little chief honeybee.

Pink Truffle

2012-01-28T09:01:00.000-06:00

I'm normally not really into pink, black + white combinations (I feel like I've said this before?!) but this poofy little number is kind of a new favorite. I snagged this dress during ModCloth's Cabin Fever Sale a few weeks ago for literally pennies on the dollar. I was so excited to open it up and see the petticoat and lining underneath were briiiight yellow! I should've photographed it! The cardigan is one from Forever 21 a few weeks ago and the bag, too. The bag is seriously the most perfect size for me. I can fit practically everything in it! Plus, black + studs = awesome. The black velvet shoes are Jeffrey Campbell, and they match the blue ones I wore here! I really want to get my hands on the wine colored pair again! But only if I can get them for $30 like I did these.

Nothing too exciting has happened in my world lately. Mike and I built a coffee table on Thursday night. It was rainy and gross outside but we headed to Home Depot anyway. We took an old reclaimed window we snagged at the flea market and decided to get crafty with it. We put the legs on it yesterday and painted it, too. Today we just need to touch up the paint in a few places and she'll be ready to use! You can see what it looked like before the paint here. We're thinking about scouring for a smaller window to make a taller side table, too. If we do that then I'll definitely photograph the process for a DIY. It's so painfully easy! I'm slowly but surely winning the "shabby chic vs. modern" war in our house! Just don't tell him I said that!

What are y'all up to this weekend?!

Pink Up The Phone dress via ModCloth

Forever 21 cardigan (also available at ModCloth)

Target belt via Goodwill

Forever 21 bag

Assets by Spanx tights

Jeffrey Campbell Wanted heels

Going With Your Gut...

2012-01-27T12:46:00.000-06:00

I mentioned a few times this week on the blog that we were playing the waiting game, waiting to hear back about the little tan cottage from a few posts ago. That raised some questions with some as they wondered what happened with the green bungalow that we applied for + got. By now I forget what day all of this happened, but we found out from our neighbor (whose friends lived in the green bungalow until just recently) that they moved out because a neighbor had broken into the house while they were out of town. She went on to tell us that the house directly across the street is a halfway house and while that's all fine and good, one of the tenants was the one who broke in through the back window. (Cue me to remember seeing all of the dirt and scratched on the window sill of that window, too!) I already had my reservations about East Nashville simply because it's still far from the best part of town. It's "hip and fun" but it's still on the upswing. Anyway, our neighbor put Mike in touch with the girl who just moved out and while she was a little less than friendly, the wheels started turning in our heads. And by our I mean mostly mine. We laid in bed and all of a sudden I started having these crazy thoughts of what if someone broke in while we were home, what if they had a gun (then a totally craaaaazy senario played out. I'll save you the details, even though it would be totally possible.). It got to the point to where I almost started having a panic attack. We were set to sign the lease the next day. I told Mike to call the landlord in the morning and reschedule while we talked it through. I was terrified that something might happen to the girls while we were out and about or gone for work. It just started to feel like more trouble than it was worth. Other little things popped up here and there that gave me the feeling that perhaps the bungalow wasn't the best choice for us. Had it been the same rental price as the cottage, I may have overlooked most of them, but it was a huge (!!!) house with little insulation and a hefty price tag. I didn't want to stress about gas bills, our security alarm going off or if that sketchy neighbor still lived there. Something in my gut told me to keep looking.

We scheduled another showing of the 1920's cottage on Wednesday and we realized how much we loved the inside. It's a lot smaller than the bungalow, and it doesn't have quite the curb appeal or fenced yard, but we liked it. We liked it a lot. So we applied, was approved, and signed the lease last night. We're going to build a chainlink fence in the backyard for the girls, and we're going to manicure the bejeezus out of the front. It's going to be our little pet project. We're giving up a ton of room, but we're getting a sense of peace. The cottage is less than a stones throw from the bungalow, so things can still happen. They can happen anywhere. But at least now I don't have this overwhelming feeling in my stomach that it's wrong.

We took measurements and laid out the house in our heads. I'll have my own studio/office which will be so nice for my productivity. We'll also have an entire room for Honeybean/Hive + Honey. We're on the hunt for a washer and dryer to paint pink (yep!) and we've already started delving into the other projects around the house. We'll be moving in in just 2 weeks (!!!) so that should give us plenty of time to cart our Xterra back and forth filled to the brim with boxes before saying so long to the loft. I'm really looking forward to it.

If anything, this experience has simply taught me that sometimes it really is best to just go with your gut instinct. We fell in love with the bungalow's charm but the inside left a bit to be desired. The cottage is cute on the outside, but the inside is beyond adorable. So many people pointed out that we should go with the house that's nicest on the inside as that's the part that'll be our home. Never thought I'd actually look forward to having walls and no brick in my house! We'll miss this little loft so much, but we're ready to move into a family home!

And finally I'll leave you with this picture (because it's the only one I have!)... It's the closet (!!!) in my office! It's ten feet wide! A whole 2 feet wider than my current wardrobe bar! The shoe shelves will fill the walls, but can I just tell you how excited I am to have French doors to my closet?! I'll miss my hanging wardrobe that we built, no doubt, but this is the perfect mix of function and style! Eep! Alrighty, emails are calling! Happy Friday! xo

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-26T07:30:00.000-06:00

♥ these piranha plant wine glasses... what! ♥

♥ this amazing hair dryer! ♥

♥ this fantastic quote + illustration ♥

♥ these rollerskates (holy- you can buy them in pink/leopard, zebra, purple, etc!) ♥

♥ this cute drawing ♥

♥ these crafty hot dog sugar cookies! ♥

♥ these gloves. ♥

♥ this incredibly inspiring workspace ♥

♥ these unicorn cookies... c'mon! ♥

♥ this amazing dreamy-worthy ombre cake... ah! birthday cake plz?! ♥

Other Awesome Things:

♥ // Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday (I know, I know) but I'm trying really hard not to turn our entire loft into this... Fighting the urge, y'all!

♥ // Speaking of fighting the urge... I'm suppressing my need to sand and paint absolutely every piece of furniture we own after seeing this awesome makeover. We did some major work to 2 dressers and a side table in summer '10 and I think we're still recuperating! (But man alive it looks gorgeous!)

♥ // Since we're moving in the next 2-2.5 weeks (hopefully!), I've been glued to Pinterest in my down time and I can't help but find a million and seven things I want to do. We're going to try and procure a cheapo stackable washer + dryer for the new house for the time being and I kind of want to give this a go. The dials are really shoddy, but it could be so cool! $10 appliance makeover?! Nice!

♥ // Penny over at Poorly Drawn Things just released new silk screened pouches in her shop! Proooobbbbably worth checking out. Just sayin'.

♥ // This DIY postcard calendar journal on Design*Sponge has got me wanting to make something soon! It's such a fun and minimalist approach to journaling. It'd be fun to look back and see what I was doing (in a jiffy) several years ago.

♥ // I'm going crazy with wood pallet DIYs and I'm already dreaming up a headboard, bed platform, coffee table and maybe even this if I'm feeling reallll crazy. We want a raised bed garden in the backyard but this could be rad for some herbs maybe?

♥ // Things I'd really like to add to my closet: these (SWOON!), these (!!!, and in black... and maybe aztec). And even though I never wear watches, I'd totally give in for this black + gold lion watch or the white + gold skull watch from Betsey Johnson. Srsly... I'll take both.

♥ // I'm totally loving the prospect of moving into an actual house in a couple of weeks and I'm hoping today brings us good news about the little cottage. Cross your fingers! I promise to delve more into our decision later if we're able to rent it! (but I'm totally not loving the waiting part!)

What are you loving this week?

Like Day... and Night

2012-01-25T10:47:00.000-06:00

This outfit post contains two "versions"... one meant more for day time wear and the other for a night out on the town... if that's your idea of a good time. (Spoiler alert: They're actually the exact same outfit with a different coverup... Whoops!) Enjoy! xo
For the day...

I picked up this pretty lace + tulle dress at Pangea one day in Hillsboro Village because I seriously couldn't pass it up. (It's by Moon Collection, if you're wondering!) It reminded me of a childlike faerie dress or something. Like everything else white/off white I own, I may have put a hole or two in the skirt upon it's first wearing. Still, tulle is one of those materials where a rip here and there is easy to hide. I knew I wanted to pair it with my new Senso Diffusion shoes as soon as they came in the mail! I kept it casual with a cotton ruffle cardigan (one of my trusty favorites) and an off white zipper-embellished clutch. I never would've carried a clutch in the past.. I'm one of those girls who needs a purse that would break someone's back! I've been really digging how lightweight and minimalist a clutch can be!

For the night...

I have to admit the "night" version is definitely my favorite. I felt so classy wearing this! I wore this version yesterday to meet with the landlord on the green Victorian bungalow! It's not all that often I dress in really classic pieces like a blazer. The boyfriend cuffs on this one is my favorite though! The peeking pinstripes are so fun. I opted for a black leather + gold stud fold-over clutch with this ensemble. I'd feel confident wearing this out to dinner + drinks with some girlfriends on a weekday evening... not that that ever happens haha! I'm more of a mid-day coffee shop type of gal, but still! The nipped waist of the buttoned blazer helps show that I actually do have a waist. That's one flaw with full tulle skirts... they definitely balloon out! I have so many black + silver studded belts but none with gold... that's officially going to the top of my "must have" list! Maybe Goodwill will turn up something awesome soon! (Please ignore my awkward lapel! I didn't realize it was acting up until the very end!)

Moon Collection dress via Pangea Nashville

Target cardigan

Assets by Spanx tights via Target (favorite tights EVER!)

Senso Diffusion ankle boots (similar)

Urban Expressions ivory zipper clutch

Charlotte Russe boyfriend blazer (similar)

Akira leather studded clutch (similar)

Sephora headband

What would you wear these shoes with? (Srsly... I need some inspiration!)

Kaelah's Closet is Restocked + Open!

2012-01-25T07:20:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to pop in and let y'all know that I restocked + reopened Kaelah's Closet yesterday! Over 30 new items listed (pages 1-4!) and ready for new homes! All orders placed today will be shipped out bright and early tomorrow so feel free to check it out! It'd be nice to move a lighter load come February!

In the shop you'll find: Betsey Johnson shoes, ModCloth dresses, and new-with-tags/never-been-worn pretty things!

CLICK HERE to shop!

Also - I still have some February sponsor spots open if anyone is interested! Feel free to email me (kaelahbee at gmail dot com) or check out the sponsorship page to snag your spot! xo

Sale Shopping 101: Hunting the Bargains

2012-01-24T13:06:00.003-06:00

I've been wanting to write a post like this for quite a while, but I've yet to give myself the time to sit down and do it. But here it is! It's absolutely no secret that I enjoy shopping. A lot of bloggers do. And even though we tend to showcase our new purchases like our pride and joy, most of us still have adult bills and responsibilities to handle. Whether we get our money from working a job or two, blogging, parents, whatever, delegating how you use it can be tricky. Most people enjoy fancy new shoes or splurging on their favorite magazine... I'm no millionaire (ha! To dream...) but I like to treat myself to things like that, too. I get asked almost daily via Tumblr how I afford so many shoes or dresses or the things that I buy. My trick: buying almost everything on sale. The sale score I'm probably most proud of is my Jeffrey Campbell shoe collection. All but 2 pairs were bought on sale. It makes a big difference to snag a pair of $160 shoes for only $35 (or $8 like my most recent prize!) Okay, so a lot of people don't want to spend their hard-earned money on Jeffrey Campbell shoes... I know their appeal is lost on a lot of people. But for those of you who do want your own pair, hopefully this will help! This isn't just about shoes though! I'm going to share some of my absolute favorite sites below where I grab my biggest deals.

Karmaloop.com

Karmaloop is one of the only websites I've seen that drastically marks down their Jeffrey Campbell shoes. I'm not sure why they do it, but they're also sneaky about it. Jeffrey Campbell is one of the only brands they carry that they routinely add the disclaimer "Promo Codes Do Not Apply" to. (The others being brands like Nixon and Burton). However they sometimes lift that disclaimer and allow you to purchase them with discount codes... they just don't tell you that. I have the Karmaloop app on my phone so I check it every so often to see if it's lifted or not, and if they have a stellar discount code on top of it, I go for it. Sometimes the codes are as much as 50% off. They don't let you stack your discount codes online most of the time, but I had an issue one night and I called Karmaloop's Customer Service number and the associate was so incredibly helpful. He said that they often let you stack your coupon codes if you call, but some associates won't. It's really just a trial and error. He saved me $70 with that simple phone call one night! The easiest way to stay on top of their deals is to just visit the site daily and look at the top part of the page (in red)... they always have their biggest coupon listed there. Right now it's slow since it's post-Christmas but the holiday sales were out of this world. Pay extra close attention around holidays (of any kind!) because that's what they usually use! (PLNDR is a flash sale site that is a derivitive of Karmaloop. It's mostly street-wear which I'm not crazy about, but I've managed to snag some insane deals on Wildfox, Betsey Johnson and Free People! You just sign up and check out the daily sales. PLNDR also gives you a $10 credit after your first purchase.) -- (disclaimer: I am a rep for karmaloop and have my own discount code to give to my readers. i accumulate "points" if you buy things. [read: i earn 50 points for every $10 spent using my rep code] Everything below is honest + would be whether or not I had a rep code!) Note: Karmaloop also carries brands like Free People, Betsey Johnson, Senso Diffusion, and Sam Edelman... their discount codes are always valid for these brands! -- You can save 20% off your order with the repcode KAELAH. It's also valid for 10% off of PLNDR gear!

Shop It To Me

Shop It To Me is a great resource if you're picky about what you're looking for but you don't actually want to do the looking. You set up your account and choose the brands you love (Anthropologie, Steve Madden, Marc by Marc Jacobs, etc) and they send you alerts any time something from there goes on sale. The great thing about SITM is that you don't have to ever go looking for those coupon codes or discounts. They do all of the dirty work for you. You can also choose the frequency of emails (or none at all!). You have complete control over the price range, brand, category and even retailer! I've scored some serious shoe deals from SITM. The discounts are as much as 70% off, too! You can sign up here if you'd like, and shop away! Don't forget to invite your friends because you can rack up giftcards to your favorite stores like Sephora!

Ideeli + Fab

Ideeli is a great resource for people hunting deals up to 80% off of professional attire + designer apparel, but my favorite section of their site is Home! Ideeli is where I snagged my pretty pink Kitchenaid mixer and lots of really cool bamboo utensils! I also got the Babycakes mini cupcake + pie maker for only $11! If you love nesting and making your home efficient, I definitely suggest Ideeli. Sign up here if you want to check it out! // Fab is kind of like a designer's dream... no matter what kind of design you do. It's almost like shopping from a museum (at least in my mind). Almost every single art print we have hanging in our loft has come from Fab. The only complaint I have is that the shipping is sometimes really slow, but the savings are so so so worth it! They always have really cool lighting, furniture, and accents for your home. // Both Ideeli and Fab are invite-only sites but you can sign up for each one here: IDEELI + FAB!

Other sites that I check frequently: Haute Look (think more upscale, designer stuff. But the site is huge!), Gilt Groupe (7 for all mankind, Helmut Lang, Elizabeth + James... trendy urban designer stuff), Beyond the Rack (sales on items up to 90% off!), Ebates is a great place for extra stacked coupons and it gives you rebates on places like Target.com too!

and last but most certainly not least, no matter where you shop online, always always consult RetailMeNot!

Retail Me Not

It's the mecca of every coupon code you can imagine! Comes in really handy when you'd like to snag free shipping or an extra 10% off. Just search the website name and see what pops up! If you're feeling friendly you can upload some coupon codes that you know of too! You don't even need to sign up to search the database. Win/win!

