Pretty Smitten

New iPhone Cases

2012-01-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

While Pretty Smitten Baby made it's big debut last week, these darling new iPhone cases also made their way into the shop. I decided they needed a posting to themselves!

Fun and vibrant, I'm loving this new chevron design. You get to pick the colors.

Can't pick just two colors? We have a solution for that! Find this rainbow one here.

Another design popped into the shop as well. In Pretty Smitten fashion you get to pick your pattern, colors and monogram style. Find this one here.

Hope you like them! Happy Wednesday!

Introducing Pretty Smitten Baby!

2012-01-12T20:17:00.001-08:00

Pretty Smitten Baby is here! We've been hard at work and are so excited to announce this new arrival. We have photo announcements, coordinating stationery, return labels and stickers...the entire line can be seen here. In true Pretty Smitten fashion, the designs can all be personalized with your choice of pattern and/or color. And of course we wouldn't leave out our signature sparkle! Announcements and stationery are hand embellished with a mini Swarovski crystal. It's chic, it's fun and trust us...adds that little something extra.

Below are some of my personal favorites...

The sweet Emma collection. It's shown here with the floral pattern in blossom and strawberry.

Photo announcement

Folded note card

Return label and sticker

The Tate Collection

Photo Announcement

Folded Note Card

Return label and sticker

And the Avery...Tate has to have a sister, right?

and Hudson...shown here with the medallions pattern in bluebell and navy.

More samples can be seen in our shop.

So what do you think of Pretty Smitten Baby?

Pretty Smitten with....M&L Monogram Necklaces

2012-01-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

I originally came across this fun necklace at one of my favorite SF boutiques, Toss Designs. Since then I've seen it pop up on Pinterest and in a few online shops. I'm smitten! From the jewelry designer Moon & Lola... it's made from acrylic and you get to pick the color for your monogram. Comes in in three sizes too.

The script single initial is pretty cute too...

Hardest decision would definitely be the color choice...love the hot pink and orange...

But if you can't decide on color, there's also a gold and silver option!

So are you smitten now too?

A dream closet

2012-01-09T06:11:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend the Mr. and I decided it was time to clean out our closet. I clean it out pretty often, flip through my clothes and decide what to donate or toss...but this time was different. This time we were brutal. I realized there were a bunch of things that I had flipped through 3-4 times thinking...well, maybe....but not anymore! The goodwill mountain grew and grew and we now have a very lean and clean closet. It, however, is not pretty. No pretty shelving or organizers. Just the basics from our original builder. So...of course I had to go searching for some closet inspiration. Where better then Pinterest?

Here's a few I found that caught my eye...

Color coded and very well organized, these people know how to fold clothes!

This one was modeled after Carrie Bradshaw's closet in the SITC movie. Beautiful! Love the bench down the middle. Pretty and practical.

One of my favorites...from Honey We're Home

Here's a cute idea for what to do with all of those nice boutique shopping bags you don't want to throw away...frame them!

And since this post is title 'dream closet'....

Are you on Pinterest yet? It's a time sucker for sure...but a fun one. Follow me here and you can see a few more photos I pulled for my closet inspiration. Or let me know if you need an invite and I'll send you one!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Happy Monday!

Silhouette Cameo

2012-01-05T06:11:00.001-08:00

January always has me cleaning things out, organizing and preparing for the New Year. I love an organized house, and always feel at my best when things are in their place. Yep, I'm type A. With that in mind I've been considering getting the Silhouette Cameo...have you heard of it? It's a cutting tool similar to the Cricut, but it can also cut vinyl and fabric! Mainly I love the idea of making all sorts of labels.

Like these for the pantry.

Or create chalkboard labels for the playroom.

Or to keep and entryway organized. Numbers or names would work well here...

And I think this idea is cute, vinyl numbers on a front door or garage entry door.

via

Obviously it can do way more then just help to organize your house.

Love these monogrammed mugs.

via

and pillows

and monogrammed slipcovers...

via

But I know I'm just scratching the surface of what it can do. So does anyone own the Silhouette Cameo...what do you use it for? Do you use it often enough to justify the $299 price tag? These are the things I'm wondering....

HAPPY FRIDAY!

2012-01-01T06:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!! Did Santa bring you a new iPhone? My shop is re-open and is stocked full with iPhone cases! The rest of my line...along with some exciting new designs and products....will be joining the shop in the next few weeks. I'm taking this first part of January to work on my new designs and 'clean house'. Don't you just love how the New Year brings on a fresh start?

2011 has been a fun-filled year...Pretty Smitten continues to grow by leaps and bounds! I'm excited to start 2012 and see what it brings!

Holiday Wish List

2011-12-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

I've been busy busy with holiday orders...but I did steal a few moments to put together a quick holiday wish list. A girl has to have priorities, right?

I've been wavering back and forth on Hunter boots for so long...do I really need them? Well, obviously no, I don't. But I've decided that I would like them! High gloss black please...

with the cheetah lining!

And now that C. Wonder is open online I couldn't help but pick out a few things from their fun site. Love these Ikat coffee mugs.

And this elephant plate.

which would look fantastic on this beautiful bar cart from Society Social. Loving the faux python in stone.

And while I'm making a list, I might as well add in the iPad2! I have the iPad1 and love it, but the upgrade is calling my name. Question is, when does the iPad3 come out? Should I just wait?

So what's on your holiday list?

A DIY Ruffled Tree Skirt

2011-11-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this DIY ruffle tree skirt via Pinterest and had to share! Go here for details and full instructions.

Holiday Sale

2011-11-24T12:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday everyone! We've decided to get in on the Holiday shopping spirit and offer our readers a 10% discount on anything in our shop! Simply enter the code Holiday10 at checkout to receive your discount. Sale ends Monday at Midnight PST.

So what will use your 10% towards? Gifts for family and friends? Something for yourself? We have lots of options!

Personalized Lucite Trays featuring our signature rugby stripe

or personalize one for the Holidays!

And our iPhone cases are always a popular option.

Have you seen these yet? Personalized cutting boards! They snuck into the shop a few weeks ago. We love them because not only can they be used for everyday chopping....but they are perfect to use as a serving tray for cheese and appetizers. Perfect for holiday entertaining!

Our melamine plates and platters also make great gifts.

For kids...

And adults! How about a set of 4?

Gift Certificates an also be purchased for any of our personalized items. This allows your family and friends to design their own! Just contact us if you don't see them available. They can be sent electronically (perfect for last minute gifts) or packaged in a gift box.

10% off holiday cards wouldn't be bad either! Send your family and friends cards with the Pretty Smitten style. Our signature mini crystals add a little bit of sparkle and a unique touch! See our shop for lots of examples and styles.

Remember, sale ends Monday at Midnight PST. Just enter the code Holiday10 at checkout to receive your discount. And ALL holiday orders must be placed by December 2nd to receive your items by Christmas. Electronic gift certificates will be available until December 23rd but the rest of our shop will be closed starting December 16th so that we can enjoy the Holidays with our family.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:59:00.000-08:00

via

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my wonderful readers! So much to be thankful for on this day. So let's enjoy, relax and eat lots of turkey.

C. Wonder

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have you read the latest issue of Lonny Mag yet? I had a chance to browse through it over the weekend and my favorite part was definitely my discovery of C. Wonder. Where have I been?

WOW. Seriously, wow. I want to go live in that store. The colors, the patterns! Brought to us by Chris Burch (Tory's ex) to me this screams a mix of Tory Burch, Kate Spade and J Crew. Clothing, accessories and home decor. My kinda place. And the best part? The average item in the store is priced under $40.

Here are a few of my favorites from their product line.

Since a trip to NYC doesn't seem to be in my immediate future, I am happy to hear that C. Wonder will be launching an online store for the Holidays. Which means that's gotta be soon, right? Yay!!

Something is growing....

2011-11-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

and it's my belly...AGAIN. Yep, that's right, we're so excited to say that baby #3 is on it's way!

I'm 16 weeks and feeling great. I'm getting out of that first trimester haze...luckily I haven't had any morning sickness but I was super tired. Well, I still am really, but at least I'm able to stay up past 8pm! So thanks to everyone for your patience with my lack of posts. We're thrilled and blessed to be adding to our family!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2011-11-10T22:07:00.001-08:00

Christmas is already going strong in the Pretty Smitten office! We're so excited to have photo cards available this year. We incorporated our signature rugby stripe and Swarovski crystals for a very unique, modern and fun look.

Coordinating return labels and mailing labels can also be created.

We've also introduced a new design...our simple and sweet stripe border. Found in photo cards, and gift stickers, and more!

Our Home & Accessories collection is looking pretty festive too. We love adding a little Holiday cheer to our lucite trays...

and melamine plates.

And looking for a great gift option? How about a Pretty Smitten gift certificate! We offer certificates for 'design your own' lucite trays, iPhone cases, melamine products and more. These can be sent in a pretty boxed package, or electronically for those last minute gifts!

