House of Fifty (and a little Easter What-We-Wore)~

Today is the day! The official launch of House of Fifty e-zine! Created by the very talented Janell of Isabella and Max rooms!

I am so honored to have been one of the contributors to the premier issue of this beautiful

e-zine. As a contributor, I was lucky enough to see a sneak peak of the magazine last week...and I must tell you...it is simply stunning. A must read, if I do say so myself.

Click here (or on the photo above) to read House of Fifty!

Now for a little Easter What-We-Wore.

I just love Easter! It is seriously one of my favorite holidays. And one of the things that I love the most is dressing my children up for church in their new Easter finery! Our family tradition of getting new Easter clothes is one that dates back to my childhood...and one that I've loved continuing with my own kids.

Here are the kiddos hunting for Easter eggs on Easter morning. They found them all in no time flat. I wish I had timed them... but seriously, it could not have taken them more than about 5 or 6 minutes. You should have seem them go!

And here they are with the goods! Too cute for words, those kiddos.


On the Princess: Lady Jane Dress and Mini Frosted Flowers cardigan from DownEast Basics.
On the little boys: Shirts and sweater vests from Target, khakis from Children's Place
On Mr. One: Shirt from Target, tie - Chaps by Ralph Lauren from Kohl's, khakis from Children's Place


The hubby snapped this photo of my Easter look...

Le Petit Linen Dress and Frosted Flowers Cardigan from DownEast Basics

Tulle Underskirt from Vintage Hem

Necklace from Target

Fashionable footwear courtesy of our local Urgent Care

Bet you're jealous of my awesome footwear, huh? Last Wednesday I was just minding my own business walking down our stairs when "POP!" something popped in my ankle...and boy did it hurt. But the pain went away and I soon forgot about it. Until I was trying to reach something on a shelf and stood on my tip toes. Then "POP!" it happened again. And then again later...and then again...and then on Thursday the frequency increased until I told the hubby I thought maybe I should go get it checked.

Turns out I have a small fracture on my right ankle bone most likely a stress fracture that finally "popped" on my way down the stairs last Wednesday. Seeing as it was Thursday night at Urgent Care, however, they just immobilized it for me. I'm going to have to see a specialist this week to find out the details. Let's keep our fingers crossed no surgery is involved. Shall we?

But aside from my little escapade with my ankle, it was a perfectly lovely weekend.

How about you?

DownEast Basics: A Great Day for a Giveaway~

Hello my dear readers!! I am soooo excited for today's giveaway I can hardly stand it!! One of my very favorite clothing companies is DownEast Basics. I freely admit that most of what I wear is purchased there. Because not only are there clothes ADORABLE...they are AFFORDABLE as well. So when DownEast contacted me and asked if I would review one of their pieces and do a giveaway, I was thrilled. Here I am wearing the Pageant Top. I love this top because of it's assymetrical design and the fun ruffle detail! Not to mention the fact that the icy blue color made my eyes "pop"! (note to self: wear blue more often!) Here's just a small sample of the other great pieces that DownEast Basics is offering right now...

One of my very favorites...the Frosted Flowers cardi.

I love the blossom detail on the Rosy Cheeks skirt. Whimsical but elegant at the same time!

Love this vintage lace skirt...so romantic and fun!

Another favorite... the Round and Round tank. It would be fabulous with a pair of jeans and some flirty heels this summer!

Perfect for spring, this Flowerful top just makes me smile.

Here's the fun part...DownEast Basics has offered to give one reader of the Shabby Nest their choice of items from DownEast's New Arrivals! To enter just visit the New Arrivals section of their site, then come back and tell me which piece is your favorite!

For extra entries, follow DownEast Basics on Twitter, or Like them on Facebook. For extra entries to qualify, you must leave one additional comment for each. Drawing is open until Friday, April 1 at 11:59 MST. Drawing open to US residents only.

Good luck!!

Shabby Apple~

Have you heard of Shabby Apple? If not, you can thank me later.

Shabby Apple is an awesome online dress shop. They like to say that their shop is a "return to what dresses were always meant to be—a one piece outfit. No need to add anything…no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing."