Other things to keep in mind: Online sales are all about timing. Flash sale sites are really great if you can get there first. You'll have your pick of the offerings and you won't feel guilty about saving some cash. // It's worth saving any credit you might accumulate to purchase something big and awesome that you otherwise may not have spent your money on. // Stay ahead of the game by always checking the "Upcoming Sales" pages. // Do you holiday/birthday shopping throughout the year for family and friends. See a deal that you know your sister might love? Snag it when it's available and store it away. The savings really add up if you're smart about it! // If you have a specific item in mind, a quick Google Shopping search could save you mega moolah! Amazon is a great place for stuff, too! Especially if you're looking for electronics.

I've even had someone ask me if I had a shopping addiction lately! I promise I don't, but I like to stay on top of sales so that I can snag something I'm really coveting without having to shell out an arm and a leg. My Jeffrey collection wouldn't be possible without them! It's like Extreme Couponing of the Internet... and I'm not the least bit ashamed!

Do you have any sites that you find helpful in scouting sales? How about tips for finding the best deal possible?

Instant Replay

2012-01-23T14:55:00.001-06:00

one. waking up to these faces every morning. g is always passed out at the end of the bed. two. reminiscing over old photos of georgia when she was but a wee pup. three. scored these tartan litas for eight dollars! be still my ugly shoe lovin' heart! four. warm lunches at panera. five. pretty spring dresses are already hitting the shelves!

one. attitude pup. two. pipkin doing what she does best. three. playing with their new "fruit platter" toy set from target. four. wearing my new (and dangerous) senso diffusion shoes. five. pipkin being pathetic (another thing she's great at!)

one. georgia cuddling with dad. two. jeggings on a target run. three. georgia snoozin. four. pipkin snoozin. (seriously... if sleeping were an olympic sport [and bulldogs could compete], my girls would take gold every time. you don't even know. five. there was a bulldog security sticker on the bungalow... that means it's meant to be right?!

one. enid has picked up a habit or two thanks to the dogs... sleeping like this is definitely one of them. two. wearing my jeffreys that i scored during modcloth's cabin fever sale. three. had a photoshoot yesterday with elle + holly of jam and toast. i was loving the ombre theme. four. mike got some cuddle action with riley, elle + bryan's pup. five. and i had to get some too. // all photos taken with my iPhone 4

This is what I've been up to the past week. Today I'm working on a bunch of design projects and I'm feeling stoked about them. Don't you love vague entries like that? haha What have y'all been up to?!

PS; Are you on Instagram? My username is 'kaelahbee'... come find me and let's be friends! xo

PPS; How many pictures of my animals sleeping can I possibly upload?!?! It's a little overwhelming, I know. But I can't help it!

Spinning Wheels...

2012-01-22T11:32:00.000-06:00

Thanks for all of your good luck wishes on house hunting. It's been stressful and daunting (and a little disappointing, to be honest!) but we're making headway! We keep running across the most amazing houses only to have them snatched up right in front of us. We found two that we really like, in the same East Nashville neighborhood, but totally polar opposites.

The first is a huge 1899 Victorian bungalow with a mass amount of space and a huge fenced in backyard that the girls would absolutely love to play in daily. The other is a sweet little cottage with a lot of personality (and lower price tag!). One thing we absolutely don't want to sacrifice is a fenced yard for them so even though the second house doesn't have a fenced yard yet, we're hoping the landlord would be okay with us putting up a chainlink fence (with the help of my rad stepdad). I mean, who would say no to a free fence?! Anyway, we applied for the larger bungalow last night but we won't know if we were chosen until probably tomorrow. If we are, we're going to weigh everything between the two houses and go with the one that's a better fit. If we don't, we'll just keep looking I guess!

House hunting can be so fun, but I'm a really impatient person and I get stressed with stuff like this! Not only that, but we're looking to leave the loft a month early to snag one of these houses if they're up for grabs. Hence this post... Our landlord hasn't listed our loft on Craigslist or anything yet, but we were given the okay to start fielding some applicants that might be interested that way we can time up our exit perfectly. If we get either of the houses above, we're looking to move Feb 15th. (I'd assume it'd be ready to live in the following week or so.)

There's so much we love about our loft (the brick! the wardrobe! the lofted bed! the creative freedom!) but we know the girls suffer on days we can't take them to the puppy park. That's such a big deal for us and every time we move we're constantly saying "I wish we could find a place with a fenced yard!". So we vowed to make it happen... now I'm hoping it doesn't backfire! :P With that being said, if you are in/around Nashville and you're looking to move into the Midtown/Downtown area in the next month-ish (or by March 1st), and you're interested in our loft, let me know!

Rent varies slightly based on how many people are living here, but it's between $850 and $875 for 1 or 2 people and that includes water, trash and recycling. We've done a lot of small renovations and additions to the place since we've lived here and we're leaving most all of them. 2 giant walls are exposed brick (one original, one painted white), and we repainted everything! The kitchen is mustard yellow with white cabinets, the bathroom is a pale blue, and the back wall is a pretty honeydew green. You can see more photos around and about HERE. If you look at the first entry, you can see a snippet of the kitchen. The people in the building are wonderful and very artsy fartsy. It's a really great place to live. I know we're going to be saying "I miss blah blah blah" about it daily, but I think a house is the next step for us!

If you're at all interested or know someone who is, feel free to email me (kaelahbee at gmail dot com) and I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have about the place! If we hear good news back from either of the houses then we're going to tell our landlord to go ahead and list it. If you want it, it might be smart to get in now! That way you can come by and see it with all of our stuff still here. It's definitely a place for a creative/imaginative person or couple! This could all be premature, as they may not pan out for us, but we'd like to at least be prepared. No one likes to pay 2 rents! And now I'm off to a photoshoot with Mike! Have a great Sunday!

Featured Sponsor: The Loudmouth Lifestyle

2012-01-21T12:22:00.003-06:00

This month we have the pleasure of having Stephanie of the blog The Loudmouth Lifestyle as our featured sponsor! Stephanie is such a sweetheart and is always so kind so I'm really tickled to share more about her with you today. Below is a little question and answer sesh, as well as a chance to win a large ad space on her blog! Peep below to find out how xo

Hi Stephanie! We're so excited to have you as LCH's Featured Sponsor for January! How about we start off with you telling us all a little bit more about yourself?

Thanks, Kaelah! I’m a 20-something lady living the dream in LA. Eating, sleeping, and shopping are my favorite hobbies… in that order.

Your blog, The Loudmouth Lifestyle, is a really sweet slice of the internet. When did you start blogging and what made you take the leap?

I began my blog on the tail end of 2010. I’ve always had a passion for writing and photography; blogging allows me to combine these things and share them with the world! I’m still learning, and it’s a fun process. I really can’t imagine my life without the blog now.

Were you inspired by other bloggers at the time? If so, who? Who are your current inspirations?

The first personal style blogger I became hooked on was Keiko Lynn, and she’s still my blogging idol. I love the way she pulls together layering pieces – it’s magic. I’ve also been blessed with wonderful friends in the blogosphere that inspire and motivate me daily!

What made you uproot your life in "small town Michigan" and head west to Los Angeles?

As beautiful as Michigan is, I always wanted to leave… I was probably 12 when I decided I wanted to move to a big city that also had warm weather. My parents didn’t realize I was serious until 10 years later when I could actually leave home! I love and miss my family, but being out here on my own has been wonderfully rewarding, and I don’t plan on moving back.

What is a typical "Day in the life of Stephanie" like?

I get up around 6:30am for work, and I’m there until 6:30pm. I don’t have access to internet at the office, so during my lunch hour, I run home to answer e-mails and tweets. After work I shower, eat dinner and work on the blog for a couple hours. I try to get to bed at 10, but if I have plans with friends it ends up being around midnight. I’m super busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Do you feel like blogging has helped you in any facet of your life? If so, how?

Absolutely. It’s given me a creative outlet for my passions. Plus, I’ve met awesome people from around the world!

What are some of your favorite posts that you've written on The Loudmouth Lifestyle?

One of my most popular recent posts is 5 Blogging Rules to Break. I also wrote about Why I Blog and What it Means to Live Loudly.

If you wanted to make sure the Honeybees knew at least one thing about you, what would you want that to be?

I try to have as much fun as possible, because life is too short not to!

Thanks Stephanie! You're a gem!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

~~If you'd like to be entered to win a large ad spot on Stephanie's blog, here's how you can!~~

Visit Stephanie's blog and leave a sweet comment on one of her posts. Then return here and say you did, then leave your email address or a way to contact you if you win!

~~If you'd like extra entries, do the following and leave a separate comment for each one:~~

~~+ Follow Stephanie on Twitter~~

~~+ Like T-LM on Facebook~~

~~+ Follow The Loudmouth Lifestyle blog~~

A winner will be drawn next week and notified shortly thereafter! Good luck! Happy weekend, friends! xo

Congrats to comment #33 for winning!

Nirvana

2012-01-20T10:49:00.002-06:00

This is the last of the outfits I had saved up from about three weeks ago (yow!) I've been slacking off majorly since we were out of town/sick. Hoping that next week will be a different situation entirely. Lately I've been toying with the idea of going back to being a dark brunette but I can't seem to commit one way or the other. My decision flounders daily but I'm hoping to find a great colorist in town so I can take the plunge if desired. That way I don't run into any at-home blunders like before! Anyway, this outfit reminds me of early 1990's Nirvana + grunge for some reason (disclaimer: I know nothing about grunge aside from the fact I wore a lot of denim in the 90s!). Maybe the boots and the denim top to the dress. I normally always wear a belt with this dress but decided to forgo it and keep it simple with a charcoal cardi. This dress is one from H&M last year, and the skirt is like tissue paper.... meaning it flies up at every chance. Kind of frustrating but at the same time it makes for some great twirlin'. You know, if that's your thing.

Mike and I are working on doing a "Camera Roundup" post for the blog soon. Taking all of our photo stuff (Lomography cameras included) and showing what kind of photos they take, etc. We picked up some FujiFilm to go in an old Polaroid, too, so we're excited to try that out (inspired by our trip to see Susannah!) I'm totally writing this here to keep me accountable, so hold me to it folks!

We spent part of yesterday with numerous realtors and doing drive-and-sees on several houses for rent in Nashville. We toured a handful and really liked 2 of them. We got the go ahead from our landlord to be looking + even fielding potential new tenants for our loft. It's crazy to think we've already been here almost a year! I love this little loft and there will be things about it I'll always miss, but we really want the girls to have a fenced in backyard so they can run and play on the days we can't take them to the puppy park. And I really want a bathtub! We found one house we absolutely loved in West Nashville (the opposite direction of our intention) and we're hoping we hear from someone soon. Tonight will be my first night back to work at the bar since New Years Eve. Hopefully we'll be busy because I've heard the last two weekends were totally dead. That's about as exciting as my Friday gets, y'all! Anyone else doing anything exciting this weekend?!

H&M dress

Forever 21 cardigan

Target tights

Jeffrey Campbell Tardy boots

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-19T11:47:00.001-06:00

Thursdays seem to come and go at the speed of light around here. I'm not sure if it's because it's one of the only weekly features I rarely skip or what, but Thursday is kind of like my Sunday (except not really...) so I want it to linger a little longer! I've got a tummy full of french toast (thanks Mike!) and I'm ready to seize the day. Here's a little mid-day pick me up... adorable + cute things! Enjoy! xo

♥ this workspace (+ i normally avoid bright colors) ♥

♥ tom deininger's murals of "stuff"... amazing! (click thru to see!)♥

♥ five little things to remember daily. ♥

♥ this is the most adorable thing in the world. ♥

♥ be still my koala lovin heart! this is adorable! ♥

♥ this awesome pea car (but you'd think it'd have awful blind spots!) ♥

♥ these sweet bunnies. ♥

♥ this poppy flower embroidery. ♥

♥ this inspiring quote. ♥

♥ this is now my desktop background. ♥

Other Awesome Things:

// I am in love with practically everything in Katie Daisy's Flickr photostream...

// I love love love Virginie's "Day Off" look with the sweet sweater and full skirt... so adorable!

// Do you fear you spend entirely too much time on Tumblr or Pinterest? Need the "shock value" of productive time gone out the window to snap you back into your work routine? Rescue Time is for you! It's kind of amazing how much time we spend on "non-work" related sites and interests... even when clocked in! (It blocks certain distracting websites for a set amount of time... For those of use who lack willpower. Me!)

// Madison Sonnier wrote a powerful article for Tiny Buddha and I think many of you can relate to it... It's permanently in my "bookmarks" now. Realizing your self worth and believing in your path... when all we can seem to do is compare ourselves to others.

// Hot Cocoa Cookies... that's all I'm going to say.

// and maybe one more little recipe... Baked Zucchini Chips. Yum! I love zucchini.

What are you loving this week?

January Sponsor Giveaway!

2012-01-17T12:32:00.002-06:00

Sponsor related stuff is usually always posted on Saturdays but that pesky sickness made me push it back a bit! Have no fear, pretty and fun things are here! ;) Below are three of LCH's finest January sponsors and they're offering up a heaping load of goodies for one lucky winner. I'll just go ahead and take one of everything, please! Peep below how you can enter to win! xo

♥ Win a $35 shop credit to the online retail boutique, Lola-Rocks! Feel free to spend it on whatever your heart desires! The prices might really surprise you... A few of my suggestions: a pink gingham sundress, a nautical inspired number (paired with a yellow belt!), or a bright red party dress!

BLOG // SHOP // TWITTER

♥ The lovely Melanie of Neesie Designs is giving away two awesome hair accessory pieces from her Etsy shop. We stock these pretty pieces in Honeybean, too (They'll be making their way into the online shoppe so stay tuned!) They sell like hotcakes because they're so well made (and adorable!) so you definitely want to check them out! My favorites are: Orange Rust, Gold Bullet Headband, and Black Diamond Feather!

SHOP // FACEBOOK

♥ Miss Kathryn just added some fun new infinity scarves to her etsy shop, and she wants to give one of you lucky gals your choice of color! Her shop is full of so many bold and bright colors. They're the perfect way to add some zeal to any cold and gloomy winter day! My money would be on the mustard yellow, because I pretty much always want everything in mustard!

SHOP // BLOG

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

To enter to win, drop by the sponsors above then leave a comment below telling me your favorite piece in each of their shops! (Be sure to leave your email or twitter name with your comment so I can contact you if you win! You can spell it out like kaelahbee at gmail dot com to avoid spam!) This is just one entry. Please include all 3 "favorites" in one comment!

~~If you'd like additional entries you can....~~

~~+ Follow the blogs above/leave a sweet comment (one entry per blog followed, up to 2!)~~

~~+ Follow the sponsors on Twitter (one per follow, up to 1!)~~

~~+ "Like" the sponsors on Facebook (one per like, up to 1!)~~

+ Tweet/Blog/Tumblr about this giveaway (one per share, up to 3!)

If you kept tally then you'll notice that is up to EIGHT entries! Please be sure all additional entries are in separate comments so they can be properly counted! Entries not left separately will not count, sorry! A winner will be drawn next week and contacted shortly thereafter! Good luck! xo

Congratulations to Comment #45! You're our winner! xo

It's The Little Things...

2012-01-16T11:44:00.003-06:00

♥ Like bright red smooches on the faces of your furry lil' munchkins...

♥ Mid-day coffee breaks on your inevitable Target run (with a really handsome fella, at that!)...

♥ Knowing that even though your best friend is over 500 miles away, you can call her up for any (or no) reason at all...

♥ Hot cider and a sharing a piece of chocolate cake (with Maya!) on a snowy day downtown...

♥ And even a 60 pound pup passed out across your lap, and another sweet lil' biscuit cuddled next to that...

