Antika Moda

Infinity Scarf

2012-01-22T17:13:00.000-05:00

New scarf in my shop! :)

current fashion obsessions

2011-11-30T15:14:00.001-05:00

It's been almost 5 months since I had Jacob

and I'm starting make my way out of the world of sweatpants and tee-shirts! lol

Right now I'm loving Colored Tights...

Floral headbands...

& Mary Jane pumps...

Time to go shopping!! :)

My latest craft project...

2011-11-01T19:22:00.000-04:00

Jacob's First Halloween Costume :)

Jacob Alexander

2011-08-22T11:40:00.000-04:00

I'd like to introduce you all to my baby boy

Jacob Alexander

Born July 13th at 9:07 AM

Weighing 9lbs 3oz, 19.5 in long

He is the joy of my life

I LOVE being a mama!

He's my little monkey :)

yarn wreath

2011-06-27T07:36:00.000-04:00

I made this wreath for my grandma on her 79th birthday.
She loved it and was so excited that none of her neighbors would have anything like it :)

I know it's a little 'fallish' rather than 'summery', but I can't help myself,
I love burgundy and rich golden yellow together, it's so warm!

this is where I found helpful tips on how to make it: Steamy Kitchen
aren't those wreaths beautiful!?! there are endless possibilities...

baby knits

2011-06-18T08:33:00.000-04:00

Life's been pretty busy but I managed to knit up a couple things for my little monkey! :)

a plush little pillow for his room (or for my back while feeding him):

me at 36 weeks:

itty bitty baby booties:

great reads for the pregnant woman

2011-05-18T09:21:00.000-04:00

I recently read these books and found them very helpful!

This is one that I'm currently reading and loving:

belly shots

2011-05-18T08:16:00.000-04:00

Antika Moda open for business

2011-02-09T08:39:00.000-05:00

My shop is finally open again after a little sabbatical.

Right now I'm only listing items that are 'ready to ship',

'knit to order' will not be available at this time.

I would love to create custom orders (and will again)

but we're in the middle of moving and we have a baby on the way!

All VERY exciting things, but it doesn't allow much time for knitting.

Thank you all so much for your continued support!!!

{pictured items available for purchase at Antika Moda}

a little surprise

2011-01-20T13:51:00.001-05:00

I’ve been MIA lately here in blog land, but I assure you, there is a good reason…

My husband and I are expecting our first baby!!!

{image via weheartit}

We’re beyond happy and excited for the new addition to our family.

I’m 15 weeks right now, I'm healthy and the baby’s healthy :).
I couldn’t be more thrilled, for as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to be a mom,
and now my dream is coming true!

I can’t promise that I’ll be posting as much as I used to, but I’ll be around :)

I hope you are all doing fabulous, Cheers!

Holiday Coupon!!

2010-11-26T07:51:00.000-05:00

Hi all, I know it's been a while since I've posted, life has just been busy.

To give you a little update:

* The red carpet premiere of the film Nathanael directed, The Art of Power was a complete success.

Here's an article about it.

* I've gotten quite a few shop orders this month that I've been fulfilling, so thankful for that!!

*prepping for the holidays both at home and at work

etc etc....

From now until December 24th I'm offering 10% off any order at my shop.

You can get the coupon code {HERE}

Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving!!!

get cozy

2010-11-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

clio scarf

zoey hat

claret pillow & citron pillow

zera cowl

all found {HERE}

Her Fearful Symmetry

2010-11-09T16:57:00.000-05:00

Audrey Niffenegger's (author of The Time Travelers Wife) second novel
Her Fearful Symmetry is stunningly compelling and haunting.
It's set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London (I really love English novels);
she does a really beautiful job describing the setting.
This book provides an intriguing look into the lives and minds of two sets of twins from different generations.
It explores the unique connections they share.
The characters are all so interesting, I really enjoyed getting to know each one.
I gave it 3 out of 5 stars on Goodreads and would recommend it.

wish list

2010-11-04T16:57:00.000-04:00

Plain Jane Moccasin Burgundy by: darlingtonia

Harvest Yellow Mini Book Necklace by: bindingbee

The Less is More Soy Candle by: OneHalfDozen

Ada Coat by: LittleHouses

GIVEAWAY WINNER - Clio Hand Knit Scarf

2010-11-04T09:07:00.004-04:00

the Clio Hand Knit Scarf Giveaway Winner is......

Shari of 409cope

Congrats!!

To see more ecletic hand knits, come visit my shop :)

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T11:19:00.000-04:00

Belletrix & Sirius wish you a very happy halloween!

