much love, illy

the Guy Behind the Camera series: vol. 2

2013-05-16T16:14:00.002-07:00

first off, thank you for last week's incredible response to the first installment of Guy Behind the Camera. i loved giving our men a big applause for their hard work and their support of our blogs and our dang outfit posts. and today, i am even more excited to show off more fabulous bloggers and their incredible husbands. and after you read through this, i am sure you will agree with me, that these are some very lucky ladies!

***

caroline and david hulse of Sew Caroline.

Sew Caroline is a creative lifestyle blog that focuses on sewing tips, do it yourself projects, handmade fashion, and everyday life. David and I have been married for almost two years and he still gets annoyed when I ask him to take my outfit pictures. Although, I think he has actually come to enjoy it, he still loves to tease me about snapping all those photos. I know this because he has started directing me, posing me, and finding great spots for pictures....

sandy and marv of Sandyalamode.

Sandy a la Mode is a lifestyle blog that has bits of fashion, style, inspiration, recipes, photography, and everyday life of a family with a toddler. It wasn't until a couple years into blogging that I first asked Marvin to take outfit pictures for me. We would take some on the weekends and some after work. And a few months into taking these pictures, I became pregnant... which meant the outfit pictures revolved into capturing "bump" progress pictures. And after our son was born, it had become increasingly more difficult to find time to take the pictures, but we end up just taking a bunch in a row all on the weekends when our toddler naps. At first when we started taking pictures, Marvin didn't really know how to use my DSLR and I'd have to direct him to take "fully body" shots and "detail" shots and explain all the angles I wanted... but now, he's a real pro and TELLS ME how to pose and considers the pictures his work of art, HA!

jessica and brogan of Jessica Jean Blog.

I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful segment on Ilene's blog! Let me tell you, it has taken a lot of convincing for Brogan to really take my outfit pictures and to take them well. He has never loved being in pictures- whenever we take formal pictures (our wedding, couple pictures, etc.) he HATES it. It is just very obvious that he would rather be anywhere else haha. I, on the other hand, am a picture fanatic. Opposites attract, right!? I think that's why it was easy to convince him to take my pictures- because he isn't in them! He really is very supportive and does whatever I ask for- for the pictures that is. We usually do shoots until I get the perfect poses that I want... and he puts up with me for it! He really is a wonderful husband for that and he must really love me because sometimes I can be a little difficult. It has become something fun for us to do together and I think he secretly enjoys it. We don't take pictures on any specific day- just whenever is convenient for us. We both have busy schedules so sometimes it is hard to fit it in. A lot of times we just step into our backyard and take them before work/school. Brogan has a really hectic schedule between his two jobs and school, so I just love that he squeezes in time to help me with my blog by taking my pictures!

kristine and nate of The Foley Fam {unedited}.

So thankful that Nate is so patient about taking my gazillion pics for my "fashion" posts. Even tho I enjoy them, photo seshs are not natural to me at all, and Nate is so awesome about making me feel so beautiful, even if my "outfits" usual consist of jeans and a shirt. Love when he offers to take them, and since we've been doing them more often I've become more confident and he's getting to be quite the photographer. #winning

erika and evan of Rouge and Whimsy.

I texted the husband the other day: "Guess what we should do after dinner? ;)" Evan knows me so well and texted back "Outfit post!" Not only is Evan incredibly patient with me (I'm kind of demanding about the photos --"can you take one like this," "tilt the camera like so") but he's also so encouraging about my blog (and my number one reader even though I never post about his favorite topic: sports.) I may be the one authoring the posts about fashion, food and life, but the husband is a huge part of what makes my blog what it is.

blair and david mcleod of Wild and Precious.

My husband is a full time artist (oil & canvas portraiture - you can check out some of his artwork HERE) so he knows a thing or two about capturing people. He works so hard and helps out so much around the house that sometimes I feel bad pulling him out of things to stop and take pictures for me. But he is always gracious and I think truly enjoys helping me because he knows blogging is something that I really enjoy. I only do outfit posts once a week usually, so when Tuesday rolls around he usually is expecting it - especially during our daughter's nap time. There are always giggles involved during photos, but what is awesome is that even on my "yuck why am I taking pictures of my mess of a self" days, he always makes me feel beautiful.

***

and as always the original inspiration to this series comes from Ryan, my husband, best friend and my very own guy behind my camera! i have moments where i can't believe how blessed i am to have such a loving, patient man in my life. he deserves more credit than i give him, and this is one small way i am able to do that. i love that man so much, it's ridiculous!

*the original Guy Behind the Camera series was started by my friend, Tieka of Selective Potential who was so kind to pass on the baton. be on the look out on the blog for more volumes of this fun little series!*

much love.

{happy friday, friend.}

don't laugh at me.

2013-05-15T16:20:00.002-07:00

dress: F21 / vest: c/o Vintage Urban Renewal / wedges: Belk / lipstick (park): c/o Radiant Cosmetics

pointing something out that is quite obvious: these outfit pictures are not yet up to date but this is the last batch pre-haircut...so more up to date pictures with the new hair cut are to come. woohoo! and now back to the regular scheduled programming...

***

day 16 of le Challenge. something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it.

now don't laugh at me but i am being for reals about this. the "lot in life" that i wanted to throw out there on the table is that i am not a runner. i really am not. i was not born with the skills and the endurance of a runner. i was a gymnast for most of my life and so i was always physically in shape and still dreaded the days we had to run laps around the gym. and when it came to P.E. for school or for college, i always started hyper-ventilating and always ended up in last place. i remember running with some friends back in college - we were all trying to get in shape together, and even though they hadn't run in forever, a mile was the most normal and easiest thing in the world to them. for me, i couldn't even run the mile (only a freaking mile!). i walked most of it and probably stopped by Mcdonlad's for a large coke.

exercise and staying active has always been an important part of my adult life. whether it was scheduling time to go to the gym or going bike riding outdoors, i made it a priority. but running? no, i just accepted the fact that was not in my DNA.

the pain in my legs.

the constricted chest muscles.

the lack of oxygen making its way into my lungs.

the irritating stitch in my side.

not for me.

however, i don't know if it was the lack of sunshine last month or the boredom i was experiencing from riding a stationary bike every day or the motivating running scene from Silver Linings Playbook, but i got the itch to run. at first, i shook my head and was like naaaawww, you've tried that before. don't waste your time. i told Ryan about it and you know what? he thought it was a good idea - so good in fact, he decided to join me.

sometimes Ryan and I re-enact this scene when we run. i'm Bradley, trying to stay focused, and Ryan is Jennifer, running around me in circles like a crazy person. it makes me laugh every single time.

so the next morning, we put on our running shoes and headed out the door. slow and steady. my ipod shuffle blasted Runaway Baby by Bruno Mars, the beat in sync to the pounding of my shoes on the pavement. i had to stop and walk a couple blocks but we kept going. and then we went for it the next day. walk and run, walk and run.

and this week is our third week of running, and i finally have been able to run a mile without stopping or walking! so some people that may not be a big deal, but for me - that is me overcoming my "lot in life," people, so heck ya, it's a big deal for me!

so this is me overcoming my "lot in life" of not being a runner and how i'm overcoming it involves this:

- running with a partner (in this case my husband)

- blasting upbeat music (i do not work out well without music!)

