Lookin' for Blog Love

Ok kiddos.....You heard me! I'm lookin' for some blog love! If you post the HTB button on your blog you can receive 2 extra entries in the current HTB giveaway! And if any of your followers, start to follow HTB I'll give you 2 more entries! So that is a total of 10 possible entries into this give away! So hurry, grab the button and start lovin'!

Lolliposh Consignment Sale & Bazaar Oct 2009

Lolliposh is the baby of friends, entrepreneurs & philanthropists Juliana Ruiz, Alejandra Marrero~Brelage and Lina Uribe. Born out of necessity, the Lolliposh Consignment Sale & Bazaar {which is held 2~ 3 times a year} offers only the higest quality children's clothing brands including Gymboree, The Children's Place, Guess, Ralph Lauren, Janie and Jack, Gap/Baby and many others. You will also find bassinets, cribs, strollers and other expensive items necessary for today's babies at discounted prices!!!

In addition to offering the public high end, brand name clothing and accessories for your family the Lolliposh team focuses on giving back to their community. The $1.00 donation per customer{paid a the door} benefits

The JCC Scholarship Program by helping those in financial need. Last year alone, The Soref JCC, provided over $280,000 to families in need so that their children could attend the JCC preschool, after school or summer camp programs they provide. Consignors are also encouraged to donate any unsold items to the the event charity as their way of giving back to their community.

I am proud to say that Hoity Toity Baby was a vendor at the Lolliposh Spring '09 event and was impressed by the hard work, dedication, organization and professionalism of the Lolliposh team. It was a pleasure to work with each and every person there and I look forward to the October '09 event! I hope to see you and your friends at the

Lolliposh Consignment Sale & Bazaar on October 17th & 18th.

Fall 2009 Sale Saturday, October 17th & Sunday, October 18th

Times: October 16th Private Pre-Sale:6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Volunteers & Consignors Only

October 17th Public Sale:9:00 am - 2:00 pm

October17th: Private Half Price Sale*:3:30 pm - 4:30 pm*select items

Volunteers only October 18th: Public Half Price Sale*:9:00 am - 12:00 pm*select items

Plantation Jewish Community Center6501 W. Sunrise Blvd. Plantation, 33313

For more information visit LolliposhBoutique.com

HoityToityBaby: Mr. HTB to the Rescue!

HoityToityBaby: Mr. HTB to the Rescue!

HTB Spotlight ~ DIY Cakes

{source: Jake McKee ~ Photography}

For anyone who follows the world of celebrity life and celebrity babies you know one of the most important features for your Hoity Toity Baby's birthday party is the cake! Since you've taken the time to pick a theme {I know how hard this can be} why would you just throw together a box cake and call it a party?!

Sommer McKee {of Texas} jumped in head first and decided to take a cake decorating class at her local Michael's store. She recommends it to any Mom with a little bit of time and the desire to make every aspect of your little one's birthday extraordinary!

The birthday girl ~ Ireland

{Jake McKee Photography}

The amazing photograps in this post are the art of Jake McKee

{who happens to be the uncle of this beautiful little girl}

You can see other pieces of his work at

www.JakeMcKeePhotography.com

HTB's Launch GiveAway!

To CELEBRATE the launch of HTB's new look I'm giving away a set of 4 glasses from IKEA!

These super cute glasses feature great design whimsy!

Here's how to enter:

1. Must be an HTB Chic Friend! ~ If you're not, I invite you to become one!

2. Comment about HTB's new look!

3. Grab our new button & post it on your site, then come back and let me know!

4. Post about it on your own blog!

5. Tweet about it!

6. Give us a Shout~out on your Facebook page!

That's up to 6 possible entries!

The giveaway ends at Midnight of September 3rd!

Good Luck!

Under Construction

Please bare with me while I try to get the site organized! As you can see the new design is up, now it's time for me to clean up a bit and get everything moved in and organized! In the mean time, tell me what you think of the new look! I hope you like it!

New Look, New Features, New HTB

As I've told you before the new look for Hoity Toity Baby is coming soon. So I wanted to take this time to let you know about some of the new features I'll be implementing on the new site!

1. The Hoity Toity Baby Button! ~ you'll be able to grab my button & show HTB some love by posting it on your own blog. This will come in handy for future giveaways!

2. CelebriToity ~ This is new for HTB and is a side bar snippet or post show-casing celebrity babies and their style! I'm very excited about this one!

3. ShiShi Baby Gallery ~ This is also new for HTB and is also a side bar snippet or post spotlighting your own Hoity Toity Baby! Either wearing a HTB creation or just because they are Hoity Toity! You'll be able to submit your phots to me and maybe your hoity toity baby will be featured!