Best Natural Deodorant

2010-10-28T11:43:00.001-04:00

Baking Soda is one of my VERY favorite things

{via}

I’m always finding new uses for it; here is my latest (and GREATEST) discovery:
The Best Natural Deodorant You Will Ever Use
(and I’ve tried many, trust me)
Ingredients:
5-6 tablespoons of pure coconut oil (found at any health food store)
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup corn starch

Instructions:
1. Mix all 3 ingredients well until it’s the consistency of a soft deodorant bar
2. I put this mixture into an old deodorant container for easy use, but you can store it however you choose
3. Rub a small amount onto (clean!) underarms

It lasts all day, smells fresh (faintly of coconut), and keeps you dry!
The cool thing about this mixture is that each ingredient has a purpose:
Coconut oil kills bacteria
Baking soda is a deodorizer
Corn starch absorbs wetness
(For Men and Women)
I LOVE it! :)

Happy Thursday, hope it's great! :)

ps. enter to win one of my hand knit scarfs {HERE}!!

get the look for less

2010-10-23T15:19:00.002-04:00

I realize that most everyone is on a pretty strict budget these days

so I decided to knit a pillow using 100% acrylic yarn,

now you can have the same look as my wool/blend pillows,

but for a lower cost...Introducing the

Extra Plush Throw Pillows 12x12 -acrylic

Custom made in the color of your choice

Only $30!!

(pictured in Navy Blue, this color is slightly darker than it appears in the photos)

also available with vintage buttons for only $5 more (this one is ready to ship)

These pillows & more can be found in my little etsy shop :)

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!!! I've just been keeping busy

with Harry Potter (we're having a marathon until the new film comes out)

and some knitting projects (like the one pictured above).

Oh how I love my weekends!! :)

ps. don't forget to enter to win one of my custom hand knit scarfs {HERE}

GIVEAWAY- Clio Hand Knit Scarf CLOSED

2010-10-20T06:49:00.004-04:00

Just because I love you all so much :)

I'm giving away a custom Clio Hand Knit Scarf (made by yours truly)!!!

If you win, you get to pick a color from the list below and I'll knit it up for you!
Available Colors:

Black: true black
Charcoal: dark gray
Grey Marble: light gray with black and brown fibers
Navy: dark blue, almost black
Glacier: cool light blue
Lemongrass: bold pea green
Cilantro: deep olive green
Pumpkin: warm burnt orange
Spice: dark burnt orange
Cranberry: deep red
Claret: deep purplish red
Fig: rich medium purple
Eggplant: deep, rich purple
Blossom: light cherry blossom pink
Barley: rich chocolate brown with strands of cream
Oatmeal: natural beige with strands of chocolate & black
Wheat: cream with natural black fibers
Citron: deep goldenrod yellow
Butterscotch: warm deep yellow

(Scarf pictured in "Fig")

** To WIN, all you have to do is currently be or

become a follower of Antika Moda (this blog) and comment below**

For EXTRA Entries:

(make sure you write a new comment for each entry)

+1 Entry: Favorite my etsy shop, Antika Moda

+1 Entry: Become a fan of Antika Moda on Facebook

+1 Entry: Become a follower of Antika Moda on Twitter

+1 Entry: Post this giveaway on your blog, facebook, or twitter

+1 Entry: Add my etsy button to your blog

GIVEAWAY will close Wednesday November 3, 2010

Winner will be notified via email, so make sure I'm able to find your email address :)

Winner will be chosen via random.org

Open to U.S. or Canada residents only

Post Secret

2010-10-19T08:50:00.000-04:00

Post Secret can be sad, funny, thought provoking, etc

whatever it is, it's always honest.

not your average pillow covers

2010-10-17T09:50:00.002-04:00

Removable pillow covers are now available at my shop!

pillows can be purchased {HERE}

join me on facebook for the latest info & sale announcements!! :)

Red Carpet Premiere

2010-10-16T09:50:00.001-04:00

If you live in Michigan, or happen to be in town on 11/20

You are cordially invited to attend the Michigan Red Carpet Premiere of the feature film

The Art of Power

(Directed & Edited by my husband, Nathanael)

Date: Saturday November 20th

Time: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM

Location: Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor, MI

Tickets can be purchased Here

Join the Facebook page for the latest news

Hope to see you there!!

Daily Candy

2010-10-12T07:02:00.000-04:00

My Hand Knit Pillows are featured in an article on DailyCandy.com

--> 20 Cozy Fall Decorating Ideas <--

I'm thrilled!! Check it out :)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2010-10-10T07:59:00.021-04:00

I recently finished reading (or rather listening to via audio book)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

{image via}

I truly enjoyed this book and fell in love with the characters.
If you've been reading my blog, you know I'm not one to go into great detail

about a book I've read, I really don't like to give anything away :)

I'll just say it was really great and I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

By the way, if you're an avid reader and have never heard of Goodreads...

you're welcome. it will make managing your reading lists MUCH easier ;)

Side Note: I’m offering 10% off any one item in my shop!!
All you have to do is “favorite” my shop on etsy,
& at checkout enter ‘WeHeartAntikaModa’ in the note to seller section.
Refund will be given through paypal after purchase, offer expires 11/30/10
Thank you!! :)

ps. you can now Follow my blog with bloglovin if you prefer ;)

my style icons

2010-10-07T08:07:00.001-04:00

{all images from Google Images}

Also, I'd like to thank Michele

for the lovely award!! thank you thank you thank you ;)

"Slow is smooth and smooth is fast"

2010-10-06T07:52:00.034-04:00

This Modern Family has captured my heart similar to the way my Friends did

It's the best comedy on Television, no one can tell me otherwise! ;)

This show has introduced a (brilliant) character that is destined to make TV history

Phil Dunphy

Phil: Claire's a perfectionist, which sometimes is a good thing, like when it comes to picking a husband.

