And Everything Nice

Oklahoma Blogger's Night Out

2012-02-13T12:57:00.001-06:00

Last Thursday was the 3rd Blogger's Night Out in OKC. It was my first one to attend, and the largest by far. Hosted by The Makeup Bar with food and drinks catered by Deep Fork (yum), delicious gluten-free vegan cupcakes from Green Goodies it was a really fun night. There were door prizes, free eyebrow waxes that were completely pain-free, personal consultations from The Lingerie Store and lots of mingling. It was a lot fun to meet lots of new bloggers and talk with some of my all-time favorite bloggers and designers. I snapped a picture of some of the business cards I snagged - even though this isn't nearly all of them.

The bloggers...

Danielle from www.elleinadspir.com

Susan from www.workingcloset.com

Shana from www.gorillabuns.typepad.com

Melissa from www.pineapplelilyblog.com

Alison from www.shopcrawlr.com

Caroline from www.iamagreedygirl.com

Allison from www.feedingmytemple.com

Kelly from www.designcrushblog.com

Allyson from www.allysoninwonderland.com

Brigette from www.settlingwest.com

Evie from www.evie-s.com

Sally from www.sallyspins.com

Erin from pippinandpearl.com

Rita from www.meandmyshortloffs.blogspot.com

Brandy from www.bellavitajewelry.blogspot.com

Emery from www.emeryjo.blogspot.com

Stephanie from www.stephaniebice.com

Kathleen from www.jeremyandkathleen.blogspot.com

Marek from www.mareksmusings.com

Rachel from www.pencilshavingsblog.com

Melissa from www.sassafrass2point0.blogspot.com

Rachael from www.rachaelreally.com

Nikki from www.bradleybirth.com

Kara Kae from www.themomdiggity.com

Elle from www.memoirsofawannabegypsy.com

Laura from www.steenstyle.com

Whitney from www.whitneykolb.com

Katie from www.dishinanddishes.com

You should definitely go and check out each blog! I promise it's worth it. I look forward to the next meet-up and if you're in OKC I hope to see you there! Hint hint LAUREN! Tomorrow I am participating in my first online class at the AltChannel. Beyond excited. But first I've got to get this migraine under control. I've had it since yesterday and it's the worst migraine I've had in a long time. Boo. Happy Monday friends!

For like right now

2012-02-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

I know that this print is nothing new, but in keeping with the Valentine's theme and wanting things that I can't buy, I wanted to share this. Because even if you've seen this everywhere, isn't it still nice to look at? I love, love the pink and red but realistically know that it might not go with our house. But on the other hand, I imagine hanging this above our bed where there's already a grey canvas so I couldn't hang grey next to grey, right? I can't decide! Which one do you like the best? Do you, like, totally want this? And how about that last one? You + Me. Love. You can buy them here.

Oops, I forgot to title this

2012-02-08T01:09:00.002-06:00

I guess I updated the title and it deleted the rest of the post? WEIRD! Blogger, don't misbehave!!

ted baker / marc by marc jacobs / botiker / marc by marc jacobs

chloe / kate spade / see by chloe / gucci

And it went something like this…

Do you ever sit and think about how much you'd like a new handbag? Well, that's me everyday. And here is just a small amount of the bags I've got my eye on currently. I'd give my right arm, my good arm, for that Chloe bag. And I've been wanting that red one FOREVER. Sigh. I'm pretty sure Hollie needs the mint one, and I bet Lauren would agree with me. What's your favorite?

Winston 2.0

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-06:00

I'm completely flabbergasted by people who don't like pugs. Sure they snort when they breathe, and they're pretty hard to house train or train in general, and they like to be the boss of you, but what's not to like? They're so cute it's unbearable. I like to think that Winston is the best pug ever. If you're new around here, well, meet Winston Ewok Turkey Puggers Churchill Elder. Isn't he distinguished? If you're not new and you follow me on instagram then you know how much I love my dog, and I'm not sorry that you have to see these photos again. He makes my heart melt. He's the sweetest, most cuddly dog. If you've never been around a pug here are few things you need to know: They snore when they're awake. They shed a lot. They're pretty hyper, but they're not always hyper. They must be in the same room as you (yes, even the bathroom if you'll let them) at all times. If they're not cuddling with another dog they must cuddle with you or at least be touching you in some way. They're not supposed to play catch but Winston does. Everything ( well, almost everything) is the cutest and funniest thing you've ever seen which means they get away with a lot of stuff. They're also extremely clever. Winston's favorite food is popcorn. He can hear the wrapper being opened from any room in the house. He likes to cuddle, sleep, go on walks, chase the laser pointer and his kong, lick the beagles ears, and catch popcorn in the air. And I'm currently in the process of figuring out how to clone him. Do you like pugs? Obviously you're answer must be yes so, instead I'll ask, what's your favorite dog breed?

Feel free to send me videos of pugs from youtube.

Pretty in Pink

2012-02-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

necklace // tank top // miss dior cherie // ipad case // iphone case // undies

Not only is it already February, it's almost Valentine's Day! Here are just a few things that would make great gifts. So forward this to your husband, boyfriend, or whoever you'd like to buy you something. :)

Did you watch the Superbowl? I sorta did. Meaning, it was on the TV while I did other stuff. I do like the commercials. I think my favorite one was the Sketchers one with the French Bulldog. Did you see it? It was super cute. Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Font Friday #15

2012-02-02T18:29:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday bloggy friends! I can't believe it's February let alone Friday. I don't know where this week went, but it was possibly wasted in bed. I always imagine the days to crawl by at a snail's pace when I'm stuck indoors, but apparently not. Honestly I'm not really sure how I feel about it since I'm not feeling any better. I had more tests done on Tuesday and when they come back negative (I'm only assuming) I will either be going to a GI specialist or to an internist. But on the plus side I've lost about 8 pounds? Just trying to find the silver lining.

But to get to the point, isn't this font pretty? I think so, and I keep thinking how lovely it would look letterpressed. I love the wide flourishes and the retro feel. It's kind of like a funky town feel. The name is Rosarian and there's two widths available for $29.00 each or both for $55.00. This just went on my wish list.

As always, don't forget to check out the rest of the Font Friday crew! Follow along on Twitter too.

Jenny at Hank & Hunt, Alexandra at Aerialist Press, Alison at Alison Owen Design, Jen at Blush Printables, Steph at Bubblerock, Sofia at Branco Prata, Catherine at Design Editor, Chelsea at Fourth & Folded, Allie at Honey Bee Invites, Lauren at Lauren Elise Crafted, Jenna + Elizabeth at Little Bit Heart, Lauren at Palm Papers, Kerry at Super Swoon, Vickie at Vickie Designer, Wendy at Wesewn Design, Vicki at Curly Willow. Enjoy!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

p.s. I just updated the kitchen reno post with a picture of the outside of the house. Since we've moved and I've bought a new computer I don't have any of the old photos, so I took a screen shot from Facebook (thanks FB for that new timeline thingy).

Inspiration Board: French Inspired + how pinteresting

2012-02-01T09:59:00.001-06:00

balloons / seating / cake / drinks / dress / moet (source unknown) / flowers

It's hard not to think of Paris when I see these lovely images. I just kind of want to live in it. Mini bottles of Moet? Yes, please.

This is my 2nd link up with the vintage apple. What have you been pinning lately?

That one time I remodeled a kitchen

2012-01-30T22:49:00.002-06:00

all images were taken by us, on our camera. please give credit if you repost.

I just snagged this from facebook so I could show off the front of it. I loved that round door a whole lot.
This photo is from the craziest blizzard I've ever been through that came in on Christmas Eve, 2009.

Here's a little history for you: In 2008 we bought a historical home built in 1921. We got a really good deal on it so we decided to see past the ugly, horrendous disaster that was the previous owner's DIY job and instead try to focus on it's potential. We had money left over because we got the house pretty cheap which is good because this house needed help in a major way. So we gutted the kitchen and I drew up the design I wanted. We did the demo ourselves and when we were knocking out the floors and opening the entry to the kitchen (top left photo in both groups) we found the brick chimney for the original furnace. So, of course we had to expose the brick (bottom image; you can see the brick on the right) and chipped away at the wall to carefully remove the plaster. We removed the horrible terra cotta tile that had DOG FOOT PRINTS pressed into them and put in bamboo floors. The cabinets were custom built for the kitchen. Aren't they pretty? They were so big and spacious. Oh, how I miss the storage. We put in quartz counter tops and subway tile to replace the awful hand painted tile WITH GREEN GROUT and put in all stainless steel appliances. If you've ever remodeled or built a house then you know it's never finished when they say it will be and there is always at least one issue that pops up. But that kitchen was pretty much perfect. It was by far my favorite room in the house. Sadly, we moved 2 years later because that little old house was just too much upkeep (and who puts a basement in a home in oklahoma) for us and the bills were so high because the house was not efficient at all. Since it's on a national historic register there are some crazy restrictions we had to follow, like not replacing the old drafty windows in order to maintain the "original" home's aesthetic. The brand new house we live in now is a whole lot larger and our bills are half of what they were in the historic house. The only thing I miss about the old house is this kitchen. Our new kitchen is tiny in comparison and our dishwasher is builder-grade and loud. I never thought I would care about having a nice dishwasher. This is how I know I'm getting old. I really hope that the girl who bought our house hasn't made any changes to the kitchen…except the wall color. What do you think? I'm obviously still very proud of it.

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

2012-01-29T17:12:00.001-06:00

Ingredients:

24 ounce jar medium salsa
Juice from one lime
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1.25 package taco seasoning
2 jalapeno peppers, finally chopped (optional)
6 boneless chicken breast halves, defrosted

Directions:
In a slow cooker, mix together the salsa, lime juice, cilantro, taco seasoning, and jalapenos. Add the chicken and coat with salsa mixture. Allow the chicken to cook, covered, in the slow cooker on low setting for 6 hours. Serve chicken with salsa mixture spooned over top, or shred and use as a taco filling.

This is so good and so easy to make. Matt couldn't stop talking about it. I heated up some black beans with it as a side and we ate it alone, but these would be really good as tacos. Next time I make this, which will be soon, I will be heating up taco shells and black beans.

Happy Monday bloggy friends! Hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm still not feeling great so my weekend was on the boring side and I'm starting to feel very cooped up. Maybe I'll get some answers this week! If you follow along on Twitter then you know it's not my spleen rejecting my body. Instead my Dr. thinks it might be my stomach/digestive tract which would explain why I can't eat and I've lost 4 pounds in the last week. I'll take the weight loss though. Maybe this week I'll get some answers?

Have a fantastic week!

