Giveaway!!!

***This Giveaway is Closed***

I recently discovered the cutest online store, Little Ones. They carry adorable handmade goodies for babies and new moms, like:

Knit Hats for Babies (am I right about the adorable thing?!)

Baby Bows (aww, makes me want a baby girl...)

And Darling Nursing Covers (oh how I wish they had these when I had a little one - instead I had to hide behind my 1990's plaid flannel blanket when I nursed...so00 not cute, and don't get me started on the maternity clothes I wore...1993/1994 were NOT a good years for maternity fashion).

So, down to the nitty gritty Giveaway details. Little Ones has agreed to give a $20 Little Ones gift card (!) to one of you. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below...no hoops to jump through...just leave a comment. And, if you were hoping for a little hoop jumping you can be entered again if you do some sort of link on your blog to this giveaway and then come back and let me know you did that.

I'll randomly select the winner (it's waaaay too hard to choose on merit...I always want to give one to you, and you, and you, and you). I'll announce the winner on Friday. Good luck!

P.S. Make sure I can reach you somehow if you're the winner.

I Found the Coolest (Inexpensive) Store on Earth

How many of you have been to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore before? Good for you - you'll totally know what I'm talking about in this post then. And those of you who haven't....OH MY GOSH! I am so excited to share this with you (Okay, let me compose myself here).

Uh hum...okay...I decided to stop by my local ReStore over the weekend...for the first time. It.was.so.cool. It's filled wall to wall with old doors (!), and old tile (!), and old shutters (!), and old light fixtures (!)...OH the spray painting possibilities!

For example (I apologize for these truly horrible photos. They would have been much better had I remembered to bring my real life camera, and not been forced to use my cell phone camera...which I couldn't figure out how to unzoom).

Imagine this chandelier painted ORB, or Black, or Red!

See all the shutters? Oh...wouldn't they be so wonderful painted robins egg blue, or...well...I'm sure there are other great colors too.

The best part about the ReStore is that it's not only chalk full of cool stuff, but the proceeds go towards building homes for people in need. And...you can buy what you want, and also DONATE what you don't need anymore. Okay, I'm going to cry like Oprah now. Great shopping for a great cause. What could be better?

To find your local ReStore, click on this link.

Have a great Monday!

What Are You Thankful For?

I gave Christmas the spotlight Monday, so I thought I ought to give Thanksgiving its due time today. I like Thanksgiving. It's not as sexy as Christmas, what with all those sparkly decorations and so forth, but it does have great food (my son once asked if I was going to cook a "big chicken" for Thanksgiving...he meant "turkey"...oh, I miss those days).

Anyway, what I really love about Thanksgiving is that it's an entire holiday dedicated to remembering and acknowledging all of the things we're thankful for. I'm a big believer in always counting your blessings, but Thanksgiving provides a unique kick in the pants to give some thought to all of those things you're grateful for. Here are a few things on my list (I apologize for the sappyness of this post):

1) My Son: He's, hands down, the greatest blessing I've received in my entire 33 years. And he does his own laundry.

2) My Parents: They're always there for me. Always. Even though they're 1200 miles away.

3) Our Home: I'm grateful for the safe haven it is for us, and the decorating playground it is for me.

4) Friends/My Adopted Oklahoma Family: Those of you living away from "home" know what I mean. There's nothing like a friend who will watch your dog, share carpool duties, rescue you when your car breaks down, and laugh with you when it's all over.

(Um, I'm a tad chubby in this photo...but I think it was taken 2 months post divorce (and in the midst of my Oreo obsession). Oh, I'm grateful for weight loss...)

5) Choclate, flea markets, thrift stores, TJ Maxx, paint...oh yes, paint!, the internet to teach me how to fix a toilet, fabric sales, homemade lattes, good tv, the best poodle in the world, hot showers, diet pepsi, Mexican food, pedicures, micro fleece...and good music...and the fact that there are people out there who can sing better than I can.

6) Finally, I'm thankful for YOU. Honestly...I'm not sucking up to the crowd here. I am truly, humbly, deeply grateful for all of you and the joy you bring into my life.

What are you thankful for? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I would challenge you to write out your own list.

Have a great weekend!

I'm Really Smart...Uh, Except When I'm Not

So, I'm a fairly intelligent girl...most of the time. I'm moderately handy around the house. I can use a drill, I've changed light fixtures, and I've painted...a.lot. So shouldn't it occur to a somewhat intelligent girl who knows her way around painting a bathroom that...um, I don't know...using the toilet TANK as a step stool to reach that really high ceiling is a bad idea?!

Nope...didn't even think about it. I just stood there, perched awkwardly on the toilet tank, wet paint brush extended, stretching like a yoga goddess to reach that impossible corner between the wall and the ceiling. And as I heard the gentle sound of water trickling, I thought (as the blonde I was meant to be) "Boy, that toilet sure is loud from up here."

Ha! Yes, Ms. AnNicole it is loud...that's because water's leaking onto your floor! Yep, my weight on the toilet tank broke the seal beneath the toilet. Hee, hee...oops?

So now this fairly intelligent, moderately handy girl is going to learn how to replace a wax toilet seal. Good times....

I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out!

I'm Becoming One of "Those" People

I used to get really annoyed when I'd see Christmas decorations in stores in October. I guess I felt like it was disrespectful to Halloween...or something (...I never really nailed down a reason, it just felt wrong).

Well...I have a confession to make...I'm becoming one of "those" people. You know, those people that are tapping their fingers for Halloween and Thanksgiving to be overwith already so I can start hauling out the Christmas decor. It's shameful...I know.

I even started a computer file for "Christmas Decor" last month. Wanna see what's in there so far? You'll notice that I seem to be drawn to a muted, sparkly, natural vibe this year (I realize how ridiculous that sentence just sounded to anyone not as totally obsessed with decor as moi).

Image: Pottery Barn

Image: Pottery Barn

Image: Pottery Barn

Image: Pottery Barn

Image: Ballard Designs

Image: Target

Image: Wisteria

Image: Wisteria

Ahhh, see what I mean? Now keep in mind, these are inspiration photos only. I'm NOT going to buy all this stuff (puh-lease say you know me better than that!). Y'all know I'm going to be gathering twigs and re-purposing Diet Pepsi cans to get the look I want (kidding about the soda cans...). C'mon November 27th...c'mon November 27th....