Let's not even mention the tons of you who come here every single day to share your words of encouragement... always when I need them, and even otherwise. Sometimes it's nice to step back for a few days (even if against my will) and appreciate how awesome everything is. Today I'm looking forward to lots of emails, design work, and a coffee date with this sweet gal. Y'all are amazing. xo

Skull Candy

2012-01-15T08:38:00.007-06:00

You'll have to excuse the radio silence on this little blog the past few days. Seems like that little sickness Mike had turned out to be a little bit more than serious and he graciously passed it on to me. It hit me like a ton of bricks on my way home from a little coffee date with Maya and not 10 minutes after I was home I was crashed out on the couch in my pjs. I've been here since then, too. Only getting up long enough to take a sad excuse for a shower and to move to the bed. Friday was pretty much the worst day of my life. I haven't been this sick in a long time so it was all I could do to force myself to sleep as much as possible. Needless to say I missed another full weekend of work and that makes me a little less than stoked. Mike has been taking good care of me though, so he's a saint. Popsicles and seasons galore of Weeds and Sons of Anarchy have been keeping me good company. I had a sponsored giveaway that should have gone up yesterday so be on the lookout for that soon. I'm still far from 100% but these photos from a few weeks ago will have to do for now! I'm ready to be back and in action, even if that means taking it easy again today in hopes of making it off the couch by Monday haha

This outfit is a bit of a silly one. This cardigan is one of those cheapo one-size China imports via Ebay. I got it and it smelled of straight chemical factory. A few good washes and it's not so bad, though I realize it's not the most flattering. The dress is the same one I wore for Easter last year, and I can't help but pair it with harder solids like black and metal. The shoes are a new pair of Jeffrey Campbells that I got for Christmas and absolutely love (+ they're currently on sale). They have a very "Ska" style to them but the western style buckles made me swoon. They're so comfortable, too!

Not much to say around these parts except I can't wait to take a good long shower, put some makeup on and get dressed like normal. In reality that probably means getting dolled up to sit at my computer and churn out some design work. Three days of pjs and sweatshirts really does a number on a girl! Oh -- and I got some incredible new shoes via the mail + our Chicago trip so I can't wait to dress those up, too! Happy Sunday xo

Forever 21 dress

Ebay cardigan

Forever 21 belt

Tights c/o Foot Traffic

Jeffrey Campbell Warning shoes

PS; I'm now (read: always) accepting sponsors for February and beyond. Book + pay for your spot by the end of the day on the 20th and you get a lil' discount. Feel free to email me about package deals for 3, 4 or 6+ month partnerships. You can check out my traffic + stats (updated 2 weeks ago, so note certain changes) HERE. xo

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-12T12:16:00.000-06:00

It's Thursday! It's raining here in Nashville so I'm finding comfort inside, still in my pajamas, full of Zyrtec and Dayquil. Starting to really feel the sinus-y cold stuff that Mike has been dealing with the past few days. Hoping this weather breaks soon so we can go back to feeling like our old selves! Now for the good stuff... the magical wonderful awesome weekly TiLT post! Enjoy! xo

♥ i really want this kate spade bag ♥

♥ this pretty picture ♥

♥ this painting ♥

♥ this is the best mantra. ♥

♥ this things organized neatly submission ♥

♥ this adorable engagement photo ♥

♥ this beyond perfect workspace ♥

♥ simply this. ♥

♥ this was us with sons of anarchy yesterday. #sicklife ♥

♥ this picture + rockabilly style in general. teach me how! ♥

Other awesome things:

// Cristi from City Bird's Nest is offering up a 20% off coupon code to her Etsy shop through the end of January! Just use the code ROCK2012 for your savings. Totally worth checking out! (She also just redesigned her blog!)

// Lauren from Active for Fashion shared some fun GIFs in her latest blog post. I miss making them for my outfit posts! Must remember to do more of those!

// If you like to read and have $3 to spare, check out this new e-book by Megs Burd called On the Piazza.

// Absolutely loving this outfit by Virginie! Tennessee isn't known for our snow, that's for sure, but I feel like this is such a chic and beautiful outfit for a really cold day!

// Stephanie shared 5 Blogging Rules to Break on her blog, The Louder Mouth. Definitely worth reading! Also - Can I just say how jealous I am that she's at the beach here?! Swoon!

// I'll go ahead and admit that despite the fact most people don't actually like to eat rock candy, I'm totally stoked to have some at our wedding. It's just so pretty! Here's a recipe on how to make it at home in case you don't want to pay an arm and a leg at the candy shop!

// Speaking of weddings, have I shared how much I absolutely LOVE this one?! Be still my heart!

// These awesome baby blue and ivory oxford heels are on sale at LuLu*s, and I want them on my feet so bad! If you're scared of heels but want to give big shoes a go, you should probably buy these glittery 99 ties from JC! They're Mike's favorite style of JC shoe (that's saying a lot!) and it's like glitter galore!

Happy Thursday friends! I'm going to reorganize my workspace, then stuff my pockets full of silky smooth lotioned Kleenex and go have a coffee date with Maya! Classy, I know.

What are you loving this week?

Wedding Wednesday

2012-01-11T11:16:00.001-06:00

It's been a while since I've indulged in a little Wedding Wednesday goodness. You think I'd be bursting at the seams to post about it every week since we're finally putting plans and reservations into motion. But surprisingly enough, I've found myself more reserved about it all. I can't wait to share what's going to be happening on our big day, but at the same time I want to keep a little bit of the magic and mystique for just us. Anywhoo, against my better judgement (only because I have so much to do!), I've spent a little bit of time on Pinterest this morning gathering some sweet inspiration for our October wedding. Maybe some of you will find it useful, too! If nothing else, just something pretty to look at! Enjoy xo

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10

11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17

You probably get an idea of where we're headed with our day. Very DIY, rustic + Southern, and emphasis on the delicious sweets and decor. Let's hope it goes as planned! Mike + I had a coffee date last week and spent the entire time just taking down ideas of what we want to do. Our location is hopefully going to be finalized before long and then we can really start making things happen! I wish y'all could all come over for fun craft nights while we prepare! I know I need to get started soon, but I'm holding off to see if we move into a house in the next two months! It's less than 9 months away... woo hoo!

Have you posted your wedding day on your blog? Send me a link! I'd love to check it out!

Sky + Sea

2012-01-10T11:23:00.000-06:00

Think of Me by Rosi Golan on Grooveshark

We're finally home! Back in our home sweet home of Nashville. Yesterday's drive was entirely too long. Lengthened by the fact we stopped at Ikea for an hour and then Indianapolis for 2 or so. Not to mention Mike is a sickly one. He's fighting off a really sore throat, fever, and all over just sickness that he started to feel when we were in Milwaukee on Sunday. I feel it creeping into my throat, too, so I'm trying to keep us all alive! This outfit, much like the last few and following ones, is from about 2 weeks ago. The sun was still out in full force and you could get away with not wearing a heavy coat. I'm not 100% sold on this tweed blazer jacket simply because it's not the right size, but I can't help loving the color combo. It matches really well with my Jeffrey Campbell Wanted shoes in blue velvet! (I also snagged these in black + wine on 80% clearance, but the wine was taken off of my order! Wahh!) I'm excited to pair the black with some easy outfits, too.

I've been wearing a lot more colorful tights the past week or two, but you'd never know it by these pictures. If I'm not mistaken, this night I headed to Target and just loaded up my car with new tights (Much needed!). I'm loving the green + rust ones, so I'll have to shoot more outfits when we get a chance. Right now I need to get this house cleaned + Mike taken care of. If you're awaiting an email response from me from the past week or so, it's coming! My inbox is overflowing and I have a lot of design work, blog work, and all around correspondence to attend to. Hopefully I can start working on that tonight if I can get Mike feeling a bit better. Have a lovely Tuesday! xo

BeBop dress

Thrifted blazer

Forever 21 belt

Target tights

Jeffrey Campbell Wanted shoes

Blues Boy

2012-01-07T09:16:00.000-06:00

This is an outfit from about two weeks ago, so it's a bit dated. I snagged this dress at UO for a whopping $10 not too long ago. I also got a black/red version (with dots maybe?). The top is a bit strange but it's a really comfortable dress. Comfort is totally what I was going for anyway! The second picture(s) were taken when a guy who works in this building came up and just watched us for a while. Probably thought we were trying to trespass or something. There are so many characters out there!

Chicago has been a lot of fun so far. Thrifting, Woodfield, too much Jack Daniels, and the Village Inn. The weather has been the exact same as in Nashville, so we're not getting to experience the Chicago winter like we had hoped. Guess that's a good excuse for another visit! It's nice to not feel chilled to the bone though, I won't lie. Here's to hoping the remainder of our trip is just as fun! xo

Urban Outfitters dress

Forever 21 cardigan

Target tights

Target flats

H&M coat

How are you spending your weekend?!

Fortune Cookie Questions

2012-01-06T10:39:00.000-06:00

We pulled into Chicago last night around 8pm and we brought "gifts" for Susannah + Chris. I had already asked Susannah to be one of my bridesmaids back when I thought I wasn't going to have a Maid of Honor. For me, MOH isn't a title that should be used to gauge how important a friend is or anything like that. I never wanted my bridesmaids to feel like I liked one of them over the other. All six ladies that I'm going to have in my bridal party are stellar, sweet, funny gals that I'm excited to share that day with. Anyway, I had the idea to ask her (+ Mike ask Chris) via fortune cookie because that's kind of "our thing"... Aquariums and fortune cookies. We have every single fortune saved from when we first started dating. Okay so they're in a box, not really doing anything, but we're determined to figure out something cute to use them for! Anywhoo - Mike's stepmom got us some yummy gourmet fortune cookies for Christmas so I swapped out the fortunes very carefully for ones I made at home. We put them in little mini takeout boxes and had them open them at the end. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

If you aren't following Susannah's blog, you're missing out. We're pretty much the same person. Now it's time for some lunch. xo

Things I Love Thursday

2012-01-05T08:26:00.000-06:00

By the time you read this we will be well on our way to Chicago to see this rad girl and her dude. And by that I mean this is probably scheduled to post 2 full hours before we manage to get on the road... that's how roadtrips usually go right?! Just us? Eh! We're ecstatic to spend a handful of days back in the suburbs of Chicago with two of our favorite people! We're stoked on Sunday's Milwaukee trip, too! If you're going to be in/around the NW 'burbs of Chicago or Milwaukee, let a girl know! I have a tendency to start blasting invites to internet people by the time we make it through one drink at the Village Inn anyway... Oh the fun times to be had! Here's my list of awesome for this week!

♥ these flyers from "Chris" click HERE for the rest! ♥

♥ this pretty pretty illustration ♥

♥ this is the most gorgeous crewel piece i've ever seen ♥

♥ the most perfect bridal party attire ♥

♥ the only thing paris + i have in common ♥

(only when i go into commission-based retail stores!)

♥ this. ♥

♥ barney stinson totatlly knows what's up. ♥

♥ elizabeth olsen + i have the same uniform. ♥

♥ style blogger problems. ♥

♥ this sweet husky macro. ♥

♥ this christmas cat. ♥

♥ rebekka made this gorgeous desktop calendar (download for free here!). ♥

Other awesome things:

// Elycia posted a really cool poster art DIY. I'm in love with how hers turned out and I'd love to give a pastel version a go!

// Meanz from Koi Story has the cutest tutorial for starburst nails! I love the color combo she chose! Too bad I have tiny nails and am a mess with nail polish!

// Thought Catalog's 20 Resolutions for 20-somethings got a lot of heat for being demeaning but I actually thought it was really light hearted and funny. Guess I felt like I could relate to it! Make your own call ;)

// Elyse's Year In Review is probably one of my favorites. SO many beautiful photos!

// I'm really surprised I don't link every Tiny Buddha article posted here on my TILT posts, because they make up a majority of my Twitter favorites. This one is no exception.

// This is over half a year old and it's been in my bookmarks for that long, but still, I tear up every time I go back and read this post. It's a truly beautiful sentiment for a loved one's birthday.

// Samantha + Emily wrote very kind reviews of my PR + Marketing Ebook... I'm absolutely tickled. You can read each one HERE and HERE! If you're interested in snagging one yourself, feel free!

// I've been coveting a new pair of plugs lately and these Pie ones are too cute to pass up! A few other favorites are the lions, bike, octopus, scooter, and these unicorns! (Save 20% w/ code KAELAH + seriously, get the bloodwood. It's gorgeous!)

What are you loving this week?

Rust + Lumber

2012-01-04T08:18:00.000-06:00

Here's to that awkward moment when what you're wearing just happens to be probably the least flattering thing for your body type... and you're showcasing it to the world! Oops! Not going to lie, I love this dress. I love this dress (+ have the same one in lavender) and I wear the bejeezus out of it even if it makes me look dowdy and strange. I have huge hips (and they don't lie. Boom.) but this dress just sits in all the wrong places. Yet time and time again I pull it from my wardrobe and prance around in it like it ain't no thang... yea, you heard me. I'm coming to terms with the fact that not everything has to be super flattering... that's not crazy talk right? The dress makes me feel good, even if I know I'm looking extra voluptuous wearing it. I'll just give three snaps in a Z formation and say "Work it gurl!" Plus I think the color combo of this outfit might be my new favorite! I'm doing this silly thing on Instagram where I document my shoes every day... I tag the photo with the hashtag #dailyshoe (in case you want to join in!) because I have a ridiculous collection and this will help me wear all of them (I hope.) It's sad that it's come down to me using a ploy to wear my wardrobe right?! Yikes. Honestly, as much as I love the look of oxfords, I've always been kind of intimidated by them. I'm short and stocky anyway, and they just make my legs look like nubs. Again, wearing them anyway! The rust tights are the perfect shade and are a recent score from Target (I wear two pairs in the winter so they're opaque + warm!) and so is the cardigan. The coat is a score from H&M back sometime last year that I recently rediscovered stored away in my Nana's basement. Anyway, enough of that!

Mike + I are headed down to my parents' house today for a bit and doing errands like renewing my car's tags for our trip tomorrow. Totally living the dream! ;) I know it'll be a stretch but I'm really hoping to avoid all email + "work" related things on our little vay-cay! If you write to me, I promise to respond by the end of next week! Until then, I can't really make any promises. Not that blogging + email are really ever urgent matters anyway! Hope you're having a fantastic start to your Wednesday. xo

H&M dress

Target cardigan

Thrifted belt

Target tights

Thrifted brooch

Forever 21 oxfords

H&M coat

PS; I know my roots are embarrassing. They're so hard to cover! I'm seriously considering going back to my natural/dark brunette soon anyway... we'll see!

Gawf-Chic

2012-01-03T08:28:00.001-06:00

Sunrise by Norah Jones & the Handsome Band on Grooveshark

It's turned incredibly cold (finally!) here in Nashville, and I've been wearing a whole lot of black. I'm not sure if the two are related in any way, but this is a fairly dark outfit for me regardless. I knew I wanted to wear something dark with my new Jeffrey Campbell Busted Boots that I got for Christmas and I figured a little floral number with a tulle underlay would be the perfect offset for the industrial patent shine + buckles. They're really easy to walk in, but they go pretty high up on my ankles. They zip up on the inside of each leg and help keep everything nice and sturdy. They're a pretty fun little shoe! -- Anywhoo, yesterday Mike + I spent the day making exchanges and running errands in Franklin. Ran into two rad blog readers, too! Kelsey at the mall and Nikki at Genghis Grill! Hi ladies! Last night I sat on YouTube for far too long trying to figure out how ~branch out with my makeup. I sort of feel like a lost cause, no lie! I wish my best friend Jessica lived here since she's a makeup pro! Practice makes perfect, I suppose. Mike cooked a delicious dinner and we watched too much Breaking Bad... you know, a typical day!

We are gearing up to head north on Thursday. We're driving up to Chicago to spend a handful of days with Susannah + Chris! I love our random trips to Illinois and I'm really excited about this one. Friends and fun times, then Sunday we're heading to Milwaukee! Mainly because I've never been to Wisconsin and "Visit a new state" is on my 23 before 24 list! If y'all have any suggestions of things to see/do while we're in Milwaukee, please let me know! (In fact, anything to see/do while in the Chicago suburbs, too!) Spending quality time with our best friends is pretty much the icing on the cake for 2012! Perfect way to start it off! xo

Charlotte Russe dress

Target cardigan

HUE tights

Jeffrey Campbell Busted boots

PS; The JCs are on sale HERE + you can get an extra 20% off with the code KAELAH (that applies to everything on the site, too!) Believe me when I say, they're a lot more comfortable than they look!