- good running shoes (so that your shins and your feet don't hate you later on)

- good running attire (the kind of shorts/leggings that don't ride up your butt - that def helps)

- stretching out beforehand (i discovered that the best stretch to wake up your sleepy leg muscles is steadying yourself against a wall or chair and swiping your leg back and forth several times in front of your body - this helped ease the muscle soreness)

i am no expert runner, but the point is that i am trying and that i'm running with it. ha! no pun intended, of course. *wink* so for all of those with the same "lot in life" as me and want to overcome it, be encouraged. if i can do it, you totally can, too.

much love.

{happy thursday, friend.}

naked hope.

2013-05-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

i have always been amazed when a book drops into my life at the right moment, right when you needed it right then and there. almost as if the author was eavesdropping on your life and heard through the grapevine that his or her words were written out exactly for you.

and most recently, the book that fell in my lap and ~~knew it~~ felt like it was written for me was Naked Hope: Discovering Beauty in Our Vulnerability by Abby Jackson. Naked Hope is more than a memoir about the experiences of a nurse and her interactions with her patients. it reveals the honest, raw moments that Abby (who works as a nurse in an inner city hospital among both the poor and the elderly) has experienced in her lifetime as well as within in the walls of the hospital, being stretched and learning to what is truly the definition of hope.

if i were to hand you my copy of this book, you would flip through the pages and find phrases, sentences and whole paragraphs underlined in bright pink ink. you will also find the pages dog-eared and the cover bent from the afternoon on the couch or the late nights in bed when i devoured this book. some of the most pink-highlighted of chapters were the ones that brought tears to my eyes, gripped my soul and made the goosebumps raise on my forearms.

i also appreciate an author who writes from the depths of her soul - not just the pretty parts, but even the ugly struggles and real heartaches. that is what i loved so much about Abby and her writing. i felt like we were having a conversation, sitting across from each other at a coffee shop, and she was baring her soul to me, a complete stranger.

what i was reminded in Abby's writings is this: everybody is looking for hope. some people try to find it in their careers or in a husband or in a cure. of course, none of those things are wrong at all - but hope is more than that. it isn't something temporary. and realistically, we live in a world where parts of it feels rather hopeless. as Abby writes:

Hope isn't just a plastic rosary or a prayer on a patient's deathbed. It is a way of life, a daily practice for those of us who fight to see and serve as we are called...real hope endures because it is confidence in and reliance on what is everlasting...As a verb, [hope] changes our life. Its conjugation changes lives: I hope. You Hope. He, she, or it hopes. We hope. We have hoped. She is hoping. I will hope. (pages 170-171, Naked Hope)

and as you delve deeper into the pages of Naked Hope, you will see that Abby points readers to the fact that beauty is found in the midst of our messy lives and our vulnerability - and within that process of discovering, you will then discover true hope.

purchase a copy of Naked Hope HERE or check out the Naked Hope Book Trailer HERE.

***

and today Abby has more than generously offered to giveaway TWO copies of Naked Hope to TWO Much Love, illy readers! if you are looking for something refreshing and inspiring or maybe you are looking for another book to add to your ever growing summer reading list, this is a great opportunity to get your hands on this book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to ALL Much Love, illy readers thru May 21st.

Winner will be announced on May 22nd.

much love.

{happy wednesday, friend.}

happy stuff.

2013-05-13T16:17:00.003-07:00

button-up: Belk / tank: c/o Tailor and Stylist / shorts: GAP / moccs: c/o Minnetonka / bag: c/o Asian i-Candy / sunglasses: Forever 21

day 14. ten things that make you really happy.

gummi bears.

making summer plans.

the near arrival of Baby BB.
DOTS app.

hair appointments.

morning runs with the husband.

chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.

re-reading and re-watching Harry Potter.

my husband and best friend, Ryan.

God's apparent grace in my life.

***

and speaking of hair appointments, i got my hair cut today...finally! no more birds trying to make a home in this old nest on my head! these outfit pictures were taken a couple weeks ago when my hair was long and bang-less. ha! i'll post updated pics here soon but you can also check out my instagram where i posted a pic of the new do. and bonus: Ryan loves the new hair cut. always a major score!

much love.

{happy tuesday, friend.}

sponsor love + WINNER's CHOICE giveaway // Minnetonka Moccasin.

2013-05-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

meet Minnetonka.

Since 1946, Minnetonka has been a staple of American style. As post-war Americans took to the highways exploring the country's natural beauty, they stumbled upon resorts and souvenir shops carrying traditional handmade goods. And in the process, rediscovered America’s original footwear in Minnetonka moccasins.

Today, our products can be seen all around the world—from the Boundary Waters of Minnesota to the streets of New York, London, and Tokyo. No matter the footprint, all are made with the same uncompromising craftsmanship using only the finest quality materials. Minnetonka continues to define American culture with classic design that is forever connected to our natural, free-spirited heritage.

a week doesn't go by that i don't wear my Minnetonka moccs and boots. they are one of the most comfortable pair of shoes i have ever owned. seriously, they feel like you are walking on a cloud. i also have never found another moccs company that creates so many styles and colors with varying leathers. this one might be my favorite pair of boots and if i have to choose a favorite pair of moccs, i think it's this one.

and be sure to check out Minnetonka's blog 'cause i am honored to be featured as this week's Minnetonka Blogger Spotlight! you'll be able to check out the three different ways i styled three different pairs of Minnetonka products. woohoo! thank again, Minnetonka!

{giveaway:}

and because i love my Minnetonkas so much, i am super giddy to announce that Minnetonka is giving away any pair of Minnetonka moccs or boots to a super lucky Much Love, illy reader! so peruse the site and take your pick - if you can narrow it down to one. *wink*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to US Much Love, illy readers thru May 19th.

Winner will announced on May 20th.

much love.

{happy monday, friend.}

letters {mother's day edition}.

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

day #10 challenge of Blog Every Day in May is more than appropriate for today.