4. Item of the month ~ This is coming from the old site! Each month, HTB will feature one of my own creations. These are available for purchase at Shop HTB and may be featured as an HTB giveaway, too!

5. HTB Spotlight ~ This is new and will spotlight new things I find, DIY projects, Coupon/Discount Finds, Party Planning Ideas and anything else that catches my eye! If you have a great idea submit those to me Nicole@HoityToityBaby.com and I'll pass them along!

6. Past Hoity Toity ~ All of our past posts.

7. Chic Friends ~ Where all new friends will join us & a current list of all of HTB's followers!

8. Creme de la Creme ~ A list of all the sites I love.

9. Hoity Toity Sites ~ A list of all the blogs I love.

10. HTB Give Aways ~ We love those!

11. Hoity Toity Twitter ~ You can follow HTB on Twitter, too!

12. Hoity Toity Inspiration ~ Photos of my own HT Babies & Mr. HTB

Mr. HTB to the Rescue!

FINALLY! After living here at HTB Manor for 8 years we are working on our final 2 DIY room renovations! When we first moved into our home {which was built in the late 60's early 70's} we knew there were some renovations that need to be done immediately!

Like the master bathroom.

It is a small bathroom only about 5x8 but the previous home owners didn't use the space for themselves.....

THEY LET THEIR CATS USE IT AS A LITTER BOX!

I mean that quite literally! There were 2 or 3 litter pans in there and it reaked of cat! On top of that it was the original bathroom! Even the shower doors were a disgusting blue & what I am sure, at one time, was clear plastic. I wish we had pictures because you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it with your own eyes! We gutted that bathroom and tiled it with a nice tan tumbled porcelain tile, new custom shower doors and a nice new commode and pedestal sink. It was perfect now, even down to the double shower heads Mr. HTB installed!

After that we did things like replacing the carpet in the master bedroom with wood floors. Most recently we gutted the kitchen {which was also original to the house} and rebuilt the kitchen that anyone would love! See......

~Before~

~After~

Prior to the kitchen renovation, when we learned we were expecting twins we decided to turn the enclosed patio into the master bedroom. It was the perfect idea. Being it over-looked the lake and the back yard. So Mr. HTB {handy man of handy mans} set out to create a master bedroom for us that would be fantastic~

~Before~

~After~

The floor's been raised, the closet is built and the new hurricane rated sliding glass doors are installed~

The wood floors are in and the walls are painted, crown & base are in, time to move in the furniture!

Furniture's in, curtains are hung and it's complete!

It's perfection, in my eyes!

And Mr. HTB is proud of his work...and so am I!

Our latest HOME DIY is the hall bathroom~

This was also original to the house being built. The tub & tile is in excellent condition considering their age. We replaced the matching blue commode about a year or so ago and now it was time to do the rest.

Mr. HTB removed the commode, the vanity {oh, that vanity...wish I'd taken a picture of it}, chipped up the old floor tile & painted the tub & tile with enamel paint.

Here is what we were left with~

And even though there is still some work to finish, here we are today~

The tub & tile are painted a nice, clean, crisp white~

The new 24x24 porcelain tile is installed~

The commode, vanity & lights {including recessed lighting} are installed~

The walls & ceiling are painted {Behr's Aged Beige}

The crown moulding, base board & new bathroom door are ready for installation ~

And then I can accessorise!

The entire bathroom renovation was done for less than $2,000.00!

Mr. HTB....you ROCK!

Hoity Toity Baby's New Look

I was just sent the first draft on the new look for HTB and I am amazed and ecstatic about the work that Lindsey over at Sour Apple Studio is doing! I am just so pleased and excited! So stay tuned. I hope you like the new look as much as I do!

If you are in the market for a new look make sure you visit Sour Apple Studio!

(click on the image above)

Lindsey does amazing work & her prices are great!

You've Got To Be Kidding Me

Recently I realized that my computer's printer was out of ink. Ugh. I hate when this happens. So I packed everyone up in the car and drove to Office Max to empty my bank account in order to purchase new cartridges. As I stood there stunned, once again, at the price of the ink I started thinking....I wonder how much a new printer is? So I strolled on over to the printers and could not believe my eyes. They were actually cheaper than the ink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is dumbfounding! Electrical equipment, Computer equipment is cheaper than the ink! Now, I know a new printer only comes with a partial ink cartridge, but since my scanner on my printer at home was broken, I decided to take the cheap way out! I actually bought the new printer! A cuter, better, newer printer. And it's white! Too cute!

Whatever!

