WINNER: A.O.kay Designs Giveaway

Thanks for all the great comments we received in lieu of our interview/giveaway with Crystal of A.O.kay Designs!  If you did get a chance to check out her shop yet--click here! (cute cute cute!)
The lucky winner of crochet legwarmers, rosette AND gift card to A.O.kay Designs is:

myblueyez said... 

I'm following on Twitter..
@myblueyez2703
I like the football onesie..

November 9, 2010 3:39 PM 

Congratulations!  We'll email you soon with details on how to claim your prize!

xo

Manda & Jayme

Baby Bump Fashion Frustrations

I have always loved clothes.  Getting dressed in the morning is usually something I enjoy.  A creative outlet.   In the beginning of my pregnancy I promised myself that I would be a "cute pregnant lady".  No slacking on the clothes/hair/make up.  
But admittedly, perusing all my favorite style blogs and reading the monthly fashion mags has become a bit depressing.  My wardrobe right now....sucks.  I love showing off the baby bump, but my fashion sense has definitely fallen by the wayside as the months have passed. 
Funny thing is, I'm technically in the "maternity fashion" business via Miskabelly.  In fact, we have some AMAZING pieces in our shop right now for mamas-to-be.  And all are totally on-trend.  Here a two of my faves:

This vintage red ethnic print maxi dress is super similar to one that Liv Tyler was spotted wearing this summer.  Empire waist, whimsical print and ruffled hem.  I may just have to test drive it before it sells!

Vintage Red Ethnic Print Maxi Dress, $30

(Liv Tyler pic found on www.osoblog.tv)

I really do love the cut of a empire waist maxi dress for a pregnant body.  Slim on the top and full at the bottom.  I guess that's why we've been keeping them stocked in our shop.  Here's my other favorite in this style (also seen in my week 33 photo op!)

Ok...so it's a bit sick of me to use a pic of the teeny tiny teeny bopper, Vanessa Hudgens for my comparison dress--but she definitely has a "boho" style that I think works well for pregnancy fashion.  Our version of the dress is a bit more modest on top--and perfect for this cooler weather!

Vintage Boho Long Sleeve Maxi Dress, $30

(Vanessa Hudgens pic found on www.seventeen.com)

I think from here on out, I'm going to be a little more brave with my fashion choices.  It's kind of fun to think of dressing up your "bump" in bright ethnic prints and exaggerated silhouettes.  And of course, VINTAGE!  

Stay tuned for some additional weekly photos to see how my fashion choices evolve....now that I'm in the home stretch!

Have a lovely weekend!

xo

Jayme

Jayme's Shower!

This post has been a long time comin', since my mom and I threw Jayme's shower over Halloween weekend, but I was a little overwhelmed by life in the meantime and am just sitting down to edit pictures  and share with you about the day!

It was (of course) a gorgeous fall day.  But windy.  In fact, it was so windy that all but one balloon that I purchased for the party blew away before anyone even arrived! The party was very small--just a few friends and family--so we had it at our parents' house. Mom did a heck of a lot of cooking while I helped set up the decorations.  I had been collecting vintage baby stuff and ideas for a month or two.  I didn't go crazy, but the house was sprinkled with special little details:

 

It was a pretty standard shower--we ate lunch, played a couple games, had dessert and watched Jayme open her presents.

gluten-free carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing and 

pink marshmallow rice krispy treats

Jayme is a bit introverted, so the party was very relaxed and low key--it really turned out perfect (except I was busy running around doing other stuff and didn't take enough pictures!)

 mom, prepping the salad (in a vintage blouse, thrifted skirt, and cowboy boots)

 Jayme and friends

 lunch time--boys were allowed to eat.

 soon-to-be mama and daddy!

 great grandma and cousin Addison

great grandma and Aurora (who loved munching on the beads we handed out for a game)

Of course, no blog would be complete without some outfit shots from the day...

