Taking a break!

Boy am I busy today. It's always the last day before the show when I get the most done. However, I needed a little break so I thought I would come visit.

Despite all the craziness going on around here this week {including me having a back spasm, paperwork deadlines, and Baby A cutting her first top tooth} I have really only been thinking about one thing...

A new house.

I haven't told anyone else this because nothing is for sure yet, but I have to admit I am distracted and daydreaming thinking about a house we looked at this week. I have been on pins and needles for DAYS waiting to find out if we're going to get it, but I can't help daydreaming. Do you do that?

I mean, as of now we have nothing set in stone but already I'm dreaming of decorating, new furniture projects, and the new aspects of life that come with a move. Oh, but I haven't even told you the best part yet...

If we get this house, I will finally have A STUDIO!!! I have soooooo many ideas....

{Can you tell I like bright, airy spaces with bold pops of color? LOL}

No more working out of the corner of our bedroom, no more tripping over boxes of fabric and incoming merchandise and review pieces everywhere. Hubby and I will finally have a whole room to pursue our creative endeavors! So needless to say I am totally keeping my fingers crossed, praying praying and praying some more, and trying to stay positive all the while also trying not to get my hopes up too high on this.

There are about 100 reasons why this would be a perfect situation for us, so we are both hoping for the best! The owners are super nice, and said they would let us know something this weekend so hopefully we hear something soon!

For now I guess I'll get back to work sewing, dyeing, and packaging... but rest assured I'll be daydreaming all the while... :)

Happy Friday! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!


XOXO

GIVEAWAY! For your kitchen AND your tummy! {giveaway closed}

{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}


This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of FRESCHETTA®. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hello, hello all my bloggy buddies! Boy, do I have a fun one for you today!

I don't know about you all, but I am not a fan of frozen food. Fish bits pressed into sticks, chicken bits pressed into nuggets, {or worse, animal shapes!!!} and miles of greasy, rubbery food that in some way may or may not resemble pizza.

When I hit that point in the grocery store, all I see is this... Walls and walls of glass with just crap inside. 

Well, the nice people at Freschetta decided it was about time that I got off my high horse, and they set out to change my mind. They sent me a coupon to try one of their new "Simply Inspired" Pizzas, made with fresh, interesting, GROWN UP ingredients. {Wait! You mean there IS more to the frozen section that just fish sticks and chicken nuggets??} So, off to the store I went.

Can you say, YUM?!?

First of all, there is a wide array of choices in the FRESCHETTA® Simply…Inspired™ line... they come in flavors like I've never seen in frozen pizza. Tuscan Farmhouse, Classic Bruschetta, Harvest Supreme, and even Hawaiian Style with pineapple! I went with the Chicken Bianco: grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, spinach and black olives topped with mozzarella cheese and creamy alfredo sauce.

IT. WAS. DIVINE.

One thing I noticed more than anything was there was no ice or freezer burn on the pizza. I've never bought anything frozen that wasn't crusted in ice. They must have some seriously awesome packaging or something. And no rubbery crust here, no, no. Crispy, flaky, baked-to-perfection thin crust. Yum. This is not your run-of-the-mill Chuck-E-Cheese pizza. This is pizza the way it was meant to be enjoyed when you're over 20, haha!

Oh Freschetta, had I only KNOWN!! 

Well, I said the people at Freschetta were nice... look what else they sent me:

Awesome, right? Bamboo cheese board with utensils and cracker tray. I feel so special!
You guys already know that I have a serious hang-up on all things bamboo. ;)

But wait, that's not all they sent me...

They also sent me this:

Another beautiful bamboo cheese board with utensils,
and this one folds up into itself for convenient serving!

Oh, but this one is not for me... it's for YOU!! 

This AND your own coupon for a FREE  FRESCHETTA® Simply…Inspired™of your choice! Just for being a follower of my blog, and reading along with all my silly antics. See? Told ya they were nice.

Drooling yet? Thought so. :)

{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

Ok, here's what you gotta do:
1. Be or become a follower of The Little Birdie blog

Want extra entries? Ok then...
2. Be or become a fan of Freschetta on Facebook

3. Be or become a follower of Freschetta on Twitter (@FreschettaSI)

4. Be or become a follower of The Little Birdie on Facebook

5. Be or become a follower of The Little Birdie on Twitter (@lilbirdielady)

6. Blog about this giveaway

7. Facebook about this giveaway

8. Tweet about this giveaway

9. Tell me how much you love my kitchen table that my incredible hubby built for me! HINT: It's the backdrop for my cheese board photos. {Gotta feed hubby's ego a little bit now and again, right?}

10. Leave me a comment telling me what kinds of tutorials you would like to see in the future on Tute Tuesdays.

Easy enough, yeah? 