What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time in your life...)

i def miss my mom, especially today since she is living in SC and i now live in GA.

good thing she likes to read my blog. *wink*

to my beautiful mom: i have always loved you and have always respected you, and i find that the older i get, that love and respect for you has only grown so much more. i have always wanted to be like you - with your strong spirit and sacrificial love for your family, your passion for God and desire to serve and help other people. you are beautiful inside and out and have always taught me and my sisters the importance of carrying yourself well. thank you for always supporting and encouraging me in my dreams and ambitions. thanks for being patient with me, understanding me and always taking the time to listen and be there for me. thank you for your deep love and commitment to Daddy, demonstrating how a wife is to love her husband. when i "grow up" and have children one day, i sincerely want to be a mother like you. i know of no other mother that i would want to follow in her steps - only yours.

and three more letters to some other sweet mothers in my life...

to my wonderful mother-in-law, Margaret: thank you for being so loving and treating me like your own daughter. i feel so grateful to have you in my life. Ryan is very blessed to have mother as wonderful as you. thank you for always making me so welcome and part of your family. (and so glad that i can contribute to helping out in us outnumbering the Butler boys!)

to my sister, Kristine: (i miss you, too!) you are celebrating your first mother's day with Baby BB making her appearance oh so soon (squeal!). i cannot wait for the day that you will hold her in your arms and feel the touch between a mother and daughter for the first time - when she will look into your eyes and know you as her mommy. you will be an amazing mother, i just know it.

and to all the other mothers around the world: may you all be celebrated and recognized and surrounded by your loved ones. you def more than certainly deserve it, sweet mommas.

much love.

{happy mother's day, friend.}

10 words or less.

2013-05-11T16:15:00.006-07:00

day 10 of the challenge is a little bit of a toughie (and ilene is a little bit late in posting today - oops!). makes me think of writing up a resume 'cause hey, isn't that what a resume is really for...to sell yourself?

sell yourself in 10 words or less.

so to try and stay within the bounds of the 10 word limit, we are going with 10 literal words. let's do this!

Creative.

Loving.

Sympathetic.

Sensitive.

Faithful.

Encouraging.

Teachable.

Passionate.

Compassionate.

Devoted.

So were you sold?

*wink*

much love.

{happy saturday, friend.}

NEW series the Guy behind the camera: vol. 1

2013-05-09T16:20:00.003-07:00

i am super excited about this brand new feature that we have rocking on the blog today! today i introduce to you The Guy Behind the Camera (five of them today actually!), a series where some of my friends and your favorite bloggers are bragging on the men in their lives who are more than instrumental when it comes to those dang outfit posts. without these guys behind the cameras, i am sure we would all agree, we would not have the blogs that we have today without them. this is one small way we can give them the applause and the credit that they deserve!

***

signe and chad hugghins of Signeroo.

Chad is my ginger, freckled, mountain man of a husband. He is the most patient, supportive and loving guy, and for that I am super grateful. Especially at nine in the morning when I'm not in the best of moods and am barking orders from in front of the camera. "Really? That light is terrible! No way, Chad!" Poor guy. But that's just sometimes. Give me a diet dr pepper and i'm all smiles and rainbows. He is such a trooper, and I'm one lucky gal. We take photos {almost} every morning...so you could say he has earned himself a few rather large Christmas, birthday and "just because" presents this year. This is such a fun way to give him a little love, because he is the one working hard and clicking away behind the lens!

jordyn and brent of the pretty lovely blog.

Pretty Lovely is my personal style blog that would be a WHOLE lot harder to maintain if it wasn't for Brent! He is a lifesaver when it comes to taking my outfit pictures. He pretty much knows what days we will be taking pictures, even though it is completely random. It has come to the point where he checks my blog every day and tells me I need to post more. That boy keeps me on my toes and I am completely thankful for him and everything that he does for me and for Pretty Lovely. He's pretty much the best.

dawnelle and jonathan of Just Dawnelle.

Oh taking pictures... When we first started with the pictures it took lots and lots of begging and explaining and more begging to get Jonathan to take a few pictures. (We only take photos once a week.) He took approximately five pictures and was done. Taking style photos is not easy nor is it incredibly comfortable for those not accustom to it. I think however that he was more uncomfortable than I was. Now though, we've got it down. He does a fabulous job, gets totally into it, and brags about his skills regularly. I love it.

katie and zack of Katie Did What.

Katie Did What is my space where I share my thoughts, my life, my fashion, my loves and my heart. You’ll find me writing about my husband, Zack (who happens to have his own blog - check it out HERE!) often because he really is my better half. He is the funniest, sweetest, most easy-going and fun guy that I know, and I’m the luckiest to be able to call him my own. Plus, I don’t even have to ask him to take my pictures anymore. Now that’s love. ;)

lindsay and chris wilkins of Hello Hue.

For the first 50 outfit shoots, it took some teeth pulling to get Chris to take my pictures. But he's slowly started to take charge and he'll even pick locations, tell my when I'm standing goofy and get lots of different angles. He teases me about it, which helps, because who wants to take themselves too seriously as a style blogger?!

***

the inspiration behind this series comes from my own guy behind the camera - my husband, my best friend, Ryan who is so gracious and loving to take my pictures whenever necessary. he is always so kind and patient with me and i know i could not do any of this without him and his support. btw he was even such a good sport when Lulu*s asked us to do some couple outfit posts earlier this year. i am beyond blessed to have Ryan as the guy behind my camera - love you, babe!

*the original Guy Behind the Camera series was started by my friend, Tieka of Selective Potential who was so kind to pass the baton. and because of the overwhelming response (in a good way!) in participation i received, we will be having another volume in the next few weeks. be on the look out!*

much love.

{happy friday, friend.}

a moment in my day.

2013-05-08T16:13:00.004-07:00

if you've hung out with me at all, i have a tendency of always playing with my hair. always. i am also a hand-talker. and those two traits about me and my hands were for free and have nothing to do with this challenge.

give me a *fist-pump* it's almost the weekend, good people.

and we are also on day #9 of the Blog Every Day in May challenge - woohoo!

a moment in your day (this can be a photo or both a photo and words).

today was honestly one of those days where i was trying to get my to-do list down to miniaturize. actually this whole week has sort of felt that way. from things i needed to get done around the apartment to blog-biz to planning a wedding reception (this august, yipee!), i was feeling a little overwhelmed.

which makes me especially grateful to have a husband and best friend like Ryan. he is very good at bringing things into perspective instead of letting the whole elephant of situations overwhelm me (and i can def let things overwhelm me far more than they really should). he is also very good at knowing when ilene needs to take a break and just...breathe. so with the weather (finally) lightening up, we made a little afternoon date to the local park and laid out on the grass on our favorite quilt. as the sun shined high in the sky and big white fluffy clouds floated above us, Ryan chipped some golf ball in the grass while i re-read Prisoner of Azkaban. later on, we people, dog and cloud watched. our dates at the park are really some of my faves.

much love.{happy thursday, friend.}

(friendly) advice from me to you...and to myself.