Phil: A Realtor's just a ninja in a blazer. The average burglar breaks in and leaves clues everywhere. But not me. I'm completely clueless.

Phil: In nature, fathers are known to eat their young. Is it because they're delicious? No. It's because they want to give their female... bear, giraffe, what have you... the honeymoon they never had. Just to be clear: I don't condone eating your kids, although I sure as heck know why giraffes do it.

Claire: What?!?

Phil: There she is. The prettiest white woman on Maui. (talking about his wife)

Phil: You're such a great mother. Sometimes I wish you were my mother.

Claire: Oh gosh. I'm already queasy.

Phil: I always felt bad for people with emotionally distant fathers; it turns out I'm one of them. It's a miracle I didn't end up a stripper.

Phil: One day I'm gonna be a grandfather and then everybody better hide their meat.

Phil: The iPad comes out on my actual birthday. It's like Steve Jobs and God got together to say, "we love you, Phil."

Phil: I'm in town for a trade show. I design high-end electro-acoustic transducers.

Claire: Wow, that is very specific.

Phil: That was hardly porn. It was a topless woman on a tractor. You know what they call that in Europe? A cereal commercial.

Phil: I'm feeling better now...OH GOD IT'S CANCER!!!

Phil: I can forgive the smoking, but I can't forgive the lie.

[Claire glares at him]

Phil: Or the smoking.

Phil: I'm cool dad, that's my thang. I'm hip, I surf the web, I text. LOL: laugh out loud, OMG: oh my god, WTF: why the face

Bottom Line, I LOVE Phil!!!!!! :)

ps. hop on over to pampelmuse and me today, where the wonderful Clare has featured my

chunky cowl neck warmer. I adore her blog, she's such a wonderful photographer

and blog friend!!!

Antika Moda Interview

2010-10-04T16:10:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited and honored that my etsy shop, Antika Moda, is being featured on A Pretty Place To Play today! Thank you B.! My shop has been open for about 4 months now and I absolutely love everything about running it (especially the "creating new knit designs" part), it's been a blast.

You can check out the interview {HERE}. Be sure to tell B. who sent you and if you aren't following yet, please do. Her blog is very charming, clean, insightful and full of inspirational images from her life and travels.

Traverse City

2010-10-01T10:20:00.000-04:00

We celebrated our anniversary (and my birthday) in Traverse City, MI

It was such a nice getaway!!

The sights are simply gorgeous and the town is very charming

but the main attraction was the FOOD! lol

We lovingly called it our "fat vacation"
Every morning we got fresh coffee from Espresso Bay

We tried to hit every good restaurant in the city, we came close:
North Peak Brewing Company (A+)

Poppycocks (A++)
(They had my very favorite appetizer: Fresh Guacamole with Sweet Potato Chips)

Mackinaw Brewing Company (B)

Amical (A+)
(Absolutely LOVED their Kalamata olive & feta cheese appetizer and carmel apple dessert)

Jolly Pumpkin (A)

The Dish Cafe (A)

Apache Trout Grill (B-)

Right Brain Brewery (A+)
(Very tasty unique beers including a watermelon and cream wheat)

Traverse City is on the 45th parallel...

...which makes for great wine

We went to a few wineries...

& bought a bottle of Spiced Cherry Red from Chateau Grand Traverse

(PERFECT for holidays!!)
Michigan is so beautiful and every time we visit a new spot,
I fall in love with it all over again!!

my dream come true

2010-09-23T08:34:00.002-04:00

We met at the ages of 15 & 16,

after five and a half years of dating,

on this day back in 2006 I married my soul mate, best friend,

Love of My Life

♥ Here's to another wonderful, adventure filled year baby!! ♥ xoxo

"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love." -Leo Tolstoy

my aha moment!

2010-09-21T07:11:00.001-04:00

I recently had a revelation that changed my life!

....no, not that sort of revelation.... ;)

I love Reading, (we already know that)

I love Knitting (also, nothing new)

It's been difficult to find time to read ever since I opened my shop

I've had to choose between the two

and I don't like choosing!

Enter....AUDIO BOOKS!!

{via}

Just got my first couple from the library yesterday:

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Me Talk Pretty One Day

Why didn't I think of this before?! :)

...also perfect for my work commute...

{via}

Don't get me wrong..I LOVE actual bound printed books

and will continue to grow my home library

but for those instances when holding/reading a book isn't an option....

I think I'm going to love this new audio world!! :)

Weekend Reminiscence

2010-09-20T14:17:00.000-04:00

I love rolling with the punches; the unexpected can be so much fun!

Friday night my husband and I wanted Mexican food,

so we decided to try a new restaurant close to our house….

BIG mistake, the food was awful! It was literally in-edible,

so needless to say, we left hungry and they didn’t make us pay.

Leaving that restaurant in utter disappointment we decided to do what we should

have done to begin with and went to Los Galanes in Mexican Town (Detroit).

{via}

We enjoyed some FANTASTIC food and margaritas.

As we were finishing up we got a call from a close friend wanting to hang out,

Party On!