Be sure to leave me a comment for EACH entry! 

{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

Thanks so much to the SUPER nice people at Freschetta for sponsoring this giveaway for my awesome readers, sending me their lovely products to review, and turning me around on frozen pizza forever!!


XOXO

Tutorial Tuesday & Linky Party - Making a Mess!

Good morning lovely bloggers! I have a confession to make:

I am SWAMPED!

I have orders from my Etsy shop out the wazoo, AND I am prepping for my first big show of the year happening this Saturday. Needless to say, I am a busy bee right now. This is what my life looks like at the moment:

and more...

and just a bit more...

So, since my days have been filled with onesies, burpies, bibs, plush animals, and mommy masks, unfortunately I have had no time at all to create something new and fun to share with you. But, I do have some fun links to share with you of projects I've bookmarked for my "To Do" list!

{baby boy texture book @ Lella Boutique}

She'll be posting a tute for a girl version soon... can't wait to see IT!! 

I've been dying to make some books for my little book worm.

{french terry wash cloths @ JAQs Studio}

I've never worked with French Terry, but after reading this tutorial, I ordered some from fabric.com

When it gets here I am diving headfirst into these soft little beauties!

{ikea rug makeover @ A Little Bite of Everything}

I've seen these all over the web, but this is the first one I saw EVER. 

I love this idea, I just need to make a trip downtown to Ikea!!

{alphabet magnets @ Little Lucy Lu}

These are ADORABLE! And a WAY better alternative to the primary colored, plastic, 

stab-the-bottom-of-your-foot-every-time-you-walk-into-the-kitchen variety.

{the "helping hand" @ Ucreate Foods}

An absolutely genius idea for anyone who spends ANY time in the kitchen. 

It can handle hot, cold, pots, pans, baking dishes, dirty hands... you name it. 

It's even lined with Insul-Brite to actually keep your hands from getting burned!

Aaaaaand, to expand my sewing abilities, I am just about ready to tackle zippers!

{zipper pouches @ see kate sew}

I don't know what it is, but zippers scare me. I'm going to give it a shot though... soon.

OK! Now it's your turn to link up!

Link up your projects, ideas, and tutorials!

Please link directly to your tutorial post, so it's easier for everyone to find.

Add as many links as you like, as long as they're not for shops, giveaways, or promotions.

Visit each others posts! We all like visitors and comments! :)

Grab a button for your post or blog to share the linky party love!

<a href="http://www.littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybpWehEcQYkr_bcTNwQtjMs-pSV-lbAnKMq0wQAbpkfm8Vn6I1fmUjYtVvzwqfTuazi67qG1Z7SWKRWPfgV3kkRVaYGnhKP7LJ0txiH6AQQj2x8KUcYdEuPtOudXo4oDmxEdFyxqjJ7RO/s800/Tute%20Tues%20LB.png" height="150" width="150" /></a>

XOXO

Scentsy Giveaway- Week 2 {MORE ways to win!}

Good morning all you lovely blogger out there! Just popping in to remind you that our current giveaway is a SPECIAL 2 week edition, so don't miss your chance to win!

Hop over to the original post HERE to read all about it and enter for your chance to win a Scentsy gift certificate courtesy of our host and consultant Mary, and The Little Birdie!

But wait, there's MORE!!

Want more ways to win? No problem!

Be sure to go to the ORIGINAL link to post entry comments!!

Please complete"mandatory entry" before adding new entries!

Leave separate comments for each entry!

Special Edition Week 2 Entries:

1. Facebook about this giveaway {using ORIGINAL link}

2. Tweet about this giveaway {using ORIGINAL link, mention @lilbirdielady so I can track it}

3. Blog about this giveaway {using ORIGINAL link}

4 & 5. Add The Little Birdie button to your blog {2 entries, leave separate comments}

Yay!! 

5 MORE ways to win! 

Giveaway closes Friday, 4/30 and winner will be announced next Monday!!

Good luck!!

XOXO

Saturday linky party Favorites!

Another great week of link ups! 