Are you humming a Christmas song yet?

A special post from Arcadian Lighting...

2011-10-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone for their patience with my lack of posts! I've been a busy bee getting Pretty Smitten Holiday all ready to go...my shop will fully re-open next week so stay tuned! In the meantime, here's a special post from Arcadian Lighting. Enjoy!!

-----

Hi all! I'm Jennifer and I write for†Arcadian Lighting, a site that chronicles the work of top interior designers and home decor trends around the world.†I've been writing about home decor since graduating university and have loved it ever since. I'm addicted to patterned fabrics, Jonathan Adler, chaise lounges, old doors, milk glass jars, antiques, and chandeliers. There's no shortage of inspiring posts on Pretty Smitten - I think Elizabeth and I would be great friends because she and I love the same beautiful things! One of my faves: kid's table lamps. Thanks for letting me share Elizabeth!

One of the sweetest decor accessories in a little one's bedroom is an adorable table lamp. In whimsical shapes and colors, with polka-dot shades and lovely lace too, kid's bedside light fixtures are both functional and decorative. Here are eight that are swoon-worthy.

Seeing spots

Archi Expo†via

A nursery with a delicate miniature table lamp provides soft light at a changing table. The muted pastels are also ideal for a soothing baby room.

Princess Pretty

ARHZINE via

With white as far as the eye can see, the beautiful table lamp, with a white shade trimmed in light pink and blue ribbon, breaks up the starkness of the space. The opulent ceiling fixture makes this nursery fit for a princess.

Fly sky high

Arcadian Lighting via

Little boys with pilot dreams will love this plane-inspired table lamp, with its cartoon-ish wooden plane in bold primary colors.

†A dash of retro

Home Furniture Decoration†via

Sitting amongst the vibrant butterfly wall decals is a bed outfitted in a pink and red shabby chic motif along with an adorable children's table lamp with a distinct 1950s feel.

Modern mod

Falls Design†via

Sometimes the little girl or tween of the household wants a more grown-up room -- this white contemporary table lamp rests on a dreamy floating end table, a mix of child-like fantasy and grown-up taste.

Two-in-one charm

Home Decorating Trends†via

The perfect way to divide a kid's bedroom built for two is with a vintage table and chic lamp - the rounded shape of the shade gives this light fixture character.

Sweet dreams

Simple But Luxurious Homes†via

Certain decor pieces really encapsulate the feel of a space, and the unconventional table lamp candelabra seen here is an exceptional example of this.

Dazzling drum

ARHZINE via

A tween girl's bedroom, in vibrant colors like pink and turquoise, provides the perfect setting for a young lady. The table lamp and detailed drum shade along with the paper hanging lanterns complete the look.

Content provided by Arcadian Lighting, a site that specializes in top quality lighting fixtures at extremely affordable prices. If you like this post, be sure to stop by the Arcadian Lighting†blog and let us know you saw us here!

Still here...

2011-10-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

Phew! What a month! Have you missed me? I'm still here...just buried in iPhone cases...

LOTS of iPhone cases

And although I haven't gotten nearly as many photos of these...lucite trays have been flying out of my studio as well. Here are a couple of my favorites that I managed to snap pics of before they left for their new homes!

Luckily my 'office assistant' is a great help. She sure does love those boxes.

And I bet she'd just love to knock over this pile ready to head out the door. They made it safely to the mailman though!

And in other news...my shop hit 1000 sales recently!!! Yipppee! That's quite a milestone. Keeping with tradition I'll be doing a giveaway. Hmm...what should be up for grabs this time?

Just checking in...

2011-08-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

Phew! It's been quite a couple of weeks. The Gilt promotion has been AMAZING and keeping me very very busy. Lots of fun new things and opportunities on the horizon. But most importantly, in the midst of the craziness...this little guy had his first day of preschool...

And yep, I cried. My little guy is growing up!

I'll be back to blogging more soon, promise!

{PS Shop} Pretty Smitten is on Gilt City!

2011-08-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Like a good deal? Sad you didn't win that iPhone case in our latest giveaway? In love with our lucite trays? Well it's your lucky day....check out Gilt Los Angeles for an AMAZING sale on both. Coordinating personalized note cards are included. Did I make you smile?

Hope so.

Happy Wednesday!

It's all about being organized...

2011-08-15T06:16:00.000-07:00

Life can get a bit crazy sometimes, right? Keeping up with two little ones, taking care of a household and running Pretty Smitten can make for a busy day. But I love it all and wouldn't give up a thing, so of instead of feeling overwhelmed I try for feeling ORGANIZED instead. To my Type-A personality it can make a world of difference.

So when I came across Megan's Home Management Binder on Honey We're Home, I was definitely intrigued! The idea is to create one place to corral all of your important agendas, lists and references for your family.

I think my favorite item she has included in her binder is the Daily Agenda. I love that it lists her "Top 3" for the day, Errands to run and Phone calls/Emails to complete. I'm a big list maker, but a huge list can definitely feel overwhelming. By separating this into daily tasks they might feel more do-able. And isn't it the best feeling when you cross everything off your list?

Other items she chose to include in her binder are listed below. This is great because it gives ideas of what to include, but can totally be tailored to your own family's needs.

All kept together in a simple 3-ring binder. Easy to throw in the front seat on errands too.

Once I saw Megan's binder I decided to see I could find any other examples. And that's when I came across the blog iHeart Organizing. Wow! Need something organized? Seriously, Jen has a solution for everything.

Her binder has some of similar things as Megan's...and a few other ideas as well.

Plus loads of free printables, so be sure to check out the entire post here.

I think both of these binders look fantastic, and great solutions to keeping up with household tasks on a daily basis. I do wonder though, will all of the technology out there...is it possible to something like this on my iPad? I like the idea of keeping everything on my sleek and very light iPad...but as a 'write it down on actual paper' type of person I wonder if I would follow through as much. Thoughts? Does anyone out there have tips, or know of any apps out there that make household organizing easy? Would love to hear from you if so!

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

{PS Love} Society Social

2011-08-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

I'm Pretty Smitten once again...this time with Society Social. Roxy from the blog My Cup of Te has started her own home and fashion line and all I can say is WOW. I need that bar cart. And that chair!

And how fun...as a way of introducing her new line she created a Manifest Magalog. An online magazine/catalog...get it? Adorable. With amazing photos, some great interviews and articles, and even a few recipes...you really must check it out.

And to entice you even more, here's a few other pieces from her line...a python bar cart? Yes please.

But I think (if I'm lucky enough to own one someday that is) that I'd go with this style. A little bamboo, a cane tray and it comes in an amazing array of colors. Oh yes, I think I've decided, I do want this one.

She's definitely not one to shy away from color, probably the reason why I love her line so much! Check out these folding chars. They're a reason to throw a party.

But I think my favorite chair is this dining chair (also shown in that first picture). Look at the available colors! Personally I would love these in a breakfast nook. So fun.

Smitten indeed!

And the winner is....

2011-08-12T09:38:00.001-07:00

First off, thank you to everyone for entered. I'm blown away by the response, I had 92 comments and that is by far the most I've ever had...so thank you thank you! Really makes my day.

And now for the winner...chosen by random.org...

Comment #3 by D. who said:

"Sooooo hard to pick, but I think I'd go with an iPhone case!"

D. Please contact me to choose your design - prettysmitten@yahoo.com

And for those of you still wanting an iPhone case of your own, stay tuned...next week we have something else special going on...

Happy Friday!

Update on the Big Boy Room

2011-08-11T21:27:00.000-07:00

Well we've done it. Owen is in his big boy bed! After browsing my inspiration photos, we decided on the camp bed from Pottery Barn Kids. Mainly because I am in LOVE with the navy color. It's perfect for our little man.

We put it together a couple of weeks ago. Night time is going good. Probably because he's so tired from NOT NAPPING. Yikes. We've had probably 3 or 4 naps in 2 weeks? The other nap times have been spent playing, and playing....and playing in his bed. Cars have made their way in there. Blocks too. I figure we're still in the adjustment period, right?? Besides with this face how can I be upset?

So now I still have to work on the other items for the room. Some things are staying and some we have to buy new.

We have the rug. And the dresser. We're going with the baseball bedding from Pottery Barn Kids and I'm loving this lamp too. Haven't picked all the art work yet, but I know I love these airplane prints. Better get shopping. Can't wait to see this room finished. And lets face it, can't wait for him to start napping again...which one will come first?

(PS Giveaway) 900 Sales!

2011-08-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Our shop hit 900 sales this past week and we're ready to celebrate with a giveaway! Up for grabs...your choice of either a personalized iPhone case or a personalized melamine platter.

Our iPhone cases have been so popular. Personally we love the ones that feature our signature rugby stripe design. You get to pick your favorite background pattern and colors too.