2013-05-07T16:47:00.002-07:00

top: c/o Lulu's / jeans: american eagle / sneaker wedges (tugo): c/o Blowfish Shoes /

mustard ring: c/o Le Mode Accessories / lipstick: Revlon Candy Apple

and here were are, folks. just over a week of Blog Every Day in May. woohoo! i really do applaud those that have been going straight through the challenges. you guys are my heros. seriously.

and day #8 faces us right in the face with beady eyes and thin spectacles at the end of its nose, pointing a finger and demanding an answer to this question:

a piece of advice you have for others. anything at all.

so here is my sliver of advice that i actually posted in the form of a little doodle on instagram just a few weeks ago...

it's so easy to get wrapped up in blogging. it's easy to keep that blogger switch on all the time. it's easy to zone the rest of the world out and just immerse yourself in the lives of other bloggers.

a wise word of advice that i heard from my college professors when it came to writing is to write what you know and if you don't know what you are writing about, do research! just like any writer, i think what makes a well-rounded blogger is one who does their research first, one who immerses themselves in the fullness of life. often times that means, shutting the face of the laptop and putting away our phones and just living life. when we are somewhere with our family or friends or experiencing something new, to be fully there, not just in body but also in mind.

soak up the sights and the smells. laugh and smile, not because a camera is pointed at you. taste and see the goodness of God and the beauty of the moment, not because it makes good writing material or that it'll give you a zillion likes.

i know i am preaching to the choice in a sense, yo. but this preacher is also preaching to herself.
and sometimes the best advice is the one that is worth repeated because we are forgetful people, are we not? i know i am.

much love.

{happy wednesday, friend.}

p.s. are you Iris P 'cause you just won the EcoShag giveaway!?! shoot me an email at muchloveilly at gmail dot com to claim your prize. congrats to Iris and thank YOU, Ecoshag for a super amazing giveaway!

the thing(s) i am most afraid of.

2013-05-06T16:26:00.000-07:00

dress: Belk / sweater: c/o Lulu's / tights: c/o We Love Colors

lipstick (moxie): c/o Radiant Cosmetics / rainboots: Hunter Boots

this is unintentional. i did not mean to change Blog Every Day in May to Blog Every Other Day in May, but that is how it seems to be turning out the past few days. weekends and mondays have a tendency to throw me off track. let's see if i can get this train rolling again, shall we?

***

day 7 of Blog Every Day in May challenges:

the thing(s) you're most afraid of.

when i think of fears, i think of them in two different categories. first, i think of funny fears. you know the kind where some fears are seen as ridiculous by other people and sometimes it's a matter of just trying to get over it. for me...

sharks. we are going to blame Jaws and my overactive imagination on this. yes, i grew up by the beach for all of my life, but i still can't ever stop hearing the Jaws soundtrack when i go swimming. when i went snorkeling in Hawaii, i started hyperventilating when i got in the water. while i was in the water, i kept jerking around to look behind me and all around me to make sure i didn't see some Great White headed my way. thank you, steven spielberg.

amusement park rides that go straight up and straight down. i can handle roller-coasters that go upside down and do all those twist and turns, but the kinds that jerk you straight up and down and then tips you just a little bit and then drops you again...ugh. my fingers are starting to shake at the mere thought of this.

anything that pops especially balloons. oh, so pretty and oh, so cute especially for blog-worthy pictures, right? but the thought of one possibly popping in my face or by my ear gives me the willies. for one of my birthdays back in college, the girls on my floor thought it would be cute to fill up my entire room with green balloons (my favorite color). the floor, the bed, and under my desk were all literally covered with balloons. i pretended not to care - but that night, i laid in bed praying that those balloons wouldn't suddenly gang up on me and pop one after another. one of my girlfriends was nice enough to pop them all for me the next day while i was away from my room, of course.

and then i think about the other kind of fear. the kind that makes you sick to your stomach and your heart literally stops beating. the one that tops my list is unexpectedly losing someone i love. accidents and sudden deaths are a part of life i know, and they honestly always shake me up every time one occurs. the thought of suddenly receiving a tragic phone call or a voice-mail scares the life out of me. it's happened to my family once before and i dread the day that it happens again.

but in a way, this fear keeps things in perspective. since we are not promised tomorrow, it only makes me cherish my loved ones more so. as a little girl, i always kissed my parents and sisters goodnight and told them how much i loved them. i never liked going to bed upset or having something between me and family, and i have seen this carry over into my marriage. life is a gift - a fragile gift that makes me hold the people in my life even closer to my heart.

much love.{happy tuesady, friend.}

one big ole giveaway of $500 Target/Macy goodness! say whaaat?!

2013-05-05T20:09:00.002-07:00

Chasing Davies // The Mrs. & the Momma // Sandy a la Mode // TfDiaries // Jessica... Who?

Casey Leigh // Chioma's Evolution of Style // Pop of Style // GBO Fashion // Pretty Polished Perfect

Camp Patton // The Other Side of Gray // Chic on the Cheap // The Serena Saga // Lemons, Avocados, and the Bay

much love, illy // Kacie's Kloset // Smart n Snazzy // Citrus Refreshing Fashion // Oh to Be a Muse

A Beautiful Ruckus // the daily dani // Crowley Party // Wild & Precious // the Freckled Fox

Coupons.com is kind enough to bring you this giveaway today for not just one lucky winner, but TEN! Five winners will receive a $50 Target e-gift card and the other 5 will receive a $50 Macy's e-gift card ($500 value)...just in time for Mother's Day! Make sure to check out Coupons.com for great Target and Macy's offers!

***

i feel very blessed to have a mother who was well-rounded and balanced in what she taught us girls - from faith to every day life to fashion. first off, she set the example for me and my two sisters of always putting God and family first. she demonstrated this in her own love for God, which in turn the love she had for Him overflowed into her love for our family. one of my favorite memories of her is walking into her bedroom with her head bowed over her Bible, preparing herself for the new day. her spirit has always been a selfless one - things that we consider sacrifices, she would never consider them to sacrifices, only gifts.

she also taught us girls to always look presentable (which meant no flip-flops or PJS, please!). mom wanted us to always look our best no matter what. take the time to put on some make-up, fix your hair so that it doesn't look like you just rolled out of bed and wear an appropriate outfit for the occasion. she reminded us that you don't need to spend a lot of money to look good - part of is good fashion sense, the other part of it is how you carry yourself.