So he met us back at our place for some serious rounds of Uno

while Otis Redding serenaded us :)

{via}

Lol, it was great night!!

I love good food and spur of the moment get-togethers.

Saturday was filled with reunions.

I went to a friends baby shower and caught up with people

that I hadn’t seen in probably 5-6 years.

Then we headed over to our other friends house for a BBQ and Bonfire

& hung out with some more old friends.

{via}

Such great times and good laughs!

Hopefully you all had a fantastic weekend and have a good week ahead!!

femme fatale

2010-09-18T09:04:00.007-04:00

Newest hand knit pillow at Antika Moda

Inspired by the sultry Femme Fatales of the 1940s

{image1, image2, image3}

The rich black cherry color and vintage crocheted brooch

makes this one of my personal favorites! :)

{shop}

Yoga

2010-09-17T11:26:00.000-04:00

{via}

My workplace is having a yoga instructor come to our office once a month from 4-5

to conduct a class for any employee that’s interested.

How cool is that?!

So after months of saying “I’m really going to start doing yoga...”

I finally started yesterday….

{via}

The class was awesome!! But Boy oh boy am I SORE today!!!

From head to toe, literally :)

While doing the poses, they don’t seem that intense,

but they truly work all the muscles in your body.

I'm so happy I'm finally doing it, what a great start to my weekend.

Have a good one!!!

~Namaste~

TOMS in motion {Chicago}

2010-09-16T09:02:00.004-04:00

This past Sunday my TOMS carried me around the streets of Chicago...

...We rode the trains around town...

...dodged bikes, people, strollers and dogs at the craft fair...

...& after hours of walking, the comfort of my beloved TOMS didn't fail me!

I ♥ you TOMS

Renegade Handmade PHOTOS!!

2010-09-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos from our trip:

renegade handmade

2010-09-13T11:00:00.001-04:00

The Renegade Craft Fair was SO MUCH FUN!!

Me and 2 of my girlfriends went to Chicago for the day on Sunday

(about 3.5 hrs from Detroit)

& the drive was totally worth it!

We were very lucky to have such gorgeous weather.

It was a jam packed event, which was awesome for all the sellers!!

There were so many great booths filled with beautiful crafts,

Here are some of my favorite artists represented at the fair:
Overdue Industries
Lara Collins
Misha Ashton Photography
SwallowKisses
Rebe
Redraven studios
Erica Weiner Jewelry
The binding bee
Laura Fauna
Laura Szumowski
The Harbinger Co.
Moira K. Lime Jewelry
Gustav Reyes
....My own photos to come....

knit - read - dance - be inspired

2010-09-10T10:35:00.000-04:00

...Weekend Goals...

Finish my new knitting project {Cowl Neck Warmer/Shawl}

{via}

Finish reading {Eat, Pray, Love}, it's taking me entirely too long to get through...

Start on my Halloween Reads with {Beautiful Creatures}

Let loose and have fun with some friends

Possibly attend a Greek Festival

{via}

Admire every ones creations at the {Renegade Craft Fair}

and in between all those activities...REST! :)

Vampire Diaries

2010-09-09T14:02:00.000-04:00

Season Premier tonight!!

I don't care what critics say, I'm in love with this show :)

don't wait

2010-09-08T09:22:00.000-04:00

Do what you love...

...Life's too short to live in regret.

{all photos from Sara Norris Photography}

Movie Recommendations

2010-09-07T10:42:00.007-04:00

{via}

I won!

2010-09-05T09:20:00.000-04:00

Today I found out that I won my very first give-a-way
here in the blog world and I'm super excited about it!! :)

a $20 CSN Store gift certificate
from the lovely Samantha at Simply Samantha

Thanks so much!!!! I can't wait to start shopping :)

via

Ring love

2010-09-02T14:47:00.002-04:00

...I'm loving big chunky rings lately...

{via: momochas}

{via: BumbershootDesigns}

{via: ghostlovejewelry}

Vintage SALE!!

2010-09-01T06:44:00.001-04:00

To celebrate my birthday {September 25th}

I'm giving everyone
25% OFF all Vintage Accessories in my shop
for the month of September!!!

(Priced as marked)

Jeweled Chunky Bracelet
Now Only $12.00

Ebony Hand Brooch
Now Only $6.75

Chunky Silver Bracelet

Now Only $10.50

Oversized Faux Pearl Necklace

Now Only $7.50

Jeweled Brooch

Now Only $10.50

Brown Leather Sandals

Now Only $15.00

Gold Tone Necklace

Now Only $13.50

Faux Pearl Necklace, sky blue

Now Only $5.25

Sale Ends Thursday September 30th

Tell your friends!!! :)

...Tweet, Facebook, Blog...

Link to shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AntikaModa

wedding crashers

2010-08-31T06:31:00.000-04:00

This weekend we were guests at 2 weddings!

& we were dancing fools at both!! :)

(we even attempted to learn "Thriller" the night before,

we got the basic moves down...one day we'll master it! haha)

The wedding on Friday night had a live band,

that's something I've never experienced and I really liked it.