PPS; The song at the very top is one of my all-time favorites. The kind of song you can listen to on repeat and never tire of it. Totally unrelated to the outfit, but the perfect way to start your day! xo

Resolutions + Goals

2012-01-02T10:44:00.002-06:00

Thanks so much for all of your sweet words on my blog's redesign launch last night! I'm tickled pink that you like it (see what I did there?!) I thought I'd talk about some goals and fun resolutions today in order to keep the New Year momentum going!

I'm never really one to make "tangible" resolutions for the New Year. I use those mainly for my 23 before 24 lists and such. But still, I thought I'd really try and make this the most magical year by vowing to stick to some ideas! Below are a few things that I'm aspiring to accomplish...

Twenty Twelve // Resolutions + Goals

1. Be true to yourself. Always. // I'm choosing to showcase my life to the entire world... I want to make sure I'm accurately depicting myself. The good, bad + ugly. I started this blog as a way to meet new people + share my "journey". It doesn't do any good to try and play Keep Up with a hundred other bloggers when our stories aren't even remotely similar.

2. Take more candid photos. // It's been a while since I've taken a film camera out and just shot random photos for the sake of doing it. Mike + I used to do that daily when we lived in Spring Hill + Franklin. I'm determined to get back on that horse. I always have a disposable camera in my purse so here's to putting it to good use!

3. Budget... and more importantly, stick to it! // We're getting married in 9 months (!!!) and so much still needs to be done. Buy the dress, all the crafty DIY stuff, figure out rentals + catering, accessories + Mike's outfit, pay the remaining photography balance, and make reservations for our honeymoon. We've got a lot of work ahead of us!

4. Save for brick + mortar shoppe. // I thought Honeybean would help quell the desire to have a brick + mortar shoppe immediately, but all it really did was fuel the flame. I love Honeybean and I hope she's part of my business for many many years to come, but I also can't wait until I have an actual storefront. Measures are being taken and plans are being made. It's happening... it has to.

5. Expand Etsy + Honeybean. // Moving forward with our online (+ mobile) businesses will be a great way to help prepare us for the daily grind of working in the shoppe. This year I plan on taking Hive + Honey, as well as Honeybean, to the next level as far as blog sponsorships, giveaways, and promotions.

6. Think before you tweet. // I have a tendency to forget my filter when it comes to Twitter. No one cares about half of the stuff that gets posted, and a fraction of the other stuff is just rants + complaints anyway. I need to chill it with that.

7. Make good decisions. // Vague much? This can be anything from "Don't buy those shoes", "Eat a carrot instead of a cookie" or "Go to bed earlier so you'll get up earlier"... A few bad decisions here or there definitely make for an exciting ride, but I need to keep myself in check to help ensure that I'm making the right decisions for me + my family.

8. Last but not least, Branch out! // I'm naturally shy (No one seems to believe that?!) and am pretty reserved with people. I open up a lot fairly quickly I suppose, but I'm still one that will avoid a party at all costs because I'm so socially awkward. I've met so many rad people via this little blog and hope to continue that into this new year. Hopefully I can break out of my shell a little bit... We'll see!

What are some of your new year's resolutions + goals?! I'd love to hear them! Link me over if you've made a post or feel free to share below!

The winner of the iPad 2 giveaway is announced in the original post!

A Fresh Look for the New Year

2012-01-01T23:31:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the new look for Little Chief Honeybee in 2012! I know I just redesigned my layout in mid-October, and as much as I loved the look of it, it just wasn't me. It didn't feel like home. I'm not really a yellow and green kind of gal. It's no surprise I gravitated back to the peachy-pink of Honeybean... my favorite color ever. I still wanted something clean and mature so I opted for the soft gray background. I've grown quite fond of gray, pink and white together since Mike is smart enough not to let me paint absolutely everything in our house pink (I really want to!). Instead of the baby blue and pink, he's learning to compromise a bit! The popular site Hello Giggles inspired the navigation, too. I've seen so many blogs with a really top-heavy navigation and I can't help but love it. Let it serve as a small taste of what's to come for the new year!

I've found myself in sort of an identity crisis. Feeling like I'm trying to keep up with the Joneses in blogging, and not really feeling like myself. Getting back to my pink-lovin' roots is going hopefully going to help me stay authentic and real here on this lil' blog! I miss sharing things like quotes that inspire me, songs that make me cry, and my personal quarter-life-crisis moments... so that's what's comin'. If it's not for you, I won't be offended, but I'm excited to share! Below you'll see a screenshot of the old layout and then the new! I'm currently accepting design clients for late-January and early-February so email me if you'd like to reserve your spot! I'm working on some freelance work currently but I'll be opening up a blog design template shop shortly!

What can I say? I missed the pink + scallops! xo

In 2012...

2012-01-01T13:17:00.001-06:00

In 2012 I hope you find the strength to let go of those people and things that are keeping you down. Let go of lost loves, bad habits, and negativity. Shine a little brighter, walk with your head higher, and smile at everyone you meet. Shake hands with a firm grip, indulge in chocolate when you crave it, and try to incorporate a little bit of glitter into every outfit. Spend a little too much on your favorite lipgloss, and pinch pennies otherwise. Make it a rule to say "I love you" to at least one person every single day, even if it's to yourself (You deserve it!). Write a list of your hopes and dreams, and sleep with them under your pillow each night. Thank those who inspire you, and aim to inspire others. Wear your fanciest dress to do the laundry, and don't forget to say "Please" and "Thank you". Be a woman of morals, grace, and gratitude. Promise yourself that you will give 2012 your absolute best and don't settle for anything less from others. This is your year. This is the year you were born to shine. It's going to be the best one yet! Can you tell I'm excited?!

(♥ ♥ ♥)

Looking Back + Looking Forward

2011-12-31T13:48:00.001-06:00

Another year has come and gone... How many times have you read that on a blogger's recap post this week?! I won't bore you with the details of every single month or detail that has transpired during 2011, as I'm sure no one is as interested in them as I am myself. (Kind of a Catch-22 with bloggers, isn't it?! Hmm..) Anyway, I've said it before and I'll say it again, 2011 was a whirlwind year for me + this little blog.

A few highlights include...

+ A roadtirp to Wilmington, NC with two of our favorite people, Susannah and Chris. and getting engaged on the riverfront, canopied by twinkelights and captured on film. (I can't imagine better people to share that moment with!) Here's Mike take on it + Susannah's too!

+ Getting whisked away to NYC to stay at the Ace Hotel and attend the International Women's Day Celebration hosted by Levi's + Vogue. (Thanks for the trip, Levi's! View photos here!)

+ Turning 23 + making my 23 before 24 list of goals! Still have a handful that I need to complete in the next 3 months! Here's to hoping I can do it! (♥)

+ Moving into our factory converted loft and trying to make it our Home Sweet Home. Full of shoes, twinklelights, and furry little lovemuffins (our pups!). (See the Loft Tour posts here: Twinklelights, Bedroom, Wardrobe [Updated], Workspace [Needs Updating], and Outside)

+ Deciding to launch a new handmade hair accessory shoppe, Hive + Honey. It's been a labor of love, though I can't wait until I can devote more time to it as a vital part of Honeybean.

+ We managed to sneak up to Chicago at the end of June and surprise Susannah for her birthday! It was all under the 'guise that we were driving to Northern Kentucky to foster a bulldog puppy. We were sitting on her couch when she walked in from work! That was one of my favorite parts of the year! (We also went back in September for Renegade Craft Fair but of course I'm awful at taking pictures!)

+ Making the decision to push forward with my dream of owning a small independent shoppe by joining the mobile biz craze and making Honeybean Mobile Boutique a dream come true! We unveiled her once we brought her home! Now you can shop online during the winter months, too! Lots more inventory to come! I'm even more excited about our next step...

+ We brought a sweet kitty (we named her Enid!) into our family and we're now compete as a family of 5. We took our first ever holiday card and we're preparing for another, even better, year to come.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It really means so much to me knowing that so many of you take time out of your busy day to stop by my little slice of the internet. The web is such a crazy place if you think about it! I've grown to become such close friends with people I never would have had the opportunity to meet had it not been for this little blog. I know it sounds silly to say but I count my lucky stars every day to have the opportunities that I do. Pursuing my dream of owning my own businesses wouldn't be possible if it weren't for y'all! There are days I question myself as a blogger, and this entire blog in itself. But then I'll get an email or a comment that makes it more than worth it. I know I'm not out there changing lives in a huge way. I'm not curing cancer or lobbying for governmental change, but even if I can only bring a little sunshine into your day, I'll consider that a success! Thanks for making this so fun and exciting for me... It's like we're all on a journey together. Let's make sure 2012 is the one to remember!

I'll be sharing my "New Year's Resolutions" in the next day or two! I'd love to hear about yours, too! So long, 2011. You were awesome, but 2012 is going to kick your butt! xo

Banana Boat

2011-12-30T11:16:00.000-06:00

These shoes almost take it a step too far. They're almost too ugly (Yeah right, I gravitate toward them... I'm sure they were too ugly for a lot of y'all a long time ago!) Mike + I happened to pop into Urban Outfitters a handful of days ago and on the clearance table was a Jeffrey Campbell box (yeah, that's the only reason I even went). Inside the pretty little box was these Banana Boat shoes. Mike said they looked like McDonald's Play Place shoes, and I can also agree. Anyway, they were marked half off, and they were my size, and they were the only JCs in the store. It sort of felt like fate... even if they were atrocious. I was determined to make them work, so I bought them. (Along with 2 dresses for $10!) I thought I could try a simple white dress, a coordinating cardigan and a pop color for the belt... you know... my uniform. I'm still not sure if it was a success for not, but I think they might be growing on me some.

Last night Mike + I went on our little daily coffee date, then I met up with Bryan and Elle at the Sportsplex here in Nashville for some ice skating. (Mike joined us after a little while.) Okay, so I've never ice skated before. Ever. I wasn't expecting to like it so much or even be able to stand up, but it wasn't that bad. I only fell once (alright... twice. Once after an hour and a half of skating + I also ran smack into Mike after he fell once. I wasn't paying attention! Doh!) Anywhoo, it was a lot of fun and I definitely hope we go back. I never knew how many people made it out on the rink during the week! Afterwards we all headed over to Las Palmas down the street from our house for some late night Mexican food and drinks. Mike + I snuck in a couple episodes of Breaking Bad before hitting the hay. It was a fun night.

Now I'm writing down my reflections of 2011 and goals for 2012. I'll be sharing those tomorrow! (Along with the iPad 2 winner!) Hope y'all have a lovely Friday! I have to go see what silly Enid is up to... she's climbing through my shoe shelves and knocking things over! xo

What are your plans for New Years weekend? (I'm working. Womp womp womp!)

Dress via Ross

Forever 21 belt

Target cardigan

Target tights

Jeffrey Campbell Colorblock Litas

DIY: Coasters

2011-12-29T11:33:00.001-06:00

Mike and I decided to do a fully handmade Christmas this year (with one or two exceptions thrown in. Dads are hard to make for!) We were super excited to devote a handful of days to just getting crafty and baking away. I started on these coasters a couple of weeks ago (!!!) and only meant to make about 4 sets. I ended up making about 16! They're so simple and effortless that I couldn't help myself. It was fun to try different techniques to make them special, too. These are great inexpensive (yet thoughtful!) gifts for anyone you may know (or even to use in your home!). I made batches for practically everyone, and ew used our Instagram prints we've had lying around for our own set. Below I'll show you three fun ways to spruce up your own porcelain coasters, and give you a few more ideas! (It's really so simple that I don't need to do a step by step tutorial!)

What you'll need:
+ Four 4.25" x 4.25" porcelain tiles from hardware store
+ ModPodge
+ Foam brush
+ Paper or something for the "design"
+ Felt furniture backings

What you'll do: If you're using scrapbook paper or something of the sort, trim it into a 4"x4" square. (One piece of 12" scrapbook paper makes 9 (!!!) coasters!) Pour out some ModPodge and use your foam brush to brush a layer onto the top of the porcelain tile. Immediately place the design paper onto the fresh ModPodge. If you're using small pieces of paper for a collage, be careful not to tear them! The MP is sticky! Wait 20 minutes and allow it to dry. Come back and add another coat of MP over all 4 tiles, making sure to pay close attention to the edges. Allow this coat to dry for another half hour or so, and repeat two more times. After 3 coats of MP, you may turn over the coaster and add 4 felt backings to each one. This will help protect any surface it sits on.

Voila! You now have a set of personalized coasters! Stack them up and tie them with a ribbon for a pretty presentation!

Tips and tricks: Use old movie stubs or anything that may be special between you and the recipient to make it more personal. Mike and I made a set with old date tickets and fortunes! You can also use baby pictures, pictures from growing up, or family portraits. If you have a new baby in the house then it could be sweet to use pictures of him/her to give to the baby's grandparents (or if you're on the outside then you can gift these to the parents of the baby!). If you decide to use small pieces, confetti, or anything with ink, pick up some transparencies at the office supply store and cut them into 4x4 square to place on top. This will help keep the coating even and nice.

If you'd like to order your own Instagram prints (which are sized at 4x4!), use Mpix or download the Postal Pix app on your iPhone!

These make great gifts because they're easy to make and cheap to put together. The tiles cost 16 cents a piece at Home Depot. 1 sheet of scrapbooking paper is enough for 2 full sets and is only 50 cents. The felt backings can be bought in sets of 25, 60, or 80 for only about $2.75. At the end of the day each set cost us roughly $1 to make (Instagram sets run about $2.50 or less!)

What would you put on your coasters if you made a set?!

2011 Outfit Recap

2011-12-28T11:40:00.000-06:00

This year has been a crazy one for my wardrobe. That probably sounds really silly, but it's true. In early 2011 I was just a simple, black bow flat lovin' gal and I was insistent that I'd never "love shoes"... Are we all rolling our eyes yet? Um yeah. I found three cute pairs of wedges/heels at Target one fateful day in February and my closet has exploded with platforms, ugly shoes and wedges ever since. Heaven help us all. Now I'm a little too obsessed and my "collection" is kind of embarrassing. At least we're making progress here! I really love showcasing my ~*personal style on LCH simply so I can see the mega mistakes I've made (yowza!) and fun ways to switch it up. It's kind of awesome to be able to look back and actually see personal growth and evolution. My outfits almost solely consist of cardigans, dresses and tights (still), but there's an occasional doozy every once in a while. These are my favorites of 2011...

January

Spring Fling in the Snow // Blackberry Winter

February

Strawberry Seeds + Lemon Flowers // Cloudy Magnolia Berries

March

Future Safari Space Hunter // Cranberry Lace Cowgirl

April

Modcloth Blogger of the Moment // 70's Lady

May

Graduate // Date with the Night

June

Country Cabin Bumpkin // Berries + Wheat

July

'Murrica // Honeybrick

August

Sunbaked Clay // Ruffled Sage

September

See You in September // So Long Sweet Summer

October

Two if by Sea // The Hot Dog Dress

November

She's Gone Country // Black Swan

December

Strawberry Rain // Heavy Metal Princess

If you're interested in 2010's Top 12 Outfits, you can see those here! (They're grainy and so dated, but still! Evolution!) I kind of can't wait to see what 2012 brings. Hopefully the faintest idea how to do hair/makeup so I can look less like a 12 year old hot mess! Oh, and I hope to get better at ~accessorizing (though I'm not a fan of jewelry... hmm!)

Do you have any favorite outfits of 2011? Yours? Mine? Another blogger's? Share them below! Inspiration should be celebrated!