And I have to say, even for as much as I LOVE Easter, it's fun to see more and more 

non-easter related posts cropping up all over blogland. :)

Here are some of my favorites from this week:

Light Bulb, Bulb Vase (get it? haha!) @ A Law Students Journey

{is this not the CUTEST little thing? LOVE IT!}

What to Do With an Old Window @ Little Lucy Lu

{excellent idea for repurposing a window!}

Cuff Bracelets @ Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom

{made with popsicle sticks!!! You have to see it to believe it!}

Floral Love Tee @ Maybe Matilda

{so cute, so stylish, and Rachel makes it look so easy too!}

DIY Bird Feeder @ Jaderbombs

{Even looks yummy enough to eat it yourself! What bird could resist? And, it's super easy too!}

Thanks again to EVERYONE who linked up! If you were featured, be sure to grab yourself a button!

<a href="http://www.littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRzE7u-VGuuFc2UO9siEks11qeylbBfD2oMWmhJU0scRtcVMGVirmClVe_VcXxGiVBaO-5gvmdJLMv81UraGlajlnxbGDhO1p_L6vp2Ap_rtEjqyBhJcIBWSGBO9SihqJmah2muYYddzC/s800/LBB%20Feature%20Button.png" height="150" width="150" /></a>

Happy Easter, everyone! Enjoy!!

XOXO

Tutorial Tuesday & Linky Party - Ruffles & Burlap Easter Basket (and a cute little boho bunny too!)

Good morning everyone! We are entering the countdown to Easter! All those last minute projects have about 5 days to get wrapped up or they're going back into the closet for next year. At least that's what I keep telling myself! Luckily, I think I've got the last of my Easter projects here to share with you today.

Baby A's Burlap Easter basket and Boho Bunny!

This is kind of a two-fer this week, but I can only take full credit for the basket. I found the tutorial for this adorable little bunny HERE at The Quilted Cupcake {complete with instructions and downloadable pattern}, I just tweaked it a bit to fit my style. :)

This little cutie is made with smooth minky fabric in brown and pink paisley. I just LOVE this stuff! I ordered it a few weeks ago from fabric.com for like $2.99 a yard! Crazy! Anyway, I thought for Baby A's first Easter she should have a mommy-made bunny for her basket. I call him the "Boho Bunny" since he's sporting the awesome paisley print. ;)

Of course, she also needed a basket. Duh! However, every place I've been lately has been hugely disappointing in the cute basket department so I decided I would make that  too. It wasn't too bad, just lots of measuring and cutting. But what a great outcome!

Here's what you need:

Cardboard box {or cardboard pieces}

Burlap

Fabric {optional}

Ribbon {optional}

Glue gun

Scissors

The measurements for this project will be dependent on what size basket you want to end up with. I scoured my kitchen until I found this bowl that I thought would be the perfect size for an Easter basket. I traced it onto the large side of my cardboard box and cut it out with my scissors.

Then, I measured the circumference of my cut circle and cut 2 strips of cardboard to wrap around it. Carefully, glue each edge down to the side of the cardboard. While that's drying, measure, cut, and get your burlap pieces ready for covering!

Just be sure to tuck in all the loose edges and use plenty of glue. I used a pen cap to shove all the little corners in and make everything nice and neat. The glue also helps with the pesky way burlap seems to shed all the time, so that's a plus too!

Next, decide if you want extra embellishments {the possibilities are endless!}...

I just hemmed and ruffled some pretty striped fabric that I've been stashing away and glued it over some coordinating ribbon. If I was any good at making fabric flowers, I would totally do that too, haha!

Once everything is in place, attach your handle behind the ribbon and you're finished!

.......

Now, in case you missed yesterday's edition of Merchandise Monday all about the sensation that is Scentsy, be sure to click over here to check it out! 

There's a ROCKIN' Scentsy giveaway, and you can also read my personal review of the Scentsy product line, and enter for your chance to win a $30 gift certificate for the warmer 

and scents of your choice! {or anything else you want from their awesome catalog!}
.......

OK! Now it's time for YOU to link up! Show me what you've been working on and I'll pick my favorites to showcase on this week's Saturday Linky Favorites!

Grab yourself a button to share the love for the party, and please link directly to the project post so they're easy for me to find when I come visit. :) Ok, GO!

