We're back! :: Short trip to Orlando

Posted on | Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | 5 Comments

Matt and I had a great time in Orlando, FL last week for a business trip. It's nutty how things pile up FAST when you leave town! On top of the busy part of business, after we got back, Matt got sick, then I got sick, and our poor pup got sick too! I have been taking care of my two "babies".

While we were in Florida, we ate some great food and saw some Disney highlights. I couldn't believe the great 80+ degree weather. It was very humid, and the natural curl in my hair was loving it (though I tried to blow it out). Do other wavy/curly haired gals know what I'm talking about? It made me want to shave my head!

We didn't have a ton of time, but it was good for us to get outside! The whole Christmas decorations in warm weather was new for me. Holiday lights on palm trees... awesome!

I think one of my favorite parts of the trip was going to "Morocco" at Epcot for dinner with Matt. Delish!

Here are a few photo highlights:

Leaving Buena Vista Palace to go to DisneyWorld (right about now, I'm thinking about how my hair is getting curly)!

No lines at the Monorail in November!

First destination at DisneyWorld... Epcot!

I found this guy scurring across the sidewalk while we were walking to Downtown Disney. It then proceeded to pee and turn a bright green color.

Matt... the monster! Arrrh!

In Downtown Disney with my Lego dog. Indy would be so jealous!

At the awards dinner. I forgot to have a picture taken of us together. Oops! This will suffice. Like how we coordinated with the colors? I made Matt's pocket thing-a-mah-jig and he chose his tie. How cute!

Cool... black lights.

Look as this goofy guy. Matt and I were taking a lunch break at Tomorrowland in DisneyWorld when I spotted this bird. It wanted food of course, so I tossed it a bit of cream cheese filled pretzal. It didn't want it! What was midly disturbing was that when I tossed it a bit of turkey leg meat, it gobbled it up. I hope they are very, very distant relatives in the world of birds.

I asked a nice old lady to take our picture in front of Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom. I didn't realize until later, that you can't really see much of the Castle in this photo. ;)

Success!

The biggest gingerbread house I have ever seen!

Inside the Grand Floridian.
That's all!

Short Business Trip :: Orlando, FL

Posted on | Monday, November 10, 2008 | 6 Comments

I'll be away from Tuesday (11/11) to Saturday (11/15). Matt and I are heading across the U.S. to Orlando, FL for business.

Just a super last minute question to anyone familiar with Orlando. Do you have any recommendations for a great place to go shopping? I'm looking for possibly a nice street I can visit with unique boutiques, all within walking distance from each other. Preferably not a "mall". I know, I know... cutting it close! I won't really have much time to shop, but if I get an hour or two, I'd like to squeeze it in. ;)

Thank you! -Myra

p.s. I know my blog posts and shop updates were limited last week. I have been scrambling to get orders finished before our trip AND Matt and I have been working on financial planning and taxes - it's a ton of work! Expect a post in the new year about it and tips on starting your own business (I'm thinking of doing a little series). My head is drowning in numbers right now!

Redundancy is good... when it involves puppies!!

Posted on | Wednesday, November 5, 2008 | 8 Comments

Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful comments on the previous puppy post. Indy is such a bundle of joy and Matt and I brag about her to everyone because you know... she is the best dog in the whole wide world in our eyes.

She is so quick to learn and I don't even give her enough credit. It has been less than one week and she knows that it is bad to go potty indoors... only, I didn't know she knew! At 1:00am last night, she cried and whined and I scolded her for being so loud when Matt was asleep. Then I thought... "hmmmmm.." and took her outside and she really had to do her business. I felt so bad! She was trying to tell me something!

If she could read, her head would be huge from all the sweet comments about her. Here are just a few more photos from yesterday. I couldn't resist!

"I don't know... looks like a shady guy to me."

"Maybe this isn't so bad."

"Tastes okay."
Update: Poor doll is now missing an arm and stuffing.

"Arf!"

"Peekaboo!"

"Bleh!"

"Woof!"

America's Next Top Dog Model

"That's a wrap!"