There are so many options to pick from though! Our signature silhouette design is also very popular.

And we just love these melamine platters. Again you pick from our pattern and color options. These are perfect for summertime and outdoor eating. They also are a great place to throw your keys and mail. Or maybe by a nightstand instead? Add a pop of color and a convenient place to put your nighttime necessities.

So which would you choose?

TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment telling us which one you'd choose if you win (iPhone case or melamine platter)

2. Extra entry - become a follower of this blog and a fan on Facebook, and leave a comment telling us you've done so

3. Extra entry - spread the word! Mention this giveaway on your blog, facebook or twitter account and leave a comment telling us you've done so

Good luck everyone! A winner will be announced next Friday, August 12th.

(PS Shop) Introducing Cheetah

2011-08-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in blogland I saw someone write that "cheetah is the new black" - love that. Love it because I LOVE the cheetah print. Remember these shoes?

I still love them, good job Old Navy. That was last October, right before Amelia was born. And cheetah is still going strong.

J. Crew has some adorable flats right now.

And this belt from Emerson Made? Darling!!!

Cheetah has found it's way into interior design too. I've wanted to put hardwood floors on our stairs for a while now...but maybe cheetah carpet instead? Found on my latest obsession,

pinterest...if only I had endless amounts of time!

And here it pops into the picture on an ottoman in Lonny Mag.

So clearly the time had come to add this fun and stylish pattern to Pretty Smitten designs.

In a note card...

Lucite tray....

a melamine platter...

or an iPhone case

This could get addictive.

Pretty Smitten with Armonia Decors

2011-07-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

Browsing the latest High Gloss I came across this photo...how can those pink chair NOT catch your eye, right?

So of course I had to investigate further. The pink chairs, and the home that go with them belong to Emily Ruddo of Armonia Decors. And THIS is her living room. I am completely in love with that settee.

And her office. Must be fate, I just ordered those pillows.

Once I throughly checked out her home I moved on to other rooms in her portfolio. This one caught my eye too. Modern elegance...I spy a Jonathan Adler throw. And we know I love me some blue and white ceramics.

She also styles outdoor rooms. Yep, love those too.

Hope you enjoyed this eye candy on a Friday morning. What are your plans this weekend? We have friends coming in from the city tomorrow for the night. Planning a BBQ and some pool time of course. My favorite greek chicken and blueberry crisp are on the menu. Yum.

Have a wonderful Friday!

All American Boy

2011-07-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

The time has come. Our little guy is finally moving out of his crib and into a big boy bed. I must admit, I've loved keeping him in his crib, even though he's now 2 years and 9 months! But he's been perfectly happy in there. Sleeps great for naps and at night. What Mom wants to mess with that?? But alas, he's getting longer and longer (it seems daily) so the crib is just starting to look quite small. Plus he see's other kids beds and asks when he can have one too. Okay, Mommy admits it now...time for a big boy bed.

So of course with this transition I've gone looking for inspiration. His room has always been blue and red, and I plan on continuing with that color scheme. Remember his nursery? So sweet. And then when we brought little Amelia into the mix we updated his room just a bit, see it here. So I'm going to continue on this red, white and blue theme for my All American Boy.

via

Okay, time to start shopping! I'll let you know how it goes. Have a great weekend!

{A Pretty Smitten Party} A Sailboat Themed Dessert Table

2011-07-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

I love it when I receive pictures from clients...here's one I received lately, a sailboat themed 1st birthday party for baby Noah. The chevron print and the bluebell/navy/orange color scheme...a definite favorite! Great job Hofite and thanks so much for sharing!!

(PS Shop) Out the door...

2011-07-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

These headed out the door this week...loving all of the different color combos!

Yay for hairclips!!

2011-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

My little Miss Amelia finally has enough hair to wear hair clips! Well, almost anyway. And I'm so excited I'm not waiting any longer. Had to do a little photo shoot on her first day wearing a hair clip....

Makes the outfit, right?

So of course now I'm wanting to buy more hair clips! And I think the best place to find them (and at a reasonable price I might add) is Etsy! There are some great finds.

From Ladybug Bowtique, a bright pink and green option

and some cute polka dot basics

And one of my new favorite shops...Lou and Lee. Loving these flower clips!

And for dressier days...these chiffon flowers.

More cute and classic from Cranberries and Capers

And a cute owl clip from Bubbipop

Yep, it's definitely fun having a girl.

Hitting the Restart button

2011-07-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hi all! How was your 4th of July week? We had a such fun. Spent the 4th in Lake Tahoe and enjoyed lots of family time in the lake and pool. My shop has been closed and it's given me a chance to hit the 'restart' button. Sometimes you just have to do that, you know? So while I did get to enjoy lots of BBQ's and pool time, I also got to clear out my inbox, and actually see the light at the end of the tunnel in my order folder. I also got the chance to snap a few pictures of orders as they headed out the door. You'd think it would be easier to get a photo of each order, but somehow they just get packed up and shipped out...here's a small sampling though...

A fun chevron plate featuring our red wagon motif

I always love the pool and red color scheme, here it is featured in some treat bag toppers with our train motif. These were part of a large party order and I think it's going to be quite a cute event!

Yellow has also been popular lately. Always adorable paired with pink. Here it is with our chevron pattern and monkey.

More yellow and pink! This time with our diagonal stripe.

Our lucite trays have also been very popular. I'm totally in love with these! Since launching them in my home & accessories line I've placed them throughout my own home and given them as gifts. I hope these customers like them as much as I do!

This one features our maze pattern in navy with a kelly green center.

Navy blue again, this time in chevron with a fuschia center and featuring a custom nameplate. Fun right?

And another lucite tray, this one featuring our rugby stripe design. I can't get enough of our rugby stripe! So many pattern and color options. This one showcases a soft blossom, pool and yellow color scheme. Maybe it will be in a little girls room or nursery? Little girls deserve chic accessories too.

Hope you all had a good Holiday week! I'm going to spend one more day relaxing and playing with my babies, tomorrow it's back to our normal routine!

And the winner is...

2011-06-17T08:51:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everyone for entering our giveaway to celebrate 800 sales! And the winner of a personalized iPhone case is....

Comment #14 - Winsy!

Winsy, please contact me at prettysmitten@yahoo.com to talk design details :)

And thanks for all of your patience with my lack of posts this week! It has been crazy busy, lots and lots of party orders. I think the summertime party season is in full swing. I'll try to do better next week!

Have a wonderful weekend. We are off to Lake Tahoe tomorrow for a day of fun at the lake, looks nice right?

{PS Giveaway} We've hit 800 sales!

2011-06-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem too long ago that Pretty Smitten hit 700 sales...and now our shop has hit 800! Yay! In keeping with tradition it's time for a giveaway! Since we recently launched our new Home & Accessories line, I thought it's only fitting to offer up one of our new products. And I think you are going to be excited...up for grabs is one of our new iPhone cases!

All of our designs allow you to personalize them...you pick from our colors, patterns, and fonts. So which one will you choose if you win?

How about this one featuring our new rugby stripe design?

Or maybe a solid rugby stripe design instead?

Or we love these too. Pick your pattern, colors and font!

Or you could choose a case featuring our signature silhouette instead. You get to pick the color!

TO ENTER:

1. Please leave a comment telling me which style is your favorite

2. Extra entry - follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/prettysmitten) and leave a comment telling me you've done so

3. Extra entry - Spread the word! Feature this giveaway on your blog, facebook or twitter account and leave me a comment telling me you've done so.

Winner will be announced next Friday, June 17th. Please either leave your email in your comment, or be sure to check back next Friday to find out if you've won!

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY SATURDAY!

A sale...25% off at Horchow!

2011-06-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

Horchow is having a sale today...25% off the entire site! If I could get anything from their shop right now it would be this Lilly Pulitzer chair. Actually, I want two. For my Pretty Smitten office of course!

{PS Shop} Introducing Pretty Smitten Home & Accessories Line

2011-06-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

If you checked our shop over the weekend, then you may have noticed some new items popping up...introducing the Pretty Smitten Home & Accessories line! These products have been in the works for quite some time, and I'm so excited that they are finally available in our shop.

First we have our new lucite trays. I think it's safe to say I'm obsessed with these now. I have them ALL over my house. They work everywhere! On my nightstand, in my entryway, on my coffee table and on my desk. I had to test them out...quality control right?? :)

Just with all Pretty Smitten items, you can personalize these trays just as you want. Pick a pattern, colors and monogram style.

The 12x12 size is a perfect catch-all. Fine it here and here.

and a larger 11x17 version is available here

and while we all know that I love our pattern choices, I thought it would be fun to mix it up and use these chic trays to display photos as well!