- Much Love, illy

In the spirit of mother's day, make sure to leave your mom's best advice she ever gave you (about anything!) in the comments below!

You can enter this giveaway through Rafflecopter now through Sunday, May 12th on any of the participating blogs. Good luck and Happy Mother's Day to all your mamas.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

much love.

{happy monday, friend.}

a blogger i adore.

2013-05-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

going on day 5 of the Blog Every Day In May challenge! woohoo! *fist pump* (we are however, going to disregard the fact that somebody missed out on yesterday's challenge. okay, disregarded.) today's challenge is as follows:

publicly profess your love or devotion for one of your blogger friends

to be honest, i feel very blessed to be surrounded by some fabulous blogger girlfriends. and for the record, is it not fascinating on how incredible is the blogging community?! it still blows my mind how people from all around the blog world can connect with one another on so many different levels. and since i started blogging over 3 years ago, there are so many blog friends that come to mind that i am so blessed to even know, making this challenge a little more difficult.

however, one particular blog friend stands out for so many different reasons and i wanted to brag on her a little bit today.

and her name is sandy.

i think many of you already know her. if you don't, i'm afraid that you might live under a rock. okay, maybe not, but this is a name that you should know if you don't. i remember the first time i ever heard of sandy was through a feature on oh, hello friend. i was so new to blogging, so the fact that someone was even featured on danni's blog was surely big time. i joined twitter a few months after i started blogging - and it was a whole new world for me. sandy was one of the first bloggers to follow me and i seriously was so giddy to receive tweets from her and all these bloggers whom i adored.

not long after, sandy tweeted me to say that she was visiting Chicago, where i was living at the time, and that she wanted to meet-up. meet up with me?! a little ole blogger?! YES, please! that was what i wanted to tweet but instead, i acted all cool and we exchanged numbers and planned a meet-up at Grand Luxe Cafe.

chicago, il / august 2010

we ended up having the best time ever - and we seriously could have talked for another two hours. since then we have kept in touch nearly every day (if not every day) through texting, twitter DM messages, and phone calls. we even got the chance to be roommates at a conference a couple of years ago. and what amazes me is that our friendship is as real as if we were next door neighbors or college roommates or life long friends.

and of course, i also adore her as a blogger. i love sandy's fashion and writing style. i called her my blog-mentor during the early days of blogging, giving me advice or feedback or bouncing ideas back and forth (which we still do!). it's def a good thing to have some one to run alongside on the blogging journey, who is there for the good days and even the bad ones. i think that is what i most appreciate about sandy. she's always ready to listen when it comes to blog and life stuff.

so with all that said..sandy, you know i love you, girl. thanks for being my friend. and we really need to make another coffee date or Grand Luxe cafe date happen. it's so long over-due.

much love.{happy weekend, friend.}

stuff that make me go ugh or ick and all squeemish.

2013-05-02T16:24:00.003-07:00

very important preface: so before all of you start avoiding me and never want to grab coffee with me or ever want to my friend ever again after reading this post, i really can adjust quite easily to just about any situation. hey, it's the Navy brat in me that has learned to adjust to her surroundings. some situations might take longer than others, but the point is that i can adjust even when i am outside of my comfort zone.

so, really, i am not that weird or OCD. plus we are friends, right?and this is a safe place.

and here we are, folks, on day three of Blog Every Day In May challenge - woohoo! today's prompt is as follows: things that make you uncomfortable. so let's do this, good people.

- fingers touching the rim of my cups, mugs, glasses or anything that i drink out of

- an unmade bed

- people borrowing my shoes

- sharing hairbrushes

- lack of preparation

- wearing outside clothes to bed (only clean PJs in my bed sheets, pls)

- Mariah Carey as an American Idol judge

- people who touch the soles of their shoes or their feet

- forgetting to check to see if i unplugged the flat iron before leaving the house

- wasted time

- Payless shoe stores (the stores themselves smell funny to me and their shoes hurt my feet)

- the middle seat between two strangers on a flight

- thrift stores (i've tried, i really have, to walk in and enjoy myself and think about all the bloggers who always seem to come home with cool, vintage finds. and then i even start humming, i'm gonna pop some tags but with my allergies going wild with all of the dust and me never finding a darn thing, i have come to face the reality that thrifting is not for me. i'll stick to clearance racks, thank you.)

- watching Selena Gomez sing or perform live

- cherry flavored liquid medication like Robitussin or Tylenol (gag)

- the closet door left open overnight

much love.

{happy friday, friend.}

p.s. are you Jacky of The Sweetest Petunia 'cause you just won the April Combo giveaway!?! shoot me an email at muchloveilly at gmail dot com to claim your prize. congrats to Jacky and thank you to Pink Cricket Paper and Boyish Chic for a fabulous giveaway!

dear diary.

2013-05-01T16:52:00.002-07:00

first things first: so i think i sort of bombed yesterday's challenge when i definitely went over the 250 word limit of yesterday's challenge. oops. the word police came knocking (as well as flash backs to my college writing class). okay, not really (to the the word police) but i have a tendency to go overboard so let's see if i do a better job with sticking to the rules. *wink*

okay, so for day two, we have the following challenge, good people:

educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at.

to be completely honest, i felt a little blank when i was thinking about what exactly i am good at. i feel like i am more of a jack of all trades kind of girl. so i was thinking about it this morning while laying in bed - and then later, while on a run, asked Ryan what he thought i was really good at. he said, writing. you are a really good writer. you're also a really good wife. (thanks, babe.) so...since i am only going into month number five in marriage, i thought i'd go with this first suggestion.

but i am going to narrow it down a little bit, since writing itself is such a broad topic, and talk about keeping a journal. not a blog. not a twitter account. or even a myspace. i am talking about a good old-fashion diary.

because our world is changing so quickly and dramatically, it seems like just about anything handwritten or jotted down on paper is literally getting flushed down the toilet. don't get me wrong - i am a big fan of technology. i own a Kindle, for goodness sake. i love text messaging and all of those social networks. and duh, i love blogging. however, my heart aches a little bit at how bookstores and printed newspapers are becoming a thing of the past. and it makes me even sadder when even journaling is becoming a lost art.

i stumbled across quite a collection of my old journals when i was home in South Carolina and found another larger collection of more journals when I rummage through a pile of stuff from Chicago. every time i sit down and read through those old entries - some making me laugh out loud, others making me tear up as i am brought back to past heart aches, and while some make me flat out cringe - i realize how much of a gift i hold in my hands. these pages where i touched pen to paper, while in a coffee shop or a college dorm, are filled with pieces of my life - experiences, challenges, moments of weakness - that have shaped me to be the person that i am today. i have even come across entries where i cannot deny the hand of God orchestrating His plan in my life from one chapter of my life into the other - moments where i did not even recognize His hand working in my life at the time, but then only seeing it in hindsight as i read my journals.

and that is why i felt it so important to urge you, my friend, in keeping a handwritten journal - and i also believe that it is never too late to start:

- find a journal, a notebook, or any blank book that you genuinely love. i think this is so important to journal writing. this journal will be your companion through a particular season of your life. if you hate lines on yours pages, pick out a journal without lines. if you prefer a fancy leather covering or one covered with hello kitty faces, pick that one. or if you are extra creative, decorate a notebook and make it your own.

