HoityToityBaby

I'm Still Here ~ Are you?

2011-07-28T14:18:00.002-04:00

I know, I've been missing in action for quite some time now. Here's the thing....I'm back to work. And soon I will be back to work 5 days a week in office! And .... Jake & Laney are 4 now. That alone requires much more patience and deep breaths from me! And I don't always succeed in either of those.

HTB the shop has been closed for a while. I've seemed to have lost the excitement and love of it. :( I would love to start it up again, but I can't do a thing without the kids inching their way into what ever it is...so it's hard.

And I guess I'm not the only one who's fallen by the way side. I can't seem to find any of the blog designer's websites out there that I once frequented. Where did everyone go? Has the blogging world used up it's 15 minutes?

I'd love to know if you're all still out there. And if you are...I'll jump back into it all! Clothes and all!

Whatchutalkinbout' Lunch Lady?????

2011-04-11T18:44:00.006-04:00

Chicago School BANS homemade lunches!

NO....YOU DIDN'T READ THAT WRONG!

According to Yahoo news, a Chicago school has actually banned their students (and parents for that matter) the privilege of NOT buying a school lunch. What's the reasoning behind the ban you ask? The principal is quoted as saying,

"Nutrition wise, it's better for the children to eat at the school," principal Elsa Carmona told the Chicago Tribune about the year-old policy. "It's about ....the excellent quality that they are able to serve (in the lunchroom). It's milk versus a Coke."

I would be interested to see the exact lunch menu dumped on these families. And in these tough economic times, the sad part is, for parents and students who do not qualify for the "free lunch" program, the daily $2.25 lunch tag can sometimes be more than the cost of a homemade lunch! Let's not even discuss the cost for parents who have more than one child attending the school at the same time!

I cannot imagine being told that I cannot pack my children a homemade meal. I'm sorry, but a hot dog, tater tots and processed cheese is NOT a healthier option to ham, carrots, crackers & milk! This school has completely lost their mind!

Extreme Couponing ~ Oh How I Adore Thee

2011-04-10T21:41:00.003-04:00

I don't need 150 candy bars or a lifetime supply of body wash but oh how I love the idea of getting the items I use for FREE or next to free! But I have so many questions and no one to ask! I've watched the show...can't one of them come on over to the HTB home and give me a crash course in EC?

These women (and men) do seem to buy a bunch of crap, but the things like cleaning supplies, TP, & some of the beauty products I think would be awesome to have a small stock pile of. Like my shampoo/conditioner, laundry detergent, etc. The things you use everyday and when they run out you sit there and dread going to the store for. I'd love to walk out into my own little personal HTB supply store & pick it up!

HEY TLC ....

SEND OVER

THE CRAZY COUPON LADY

TO TEACH ME THE ROPES!

Keep Moving Forward

2011-04-01T16:11:00.002-04:00

A lot of wonderful people embrace this motto. And lately it's all I can tell myself. I've thrown out "It can't get any worse" because let's face it...it can. So I'm adopting the mantra Keep Movie Forward. Barrel through, girl. And it will prove to be what it's truly supposed to be!

Boy Crazy!

2011-03-31T09:01:00.003-04:00

Crazy about my boy!

Spring Is In the Air!

2011-03-23T16:50:00.004-04:00

At least it is at our house. Besides Laney having her first crush {I'll post about that later} we have 2 bird nests in our front yard.

This little one is nesting just outside Laney's bedroom window.

She is so excited to see the birdie every morning.

Laney explained to me that "those eggs are gonna 'atch like me and Jakey

did in your tummy and I'm gonna hold them!"

This is a Mockingbird nest...which if any of you are familiar with Mockingbirds
know that they protect their nests like crazy by dive bombing you and pecking at your head! The best part is that it is at the end of our front yard just infront of my car!
This will make for a very interesting spring!

CURIOUS BABY WINS THE RACE!