J.Crew Lusting

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

I felt the need to end the week cheerfully. I don't know about you, but I've had a rough week. If I'm being completely honest I've been having a rough past few months. Since October I've been unable to enjoy myself (well not entirely) because life keeps popping up and getting in the way. Anyway, back to this week. It's been a helluva rough one. But looking through J.Crew's spring collection was a sight for sore eyes. It's hard to not smile. They really know how to do color. I really want that sequin stripe cardigan! I just know when I can finally buy it, it'll be gone. Their spring collection is always their best collection. Next winter when I'm pining over all of the coats and cardigans I need to remind myself to wait for the spring stuff to come out. On the top of my list are the chambray blazer, stripe sequin cardigan (stripes, sequins, and a cardigan all in one?? heaven), colored capri pants, and the floral watercolor dress. What about you?

Happy Friday!

Color Me Happy

2012-01-25T19:39:00.000-06:00

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight

What are your feelings about the colored denim trend? At first I wasn't too big on it, but I did like red denim. Now I'm pretty much fully on board. I think it's fun and cheery and it's a nice change from normal denim that I wear everyday. Because, let's face it, I wear jeans more than anything. I've decided that the best way to try this trend out is to start with a blue color of denim. I love the cobalt and pastel blue colors! Also, if I buy a more affordable pair and end up not liking them I won't feel quite so bad. I'm still trying to not buy a pair of designer skinnies in the hopes that the skinny jean thing will soon disappear, but I've been hoping for that for a very long time. I'm about ready to crumble and buy some black skinnies.

What colors do you like best? Are you for or against this trend?

A Pretty Case

2012-01-23T21:52:00.000-06:00

When I came across this iphone case on Switch Easy I immediately purchased it. Many times I've bought a phone case online and once I get it in the mail I'm pretty disappointed. Especially by the designer ones. So I honestly wasn't expecting much other than having a new pretty case. I was extremely surprised by how nice it was. It's a hard material that comes in two pieces and a protective film to put on the front of your phone. So it's super pretty and is actually protective. The website has so many different varieties to chose from, but the blossom design is the prettiest. Completely worth every penny. I'm going to order an iPad case asap. I can't wait!

Sorry I Missed You

2012-01-22T23:05:00.000-06:00

via

Sorry I've been MIA the last few days. I'm not feeling so great and
I'm going to be spending Monday trying to figure out what's causing it.

I will get back to blogging just as soon as I can.
Please send some "get well" wishes my way.

Pintersting Wednesday: Wanderlust

2012-01-18T07:30:00.000-06:00

This is my first link-up with The Vintage Apple!

I've been suffering from a case of wanderlust lately and specifically with Florence, Italy. We're currently throwing around the idea of going later this year so I've been looking at hotels online and when I came across the Four Seasons Florence website I just kind of stopped looking at other places. All of these images were taken at the hotel…so these are the views around the hotel and the hotel grounds.

City Views

Presidential Suite

Royal Suite … those chandeliers!

more views

the hotel's gardens

more of the gardens

the hotel's pool

Do you see why I stopped looking for hotels? I kind of found "the one" on my first try. I mean, seriously, is that what the Tuscan region of Italy looks like? Because I want to go and never come home. If I were using my imagination this is exactly what I would see when thinking of the best trip to Italy. It's like something out of the movies. It's so romantic and old and historical feeling. I know I probably shouldn't have looked at the most expensive hotel in the region first…now all of the more affordable hotels are going to look like poo poo. Have you been to Florence? Is there somewhere you'd recommend I look at? What's on the top of you travel lust list?

Look at what other people are pinning here.

You can follow me on Pintrest here.

Inspiration Board: Golden Serenity

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-06:00

images top to bottom left to right: one / two / three / four / five / six

My obsession with gold continues. Gold is so serene to me. It makes me feel warm and cozy and glamorous all at once. It's luxurious and comfortable. What do you think? I had some gold elements in my wedding. My shoes were gold, the ribbon on my cake was gold, my hair piece was gold.

Watch Envy + A Winner

2012-01-16T11:33:00.000-06:00

one - two - three - four - five - six - seven - eight

Oh me oh my, how I want a shiny new watch all covered in bling bling. All of these are currently on my wish list…for Valentine's Day. I don't know if we're allowed to treat Valentine's day as a holiday worthy of wish lists, but I just did. They're all my favorites, but some stick out more than others. My loyalty lies with Marc Jacobs so naturally #4 and #6 - I love. But I also really love #3 and #7. But since the Nixon watch is almost double the cost of the others, I think 3, 4, and 6 are my top 3. What are your favorites?

And we have a winner for the TriAndGull giveaway!

Congrats to Kyla of Kyla is Inspired! Kyla shoot me an email with

your addy info: annaelder at ymail dot com.

Happy Monday!

Font Friday #14 + Save the Date

2012-01-13T04:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday bloggy friends! I'm so happy it's Friday, regardless of it being Friday the 13th.

I'm sure you've noticed the latest Minted design challenge going on, but in case you haven't above are a few of the ones I've entered. If you are so inclined you can click the titles to go and vote.

hint hint oink oink

Love is Sweet

Love and Stripes

Wheat field

Today's Font Friday is a doozy! I'm kind of obsessed with shadow fonts right now, and there's a new one over at myfonts that is on sale right now for $19.00! SIX fonts! Normally $80.00, Anodyne is kinda grungy, kinda retro, and totally fun. The striped shadow is my favorite! I might have to do a new blog design (for myself) just to incorporate it.

Check out the rest of the amazing Font Friday group: And follow along on Twitter. We're fun.

Spring Fling in January

2012-01-12T12:37:00.000-06:00

KAUFMANFRANCO alpaca wrap cardi // 3.1 PHILIP LIM cotton blend dress

ISABEL MARANT bracelet and earrings // PROENZA SCHOULER snakeskin clutch

MARC BY MARC JACOBS watch // PIERRE HARDY neoprene and leather sandals

It snowed here in Oklahoma last night. Huge, chunky flakes that would have been a pretty good accumulation if it hadn't been 50 degrees earlier in the day. It's been so unseasonably warm lately that when I'm flipping through magazines (digitally on the ipad…it's so cool) and see all the gorgeous spring lines I'm tempted to buy them. Knowing that they will end up sitting in my closet for 3 more months until they're completely forgotten when it does actually warm up is the only thing keeping me from shopping. But that doesn't mean a girl can't dream, right? So I threw a cardigan (made of alpaca no less) in there for the sake of looking sane. Because it's pretty crazy that it's not even mid-January and this is the outfit I want to wear right now. I'm pretty sure that I need $500 to buy that dress. coughIwantthatwatchforvalentine'sdaycough.

*edit: forgot to add that I'm linking up with Long Distance Loving for Friday's Fancies.

Stand Together

2012-01-11T09:47:00.000-06:00

Please pardon my makeup-less face in this photo, but some days I'm just too lazy.

Here's something that is kind of personal to me. Thanks to Jacin at Lovely Little Details for inspiring me to do this. Bullying has become quite the hot topic in the last year. When I was in school there were bullies too. In elementary school I was picked on for having a mole above my lip. Yeah, a mole. Of the Cindy Crawford variety. Kids are weird, right? That didn't really bother me that much because I could beat everyone in a race. ;) But when I was in middle school I went through some crazy drama. There was this girl who I grew up with that lived down the street from me. She was mean. Like, scratch and spit on you mean. And then we went to the same middle school. Her mom was the kind of mom who wanted to sit and gossip with the girls, and boy did she. We hung out at her house a lot. Sometimes they wouldn't invite me. Instead they'd talk bad about me to all of my best friends. They called me a slut (I'm not really sure how ANY girl can be a slut when they're 12…I'd never kissed a boy), they told other moms that my mom was irresponsible because….well, I have no idea why. It all escalated until all the parents were involved and we were sitting in the principle's office. I was pissed. This girl was ruining my life. During that time I got sick a lot. Almost once a week I'd stay home throwing up. I never realized that it was probably anxiety from all of this. You can imagine my satisfaction when she had to transfer to another school before we started high school. Bullying comes in all forms. I wasn't bullied in high school, but I learned to stick up for myself at a pretty young age. Today I can say that I'm not the type of person to be bullied or let anyone I love be bullied. I'm not afraid to stand up and tell someone to shut the front door. And I can guarantee you that if I ever see someone being accosted in public for whatever reason I will do something about it. I will not just stand by quietly watching.

I can't even imagine what school must be like now. Bullying makes me sick. I cry when I hear about these young people committing suicide because they are beaten up and picked on for being gay. My experiences were nothing in comparison and it was still a very difficult time in my life. I never want to be that age again. Bullying needs to stop.

Stand Together: Sign up now and show your commitment. By registering, you become a part of a community of people who believe in respect for all. Who believe that our children have the right to live without fear, to express themselves freely, and be true to themselves at school or anywhere else. Join the ranks of these amazing people and help us reach our goal of a million people strong.

Sugar Scrub uh dub dub

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Here is something I'm really self-concious about: I have KP (keratosis pilaris). You know, those little bumps most commonly seen on the back of a person's arms? Aka "chicken skin". I've had them for as long as I can remember. In high school, or most likely middle school, I became very aware of them and tried to keep them covered up as much as possible. Some days are better than others, but I've never been able to really pin point what makes a good day. Like most people, my skin gets really dry this time of year and the bumps feel extra rough. On top of the cooler temps making my skin dry I'm on a new medication that seems to be drying out everything even worse. My face has gone from combination to completely sucked dry. I've had to switch from my normal face wash that I've been using for years to a sensitive/dry skin formula, and there's no such thing as too much facial moisturizer. It's kind of crazy!

Exfoliation is huge part of keeping your skin balanced since it's important to slough off dead skin cells and encourage regeneration. If you're someone who tans (get out of that tanning bed!!) and you've had little white spots appear on your arms, face, etc. it's because there's a little area where yeast has built up. If you start to exfoliate and moisturize 2-3 times a week it should clear up within a few weeks. KP is similar to a yeast build-up but is caused by the protein Keratin. Although there is no treatment to completely get rid of KP, there are things you can do to make it better. …like exfoliating & moisturizing.

Here's a homemade sugar scrub that was easy AND cheap to make. (win win)

What you need:

Brown Sugar
Organic Coconut Oil (if I could find it in Oklahoma, you can find it in your city too)
Essential oil (just for scent…you don't have to have it. I found the lavender scent at Hobby Lobby on the same aisle for making soaps)
Glass container with lid (mason jar)

Melt the coconut oil. I put my jar in a hot bowl of water because I didn't want to melt it in a pot and make a mess. I dumped the melted oil into a bowl and added sugar by stirring until the mixture wasn't runny. Then I put about 4 drops of lavender oil and stirred. That's it. How easy is that? Now, before you get in the shower, scoop some of the scrub out and rub it on your arms, knees, elbows, or anywhere that needs a little exfoliation. You're welcome. :)

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

It's a Giveaway Monday

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday lovely bloggy friends! I'm super excited to share this giveaway with you today.

TriAndGull is a lovely etsy shop offering handmade jewelry. I really love everything in this shop. The designs are modern and I really love the design of her shop and how she edits her photos - super appealing. I just had to share this shop with you and when we set a date for the giveaway

I couldn't wait.