Guilty Pleasures: TV Shows

2011-12-27T11:46:00.001-06:00

I know I've written a post on tv shows before, my favorites and inquiring about y'alls. But I thought it'd be fun to poll all of the new readers we have, too! Mike and I are obsessed with Dexter. I remember buying the first season on DVD right before I went to Europe for a few weeks. I planned on watching it on the plane ride into Budapest. Instead, I watched half of one episode and then decided it wasn't for me. Something didn't click. It wasn't until the following year that I gave it another go since Mike was insistent. From then on, we'd try and squeeze in as many episodes as we could in that unusually-cold winter. (Sometimes we'd watch as many as six or seven in one sitting! We'd stay up until 6am watching them!) Of course the show has slowed quite a bit, and the first 3 or 4 seasons were undoubtedly the best, but we're sticking it out through all 8! Who caught season 6's finale the other night?!? Whoa!

Anyway, my parents gifted us some of the seasons DVDs and now all we lack is Season 3. Mike really wants to rewatch all of them (!!!) but I'm just not sure I have it in me! Do you like to rewatch tv series?! I always wondered if that was a strange thing to do... I'm not sure why. Anyway.

Since Dexter was coming to an end, we decided to start watching Mad Men on Netflix. I've avoided Mad Men like the plague simply because everyone is always fawning over it (How rebellious of me!) but we got really into it. It's amazing how quickly we flew through 4 seasons! We'd watch an episode or two before bed every night and before I knew it, I knew the entire history of all the characters and I'm eagerly awaiting season 5 in March. I've seen a lot of chatter about Breaking Bad on Twitter lately so we started that a few days ago. We just finished season 1 last night and we're hoping it picks up a bit as some of the episodes are a little slow.

We both really like to find shows that have a ton of episodes/seasons so we can catch up and really get into it. It's hard to commit to a show when it first begins and you have to wait a week for a new episode (We do really like Whitney and Two Broke Girls though!) We don't get to sit down and enjoy much tv very often, so just squeezing in an episode before bed has become quite the nightly tradition around here. Though I'll admit my all time favorite tv shows are probably Felicity (!!!) + NCIS (Fun fact: We have 181 episodes of NCIS on our DVR. Yowza!)

So my question for all of y'all: Do you have any tv shows you absolutely love? Bonus points if they're on Netflix Instant! (*cue everyone saying Doctor Who!* haha)

Lavender Hues

2011-12-26T13:05:00.000-06:00

This outfit is from late last week, though it'd work perfectly fine still today. It really hasn't felt like Christmas around these parts but it was so great to spend a few days with our families. Though I won't lie, it is nice to be back in our own house/bed! (Even if we did come home to my favorite lamp being busted into pieces! Little Enid likes to jump on things and being the new kitty mom that I am, I've yet to really cat-proof the house! Guess I'll do that now!)

Our house feels like it's in shambles from the days and days of crafting + baking. Today is disaster control. We're going to clean from top to bottom (I secretly love to clean!) and get everything in order. I got a million pairs of ugly shoes for Christmas (read: awesome shoes, in my opinion!) so I need to figure out where on Earth I'm going to put those! My closet has kind of become a wreck, too! Hoping we can end the evening with a coffee date, just the two of us. I really enjoy our little hour or so dates where we just sit with mugs of coffee and talk about everything under the sun. Gonna get in all the time I can before Mike is eyeball deep in work again!

Are y'all excited about 2012?! I'm usually not huge on New Years or "resolutions" but I'm exciting about the coming year... I know it's going to be a good one!

Forever 21 dress

Target cardigan

Target tights

Ebony Bow flats c/o Le Bunny Bleu

The winner of the December Sponsor giveaway is #26: Isabella Redux! Check your email ladyfriend!

The Bunny Hop

2011-12-23T10:28:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I feel like I can really chameleon myself into different styles or outfits. Granted this is yet just another blush colored dress that I own, and instead of ruffles and taffeta, it's a soft lace (and almost all of my outfits consist of a dress, cardigan, belt and tights!) But there's really nothing edgy about this one. Maybe the "black funeral tights" if you stretch it far enough, but in reality it's just a sweet, likely juvenile, outfit (and my legs stay warm in this crazy weather!) I often wonder how my style will progress over the next several years. I only started wearing dresses 4 or so years ago. It's undeniable that sometimes I dress much younger than a 23 year old should, but I like the sweet simplicity of it, so I'll continue. Bows and all!

These are my darling Le Bunny Bleu bunny shoes. Probably as polar opposite as you can get from yesterday's Lita Spikes. I picked up this polka dot cardigan from Target the other day because grey is slowly becoming one of my new favorite accent colors (and it matches my pea green one!). Anyway! Today I'm baking up a storm with Mike for our holiday festivities, and Maya is coming over to play with my new mini donut maker (!!!). We're going to try and whip up some yummy things so I'll have to share that via Twitter/Instagram! It's down the wire and today is going to be a very very long day!

Are you gearing up for the holidays?! It's the eve of Christmas Eve! Exciting!

Forever 21 dress + belt

Target cardigan

HUE tights

DIY headband

Bunny shoes c/o Le Bunny Bleu

Things I Love Thursday

2011-12-22T16:19:00.001-06:00

It's the 22nd, y'all! Christmas is a mere three days away. I've got batches and batches of baked goods to make, presents to wrap, friends to see, and I have to work tomorrow night, too. We're celebrating Christmas with Mike's family on Christmas Eve, so I really only have 2 days. It's kind of exciting, and also bittersweet. I love the holiday season and the Pandora Indie Holiday station, and twinklelights galore. It won't feel quite as magical once it's passed and everyone takes down all of their decorations. Then it'll just be cold! By the way, happy first full day of winter! (or was that the 21st? Whatev. Happy winter nonetheless!) Let's look at pretty things!

♥ this photo. (we all have those days, right?!) ♥

♥ this incredible toddler bed! ♥

♥ these death cab lyrics ♥

♥ this overzealous pelican trying to eat a cat ♥

♥ this over the top wonderful unicorn cake ♥

♥ be still my type loving heart! ♥

♥ this chocolate is made to look like the solar system! ♥

♥ these milkshake sharin' kitties ♥

♥ this beautiful collage ♥

♥ this insightful (yet simple) illustration ♥

Other things that are awesome:

+++ I'm kind of crazy about a few things over at Spotted Moth, including this floral trench coat, these faux Litas (they're like exact replicas for 1/3 of the price!), and THESE! ::drool::

+++ While on the subject of shoes, if you're a fan of bold color (U GO GURL!), you absolutely need to check out these over at LuLu*s: Mixx Kay Fuschia platforms, BC Footwear Color Block kitten heels, Luichiny Sav Vee Orange Velvet Betty Bow wedges (Long name! But so beautiful!!!)

+++ Kata's shop, Miss Cats, is full of so many wonderful things. I'm currently wearing this ring and it matches my tattooed lady plugs! Need to share those soon!

+++ I really really love Tumblr (even though I'm not very good at it!), and a few of my favorites are: Things Organized Neatly, Kitschy Living, Sweet Home Style, and F***YeahEnglishBulldogs.

+++ DIY Louisville shared their Cocoa Mug Cookies and they're too stinkin' cute!

+++ Someone needs to promptly send me all of the (totally stellar priced) Pyrex in the Junk In Da Trunk Girls shop!

+++ Bethany of Sweet Sincerity wrote a great thought provoking post on the pros and cons of a brick and mortar shop for an indie designer.

+++ Tara-Marie of Shipwrecks & Bravery shared a post on transferring really cool paper patterns to cloth (and then sewing them into pouches!) I miss college for cool projects like this!

+++ You can still pick up my PR + Marketing Ebook (for bloggers + small biz owners) for only $20 until the end of December! The discount will be applied automatically at checkout!

+++ I'm crossing my fingers that our plans work out for a little roadtrip up to Chicago in two weeks to see Susannah and Chris! We haven't seen them since early September so it'd be rad to spend a handful of days hanging out and pretending we lived closer than 600 miles apart!

Have you read or seen anything cool on the internet lately?! Have you written a post that you love and want to share? Leave a link in the comments below so we can all pop over! OR just tell me what you're loving this week!

Heavy Metal Princess

2011-12-22T08:33:00.002-06:00

I normally try to really edit down the number of photos I post per outfit because few things are more annoying that seventeen pictures of the same outfit/pose on a blog, but this is probably my favorite outfit ever. Like ever ever. If I were to try and explain my personality/style in any way, this might very well be it. It's pretty and pink, but totally edgy and fun. And I probably just made myself sound like a bafoon! Please forgive me.

I couldn't wait to wear my new Lita Spikes so I took them for a stroll yesterday when I had a little sweet coffee date with Maya. We headed over to Fiddlecakes on 8th and indulged in sweet treats and coffee. We talked about things that make us uncomfortable (like the feeling of terra cotta + unfinished porcelain, and the word "hangnail"), and shop/cafe dreams. She's totally like my soul sister and I'm loving her being in Nashville! If you haven't checked out her blawg then you absolutely should! After Fiddlecakes we ventured over to Textile Fabrics and rummaged through some of the most amazing printed cotton. She's a sewing + baking extroidinaire so I've pretty much volunteered her to ~*teach me her ways. One year of fashion design in college isn't quite cutting it these days! We said our goodbyes and then I picked up Mike for a late lunch at Chipotle. Then we ran a million and seven errands which included getting my Xterra back (Both CarMax + Nissan are at a loss for what happened to my car the other night. Let's just hope it doesn't happen on our trip to Chicago coming up!) Last night I had Mike make a handful of phone calls for me (I have like phone phobia. I hate talking on the phone to strangers!) and I bribed him with his choice of dinner. Works every time! Now we're taking it easy and about to watch a Paul Rudd movie I snagged for $5! (Have y'all seen Our Idiot Brother?! So good! I love P.Rudd so hard!) Anyway, that'll about do it for this entry I think! Oh, can I just say how much middle aged dudes + little old ladies love my shoes?! I've gotten stopped so many times by people generations older. Then again I think the vast majority of the population (y'all included maybe?!) think they're fug... but honestly, I'm in love!

H&M dress, via Plato's Closet

Target cardigan

Belts: thrift + Forever 21

HUE tights

Jeffrey Campbell Lita Spikes via House of Stella

Hive + Honey headband

Not Made in China tote

Roaring Meadows

2011-12-21T08:29:00.002-06:00

Mike and I spent a good portion of Monday driving around rural middle Tennessee looking for the perfect barn for our October wedding. We drove down to a family friend's house and they were so welcoming and sweet. They drove us around their entire tiny little town and showed us a million and one barns. We found three or four that were potential hopefuls so we're crossing our fingers we can find out more soon. We shot these in the general area of where the barns are. Isn't it beautiful?! There is no shortage of beautiful scenery in Tennessee, that's for sure.

We've been working on our "Handmade for the Holidays" gifts so far and last night we stayed up a wee bit late to mod podge things and bake up yummies. We still have a huge list of things to accomplish but I'm looking forward to putting all of that on the back-burner for a little bit while I grab a yummy bite with Maya at Fiddlecakes today. Don't mind my silly faces and uncomfortable looks in the photos above. It was surprisingly chilly for how beautiful it was outside. (And see... I have teeth! I sometimes smile with them. But let's be honest, cheesin' for the camera makes me so uncomfortable! Fashion blogging is so weird.) Also- I didn't take a picture of my shoes, but I'm wearing these bad boys. Yep, another pair of black bow flats. I have half a dozen pairs and they'll always be my trusty fall backs! (And I've finally dyed those awful roots, too!)

Forever 21 dress

Target cardigan

Etsy brooch

HUE tights

Nazine flats c/o Blowfish

American Eagle toggle peacoat

PS; I'm offering my PR + Marketing E-book at a 20% discount for the next 10 days! Start 2012 off on the right foot! If you want to make your blog/biz a priority, feel free to take a gander and see if this is something you'd be interested in! You can snag it for $20 here! The discount will be applied at checkout, no coupon code needed! xo

Shoes-day Tuesday!

2011-12-20T12:21:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was a good shoe day (albeit it was Monday... Shoesday Tuesday just sounds better though!) Mike + I aren't exchanging gifts in a traditional manner this year. Instead, we're just picking out something we really love/want, and agreeing to purchase it. It's really hard to have the element of surprise when you live together, work together, do everything together almost! Of course I picked up a pair of ridiculous shoes, and Mike is gunning for a new set of Harmonicas to add to his collection. Yesterday was a really great day for my collection of shoes!

I write about Karmaloop a lot on here. You probably think I'm just shilling some ridiculous brand for the sake of getting paid, but I order almost all of my shoes (Jeffrey Campbells, especially) from KL because you can get them on serious markdown. Solestruck, Revolver, and Nasty Gal don't offer the same perks or discounts that KL does. However, KL rarely allows promo codes and discounts to be used on JC shoes. I guess they're a quick selling, high dollar brand and they can get full price for them. Every time a new coupon code comes out for KL, I quickly check and see if it's compatible with JCs. Lucky lucky day, the current "Up to 31% off" coupon code does work on JCs! I was able to snag The Warning Shoe on mega markdown. It was already on sale ($176 to $118) and then I used the code on top to get another ~$30 off. They're kind of different from what I normally wear, but I'm excited to put them on and prance around! They remind me of a crazy ska-cowboy platform!

Then we ventured down to look at some barns for the wedding (more on that later!). On our way home last night, we stopped into House of Stella, my friend Stacey's boutique in Cool Springs. HoS is the only JC carrying store in Tennessee so I thought we'd take a peek at what new shoes they had. Low and behold, it was my lucky day! Y'all know I've been fawning over the Lita Spikes for entirely too long. It's impossible to get them when they're stocked because they fly off the virtual shelves, and some stores have them on pre-order for the end of March! No way Jose! Luckily Stacey had just put those out yesterday! I quickly grabbed my size and that was that. That would be my Christmas present!

They're absolutely beautiful. Ridiculous, over the top, and kind of alarming. The spikes are insanely sharp too! I can't wait to wear them! Of course it would rain today.

When we got home finally, I had the happiest package waiting for me at the mailbox! A double surprise from LeBunnyBleu! A fab gal on behalf of LBB asked me if I'd like to style up some shoes and one look on their website and I was dunzo. Spikes, leather and all things edge aside, I fell in love with the pastels, the bunny ears, and the sweet little girl style of the shoes. Seriously! Have you ever seen something so cute in your life?! I instantly dubbed them my Bunny and Barbie Dream Shoes. I've been racking my brain on how to pair them with practically everything I own. These are the two pairs I picked out: Bunny + Barbie (Ebony Bow). So many awesome shoes to choose from, and only two feet to wear them on!

** If you'd like to purchase anything at Karmaloop.com, use the promo code HURRY + the rep code KAELAH for up to 31% off your entire order. This includes Jeffrey Campbell, Betsey Johnson, and Seychelles!

And to think under a year ago I was simply a black flats girl. It's crazy how the times can change! xo

PS; Today is the last day to get the discounted sponsor rates for January! Email me (kaelahbee at gmail dot com) if you're interested! View sponsor perks here!

Film Shots

2011-12-18T12:31:00.001-06:00

It's been a while since I've shot (and developed, especially!) any film. I used to take almost a roll a day and get them developed by the handful, but for some reason I've slowly stopped. Disposables will probably always be my favorite. No matter how many big body styles or Lomography cameras we get. Don't get me wrong, each of those are fun for their own reasons, but I love the effortless simplicity of a $4 disposable from the drugstore. I have a pile of them sitting unopened in my craft closet. These were shot on our Nikon F4 over the past several weeks. I kind of like letting a camera sit around for a while before developing it because seeing what is on it can be a surprise.

Today we're supposed to go look at a potential wedding venue, and then tomorrow two more. We're also picking up last minute crafty things for our Christmas gifts. This week is going to be so jam packed with crafting + baking + getting things ready. Wish us luck! xo

December Sponsor Giveaway!