<a href="http://www.littlebirdiebaby.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybpWehEcQYkr_bcTNwQtjMs-pSV-lbAnKMq0wQAbpkfm8Vn6I1fmUjYtVvzwqfTuazi67qG1Z7SWKRWPfgV3kkRVaYGnhKP7LJ0txiH6AQQj2x8KUcYdEuPtOudXo4oDmxEdFyxqjJ7RO/s800/Tute%20Tues%20LB.png" height="150" width="150" /></a>

XOXO

Scentsy Product Review & GIVEAWAY!!

{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

Ok all you lovely bloggy friends, you know what's coming today if you've been following along on Facebook and Twitter... and since SO many of you have emailed or requested some access to this company, YOU GOT IT!

I am proud to introduce to you all the is the hottest new thing in home fragrance - Scentsy! It is a wickless system activated by a super low-wattage bulb and intensely fragrant, easy melting wax. It will change the way you think about "candles" forever.

First of all, let me just tell you that I am a HUGE candle junkie. At any given time there are 6-8 candles displayed around the house (not including votives, tea lights and taper candles used in sconces and decor) and probably 20 more stashed away in various cabinets. I may be a little obsessed with home fragrance, I can totally admit that. That being said, I've tried EVERYTHING out there. High end/high dollar candles, drug store varieties, etsy handmade candles, oil burners, incense, you name it - I've tried it.

Scentsy is by far my favorite one.

Mary, our very own Scentsy rep sent me a mid-size warmer along with a scent bar in "Tea Party" to try out so I could tell you guys all about it. I was excited, but I had no idea!! Smelling is believing, haha! I've been using it nonstop for the last week! In just a few days I have already picked out about 50 other scents I want to try... There are SO many to choose from!

{this is just a small sampling, there are literally hundreds to choose from!!}

Fresh scents, clean scents, floral scents, fruity scents, manly scents... there's something here for everyone, and they're always introducing new scents so you'll never get bored!

The really fun part is choosing your scent burner though! There are different sizes to choose from, many different styles, as well as plug-in burners, on-the-go scent tins, and even scents buddies for kids! There are just as many burner choices as there are scent choices so you're sure to find one that compliments your home decor.

{There's even burners for your favorite sports or team!!}

Mary has graciously decided to giveaway a $30 gift certificate for any combination of Scentsy products! You can get a mid size burner and a starter fragrance, if you're already a Scentsy fan you can get more fragrance bars, you can try the plug-in system, or even a DIY burner with customizable decals! The options are endless, and she is SO sweet to offer you guys such an awesome prize!

Before I tell you how to win, I should also mention that she is holding a virtual Scentsy party on her website just for Little Birdie followers, complete with great deals just for you! If you just can't wait to try it out, head over HERE and click the link to "Buy/Party Center" then join up via the The Little Birdie blog link and get to shopping. :) {purchase not necessary to win!}

Now... How can you win??

Mandatory Entry:

1. Head over to RockMyScents.com, Mary's Scentsy Website and tell me what you would like to try if you won!
{You can click "Buy/Party Center" for the shopping site, or download a pdf of the catalog.}

Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)

2. Sign up for Mary's newsletter so you can stay on top of all the fun new fragrances being added every month! She will also keep you up to date on specials, discounts, and discontinued items.

3. Be or become a follower of The Little Birdie blog (this will be easy because I know you already are!)

4. Be or become a "fan" of The Little Birdie on Facebook

5. Be or become a follower of @lilbirdielady on Twitter!

6. If you make a purchase via The Little Birdie party between now and April 30th, you may ENTER YOURSELF 5 TIMES!! {Purchase is not necessary to win, but you get lots of extra entries! ANY purchase eligible! Entries will be verified.}

Ok!! Once again there are a possible 10 entries available so get to it! Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced Monday May 2nd. That's 2 whole weeks to get your entries in!! :)

Thanks so much to Mary and her awesome Scentsy business for sponsoring this giveaway! You Rock!!


XOXO

Saturday linky party Favorites!

Another lovely link party this week! 

Here are some of my favorites... Seriously, this gets better and better! 

You guys are SO incredibly talented!

DIY Fireplace @ You're Talking Too Much

Lemonade Ice Cream Cake @ Tales of a Trophy Wife

Wine Cork Artwork @ The V Spot

Ruffles & Rainbows Burpies @ Lottie Lu & Brother Too

Free Upcycle @ Pressed Down & Shaken Together

Rainbow I-Spy Quilt @ Oxford Impressions

AMAZING posts this week everyone!! 

Thanks so much for linking up, I can't wait to see what you've got for us next week!! 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and we'll see you on Monday for a brand new giveaway!! :)

XOXO