over others for various reasons. If a blog author is signed up for Bloglovin, you can usually find a "follow me on Bloglovin'" link on their blog. Clicking this will add that blog's feed to your Bloglovin' list of favs and you can once again easily keep track of the latest posts!

Hellocotton is similar, and a bit newer than Bloglovin'. A lot of bloggers have jumped on this train so be sure to check out their Hellocotton profiles and follow them there as well if you like! Both Bloglovin and Hellocotton are also great places to discover new blogs!

(bloglovin' example)

Lastly, you can subscribe to a blog via email. Look for the "follow/subscribe by email" box on your fav blogs if you want to receive all of their latest posts right to your inbox. It looks like a newsletter subscription box usually.

So there you have it, a few super quick and easy ways to help support your fav blogs!

weekend stuff

2012-05-14T12:26:00.000-04:00

Farewell, gorgeous weekend! I love living out of the city so much. I'm a complete country girl through and through and am pretty sure I've been this way since birth. Nothing beats waking up to the sunshine beaming through the abundance of trees and landing right in your bedroom. The weather was perfect this weekend which made for an awesome Mother's Day. We headed up to my mom's place, which is my childhood home and spent the day out on the patio. I am super bummed that I didn't stop along the way to snap any photos. The drive there is just gorgeous... green hills for miles along a country road. We stopped at a couple garden markets along the way and picked up some yummy treats that I'll likely be paying for later!

My brother, his wife, and her pregnant little belly were there also. She is almost six months along now and I got to feel his little baby kicks. First time I've ever felt that before and it was so awesome! I might have squealed like a little girl...

Next time, I promise photos. How did you spend the weekend? Are you a city person or a country lover like me?

some little things...

2012-05-11T22:34:00.000-04:00

I took a little break from blogging today because I am busy working on some new things. I decided I wanted to expand my product line in my Wonder Forest shop, to appeal to a wider range of people I suppose. I had the idea of little pouches and things in the back of my mind for a while, and after asking you guys on Facebook what you wanted to see, I was happy that the majority of you wanted some new and different handmade things.

So I whipped up a couple of cute little zip pouches right away. They are perfect for change, makeup, your phone... and can clip right on your bag with the attached key ring. These are sample ones, but I'll be creating some more shortly and loading the shop up with them! I have tons of ideas and am excited to share them all with you.

I also re-stocked some of these vintage style stamp sets in our other shop, Fawn & Flora! They are so adorable and I just love the case! Speaking of that, we will be having a Mother's Day weekend sale this weekend, starting RIGHT NOW!! 20% off the entire shop with code ILOVEMOM. Yep, the ENTIRE SHOP! Get there early, things sell out quickly ;)

I finished up a whole bunch of blog designs recently. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. If you're interested in my services, you can always visit my design services page for all the info. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out my eBook about blogging too!!!

In case you didn't hear my obsessiveness over Instagram lately, I have an account now! Follow me! And yes, a butterfly decided to have a little seat on my leg today while I was attempting to take a photo of it on a leaf. This kind of excited me more than it probably should have. I might have a problem with shifting all of my attention to a butterfly when one is near...

Anyways now that you're up to date with what has been happening in my life, what's new in yours?!

Have a wonderful weekend lovely friends!

DIY Boho Patchwork Shorts!

2012-05-10T09:01:00.002-04:00

I spent the past two days getting this little project together and am happy with how it turned out! I wanted to create some custom boho style shorts like the ones you see at Free People... but obviously I didn't want to spend any hard earned cash on something I knew I could pull off. Get ready for a long, photo-filled DIY project, friends!

For my shorts, I used a pair of old unauthentic Rock & Republic jeans (ew). If you know me at all, I'm a huge designer denim fanatic and am 100% against fakes (do you like funding terrorism? I sure don't...). I purchased these in my uneducated days from Ebay and never ended up wearing them after I realized the seller sent me a faux pair. So, what a better way to make use of some unused denim than to tear these babies up and create something totally new?! I also used a bunch of vintage fabrics I had sitting around...

Like this? Pin it!

colour confident: did somebody say mint?

2012-05-09T09:17:00.000-04:00

Mint is one of my favourite colours this season by far. Mint jeans are super popular too, which brings me to my next Colour Confident coloured denim look...

I feel like whatever you wear with mint should be an equally pretty shade. Pastels work wonderfully, and white even looks amazing paired with it. Sometimes you just have to keep it simple, right?! I decided to pair my mint jeans with a white graphic tee that had hints of pinks in it. I topped it off with a blush coloured lightweight linen blazer/cardigan because it was a little chilly in here...

Are you a mint fanatic like me??