For my cousins wedding on Saturday

I bought a brand new dress & jewelry from Forever 21 (love!!)

Their wedding ended around 11:30 PM,

but you know...we just weren't finished dancing!! :)

So....we decided to crash a couple weddings in the same building....no big deal...

We were kicked out of the first one by the bride (no fun!)

But the second wedding welcomed us with open arms!

The bride came up to my husband:

"what wedding are you from!?"

"next door."

she replied with an enthusiastic "YEAH!!! Party On!!!" :)

(that's what I'm talking about!! I would have NEVER kicked people out

of my wedding at 11:30 PM just for dancing!! The more the merrier!!!)

They even had a photo booth...

...my cousins boyfriend and I couldn't pass up the opportunity:

Anthro Look::purled onyx

2010-08-27T10:12:00.000-04:00

Casual Friday

Find it here.

autumn evening

2010-08-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

Fall is quickly approaching!!

time to cozy up with big cup of harvest tea,

& this plush pillow

while this little guy dances close by in the candlelight

found {here}

fall color palette...

2010-08-24T15:41:00.003-04:00

...anxiously waiting for my new yarn to arrive...
i can't wait to knit some cozy throw pillows, warm hats & long scarves for autumn
It's my favorite time of the year,
I love the crisp fresh air,
hot apple cider with cinnamon donuts,
sweaters, jeans & boots,
But MOST of all.....
I LOVE the beautiful fall colors!!
These are the colors I picked out, what do you think?!

Weekend Reflection

2010-08-23T11:57:00.001-04:00

{nightowlcrafts etsy shop}

I had a really great weekend but unfortunately I forgot my camera each time I went out (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, sometimes it’s nice to live IN the moment rather constantly looking for the next photo op), so I’ll be illustrating this post with other peoples photos :)

Friday night we went out with my parents to celebrate both my husband’s and mom’s birthdays (hubby 8/13, mom 8/19). We dined lakeside at the Bayside Grill.

{weheartit}

It was a gorgeous evening (weather-wise) filled with fun conversation and laughs. Afterwards we headed over to the small downtown of Plymouth for some drinks at a local brewery and live music. It started out with 2 guys (one on vocals and guitar, the other on the slide guitar), and about 1 hour until close this other band came in, set up their gear and started playing with them. There were some bongos, an accordion, a bass, & additional singers..it really livened up the show and was a fabulous addition!!! So fun :)

{accordian birthday cake}

Saturday my husband and I had a quiet morning with ~~some~~ a lot of coffee and rain gently falling outside.

{weheartit}

When we finally ventured out, we both got our hair cut then went over to my FAVORITE used bookstore, the “kitty bookstore” as I like to call it because there are always 2 loving kitties strolling around fighting for your affection.

{sebsurer etsy shop}

I bought Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I’m pretty excited to read it. Next stop, breakfast at Crawfords Diner, a local spot in Plymouth. I LOVED it, the food was great as was the old-town atmosphere. The rest of the day was spent organizing my craft-room…it looks MUCH nicer now, a lot more functional. It’s like a breath of fresh air when something is newly organized, am I right or am I right?!

My dream craft room:

{heather baily}

Sunday we spent time over at the restaurant that my aunt & uncle are opening, (Leone’s Bistro in Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor border). We helped clean up and prepare for the grand opening (TODAY). Afterwards we went back to my parents place & watched The Runaways…I liked it, it was pretty good.

Monday, here I am! Ready to face the week ahead.

recipe {Spicy Guacamole Dip}

2010-08-22T08:30:00.000-04:00

My husband made this recipe last night and seriously...It's some of the BEST quac. I've ever had:

Ingredients

4 (ripe) avocados

4 cloves garlic

minced 1/4 sweet red onion

finely chopped 1 jalapeno pepper

4 tablespoons olive oil

divided Juice of 1 lime

salt & pepper to taste

pinch of cayenne for garnish

Directions

Cut the avocados in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Scoop out the meat into a medium-size bowl and mash with fork. (Do not process in a food processor or blender.)

Gently stir in the garlic, red onion, jalapeno pepper, red chiles, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, and lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Transfer to a serving bowl, if necessary. Drizzle the remainder of olive oil over the Guacamole and sprinkle with cayenne for presentation. Serve immediately. Makes 3 cups.

NOTE: Guacamole Dip does not keep well, but adding a tablespoon of lemon juice helps preserve the color

Now grab a big bowl of corn chips and enjoy!!!

etsy shop spotlight :::pretty things by Meg:::

2010-08-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

I ADORE etsy and I love sharing with you all of my favorite shops :)

Meg is the creator of one of one of the loveliest etsy shops around:

pretty things by Meg

in her profile section she states:

"Hello! My name is Meg, and I like to make pretty things :)"

She does just that, all of her handmade jewelry is absolutely gorgeous!
She also says:

"I am inspired my many things... fashion, art, photography, home decor, music, nature..."

all of these inspirational elements are evident in her designs.

Meg also has a wonderful blog: {meg's musings}, be sure to check it out and become a follower!! :)

Here are some of my favorite items from Meg's shop:

Falling Leaves.

Flapper Earrings.

Leaves of Glass Earrings.