2011-03-22T10:05:00.011-04:00

I'm honored to be guest posting today on behalf of HTB! These ideas and quotations come straight from the one-of-a-kind mind of Mr. Albert Einstein, and offer some delectable food for thought to those responsible for cultivating the hearts and minds of children. Imagine who our young ones would become if these ideas were at work in their supple little minds!

FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY! “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."
Kids are usually curious about everything, so take them everywhere (within reason) show them everything, let them touch stuff, and taste stuff and keep their minds stimulated. The pursuit of curiosity is the secret to success.

PERSEVERANCE IS PRICELESS! “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
If your kids see you work through problems and come to an intended outcome, they'll be willing to stick to what they start too. They'll grow up knowing how good it feels to finish any race they start.

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT! “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”
Tell your kids that they can do anything, but not everything. They'll learn to be present where they are; give their all to whatever they are currently doing. Focused energy is power, and it’s the difference between success and failure.

THE IMAGINATION IS POWERFUL! “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions, and more important than knowledge. It is the true sign of intelligence."

Kids are masters at exercising their “imagination muscles”. Never let something as powerful as imagination lie dormant.

MAKE MISTAKES! “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
Don't make your kids feel bad about making mistakes. A mistake is not a failure. If utilized properly, mistakes will make them better, smarter and faster. Teach them the power of making mistakes.

LIVE IN THE MOMENT “I never think of the future – it comes soon enough.”
The only way to properly address the future is to be as present as possible “in the present.” It's the only time that matters, it's the only time there is. Dedicate all your parenting efforts to RIGHT NOW!

CREATE VALUE “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
Help your kids discover the talents and gifts they possess, and learn how to offer those talents and gifts in a way that most benefits others. Labor to be valuable and success will chase you down.

DON'T EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS! “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
In order for your life to change, you must change, to the degree that you change your actions and your thinking is to the degree that your life will change.

KNOWLEDGE COMES FROM EXPERIENCE! “Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience.”
You must experience a task first hand to “know it.” What’s the lesson? Get experience! Don’t spend time hiding behind speculation. Go out there and do it, and you will have gained priceless knowledge.

Submitted by Keri @ Alwayscurtsywhenyousneeze.com

MIXBOOK WINNER!

2011-03-20T15:56:00.004-04:00

The winner of 30 Mixbook cards is.....

AMY @ TWIRLBIRD!

Congratulations Amy!

And don't forget Mixbook is so awesome they are offering each and every

HTB reader

20% off!

Go to Mixbook.com and enter

HOITYMIX20

when you check out!

It's GIVEAWAY TIME!

2011-03-01T09:21:00.009-05:00

How many times have you ordered photo invitations, birth announcements

or holiday cards online and wished that you could

tweak the design a bit or completely?!

I can HONESTLY tell you that I have said it

EVERY SINGLE TIME I ORDER THEM!

I have secretly ~ OK outwardly ~ wished for a program on my computer that would let me design my invites and holiday cards the way I want them done! But while I can't afford the program that I really wanted I found the next best thing!

MIXBOOK.COMThey have everything!

Photo Books,

Birthday, Wedding & Shower Invitations,

Holiday Cards and

Calendars!

Here is the Birthday Invite I designed for

Jake & Laney's 4Th Birthday Party!

I started with a blank canvas and added the elements

I felt would interpret the fun we will have!

From the shape of card and the background to

the number of pictures and text boxes,

I, truly, designed this card to my liking!

I LOVE

it soooooooooooo much

I contacted the fantastic people at

MIXBOOK

and asked if they would

be interested in giving my amazing readers a

chance to discover the world of

MIXBOOK

and they GRACIOUSLY AGREED!

So here is your chance to discover the world of

MIXBOOK

for yourself!

They are offering ONE lucky Hoity Toity BABY reader

30 FREE CARDS

{any configuration of size, folded or flat, or paper type}

along with

FREE SHIPPING!

But wait, there's more!

They're also giving each and every Hoity Toity BABY reader

20% OFF

Simply use this code at check out

HOITYMIX20

{one per customer}

You know how it all works!

Visit

MIXBOOK!