Check out my other coloured denim posts:

purple | turquoise

tshirt: wildfox

jeans: go jane

blazer: f21

instalife

2012-05-08T11:18:00.002-04:00

morning wakeups | new packaging idea

nails today | smoothie time

growing cat grass | awkward closeup

loverbear | backyard re-seeded

limited edition fresh strawberries?! | healthy breakfast: kamut with honey

Seriously, "limited edition" fresh strawberries? Does that mean that not all of their strawberries are fresh? And if not, then what are they? What makes these strawberries so special? I still can't figure this out. What does it meeeeean!!? (p.s I think there is a june bug in my cat grass pot)..

p.s. I actually just created an instagram account. I don't have an iphone but use similar apps on my phone. Thanks to my iPad I was able to get an account going... it's a little more difficult to post pics, but at least I can lurk properly now! Follow me! My username is "wonderforest" of course!

success!!!

2012-05-07T08:56:00.001-04:00

We did it! Take that, Mother Nature! Just call me Bob Villa! After having all of our hard work crushed in a storm, we decided to tackle the broken beast head on to see if we couldn't fix it. Turns out, I'm pretty much a pro with a hammer, some pliers, and bent-out-of-shape metal. We finished her up this weekend {yes, I called it her... I'm a proud mama!} and she's good as new, sturdy as a rock, and not going anywhere! Let's just cross our fingers that a tornado doesn't mosey on through here...

By the way, did you see the Super Moon this weekend? It was the time of year when the moon is the closest to earth. Around 11:35pm EST it was at it's biggest and brightest of the year. I was kind of wishing I had a telescopic lens, but oh well...

Weekend Wandering...

2012-05-06T09:23:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday forest friends! You know I like to take it easy on the weekends, so why not check out some of these great blogs instead?! You won't be disappointed!

Hello! My name is Aleksandra, and i'm blogging over at the "Little Daily Miracles" about my daily life as an architecture student, artist, pianist and traveler. Feel free to visit, and I hope you will like what you see. From me to you, A.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Deviantart

Hi, I'm Felicity. Full time pre-service teacher, part time blog designer, BIG time blogger! Gemini by birth and definitely by nature. In love with a stubborn, yet kind-hearted Aquarius. Mother to a gorgeous miniature dachshund named Phoebe and a spunky maltese terrier named Joey. Yes, we named them after 'Friends' characters. ;) Feel free to stop on by and stay a while. I look forward to meeting you! :)

blog | shop | facebook | twitter | pinterest

Girl in love with phthalocyanine colors documenting and sharing my everyday life and journey as I try start my own clothing line.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Adorable Shops!

2012-05-05T09:04:00.002-04:00

Just in case you feel the urge to do a little shopping this weekend, I wanted to introduce you to three totally cute shops you need to check out! They are all super cheery and contain some great gifts... for a friend, family member {mother's day!?}, and obviously yourself!

Hi there! I am Citlalli, an over-caffeinated gal with a handmade dream. Sew Beastly is my creative business, and it focuses on sustainability by creating everyday, handmade accessories from eco-friendly and recycled fabrics. My products feature my signature textured ruffles, and the scraps from these creations are then given a new life by re-purposing them into the "Scrap Me Pretty Collection". All items in this collection are one of a kind, and a great addition to my ongoing effort at providing a responsible product. My blog is where I share what inspires me + the handmade goodness that surrounds me. Stop by, and let's connect!

shoppe - Use code WONDERFOREST for 15% off!

blog | facebook | twitter | pinterest

Ji Ji Kiki is a UK based online indie shop, selling clothing, jewellery and accessories. All our handpicked items have a retro, vintage or cute feel and many are handmade by independent artists, so you know that you're not only getting something special, but also helping to support indie artists to do what they love!

Website - Use code WONDERFOREST15 for 15% off!

Facebook | Twitter

Poshlocket is an online fashion jewelry boutique that carries a wide range of styles. We have pieces that are unique and bold, classic and elegant, and that are minimalistic but yet not boring. Everyone will find something that caters to their style at Poshlocket. Also, our goal is to provide beautiful jewelry at an affordable price. Free US shipping and returns as well!

Website | Leather Collection | Colorful Enamel Bracelets
Facebook | Twitter

Have a great weekend, friends!

slapped by mother nature

2012-05-04T10:44:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I nearly had a mental breakdown. Over the past week or so, we've been building a brand new outdoor shed and had it half way complete, with plans to finish it off this weekend. Mother nature didn't seem to approve of this idea, so she decided to take our shed out with one slap of her invisible hand. We had an intense storm that lasted all of five minutes. It was almost as if a huge bucket of water was dumped right on top of us. It was spewing out of our downspouts and when I noticed the wind picking up, I said to D, "I'm worried about our shed, it's going to blow away!" knowing that it was just a frame with two walls up. He went outside to check and my nightmare was confirmed. Shed on ground, crunched pieces all around. {umm, new rhyme?}

I ran out and started propping it back up with wood stakes... Lightning and a metal shed didn't seem like such a smart idea but I was angry and needed to do something.... and then the storm was over. THANKS SO MUCH! I'm hoping today we can salvage it somehow and continue trying to build it. Otherwise it was a huge waste of time and money. Sad day.