Pretty Pearls.

vintage style turquoise lovelies.

♥♥ visit pretty things by Meg today!! :) ♥♥

Grown In Detroit

2010-08-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

In effort to become more active in our community, the company I work for recently started a volunteer committee. As part of this committee I suggested that we partner with the Greening of Detroit, and get involved in the Garden Resource Program.

You can get all this info from the websites, but here's a bit of what's happening in Detroit:

Urban gardens and farms provide thousands of pounds of fresh, nutritious produce for Detroit families and improve our communities by connecting neighbors, providing an attractive alternative to trash-strewn vacant lots, improving property values, and reducing crime.
Now in its seventh year, The Garden Resource Program (GRP) provides support to more than 875 urban gardens and farms in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. GRP members receive resources including seeds and Detroit grown transplants and become part of a growing network of growers and advocates working to promote and encourage urban agriculture and a thriving local food system in the City."

At our first outing we had the pleasure of gardening at the Catherine Ferguson Academy for Young Women (from the award winning documenary Grown In Detroit, I talked a little about the film in this post):

Birthday Weekend!

2010-08-16T20:00:00.002-04:00

...What a NICE weekend...

Friday August 13 was my husbands Birthday!!

{Photo's a little blurry, I know :)}

We dined at Coach Insignia on the top of the Renaissance Center in Detroit

We had an amazing view of the the Detroit river and Windsor

& The food was DIVINE!!

{dessert!}

Saturday was full of relaxation,
house cleaning,
swimming, and
the cinema (The Other Guys)

Sunday was operation relaxation day 2,
in the evening we went to one of our favorite restaurants on the lake
for some cold beers and pizza with family

Such a beautiful weekend, and a good week ahead!!

I wish you all a FANTASTIC week!!!! ♥♥

social butterfly

2010-08-15T16:29:00.002-04:00

You can now find my little shop on Facebook & Twitter:

Please like & follow me ;) <---(LOL, when do you ever say that outside of cyber-world?!)
I will gladly do the same for you!!!
Just put the links to your social sites in a comment below.
♥ ♥ ♥ Thank you Thank you Thank you ♥ ♥ ♥

In OTHER news
Emily from the BEAUTIFUL blog Finding my Aloha gave me this lovely award:

I'm passing it on to: All Things Beautiful, Lemons and Laundry, Bears and Bunting & Just Putting It Out There

To accept this award I must give you 7 random things about myself:

1. If I could make all of my own clothes, I would

2. I try my best to eat organic most of the time

3. I'm always looking forward to the future while trying to be happy with the present

4. I love 60s and 70s rock and roll

5. I don't like busying myself too much, I relish freedom...but I always seem to have a packed schedule :/

6. Vintage style clothing is my absolute favorite

7. I can't wait to be a mother one day

be happy

2010-08-13T09:18:00.000-04:00

Happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities. -Aldous Huxley

{image}

precious stones

2010-08-12T09:54:00.001-04:00

Oh, how I love natural stones

Rainbow Road - Rich Stone Necklace by inbloomdesigns

The Jillian - Multi Strand Stone Bracelet by inbloomdesigns

Multi Colored Soocho Chunky Jade Necklace by amy fine design

Jade Rectangles And Jade Balls Necklace Set by Bella Beads Originals

Etsy Favorites Giveaway Winner!!

2010-08-11T10:27:00.000-04:00

I'm so happy that one of my dear blog friends

won my hand knit pillow from the

etsy favorites giveaway that Paige hosted!!

♥♥Congrats to the lovely Melissa,

keeper of the amazing blog oh, my darling ♥♥

Hope you love it! ;)

**if you're digging this pillow style, check out my shop
for other eclectic pillows & fashion accessories**

::The Suburbs::

2010-08-10T09:16:00.001-04:00

I'm a HUGE fan of Arcade Fire

their music is beautiful and epic

Lyrically, they seem to be speaking the words
right out of my mind

I love them.

But I will be honest with you,
I was a little stubborn when The Suburbs came out last week

The music didn't seem as dynamic
as Funeral or Neon Bible(my favorite)

One thing I loved about their previous 2 records was that
the music was constantly changing within one song.

But after spinning The Suburbs a few times I've grown to really
love and appreciate it,

Once again the lyrics are absolutely beautiful

Give it a listen!!

"...So you can understand

Why I want a daughter while I'm still young?

I want to hold her hand,

And show her some beauty,

Before all this damage is done

But if its too much to ask

If it's too much to ask

Then send me a son..."

-lyrics from The Suburbs

Ambitous Travel Dreams ::Italy::

2010-08-09T07:20:00.000-04:00

As I've mentioned in some previous posts,
we try our best to visit Greece as often as possible, usually every 2-3 years.
My Yaya (grandma), Papou (grandpa), Aunt & Uncle live there.

I'm in love with Europe, so in one of our future visits
I would love to take a detour to Italy for a week.
I do realize it would be next to impossible to visit all of these lovely locations in 1 week,
but hey...this is my AMBITIOUS travel dream....don't ruin it! lol.