How fun in a nursery? Near the changing table to store those necessary baby items, or how about in a kids bathroom? Personalize it with your baby's birth details or your kids names. Check it out the 12x12 size here.

but it's not all about babies around here...why not use a wedding photo? What a great statement for your coffee table! Find the larger photo lucite tray here.

Also new to our Home & Accessories line...iPhone cases. Yippeee! My iPhone goes with me everywhere. I'm not sure how I ever lived without it. And I must say, it just makes me smile to now carry it around in a fun, personalized case. Pick your pattern, colors, monogram and make it your own. We also love to use our signature silhouette.

Check these out here, here, here and here.

Another fun new product...melamine trays. Perfect for the summer BBQ season! I'm pretty sure hamburgers and hotdogs will look a lot swankier when served on these personalized trays. Again, pick your pattern and colors and make it your own! Find these trays here.

Coordinating plates and bowls can also be created. These are GREAT for little ones. While I developed the designs and ordered samples Owen gathered quite a collection of plates and bowls. Mealtime is much more fun when he gets his favorite sailboat plate!

And even though Amelia is only just starting to really eat solids, I couldn't leave her out. Love this sample in plum and kelly green. Check out plates here, here and here.

So what do you think of our new Home & Accessories line?

A little sailboat

2011-06-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

Loving this wooden sailboat sign from Signs of Vintage. It's meant to be a wedding table number (which I love), but how perfect would it also be with our sailboat theme at a birthday party? A darling table decoration that features the birthday boy (or girl's!) age. The navy and white color scheme is one of my absolutely favorites, but colors on this sign can also be customized. Fun, right?

{A Pretty Smitten Party} Grady's Truck Themed Birthday

2011-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Courtney at A Thoughtful Place recently threw her son a Pretty Smitten truck themed birthday party...and she did a fantastic job! Her party featured our petal pattern in navy and bluebell, with our truck in kelly green. So perfect for a little boy.

Check out the details...

I bet her son, Grady, enjoyed his party. Great job Courtney and thanks so much for posting it on your blog!

Backyard Blooms

2011-05-23T22:14:00.001-07:00

The flowers in our yard are in full bloom and it's making me so happy! Every time I look out our back window I get to see these beautiful roses...

And when I walk out my front door, I see these FANTASTIC hydrangeas. I've wanted hydrangeas in our yard since we first moved in 5 years ago. I've finally planted them in the right spot and they are doing well! Still small, but blooming like crazy.

So with the blooms in my yard, I'm getting to decorate my house on the cheap. The best part!

On the console table behind our family room couch...

On a side table in our living room...

My nightstand

And our entryway.

What could be better?

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Stenciling

2011-05-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

The other day I stumbled upon the Etsy shop Cutting Edge Stencils and I'm intrigued! I've been wanting to wallpaper our small powder room for quite a while...and now I'm thinking, use a stencil instead?

I think my favorite has to be this one...

But these are great too...

So I'm wondering, how hard is it to make it look GOOD? And even? And not like it's DIY? :) The stencils are only about $40 though, so if you figure that and a can of paint for the powder room? Definitely cheaper then wallpaper! Anyone tried them?

Winner!

2011-05-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

And the striped straws go to....

Anna who said:

oooh, I would love these!! Just starting to think about my son's second birthday even though it is still 6 months away. We need everything in orange this year!

Congratulations Anna!! I will email you shortly. And thank you to everyone for entering!! We're already on our way to 800 sales...

Happy Friday!!

Pretty Smitten with...Cake Stands

2011-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a slight obsession with cake stands....I have two storage shelves packed with them...okay, so maybe more then slight?? But how can I not? They are simply the best way to display not only cakes and cupcakes...but all kinds of food and goodies! I love to use them at parties to stack favor boxes. And on the kitchen table to stack fruit. And even to display jewelry in my closet. See how fun they can be?

Here's a round-up of some of my favorites...

From Layla Grace, this set of three white stands allows you to add ribbon of your choice. Perfect for a party!! Just choose a ribbon in your color scheme and you're set. I chose to use this stand with an orange ribbon in my sailor party, see it here.

Also from Layla Grace...this adorable pink stand from Rosanna

And can't beat this classic scallop stand from Williams Sonoma.

I tend to favor ceramic stands...but a domed glass stand? Anything looks better under one. Especially under this beauty from Juliska.

Etsy also has some wonderful options. I'm dying for this one from Aedriel Originals...a yellow chevron pattern? LOVE.

And this beautiful set of three from Vessels and Wares reminds me of neopolitan ice cream. Love those colors and delicate lace pattern!

So which one is your favorite? Pretty hard to choose, right?

Happy Wednesday everyone!

A giveaway to celebrate 700 Sales!!

2011-05-06T16:06:00.001-07:00

Yippee! My shop hit 700 sales this week! Keeping with tradition it's time for another giveaway...this time up for grabs are 3 packages of our striped straws. New to the shop, they've been quite popular. And I can see why, they are just darling!

The lucky winner gets to pick 3 packages in the color(s) of their choice. Winner will be announced on Friday, May 13th.

TO ENTER -

1. Simply leave a comment after this posting, either include your email address to be contacted if you win, or be sure to check back on Friday, May 13th for the results.

2. Want an extra entry? Become a Pretty Smitten fan on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you've done so.

Thanks, good luck and HAPPY FRIDAY!

6 months old!

2011-05-03T10:19:00.001-07:00

These adorable little feet turned 6 months old yesterday.

So did the rest of her. Happy 6 month birthday to my sweet Amelia. Seems like just yesterday she was born.

Something else is growing too...sales in our shop have hit 700! Stay tuned, to celebrate we'll have a giveaway starting this week.

Ahead of myself...

2011-04-28T08:42:00.001-07:00

I guess I'm seriously wishing it was Friday today...because I posted my Friday find a day early! OOOPS! Oh well, everyone gets it a day in advance...one more day to check out these lovely handbags.

Happy THURSDAY everyone!

{Friday Find} Opelle Handbags

2011-04-27T15:27:00.000-07:00

You just have to love Etsy. Yesterday I stumbled across Opelle...a shop dedicated to handmade leather bags. I'm in love! Here are my favorites...

The Ballet Bag in black

A larger version

Loving the tassle accent and the gold hardware!

Want something lighter for summer? Available in bisque too

They also have other styles like this clutch, perfect for a night out!

Enjoy and Happy Friday!

{PS Party Theme} You are my sunshine...

2011-04-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pretty Smitten's You Are My Sunshine print has been one of the most popular items in the shop since I created it a couple years ago. I started singing the song to Owen shortly after he was born. It became a nighttime ritual...one I now share with both Owen and baby Amelia. But I'm not the only one who has an emotional connection to the song...more often then not customer's tell me why they love it, who they sing it to, or who sings it to them....and I absolutely adore these stories!

So why not create a party around it? A few sunshine parties have popped up around the web...check out a couple here and here. But what would a Pretty Smitten sunshine party be? Well of course we have to start with the print...

I see it in kelly green and yellow. Just like the grass and the sun, perfect for an outdoor party. And for the invitations? How about the medallion pattern, stick with our color scheme of kelly green and yellow and throw in a monogram.

And then add in some...

fresh flowers in Mason jars

HWTM

pretty paper lanterns, hanging from trees

Sara's Party Perfect

lemonade

getty images

Sara's Party Perfect

Pretty Smitten striped straws

and sweet treats

Sara's Party Perfect

And you've got yourself a sweet party for your little sunshine. So, who wants to be my first client to throw a Pretty Smitten sunshine party?

Royal Fun

2011-04-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Will you be watching the Royal Wedding this Friday? I'm not sure I'll be able to resist the fairytale! And if you're really getting in the spirit and planning a wedding watching party, well then you'll have to check this out...

Mini Boden, home to some seriously adorable children's clothing, is getting in on the festivities with free printable party downloads. Invitations, decorations, party games and more, find them all here.

Invitation

Decorations

Bingo game

Recipe

Cute right?

Happy Monday!

Bisquits with my baby

2011-04-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday morning everyone! Owen and I decided to make buttermilk bisquits this morning. He loves to cook with me and Saturday morning is always a good time to bake.

We used a recipe from Southern Living. So easy with just three ingredients....self rising flour (4 cups), shortening (1 cup) and buttermilk (1 3/4 cup). I've never actually used shortening before! California raised I guess. But it was quick and easy to make these little bisquits. Owen's favorite part? Cutting them out. He was quite good at it!

And here they are all lined up. We actually only baked three this morning, and the rest are headed into the freezer to be baked for Easter morning tomorrow.

My official taste tester. He approved.

And they got even better with a little blueberry jam and cup of coffee in my favorite mug.

And here's a little bit of real life...

There was flour EVERYWHERE! But we sure had fun, and thankfully Daddy helped with the clean up!

Enjoy your Saturday!

{Friday Find} Oh La La!