I just found a blog called "Whatever", and I love it! The name describes such a wide array of meanings that I didn't know what I would find when I opened the door into the story and snippets of the blogger's world. What I DIDN'T find was that sarcastic, snotty "whatever" I sometimes feel or even say! What I found was the story of a family of 7 shown in mostly pictures and captions. The "whatever" I found was the "whatever" life throws them. "Whatever" they're doing. "Whatever" they want their lives to be. And it was inspiring to me as a wife, mother, woman, daughter, sister, friend and blogger.

Every now and then we all lose sight of what is important. We let the everyday stresses take over and allow the happy, joyful moments that pop in and out of our lives to go unnoticed or view them as being unimportant at that moment. I am guilty of this. But seeing the fun this family has makes me take pause and reflect on what is important to me! For this, I thank "Whatever". If you can, take a look at their blog.

AND THE WINNER IS

~Bethany~
Congratulations!
You won the August HTB giveaway!
Thanks for following HTB the blog and please make
sure you send us a picture of your
Hoity Toity Baby wearing her jumper!

:)

Last Day To Enter the August HTB Giveaway!

Get your entries in by midnight tonight to win the Hoity Toity Baby August Item of the Month!

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW MORNING!

GOOD LUCK!

WOW!

Wow! I have 32 followers! You have no idea how happy, excited and nervous this makes me. Now, I'm sure you're all here for the giveaways, but I hope some of you are hear because you can relate to some of the postings you find here as well. And if you are just here for the giveaways I welcome you with open arms and hope that maybe, just maybe I can capture your attention and loyal following with some meanderings, too!

If you have recently joined me let me tell you that Hoity Toity Baby (the blog) is currently undergoing a makeover. From looks to content and everything in between. So I hope you stay with me and take part in future giveaways, posts and features! I can't do it without you and to be quite honest....I wouldn't want to!

So I send each and every one of my blog world friends a happy hello, welcome and thank you for taking time out of your busy day to stop by and check out what's happening here on HTB the blog!

Don't forget! When you're here to leave a message! You never know...that comment may win you some HTB swag!

HoityToityBaby: HTB August Give Away!!

HoityToityBaby: HTB August Give Away!!

Only 4 days left to get your entries in! And remember, if you become a follower of Sandwich 365 you get extra entries!

Good Luck!

My Baby Has What?!

Now I knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I'm not the only first time Mom out there that obsessively monitored her baby's milestones. You know the milestones I'm talking about! At 3 months this and at 9 months that. I knew that they were just a guideline and that each baby has their own timeline in which they accomplish things, but lets face it....IT'S SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS! It's in every single book, magazine, pamphlet, and Mommy/Baby show we watched during those long 9 months!

For me it started at the birth of Jake & Delaney. Upon their 2nd or 3rd well check, the pediatrician pointed out that Laney had Torticollis. Immediately I found myself in a funk like no other! WHAT? MY BABY HAS WHAT? Then it was explained to me that she favored her right side. Meaning, her head was always leaning to the right. I was told to take her to a Physical Therapist for evaluation. So I went home, and set up the PT evaluation. They recommend that she have physical therapy twice a week and that they would monitor her progress for me. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH! So twice a week, I put her in a cute little outfit (of course, she's a girl!) and we went to visit the very nice, sweet & helpful therapist. After about 2 months she made mention of the right side of Laney's sweet, beautiful head, it was flatter than the left side. OMG! Now, not only is Laney listing to starboard she's flat on that side too? The therapist recommended that we seek consultation for a helmet for my sweet little pink piece of perfection!

I agonized over this and, I'll be honest....Mr. HTB and I, ah~hem, "disagreed" about this! I, as a Mommy vowed I would do ANYTHING for my children! ANYTHING! He took the father's position of, she'll be fine, you're overreacting!, and said that as a girl, she would have long hair and it would cover the lopsidedness of her head! (BRILLIANT, I THOUGHT!) So after many "discussions" on the matter, we packed our little buggy and headed down into the depths of Miami for a consult at an office that specialized in this sort of thing. They took measurements, photos, scans, did mathematical equations, stood on one foot and whistled Dixie and came back with the unbiased opinion that she INDEED did need a helmet and would be happy to treat her. I was ready to fork over the money, get my kid all geared up and leave. Mr. HTB on the other hand wasn't!

Now, I have to step in here and say this is a norm for Mr. HTB and myself. I am ready and full of gusto when it comes to things like this and many others! He's ready to sit and think about it! Mull it over, get a few (hundred) other opinions and thoughts on the subject before deciding, well, No! It's not necessary. DRIVES ME INSANE! But I digress.....