I would visit the historic monuments in Rome

{via}

ride the canals in Venice

{via}

see the beautiful museums in Florence

{via}

and, of course, overindulge in their glorious Food & Wine

{image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4}

la cassaforte viaggia!!

one of the BEST CONCERTS I’ve been to…

2010-08-05T19:14:00.000-04:00

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
@ the Crowfoot Ballroom in Pontiac, MI

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

2010-08-04T10:40:00.000-04:00

Gonna "hippie it up" with them tonight!

{via}

Hollywood Party in Michigan

2010-08-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Sunday night will be a night I will remember for the rest of my life.

My husband has been working in the editorial department on the film The Double,

so we had the honor of attending the wrap party!

It was held at this gorgeous mansion:

I still can't get over the house, it was amazing! And the pool...well....

There are lots of films being shot in Michigan these days

so 3 films (that I know of) were at the party:

Scream 4, Machine Gun Preacher & The Double.

We laughed with David Arquette

Richard Gere asked US about OUR love story!

We shot the breeze with Gerard Butler, he is FUNNY!

Said hello to Topher Grace & Hayden Panettiere

While Rohan Marley (Bob Marley's son) sang Bob Marley's songs!!

The director, Michael Brandt (who is the coolest guy)

actually went out of his way to come talk with us...

Everyone was SO incredibly nice and gracious!!!

As if all that wasn't enough,

when we were walking by, a woman grabbed my arm and said

"You are the best dressed here tonight,"

That would make ANY woman feel fantastic right?!....

Little did I know, she is the wardrobe designer on the film!!!!

How cool is that?! What a HIGH compliment.

(Thanks mom for the beautiful dress, shoes, jewelry & purse you let me borrow!!! :) xoxoxo)

It was such an indescribable, unbelievable night,

like a dream.

Did that really happen?!?!?!?! Lol, I'm still on cloud 9! :)

NEW!

2010-08-02T10:15:00.010-04:00

Hand Knit Accessories

Vintage Accessories

Vintage Housewares

Come Visit!! :)

Harvest

2010-07-31T14:48:00.001-04:00

This is the second week of harvest from our garden!! :)

The Doors

2010-07-30T09:46:00.005-04:00

"With an intoxicating, genre-blending sound, provocative and uncompromising songs, and the mesmerizing power of singer Jim Morrison’s poetry and presence, The Doors had a transformative impact not only on popular music but on popular culture." -When You're Strange
Lately I've been HOOKED on The Doors

I can't get enough!
My husband recently began collecting records,
and of course we knew The Doors beforehand,
but our love for them grew immensely as we
started getting their vinyl and spinning them non-stop.

The Doors were among the most influential, controversial rock acts of the 1960s,

due mostly to Jim Morrison's

wild, poetic lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona.

From 1967-1971 they made 5 albums:

{all images via google image search}

after the tragic death of Jim Morrison the remaining members went on

to make 3 more albums before calling it quits:

Other Voices

Full Circle

An American Prayer

My favorites are: The Doors, Strange Days & Waiting for the Sun

(Morrison Hotel & L.A. Woman are both really great too, their more bluesy than the rest)

There is a new documentary out, narrated by Johnny Depp:
When You're Strange
It's not brand new information, but it was pretty good

(Enter for a chance to win one of my hand-knit pillows!)

Hand Knit Pillow GIVEAWAY!!

2010-07-29T06:49:00.022-04:00

I'm so happy to be a part of this amazing Giveaway!!

My gratitude goes to Paige from the lovely blog Prone to Wander for hosting

Enter today to win my ultra plush hand knit throw pillow (along with 9 other prizes from creative etsy sellers!):

knit in a luxuriously thick wool blend yarn, that is ultra soft to the touch!

It measures approximately 12” x 12” and is about 6 ½” thick!

Each button was specifically chosen, uniquely placed and hand sewn

seamless sides!

Good Luck and Thank You!! :)

{my shop}

the perfect fit

2010-07-27T09:33:00.001-04:00

Do you ever begin reading a book only to find that

it fits you exactly at that moment in your life?

I just started reading Eat, Pray, Love

I've been meaning to read it for a couple years,

and I'm so happy I started it now (I also love reading books before I see the movie)

I'm on a constant journey to discover myself -as we all are

What I like,

What I dislike,

What I believe about existence, human nature, God...

I am fascinated with God and the way other people view Him,

I also LOVE to travel (whether it be by plane or a bound novel) & learn about other cultures

So naturally I'm very interested to read about one woman's quest

to find who she is and what she believes as she journeys through

Italy, Indonesia & India

{via}

"A meditation on love in its many forms-love of food, language, humanity, God, and most meaningful for Gilbert, love of self...Gilbert's wry, unfettered account of her extraordinary journey lets even the most cynical reader dare to dream of someday finding God deep in meditation cave in India, or perhaps, over a transcendent slice of pizza."