I'm wearing:  vintage dress and necklace, brown tights (Ross-DKNY) and Fossil heels

Jayme's wearing:  vintage top, belt, and boots, leggings (random) 

 

 

you can already tell she's going to be an awesome mom--

look at the smile on Aurora's face!

There are lots more pictures, but I can't share them all here, so I just shared a few of my favorites. Baby day is approaching (can you believe Thanksgiving is almost here?!) and we can't wait to meet this sweet little girl!

Thanks for all your love and good wishes, friends!

xo

Manda

Week 33: So. Tired.

Excuse my tired, lazy eyes...so sleepy!

Can I just first start off by saying—I am so tired.  Not just the kind of tired where it’s hard to get up in the morning and by the end of the day you’re ready to park yourself on couch for the rest of the night.  This is way beyond that.  I’m talking, a whole other level on the tiredness scale.  My eyes don’t feel fully open most of the day…like if I blink too hard I will fall asleep.  So tired that at times I feel like nothing else matters.  Getting my assignments done at work?  Eh, they can wait.  I physically can’t move my hands from resting under my chin (holding my head up so as not to injure myself if I nod off) to the keyboard. 

Have I made my point yet?

I. am. tired.

Kudos to all the mamas-to-be out there who work their normal job hours throughout their entire pregnancy.  Cause let me tell ya, it’s not easy.

All sleepiness aside, I have been incredibly blessed so far in this pregnancy.  With seven weeks left till my due date, I feel like I’m almost home free as far as crazy swollen ankles, puffy cheeks, stretch marks,  and the likes.  Almost.

So this is me saying…tiredness?  Bring it on.  If that’s the least of my struggles at this point, I think that makes me one darn lucky girl.

xo

Jayme

In these photos: vintage maxi dress (yep, it’s all one piece!), black boots from Aldo, earrings from Charlotte Russe

P.S.  We would be so grateful if you would take a quick second and vote for us on Top Baby Blogs!  Click here.

P.S.S.  Don’t  forget to enter our giveaway from A.O.kay Designs!  Click here.

CLOSED: Handmade Feature/Giveaway: A.O.kay Designs

This week we would like to introduce you to a lovely little etsy shop--with crocheted baby goodies (we're talking tiny hats and hair accessories too cute for words) and embellished onesies (I'm obsessed with this green and pink tree with contrast stitching!).  The shop is called A.O. kay Designs and the owner/designer is Crystal--a stay at home mom of two.

Let's get to know a little more about Crystal:

What does your life outside of Etsy/blogging look like?

I’m a stay at home mommy of two adorable little girls, Aubrey 5 and Olivia 2.  They keep me busy all day long.  We play, learn, and make lots of messes.  When I’m not busy with them I try and sneak in some cooking, cleaning, and anything else I need to get done.  I’ve been married to the sweetest guy for over 6 years.   We just moved back to our home town and are loving the small town life. 

Describe yourself in three words.

Crafty, easy going, and caring

Fall piece you can’t live without: my brown sweater.  I love it.

Most recent fashion-related purchase: new jeans.  I was in desperate need.

 Do you craft/make anything else outside of what’s in your shop?

Absolutely!  I love all types of crafts and share them on my blog www.crystalscraftspot.blogspot.com.

Any pet peeves? Most of my pet peeves come from driving like not people not using a blinker, or driving to close.

Bad habits? I’m easily distracted.   I have so many unfinished projects because a new idea comes and I have to start it right away.  Also our house suffers because of this as well.  You always know when I finished something because our house looks like a tornado hit. 

Desert-island food? I can’t live without pizza and Reeses peanut butter cups.

Another blog you follow regularly:

There are so many!  My favorite is probably Sumo’s Sweet Stuff   http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com.  She crafts for her two little girls so it’s perfect for me.

What made you decide to start a shop?