2011-12-17T12:32:00.000-06:00

This month's batch of sponsors is bringing you a whole new dose of adorable! 4 sponsors are offering up their talents and skills to bring you something special for this giveaway. Whether you need to dress up your hair, outfit, or blog, we've got you covered! Peep below at what one lucky winner will take home! xo

Johanna of Up a Tree, Cup a Tea is giving one lucky winner a $35 shop credit to her Etsy store! You'll find crocheted pretty things, eternity scarves, bows and lots more!

FACEBOOK // TWITTER // TUMBLR // SHOP

Melanie of Neesie Designs is a super marvel maven of beading and statement hair pieces. She's offering the winner their choice of any 2 items from her shop! She's also offering 10% off any order with the code LCH2011!

SHOP // FACEBOOK

Sarah of SillyGrrl is a design whiz + "aerial ninja" as she likes to put it! She's offering up one of her fabulous design templates to the winner! Think of it as an effortless way to spruce up your blog for 2012!

SHOP // BLOG

Kathryn's shop, Kathryn Green Crafts, is overflowing with bright and bold crocheted goodies to keep your noggin warm (and noticeable!). The lucky winner will receive their choice of any 2 items currently in stock in her shop! I'm in love with the oversized flowers. You'll definitely make a statement!

SHOP // BLOG

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

If you'd like additional entries you can....

+ Follow the blogs above/leave a sweet comment (one entry per blog followed, up to 3!)

+ Follow the sponsors on Twitter (one per follow, up to 1!)

+ "Like" the sponsors on Facebook (one per like, up to 2!)

If you kept tally then you'll notice that is up to SEVEN entries! Please be sure all additional entries are in separate comments so they can be properly counted! Entries not left separately will not count, sorry! A winner will be drawn next week and contacted shortly thereafter! Good luck! xo

Strawberry Rain

2011-12-16T11:36:00.000-06:00

I know not many of you are from Nashville, but those of you who are can attest to just how fickle the weather has been as of late. It's been bouncing back and forth between a high of 39 and 62, with the lows ranging from the mid 20's to the lower 50's. Obviously my immune system can't keep up and Mother Nature is the culprit of the latest sinus infection (Feeling loads better though, thanks for your sweet well wishes!). Yesterday (and today) we woke up to rain. The difference being that yesterday was in the breezy 50's and today, at noon, it's currently 37 degrees. Just add some fog and I'd swear Nashville turned into San Francisco! It's unusually warm for December (Christmas is next weekend!), but it's nice to not feel like I have to bundle up real tight. Yesterday was the perfect day to run errands with my new snazzy umbrella. I've always felt umbrellas should be overly adorable or at least aesthetically pleasing because it makes a big difference on a dreary day! My giant strawberry one from Romwe is perfect!

We spent the day fumbling for sweet treats and DIY items at various stores where the lines wrapped clear around the building. Every year I forget how not-fun it is to procrastinate for Christmas! I'm kind of excited about everything we're doing for the holidays, but I can't share too much here since 90% of our gift recipients read my blog! I'll share fun things afterwards though! We had the pleasure of meeting up with Emily and her fiance Kiersten while they were passing through Nashville last night. (Fun fact: I met Emily in Indianapolis in June when we were shopping in H&M on our way to surprise Susannah!) We met up for a delicious dinner at Rosepepper and then on our way home my car died. Right in the middle of East Nashville. (This being the car I just got back from the shop with a new transmission + radiator!) Luckily they were behind us and gave us a lift home. We sat around, drinking new old ladies and talking wedding plans. I'm lucky enough to be making Emily's hairpiece so I'm very excited! She's having a dreamy ranch/barn wedding like we want so I'm tickled pink. After they left we watched some MadMen and went to bed. Only to wake up and deal with towing and rental cars again today! It could be a lot worse those so I'm not too upset by it. Just another rainy day in Music City!

What are your plans for the weekend?!

Forever 21 dress
Forever 21 cardigan
Vintage belt, thrifted
Blue tights c/o We Love Colors
Target flats
Strawberry umbrella c/o Romwe

Things I Love Thursday

2011-12-15T12:28:00.000-06:00

♥ this puts me in the most festive spirit! ♥

♥ this gorgeous octopus tattoo ♥

♥ this is the sweetest proposal! ♥

♥ this dreamy party setup ♥

♥ this silly embroidery ♥

♥ this mean girls find! ♥

♥ this wet kitty ♥

♥ this simple + pretty collage ♥

♥ this + all other Daria things ♥

♥ this hungry policemen print from kristi mcmurray! ♥

Other Awesome Stuff:

++ Brandi of Ever So Lovely shared these unreal octopus + walrus chairs on her blog! Holy dream chair! You know... if it would match anything! They'd take up a whole room themselves. But they sure are beautiful!

++ In the market for some bright knit pretty things to spruce up your gloomy winter? Kathryn has a huge selection of the brightest crochet accessories for your head!

++ Sarah of Silly Grrl has the coolest job! The aerialists are one of my favorite parts of Cirque du Soleil!

++ Sarah from Almost Delightful has a full section of recipes called "Food Frolics" and they look yummy!

++ Charlie from Polka Dots are Love recently reorganized her craft closet and I have to admit, I'm jealous! My crafty area is always a mess and it's high on my list of things to do in 2012!

++ I love Sailor Jerry inspired everything and Kata's shop is no exception!

++ You've got like 3 days left to enter Susannah's bow scarf giveaway on her blog! Get your last minute entries in, y'all!

++ I'm desperately waiting for these bad boys to come back into stock in my size! I've been trying to buy them for months!

++ And a few coupon codes: 20% off your Omerica Organic order with the code KAELAH. 20% off of your Karmaloop order with rep code KAELAH (or use this rep code with any pre-existing sale code for an extra 1%, up to 36% off!). 20% off Poorly Drawn Things with code KAELAHTHEQUEEN.

What are you loving this week?

As always, if you know the original source of anything not linked, please share in the comments and I'll remedy that asap!

Holiday Cards + New Family Member

2011-12-14T15:02:00.000-06:00

Mike and I decided to make a family Christmas card this year to send out to friends. Like everything, we procrastinated but we finally did it this morning and we'll be picking them up shortly! We thought it was appropriate to include the newest addition to our family, Miss Enid. (We renamed her!) She's starting to get really comfortable in our house and she likes to show the girls who's boss. I bet y'all could all assume we'd get attached and end up keeping her! We're pretty predictable!

We'll be sending out Christmas cards for the rest of the week so if you'd like to snag one before we're all out, fill out this little survey with your address info and we'll try to get you one! If we run out before we get to you then we'll send you an e-card on/around Christmas Eve! I was hoping to have my PO Box situation sorted before the holidays but it's like pulling teeth! If you're sending out holiday cards and out want our little family to have one, feel free to send it to the address in listed in my FAQ for now!

Do you do family holiday cards/photos? I'm kind of already dreaming up next years! I think it'd be fun to do totally silly ones!

PS; Yes, the cat is named after the always awesome Enid from Ghost World.

Calling All 2012 Sponsors!

2011-12-14T06:18:00.001-06:00

Wow! 2012! It almost doesn't seem real. I've never been one for overtly tangible resolutions like *Lose 20 pounds (obviously!) or *Earn a promotion at work... but I really do love to set personal and professional goals for myself, simply to just get better. No matter who we are or what we do, chances are we could be better at it. Striving for my personal best is something I've shared a lot about here on this little blog. Maybe you have some blog or biz related goals for your new year? If so, feel free to consider a sponsorship here on LCH! I'm offering early sponsors a week long discount, and they tend to fill up quickly so get yours while you can!

January, February and March XL ads are all booked up, but we'll be introducing new sizes in April! Feel free to book your XL spot through June if you'd like! ;) I'm also offering solo giveaways and posts without sponsorship so feel free to inquire via email if you're interested! You can get up to date on all of my sponsorship perks and traffic stats by visiting the Sponsorship page! xo

PS: There was some confusion last month about reserving a sponsorship spot at the discounted rate, so allow me to elaborate: In order to get the discounted rate, you must pay for your spot by the end of the day on December 20th! Anything paid after the 20th will be subject to regular prices!

Misikko Review: Corioliss Curling Wand

2011-12-13T16:36:00.000-06:00

I'm going to preface this "review" with a disclaimer: I've had this product for months and months. I was originally contacted by Misikko many moons ago to review one of their flat irons. Well, I never have straight hair so I opted out. I was able to choose a curling wand and give it a go, but upon it arriving to my house I started to notice how saturated the "blogsophere" was with Misikko reviews. Normally I google every pitch I get to make sure I'm not one of a hundred bloggers writing about the same thing. I kindly responded to my contact that I'd keep hold of it to review later in the year, once the saturation had died down a little. I've seen reviews for flat irons and blow dryers, but hopefully there aren't umpteen billion wand reviews! If there are or you aren't interested, feel free to skip over! ;) (Also -- I know absolutely nothing about hair styling or anything.. Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I manage to do my own hair without too much catastrophe but whatever!)

As the months past I didn't give the wand much thought. Remember my basketball head incident? Yeah, it took me a few months to get my hair color under control. The last thing it needed was a heating tool touching it. Finally I made progress with my hair and decided to give the wand a try. Holy cow. Y'all, I was so ready to be disappointed. I guess I tend to be kind of a cynic toward expensive things. I think I don't need them or I could do it myself. I've always used a cheapo little $10 curling iron from Target. I don't need to be wowed and dazzled by some name brand. Or do I?... I still feel the same, but I can say that I am very pleased with the results of my Corioliss 18mm curling wand. I was so confused on how to use it, but after a few Googles, I had it down. Granted I managed to give myself some pretty gnarly burns (that thing is hot!), but I did it to myself considering I decided to forgo the accompanying glove.

Let's talk about the product specifics and I'll give you my opinion on the overall item...

This is my hair using a traditional clamp curling iron (with straightener and entirely too much hairspray):

This is my hair using the Corioliss curling wand (and absolutely no hairspray!):

The packaging is a huge deal to me. It can make or break my loyalty toward a brand. The wand itself was very neatly packaged in this well designed box. It felt like you were getting something more high end as opposed to ripping open that awfully sharp clear plastic! It was packed up with various ELF cosmetics and maybe even a sleeping mask. This was a nice addition, except I felt like it didn't really fit the Misikko brand. While Misikko items are far from the most expensive on the market, they're still much more high end than what you'd pick up on an impromptu run to the drugstore. I love ELF products and use a lot of it myself, but a $1 eyeshadow packed in with a $130 curling iron seemed a bit off putting. But maybe that's just me! I didn't really find any use for any of the extra gifts, but we're really talking about the wand here anyway!

I absolutely loved the results of my hair from using the wand. My curls were soft, bouncy, and less of a tight spiral. They had more body to them and they just felt nicer. I love that the wand got hot enough to curl my hair without the aid of hair spray or another heating tool. Overall, the wand was very very quick and efficient.

The wand comes with a glove to help protect your non-dominant hand. Use it! So many people say you're fine without it but I have the most epic burns on my hand from this thing. It's hot! There are no heat settings. It's simply on and off. It's a nice simplistic design which I can get behind, but be warned! I also really appreciate the fact the wand was designed so that it can rest on itself, with the head stick suspended in air. That way you don't worry about burning whatever you have sitting near it, but you don't have to worry about those pesky stands that get tangled in your curls.

I won't lie and say I think this is a miracle product. My experience with other wands is non-existant so I won't simply say "Go spend $100 on THIS very product!". I'm still not sure I could stomach the thought of spending $100 on a curling iron when I'd much rather spend it on a roadtrip (or shoes!). I will say that I've been converted. I'm throwing out my clamp curling iron and giving in to the ways of the wand. I've looked up reviews on various other wands at different price points and many say the ones available at Target are great, too. If you're looking to have some fun bouncy curls, give the drugstore one a go! If you still feel like you need more oomph, check out the Corioliss line! If my Corioliss ever craps out on me, I'll probably try a less expensive version before buying a new one, but I am very happy with these results! I even had people at work say they loved my "new hair color" (which wasn't new at all... and hadn't been dyed in 3 weeks!). The lack of product in my hair gave it new life. It just looked more effortless, yet put together. Anyway, this product has my vote, but don't be afraid to explore other options!

Do any of you use a curling wand? Specific brand that you just can't live without? Tell me all of your hair tool secrets! I'm still kind of a n00b!

Sweet Pea

2011-12-11T09:46:00.005-06:00

I'm feeling a bit under the weather again (I'm writing this on Saturday night before work) but the show must go on! These were shot on Thursday (?!) down the street from our loft. This was actually the outfit I wore for our anniversary on Monday (I'm a serial outfit repeater! Oh no!). The monsoon kind of ruined the day's plans but we made the most of it and had a sweet MadMen marathon together (I finally gave in and started watching it on Netflix. Now we're hooked and only halfway through season 3). It was really nice day. Work on Friday night was a bore, but it tends to be that way during the holidays. Better things to spend your money on than booze! ;) I picked up this pea green cardigan a few days ago and I really haven't taken it off since. It's the most marvelous color! Paired with cranberry tights and a wine colored coat, I felt pretty cheerful despite the fickle weather. (Psst... if you like my new peacoat then be sure to drop back by Tuesday! You could win a matching one thanks to Tulle!) This sweet bee brooch was made for me (and named after me!) by the lovely Elisha! I'm not going to lie, I get tickled pink when someone sends me a link or a gift that's bee related!

I'm supposed to be meeting up with some lovely gals this afternoon (Sunday), provided this head cold hits the road. I asked for some home remedies for the sickies on Twitter and got a wide variety of interesting replies! Let's see if any combination of them actually works! By the way, Christmas is two weeks away... I haven't made/bought/thought of the first present. I'm kind of the worst at holidays! Have you managed to get any of your holiday shopping done? Here's to hoping I can stick with my "handmade for the holidays" theme! xo

Forever 21 dress
Target cardigan
Kaelah Bee Brooch c/o Three Ponds Vintage
Target tights
Peacoat c/o Tulle
Vintage shoes, thrifted

PS; That second picture was included just because I thought this post needed something silly and light-hearted. I can't go very many frames without doing something a wee bit dumb.

City and Colour

2011-12-09T11:46:00.001-06:00

The Girl by City and Colour on Grooveshark

This is what I wore for our "Friend Fun Times" on Tuesday. Of course it was cold so I had on a wine colored peacoat and I definitely looked something like a peacock. I haven't worn this dress in quite a while (last/only time was here) but I kind of like it with the darker accent colors.

Last night Mike and I had dinner with our friend Rhonda at Taco Mamacita since she's moving Saturday morning. It was nice to cut everything off for a couple of hours and just chat. She's such a sweet gal! She took in a cat while she was living here in Nashville and unfortunately she can't take it with her so she asked us if we knew anyone who wanted to adopt a cat. If they didn't get her by today then she was going to have to sadly take her to the animal shelter. We offered to bring the sweet kitty home with us until we can find a suitable home for her, simply so she doesn't get put down. Who knows, maybe she'll become a Flynn with no problems! It's looking good that she might already have a forever home but if any of you live in/around Nashville and are looking to adopt a 6 month old, healthy and clean cat, let me know! You can see her picture HERE. We're off to drop off my rental car and pick up another one (oh joy!) as we patiently await my Xterra's new transmission and all that jazz. Hoping to have my car back by Monday... it gets weird driving other cars (but boy oh boy, the gas mileage has been a nice change of pace! How silly of me to buy an SUV!)