This necklace is a best seller at TriAndGull, but there are so many other goodies!

I'm particularly fond of all of the earrings. Entering the giveaway is easy-peasy.

How to Enter: (one comment)

Follow And Everything Nice via google friend connect or bloglovin.

Go to TriAndGull and let us know which item is your favorite.

Extra entries:

2. Follow @theniceblog and @triandgull on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway.

(example: Just entered a fab #giveaway for a necklace from @tri&gull on @theniceblog! www.andeverythingniceblog.com)

3. Like And Everything Nice on Facebook.

4. Follow TriAndGull on Tumblr.

This giveaway will end Thursday Jan. 12th at midnight CST & the winner will be announced Friday.

Good luck to everyone!

Happy Quotes

2012-01-06T11:51:00.000-06:00

photo by And Everything Nice

I received this little goody in the mail earlier this week. It was an unexpected gift sent out by the lovely ladies over at Gilah Press, who I worked with in 2011. There's not a lot of things that make me smile more than a beautifully letterpressed print. It's gorgeous. Everything should come in letterpress. I can't wait to get this framed and hang it! How sweet is that quote?

"A day without sunshine, is like, you know, night."

- Steve Martin

Happy Friday lovelies! May your weekend be filled with a whole bunch of sunshine.

I'm so grown up

2012-01-05T12:16:00.000-06:00

No, not really. I act like I'm 21 but make better decisions.

anyway…

Let me start off by saying that I am in no way an interior designer. Sure, I have good taste but it's easy to find super expensive gorgeous pieces and viola, you have one hell of a home. It's much harder to find affordable pieces and know how to put things together. With that said, I believe every home should have at least one statement piece in their house. It can be anything, just look above. But! It needs to unique in some way. It needs to be something that gets people talking; a delight for the eyes of your guests and yourself.

I've been talking a whole lot about adultifying (yeah, I made that word up) my life, starting with my home. Browsing Gilt has shown me that I need to do this in a major way. Hollie stop drinking all that haterade. You're gonna get cavities. So, yesterday while browsing and wanting to buy everything I googled the company that makes (sells?) that storage bench I wanted so badly. Well color me happy, that might be my greatest find in a very long time. San Francisco Design Center had stuff that made my jaw drop. Basically, I broke my jaw yesterday; that's how many times it hit the floor. The oooooo's and ahhhhh's didn't stop.

Currently my "wow" piece is a 4 feet by 5 feet (I think) oil painting I bought for Matt as my wedding gift to him. Our friend, and super talented artist, painted it. His name is Grant Hottle and you should definitely check out his work.

Do you have wow-worthy piece in your home?

Gilt-y as charged

2012-01-04T10:48:00.000-06:00

I know I'm super late on this whole Gilt thing, but have you guys shopped there before?? I always thought they were selling stuff that was last season or things had minor defects that still weren't Ross worthy. Then they had a Kate Spade sale that was insane. I was lucky and scored some Kate Spade items in the sample sale that had just ended, but if you missed out on that the Gilt sale was just as good and it was the same pieces. What I really loved was the fact that the these were currently being sold at full price on Kate Spade. It felt like I was stealing. And, I was able to get some really Christmas gifts thanks to that sale.

Now, I've bought a few things from Gilt Taste and was always pleased with my purchase (Oklahoma really needs to allow alcohol to shipped here. Their wine selection is really great.), but when I started browsing Gilt Home I went bonkers. I bought Voluspa candles at such a discount I thought they were going to be itty bitty. They were huge and gorgeous.

Since I'm starting this whole "adultify my home" thing I've been obsessively perusing the site. I'm so in love with that storage bench. I'm convinced I need it, but the sale ends in 1 day. And remember when I was talking about how my taste is kinda changing from ultra modern, masculine, clean lines to a little bit of girly glam? Well, that pendant is the perfect example of what I'm talking about. Dear pendant, I want you so hard right now.

Have you guys been shopping on Gilt for, like, ever and right now you're all "get with the program Anna"? It wouldn't surprise me. If you're not on Gilt, well then, I highly recommend it. But I'm warning you: you will be addicted in a heart beat. My one and only complaint is this: I can only buy 5 things at a time?? I went a little nutty with the candles and wanted to buy a ton at one time. However, I almost always (not sure if it's ALL of the time?) get an email saying I'll get free shipping on any orders made within an hour of what I just bought. So, that's cool.

Thank you everyone for the kind comments yesterday. Every little bit of encouragement really does help me, so thank you!

That one time when I had leg surgery

2012-01-03T14:26:00.000-06:00

For those of you who were like what the heck happened to your leg when reading my 2011 review, this might help.

A year ago this week I went in for outpatient surgery on my leg. About 2 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with Chronic Compartment Syndrome. I had begun to get back into running and was training for a 5k. I had stopped running for about 6 months after our wedding, house remodel, moving, job hunting, etc. Before that I ran 20-25 miles a week; 5-6 miles a day and I was a good 20lbs lighter. I loved running. It made my days better, relieved stress, allowed me to eat like a pig, and helped me feel accomplished. So when these symptoms starting occurring regularly I was extremely distraught. I went to an ortho and was "unofficially" diagnosed. I balled my eyes out when he asked, "have you tried riding a bike". If you're a runner then you might have some idea of what it would feel like to have someone tell you'll never be able to run again. Cue downward spiral of a bunch of crap I just deleted.

BLAH - BLAH - BLAH - BLAH - PITY PARTY GOES HERE

In November 2011 I found a new othropedic surgeon who made an "official" diagnoses (do not watch that video if you're squeamish…it's not me in the video, but this is what happened). Diagnoses confirmed, and I'm dead set on having surgery - I miss running that bad. They only do one leg at a time for us normal, unpaid worker-outers. The surgery went well. The pain wasn't that bad, but of course I was pretty drugged up. I was in bed for an entire week. I got caught up on so much Grey's Anatomy. After the cast was removed I was put into a "walking cast" that I absolutely hated. And then…

On Valentine's day Matt and I started p90x (romantic, huh?) and I started to run a little bit. I could do a few miles at a time, but never consecutively without experiencing tremendous pain that would leave walking funny and hurt for weeks at a time. Fast forward to now and I still can't run. It's taken me a this long to come to terms with the fact that I can't run. I just can't. It's been a difficult uphill battle for me. I've experienced more depression than I'd like to admit, gained more weight than I'd like to realize, and alienated myself from friends and family. With that said, it's time to get my rear in gear! We recently joined a gym and I'm back on the elliptical, something I've openly hated on, but I'm coming around to it. I'm trying my best to have no regrets and to start over. And, hey, at least my scar looks better, right?

The Worst Trends of 2011

2011-12-30T18:08:00.000-06:00

In the midst of all of the blog posts about the best of the best from 2011 I thought I'd offer some reprieve from seeing the same things over and over. In case your thinking "uhhhhh how can anything be better than this year….it was so amazing….I got married, I had a baby", etc….well, let me give you something to look forward to. NOT seeing this crap EVER again.

Pink hair.

Are you kidding me? How was there more than one celebrity sporting this look? I'm not surprised to see this on Katy Perry, and Diana Argon, well, let's just hope it was for Glee, but Rachel McAdams?! What were you thinking?! 1995 called and wants their Manic Panic back. You should be ashamed!

Harem Pants.

Unless you want to look like an adult baby who just pooped their pants, please ditch these! It's called a trend because it's short lived. Let's hope that applies in this case. Rihanna's aren't that bad, I guess, but miss Kruger! Your diaper needs changing.

Backpack purses.

I went on a rant earlier this year about how if I saw this on anyone I'd most likely rip it off their back and shove it in the nearest trash can. When I envision this taking place it's always at the fair (let's face it, watching obese people roll around in their Rascall's with a footlong corn dog half way down their throat is what gets us through the summer in Oklahoma.), and the person ALWAYS looks like that. Wedgie and all. So, if you've been contemplating this purchase here's what you will look like with a tiny backpack on your (adult) back.

Planking.

I'm pretty sure this girl was uncomfortable while she placed her boobs and toes on those posts so I'm pretty sure she was aware of how dumb she looks. Well, guess what.. You do look stupid. Why is this funny to people?! WHY?? People have died from this. I understand how evolution works, but apparently plankers don't? Idiots. I blame the internet. It makes us all dumber. I'm a little bit dumber for just looking at her.

If this doesn't get you excited for a new year full of new disgusting fads, I don't know what will.

Some other awful fads I'm looking forward to saying good-bye to: "winning" - we get it, Charlie Sheen is a crazy crackhead. Those Kardashian's. I cringe at the thought of that family making money from their brain numbing shows. "Tebow-ing" - I'm pretty sure God is supposed to love everyone equally..did you get that memo Tim Tebow? From Hollie: Crop tops (yuk!), Katy Perry, and rainbow/colored ombres. <-- that's actually a thing? Stuff like that makes me happy to live in Oklahoma where the craziest thing in fashion is wearing heels while shopping. Oh no she didn't!

What were some of your least favorite moments of 2011? Sometimes it feels good to rant, huh? Now shake it off and get excited for 2012!

A Gaggle of Memories

2011-12-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

Well, I hope you guys can read that because I'm too lazy to make the type larger and this took me an entire day to do. To sum it all up, 2011 was a pretty eventful year. Matt and I traveled, saw lots of friends get married, celebrated our 3rd anniversary, but 7 years together, tried new things, had a lot of "firsts" and had some very sad moments as well. As 2012 quickly approaches I've been thinking of a few resolutions….

In 2012 I hope to:

Travel, even if it's a road trip to Tulsa

Fill my house with more flowers

Try new recipes & continue to cook those that I love

Buy things I love when I can

Stop to smell the roses…and coffee

Design more stationery and get a website up and running

Try really hard to shop local

eat healthier and foods that are organic

Spend more time with my family

and with my friends too

Pamper myself

Tie more bows

Make more faces

Drink more champagne

Smile and laugh more

Be happy

Acknowledge that I'm luckier than the average bear and be thankful for that

Donate more money to good causes

Workout more often

What are some of your best memories from this year? What resolutions have you made?

To Remember

2011-12-28T13:54:00.000-06:00

via

As we approach the new year I'm reminded of all of the things that happened this year and in past years. It's good to remember this for yourself as well as for others. Renewal is good for your mind, body, and spirit. Forget the past and start something new this year.

I'm putting together a year in review post and trying to get my butt to the gym today so I'm going to AFK for a bit.

What were some of the worst trends of 2011? I'll be putting a post together for this.