Puppy Comes Home! :: A New Little Addition

Posted on | Sunday, November 2, 2008 | 18 Comments

Matt and I welcomed our first puppy home on Halloween and we chose "Indy" for her name. Amazingly, Indy was born on our 1 year wedding anniversary (9-8-08). Meant to be?

Indy is a Siberian Husky and is 1 of 7 in her litter. She was born from an unexpected litter and has 4 siblings still looking for and needing homes (the wonderful owner, Alice, shows her dogs but was in the hospital for a few days with a serious illness and that was when a few of her dogs got lucky - so she actually had 11 puppies total from 3 different dogs). If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll pass along the contact information.

Indy is such a wonderful addition to our family! She is a typical puppy and Matt and I got about 2 winks of sleep this weekend. She is quick to learn and is starting to walk on a leash already. She is also learning a few commands - "come", "potty", "sit". And like many dogs, Indy loves "cookie" already!

I took a few photos. I'm so proud of her so like a parent, here are a ton of photos of the cutie pie.

"I know I am cute!"

I had to make her a little flower to wear.

What a belly.

"I like it here."

Going...

...going...

Gone.... zzzzzzzzzzzzz~

So tiny!

"Maybe they won't see me."

"I'm so pretty!"

Indy's mom, "Gypsy", in competition.

"Enough with the photos already!"

2 New Pieces! :: twigs & honey shop update

Posted on | Wednesday, October 29, 2008 | 3 Comments

Just a post to say that I have two new pieces in the twigs & honey Etsy shop today! They are both so much fun and very elegant. I think both would be perfect for a wedding or any other special occasion. The hair piece features a little vintage locket that you can spritz with your favorite fragrance! The flower will smell like a flower and so will you. :)
Enjoy!

Velvet flower hair piece with vintage heart locket.

Flower and lace necklace/choker.

New item :: Cozy Wool Beret in Pebbles & Paisley

Posted on | Monday, October 27, 2008 | 7 Comments

I think that handmaking lovely little things is contagious!

I'm so excited to say that my mom, who taught me so much, has handmade a very pretty wool hat with floral brooch. It is very comfy and warm! I have it listed in the Pebbles & Paisley shop at the moment. Be sure to check it out. :)

Like the top? My mom made that for me too! It is actually a dress. She knows my "office" attire mainly consists of PJs and slippers, and thought I would like a comfy but also stylish dress to work in. I like it!

Last minute wedding accessory :: Etsy find

Posted on | Friday, October 17, 2008 | 3 Comments

I have had a few brides ask if I knew of any good places to find wedding clutches or if I made them. Well, I just spotted the cutest clutch that would be perfect for a wedding. Any brides out there still searching? Your search may be over. :)

Vintage sweet heart wedding clutch :: Etsy shop TheHatBox :: ONLY $32!

On a side note, I'm listing 2 pieces available to the public in my Etsy shop today!

Woohoo! :: Leanne Marshall has won!

Posted on | Wednesday, October 15, 2008 | 2 Comments

Congrats to Leanne!!!
Matt and I were cheering for Leanne while watching the Project Runway Season 5 Finale tonight. Her collection was so gorgeous and cohesive. She used my favorite color palette - seafoam, aqua, mint! She is completely deserving! Leanne was so talented and I think won the hearts of many with her quirky and sweet personality. She really is that down to earth, which is so refreshing! Aw... now it is off to bigger and better things for her and we wish her all the best!

Here are some favorites:

I would love to be able to wear this one! It is so fluid. It actually was not going to be on the runway but was swapped last minute when there was a slight wardrobe malfunction with another design.

What dreamy colors. Just like the ocean.

I really like the perfectly fitted bodice of this piece.

Matt liked this one, especially the pants.

What a stunning wedding dress. LOVE IT!
Photo credits: Bravotv.com

Good luck Leanne!! :: Project Runway Finale tonight!

6 Comments

Just a reminder for all those who have been paying attention: Project Runway Finale is tonight and I know who I'm cheering for! Leanne of Leanimal of course! I've been so excited for her throughout the season. Did anyone watch last week? She made the most dreamy wedding dress ever. I couldn't stop staring at it and oogling the wavy layers. AND I loved the seafoam bridesmaid dress. Head over to the Project Runway website to view photos.