2011-04-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

Found...a chic little pillow from the Etsy shop Alexandra Ferguson. Purchased it a while back and I've been meaning to share it with you guys! It now sits happily on a chair in our master bedroom.

Fun, right? She has a bunch of other cute pillows too...

Here's Oh La La in red...bookmark this one for next Valentine's Day!

Loving this one too, cute in a kids room or nursery

And can't go wrong with a simple monogram. I'm thinking one for each member of the family...thrown on the playroom couch upstairs (that we don't own yet, but is calling my name!)

Check out her shop for these pillow and many more!

Happy Friday!

Pretty Smitten with Party Straws

2011-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

via

Have you noticed these darling striped straws popping up all over the blogosphere? Well I have and I'm totally smitten. I'm so smitten in fact, that I've decided to now offer them in my shop. I think they are the perfect compliment to our Pretty Smitten Party line.

via

For first birthdays, weddings, showers and more...such a fun and whimsical way to dress up your table.

And not just for drinks!

via

If you've been browsing in my shop lately you'll notice that these straws are popping up in my party listings.

In our Garden Party...

Our sailor party...

In the Candy Shop...

And in one of our customer favorites, the red wagon party...

And remember, each of these parties can be completely customized....click on any of the parties to see all of our options. You get to pick your theme from a bunch of motifs, or instead choose a monogram....and pick your colors and font!

Straws are available in 9 colors...aqua, grey, pink, green, red, blue, purple, orange and yellow. And for only $4 for 25, they are an inexpensive way to add that pop to your party. Find them here.

Happy Thursday!

Sweet Treats for Easter

2011-04-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

Will the Easter bunny be making a visit to your house? He's hopping into ours for sure! I've got Owen and Amelia's Easter baskets almost all set and now I'm now just having fun checking out all of the Easter treats online. So many options!

From Sweetopia...how cute are these flower sugar cookie pops? Make a batch of them and you'll have an adorable cookie flower bouquet. Create them in any color to match your Easter decor! See the full tutorial on Sweetopia's site here.

And this idea for cupcakes in flower pots from Project Nursery is so clever!

Here's a cute way to display jelly beans from Martha Stewart. Again this could be done in so many color schemes.

Or dress up your cupcakes with cotton tails! This one comes from an adorable "Bunny Hop" party featured on HWTM.

Or how about mixing in something healthy....loving this carrot display. Also from HWTM see the full party here.

Happy Monday everyone!

Come sail away...

2011-04-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

Finally! Thanks for your patience with me folks, at last I'm getting back to normal again. My shop actually has some items in it! Yippeee!

Last week I gave you a sneak peek of a couple of the parties I set up at my house...it's one of my favorite things to do...design, create and set up party displays! And now I'm excited to share with you all of the photos from my sailor party. Done in a classic bluebell, navy and orange color scheme with a modern chevron pattern, this party would be perfect for a little boy's birthday party or baby shower.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Would love to know what you think!

A sneak peek

2011-04-03T20:46:00.001-07:00

As you many of you know, a couple weeks ago my hard drive crashed. It was a total pain in the behind to make sure all of my files were correct again...but you know what? I think it was also a good thing. I decided to close my shop until the chaos subsided and now I've been keeping inventory limited. I figured if I have to take a little break, might as well make it productive! So last week I did one of my favorite things...I set up a couple little mock parties and photographed them for new listings in my shop. And while you'll have to wait a bit longer to see the full packages...I do want to share with you a little sneak peek...

First up...a modern chevron pattern meets a classic sailboat theme in bluebell, navy and orange. Do I spy a few new party items?

A colorful candy shop, perfect for Spring

And I couldn't resist doing another photo shoot of a Pretty Smitten classic, the red wagon party in bluebell and red. It's a client favorite! Apparently it's also one of my son's favorites. Here he is taking a peek.

Who can resist that sweet face? I can't. So yes, he got a cupcake. He was pretty sure every party was set up just for him...and he kept telling me "ooooh thank you Mommy for my party!"

So thanks for your patience everyone! I'm giving myself one more week to fully re-open my shop...but it will be worth the wait!! Fun new photos and a few new products.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Great deal on Crocs!

2011-03-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Check out Zulily today for a great deal on crocs. My son lives in these during the warmer months! So easy to just slip on and go. I think these bright green ones are pretty cute!

And thanks for your patience while I get my shop up and running again! And it will be worth the wait...today I'm starting a photo shoot for some new party items...stay tuned!!

Here it is again...

2011-03-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

See I told you it keeps popping up in party decor...here it is again! This time the lovely Ikea frame is showcased at a gender reveal party featured on Amy Atlas.

Yep, still loving this idea!

Beef Stew for a Rainy Day

2011-03-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

It has been raining around here. A LOT. Yesterday, it rained so hard that a massive puddle formed in our backyard. And the wind was so strong I felt a bit like Dorothy. So we hunkered down for the day and I decided to make something warm and cozy for dinner. Nothing's better then a slow cooker for that type of meal. I decided to go with Emeril's beef stew recipe on Food Network. I was not about to run out to the store, so the stew lacked the frozen peas it requires. And making Emeril's Essence was one more step then I had time for, so the beef was simple browned with salt and pepper. But despite these changes, YUM! It turned out quite good if I do say so myself.

I served it over some whole wheat noodles tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper and Parmesan cheese. Noodles are kid friendly and that's why I chose them...but I think it would be great served plain with a big chunk of crusty bread too. A simple side salad finished of the meal.

So if you are in need of a new recipe to try this weekend, I say give it a try! Easy to throw everything in the slow cooker, and the house smells good all day. Oh, and the recipe says it takes 8 hours in the slow cooker? Well, I did about 6 and it was great.

Happy Weekend!

Etsy Sweets

2011-03-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out the array of sweets available on Etsy? You could plan your whole party around some of these beauties!

I think my absolute favorite cookie is the French Macaron. How gorgeous are these from Sparkles Kitchen?

And there are a ton of amazingly decorated sugar cookies. These airplane and car ones from Sugar & Flour could fit perfectly into a Pretty Smitten party!

Or build a party around these adorable Dr. Seuss cookies from Batches. Our striped pattern in bluebell and red would go perfectly!

Also from Batches...Sock Money cookies! Too cute!!

Cake pops have also made an appearance on Etsy. These are always a fun party favorite. Some of my favorites come from the shop Moms Killer Cakes.

And without the pop...cake balls from LolliDreams. Chocolate and mint, YUM.

So have I activated your sweet tooth yet? I'm pretty much ready to devour some chocolate.

Happy Thursday!

An Ikea frame

2011-03-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

I keep seeing this Ikea frame pop up in party decor...and I love it!

A Blissful Nest

HWTM

So cute, right? I think it would be a great way to showcase your birthday girl's initials or age, as done in these parties. Or feature a quote, lyrics or words from a storybook. So much could be put in this frame to enhance your party decor. Plus, simply spray paint it any color to match your color scheme. Perfect!

And thanks to everyone for your patience while I got my computer up and running again. Let me tell you, having your hard drive crash is not fun! But I seem to be organized again and I've learned a very important lesson...back up your computer EVERY NIGHT. Yes, going forward I'm going to be that neurotic.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Hard times for my hard drive

2011-03-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

I love my laptop. Love, love, love it....it's a Macbook Pro and has thus far it has treated me well. But today? We had a disagreement. I turned it on bright and early this morning only to be greeted with a blank screen. Followed by a question mark. Hmmm, that can't be good. A trip to Apple confirmed it....not good, the hard drive crashed. So they are installing a new one and I'll have my computer back up and running again in 3 days. Argh, 3 days...that seems like a very long time. I had to steal my husbands laptop away just to write this post (side note...tried to write a post on my iPad, but wasn't able to type in the main posting area??? seems odd). So anyway, you probably won't hear too much from me this week. I know, you're so sad, right? Once I get my laptop back I will have to do some catch up work on the files that weren't backed up but hopefully I will get going again soon!

Hope you all have a great week.

Blueberry Pancakes

2011-03-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

It's blueberry pancake morning around here and I've got a little helper.

Happy Saturday!

Friday Find

2011-03-10T22:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday everyone! Any big plans for the weekend? We have a mini photo shoot with our favorite photographer, Jill Carmel, tomorrow. Yippee! I know she'll get some amazing pictures of our little ones. And then Sunday my Dad and stepmom are visiting from Sonoma. Fun!

And now on to my Friday find...browsing Centsational Girl the other day I came across these flats.

Don't they look super comfy? And they fold up into a little pouch, perfect for a quick switcheroo on the go when those heels you picked out that morning just don't seem reasonable anymore. They come in a few different colors, and the best part? $15. Seriously. I think I'll just have to get some (you know how I love me some cheap flats). And I love the idea of keeping a pair at home just to wear around the house, a cuter version of slippers! Right now I keep these Uggs for inside use only. But as the weather gets warmer, they might need a replacement.