Sip of the Bubbly

2011-12-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

What you'll need:

- A bottle of champagne, any kind will do
- Campari - italian liqueur 100% worth the price
- Angostura bitters (find it in your local grocery shop on the drink mixers aisle)
- Sugar cubes or a teaspoon of sugar
- Lemon peels
- Champagne glass

Put 4-5 drops of bitters onto the sugar cube or teaspoon of sugar in the bottom of the glass. Add champagne, filling glass almost completely full. Top with Campari, approximately 1 tablespoon. It should be a nice reddish color like this one. Take 1 lemon peel and twist it over the glass & run along the rim of the glass. Drop the peel into the drink. Enjoy.

This drink is delicious! It's the perfect sip for ringing in the new year. I mostly just use Cook's Extra Dry when I make mine, but when I can I splurge on Veuve-Clicquot or Moet. What's your favorite holiday spirit?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas & holiday weekend! What did santa bring you? My mother in law got us a Polaroid digital camera that prints wallet sized photos right out of the camera. Like an old Polaroid, but in the digital age! It's really fun. I also got lots of other wonderful things I had been pining over. I'm a lucky girl. :)

A Little Hello

2011-12-23T10:41:00.000-06:00

It's about to get real over here. Time to clean, run last minute errands, and mentally prep for the next few days. It's gonna be a little hectic, but trying to squeeze in every little bit of time to see friends and family is definitely worth it. So, I just wanted to pop in and say hello and wish you all a

very Merry Christmas. Whether you're traveling or staying close to home,

I hope each and everyone of you have

safe travels and may all your Christmas wishes come true.

Pop some bubbly and enjoy your time with your family and friends.

And enjoy the time you spend unplugged. I'll be back here on Monday.

I have some really fun stuff planned to wrap up the year.

Hell Yeah That Just Happened!

2011-12-22T16:00:00.000-06:00

How to Peel a Head of Garlic in Less Than 10 Seconds from SAVEUR.com on Vimeo.

Apparently it's video day here at And Everything Nice. Is that not the coolest thing ever?

Celebrate the Eames

2011-12-22T11:18:00.000-06:00

I have a feeling that a lot of you have seen this clip floating around the internet lately. It's so cool, and if you're a mid-century modern lover then this is a must see for you. Plus, isn't it kinda cool to know Ice Cube studied architectural design? I think so. The full episode aired earlier this week, and I didn't get to see it, but you can watch the entire episode here. Oh, and his opinion on the 405 and 110 freeways is funny…because it's true.

Enjoy.

p.s. I'm aware my posts have been somewhat lackluster lately. I have a recurring knot in my neck that never goes away and it's been even worse lately. I've done physical therapy (a couple years ago) and it did nothing for me. I wake up some days and can't turn my neck to one side or the other (it likes to move around), and this is the 3rd week in a row that it's been really acting up. So, I'm spending less time on the computer (causes it to be even worse because of tension) and more time trying to mend it. If anyone has any remedies other than ice, heat, and pain meds let me know. Even a shot of morphine didn't really help but for a few hours. I'd love it if I could find something to bring more relief quicker!

Family Time Fashion

2011-12-21T11:20:00.000-06:00

I'm still in disbelief that it's December, let alone the end of December. Are you kidding me? Christmas is Sunday?! Dear perpetual clock, please slow the cuss down. With that said, I am looking forward to spending time with my family, and I'm always happy to see the out-of-towner friends. If it were socially acceptable I'd wear some variation of pj's everyday and all of my outfit posts would be pajamas or work out attire. Since it's not acceptable, I try to dress pretty darn close to it. My go-to outfits consist of jeans, a top (a sweater in the winter), and flats. Which is exactly what I plan on wearing Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Ok well, I don't have the outfits planned per se, but that's just semantics.

Ask anyone who knows me IRL and they will tell you that this outfit is something like the clothes I wear ALLTHETIME. I don't wear button-ups, though J.Crew and Madewell are starting to influence me to wear them.

Shop:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven

Do you have a "go-to" outfit? If so, what is it?

Happy Wednesday blogettes!

Inspiration Board: Feminine Glamour

2011-12-20T09:22:00.000-06:00

image credits: cake, heels in the air (grrrr tumblr!), bride, mason jars photographed by jose villa, tablescape, bouquet featured on style me pretty photographed by Anna Kuperberg, boutonnières, unable to find sources for: table setting and honeycombs - if you know the source, please let me know.

I'm not a very girly girl. I tend to gravitate towards more masculine decor when it comes to my house. My own wedding was designed around bold colors and modern details. I like simplicity and clean lines. However, if you've been reading for awhile then you know most of my inspiration boards are frilly. Somehow my taste is becoming girly more and more. I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's the abundance of super feminine details on pintrest and after seeing so many of these glamourous and girly images I just can't help but be drawn to them. Or, maybe my taste is just changing. It's probably a bit of both. All I can say is that I want to incorporate more girly things in my house. Nothing major, no pink walls or anything like that, but some pretty milk glass vases, mercury glass light fixtures & votives, and curtains with lovely patterns or ruffles.

How has your taste changed?

Font Friday #13 + A Guest Post About Booze

2011-12-16T11:32:00.000-06:00

Hello font loversss! This font might be one of the best FREE (yep!) fonts I've ever found. The entire Novecento family is gorgeous! I love me some sans serif, modern fonts. And Novecento Wide has 5 free versions. When I came across these I literally said "ooooohhh" and "aahhhh", and I hope you do too.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Friday and a great weekend. Can you believe Christmas is almost here?! I can't! Where does the time go?

Check out the rest of the amazing Font Friday group: And follow along on Twitter. We're fun.

ALSO! I almost forgot. Yikes, where is my brain? I'm guest posting today over at one of my favorite-ist blogs, Creative Index! I'm sharing some delicious adult beverage recipes to start your holidays off right!

click it

We Have a Winner Folks

2011-12-15T09:37:00.000-06:00

Hollie how have you hijacked my giveaways like this? Actually I was not aware that you follow me on Tweeeeeeeeter. That's a flat out lie. If you follow us on Twitter (here and here) then you know we talk quite a bit. About mullets, STD's (Save the Dates! Get your minds outta the gutter!), and she told me she doesn't want me to have any friends on Path. Nice, right? I know, I love this lady. And I promiseeeeee I did not rig this giveaway.

p.s. Yes, that's some of my Christmas wrapping. I know you were wondering.

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts: A Blogger Swap

2011-12-14T08:45:00.000-06:00

I kinda love the Cold Hands, Warm Hearts blog swap. In it's 2nd year, I was excited for this one! The idea is to send another lovely blogger a pair of gloves (tis the season), and then some other goodies that they like. Sandy and Ilene are two of the nicest bloggers ever. This year I was paired up with Piper. She's such a sweetheart! After reading about her and swapping some emails I honestly couldn't think of someone who better deserved some goodies this Christmas season. She gives most of her time helping others, so it warmed my heart to shop for her.

Plus, I got some pretty awesome things too! I love, love my gloves! We may have gotten each other the same ones. :) Also in my box of goodies: Christmas clings (guess I didn't take a great picture), Starbucks vanilla instant coffee (also not pictured, but YUM!), cute earrings, bath salts, cranberry scented candle (mmmmm), a little notebook, hand warmer wipes, annnnnnnnnd drum roll please: a big 'ol bag of Tootsie Rolls. Yep. Love. I may or may not have eaten them over the course of a weekend.

Piper, I can't thank you enough! I'm so glad we were paired up so that I could meet someone so sweet and giving. I hope you've been enjoying your gloves and other goodies. I hope you and your family have such a wonderful Christmas.

Go check out what I sent Piper!

'Til next year Cold Hands, Warm hearts!

Party Hardy

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven

Are you excited to ring in 2012? You know, since it's the end of days and all that jazz? Ok, no I don't really believe that. But there's no reason we shouldn't dress like there's no tomorrow. I don't have very many opportunities to get all dressed up, so I like to take advantage when I can. I don't yet know what we're doing for NYE this year, but I don't mind looking for outfits in the mean time. Most definitely it's going to be freezing so I like to opt for pants over dresses or skirts. Yeah, even though I know I'll be indoors for 99% of the evening. Plus, they're more comfortable and there's no need to worry about sitting properly. Accidents can happen when there's booze involved. That's all I'm saying. So, if I had a gagillion dollars in the bank this is what I'd buy. That Alice + Olivia top will be in my dreams tonight. Thankfully those gorgeous booties are in my preferred price range. What do you think? Do you opt for skirts/dresses or pants? Do you know what you're doing for NYE? Can I come?

How The Glitz Stole Christmas: Blog Swap

2011-12-12T09:39:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! I participated in 2 blog swaps this Christmas season. Today is How the Glitz Stole Christmas, a swap put on by The Bargain Blonde and A Momma's Desires and Pacifiers. I was paired up with Lisa of Got Good Love. I was excited to get my package in the mail and here's what it had inside. Ornaments, name tag holders, nail polish, nail file. I got her lots of glittery goodies too…hopefully she will be sharing soon.

Later this week I'll also be sharing my Cold Hands, Warm Hearts goodies! I watched The Help yesterday and I have to say…not nearly as good as the book, which is usually how it goes isn't it? Have you seen The Help? What did you think?

Well Done: Blogging for Charity

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

images from Charity: Water website

It's that time of year again! Time and time again I've been amazed by the blogging community and the power it holds in times of need. If you're new around here you may not know anything about Charity: Water. What is Charity: Water?

"charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. " - Charity: Water website

Last year Lauren and Keely started a blogger campaign to help build water wells in Africa that kind of rocked the blogging community.
Visit Charity: Water to learn more about the organization and how you can get involved.

Lauren writes:

What if today,

we all of forfeited our own daily blogging indulgence

and offered an escape to someone
who lives in the realities of third world living.

If all of my readers donated $5.00 to the cause that would be a total of $1,035. That's amazing! It only takes $5,000.00 to build a well. That might seem like a lot, but it's nothing compared to saving lives by giving them clean water. So, what say you? Ditch that Starbucks today and donate $5.00. Trust me, it's worth it. After you've donated be sure to go to Aspiring Kennedy and grab a blog button.

If you've stopped by expecting to see some wonderful font love for Font Friday, I am yet again not participating (I'm so sorry I haven't been partaking lately!), but I hope that you've stayed long enough to read about this campaign. I hope you will help me in spreading the word!

Thursday Giveaway!

2011-12-08T10:56:00.000-06:00

Happy Thursday!

I'm so happy to share this giveaway with you today. MFAM on Etsy is a super cute shop full of wonderful handmade necklaces and bracelets. I love her use of color!

How to enter:

Follow And Everything Nice through GFC or Bloglovin'. Go to MFAM and tell us what your favorite piece is for 1 comment.

Extra entries:

Like And Everything Nice on Facebook.

Follow @theniceblog on Twitter.

Tweet about the giveaway.

(ex. tweet: Just entered a #giveaway for a handmade necklace @theniceblog!)

Giveaway will close Wednesday, Dec. 14th and the winner will be announced later that day.

Winner will be chosen at random by random.org

AND! There's more!