-Los Angeles Times

recipe {Fresh Fettuccine with Roasted Chicken and Broccoli Rabe}

2010-07-25T09:28:00.000-04:00

I whipped up this dish the other night from Giada De Laurentiis's recipe,
it was phenomenal!

the absolute perfect summer dinner

Light, Fresh, & Filling

Ingredients

1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed, stalks cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces

1 (9-ounce) container fresh fettuccine pasta

1 (14-ounce) can reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

3 cups shredded roasted chicken (from 1 roasted chicken)

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon zest

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until crisp-tender, 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the broccoli rabe to a large bowl of ice water. Once cooled, drain broccoli rabe and set aside. Add the fettuccine to the same pot of boiling water and cook until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Meanwhile, bring the broth and lemon juice to a boil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Boil until the broth reduces by half, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken and simmer just until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add broccoli rabe to the chicken broth and stir to combine. Add the pasta, 1/2 cup of Parmesan, pine nuts, parsley, oil, and lemon zest. Toss to coat, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Mound the pasta into bowls and serve. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and serve.

Once again Giada doesn't disappoint!!

film feature [Inception] no spoilers

2010-07-23T08:00:00.023-04:00

[Website]
Writer/Director: Christopher Nolan

(also directed Momento, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight)

Actors:

Leonardo DiCaprio

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Ellen Page

Tom Hardy

Ken Watanabe

Dileep Rao

Cillian Murphy

Tom Berenger

Marion Cotillard

Pete Postlethwaite

Michael Caine

Lukas Haas

Tai-Li Lee

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85% (224 reviews counted)

My opinion in single words:

Smart. Stimulating. Engaging. Beautiful. Captivating.

It restored faith that GOOD films can be very successful in the box office.

So let’s start making more!!!

Bottom line….GO SEE IT :)

Etsy Shop Spotlight :::Ande Mönster Vintage:::

2010-07-21T06:50:00.000-04:00

I can't resist but to do a feature on this gorgeous vintage shop:

Ande Mönster Vintage

by Kylie & Rachael

"Ande Mönster, meaning Spirit Designs in Swedish, is about supplying you with one-of-a-kind vintage kind pieces and vintage-inspired pieces to add to your collection (or start your collection)."

this shop is filled with such beautiful one-of-a-kind items!!

Here are some of my favorites:

Vintage Boho Embroidered Dress FREE SHIPPING IN U.S.

Vintage Kelly Green Office Dress FREE SHIPPING IN U.S.

Vintage Glass and Wood Display Dome

Vintage Tweed Slacks FREE SHIPPING IN U.S.

So run on over immediately and check out this unique shop!!

Rachael is also one of my absolute favorite bloggers, visit her at:

...It's Simple Love...

♥♥♥

Featured!!

2010-07-20T11:48:00.000-04:00

Today the lovely Sarah from Designs of the Heart

is featuring my shop!!

♥♥Thank you so much Sarah♥♥

I purchased these beautiful natural wood buttons for my knit pillows from her shop!!
Go check it out :)

Afordable Fashion:::the dress::

2010-07-20T07:55:00.001-04:00

Forever 21

Draped Pocket Knit Dress

$12.90

Garden Rush Chiffon Dress

$27.80

Charlotte Russe

Paisley Print Empire Maxi Dress

$28.00

Bow Front Chambray Dress

$28.00

Rusty Zipper

1950's Womens Dress

$52.00

1970's Womens Prairie Hippie Dress

$44.00

Ruche

flourishing flowerets ruffle dress

$37.99

all for the love of you daisy dress in yellow

$46.99

peaches and cream rosey dress

$46.99

Antika Moda

Infinity Scarf

current fashion obsessions

My latest craft project...

Jacob Alexander

yarn wreath

baby knits

great reads for the pregnant woman

belly shots

Antika Moda open for business

a little surprise

Holiday Coupon!!

get cozy

Her Fearful Symmetry

wish list

GIVEAWAY WINNER - Clio Hand Knit Scarf

Happy Halloween

Best Natural Deodorant

get the look for less

GIVEAWAY- Clio Hand Knit Scarf CLOSED

Post Secret

not your average pillow covers

Red Carpet Premiere

Daily Candy

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

my style icons

"Slow is smooth and smooth is fast"

Antika Moda Interview

Traverse City

my dream come true

my aha moment!

Weekend Reminiscence

femme fatale

Yoga

TOMS in motion {Chicago}

Renegade Handmade PHOTOS!!

renegade handmade

knit - read - dance - be inspired

Vampire Diaries

don't wait

Movie Recommendations

I won!

Ring love

Vintage SALE!!

wedding crashers

Anthro Look::purled onyx

autumn evening

fall color palette...

Weekend Reflection

recipe {Spicy Guacamole Dip}

etsy shop spotlight :::pretty things by Meg:::

Grown In Detroit

Birthday Weekend!

social butterfly

be happy

precious stones

Etsy Favorites Giveaway Winner!!

::The Suburbs::

Ambitous Travel Dreams ::Italy::

one of the BEST CONCERTS I’ve been to…

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Hollywood Party in Michigan

NEW!

Harvest

The Doors

Hand Knit Pillow GIVEAWAY!!

the perfect fit

recipe {Fresh Fettuccine with Roasted Chicken and Broccoli Rabe}

film feature [Inception] *no spoilers*

Etsy Shop Spotlight :::Ande Mönster Vintage:::

Featured!!

Afordable Fashion:::the dress::

film feature [Inception] no spoilers