To cheer myself up, here are some photos of inspirational outdoor spaces... hopefully one day we can achieve half of this gorgeousness:

x

p.s. i've changed my comments to "embedded comments" so i can reply easier. do you prefer this over the popup window?

dear life

2012-05-02T22:21:00.001-04:00

Dear Nugget: can we please put you in commercials or print ads or something? I can't even wrap my head around how you are the most adorable cat in the world with the cutest personality to match. Although I do hate it when you claw my chair.

Dear smoothies: if I could drink you all day long and consume nothing else ever, I would. Only if my cups would magically wash themselves though.

Dear loverboy: i love you, but when you fall asleep early on the couch you ruin our late night movie time and leave me searching for something else to do.

Dear Bear: I still don't know what you want when you sit there whining at the air in front of you. It's been almost five years, can we please stop this game?

Dear collections agency: I refuse to pay the $15 you are demanding from me for something that I did not purchase. It's only $15, but it's the principle of the matter.

Dear Pitney Bowes: I do not have time for your erroneous bills. Stop charging me for things that didn't happen, and stop sending me to voicemail.

Dear baby fetus: I am so excited that you are going to make me an aunt (that's right friends!) and that you picked such awesome parents. I can't wait to meet you!

Dear weather: thanks for warming up at last, but can you please stop raining? It kind of defeats the whole purpose.

Dear Blogger: I hate the new backend so much and feel like such a newb when trying to figure out where to find certain things.

Dear spider: I see you in the same spot every day out my window, making your web bigger and bigger. I know what you're up to. Sometimes I secretly wish you'd go away and die somewhere but you always come back. I can't squish you because you're the big kind of spider with a gross puss filled back. I cringe at the thought.

colour confident. purple edition.

2012-05-02T08:53:00.000-04:00

The latest addition to my coloured denim collection are these awesome "orchid" purple skinnies. I absolutely love this shade. It's so unique and pretty and I'm finding that I can wear them with a bunch of different colours.

If you were here last week, I started a mini Colour Confident series... basically I pick a colour of denim and give you different ensemble options... in case you have no idea what to wear with your pretty brights!

Last time we talked about neutrals and how you don't want to look like a walking highlighter. Neutrals can really be worn with most bright colours, but what if you want to spice it up a bit more?

Orange is purple's perfect counterpart. If you know your colour wheel, you know these are both secondary colours. If you're a little more advanced in your colour wheel knowledge, you might also know that the colours I am wearing are a triadic colour scheme (purple, orange, bits of green). Am I confusing you yet? Point is, they go together. Like bread and buttah.
I found yellow and white to be other viable options as well. What do you think about the purple/orange combo?
What are your favourite colour combinations for clothing?

jeans: f21
dress: romwe
messy hair : lazy me

the story of squeak

2012-05-01T12:32:00.001-04:00

Seventeen years ago (wow I feel super old right now) I kept a journal. I found it recently and it is full of ridiculousness and things I barely remember. Today, I thought it would be fun to share with you the story about Squeak, the pet bunny I had for about 1.5 days....

April 25, 1995

"Yesterday when I got home from school, my mom and brother were sitting on the floor in the living room with a cat carrier in front of them. They told me to look inside. So I did and there was a tiny baby bunny sitting in a corner. My mom told me that my cat Mittens had it in his mouth. But luckily he has no teeth. {side note: my cat had to have all of his teeth removed because they were in terrible condition. he was fine though, his gums were hardened so he could eat stuff}. She said we could keep it and we named it Squeak because he squeaks when you pick him up. He is a mixture of all of these types of bunnies: Lop-eared, Dwarf, Cotton Tail and Jack. he is only 7cm long. We had to make him a leash because you can't buy one that small. We take him outside after school every day. Yesterday I took him to the IGA {drugstore} with my mom. Everyone stopped to look at him. He won't eat much yet but I'm sure he will. I will probably bring him to school on Monday. We keep him in a cat carrier. We are going to get him a cage and a water bottle. We have been feeding him with a baby bottle. He goes to sleep on me every night. I love him."

not squeak, but exactly what i remember him looking like. photo credit.