Now through 12-14-11 enjoy 20% off of any purchase (including custom orders) at MFAM with code:

NICEBLOG1

Sweet, huh?

Currently Obsessed

2011-12-07T12:20:00.000-06:00

Bloggy friends meet Currently Obsessed. What is Currently Obsessed? Well, it's a place where you can stalk (aka follow, like, love) your favorite fashion bloggers (that's me) and the items they are currently obsessing over. Get it? It's really cool and a great way to connect with some awesome bloggers. I like to describe it as a "Pintrest for fashion", and like Pintrest, Currently Obsessed is invitation only.

But, lucky you (!!); I have invites to give! Here's what you do: go to the site and enter this code: And_Everything_NiceObsessed

Right now I have 25 invites to give now and will get more once those are used up. Be sure to let me know if you join so that I can add you to my stalker list!

Already a member? Stalk me! (the only time it's totally normal to happily tell someone to stalk you…)

Gift Guide #7: More …For Her

2011-12-07T07:30:00.000-06:00

Design Sponge At Home // Dipped Earrings // Lavender Bath Products // Navy Poncho

Sequin Scarf {similar} // Polka Dot Undies // Rifle 2012 Botanical Calendar // Spotted Satchel

Welcome to the end of this year's gift guide and a happy Wednesday too! So glad it's Wednesday, but I wish it were Friday. It's already been a doozy of a week. How's your week been? Unbelievably I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping! wooooo…but seriously, I don't usually finish early. I have had a bit of a fiasco with a certain Rifle order that had a cute gift and my Christmas cards for this year. I don't know if it's going to make it to our porch. Boo hiss! I'm so bummed. I was really looking forward to getting those pretties in the mail and sending them out. I had decided to buy this year instead of designing my own. It's hard to design for yourself! (ahem..frequent blog design changes..) I guess I might be looking for some new Christmas cards. Do you know of an online store with cute cards? (no photo cards, please.) My fingers are crossed that today goes by quickly!

*Update: The winner of the Son of Sailor giveaway is:

#15: jessica {creative index} said...

follow you through GFC! and i love that shop! love their bracelets... and the prints too!

Congrats Jessica of Creative Index! I will email you shortly to get your info.

Fashion (In Case You Need An Excuse)

2011-12-06T09:16:00.000-06:00

An excuse to shop for yourself. I'm one of those weirdos that loves to give, but I'm also somewhat greedy. So while I'm shopping for my nearest and dearest I can't help but find things I want for myself and I thought I should share it with you. It's my gift to you! With the holidays come holiday parties. Although I'm probably not going to any, (sad?) I'd love to buy something glitzy for New Years Eve. Honestly, there's not a better time to wear your finest and glittery-est. I think everything here is to die for, but I'm especially loving the skirt and blazer. What do you love?

shop: THEORY blazer // KAIN modal tee // TOPSHOP disc earrings

JASON WU clutch // TOPSHOP baroque skirt // CHINESE LAUNDRY platform heels

Happy Tuesday bloggy friends! Have you entered the giveaway yet?

Snapshots

2011-12-05T10:13:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! Here are some of what's been happening with me lately. I got to use our wedding china for the first time on Thanksgiving. Super exciting. ;) We've started decorating the house and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. My birthday goodies came in: new sunglasses, leopard print flats, Kate Spade earrings and a pretty necklace all from Piperlime. Matt also got a new truck last week! He's been wanting a truck for awhile now. I didn't know trucks could be baller, but a couple people called it that on Instagram. It is pretty fancy though. Yesterday we bought our Christmas tree. We're going to decorate it tonight. Can't wait!

What did you do this weekend? More gift guides coming this week!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

A Friday Giveaway Double Whammy Up In Your Face

2011-12-02T07:30:00.000-06:00

I feel very strongly about this: that spectastic title needs a horn honking (of the clown on a bike variety if we're being specific) while you read it.

And a very merry Friday to you bloggy friends! I am so very thrilled to share this giveaway with you today. Finding this handmade jewelry and print design shop was love at first sight. I'm sure that most of you are familiar with the Son of Sailor shop. And if you're not you should definitely hop over and check it out. But first you should most definitely enter to win this lovely lariat bracelet with a custom initial hand-stamped brass pendant!! <---------- DO IT!

How to enter:

- Follow And Everything Nice via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin'

- Leave a comment telling me just that and please leave your email address so that I can contact you in the event you are the winner winner chicken dinner & check out their shop and tell me

what you would love to buy.

Extra entries:

- Like SOS on Facebook

- Follow SOS on Twitter: @hitheresos

- Tweet about the giveaway mentioning SOS and AEN: Example tweet: "Just entered an awesome #giveaway from @hitheresos on @theniceblog"

- SHOP! Buy an item, let me know & I'll confirm with SOS

- Like AEN (that's me) on Facebook

- Follow @theniceblog (that's also me) on Twitter

sometimes i'm funny, but mostly i'm sharing TMI and my hatred for showers

*This giveaway will end Tuesday, Dec. 6th & the winner will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 7th.

Winner will be chose at random using random.org.

Good luck to everyone!

And last, but most definitely not least:

I'm hosting a giveaway at Hollie Takes Notes. I'm dead serious, you read that right. What for, you ask? A custom designed header for one ever so lovely reader. How fun is that? So go enter. This is so valuable it's priceless. ;) I'll make your header design dreams come true! Two giveaways in one day. What a nice way to start your weekend. Plus Hollie is one of my favorite people I've never met. She's pretty much the whole package. Smart, funny, pretty, sincere, honest, thoughtful, open to the idea of a rainbow colored mullet with a rat tail. I know, the real deal, right?! I look forward to reading her blog every day. You will too!

Things I Didn't Learn In Home Ec

2011-12-01T07:30:00.000-06:00

I never took Home Ec in high school. Did you? If only the 29 year old me could tell the 15 year old me that someday I'd be staring down into the depths of a washer wondering what to use to clean that funky smell that wasn't there a few years ago. I'd have saved myself a whole lot of trial and error. I'm not specifically referring to any one household chore. I'm talking about, well, pretty much all of them. When I was in high school, and even in middle school, learning how to cook, sew, and clean were the furthest things from my mind. Can you say drama enthusiast (not of the thespian nature) and boy crazy? Home Ec was an elective which means I elected to not take it. I know if my mom is reading this right now she's probably sitting back and saying "I told you so." and "You should have listened to me." as well as laughing. Lately it's become even more apparent that there are so many basics I missed out on learning, and I'm guessing that I'm not the only one. I'm not saying I was a spoiled brat who never had to clean or do chores. I was a spoiled brat for other reasons. My mom taught me how to scramble eggs, make french toast, dust often, not to call boys but to make them call me, vacuum, the wonders of Comet, and how to fold towels in a presentable manner. You know, you're basic necessities for summer vacation survival.

Somehow, though, this is not enough to survive in "real life" (whatever that is), and sadly I didn't realize that "when I grew up" I'd actually want to be the one to cook meals and clean the house. I guess I have some control issues? I always said something like "a man that cooks for his wife is the new housewife", or something ridiculous like that. Little did I know that I'd be the better cook and baker. As well as picky about how the house looks….also, knowing where things are. I hate trying to find my elastic hair ma-jigs because I didn't clean the bathroom. It's hard enough to remember what they're even called. Recently I found myself waist deep in the washer wondering how to get that moldy smell out of there. Did you know you need to clean the washer drum every few months? We've had ours for 5 years. I've never cleaned it. I thought that's what washing does? Baking Soda was a staple in my childhood home, but I have no clue what it was used for other than keeping produce fresh longer. I had to have my mom come over to show me how to put Crisco on foil, make a tent around the turkey, tie it's legs and cook it. There was at least one "you never took Home Ec, did you?" coming out of my mom's mouth. I find myself wondering if our generation has thrown Home Ec to the wayside. Who needs it, we thought, we will have robots cleaning our house in the future! Well folks, it's the future and I'm here to tell you that there are not flying cars and there are no robots to clean, and no pills to take in the place of food. How Back to the Future looked realistically futuristic, is beyond me. When I'm not trying to find my own version of Rosey, I find myself turning to Pintrest (when I can't ask my mom) for every how-to in the book. Since we spend the majority of our time on the internet, it's easier than flipping through the pages of…I don't really know what…some Martha Stewart magazine, I guess, and it's more fun. Here's my theory on why: somehow the American educational system focused more on "organizational skills" and "thought process" than actual "utilitarian skills" (double negative?), thus making lists a la Pintrest more rewarding than the actual practice of doing. Example: I've organized some basic skills that will come in handy when you live in a 4 by 4 structure. Don't ask if I've actually done it though. I most likely haven't.

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight

*I have tried to provide the original article to each image. If you see that I haven't given proper credit, please let me know.

I'm putting forth a sort of 'call to arms'. It's important for us to know how to make cleaner out of basic household ingredients. Relying on large companies to do it for you may end up hurting you. If the economy does fall into a depression-type era, think of how much money you will save when you know how to make your own cleaner. Not to mention using more natural, plant-based, recyclable products is better for the environment. There are far too many lab made chemicals going into the earth, onto our clothing, and in our mouths. Too many pre-made, pre-cooked, pre-boxed, and pre-canned things. If we don't learn basics how can we ever expect our children to? I can't even tell you how rewarding it is for me to cook a meal from scratch. It's absurd how rewarding it is and it makes me feel old for caring. I guess I'm just getting old. Who's with me? If only we could gather the best of the best and make a book….

Gift Guide #6: For the man in your life

2011-11-30T11:06:00.000-06:00

wood grain iPhone cover // leather coin holder // camera tape dispenser // knife set

mustache flask // J.Crew luggage // money clip // BBQ set // iPhone amp dock // wooden watch

BeerTender // military laptop cover // J.Crew cashmere cardigan // Stash camera case

ROOK tee // maple dip board

Gift Guide #5: For the Home

2011-11-29T09:55:00.000-06:00

Left to right:

Burlap Curtains // Canisters // Mason Jar Light Fixture // Tin Candle (similar) // Vase

Vintage Jar Candles // Spotlight Lamp

My major want on this list is the burlap curtains. I've mentioned a little bit about "adultifying" our bedroom/house, and I think these would be perfect in our bedroom! Hope everyone's week is off to a lovely start!

Get In The Holiday Spirit

2011-11-28T09:33:00.000-06:00

Just some fun links to get you in the holiday spirit and through your Monday!

Thankful

2011-11-24T13:07:00.000-06:00

From my family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! May you gorge until you pass out.

On A More Personal Note

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

You know that feeling when things in your life are happening, spinning out of control, and there's nothing you can do about it? That's been the last 5 weeks for me. I know it's not fun to be a downer, but this is my life right now and if I can't talk about here, where can I?