Just about now, I'm kicking myself for not getting more of her amazing pieces last winter. I have long stalked her shop and was able to get a few pieces, but now it is just about impossible. At the moment, I am in love with her Cesare vest.

Matt thought I had too many of her dresses but now he thinks that I made "wise" purchases. ;D
Here is my mini ode to Leanne and my mini Leanimal collection:

The Josefina dress. This is the cutest! Please excuse my wreck of a room. Matt and I were running out the door in this photo to catch a movie. My closet presently doubles as my shipping center. How embarrassing!

The Eva dress. I love the ruffles on this one. I'm wearing it in a few listings in my shop at the moment.

The Karine dress. I had Leanne square off the neckline on this one and just love it. It seems so romantic and girly at the same time.

Thank you so much Leanne and good luck!!!

Finding the perfect pumpkin :: Autumn fun at Sauvie Island

Posted on | Monday, October 13, 2008 | 8 Comments

It's been a long tradition for Matt and I to pick our perfect pumpkins at a pumpkin patch each year. This year marked our 7th time getting pumpkins together! We've picked pumpkins just about everywhere. :)

This year, we went back to the first place we picked pumpkins together: Sauvie Island's Pumpkin Patch. This place is pretty big and you can spend hours there. We took a hayride to the field where the search began. After the great hunt, we weighed and paid, and headed into the market to pick some fresh and local produce. Immediately following, we stuffed our bellies with sausages and elephant ears. Have I mentioned enough how much I love food?

The plan was to tackle the corn maize at night, but I was pooped. Instead, we went to Ikea and afterwards, to Bridgeport to watch the horror flick, Quarantine.

Perhaps we will navigate the corn maize next weekend. :)
Here are some highlights:

Too many to choose from!

Ah ha! This one looks like a winner.

His & her pumpkins. Size appropriate. Yeah sure, it's fun to get the biggest pumpkin, but I didn't want to have to carry it back! And yet... I managed to get Matt to hold my pint sized pumpkin to the car. ;)

Balancing act.

Asian pears, apples, and corn.

More pumpkins and squash.

Parting shots. FYI, I'm wearing my PrettyRaccoon Clothing top from Etsy. Next up... carving the pumpkins!

New piece listed in the Etsy twigs & honey shop

3 Comments

First off, thank you to everyone who left comments on the previous post about a new hair cut for myself. I'm excited about it and completely encouraged from all the positive feedback! I'm going to do it! I'll probably schedule an appointment in November/December when I have a little more time, but I'll keep everyone posted. :)

Also, I just listed a new piece in the twigs & honey Etsy shop. Be sure to check it out!

Hairspiration :: A new do? Yay, nay?

Posted on | Friday, October 10, 2008 | 12 Comments

I have been mulling over getting a new cropped do for my perpetually long mane - which I have sported for ummm, about 5 years now. It's become my security blanket. Matt, the typical guy, loves it, long flowing locks. But I am tired of it! My excuse used to be that I was growing it and keeping it long for the wedding. Haha! After the wedding, I actually did cut it about 8 inches! That's a lot of hair! But a year after the chop, it's back down to my bum and I think that if I don't take the plunge now, I will never be able to release my grip on my hair.

I like style... hair with character, but if you have long hair you know it's hard to get any style. It is either long and hanging, long and wavy, long and curly, or up. I'm bored.

A couple years ago, I bought a copy of Elle magazine, with Ashley Simpson on the cover. It was supposed to motivate me to get a hair cut. I still have that 2006 issue! Since then, I've collected a few other hairspiration photos. I've put together a board below. The top row is of the cutest gal ever. I found her through the blog, My Favorite Color is Shiny. She's on Flickr and you can find her here.

I am favoring Ashley's "do" the most. I am super, ridiculously obsessed with asymmetrical styles lately. Aeon Flux'ish.

What do you think? Should I??? I will probably go to the chop shop in November or December.