I’ve been blogging for the last year and have been thinking about opening my own shop for a while.  Since we moved back home we are trying to save up as much money to build a house.  It seemed like the perfect time.  I am hoping to help out with the saving a bit or at least cover my crafting addiction.

Significance of your shop name?

A and O come from my daughters Aubrey and Olivia.  They are the ones that inspire me to create and often spark the ideas I have for my shop.

Favorite item in your shop right now?

Probably my heart onesie.  It is so soft and sweet. 

Crystal has put together an awesome prize, with some super cute things from her shop!  Enter for your chance to win: red crocheted leggings, a red rosette hair clip AND $20 to spend as you please at A.O.kay!

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow our blog! Once you become a follower, just leave a comment below, telling what your favorite item from A.O.kay Designs is.
2. Follow Miskabelly (@miskabelly) on twitter…and again, just a quick comment to let us know you did (with your twitter user name) and share what your favorite item from  A.O.kay Designs is.

3. If you’re already following the blog and our twitter—simply leave a comment, telling us what your favorite item from A.O.kay Designs is!

4. Once we tweet about the giveaway, you can re-tweet to gain an extra entry!

Multiple entries are allowed (if you want to follow the blog, AND our twitter AND re-tweet  go for it!).  This contest will run through next Sunday, November 14th.  The winner will be chosen through a random number generator. 


Good Luck!!

Manda & Jayme 

Blossom and Grown Giveaway WINNER

Thanks to all who entered the adorable giveaway for the Gobble Gobble Bib and Burp Cloth from Kathryn at Blossom and Grow (if you didn't check out her shop yet--click here!  Adorable handmade stuff for you little ones).
The winner is....

 Shannon said...

gfc follower and my favorite is the zebra print

snaugle81@gmail.com

November 5, 2010 2:31 AM

Congrats Shannon!

We'll be emailing you shortly with details on how to get your prize!

xo,

Manda & Jayme

Steppin' Out on a (Sunday)

Another crazy busy Saturday without an outfit post (soccer games, grading, photographing items for the shop, and cleaning our house/yard to get ready for a campfire!), but Sunday happened to be special, so I had to share.

Q & I celebrated our 6 month weddnig anniversary on Thursday...except we didn't celebrate.  Trying to make anything happen during the work week takes at least a month of advanced planning.  We had Sunday completely open--and with an "extra" hour to boot--so Q planned a little daytrip out of town.  It was a secret!  I just got dressed (comfortably, at his suggestion) and got in the car.  He even packed up Aurora's stuff for the day.

It was a lovely, sunny fall drive to Strasburg, Virginia where Q's plans were:  adorable coffee shop (where we worked on our wedding party thank you's...now almost a month and a half late. oops.)  ANTIQUE MALL.  Lunch:  my choice.  It was perfect.

Here's what (we) wore:

 me (having a grunge-casual day):

  gray tee (?), flannel-thrifted, army jacket-UO, jeans-Seven, Converse All-Stars, scarf I've had forever, bag-Coach (thrifted and coming to our shop soon!)

 

 Q wore (and will probably be embarrassed to be on display as a fashion icon):   

Jeans (?), Converse All-Stars, button up-Tommy Hilfiger, Vest- Columbia

Aurora wore:   

Carter's onesie, Gap army cargos (thrifted), knit hat (thrifted), Robees shoes, pink hoodie (gift)

my delicious cappuccino at Cristina's Cafe

I found several fantastic clothing items for the Miskabelle shop, but Q and I also found some things for our kitchen.  We'd be hunting for canisters FOREVER and these copper-lidded ones were so cool that we had to have them:

They just so happened to be sitting on top of this breadbox--which is light pink, but that we also loved (and are planning to paint since it kind of clashes with our green kitchen).

Q spent a good chunk of the evening polishing the copper on these babies with an old toothbrush while we watched some Friday Night Lights and I graded assignments for my online classes (laaaame). It's Monday now and I'm mourning the weekend, but that extra daylight savings hour sure feels great.

xo

Manda