Early Tuesday morning my grandma passed away. A little over a month ago she learned that her battle with Lymphoma had returned and she had a mass on her lung. A couple weeks later she suffered a massive stroke and was in ICU for awhile. She was moved to hospice care a week or so ago. This sort of situation is never an easy one. It's very hard for me, and a lot of my family, to comprehend the path that our bodies take when they leave the living. I'm lucky that I haven't had to experience many deaths that were close to me, but when I have it's always been sudden. I struggled with the worry that she might be scared or in pain these last few weeks. And then with the weight of the worry that my mom was hurting. It's a lot to take in, and it's never easy. There's nothing easy about a death of a loved one. I hope she wasn't in pain or scared. I take relief in knowing that' she's no longer suffering. She lived a healthy and fruitful 85 years of life. With 5 children, and lots of grandchildren, there was not a lack of love and happiness. In times like this I am reminded to be a better friend, wife, daughter, sister, cousin and to tell those close to me that I love them. And to do it often. Knowing something is going to happen and actually experiencing it are two different things. It never gets easy.

Never forgotten and always loved. She was pretty, wasn't she? The photo is of her and my grandpa, who passed away when I was one.

And because I can't end this on such a sad note…

Sunday Matt and I went to his parents farm to get some old drill bits and got to say hello to these pretty gals. My in-laws have quite a bit of land not far from our house and they have 3 horses. Sadly, last week they had to put down one of their horses, Derby, who was a thoroughbred retired race horse. They're down quite a bit less than they used (they had somewhere around 6 or 7 when Matt and I first started dating) to have and minus Donk the donkey. Wendy, the brown horse, is super sweet and likes people a lot. She wanted to be by us the whole time we were there. I haven't been out there in too long so it was really nice to see the horses…even though they had some serious flatulence going on. haha. Aren't they pretty? Next time we go out there we will have to bring them some carrots. I think they were disappointed that we didn't have any.

Also, that pug. I love him so much. Every day he warms my heart and makes me smile and squeal "you're so cute!" like I've never seen him before. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by

such beautiful animals.

Inspiration Board: White Wedding

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

images via , via , via

There's no other season that goes along with your white wedding better than winter. It's been way too long since my last inspiration post. I almost feel bad about it, but blogs ebb and flow with the trends and seasons. I think it's a perfect time to transition from summer and fall fashion into all things winter. With Thanksgiving, Christmas, and blog swaps quickly approaching I know most of us are feeling (maybe) a little bit stressed. Spending oodles of money at one time can have that affect on people, you know? :)
So, with that in mind, I thought it was a perfect time to give your burning-online-shopped-out-eyes a little pixelated rest with some seasonably appropriate imagery. What's not to love about weddings, babies breath, cake, tulle, snow, fur stoles, and white flowers?

I hope your week is shaping out nicely! Is anyone traveling for Thanksgiving? If so - travel safe! I can't believe it's this week! I also can't believe that Thanksgiving falls on my birthday this year. 2011 has gone far too quickly for my taste.

Gift Guide #4 (Under $30)

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

Top to bottom, left to right:

MARC JACOBS DAISY EAU SO FRESH rollerball perfume // STELLA MCCARTNEY rollerball

MARC JACOBS DAISY rollerball perfume // J.CREW glitter Iphone case // ETSY chevron clutch

J.CREW red gloves // J.CREW bangles // KATE SPADE vase // PHILOSOPHY gift set

OPI glitter polish // LORAC lip gloss set

Miss Hollie requested a gift guide for $30 and under. I thought I would oblige her because I like her a lot, and it's also a really great idea. For me, when you need to buy affordable gifts for multiple people Sephora might be the best place to go. Each of the sets are under $30 and can be broken up to make multiple gifts. Combine a nail polish, gloss, & body wash for a great gift for a co-worker, friend, dirty santa or all and you might even have something left over to keep for yourself. Jackpot! Etsy is also a great place to find affordable handmade items.

Do you have a go-to shop for items under $30? If so, please share! Would love to know of some other great places.

How was your weekend? I had a pretty good one, thanks for asking. In light of all of the family stuff I've had going on I've decided to cook and have Thanksgiving at our house this year. Eek! I'm a little nervous as this will be the first time for to ever cook a turkey. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm probably going to need it. In other news, Matt got me (us) a gym membership for my birthday. Yay! After not having one for over a year I'm more than ready to back into it. I can't wait to start doing spin classes again. Maybe I will finally start to lose all of this weight I've gained in the past couple of years.

Giveaway winner will be announced later today! YAY!

*Update - The winner of the giveaway is comment #8 by Anna of In Honor of Design. Congrats Anna!

Anna of IHOD said...

I follow you on twitter:)

C'est La Vie

2011-11-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

via

Just a little pick me up for your Saturday.

Long Live The (Wedding) Details

2011-11-18T13:04:00.000-06:00

If you're involved in the wedding industry and frequent wedding blogs then you're probably somewhat aware of an ongoing debate. Being trendy for your wedding is entirely up to you. Mason jars aren't going to break the bank. Burlap is beautiful. Vintage is a staple in our lives. Those striped straws are just so darn cute! Why not showcase it if you can and want to?

Long live all of the details.

images via and via

Is this really what we want to fight over in regards to marriage? How about the fact that same sex marriage isn't legal but someone like Kim Kardashian can have a $10,000,000 wedding and get divorced in 72 days because she knew she was making a mistake walking down the aisle? Who's really ruining 'the sanctity of marriage' here? And wedding details are our problem? I don't think so.

And that's all I'm going to say on this subject. Thanks to Jacin at Lovely Little Details for inspiring this post. I wasn't going to speak out on it, but I think it's important to show support for my industry and people and blogs that I love. Something I've been repeating more frequently than ever is "I hate the anonymity of the internet. I hate that people say mean, nasty things to others or about others because they think there's not a consequence." Internet bullying is just as bad as real life bullying. If you don't agree with something why make a comment at all? What ever happened to if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all? No, we're not children anymore, so stop acting like one.

Font Friday #12

2011-11-18T08:51:00.000-06:00

I was doing my usual hopping around on the internet when I cam across this article. 10 new free fonts? Sounds good to me! Duke & Tall Boy were my favorite ones in the group. I just love the Lost Type Co-Op. The design is so cool, and their fonts are really great. I need to give them some money! I kind of always feel bad when I type in '0' for the amount.

Check out the rest of the amazing Font Friday group: And follow along on Twitter. We're fun.

So earlier this week I asked Matt what day Thanksgiving was on. Turns out its on the 24th which is my birthday. D'oh! Is it sad that I don't know how many years this happens? I think it's every 7 years, but my mom is all "I think it's only happened one other time." I'm pretty sure she's wrong though. Does anyone know? I didn't want to celebrate my birthday. I'm depressed. Turning 29. Ugh. Now it looks like I'm going to have to. Our friends throw an annual Thanksgiving party. I think this is the 5th or 6th year. We used to dress up but the older we get the less interested we are in coming up with themes. The first one was an 80's theme, then wind breaker suits (which I smartly called "Breaking Wind"), WT/ghetto, ugly Christmas sweaters, pilgrims and indians (which Matt and I missed because we were on a cruise), and Mardi Gras. This year is "Occupy Thanksgiving". Best costume wins a prize. The first year Matt and I brought this disgusting set of Jones Soda Holiday Edition in "Thanksgiving" flavors (like gravy and brussels sprouts. It was a huge hit and super disgusting. It looks like they have less gross flavors now. The winner opened them and shared it with everyone. There was some vomiting and gagging. It's always a lot of fun and gives us a chance to hang out with all of our out of town friends. One year we got just a little out of hand and I may or may not have used duct tape to make a very large (male) body part on my friend's garage. I used to have it on Facebook/Myspace. But I deleted that stuff when my ENTIRE family decided it was cool to friend me. Including my Grandpa's second wife. Yeah. Do you all do anything with your friends on Thanksgiving?

Happy Friday Bloggy friends!

Holiday Gift Guide #2 & #3

2011-11-17T08:02:00.000-06:00

Top to bottom, left to right:

Cutting Board // Decanter // Glass Bottle // Copper Utensils

Wood Coasters // EAT Napkins // Wood Grain Pitcher

Uhhhhh…do you think I have a thing for all things wood related? I didn't even realize until I was linking all of this. At least it's all pretty, right? When we were in NY this July (and here, too) we ate at this really cute cafe and they had those glass bottles on each table filled with water. You could just refill your water glass yourself and, I guess it's where I'm from, but this struck me as a really neat thing. Where I live we snap and holler (holllahhh) at the waiter to refill our glass and then when it takes them longer than 5 seconds we complain and say something like, "Well they won't be getting a good tip. Hmph." So imagine me sitting in this cafe reveling in this glass bottle on my table. Anyway, more places should implement this and just nix the whole "refill my water before I have an embolism" thing.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Quinoa 365 times? Yes, please. I'm obsessed with Terrain. Their design aesthetic is envious.

(top to bottom, left to right)

Bakeware / Knife Set / Lavender Flowers / White Truffle Sea Salt / Peppermint Bark

Quinoa Cook Book / Frankies Olive Oil / Wild Sage Honey / Wooden Spoons & Holder / Tart & Sweet

What are your favorite "foodie" gifts?

Fighting the Winter Blues

2011-11-16T07:58:00.000-06:00

Happy Tuesday bloggies! I'm linking up with the lovely Marissa of The Boot and telling you all about my winter beauty musts! By the way - Marissa, I'm just now realizing what The Boot is referring to. Ha - I'm a little slow sometimes. Living in Oklahoma during the winter can be BA-rutal! We have blizzards, ice storms, random days that are 80 degrees…the weather here is just crazy. When things get real around here I struggle with everything. Getting out of bed, showering, leaving the house, you get the point. But, I'm with Marissa on this one. I'm determined to stay active this winter and feel good inside out. These are just a few things that help me get through those tough months.

1. A knit throw. Perfect for curling up by the fire and watching a movie.

2. Ugg slippers. I know, I know they're so 2003 or whatever but I'm not wearing them out (but I'm not saying I've never done that either). They're warmer than socks, guys!

3. A snood! A. I just like the name. It makes me think of board games…no idea why. 2. It's like having a nice snuggly blanket wrapped around your neck all day.

Side note - I typed that and this immediately popped into my head.

“Wearing a turtleneck is like being strangled by a really weak guy, all day. Wearing a backpack and a turtleneck is like a weak midget trying to bring you down." - Mitch Hedberg

another side note - if you get the "A ______, 2____" we should definitely be BFF's.

(pssst. it's Jason Stackhouse and his brain doesn't work too good.)

4. Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel. Or as I like to call it, Miracle Cream. This botanical wonder serum instantly brightened my skin, especially under my eyes. And I mean a very noticeable difference. Bonus: it smells amazing!

5. Clinque All About Eyes: This whole turning 29 in a week and being that much closer to 30 has me taking extra time to moisturize and treat the eye area. I love this stuff.

