Valentine's Day Fashion Inspiration

The one day of the year we can wear red, pink, hearts and glitter and not look like a 5 year old. Embrace it, ladies! -xoxo

Spool 72

Recycle Buy Vintage

Old Navy

Dear Golden

Modcloth

Giant Dwarf

Anthropologie

Do you dress up for Valentine's Day?

New Year, New Fans: Facebook Party

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I am having so much fun meeting my readers and new creative ladies in the blogging/handmade/vintage community! One last party now...Facebook.

 1. "Like" my page on FB - I'll "like" you back

Tips:

• You have to follow from your personal page for it to "count". 
• This is what I do...follow with both my personal & my biz page, then I hide all the posts on my personal page & interact with my biz page. 
• Say hello, by writing on the page's wall with your personal page and "tag" your biz page.

2. Link up your Facebook page below  

*Again...if you don't plan on following back, please don't link up.

3. Hop around and visit/"like" each other on FB

4. Tweet/FB about this party to help get the word out  

Come say hello to me on Pinterest &/or Instagram - username: lizekstrom. I'll follow back there, too!

currently craving: arrows

aisle to aloha

miju and you


heather kent


native shop


wander sketch

with care goods


datter


heather future


betwixxt


slippin southern


melanie favreau

Be on the lookout for arrows when the shop reopens on February! I'll be back later with insta-friday.

48 Questions & Ask Me Anything

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Good morning! I want to thank all of you who filled out my reader survey. There is still time if you haven't ;) What I've learned is that The Blue Eyed Owl community if VERY diverse. You all come to this blog for different reasons. I had originally developed the survey to help streamline content.  Well, if anything, it made it harder to determine what is the best/worst things about this blog. 

Then I realized, I LIKE MY BLOG the way it is! It's a little all over the place, because I'm a little all over the place. It's constantly changing and growing, because I am. I like a lot of different things, my tastes are very eclectic and always evolving. So, instead of catering to the needs of all my readers (which would be impossible), I'm just going to be true to myself and post what I love.  Hopefully you will all stick around. 

small talk studio via etsy

My friend Gina wrote a wonderful post on struggling to stand out when there are "too many cooks in the kitchen" and please others in her business and blog.  She too came to the conclusion that she just needs to be herself. Very inspiring!

Another very helpful thing that came out of my survey were the questions that people asked. I plan on doing a full Q&A post in about a week to address those. I'm asking you to PLEASE add to that. Ask me ANYTHING in the comments or shoot me an email. 

My friend Mindy did a fun little post where she answered 48 questions about herself. I'm snagging them because I thought it was so fun. Hopefully this will help you get to know me a bit more, and help you come up with some more questions for me ;)

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30

2. How do you like your steak? Medium rare...nice and juicy. Do you still love me Diana!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

4. What is your favorite TV show? I watch a ton of TV so this is hard. Probably Breaking Bad or Mad Men. All time favorite is probably The Wire though.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? New Orleans (hub's hometown)

6. What did you have for breakfast? Smoothie & oatmeal from the Love Food: Lose Weight E-book

7. What is your favorite food? Rich comfort food; think Lobster Mac, Steak & Pototoes, Greasy Pizza. Oh, and sushi, lots of sushi.

8. Foods you dislike? Peas & lima beans. It's the texture.

9. Favorite place to eat? In the world...Bayona in NOLA : Local...D'vine (wine bar)

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch or fancy vinaigrettes 

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Nissan Rogue & Chevy Silverado

12. What are your favorite clothes? Anything from Anthropologie

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? NYC (how have I never been there?)

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full always

15. Where would you want to retire? Wherever my kids/grandkids are

16. Favorite time of day? Evening

17. Where were you born? Suburbs of Chicago

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football!

19. What is your favorite fragrance? Whatever is gifted to me. I have NEVER bought perfume and I always have it. Maybe my friends and family are trying to tell me something...

20. What is your favorite face cream? Rose Hip Whip from a local spa

21. Favorite baby/kids products? Books!

22. People watcher? Yep, and I love it. I make up stories about peoples lives.

23. Are you a morning or night person? Depends on the day

24. Do you have any pets? Macy Moo the Rescue Mutt- love of our lives

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Always...Shop launch, Junk Restore Market, Creative Estates, 30 Day Shred, New eating plan, etc. I could go on :)

26. What did you want to be when you were little? It changed daily. The best was a sanitation worker.

27. What is your favorite memory? All of Bailey's milestones

28. Are you a cat or dog person? NOT a fan of cats. I wish I was, can't do it.

29. Are you married? Yep. 3 years next month.

30. Always wear your seat belt? Yes, always.

31. Been in a car accident? Lots actually.

32. Any pet peeves? Too many. Trying not to focus on negativity.

33. Favorite pizza toppings? Mushroom & bacon. Try it.

34. Favorite flower? Calla Lilly

35. Favorite ice cream? Anything with caramel & chocolate

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Taco Bell or In & Out

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None. My dad made me study like it was the SAT's!