Happy Weekend!

Color Combo Pink and Aqua

2011-03-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Pink and aqua...sweet, soft, girly and perfect for Spring.

Image Credits:

1. A party on Icing Designs

2. Our very own Pretty Smitten Elegance pattern

3. Kate Landers Events

4. P is for Party

5. HWTM

6. Fairy Wonderful

Sweet Paul

2011-03-06T21:36:00.000-08:00

A little weekend reading took me to the digital magazine, Sweet Paul. The latest issue was completely devoted to kids and full of recipes, DIY projects and adorable photos. Here are few of the highlights...

My favorite thing has to be this polka dot milkshake. A strawberry milkshake with marshmallows creates the look. How perfect would this be for a pink and white polka dot party?

And these monster hand tattoos would make fantastic party favors or party activities...I can see building a whole party around them!

There were also some great recipes. Loving these Ricotta and Parmesan Frittatas.

DIY crafts too...a pom pom wreath. Another great party decoration, just imagine the colors this could be made in!

And last but certainly not least, look what they've done with cardboard boxes! How cute are these?? And my thought is, wouldn't it be fun to assemble one before your party, and then let the kids decorate it? The painting could be a fun (messy though of course)...but you could always just cut out a bunch of big shapes, like the star and flower, and let the kids stick them on. Crayons work great on cardboard too. And then your little one has an amazing playhouse afterwards.

Read the entire magazine here. You'll be entertained and inspired, I promise! Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Happy Weekend!

2011-03-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

This image just makes me happy. Hope it does the same for you.

via

Custom Sofa Design

2011-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Has anyone heard of this online sofa shop? I've had them bookmarked for a while now and I'm so curious about the quality! Some really great styles and the prices are pretty dang good. Plus LOTS of fabrics to choose from.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I think I'll have to order some fabric swatches. The hunt for our new living room couch has begun!

Happy Friday!

PS Clients A tractor, a fiesta and some orange polka dots

2011-03-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

A few recent projects...

Cupcake toppers done in a John Deere theme...so cute for a little boy's party!

A custom Fiesta themed invitation and cake topper. This little girl is going to have a fun 1st birthday!

And an orange and teal party for Hudson. This might be my new favorite color combo.

Oscar Fashion

2011-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Blogland will surely be full of Oscar posts this morning, but I just had to throw in my take too. I'll keep it (relatively) short and sweet.

So lets just get down to it...my favorite? Halle Berry. LOVE that dress. Lots of sparkle and that frothy goodness at the bottom.

And my second favorite? Mila Kunis for sure. That color on her is amazing.

Gwyneth Paltrow was super chic in this sleek Calvin Klein

And speaking of chic...Michelle Williams is just darling with her pixie cut

And on the end of the color spectrum...I love this dress on Camila Alves. I think I'm a sucker for a big full skirt.

And last but certainly not least, Helen Mirren. A true classic beauty.

I'm likely missing some great ones, but these are the ones I remember off the top of my head. So what about you? Which were your favorites?

Yellow, pink, green...oh my!

2011-02-25T20:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a rainy day here, so when I came across this bright and cheerful wedding on Style Me Pretty I just had to share. Yellow, pink and green...this bride went all out in the color department! It certainly puts a little Spring into a dreary day.

Beautiful, right?

And the winner is...

2011-02-25T08:40:00.000-08:00

Wow it's been a week already? Time to announce the winner of our giveaway. Congratulations to 17 Perth who commented:

"YAY! Congratulations on your 600th sale! Thats awesome!! : ) I am already a follower and currently have my fingers crossed. Great giveaway!"

Please contact me at prettysmitten@yahoo.com and we'll design your note cards! And thank you to everyone who entered!! It has been so exciting to see my shop grow and grow and I can't wait to celebrate another milestone.

Happy Friday!

Half Moon Bay

2011-02-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have you wondered where I've been? Sorry for the silence! We took a little getaway over the long weekend and I've been playing catch up ever since. My husband's good friend from college and his lovely wife and son met us at Ritz in Half Moon Bay. We got to catch up, let our boys play and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The hotel is gorgeous. It sits right on a golf course overlooking the ocean. Our room overlooked the 18th green and ocean and even had it's own fire pit. My first thought? Not great for toddlers! But obviously we didn't turn it on when they were awake. Sure was nice though later that night...babies in bed and glass of wine in hand.

My favorite part of the trip? Watching the boys play on the beach. It was cold and windy, but that didn't stop them.

And a little time with my hubby was pretty good too.

And now, as promised, a little bit of real life...

Our little guy got sick on Sunday night and we were up with him pretty much the whole night. No fun for anyone. Luckily he's feeling better now, but that's another reason for the lack of posts.

Hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. And don't forget to enter our giveaway! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

A quote...

2011-02-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

via

"Whatever you choose to do in your free time you should do as a job"

- Amanda Brooks, Barneys New York Fashion Director

I agree. Not that I actually have a job :)

600 Sales...Time for a Giveaway!!

2011-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

This week my little shop hit 600 sales, cue happy dance! And keeping with tradition...it's time to celebrate another 100 sale milestone with a giveaway. Up for grabs? A set of our notecards...you get to pick the pattern, colors, font...make them your own!

TO ENTER: Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment. Want an extra entry? Become a fan on Facebook and leave a comment saying you've done so. Good luck!

A little bit of real life

2011-02-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

In my post last Friday I mentioned how I was rushed finishing it up because I had to make oatmeal for my son. Aubrey from All Things Bright and Beautiful commented that she loved the way I was keeping it real and it got me thinking...do you ever read blogs and think, wow they just have the perfect life? Living in beautiful houses, wearing fantastic clothing, DIY projects galore, cooking up all kinds of goodies...and oh yes, having time to blog!! Well I must admit, I feel that way sometimes! Now don't get me wrong, I love those blogs. And I love my life and feel very blessed for what I have...family, friends, a home I love and a business I'm passionate about, but I think everyone has those days when...

The dog just won't stop barking

You burn simple white rice

Your hair has been in a twist knot for days

Annie's Mac and Cheese will just have to be okay for dinner that night

You drink more coffee then water

And you just don't have time to finish your blog posting!

So there it is, a little bit of real life. I think I'll try and incorporate that more into my blog posts. I know I'd love to see some of the trials and tribulations other women face...seems like a lot of us are doing the same things...raising our babies, keeping up with the house (and trying to make it beautiful!), enjoying life with our husbands, finding time for friends, and also trying succeed at our own passions. And while we love all of that, there are bound to be a few bumps in the road, right? So hope you don't mind hearing about mine!

Okay, thanks for listening to my ramblings. And Aubrey, if you're reading this you are probably thinking...wow that was pretty deep response to just one little comment. But thank you!

And on a peppier note...picked up these at Home Goods. Aren't they fun? Perfect for those days when I drink more coffee then water, ha!

And don't forget to check back tomorrow for our giveaway...Pretty Smitten's shop hit 600 sales yesterday and we're ready to celebrate!

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

2011-02-15T16:05:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Ticket Kitchen...

Hot Chocolate on a stick! Seriously!

Or even better, on a hand stamped silver spoon. Keep this one bookmarked for next Valentine's Day for sure.

Ticket Kitchen also offers free printables to adorn their darling chocolate sticks. I can definitely see these as part of a dessert bar at a wedding.

Yep, genius.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T06:22:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! I hope your day is filled with kisses and chocolate.

PS - Don't you love that photograph? I've had my eye on it for a while. Find it here.

Sweetapolita

2011-02-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine (thanks Katie!!) recently introduced me to this amazing website, Sweetapolita. Filled with cakes and confections, this site is sure to jump start your sweet tooth. I could go on and on about the yummy sweets featured, but I'm late to getting my blog post written and I have some oatmeal to make for my little one. So for now here's a sweet treat for Valentine's Day. And it's a no-bake one too!

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Hearts

Happy Friday!

PS Color Combo - Kelly Green and Strawberry

2011-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Just finished up a princess party in Kelly Green and Strawberry...what a fresh and fun color combo for spring! This one features our medallion pattern, crown and castle motifs. I hope Princess Gianna has a wonderful birthday!

These items and more can be purchased in our shop. Patterns, colors, fonts and motifs can all be personalized!

Anthropologie Finds

2011-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Popped into Anthropologie yesterday and came out with this adorable shirt...

and these super comfy skinny jeans.

Now I just want to order these darling flats

and to finish the outfit off, these earrings.

This outfit definitely meets my requirements....stylish, comfy, colorful and accessorized!

Advertising

2011-02-08T05:34:00.001-08:00

Well, I did it...I've made my first jump into advertising! One of my 2011 goals for Pretty Smitten was to get my name out there more. What better way to do that then by advertising on one of my favorite blogs, Look Linger Love? Chassity is so sweet and has been so helpful. Yesterday she ran a welcome feature on Pretty Smitten and wow, thanks!! I think my cheeks may have turned a bit red...she can make a girl feel good. Read it here. And welcome to all of my new followers...so nice to have you!