- write without fear. i know some people hate journal writing because they will worry someone will read over their shoulder - but a gift of keeping a journal is to be able to truly write your heart out. if you write with that fear, you won't be able to express who you are. your journal is not a blog. it's for you.

- write out all emotions. write when you are happy. write when you are sad or upset. this gives you a full picture of who you are. i also think that it is very therapeutic to be able to express yourself in all range of emotions. i have been able to process a lot of thoughts or decisions but merely writing them out on paper.

- write out your prayers. i personally like to write down prayer requests or letters to God because i love looking back to see how He answers them later on. it never ceases to amaze me when i go back to a journal entry to see how God was working in my life at that particular time when little did i know He was preparing me for something else later on down the road. this has happened time and time and again.

-if you are feel weird writing to yourself, write in letter form. some people think it's strange to just write to themselves and really don't know how to go beyond that - so i say, choose someone to write to, as if you were carrying a conversation with them.

last but not least, just write. allow yourself that and on that last page, you'll find more than just a book full of events and emotions. you'll find that your journal is your place, your haven with no judgement, a reflection of who you are... in the confusion, in the happiness of laugh, in the mess, and in the beauty of your life.

any other journal writers out there with tips and thoughts on personal journal writing?

much love.

{happy thursday, friend.}

1984 // Blog Every Day in May.

2013-04-30T16:53:00.003-07:00

top: c/o Lamixx / jeans: American Eagle / scarf: c/o EcoShag

moccasins: c/o Minnetonka / lipgloss (elsa): c/o Radiant Cosmetics

no, not the George Orwell novel. that was the year that i was born.

(did i surprise a few of you there? most people think i am 18 years old. the question doesn't phase me anymore - especially when people ask me if i am graduating this year, and i just look at them with the sweetest look and go, oh, no ma'am. i graduated COLLEGE in 2006, so um, yeah...).

i was born in a military hospital in the Philippines to a pair of very cool parents. because dad was in the U.S. Navy, it meant that we moved around quite a bit - not as often as most military families that i know - but definitely more than the average family. our family has always been tight-knit, so globe-trotting (mostly Asia and the U.S East Coast) with your best friends (my parents and two sisters) made the moving a little bit easier, plus we all loved traveling so much, it was as if every new duty station was a new adventure for us.

eventually, i had to grow up and make my own move, so i packed my bags and headed to college. i attended the Moody Bible Institute, located in the heart of the Windy City, and pursued a degree in Communications. four years later, post-graduation, my girlfriends and i decided to rent an apartment together and find jobs and just enjoy life in the city. and within those four years, i lived in 3 different apartments, worked my first full-time job, learned to live on my own (pay bills, apartment hunt, write up resumes, etc.), started my etsy biz and this blog, and last but not least, i met, fell in love, and got engaged to my husband, Ryan!

after my time in Chicago, i moved back home to South Carolina, while Ryan headed back to his family in Georgia. we spent two (very long) years long distance as we waited for some personal things to unfold before we got married. though it was difficult to be apart, we were blessed to have such an enriching couple of years with our families. i loved being home with my parents and my baby sister, especially since i had been away for nearly 8 years. it was also during this season that Ryan and i grew tremendously in our relationship and found that our love was only confirmed and strengthened.

and most of you already knows what follows: this past Decemeber, Ryan and i eloped to Maui, Hawaii and the rest is (a beautiful) history... (or you can always just back track to my posts. i hear that works, too. *wink*)

***

so why the random, short-version of my life story? i am joining in Jenni's sweet blog challenge of Blog Every Day in May, a blog challenge with a daily prompt and challenge to well, blog every day! care to join in the fun? click on the button below for more info. the more, the merrier!

much love.{happy wednesday, friend.}p.s. are you Meg S. 'cause you just won the Sweetness a boos' giveaway! shoot me an email at muchloveilly at gmail dot com to claim your prize. congrats to Meg and thank you, Shio for a fabulous giveaway! you both rock!

sponsor love + giveaway with EcoShag.

2013-04-29T16:16:00.001-07:00

meet Tania of EcoShag.

Tania is the one woman show behind EcoShag, a handmade business birthed from, as she calls it, her strange affinity for scarves. Her shop offers a variety of handmade scarves of all kinds - infinity scarves, neck-scarves and, my personal favorite, headscarves in all sorts of patterns. And not only are her products created in absolute quality, they support a number of organizations and charities because she believes that "a humble spirit and a giving heart are key in changing the world as we know it."

i cannot rave any more than i have already raved about EcoShag. i have worn both this headscarf and the infinity scarves on more than one occasion (here and here) - and i have a feeling that they will be lasting favorites for a very long time! the quality of her products are absolutely incredible particularly, her headscarves are the easiest ones i have ever worn! Tania even offers her customers a step by step tutorial for those feeling uncertain of how to wrap her headscarves - so fabulous!

{giveaway:}

and today Tania is ever so generous to giveaway $30 EcoShag shop credit! eeek, that pretty much covers anything you want from her shop. not that, you'll be able to just pick one. i obviously am obsessed with the headwrap and scarf that i own but i am still eyeing this one and that one, too! so start deciding 'cause if you win, you'll have a quite the problem on your hands. *wink*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{don't wanna wait?}

use coupon code MUCHLOVE15 for 15% off of your entire EcoShag order!

Giveaway is open to ALL Much Love, illy readers thru May 7th.

Winner will be announced on May 8th.

much love.

{happy tuesday, friend.}

some of the best things in life are (practically) free...