38. From whom did you get your last email? Bailey's online reading program. 100% on her test :)

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Etsy

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Errrr...I've been boring lately. 

41. Like your job? Love it!

42. Broccoli? Yes! Even better with cheese.

43. What was your favorite vacation? Honeymoon and both trips to New Orleans

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Hubs

45. What are you listening to right now? My chewing. Gross.

46. What is your favorite color? Aqua

47. How many tattoos do you have? 3 & more to come

48. Coffee drinker? Yep, with vanilla almond milk & stevia 

Are you bored yet? Ha! Okay ask away, what do you want to know...

DIY Valentine Inspiration

My Pinterest board is full of all kinds of diy & foodie ideas I want to try. Check them out...

www.ohhappyday.com

www.onecharmingparty.com

www.greylikesbaby.com


www.marthastewart.com


www.creaturecomfortsblog.com

www.justlovelythings.blogspot.com

www.designsponge.com

www.laurawinslowphotography.com

Check out my Pinterest board for more inspiration ;)

New Year, New Tweeps: Twitter Party

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The New Year, New Friends, Blog Party was a huge success! I thought it would be fun to all become tweeps too! I have a bit of a twitterdiction. I love to connect online. So, this time here is how it's going to work.

1. Follow me on Twitter - I'll follow you back

2. Link up your twitter homepage below


*If you don't like to follow back, don't link up please ;)

3. Hop around and visit/follow each other on twitter

4. Tweet about this party to help get the word out


Should we do Facebook, too? This is so fun!

Liz's Twitter Tip: Make sure your bio line says something about your blog or your shop (if you have one). I follow EVERYONE back who has something to do with the blog/handmade/vintage community. But, if I can't see that clearly, I may mistake you for a porn star - just saying. 

{what i love} 1.21 & a winner

This Valentine's Day coffee cozy from The Cozy Project.

This Diana lens & adapter for my Nikon DSLR.



These antlers. I need a pair for a little project.



The "Share the Love" linky party series! Great prompts for fun Valentine's Day posts!



This vintage textile from 2 Market 2...dreamy.

The Momma Bird's post on utilizing social media to help promote your sponsors.

The list of blog conferences on Just Lovely Things...great resource!

I hear my reader quiz is pretty fun to take ;)

I'll be back in a few with a new blog party & tomorrow with a huge group giveaway!

My Diet Motivation Tip: Rewards

I am super excited about getting healthy this year. You know that is one of my 12 in 2012 goals. Even though it's something I am determined to do, a little extra motivation doesn't hurt. I like to motivate myself by getting little rewards for reaching certain milestones.

I recently bought myself some gifts from Mama's Nest Designs and from the Modcloth Cabin Fever Sale. The catch...I can't really have them until I reach a certain weight. So here is how I'm going to reward myself.

I'm going to go ahead and put my starting weight out there for the world to see as well... embarrassing!

Starting weight: 170...bleh


Gift for reaching 160:

This necklace from Mama's Nest Designs

Gift for reaching 155: 

This bag from Modcloth

Gift for reaching 150:

These wedges from Modcloth

Gift for reaching 145:

This dress from Modcloth

Gift for reaching 140:

This dress from Modcloth

It helps me to buy the items first and then not allow myself to wear them until I reach my goal. Staring at that cuteness in my closet will be an extra motivator. Maybe I'll even make a sign that says, "Hey Fatty, get on the treadmill so you can wear this".  Plus, there is the added motivation of wasting money. Those dresses won't fit me unless I reach those milestones. I will be so mad at myself for spending the money on them, if they go to waste.

After 140, I will be aiming for 130. Then I'll allow myself to splurge ;)


So, do you think I'm crazy? 
Would you buy clothes that are to small as a motivator to lose weight?


P.S. I have big plans for how I'm going to arrange my closet for extra motivation...stay tuned!

New Year, New Friends: Blog Party

Rule42 on Etsy

I have been thinking of an easy way to check out my reader's blogs and get to know some new creative ladies. I think a good ol' blog hop linky party might be just the ticket.  So here's how it's going to go down.

Step 1: Follow my blog 

Step 2: Link up your blog - I will follow everyone!

Step 3: Hop around and get to know some other members of the Blue Eyed Owl community.

Step 4: Spread the word about this linky to your blog and social media pals so we can all make some new friends!

I'll leave the linky up for a couple of weeks and then maybe a FB or Twitter party...we'll just have to see ;)

{what i love} 1.14

Watercolors by Caitlin McGauley found via Caitlin Wilson Design. 

Chrissy's post about the "givebox." Such an amazing concept.

These new arrowhead rings at Moorea Seal.

This cute teepee on Jen Loves Kev

This tutorial on Delightfully Tacky. This is happening in my house soon.

Also...

This honest post about motherhood by Joanna on Tricia's blog.

Diana's Top 10 Tutorials Using Items You Have Around the House.

The Jason Wu for Target Lookbook via HuffPost Style.

This post about 29 ways to Stay Inspired & Creative on Oh, Sweet Joy!

And, you know I'm loving art journal supplies from this post.

Have a great weekend!