6. Starbucks Pike Place Roast. Mmmm, nothing is more comforting than a delicious cup of coffee. The Pike Place Roast is what put Starbucks on the map, and I have to say that other than the coffee I had on my honeymoon and have never been able to recreate, this is the best tasting coffee.

7. Coffeemate Sugar Free Vanilla creamer. However, I can't drink coffee without some creamer. I blame it on all of the mochas and lattes of my past.

8. Chapstick! Winter means moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Unless you live somewhere tropical. If that's the case can I come visit?

9. Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia - Not only does this remind me of my trip to Tahiti, it makes me think of Spring and Summer and, well, that's always nice.

10. Bare Essentials High Shine eyeshadow: It packs a punch and the metallics help warm up your skin tone. (I'm pale and freckle-faced. I need this stuff.)

11. Benetint - This iconic cheek stain is a must. Get those rosy cheeks without the cold wind!

12. Bumble & Bumble quenching shampoo and conditioner. Do you see a theme here? Moisturize. My hair gets really dry during the cold months, and this stuff is really great and the scent is heavenly.

13. Aveda Hand Relief. Again with the lotion! Sheesh…this is getting repetitive! Again, smells amazing. I like to put it on before bed, take a deep breath and breathe in the soothing scent. So relaxing.

14. Smashbox Luminizing Primer. I was skeptical at first, but then I put it on and went "ooooooooo". It's like a little hint of bronzer under your makeup and made the circles under my eyes disappear.

15. Mascara - If I leave the house I need to at least have mascara on. It always makes me feel a little bit prettier and more awake.

What do you use to keep the winter blues away?

P.S. Thanks for the awesome feedback yesterday! I'm still putting together "guides" so I'm going to be sure and address the questions! Keep checking back!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Holiday Gift Guide, Issue One

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

My friends, the holiday season is almost upon us. This year I've decided to put together a gift guide for everyone under the sun. Starting with this issue I will be posting pages a few days a week. Do you have someone you need to shop for but don't know what to get? Leave a comment below about it and I'll give you my best gift ideas. I love buying presents for others and I love finding things I think will speak to the individual. It's important to think about who you're buying for. When you get them something personal it lets them know you've been listening and you care about them. Making people happy is always fun, right? Do you have anything specific on your Christmas wish list?

Items listed left to right, top to bottom:

MADEWELL top, CHRISTIAN LOUBATAIN ankle booties, KENNETH JAY LANE crystal earrings, PHILOSOPHY pure grace body wash, PHILOSOPHY coconut frosting body wash, PHILOSOPHY cinnamon buns body wash, TOPSHOP faux snakeskin flats, MAC makeup brush kit, DOLCE & GABBANA the one, MADEWELL pen pal scarf, MARC BY MARC JACOBS crystal embellished watch, TOPSHOP laser cut gloves, SUPER sunglasses, DKNY textured leather bag

Monday Giveaway!

2011-11-13T17:06:00.000-06:00

Bloggy friends,

If you're thinking "another giveaway?!" That's right. Another giveaway. It's the last one for awhile and the most valuable yet! Meet Rock Show, a newer Etsy shop with handmade jewelry by J.E. Boender. I love these edgy pieces and it's use of natural materials and phenomenal beadwork. I was ecstatic at the thought of having this giveaway on my blog and I'm so excited to have Rock Show here today hosting this giveaway! Let's give Rock Show a warm welcome from the blog world by checking out her shop. It's loaded with amazing necklaces. One lucky reader will win the necklace above, currently selling for $78.00! I seriously LOVE this necklace. Entering is easy! You don't have to be a blogger to enter and following via Google Friend Connect (that's the box on the left with all of those pretty faces) or Bloglovin' only takes a few minutes.

You must be a follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin'.

Leave one comment for each entry:

Visit the Rock Show shop and let us know what you'd like to own. Please specify whether you follow via GFC or Bloglvin.

Follow @theniceblog on Twitter.

Tweet about this giveaway including @theniceblog and a link to the giveaway.

Ex. tweet: Just entered an awesome giveaway for a gorgeous necklace

on @theniceblog! http://bit.ly/vY0zqc

Also, you can tweet straight from here. There's a little Twitter icon at the bottom of the post on the left.

Like And Everything Nice on Facebook.

This giveaway will close Sunday, Nov. 20th with the winner announced on Monday Nov. 21st.

Winner will be chosen at random by random.org

Good luck to everyone! I definitely wish I could enter in this one!

Winning on a Saturday

2011-11-12T11:32:00.000-06:00

It's fun to win things. Even better when you're elected by a friend in the bloggy world. I was extremely flattered to learn that the sweet Ivana over at Style in the City had given me an award called the Liebster award. The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word meaning dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Thank you Ivana for the nice award. You're too kind.

So, here are the rules for the award:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love, too!

I choose these blogs:

1. Lauren of OK Lauren

2. Tammy of Lemons, Avocados, and Bay

3. Amanda of Amanda's Daily Obsessions

4. Carissa of Mean Maharani

5. Christine of Barefoot with Champagne

Here's to 200!

We Have A Winner

2011-11-11T15:34:00.000-06:00

Jess of Mike & Jess in ~~Malta~~ Halifax is the winner! Check our their blog as well. It's fabulous!

I will e-mail you shortly!

Be sure to come by on Monday for yet another giveaway!

Font Friday #11

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Font Friday loverlies! I have the mega hots for this typeface, Paris by Moshik Nadav Typography. It's called Paris and I think the name is wonderful and befitting. You should definitely click the link above and look at all of the other cool versions of this typeface. You think it's perfect too, right?

I could not be happier about it being Friday. It must be the time change because every day this week seemed to linger longer than it should have. Whenever I would look at the clock I was always shocked at how much earlier it was than I had thought. I welcome a lingering weekend though!

You still have time to enter the giveaway! I will be announcing the winner a little later today. In case you were wondering if there would be yet another giveaway next week, the answer is yes. Yes, there will be. And it's the biggest one yet!

Check out the rest of the amazing Font Friday group: And follow along on Twitter. We're fun.

Closet Staples

2011-11-10T10:52:00.000-06:00

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN scarf / TOMS sunglasses / J.CREW grey cardigan / ANTHROPOLOGIE little black dress / VINCE CAMUTO peep toes / AG skinny jeans / BLU MOON kimono jacket / SASS & BIDE rats leggings* / HELENE BERMAN tuxedo blaxer

*Sass & Bide is sold out online. Ebay would be the best place to find them.

I'm reading this book, Falling for Me: How I Hung Curtains, Learned to Cook, Travelled to Seville, and Fell in Love by Anna David. I just finished the chapter detailing how she changed her wardrobe from one full of cheapie stuff bought on a whim to one with a smaller amount of clothes, investment pieces that can help every outfit. It got me thinking. If I look in my closet I find clothes from Forever21 with the tags still on, things bought on sale because they were on sale, and a lot of things I don't actually wear. For instance, the black blazer I have was cheap and doesn't fit me very well. Wouldn't it be better to save up for one really nice blazer that's worth getting tailored to fit you perfectly? I'm thinking yes and the one up there went on my wish list instantly. Anyway, Anna, the author of the book (not me), goes to a shop in NY that she frequents and gets the owner to help her go through her closet and takes her shopping. When I read that the store owner thought an Alexander McQueen skull scarf was a must have I laughed out loud. I want that scarf so bad!! But…it's $450! Seems a bit extreme for a scarf, right? On the other hand, scarves don't really go out of style so why not have one that you will wear forever? I do have a few things up there; grey cardi, non black heels, black skinny jeans, & oversized sunglasses. I'm loving her approach to clothing and decorating her house. It makes me feel less like a grownup though and makes me want to have a major closet and home makeover. We are working on what I'm calling "adultifying" our bedroom. But I'll save the for another post. So, are there any staples I left out? What items do you think every girl should have?

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!!

Winner will be announced tomorrow!

Photo Montage

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Weddings, sunsets, and more. Life feels more active, but less busy. That doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's how things feel lately. Maybe it's because the insufferable heat has lifted and I can go outside without feeling like I'm walking through air made of quicksand on fire.

That sunset is filter-free. Oklahoma really has some gorgeous sunsets. If only there were an ocean, it'd be absolutely perfect. My fingers are still crossed in the hopes of Texas breaking off, becoming an island and giving us Okies a beach. No offense to Texas. It just happens to be in the way of my beach. With these earthquakes we've been having anything's possible. winky face.

This past Sunday was in the mid 70's and we decided to wash our cars in the driveway. Of course the next day it rained. SIX INCHES! I'm not joking when I say the weather here is crazy.

I bought myself an early birthday present from myfavoritestoreeverrrr, Nordstrom, and got them in yesterday. They're so pretty. How cute is this handbag? It's on sale too!

So what's been going on in your life lately?

Have you entered the giveaway?

I Spotify. Do you?

2011-11-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

design by And Everything Nice

Playlist: The Good Ish

Brought to you by Anna. You're welcome.

It's kinda funny that I've been blogging for over a year now and I've never really talked about music. How does that even happen? If you know me IRL then you know how much I love music and finding new tunes is somewhat of a career for me. However, I have this problem of wanting to find things first, before anyone else knows about it. And then I have issues sharing. Not even kidding. I yelled at a girl for copying me….in kindergarten. Apparently I've always been this way. For the record, I like sharing (most) things these days. Also for the record and in my defense, it's hard to find things that make you unique and different from your peers and for me, music and fashion made me stand out from the rest of my friends and classmates. It should come as no surprise that I like indie music. I mean, I like to find things before anyone else. Is that not the definition of indie? Does sarcasm translate well on here? While the tubes have helped me find new music, and living in California didn't hurt either - way more bands and way more venues - they (the tubes) have made it easier to find good music. As little as five years ago a band like Foster The People probably wouldn't have made it on the radio after playing Austin City Limits just months before. It took longer for bands to circulate. And, not to complain…ok, yes I'm complaining just a wee bit, but it totes takes the fun out of the hunt. But, you know, I'm coming to terms with that. So when I learned about Spotify a few months ago I was eager to check it out. Other than myspace - haha who's still on myspace - you couldn't listen to a whole song unless you purchased it. Spotify is F-R-E-E! You can make playlists and listen to a band's entire album, share it on Facebook, and see what your friends are listening to. Now, if you want Spotify in your car or on your phone you have to pay a monthly fee. Anyway, it's tres chic! One of my favorite features on Spotify is the 'related artists' tab. So, since I've made a career (feel free to pay me) of finding music and making bomb dot com playlists, I thought, "why not share?" If you work on your computer all day like I do having music is a vital part of my creative process, and all creative's process'. Let me know what you think! I might make this a regular thing here on the blog. Sharing playlists, that is, not ranting about how I can't be unique. ha.

Have you entered the giveaway?