2013-04-28T17:06:00.003-07:00

dress, belt: Belk / tights: We Love Colors / wedges (last season): c/o Blowfish Shoes

lipstick: NARS (heatwave)

...like this dress that i got at Belk over the weekend. unless it's Black Friday, you won't find me getting up at 4:45 in the morning to make a shopping trip; however, my mother-in-law got some tickets for this charity event at Belk, so we thought why the heck not? and made a little adventure out of it. we were one of the first 100 people so we got gift cards at the door and an automatic $5 off of our first purchase. i found this dress on the clearance rack (always my favorite section of just about any store) and used my gift card on it. i also got a pair of sassy leopard heels for a super sweet deal but i'll brag on those on another day.

oh...and this is for free, too: this tutorial on Orchid Grey's blog for the faux undercut. i love the undercut look but know i could never take the razor to my hair so when i stumbled across this tutorial, i was giddy to try it out. i think my hair is too dark in these pictures to be able to even tell that i did it but i think it turned out pretty good (especially when the husband says that he loves my hair this way - *fist pump*!). i do think i need to tighten the hair back a little back and bring more of my hair forward to give it more of the shaved look, but other than that, i loved it and will probably try it again. so for all of my 1990's sisters out who had a love/hate relationship for this semi-mullet, you are oh, so welcome.

much love.

{happy monday, friend.}

p.s. anyone else trying this fun challenge over at Jenni's blog this Wednesday?

i am so intrigued by the idea and think i might join in the fun! lemme know if you join, too!

FIVE obsessions at random and then some.

2013-04-25T17:08:00.002-07:00

if you know me at all, i can get easily obsessed. some may not take that the wrong way, but i guess i just mean that i get easily and overly excited about little things. in other words, when there are BIG things to get excited about, i am OVER the moon and probably in a puddle crying in absolute joy. i'm totally that girl that people points at and say, she is an emotional one, that one.

yup, and today i am pretty very giddy over the moon excited about these obsessions, totally at random, all of that making my week in one way or another.

print and postcard c/o Trisha Chan / necklaces c/o LeMode Accessories and Very Jane

this adorable print and these darling postcards from Treeshachan arrived in my mailbox in the cutest of packaging - and not only that, they are hand-drawn and custom printed by Trisha, who is the sweetest thing ever! and i love reading through her shop to see the meaning behind each illustration, some being lessons she is personally going through or some drawn to help support her friend, Jaime in an upcoming mission trip! i think that all of her illustrations would make the perfect addition to any wall. check out her shop HERE!

when i come across a good book series, i cannot not spread the word about them! if you have followed this blog long enough, you'll know that i have raved about Delirium and Pandemonium before. the third installment for this series came out last month, and i could not have been more thrilled to finally get it in my hands. every one of these books have left my jaw-hanging with its twists and storyline. i am nearly done with Requiem (i was up till1 AM reading it - i could not put it down!) and will def give a final review once i finish, but if you are looking for a new book series, def check out this one!

so i have only been on Instagram since January and it's only recently that i started dabbling in the world of photo editing apps - and i feel like i have discovered a whole new world that i cannot believe that i have been missing out on for so long! and just last night, i took the leap and bought Afterlight (which i happen to keep calling Afterlife for some reason - i promise, i am not a morbid person) and oh.em.gee. i am completely obsessed with it. it's amazing the photo magic that this little app can do.

if you are looking for free photo apps for iphone/itouch, i also am loving Aviary, Mirrorgram, PhotoCollage, whitagram, and Pixlromatic. what are some of yours? do share!

via Rhi-Creations.

speaking of instagram...while i was on instagram i came across Doodle a Day challenge hosted by Rhi of Rhi-Creations (IG username: @ellolovey). i am not as consistent as i need to be as these challenges are daily but i try to keep up as much as i can. i know that i am doing better than i did last month - when i think i came out with one doodle. Rhi comes out with a new challenge every month, so with May just around the corner, all those doodlers out there, should def join in the fun!

i have a worship music playlist on my ipod that i love blasting on Sundays or after my quiet times in the morning; however, after last week, i've found myself needing more of it lately. someone at church last week talked about the need of more defiant worship in our every day lives especially when we battle the brokenness and pain of this world - and that phrase really stuck to me. (i have more thoughts to share on this, so look out for an upcoming blog post, folks) this song by Colton Dixon is one in particular that i have been playing on repeat and the words are so powerful and so comforting.

love it so much.

what are some of your obsessions? do we share a few?

if you have some new ones to add to the list, please do!

much love.

{happy friday, friend.}

p.s. don't forget to enter this month's Combo giveaway
with Pink Cricket Paper and Boyish Chic right over HERE!

and are you Sandra Sinatora Lee 'cause you just won the Blowfish Shoes giveaway?! shoot me an email at muchloveilly at gmail dot com to claim your prize. congrats to Sandra and thank YOU, Blowfish for another amazing giveaway!

April Combo Giveaway with Pink Cricket Paper + Boyish Chic.

2013-04-25T06:28:00.002-07:00

duuuuude, i am super giddy about today! you get to meet two fabulous ladies - one with a brand new blog and the other a long-time friend and sponsor of Much Love, illy. so be sure to show both lots of love and don't forget to enter their suh-weeeeet giveaway.

without further adieu...

meet Pink Cricket Paper.

giving away a Custom Stamp Gift Box from Paper Source that includes a self-inking stamper, one black ink cartridge and one gift certificate that allows recipient to customize a stamp plate online (valued at $39.95).

meet Jillian of Boyish Chic / My Remedy Design.

giving away a 30 inch My Remedy Design necklace is a reminder to Live in Love. each dog tag is unisex, hand engraved & unique. the handwriting will vary slightly from piece to piece.

*exclusive My Remedy Design shop discount for Much Love, illy readers!

use coupon code LOVEILLY for 15% off of your entire order.*

{giveaway:}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to ALL Much Love, illy thru May 1st.

Winner will be announcd on May 2nd.

much love.

{happy thursday, friend.}

on the edge.

2013-04-23T16:38:00.002-07:00

top: base exchange / skirt: c/o Lula Roe / headwrap: c/o EcoShag / lipgloss (elsa): c/o Radiant Cosmetics / wedges (last season): c/o Blowfish Shoes

last friday afternoon, i grabbed coffee with an old college friend. we talked about a zillion things especially since a) we had not seen each other since 2007 and b) we sat at Starbucks for nearly 5 hours - but one thing that particularly stood out to me was how we were two women in similar and yet not similar seasons of life, however we felt the same thing: we were on the edge of something big. and as i think back to that coffee date, that phrase came up several times as she and i talked about future dreams and personal desires that God had placed on each of our hearts - and even before that coffee date, i have felt that same feeling continuing to wrestle inside of me.

anyone else resonate with that feeling where you know there is something more that what is sitting in front of you? and i am not talking about discontentment in the way that sprouts roots of jealousy or competition or bitterness. i am talking about that season of your life where you are ready to grow and allow that passion and love of life to take you to do something that you were always meant to do.

and i know that is different for each person.