And you know what? They're right. Shabby Apple sent me a dress for me to try, and I can't tell you how fabulous it was to slip that baby on, and be done!! I didn't have to fuss with anything but my accessories. What a relief!

I got the Frida K. I loved the fact that it was so comfortable. It had just enough stretch to make it move with me. It was sassy and a little retro with a fun red zipper in the back for that little bit of the unexpected. I love it!

The Shabby Apple has a great and varied selection of women's dresses. And you know what? They offer dresses for every body type - and even for little girls and preteens. They also offer style advice where you can ask them a question..and they'll answer it. It's a great site.

And you're in luck today, my dear readers, because Shabby Apple is offering readers of the Shabby Nest a 10% discount! Just use the code shabbynest10off at checkout!

So what are you waiting for? Easter is just around the corner....go get yourself an Easter dress.

Have a great day~

Flower Pins: How to Make 'em / How to Wear 'em~

Hello my lovelies!! I'm in a mood for pretty today, so I'm going to talk flower pins. Oh how I love me a pretty little posy.

I'm not going to tell you how to make these babies, because darling Emily over at Jones Design Company did a wonderful tutorial on how to make them a while back and I just can't improve on it, so I'm going to link to it instead. I am going to say, however, that most of the time I see these flowers with 3 or 4 circles, but I like them to be really full, so I use 7 or 8 (occasionally more). Other than that, I follow her process exactly.

Unless you take this little cutie into account. I found that if I held each section of the circles over the flame, they would pucker up all over. And I think they make cute (and unique) flowers this way as well.



But once you have a bunch of these pretties, what do you do with them? You can add clips to the back for your little girl's hair (or your own, for that matter.) Or you can add pins to the back like I did. Then you can put them on just about anything from a bib necklace....to a shirt....

White Shirt: DownEast Basics Gray Sweater and Earrings: Target
...to a pillow....to a hat.

On the Princess: Jacket: Children's Place, Hat: Target

 

Makes you want to make some pretty flowers too, doesn't it?

Have a great day~

Starting the new year off with a bang~

I needed a change. And what does a girl do when she needs a change? (Besides rearranging her entire living room.) She cuts her hair. Come on. Admit it. You do it too.

And so enters the new haircut. Bangs. Lots of them.

Shirt and Jacket: Target Necklace: Children's Place (no, seriously)

I cut them myself. (Hope my hairdresser isn't reading this.) Just went in the bathroom a couple of days ago and decided to give them a little trim. A little trim led to a little more...and a little more...and well, you get the picture. I like them, but I was nervous what the hubby would say. Men can be a little funny about their wives' hair, you know. But the first thing out of his mouth was "I like your hair."

That was good. But then it got better.

"It makes you look young, though." Like he thought that might not be a good thing.

Scarf and jeans: DownEast Basics

Oh that silly man.



Anything that makes me look young is a good thing.



And so I start of 2011 with a haircut that makes me look young. This year is gonna be good.

Have a great day~

What To Wear to the Ballet~

I took the Princess to see Ballet West's version of the Nutcracker yesterday. Dance is one of my passions. I danced for many years (mostly jazz and modern with some ballet)...didn't exactly have the figure to become a professional...but I did work in marketing and PR for Ballet West for a few years before I had children.

The Princess inherited my passion for dance. She performed in the Nutcracker last year in Massachusetts. But I didn't find her a studio in time for her to audition this year. After last night, however, she's determined to try out next year. She wants to dance the part of a buffoon... she wants to do cartwheels across that big stage.

Last summer, before we moved back to Utah, we came out to visit for some family weddings. Because I had worked for the ballet, I was able to pull a few strings and get a private tour of the facilities for the Princess and her cousin. They actually got to stand on the stage in the Capitol Theatre. I think that did it. That's when she decided in earnest that she is going to be a ballerina when she grows up. And you know what? I hope she's right.

On the Princess: Dress DownEast Basics girl, Boots Target
On Me: Skirt DownEast Basics, Cardigan Target, Necklace DownEast Basics