Pretty Smitten with Inslee By Design

2011-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

I recently came across Inslee By Design and I'm in love!! Inslee Haynes is the artist behind these fanciful fashion illustrations. I had to order one immediately and now I'm the proud owner of this darling print...I have a thing for peacocks so it's perfect for me!!

And because I love it so much, I just had to place a second order! These are actually a set of three. Don't you just love the chevron patterned bathing suits? And the black and hot pink? Yep, me too.

I also love this one.

And well I love this one too.

And how about this invitation?

Or these note cards?

They are all so darling! Check her blog, new designs seem to pop up all the time.

Happy Monday!

Red Wagon Cake Topper

2011-02-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

Remember this Little Red Wagon party? Tate's mommy, Anna, did such a great job pulling everything together for her little guy's first birthday. I have gotten a lot of requests to know where she got that red wagon cake topper. Well I asked Anna, and guess what...she bought it for $1 at an antique mall! It says Dairy Queen on the back. What a find! But for those of you who aren't going to scour antique malls for old Dairy Queen trinkets...I've found an alternative...

A google search pulled up this red wagon decoration. I might have to order one just to check it out!

And speaking of Pretty Smitten's red wagon theme...it's quite popular lately! Here are a few pics of a recent order. Always a favorite!

Happy Friday everyone! Big plans? We are heading to Sonoma on Saturday to visit my Dad and stepmom. And Sunday it's Superbowl time...GO STEELERS!

Amelia...3 months old!

2011-02-03T22:08:00.000-08:00

This sweet little girl turned 3 months old yesterday. She smiles, laughs and 'talks'...she sleeps through the night and takes a great afternoon nap...she rolls from her tummy to her back and loves to suck on her hand. And we couldn't love her more.

She also happens to have the best big brother in the world.

Up, up and away!

2011-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Loving this airplane themed baby shower in red, navy and chocolate brown! Managed to get a couple pictures of the favor tags and cupcake toppers and wanted to share. Coordinating cake toppers, invitations, note cards and stickers were created as well. The hostess purchased this listing in my shop and chose her theme and colors. I hope the mommy-t0-be has an amazing time!

Favor Tags

Cupcake Toppers

A little getaway

2011-01-31T22:17:00.000-08:00

My husband and I escaped to San Francisco over the weekend to celebrate my birthday! It was such a wonderful trip. We got to shop a little, have an amazing dinner, get a massage, eat some more and wander our old stomping grounds. Most importantly we got to RELAX knowing our little ones were safe (and likely quite spoiled) at home with Grandma and Grandpa.

We stayed at Hotel Vitale. We've stayed here a few times before and always have a great experience. It's a small boutique hotel located along the waterfront. Great location and a fantastic modern/zen vibe.

We spent Saturday afternoon browsing a few shops in the Westfield Shopping Center. Had to hit up Kate Spade, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, JCrew and Janie & Jack for the kiddos.

What did I get you ask?

This fun necklace...it's Kate Spade but I bought it at Nordstrom

And this fantastic black and white stripe sweater from JCrew.

And I absolutely LOVE Janie and Jack for girls. Amelia is still in the squishy baby phase so I'm still keeping her mostly in onesies and jammies...but oh my, when she gets a little older? It's ON. For now though, she gets this hat. Which of course is still too big, but should fit perfectly for summer! I'm telling you though...the patterns and colors they had available were PERFECTION.

Later that evening we went out to dinner at Twenty Five Lusk. Swanky and modern, I was totally in love with the decor. Exposed brick and wooden beams to die for, plus some pretty tasty food. We had a cocktail in the lounge...

and then enjoyed dinner upstairs.

We slept in and had a lazy breakfast on Sunday at the hotel. Then after a massage at Spa Vitale we headed over to Chestnut Street in the Marina district. We lived in the Marina for years before moving to suburbia, so it's always fun to visit our old neighborhood. We browsed around and had some yummy tacos for lunch. After lunch it was time to head home to our babies. And the best part of my weekend? The great big hug I got from Owen when we arrived home. He put his head on my shoulder and snuggled up. Nothing better then that.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Bow-Tie Baby Shower

2011-01-28T06:27:00.000-08:00

I came across this ADORABLE baby shower on HWTM the other day and just had to share. This bow-tie themed event was thrown for Jesi Haack to celebrate her new little man. And no wonder it's good...the hostesses have some serious talent....Courtney from Joyful Weddings & Events, Carissa of JL Designs and Melody of Sweet & Saucy Shop were all responsible for this charming shower.

The invitation from Posh Paperie set the tone for the event, featuring the bow-ties at top and their cheery color scheme of mustard yellow, kelly green and baby blue.

And here's another ruffle cake! This one features a fondant bow-tie at top. Seriously cute, don't you think? Bow-tie striped ribbons were tied around mason jars for a fun way to serve drinks. And see that fun striped straw? And remember how I said Pretty Smitten would be offering some new items in 2011? Well that's a pretty big hint :)

The food featured light snacks like these lovely little sandwiches. And darling toothpick flag decorations from Joyful Joyful finished them off.

And Melody from Sweet and Saucy created this amazing dessert table. I absolutely love the use of the milk glass stands and containers.

* All photos from Gabriel Ryan Photography. Beautiful! *

Check out the full posting here for even more pictures and information! I'm loving this theme so much Pretty Smitten might have to add a bow tie to our motif options to do our own take on the 'little man' party...what do you think? These colors are sweet and cheery for a baby shower. But other color options could be great too...what about navy and orange? Or bluebell and papaya? And there's always our favorite bluebell and red. I'm thinking it could be quite cute!!

Happy Friday everyone!

An Ideal Bookshelf

2011-01-26T21:22:00.000-08:00

Quite excited, I got this lovely print in the mail today. Titled Ideal Bookshelf from 20x200. Now tomorrow it's off to find a frame. Did you know Aaron Brother's is having their penny sale? Until January 29th...so get shopping!

Sweet Cakes

2011-01-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

Hello all! It's been a busy week so far...Pretty Smitten's shop is in full swing again and I've been creating all kinds of party items. One of my favorite party items to create is our cake toppers. A birthday cake is often the main centerpiece at a party, so it better be good! I love to bake and I love to drool over pictures of cakes online. I'd love to try and re-create them all, but no one has that kind of time, right?? So lets just check out the pics instead...

Pink, ruffly perfection, from Martha Stewart of course. For sweet baby Amelia's first birthday perhaps? No, I'm not at all ready for her to be ONE (we have a looong way thank goodness!) But yes, I'm already thinking of her birthday party! I'm ready to dive into the pink. Don't you think this would be just perfect with our Eiffel Tower and Poodle motifs? Oh yes, I do.

Here's another pink cake which wouldn't require all of those ruffles. I love me some pastry tips, but I won't bet the bank that I can recreate those ruffles. Love how simple and sweet this one is is...from Bondville, found on Sara's Party Perfect. This one would work well with any of our girlie motifs...crown, castle, cupcake...and could easily be changed to blue for a boy!

And speaking of blue...here's a sweet sailor cake also from Martha. Fantastic with our sailboat motif in bluebell and chocolate. Those frosting peaks on top are perfection.

And I have always wanted to make a rainbow cake!! This one is the BEST that I've found online. I've stored this colorful picture for a while now, from Whisk Kid. Combined with our rainbow motif, this would be one fun party!

And also from Whisk Kid, this adorable Lemon and Almond cake. How cute would it be with our bee motif?

Are you drooling yet? I'll be dreaming of cake tonight.

And if you're planning a party, we hope you check out all of our party motifs! They can be found here and here.

Happy Wednesday!

2011-01-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. We relaxed, ran errands and watched football. My husband is a huge Steelers fan, so we're happy campers around here! I also found the time to take a few more pictures of Pretty Smitten's new line of note cards. There are so many pattern and color options so I want to showcase a few of the many possibilities.

Loving pink and navy...and with the chevron pattern, always a favorite!

Another favorite pattern of mine (well lets face it they are all my favorite) is medallions. Here it is showcased in blossom and kelly green, with a strawberry envelope. Girly and fun!

I also had a chance to add our party packages back to the shop. These are customer favorites for sure! They feature all of Pretty Smitten's favorite party items, all in one listing. It's the perfect party for 12. You get 12 invitations, 12 note cards, 12 cupcake toppers, 12 favor tags, 12 napkin rings and 1 cake topper. Need more then 12? Or want to add additional party items like a pennant banner, tented signs or party circles? Everything can be customized, just contact me for a listing that contains everything you need for the perfect Pretty Smitten party.

I'm so happy to have gotten these listings up in my shop. And there's still more to come...so I hope you keep checking back!