April 26, 1995

"Yesterday after school I walked in my front door and asked my mom where Squeak was. She said that he wasn't there. I asked if she let him go. She said "no." I asked if she gave him away. She said that there was no one to give away. I said what do you mean? She told me that Squeak died. I started to cry. Then I said, "No, he's not dead just sleeping." I ran downstairs to see him. he was all wrapped up in a towel in a box. I opened it up. He lay there stiff as a rock. I cried even harder. My dad told me that it was because he was so young and he needed his mother. I really loved him though. After a while my dad and I went outside to bury him. My mom told me to just think of the happy things that we did together. I told her that just makes me sadder. I don't think I can forget him. I hope I can't. He was the best pet I ever had even though he didn't last very long. I really miss him. At school I even made him a name tag. Now no one's Squeak. One day I hope another Squeak will come."

*tear* Sad story, no? I didn't mean to bring you down! I actually thought it was pretty funny considering I fell so deeply in love with this little bunny over the course of about two hours and talked about it as if we had all of these amazing times together. My cats were notorious for bring me new "pets"... bunnies, moles, birds... I would have kept anything they delivered to our back door.

What was the best pet you ever had?

As if enough isn't happening today... Shop update!

2012-04-30T21:33:00.000-04:00

I added a few new things to the shop today too! I've been working on those cute little turtles and finding ways to make each one unique! I also added a couple new camera strap covers. I improved them a bit so they stay in place much much better... and as always, they are super comfortable because they are lined with minky fabric and chenille! I also added in one strap that doesn't have ruffles, and would love to know if you think I should make more without them..?

Lastly, I am the "Crafty Superstar" over at Cut Out and Keep for the next little while, so head on over there to check me out! They'll be releasing a series of my tutorials that I've shared on here previously.

today is the day!

2012-04-30T09:41:00.000-04:00

Can I start by saying how excited and nervous I am for today? I'm launching my eBook in a little bit, finally! I'm nervous because I've never done this before and keep thinking to myself "what if it isn't good enough? What if I let these people down?" I guess my nerves won't be calmed until it's out there and I get some feedback.

If you purchased a pre-order, I'll be sending out access to the content later today. From there, you'll be able to login to this special site and start reading! Eek!

If you want to check it out, you can grab your own copy right here!

Also, I wanted to thank Ilene and Rebecca for hosting Self Portrait Saturday with me this weekend! It was awesome and I was glad to see people linking up and participating!

Now I'm off to put some final touches on this eBook. Any advice on calming my nerves in the meantime?

self portrait saturday... with a little help!

2012-04-28T09:06:00.000-04:00

Finally, another Self Portrait Saturday! I took a little break from doing these for a while but I have a special treat for you this time around. My lovely friend Ilene from Much Love, Illy and Rebecca from Manzanita are helping me host this little shindig this time!!! I'm soooo excited to have them on board! So you must must must go and check out their own Self Portraits they've posted today on their blogs! The linkup is on each of our blogs, so I hope you will join in the fun!

If you're a newer reader of this blog, Self Portrait Saturday is a linkup series I started doing to encourage women to become comfortable in front of the camera. It's all about being self aware and confident behind the lens and in our own bodies. If you're shy, this is the perfect time to come out of your shell and experiment a little bit. If you're not, it's time to let that confidence show so others can follow suit!

This weekend, I wanted to play with sunlight a little bit. It was around 6pm yesterday when I took these and I am soooo in love with the lighting. Photoshop didn't have a hand in that, my friends (a bit of a purple tint, yes, but that sunlight and flare is au natural!)! I was smiling the entire time I was looking through the shots after I uploaded them.

It was absolutely freezing outside but that sun just adds such a touch of warmth. I used my remote for these... which, by the way, I totally lost and then had magically appear in front of me randomly. I swear there is a ghost playing tricks on me or something because I had looked where I found it a dozen times at least and it was definitely NOT there. The next day, there it was... right in plain sight, in that same spot. How creepy... I already ordered another one off of Ebay too. If you don't have a remote for your camera, you need to look on Ebay! I've never paid more than $5 for one and they work like a charm.

What I learned:
- Sometimes the photos I love most happen when I don't try so hard. I literally had no idea what to do for these photos so I just went outside and started snapping. The sunlight was a very nice touch thankfully.
- I had a lot of shots where the camera was situated too low, looking upwards at me. Double chin much? Bending down and/or getting in line with the lens is the best way to avoid such situations.

JOIN US!

- Grab your camera and take some awesome self portraits!

- Create your blog post and insert the Self Portrait Saturday banner into it so others can join in

- Link up your post below!

*Enter your blog post URL not your actual blog URL.
Anyone linking up their actual blogs and not a Self Portrait Saturday post will be removed.*

- Visit the hosts blogs and say hi, and don't forget to visit the other participants!
Dana | Ilene | Rebecca