So we went home. Discussed it a million and one times at sometimes high decibels and then decided that it was slight enough to fore go the helmet. I would be diligent in keeping her off her back and give her as much tummy time as possible in the HOPES that it would correct itself and that she would be "normal". (I know that sounds harsh, but a the time....that's how I felt)

This same scenario presented itself when they hit that magical stage for language. ARGH....I was told she didn't have "enough" words for a toddler her age and she should, most definitely, right now, without a doubt, hurry or she'll never speak at all, have a speech evaluation! (Which, of course our insurance didn't cover) And again, Mr. HTB and I had very different opinions on the subject at hand. But once again, I acquiesced and ......

Jump forward to today. She's almost 27 months old now. And she's is, indeed, perfect! Talking up a FREAKING storm! She IS PERFECT! As a matter of fact, she walks around the house mimicking me....talking on the cell phone, putting hair ties in her mouth & then putting them in her hair, and scolding them! It's the most amazing sight to see! It's, "Mommy, eat!" and "I wanna go outside!" and "Where diagadore (dinosaur) go?". And the newest word is Platypus! I mean, come on! I can't believe I was so worried. She, no, THEY are perfect in every way! And I am blessed and thank God everyday for them!

Blogging Complex

Since starting this little blog. (And by little I mean small. And by small I mean sometimes I have no idea what I'm doing blogging. And by that I mean.....I wonder if anyone really cares what I'm talking about. Because I seem to be mostly talking about my kids, Jake & Laney and giveaways.) I have heard it all! From kudos to questions of why?! So it makes me think. Am I really reaching anyone? And if I am....what do they take away from HTB?!?!?!?!

I have a million ideas for the HTB blog but sometimes I'm not sure how to execute them. In hopes of being inspired I surf the net looking at some fantastic blogs out there in cyberspace and regularly come across blogs that are already centered around those millions of ideas I have. It's all been done before. I get a bit discouraged. Then I think......EVERYTHING IN LIFE has been done before! So I guess I should just jump into it! Blog about what makes me go "hmmmmmm", have a laugh doing it and make some blogging friends along the way!

The first thing to accomplish is a new look for HTB. It's in the works so, CHECK! Second thing, create buzz. Ok....now I think there's been a little buzz out there about HTB so I guess I can say CHECK to this one, too, but I also understand that this is a constant goal! The third thing, GET A FANTASTIC CAMERA! This will have to wait until Santa decides to come a knocking, soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, MAKE CHRISTMAS LIST & BE A GOOD GIRL!

In the meantime, I will continue to explore my world around me. Read a bit more, find inspiration in the things I experience and write it all down here ~ for you to read. I just keep telling myself....if you blog it...they will come! I hope!

Give Aways over at Sandwich 365

BIG News for followers (and soon to be followers) of Sandwich 365!

They're starting their GIVEAWAYS!

Friends can win free lunches, soft-drinks, sandwiches, toys, dishes, linens, lunch boxes, bumper stickers, magnets, t-shirts, hats, buttons, panini makers, art, gift-cards, gourmet condiments, sandwich products & much, much, much, much more, no really, much more!

Just two steps to win
1. Hit the 'Follow' button to become a S365er
2. Leave a comment at the end of any Sandwich 365 posting
from the month of August
After that, you'll automatically be included in weekly drawings to win!

Just think, you may never have to pay for lunch again!!

Any HTB follower that scoots over to S365 & becomes a member will receieve an extra entry into the August GiveAway here at HTB as well!

Daily Contemplations

On a daily basis (not in this particular order)

1. Losing weight (Ok, maybe this is in the right spot)
2. Making Money (any amount would be nice)
3. Putting Jake & Laney in daycare (breaks my heart just thinking about it)
4. What's for dinner
5. Cleaning
6. What's for breakfast
7. Bathing the mutts
8. Bathing myself
9. Bathing the kids
10. Cleaning (did I say that before?)
11. Laundry
12. The meaning of life
13. The meaning of my life
14. World Peace
15. Laundry (I know I said that before)

Preparing for Winter

It feels like it's over 100 here most days, and in some places, it actually is over 100 but I dream of cool autumn breezes and cold winter nights. I wear flip flops EVERYDAY of my life but dream of warming my toes by the fire whilst wearing toasty thick socks! In hopes that one day my silly little dreams come true I'm entering to win a pair of Ugg Boots! Click the button below and you can too!

Capn Keith At The Helm

Capn Keith at the Helm is an indearing story about a brief moment during her visit here last week. I'd love for you to visit her blog and read the story. And, if you're so inclined........become a follower of Spit & Glue

The Wait Begins

Ok, it's done! The Sour Apple questionnaire has been completed and emailed back! The wait begins....