Wanting this for my office...

2011-01-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

How fantastic is this large Ampersand? From Hindsvik.

Now, would I want it in black?

white?

or natural?

Decisions, decisions...

Chicken Marbella

2011-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

After Amelia was born a dear friend of mine brought my family a very yummy dinner...Chicken Marbella. Last night I decided to make it myself! I love it because you marinate the chicken ahead and then just pop it in the oven. Makes for an easy weeknight meal.

The full recipe can be found below, but here's a quick summary.

First, I gathered all of the ingredients for the marinade. The recipe calls for 1/2 head of garlic, finely pureed. Well, I went the quick route and used crushed garlic from Trader Joes.

Here's the marinade all ready to go. I probably added more then what was called for for the olives and prunes. Love them both, so why not!

Pretty much whenever I cook with chicken breasts I pound them to be thinner. Personally I just think they are better that way!

All set to pop in the fridge! The recipe says to marinate it the night before, but I didn't get my act together last night. So I whipped it up this morning and I don't think the taste suffered any.

And then later that evening all I had to do was transfer it to a baking dish and add the last couple of ingredients.

Into the oven for about 50 minutes and voila!

I had been planning on serving it with egg noodles, but checked the pantry and ooops! I'm out. So I went with fusilli instead. By the way, I bet that wouldn't happen if I had that organized pantry I'm drooling over. But anyway....fusilli pasta was just fine. Added a simple salad and dinner was served!

Here's the full recipe. Try it out and let me know what you think!

CHICKEN MARBELLA:

4-6 chicken breasts

1/2 head of garlic, peeled and finely pureed

2 T dried oregano

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1/4 c red wine vinegar

1/4 c olive oil

1/2 c pitted prunes

1/4 c pitted Spanish green olives

1/4 c capers with a bit of juice

3 bay leaves

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c white wine

2 T fresh cilantro

In a large bowl combine garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to taste, vinegar, olive oil, prunes, olives, capers with caper juice and bay leaves. Add the chicken breasts and coat completely with marinade. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange chicken in single layer in shallow baking pan and spoon marinade over evenly. Sprinkle chicken breasts with brown sugar and pour white wine around them.

Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour.

With slotted spoon, transfer chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter. Add some of the pan juices and sprinkle generously with cilantro.

In love with a pantry...

2011-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's right, I'm in love with a pantry. Shelley from House of Smiths is the creative genius behind this beautiful pantry...

Now that's a space for storing food. I go into my pantry about 500 hundred times a day...okay, maybe not that many times, but between going in there to get what I actually need, and going in there to take my curious toddler out...I'm in there a lot! I sure would love it to look as pretty as this one.

Shelley began by clearing it all out, painting the shelves and background, and then the best part? Adding the pattern! We all know I love a good pattern, so to have it in the pantry...LOVE.

Shelley used vinyl to create the pattern on the walls. She owns this vinyl shop, so she had good access to it! It can be a bit pricey, but you can contact her to order. She also offered up another more budget friendly option...stenciling! Yes, it's more work, but the same effect can be achieved. Find the stencil here.

I also love the way she used vinyl to label her glass jars.

Vinyl labels can be found in Shelley's shop, and I also found some Etsy shops that sell them...

from Layer Cake Designs

and from decalfarm

chalkboard labels would also work well, I like these. Perfect to tie onto baskets!

And I love how she used vintage crates on the bottom of her pantry. I was at a local antique store the other day and saw a vintage coke crate. Wouldn't that look cool? A sturdy container with an added pop of red. Here are a few soda crates on from this seller. So fun!

And from the same seller, definitely more pricey, but pretty cool...

Check out House of Smiths for the full description of this amazing pantry makeover.

Pretty Smitten is on Facebook!

2011-01-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I just had to do it...Pretty Smitten is now on Facebook! Want to be my friend? Or fan? Or whatever it's called when you 'like' me? Pretty please? I'll do my best to keep it updated and fun :)

We're OPEN! And with a new look....

2011-01-17T21:11:00.000-08:00

Yay! Pretty Smitten's shop is OPEN! And not only are we up and running again after the birth of little Miss Amelia, but we have a new look and a few new designs. I've been so indecisive with Pretty Smitten's logo...I think because I love color and pattern so much, that it's hard for me to pick just one style. So I went the other direction...a simple silhouette. Navy and white. A pop of light blue. Classic. Timeless. Or at least I hope so! What do you think?

Last week I gave you a sneak peek of some new patterns, and now they are available as note cards, invitations and party items in my shop! I absolutely LOVE these new patterns. I think my family now has stationery in every pattern and color combo possible, just because I love testing them out so much. The combos are endless, but here are a few...

Petals...shown here in navy, bluebell and kelly green

Clover...shown here in pool and orange

Damask...shown here in black and teal

Zigzag...shown here in sunshine and kelly green

And here is the classic stripe pattern showcasing some of our favorite party items. I just love this color combo and theme...Paris, pink and green! The inspiration? A darling little pillow that can be found on Amelia's nursery rocker. Found at Home Goods of course! I'd take a picture of it, but it's almost 10pm here and my sweet girl is fast asleep. So maybe tomorrow!

And another new pattern, medallions, shown here on some more party items. I love classic blue and red for a boy!

I'll be continuing to add more examples in my shop, so keep checking.

Hope you like...actually hope you love...the new Pretty Smitten!

A sneak peek...new patterns

2011-01-08T21:37:00.000-08:00

Pretty Smitten's grand reopening will be here in just one week! 2011 will be a year of some exciting new changes and we're starting things off with a bang. Get ready for a whole new look for the shop and blog and new products will be rolling out throughout the year. As promised I wanted to show you a little sneak peak...so without further ado, here are a few new patterns that will be offered starting January 15th...

What do you think?

Pretty Smitten Grand Re-Opening

2011-01-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

The countdown to our grand re-opening has begun....Pretty Smitten's shop will re-open on January 15th! My little girl is two months old now and I'm ready to take on two babies, a husband, a house AND Pretty Smitten. I think I can, I think I can! Actually I KNOW I can...even though I'm sure I'll be quite busy keeping up with everything, I'm also quite sure it will be completely worth the potential craziness. Pretty Smitten is part of who I am now and I'm not myself without the creativity and sense of accomplishment that it brings to me.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be showing you a sneak preview of what's to come in 2011. A few new designs and products...and a whole new look for Pretty Smitten! Stay tuned!!

Pretty Smitten

New iPhone Cases

Introducing Pretty Smitten Baby!

Pretty Smitten with....M&L Monogram Necklaces

A dream closet

Silhouette Cameo

Holiday Wish List

A DIY Ruffled Tree Skirt

Holiday Sale

Happy Thanksgiving!

C. Wonder

Something is growing....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

A special post from Arcadian Lighting...

Still here...

Just checking in...

{PS Shop} Pretty Smitten is on Gilt City!

It's all about being organized...

{PS Love} Society Social

And the winner is....

Update on the Big Boy Room

(PS Giveaway) 900 Sales!

(PS Shop) Introducing Cheetah

Pretty Smitten with Armonia Decors

All American Boy

{A Pretty Smitten Party} A Sailboat Themed Dessert Table

(PS Shop) Out the door...

Yay for hairclips!!

Hitting the Restart button

And the winner is...

{PS Giveaway} We've hit 800 sales!

A sale...25% off at Horchow!

{PS Shop} Introducing Pretty Smitten Home & Accessories Line

A little sailboat

{A Pretty Smitten Party} Grady's Truck Themed Birthday

Backyard Blooms

Stenciling

Winner!

Pretty Smitten with...Cake Stands

A giveaway to celebrate 700 Sales!!

6 months old!

Ahead of myself...

{Friday Find} Opelle Handbags

{PS Party Theme} You are my sunshine...

Royal Fun

Bisquits with my baby

{Friday Find} Oh La La!

Pretty Smitten with Party Straws

Sweet Treats for Easter

Come sail away...

A sneak peek

Great deal on Crocs!

Here it is again...

Beef Stew for a Rainy Day

Etsy Sweets

An Ikea frame

Hard times for my hard drive

Blueberry Pancakes

Friday Find

*Color Combo* Pink and Aqua

Sweet Paul

Happy Weekend!

Custom Sofa Design

*PS Clients* A tractor, a fiesta and some orange polka dots

Oscar Fashion

Yellow, pink, green...oh my!

And the winner is...

Half Moon Bay

A quote...

600 Sales...Time for a Giveaway!!

A little bit of real life

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Happy Valentine's Day

Sweetapolita

PS Color Combo - Kelly Green and Strawberry

Anthropologie Finds

Advertising

Pretty Smitten with Inslee By Design

Red Wagon Cake Topper

Amelia...3 months old!

Color Combo Pink and Aqua

PS Clients A tractor, a fiesta and some orange polka dots