...opening up your own business
...going skydiving
...backpacking through Europe
...recording a song
...speaking in public
...writing a book
...going out on a date
...starting a family
...changing people's lives for good
...being brave

the list could go on and on for so many different people in different situations.

so...what's holding you back? what's holding me back? nothing. the only thing or person that can hold anyone back from what they are meant to do is really themselves. i know i do. i come up with every excuse in the book...until i run out of excuses, of course.

let's stop teetering over the edge. let's stop crawling on our hands and knees and looking over the edge of the cliff to see what could be. instead let's for a change, be brave and take a running head-start, diving head first (and no, Ryan, this is not me saying yes to sky-diving. that is a whole other can of worms that i need to process through - mentally and physically).

honestly, i am writing this down for myself to bookmark the fruition of this dream - this something that i am on the edge of. but i know there are some women (or men!) out there who have a dream and haven't had the guts to move from where their feet have - what feels like - concreted in the ground. we need to spread out wings, friend, and fly 'cause we won't know what we are on the edge off until we jump.

much love.

{happy wednesday, friend.}

p.s. are you Cricket of Pink Cricket Paper 'cause you just won the Lip Gloss and Crayons / Sephora Gift card giveaway! shoot me an email at muchloveilly at gmail dot com to claim your prize. congrats to Cricket and thank you Carly for a fabulous giveaway!

sponsor love + giveaway with Shio of SWeetness a boos.

2013-04-22T17:37:00.001-07:00

meet Shio of SWeetness a boos.

Hello, my name is Shio and I enjoy blogging because I am able to share things about my little life through it, along with some inspiration & creation :) I have a loving husband and 3 cute kids. My passion for creating has finally become a reality through my little etsy shop, I am so blessed to be able to do something I love!

Shio is an absolute sweetheart and so gorgeous (inside and out!). her family is adorable, her posts so uplifting and just fun- and she always brings a smile to my face. she is also super crafty as she has an etsy shop that she is constantly stocking up with brand new pretties - and i adore this cute DIY on her blog this week.

{giveaway:}

today Shio is generously giving away $30 shop credit to her super sassy etsy shop! there are so many accessories perfect for spring. if i won, i would love to rock this or this headwrap with a messy bun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to US Much Love, illy readers thru April 30th.

Winner will be announced on May 1st.

{don't wanna wait?}

use coupon code illy20 for 20% off of your entire SWeetness a boos' shop order

(valid through the end of May)!

much love.

{happy tuesday, friend.}

three things.

2013-04-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

dress: c/o Lulu*s (similar) / earrings: c/o Acute Designs / shoes (cricket): c/o Blowfish Shoes

there are three things i can say about this outfit:

1) i will never stop falling in love with polka dots - especially big, obnoxiously round ones.
2) everyone needs a pair of these geometric color-dipped earrings from my friend, Gina.
3) forget boots. these little peep-toes were def made for walking - or dancing. yes, definitely dancing. so sassy and comfy. and the husband loves them, so it's totally a win-win.

much love.

{happy monday, friend.}

GFC is going sayonara, so don't forget to follow Much Love,illy via Bloglovin'.
thanks, friends!

lately 'N stuff.

2013-04-18T16:18:00.001-07:00

headwrap: c/o EcoShag / top: Forever 21 / necklace: Pretties by Meg /
lipgloss (Elsa): c/o Radiant Cosemetics

wanting to highlight my hair with neon pink streaks.

going on early evening walks with my husband around the neighbor.

watching Hart of Dixie and becoming smitten with Wade.

obsessing over my headband scarf from Tania of EcoShag.

looking forward to a coffee date with a college friend this weekend.

unable to believe that my baby sister registered for her fall semester college classes.

listening to old school Britney Spears on repeat.

still praying for the people of Boston.

opened up a Vine account and learning to make fun looping videos that remind me of Harry Potter.

tried Steak 'N Shake for the first time in my 28 years of living.

yesterday was mine and Ryan's 4 month anniversary.

what's been happening with you lately, my friend?

much love.

{happy friday, friend.}

don't forget that GFC is shutting down,
so be sure to follow Much Love, illy via Blog Lovin'!

sponsor love + WINNER'S CHOICE giveaway with Blowfish Shoes!

2013-04-17T17:06:00.002-07:00

meet Blowfish Shoes.

okay, so if this is a first time introduction to their shoes...i must say, where have you been? you'll be saying the exact same thing once you check out their site. and then you'll be rocking their glorious shoes and scream up to the sky, where have you been all my life?! you see where i am getting at with this.

Blowfish Shoes has been a long time faithful sponsor of this blog - which i feel super privileged to have had such an outstanding relationship with them. and maybe you didn't know, i write for the Blowfish Shoes B.Log as a contributor - so there you go, you learn something new every day!

Blowfish is known for only the hottest variety of styles in absolute quality. i am super picky about shoes, so i tell no lies about this. they create shoes for every lifestyle and for every woman - and i practically die every time they release new styles. i recently got this pair (smitten by them!) and am also eyeing this one, too.

but now it's your turn.

{giveaway:}

the fabulous people of Blowfish Shoes is giving away your choice of any pair of Blowfish Shoes! i mean, uh-maaaaaazzing, right?! get those fingers clickity-clacking 'cause you are def gonna want this, people!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to US Much Love, illy thru April 25th.

Winner will be announced on April 26th.

much love.

{happy thursday, friend.}

much love, illy

the Guy Behind the Camera series: vol. 2

don't laugh at me.

naked hope.

happy stuff.

sponsor love + WINNER's CHOICE giveaway // Minnetonka Moccasin.

letters {mother's day edition}.

10 words or less.

*NEW series* the Guy behind the camera: vol. 1

a moment in my day.

(friendly) advice from me to you...and to myself.

the thing(s) i am most afraid of.

one big ole giveaway of $500 Target/Macy goodness! say whaaat?!

a blogger i adore.

stuff that make me go ugh or ick and all squeemish.

dear diary.

1984 // Blog Every Day in May.

sponsor love + giveaway with EcoShag.

some of the best things in life are (practically) free...

*FIVE* obsessions at random and then some.

April Combo Giveaway with Pink Cricket Paper + Boyish Chic.

on the edge.

sponsor love + giveaway with Shio of SWeetness a boos.

three things.

lately 'N stuff.

sponsor love + WINNER'S CHOICE giveaway with Blowfish Shoes!

NEW series the Guy behind the camera: vol. 1

FIVE obsessions at random and then some.