Kristi alerted me that it's bartender appreciation day, so be nice to your servers tonight! ;)

Forever 21 floral derss

Target cardigan

Teal tights c/o Foot Traffic

Cuckoo brooch c/o Under The Shade of a Bonsai Tree

Vintage flats, thrifted

Things I Love Thursday

2011-12-08T10:57:00.002-06:00

It's been two weeks since my last TiLT post. Thanksgiving came and then the iPad giveaway was on a Thursday (and I've learned that nothing gets attention on giveaway day), so here it is! A fresh, new TiLT post! These are one of my favorite posts to do on LCH because it's so fun to share cute pictures, silly things, and awesome links. Hopefully you enjoy them just as much! (There are lots of words/quotes this week!) xo

♥ this snow patrol illustration ♥

♥ these wise words. ♥

♥ this pretty pretty picture ♥

♥ this neon sign ♥

♥ this map print ♥

♥ this drawing ♥

♥ this journal page ♥

♥ this bokeh picture ♥

♥ these driftwood horses by heather jansch ♥

♥ simply this. ♥

Other Awesome Things: The front half of these Jeremy Scott shoes are awesome (but the back half leaves much to be desired, in my opinion) ♥ Susannah is giving away one of her snazzy huge bow scarves to one lucky winner. You can read the details + how to enter here ♥ Elyse from Give Me Bows has quickly become one of my favorite blogs to read. She's so darling and her style is impeccable ♥ Poorly Drawn Things is offering LCH readers 20% off with the code KAELAHTHEQUEEN (promise I didn't pick that myself! :P) ♥ Papercakes has some cute girly jewelry that would make great stocking stuffers! ♥ Beca (of Tumbleweeds Oddities fame!) is moving to Tennessee in 3 weeks, and I am so so excited! She's a huge entrepreneurial inspiration to me and I'm so tickled we'll only be 2 hours away from each other! ♥ Grace from Betwixxt is over the moon with how well her Ron Swanson mugs have been doing in her shop, and guess what?! She was even featured in the Huffington Post! You go girl! ♥ I'm eyeing a bunch of pretty things in this shop, but trying to resist!

What are you loving this week?

PS; As usual, I couldn't locate all of the sources for each and every thing featured here. If you know who the original creator of anything not linked above, I'd love it if you could share with me so I can properly credit!

Bristleberry

2011-12-07T14:44:00.000-06:00

Another new favorite pair of shoes! These are the Jeffrey Campbell Safety shoes, and they are dreamy! I love the heel so much. I've had these for several weeks now but I've only recently been able to wear them out and about. You'll notice from the photo however that they're about a half size too big. You can never really tell with JC platforms but they're sold out in my size and these luckily aren't as big as they appear. (They're the platform/sister shoe to the Security shoe as shown here!) Again, they're so easy to walk in. People kept commenting asking how I could walk in the Litas or Security shoe, but you really fail to realize just how comfortable and easy to walk in they are until you try them on! I was a skeptic myself, and I ordered my first pair of Litas (only my 2nd pair of JCs) back in July... now I have 10 pairs! That's how much I love them... but I digress! I picked up this cute jacket at a thrift shop a few weeks ago for $2. You might remember the yellow version of it that I have (which I thrifted for $1!). It's the perfect lightweight material for a day like above!

Last night Mike and I headed down to Franklin to hang out with the newly engaged Elle + Bryan! Two of my most favorite people in the world. We decided to have a game night and it was so much fun. Many rounds of Uno and Clue were played, then we watched Workaholics and we stayed out way later than we're used to. We actually felt like 20-somethings last night! We definitely hope to make it a weekly happening!

Dress via Speedy Girl

Target tights

Thrifted American Rag jacket

Jeffrey Campbell Safety shoes

PS; I'm tickled to be Foot Traffic's first official Featured Blogger! You can read my short lil interview here!

Shoppe Updates!

2011-12-07T12:46:00.000-06:00

Pictured above: Navy Rose fabric bow, Chiffon blossom ring, Marigold fancy felt bow, Organic veggie hair clips, Sweet Mint chiffon blossom bobby pin set, ViviDot for Honeybean Polaroid Necklace, Vintage owl brooch, Vintage kitty earrings, Lace bow shoe clip set, Candy Apple shoe clip set, Scrabble ring (assorted letters).

Mike and I have been busy bees trying to update the shoppes (here + here) so far this week. That's why you're getting countless outfit posts! I really haven't had time to do much else but I thought I'd share with y'all some goodies we've put up in the shoppes lately! Domestic orders received by Friday at 3pm are guaranteed before Christmas. We also offer priority and express shipping if you request it via message prior to checkout! Lots of fun bits to stuff stockings with and sweet things to put under the tree. Or if you don't celebrate Christmas, maybe just a gift for your favorite person (or yourself! I won't tell!)

We loaded the shoppes up with shoe clips, hair pins, bows galore, jewelry (vintage and handmade!), and there's still loads more to come. We'll be shooting, editing and listing for the better part of today, but I'll be back to share an outfit post shortly! We're happy to share our latest collaboration with ViviDot: Honeybean Polaroid necklaces! They're limited quantity so get yours if you want one! (How cute would it be to wear a mini 'bean around your neck?! Maybe I'm biased!). My PR + Marketing Ebook is still available in the shoppe, too!

To everyone who has purchased from Hive + Honey or Honeybean, we sincerely thank you! You're helping put our dream into motion so we're eternally grateful! xo

PS: We also offer to giftwrap your items if they're for someone special! Just let us know in the notes when you checkout!

Sick Day

2011-12-06T11:26:00.001-06:00

I'm feeling pretty under the weather today, so I thought it'd be a nice change of pace to post a playlist I've been listening to lately. I'll be uploading new product to Honeybean and Hive + Honey today from the comfort of my own couch so stay tuned for fun new pretty things. Hopefully it's quick passing and I'm on my feet again soon! I'd rather be prancing around that field though! Enjoy! xo

JayMay by kaelah bee on Grooveshark

What are you listening to lately?

PS; Thanks for all the sweet words about our anniversary! It was a lovely day, even if the rain wouldn't quit. ;)

The Cat's Meow

2011-12-05T08:09:00.000-06:00

Finally! An outfit with my beyond-ugly-but-so-totally-awesome cat tapestry Litas! I wouldn't normally jump at the chance to buy a cat print shoe but the tapestry was the exact replica of a bag I purchased on Ebay 2 years ago while living in NYC! I saw this bad boy on Ebay and had it rushed to my midtown Manhattan apartment in a jiffy. I proceeded to wear it daily and garner all sorts of strange looks from passers-by. Not quite as many strange looks as I get now with the two of them put together! I love it. I have to say, just as many people exclaim how much they love them as those whose faces recoil into looks of disgust. They fun and I was feeling down on this particular day so they lifted my spirits! I kept it simple with a white dress but got a little funky with an H&M cardigan. I'm kind of in love with this outfit.

It's weird, it's fun, and it's so perfectly me (well, the weird fun side of me at least!) How can you say no to those creepy little cat faces?!? You can also get them in dog tapestry now, too!

Mike and I are spending the day off the computer, taking a "vacation" from work for our anniversary! So happy to bring in another year with this fabulous guy. I mean, I'm going to be stuck with him forever, right?! I'll be sure to share our adventures later this week! Happy anniversary, Mike! You are my prince charming!

Dress via Ross
Target tights
Thrifted belt
H&M cardigan
Cat tapestry bag via Ebay
Jeffrey Campbell Litas

Do you have an article of clothing that you absolutely adore, no matter how out of the ordinary it may be?!

Mean Street

2011-12-04T10:21:00.000-06:00

It's so funny to look at myself now, head to toe in black, and think about how in high school I didn't have the first black piece of clothing. I shopped primarily at places like Hollister and Abercrombie, and you never find a black article of clothing there... (have you notice that?!) It's still not high on my favorite color to wear, but I like how effortless it looks. Black clothing instantly classes anything up (at least I think so!). This dress is entirely too short (way shorter than I remember!)... I picked it up on Haight St in San Francisco a few years ago, but I haven't worn it in a long, long time. I wanted something dark and different to wear out and about with my new Jeffrey Campbell Security shoes (!!!). They may look intimidating, but they're so incredibly comfortable and easy to walk in! We shot these photos down the street from our place, just past the larger Marathon Motors building in Midtown. The late afternoon light was so perfect! It's briefly warmed up here in Nashville and I know it'll be cold again soon. Taking in all the fresh air I can before I retreat to only taking photos in our hallway!

Have y'all had a good weekend? I can't believe it's already December 4th. Christmas will come and go in no time! xo

Dress via some SF shop

Forever 21 studded belt

Charlotte Russe blazer

Target tights

Jeffrey Campbell Security shoes

Pet Holiday Gift Guide + Suitcase Bed DIY

2011-12-03T13:13:00.000-06:00

I thought it'd be fun to share some pet friendly gifts for the holidays since I'm sure most of you have a furry critter in your life! It's no secret that Pipkin and Georgia are basically our children and we love them so much. Puppy presents are some of my favorite to pick out each year and this one is no different! Here's a few things I think would make rad gifts!

I received a package from Lucy over at Fair Ivy several weeks ago and it's like a fun little grab bag of sorts! The items are handmade and always exciting and different. I opted for the Fur Ivy package for the girls and they're loving the contents. It arrived and I opened to find a fun flamingo doll and some pup-friendly fortune cookies (Kind of felt like fate since Mike and I have a fortune cookie ~thing). Fur Ivy boxes are now on sale for a crazy low price, 40% off! You can read more about the Fur Ivy packages here (or their other packages: Fair Ivy, Fred Ivy and Fun Ivy). There's one version for dogs and one for cats, too!

Another fun idea is a super cute new collar! My girls don't wear collars (fat necks! They're the harness type) but Alejandra from Doe A Deer sent these over for my mom's two dogs: Charlie and Lacey! I am absolutely in love with this sweet strawberry print! I really love the pop of colors, too. They're incredibly well made and ship quickly! See more size and pattern options here!

Homemade pet treats are a super fun idea, too! I love these doggie donuts! Aren't they adorable? You could also get some catnip-filled strawberries for your favorite felines!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And if you're feeling really up to it, you could even build them a custom vintage suitcase bed for napping! I love the look of them but could never justify the pricetag associated, so Mike and I headed to Lowe's to build our own! We weren't sure we'd be successful so we used a huge janky Samsonite suitcase we had stored away (so Georgia could fit!). We wouldn't be heartbroken if it didn't work and we lost the suitcase. Anyway, it was a super super easy project. You do need a drill, but you can have the wood pieces cut at a home improvement store, so you don't need to worry about that! It probably took all of 15 minutes to actually make. If you're interested in the process, peep below!

What you'll need:

Vintage suitcase
1x4 wood cut to size (2 slats to fit the width)
4 internally threaded furniture legs
4 leg braces with screws (found next to the furniture legs)
Properly sized drill-bit (We used a 7/64")
A pillow insert for the "bed"
Drill

First you need to unhinge the top of the suitcase from the bottom. Some suitcases are as simple as a screw, and some (like ours) have rivets that you can just drill right through to pop the top off. Many Samsonites are built this way. It takes a little arm pressure, but it's easy! Remove and discard the top portion of the suitcase.

Then rip the lining out of the suitcase. Some people may choose to leave it, and that's fine. We wanted to be able to see where we were drilling.

Place your cut boards into the front and back of the suitcase to help keep it stable. Figure out where you want them to go and mark it with a permanent marker or chalk. Then place your braces inside those lines to mark where the screws will go. This is where you will drill through. The back should have 16 holes when you're finished with this step.

Now you can use the screws that came with the braces to attach them to the outside of the suitcase. Attach all 4 of them and then screw the furniture legs into the braces. ETA: We actually had to screw through the middle section of the brace, too. So we ended up with 20 holes! Depending on how long the thread is on the legs, you may need to screw through there, too!

Then you can sew a simple rectangle, stuff it with filling and call it a day! You now have a sweet pet bed! (Don't mind mine... It's lumpy and poorly sewn, but you get the idea!)

The furniture legs can be really expensive at the home improvement stores, so if you have some time, look them up online and order them! These simple wheel-like legs were $3 a piece (most were $8!) and that can add up quickly! You could even repurpose old furniture in your house or something from the thrift store! The final product cost us less than $20, but if we had been more creative then we could've done it for under $10! I'm planning on making some cuter ones but this one will do for now! (They both actually really love it!)

Give all your pets lots of hugs from me! xo

Do you celebrate the holidays with any of your pets? Do you like to make/get them gifts or hang stockings?

Gingerbread Sails

2011-12-02T17:11:00.000-06:00

Y'all... I finally joined the rest of the female population by using a curling wand on my hair instead of a curling iron. Whaaa?! How am I so tardy to the party? I thought I'd hate it, but even with a severely burned thumb, I'm a total convert! Don't pay attention to my roots... they're forever bad. I wore this outfit on Wednesday to meet up with the lovely new-to-Nashville Maya at Sam and Zoe's in Berry Hill (but my hair didn't look like this... seriously I'm embarrassed I went anywhere like I did!) (Side note: I had the "Honeybee" coffee at Sam and Zoe's simply because, uh well, duh, honeybee... and it was divine! Mike had one later too and we're totally sold on it. So long scorched Starbucks!) Anyway, Maya was a total doll and I just adore her already (hope she liked me too because that statement could be creepy otherwise!) We chatted about her whirlwind relocation from Seattle and all things related. It was a nice break from the daily grind and I'm looking forward to hanging out again! Mike and I have been working away for new product to go up on H+H and HB. Look for that in the coming days!

Later on Wednesday my BFF Bryan came over and hung out with me and Mike for a few hours. It's always fun to see him. I wish our schedules lined up better but I'll take a few hours when I can get them! Now I'm sitting at home getting ready for work in a few hours. I didn't get this up earlier today because I've been running around chasing a rental car while mine is in the shop. Turns out my Xterra needs a new radiator and transmission! Yikes! Thank goodness I bought an extended warranty last December when I got my car! Instead of costing me $6000 (OMG!), I'm only out $50. It could be much worse so I feel very very lucky! For now you'll see me zipping around town in a teensy little black Nissan Versa... it's like driving a UFO. Happy weekend friends!

Topshop dress
Target cardigan
Forever 21 belt
Black tights c/o Foot Traffic
Heart brooch c/o Under the Shade of a Bonsai Tree
Target flats

What are your plans for the weekend?!

December Giveaway: Apple iPad 2 // CLOSED

2011-12-01T00:01:00.004-06:00

( 1 // 2 // 3 )

I knew I wanted to end this year of giveaways with a bang. We spent a good portion of October wondering what on earth we were going to do for December (we like to plan ahead) but we were coming up empty handed. This year I've given away entirely too many Lomography cameras (my favorite!), a FlipCam, a ukulele, giftcards, etc. I had saved a little bit of cash from each month's sponsors to pay for all of the prizes, and I stashed away a little extra each month for December because I knew I wanted it to be big. Luckily we got a major deal with a friend of ours and I couldn't be more stoked. I didn't take it out of the package (it's still like shrinkwrapped or whatever) because I knew if I opened it then it'd never go back. Mike and I both want one, but we can't really justify getting one right now. But man... I really want one! I never really cared for them until we considered getting one for the giveaway and now I think they're so neat. Even still, one lucky LCH reader will win a white 16GB wi-fi enabled iPad 2. Think of it as a belated Christmas present or just a technological version of a hug from me for being such a fabulous addition to my day. Don't worry, I'd prefer the iPad over a hug, too!

To be entered to win, be a follower via GFC (on the sidebar!) and leave a comment below with your favorite part of the holidays. (Be sure to leave your Twitter name or your email address so I can contact you if you win! You must do this first entry in order to win!)

~~For extra entries, you can: (Leave a separate comment for each entry!)~~

Tweet about the giveaway using this tweet: "Enter to win a white Apple iPad 2 on @kaelahbee's blog! http://tinyurl.com/765rhwz"
Blog about the giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your blog post
~~Follow LCH via BlogLovin'~~
~~"Like" LCH + Honeybean on Facebook~~

That's up to five different chances to win! Be sure to leave a separate comment for each and check back at the end of the month to see if you won! We'll have our regularly scheduled giveaways posting throughout the month as well! Good luck!

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere in the world. As long as you can use it, you can win it!

The winner of the November ukulele giveaway is Comment #525 Brittany R! Check your email, lady!

The winner of the iPad 2 giveaway this month is Comment #1161 Airica's Adventures! Congratulations Mama!