Monday Giveaway! + A Winner

2011-11-07T00:42:00.000-06:00

Meet Michelle. Founder of Michelle Smith Designs, a multimedia artist, prop stylist, and pattern designer based out of North Carolina. She is also the founder of Rock & Shop Market, an indoor shopping, music, and fashion event showcasing local bands and designers. Whew. That's a lot to have under one's belt! Michelle also runs an Etsy shop. One of the things that I love about her work and her shop is the variety of mediums she works in. From pillows and paper, to necklaces and more, there's something for everyone! Her press features are super impressive as well; Real Simple, Design*Sponge, Decor8, and Hallmark to name a few. I couldn't be more pleased to have her on my blog, sponsoring this giveaway! One lucky reader will win a chevron necklace in their choice of color.

Entering is simple!

How to enter:

Required: (one comment)

Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' & leave a comment specifying how you follow and let us know what your favorite item in Michelle's shop is.

Please leave your email so that I may contact you.

Extra Entries: (one comment for each entry)

Like Michelle Smith Designs on Facebook.

Follow Michelle on Twitter.

Tweet about this giveaway. Example tweet: "Just entered a #giveaway @theiceblog for a chevron necklace by @femininemodern! www.andeverythingniceblog.com"

Follow And Everything Nice on Twitter.

Like And Everything Nice on Facebook.

This giveaway will end Thursday, November 10th at midnight (central standard time) and the

winner will be announced Friday, November 11th. Winner will be chosen at random by random.org

Good luck to everyone!

And the winner for the Scarlett Garnet giveaway:

Hollie! I cracked up when I saw this because of your comment.

It pays off to do all of the extra entries, huh?

I'll email you shortly.

P.S. Strange things are happening in Oklahoma! Not only is it still warm, but Friday night around 2:00 am we had an earthquake. It registered 4.6. I was asleep but it woke me up towards the end. It gets better. Saturday we had an aftershock of 5.6! It was around 11:00 pm and we had just finished watching the extremely boring LSU/Alabama game and were watching the news when it happened. It was scary! Things rattling, light fixtures swaying, pug crying, and it lasted for over a minute…pure nuts! There's a funny video floating around of Kirk Herbstreit that was filmed on-air while it was going on. His eyes! Haha, it cracks me up. But really, it was cur-razy. We have suffocating hot weather, tornadoes, ice storms, blizzards and now…earthquakes? I need an ocean view (and a house built for earthquake absorption) if this going to start happening!

Friday Giveaway!

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to have Scarlett Garnet hosting this fantastic giveaway today. Their jewelry has been seen on this past season's Project Runway; worn by designer Laura Kathleen! Is that not the coolest?! You can read about their involvement on their blog. They are celebrating 5 years of business and it's no surprise that they've been so successful! I mean, just look at their line. It's gorgeous! Congratulations to them on 5 years of business and lucky you! They are giving away this metal chevron necklace valued at $58.00 to one lucky reader! I'm so in love with this necklace…I wish I could enter in this giveaway myself! Read on for the details….

Required: (one comment)

You must be a follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' & go to Scarlett Garnet and tell us what your favorite item is.

Yes, I am aware of how hard this is going to be for you.

Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you.

Extra Entries: (one comment for each entry):

Like Scarlett Garnett on Facebook

Tweet about this giveaway including @theniceblog & @ScarlettGarnet

(example tweet: Just entered a #giveaway for @ScarlettGarnet over at

@theniceblog for a chevron necklace!)

Follow @ScarlettGarnet on Twitter

Follow @theniceblog on Twitter

Like And Everything Nice on Facebook

This giveaway will close Sunday, Nov. 6th at midnight central standard time

& the winner will be announced Monday, Nov. 7th.

Winner will be chosen at random by random.org.

Good luck to everyone!

The winner from Wednesday's giveaway is:

comment 3: LisaJ said...

I tweeted about the giveaway!

I will email you shortly!

Catch Some Sparkle

2011-11-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

one / two / three / four / five

I just love wintery colors! I don't know who in the world thought up that old "you can't wear white after labor day", but thank goodness that kinda stuff doesn't matter! Nothing says winter to me more than something fluffy and white and sparkly. I found Krochet Kids a few months ago and immediately bought Matt and myself a knitted beanie. They did not disappoint. They're hand made, chunky knit, and just gorgeous. This company is empowering women empowering the women of Northern Uganda with the assets, skills, and knowledge to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. With this investment into true empowerment we are breaking the cycle of poverty and dependence on outside humanitarian aid. The result is long lasting and sustainable change.* I just love this. As an Art History major in college we had a huge emphasis on Africa. When you learn about more than the little bit you hear on the news, it's hard to not care. I can't go to Africa and help myself (in another life I'd probably be in the Peace Corps), so when I find out about things like this I give what I can. With the holiday arriving I love knowing that the gifts I give to my loved ones can help others.

*taken from the Krochet Kids website

P.S. I wanted to give everyone an update on my grandma. She's been in the ICU since last week. Her stroke went from significant to massive pretty much over night. She was unresponsive for the most part until Monday. She's paralyzed on her left side as well as blind in her left eye. She is unable to speak, but she has been able to write a little bit. Mostly she's writing names as if to ask if they're there with her. To be honest, it's been a very difficult thing to deal with and it's been hard to understand exactly what's going on &amp and what's going to happen. She was taken off of the ventilator yesterday and is breathing on her own. This is good news, however, she's not going to get better. The Dr.'s didn't expect her to make it through last weekend. Even if she did, her Lymphoma has come back and she has a heart condition that will keep her from being strong enough to undergo chemo. Yesterday she was moved out of the ICU and into another room in the hospital. In times like this I am thankful to have my large, albeit somewhat crazy, Italian family around. Having all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins at the hospital has been very comforting. My grandma is a fighter, and a very strong woman. She's had an amazing 85 years of life.

Your kind words have been much appreciated. I'm reminded over and over again of how grateful I am to be a part of this blogging community. And I just wanted to say thank you. You have no idea how much your kind words and support means to me.

Oh - and tomorrow I have another amazing giveaway! This etsy shop was seen on the neck of Laura Kathleen throughout her duration on this past season of Project Runway!! So cool!!

Wednesday Giveaway!

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

I absolutely adore this shop! Dirdy Birdy is such a fun name too. Her shop is full of wonderful things, including homemade and vintage items! Everyone loves having one of kind pieces, right? With the holidays around the corner why not get a head start? Head over to Dirdy Birdy and get that perfect stocking stuffer. Or, buy something for yourself. Wait, how about both? One lucky reader will win a pair of these gorgeous beaded chevron earrings courtesy of Dirdy Birdy. I'm so thrilled to be hosting this awesome giveaway here today! Read on for the details….

Required:

You must be a follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' & go to Dirdy Birdy's shop and tell us what your favorite item is.

Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you.

Extra Entries: (one comment for each entry):

Like Dirdy Birdy on Facebook

Tweet about this giveaway including @theniceblog in it.

(example tweet: Just entered a #giveaway for chevron beaded earrings @theniceblog!)

Follow @theniceblog on Twitter

Like And Everything Nice on Facebook

This giveaway will close tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 3rd at midnight central standard time

& the winner will be announced Friday, Nov. 4th.

Winner will be chosen at random by random.org.

Good luck to everyone!

And the winner of Monday's giveaway is comment 4: Sarah! Congrats Sarah!
I'll send you an email shortly!
*please note that 2 comments in the giveaway were omitted due to duplicates and a
sweet comment from the host of Monday's giveaway.

I Design: Letterpress Wedding Invites

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

all images belong to And Everything Nice, LLC

Well, that blurriness going on in the bottom image is exactly why I need a real camera to photograph my work. Some photo lessons probably wouldn't hurt either, dontcha think? Me thinks not.

Lisa & Tim were married last month at the Oklahoma City Farmer's Public Market. It's a great venue with lots of history and is perfect for a large wedding. It's super spacious. Trees were used throughout the wedding, and birds, birdcages, and bird seed were seen throughout the reception. We wanted to design something that had a vintage feel but still came across as a formal affair. I absolutely love how the invitations came out. They're so classic. I had these printed on a letterpress machine out of state. In New York, actually. I priced a ton of different places and Gilah Press was the best priced for the nicest paper available (that would be Crane Lettra 220, friends) and I couldn't be any happier with the result. To see them in person is to really be able to tell how amazing they are. Since we used such a thick paper we were able to print text on top of copy without anything showing through the back. The paper itself is pretty amazing. So soft I could use it for a pillow. Gilah Press was really great to work with. Super nice and very customer friendly. I would love to use them again. We flat printed the programs and they look great too. I'll try to shoot some photos soon to share. I'll also try to get some photos from the wedding up. It was so gorgeously coordinated by Lindsay Gibson of Gibson Events & shot by Aaron Snow Photography, so of course it's gonna be good folks!

Are you in need of a design and you like what you see? I'd love to work with you! Shoot me an email at annaelder[at]ymail[dot]com and I will get back with you usually within 24 hours.

Psst. Have you entered the giveaway yet? Winner announced tomorrow! You may also want to check back tomorrow even if you didn't win….because I've got another giveaway for you!

Monday Giveaway!

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

You guys, I'm so so so excited to introduce LindaLu Designs to you! Based out of Pasadena, CA (pretty much favorite place in the WORLD!) she designs the cutest jewelry and whips up gorgeous crocheted beanies and scarves. Take a looksie:

Aren't they cute?! This would be a great Christmas present to someone (or just for yourself)!

So here's the deets on the giveaway:

Required: (one comment)

You must be a follower of this blog via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' & go to LindaLu's shop and tell us what your favorite item is.

Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you.

Extra Entries: (one comment each)

Like Linda Lu Designs on Facebook

Tweet about this giveaway including @theniceblog & @lindaludesigns

(example tweet: Just entered a #giveaway for @lindaludesigns over at @theniceblog for a pair of suede chevron earrings!)

Follow @lindaludesigns on Twitter

Follow @theniceblog on Twitter

Like And Everything Nice on Facebook

This giveaway will close tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 1st at midnight central standard time

& the winner will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 2nd.

Winner will be chosen at random by random.org.
The required comment + extra entries comes to a total of 6 comments to increase your chances of winning.

Good luck to everyone!

LindaLu Designs is also offering 15% off your entire order through the whole month of November!
Stock up on some sweet gifts and stocking stuffers for Christmas. Or treat yourself!
Enter NICE15 at checkout.

Happy Halloween!

Get Your Link On

2011-10-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

I really wanted to post some links for you yesterday, but if you didn't notice I've kinda had a post overload. I'm always finding such amazing things (the majority sent to me by Matt) on the tubes and I get itchy to share. So, I thought I'd do it today! And it's quite appropriate for Halloween.

A TrueBlood fountain in Romania.

beetlejuice, beetlejuice, beetlejuice! minimalist art movie posters. (and an all time favorite movie.)

2,000 suspended dandelions

Old Hollywood meets new Hollywood. Is that not amazing? Audrey Hepburn & Natalie Portman merged as one.

UFO tree house.

Happy Halloween!