Family A Sandwich and Julie and Julia

Hi everyone. It's been a few days since I've blogged but it's for a fantastic reason! My Aunt Keri came to visit! We had such an amazing visit I hated for her to leave! And so did Jake & Laney. I would post a picture of her but she would purchase another plane ticket, fly down here, and smack me. So it is in complete and utter fear of getting my butt kicked that I will post no such photograph! Sorry. And you're welcome Auntie KK. :)

During our visit we went and saw the much anticipated movie, Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep (as Julia Childs) & Amy Adams (as a woman who cooked her way through Julia's cookbook. Mastering the Art of Cooking, and blogged about it all)! If you're a blogger and you haven't heard about this movie, you're blogging from underneath a rock somewhere! And if you're a blogger ... and you haven't seen it yet ... save that post as a draft and get yer popcorn money out! IT WAS FANTASTIC! We both can't wait to see it again and spent the rest of our time together speaking like Julia Childs! And with out giving it all away I can say .... there was more to Julia than just food! What can I say................. it was fun!

So now, we're working to get back on track here at the HTB house. I'm working on getting a new look for HTB, getting Jake & Laney back on a proper sleep schedule & away from the binkies and gearing up for our annual trip to the Florida Keys!

In the voice of Julia Childs .... "Bon Appetit!"

A New Look for Hoity Toity Baby

Can I get a *Woot* *Woot*? I'm so excited! Hoity Toity Baby is getting a makeover! The sweet & talented Lindsey over at Sour Apple Studio is working her magic for me! I thought this would be sooooooooooooo simple! I know what I like. YEAH, RIGHT! There are so many possibilities. Nav bars, Side bar titles, number of columns. When I got my email from her yesterday asking me to fill out the questionnaire and to return it within 7 days I thought.....7 days...I'll have it back to her tonight! I don't need no stinkin' 7 days! Then I started filling it out. And I thought, SEVEN DAYS? THAT'S BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO FILL OUT NUMBER 7 ON THE LIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I read number 9! Oh, you tricky little number 9! I thought I knew exactly how to answer you. Here is what number 9 asked me: The little bugger!

9. Design Preferences (style, fonts, colors):

And my answer.... Yes! To all of those. I want style, I want cool fonts, I want color (or do I?). ARGH! This is difficult! Tricky, to say the least! I want the makeover to be cool, hip & Hoity Toity, Baby! I want it to draw people in long enough for me to grab their attention and hold it! I want it to be cute, but cool and chic, too! I WANT IT ALL, BABY!

What do you think? What would you like to see here on Hoity Toity Baby ~ The Blog? Leave me a comment and let me know....And remember, leaving a comment this month will enter you to win the Hoity Toity Baby Item of the Month!

Ciao!

HTB August Give Away!!

We're celebrating August!

One lucky HTB follower will win the

Hoity Toity Baby Item of the Month!

And in August it's the Hoity Toity Jumper!

(winner will choose fabric)

The Hoity Toity Jumper is perfect for summer or fall!

Here's how to enter:

1. You must be a HTB follower.

{So sign up if you're not!}

2. One entry per follower per day.

3. Visit Hoity Toity Baby then come back and tell me which is your favorite item

4. Simply leave a comment on any Post dated August 1st ~ August 21st

Contest ends August 21st!

*If your Hoity Toity Baby is a boy the winner will receive a HTB Casual Friday Onesie or T~Shirt!

Good Luck!

The Design Girl Give Away

The Design Girl is hosting another give away! So run, don't walk over to her blog and enter to win!

The Design Girl

This week, the giveaway items are...

{click the links for each item to enter}

A Lucky Fiona Dog collar and leash of your choice!

A preppy travel mug from The Monogram Chick

A "boo" tote bag from i Candie

Pre Made blog template {you pick the colors!}

You have until Saturday, August 8th to enter!

My Nemo!

Talk about a beautiful life. I have the best husband, the sweetest babies (who aren't babies anymore) and I am thankful everyday that I get to call them my family!

The video (which isn't the greatest, I apologize) says it all! Daddy teaching his big boy how to fish! What a sight for Mommy! I love them all so much!

And then there is Miss Laney Bug and her Daddy after she caught her fish off our dock in our back yard!

Hoity Toity Baby Feature

Today both Hoity Toity Baby Boutique and Jake & Delaney's nursery are featured on the fantastic blog Project Nursery! Please take the time to hop over to PN to see our nursery and a few things you haven't seen before! And thanks to Melissa at Project Nursery! Hoity Toity Baby is a fan of Project Nursery for life!

Thank you again! And please go visit both

Project Nursery

&

Hoity Toity Baby