Loft Tour: Twinklelight City

2011-11-30T18:10:00.001-06:00

I feel so thankful to live in such a creative space. I get to work somewhere that constantly inspires and surprises me (sometimes those surprises are spiders, but let's overlook that!). We've taken a glorified basement style loft and transformed it into a place we call home. Twinklelights everywhere, because why not right?! Sometimes it almost feels like we live in a planetarium.

I can't wait to have a normal sized hot water heater and a bath tub, but for now I'm happy with our concrete floors and "everything is dusty within 15 minutes of wiping it down" home sweet home. It fits our current situation and we're happy to have a roof over our heads.

The lighting is far from ideal so it's almost impossible to get decent photos but these will serve as a little taste of our home. Excuse the random boxes, giant softbox, and plentiful Honeybean shoes... our home is our office and our storage shed! We've got an always-stocked bar, wicker furniture perfect for a garden party, and an antique pink couch that I can't seem to get rid of. (It's kind of like the girls' couch [obviously!] but I'm hoping to have it reupholstered eventually!) Home sweet home, here you have it! xo

Are you decorating for the holidays?

Wedding Wednesday: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie

2011-11-30T08:09:00.001-06:00

Mike and I are getting really excited about putting our plans into motion for our October 2012 wedding. We made the decision several months ago to do a multitude of pies rather than cakes or cupcakes for the reception. We've been having fun playing with pie recipes ever since. While the Blueberry + Peach is still by far my favorite (yum!), we've also made apple pie and Blackberry+Pear! This one is our most recent attempt though! I baked one for my family on Thanksgiving (and we kept one at our home, too!). Mmmm! It's rich and gooey and positively divine when still warm! Of course all pie tastes better with ice cream in my opinion but this one hits a homerun!

I originally stumbled upon this recipe from Our Best Bites (which originated from Nestle) and they have the best pictures, too! I didn't manage to snap any while I was baking away (aside from the 3 which are obviously from my phone!) but I've included a few from OBB and you can always pop on over to see step-by-step photos if needed! I got to use my new baby KitchenAid mixer for this recipe and boy oh boy, it's a dream machine!

Let me preface this recipe with this: It is so simple! I made a second one without even looking at the recipe and I clocked myself and five and a half minutes! Of course you need to bake it for an hour, but really, it's such a simple recipe! (I changed a tiny thing here or there, but not too much!)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie

Ingredients:

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust, homemade or store-bought.
2 large eggs
1/2 C flour
1/2 C white granulated sugar
1/2 C packed brown sugar
3/4 C real butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
1 C chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark works best, you might find milk too sweet)
1 C candied pecans (you are welcome to make it without nuts)

Directions:

Vanilla ice cream, or sweetened whipped cream for serving (a must! I prefer ice cream)

optional: chocolate sauce (honestly, doesn’t really need chocolate sauce, but it looks pretty!)

Preheat oven to 325° F.

Beat eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack or serve slightly warmed. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Okay, so mine doesn't look all that delicious out of the oven, but I assure you it is! OBB makes a good point that it takes a lot less rich when it's cooled, but you can't really beat the oogey gooey goodness of a fresh-from-the-oven pie! iPhone photos and poor kitchen lighting do not do it justice. It's a super simple recipe with things you might already have in your house so you simply must give this a shot! Even if you don't like overly sweet things, this might tickle your fancy! (Mike even liked it!)

* Additional photos courtesy of Our Best Bites

Little Teapot

2011-11-29T07:47:00.001-06:00

You get one normal picture and two pictures of me acting silly ;) That's my "I'm a little teapot, short and stout" pose and "Hey! Look at my cool hallway!" haha! Any other style bloggers get a bit exhausted simply trying to name your outfit posts? Man alive! I wore this outfit yesterday and Mike and I went out for a dinner date after we packed up a million and seven Hive + Honey/Honeybean orders. We shut off our phones and focused on conversation with each other. It was lovely. Now it's back to the daily grind! I'm trying to get everything prepared for December's sponsors and the ultra awesome (if I do say so myself!) giveaway coming up on Thursday!

This dress is the sister dress to the one in this outfit post. I wear the two of them entirely too often. They're the best dresses considering I maybe paid $9 for them! It was an otherwise bland color palette so I added this Love Stitched necklace and a bright red belt. The little rosette necklace is darling and perfect for a punch of color. I was a bit intimidated by it at first but it proved to be such a fun accent. I recently snagged these flats from Target on clearance (same as my tan ones!) to replace my Blowfish flats that are basically mesh from all the holes I've worn into them. I'll have to show y'all one day haha I'm kind of proud of them. (and I'll continue to wear them... I just won't photograph them!)

This week is full of friend dates, new and old, so I can't wait. Until then, I'll be slaving over some design work and website coding so I'll see ya on the other side! xo

Bebop dress via Ross
H&M denim jacket
Zoe necklace c/o Love Stitched
Red belt from Forever 21 dress
Black tights c/o Foot Traffic
Target flats

Have you ever had an article of clothing you've worn to bits? They're the best, right?!

Bohemian Gift Guide

2011-11-28T12:31:00.000-06:00

I thought it'd be fun to put together some gift guides based on certain personality and style traits, but I waited a little late in the game! This is still one I already had mocked up so I'll go ahead with it and see what I can't post in the next week or so! If you've got someone in your life that has an Earthy, bohemian style, these might be some rad gifts to give!

Clockwise from top left:

1. Color Splash Palm Leaf Bangle (only $8!) // 2. Turtle Shell Bloodwood Plugs (varying sizes, save 20% with code KAELAH) // 3. Bamboo Engraved (Camera!) iPhone Case // 4. Kancu Leaf and Bamboo Journal // 5. Winter Staycation Cardigan // 6. Weavie Wonder Flats // 7. Recycled Tote Bag

If you're looking to make a difference by buying fair trade items, Ten Thousand Villages is a wonderful one-stop shop for apparel, accessories, and home goods sourced from all corners of the world.

You could also get crafty and make a batch of sugar or salt scrub to give as gifts! It's on my list of things to do!

What would you gift to a boho princess?

Shop Honeybean Mobile Boutique Online!

2011-11-27T21:54:00.000-06:00

We did it! Many many hours/days/weeks of work finally put to good use! We knew we wanted Honeybean to go live before Cyber Monday but man are we cutting it close! We only managed to get about 25% of inventory shot, edited and listed before we finally agreed to cut it there. We'll be adding more inventory (skirts, dresses, feather goods, consignment pieces) throughout the entire week (and continuing!), but feast your eyes on 149 products up for grabs!

We're offering today's (thru Monday at midnight!) customers a 15% off coupon with the code CYBER. Swing by and pick up a thing or two! They're priced very moderately, and there's tons of new Hive + Honey pieces up for grabs! I'll be working on more this week, too! It's a never ending adventure and I'm so tickled to have y'all be a part of it! xo

CLICK HERE TO SHOP!

Psst... you can also get my ebook at 15% off for one day only! Drop by the shop to pick it up!

Honest To Blog -- Clocking Out

2011-11-27T11:40:00.002-06:00

This week's Honest To Blog is probably going to do nothing but make me sound a bit neurotic to be quite frank. I tend to have a handful of HTB topics lined up (or even written) but this one is something that sort of reared it's head this week and I felt compelled to talk about it (in hopes that I can fix it!). Being that i'm about 90% self-employed (lacking the 5-10 hours a week I bartend), I've found that I simply can't stop working. I don't know how to just "hang out" at home. I can't lay on the couch and watch tv or go get coffee with Mike without constantly feeling the need to work. I chock it up to the instability of freelance work and self employment. I think it terrifies me that I'm not relying on a set paycheck or salary every single week. My bank account is simply what I make it. Lately I've found myself diving into fifteen projects at once just to make sure we're comfortable and we can save for our wedding and store. Even at the City and Colour show last week I was answering emails on my phone! It's a habit that I just can't quit.

(via ♥)

I guess working too much is slightly better than feeling too lazy to work at all, right? At this exact moment I'm working on fulfilling ebook orders, Kaelah's Closet orders, getting ready to launch Honeybean's online shoppe (tonight!), 2 website designs, 3 blog redesigns (with a 4th just being finished!), and my own personal projects and blogging. But I love that feeling. I love being busy. I love the feeling of crossing things off of my to do list and marking another project done. It's almost like it's an addiction.

After a few nights of 15 hour days on the ebook, Mike started to notice that I really just couldn't stop. It was 11pm and I was still on the computer, typing away, responding to emails while a document loaded or saved. At one point he came and physically removed me from my computer and sat me down on the couch. The other day he took me for a an hour and a half coffee date just so that I wouldn't come home and work on design projects.The good thing about our little date was that it ended up being one of the most inspiring talks we've ever had. I'm so grateful to have someone in my life that understands my incessant need to work or be doing something. But at the same time, I need to learn that it's okay to step away. It's okay to take a break or take a day off. (I actually started writing this for Sunday, November 20th, but then decided to take the day "off" to go with Mike to a photoshoot. So now I'm picking it back up!)

A lot of it too has to be the product of my computer/work station being smack in the middle of our house, and our house has no walls therefore I can see my computer from every single corner of our loft. It's almost as if it taunts me. "You could be kerning that text! You could be coding that layout! You could be answering your emails as soon as you receive them!" Plus, when your blog is so personally driven, it's hard not to think about it at all times when you're out doing things!

I'm not complaining in the slightest. I love my job. I love that "work" doesn't really feel like "work". I love the ability to make a living doing things I'm passionate about and being able to share it with all of y'all. I just wish I had a better "schedule". I even have to schedule in ukulele practice or an episode of Dexter. I'll work right up to it and most likely after. I know I need to find a balance, however, simply to avoid getting burnt out and abandoning everything at once. It's an exciting time in our household and we're taking great measures to ensure we get to share the Honeybean Dream with you. It just happens to be exhausting in the process (which makes for better sleep! :P)

(source)

With that being said, I have to ask... How many of you work from home or have found yourself in a similar position? How do you delegate what will happen today vs. tomorrow, and how do you know when it's time to walk away for the evening? I've tried working "set hours" but I always find myself in front of the tv looking at my computer and thinking "I could just go answer 10 emails..." How do you decide to clock out for the day? If you've never experienced this before, maybe you still have an idea you could share? Let me hear it! I'm all ears!

Now, I've got some designs to tend to! ;) Happy Sunday, honeybees!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Honest To Blog is a weekly free-writing feature where I talk about things that are silly, frustrating, or whatever else. Sometimes they don't make sense, and sometimes they're controversial. But they're honest!

Princess Peach

2011-11-26T12:34:00.000-06:00

I snagged this dress from Jen's Shop My Closet sale after I had already ordered one from ModCloth. I ordered a large from MC and it was gigantic when I tried it on. Jen had a medium with the tags still on it (and 1/3 of the price!) so I bought it and returned the first one instead. Well even this one is huge! I'm not sure what's up with this brand's sizing but if you order it, sized down at least one or two sizes if you can! It's still a super sweet dress and the peach color is divine. I toned it down with my black "funeral tights" and a grey cardi though. It was a really gloomy/rainy day (hence indoor shots) but it was still a fun thing to wear. I picked up these suede loafers from the thrift store one day ($1!) and I've been itching to wear them ever since! The outfit is a little mis-matched but hey, it's what I really wore so whatever!

Mike and I sat up our Christmas tree last night while listening to the She + Him Christmas record, and today we're hard at work on Honeybean's online shoppe and finishing up some new handmade goodies to stock it with! This girl needs a big ol' pot of coffee and a trip to Hobby Lobby though so I'll leave it at that! Happy Saturday! xo

ModCloth's Morning On Main Street dress via Jen
Forever 21 cardigan
Black tights c/o Foot Traffic
Thrifted suede loafers

Shop Hive + Honey for Small Biz Saturday!

2011-11-25T19:20:00.000-06:00

After a nice little hiatus so we could focus our efforts on Honeybean, Hive + Honey on Etsy is reopen! We stocked it full of fascinators, bows and barrettes, and you can get your hands on them while saving 15% with the code SMALLBIZ! Brace yourselves, Honeybean's online shoppe just might be open for Cyber Monday! ;) CLICK HERE to shop Hive + Honey handmade hair pieces! (With lower prices, too!)

It's important to remember the small businesses that are putting their lives on the line by opening up shop this year. The economy isn't in the best state and we could all help by contributing to the little guys! Mike and I have decided that all gifts this year will be handmade and/or from independent shops. I'm excited to see what we come up with! xo

PS; The coupon code is already live, so feel free to shop away! You don't have to wait until midnight! ;)

Cranberry and Chocolate

2011-11-25T12:02:00.000-06:00

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! I had every intention of yesterday's post to be a Things I'm Thankful For post (in place of a TiLT) but I was out of town, had no access to a computer, and had more fun enjoying family. It was nice to take a day off of blogging. (I'm also avoiding email today and maybe all the way until Monday so don't freak out if you don't hear back from me immediately! I'll send ebook orders but that's probably it!) Anyway, I worked Wednesday night and it was surprisingly dead, but I still didn't get home (to my parents') until 3am. Mike and I slept until 10 then visited with my nana and headed to Lawrenceburg to see Mike's family. My nana gifted me the most gorgeous set of Pyrex dishes that my mom bought her in the mid-70's! I'm so excited to use them.

We had a really great visit full of really great food and conversation and we made our trek back to Nashville around 4:30. (I slept most of the way home) but we crashed on the couch and watched Netflix for the rest of the night and we mega slept in today! I used to get into the whole Black Friday shopping but I started realizing it wasn't for me at the end of high school. It can be fun but not when you have to work that night! I learned the hard way one year. This outfit is a little more "holiday" inspired with all the cranberry colors but I just need to block out my entire head. My hair is all sorts of a mess these days (and I've since dyed over it, but I don't know what I want to do with it! Story of my life haha) I'm off to procure some hot coffee and warm clothes! Happy Friday!

H&M lace dress
Thrifted belt
Target cardigan
Thrifted purse
Honeybean ring (Coming soon!)
Opaque tights c/o Foot Traffic
Suede + Patent booties c/o Love Clothing

PS; I'm thankful for every single one of you!

little chief honeybee.

Pink Truffle

Going With Your Gut...

Things I Love Thursday

Like Day... and Night

Kaelah's Closet is Restocked + Open!

Sale Shopping 101: Hunting the Bargains

Instant Replay

Spinning Wheels...

Featured Sponsor: The Loudmouth Lifestyle

Nirvana

Things I Love Thursday

January Sponsor Giveaway!

It's The Little Things...

Skull Candy

Things I Love Thursday

Wedding Wednesday

Sky + Sea

Blues Boy

Fortune Cookie Questions

Things I Love Thursday

Rust + Lumber

Gawf-Chic

Resolutions + Goals

A Fresh Look for the New Year

In 2012...

Looking Back + Looking Forward

Banana Boat

DIY: Coasters

2011 Outfit Recap

Guilty Pleasures: TV Shows

Lavender Hues

Sponsored Giveaway!: Casey Leigh

The Bunny Hop

Things I Love Thursday

Heavy Metal Princess

Roaring Meadows

Shoes-day Tuesday!

Film Shots

December Sponsor Giveaway!

Strawberry Rain

Things I Love Thursday

Holiday Cards + New Family Member

Calling All 2012 Sponsors!

Misikko Review: Corioliss Curling Wand

Sponsored Giveaway!: Tulle -- CLOSED

Sweet Pea

Sponsored Giveaway: Win $100 to LuLu*s! -- CLOSED

City and Colour

Things I Love Thursday

Bristleberry

Shoppe Updates!

Sick Day

The Cat's Meow

Mean Street

Pet Holiday Gift Guide + Suitcase Bed DIY

Gingerbread Sails

December Giveaway: Apple iPad 2 // CLOSED

Loft Tour: Twinklelight City

Wedding Wednesday: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie

Little Teapot

Bohemian Gift Guide

Shop Honeybean Mobile Boutique Online!

Honest To Blog -- Clocking Out

Princess Peach

Shop Hive + Honey for Small Biz Saturday!

Cranberry and Chocolate