Browse around and come back to

Comment, Comment, Comment!

Blog it, Blog it, Blog it!

Tweet, Tweet, Tweet!

Refer, Refer, Refer!

Giveaway open to Hoity Toity BABY followers only!

If you blog it ~ comment that!

If you Tweet it ~ comment that!

If you are a current or new follower ~ comment that!

After browsing Mixbook.com ~ comment that!

If you refer new HTB readers ~ comment that!

{leave a seperate comment for each entry you've completed}

Contest ends March 17th @ Midnight!

HAPPY MIXBOOKING!

There's a New Blog in Town!

2011-02-16T19:15:00.005-05:00

And it's right up any girls ally...well any girl that's known a no good, rotten, self obsessed philanderer! Yep on Monday, February 14th 3 witty bloggers banded together and launched Philanderer du Jour.

Philanderer du Jour is the brain child of a fantastic author well known in the blogging world! Joined by her blogger buddies they have set out to tackle the world of philandering men and their escapades.

So make sure you stop by because these women are all over it!

Parents

2011-01-28T19:23:00.003-05:00

We all have them. Most of us are them. But no matter how old we get and how many children we have of our own we all still need our parents. As children we admire our parents. We look up to them and dream of being just like them. As teenagers we view them as dumb over protective snoopers whose job it is to kill our buzz. And as adults (especially in movies) parents are depicted as meddlesome intruders we can't wait to get away from.

I've never felt that way. I've always admired my parents and looked to them for advice. I guess I'm a lucky one. I have the most amazing, loving, good natured, funny parents in the world. The way they love me, my husband and my kids fills my heart with joy. I thank the universe for giving me my parents and hope that one day Jake & Laney will feel the same way about me & Mr. HTB

All I Did Was Blink....

2011-01-14T20:08:00.003-05:00

{mommy}
{stephanie mansueto photography}

{mommy}

{stephanie mansueto photography}

{mommy}

{stephanie mansueto photography}

{mommy}

{stephanie mansueto photography}

{mommy}

{stephanie mansueto photography}

{mommy}

{stephanie mansueto photography}

Modern Portrait Photography at it's Best!

2011-01-04T11:59:00.005-05:00

Have you seen the pictures? The pictures that are classic, cool, hip, fun & flirty? Then you haven't seen Stephanie Mansueto's work! It's stellar! And I am so happy to have found her!

This month Stephanie is offering an AMAZING deal!

So make sure you check out her site, her facebook, her tweets or her blog!

Modern portrait photography at it's best!

Change

2011-01-01T15:59:00.002-05:00

is good......

And I'm ready to make some changes!

Starting in 2011 Hoity Toity BABY {the shoppe} is going into a slightly differnt direction....

stay tuned.......

Merry Christmas

2010-12-22T20:05:00.000-05:00

~Happy Holidays~

Honeysuckle....The Color for 2011!

2010-12-09T15:20:00.007-05:00

I'm tickled pink....I mean honeysuckle....

TINY PRINTS GIVE AWAY WINNER!

2010-12-06T13:57:00.005-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO UNCOMMON BLONDE!

Please email me to claim your prize!

Happy Holidays!

IT'S GIVE AWAY TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

2010-11-29T18:43:00.010-05:00

AND JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Oh, I feel like Oprah! LOL Seriously! It may not be a new car or a trip to some exotic spot on earth but to us Moms it may as well be!

Recently I was asked to review the FABULOUS cards from Tiny Prints! And let me just say how excited I was! I'd always wanted to order from them. I've seen their advertisements EVERYWHERE! So when I was asked to review their Christmas cards I felt like a kid in a candy store! Once my choice was made I placed my order and to my surprise it was delivered to my door a week later! They were beautiful! And I was so impressed by the weight of the card stock. I'd ordered from other companies in the past and when the card arrived it never quite met my expectations. This time they surpassed my expectations! They were beautiful!

I loved them so much I ordered another design to send out to the rest of my family and friends! This time I picked something a bit different. And again, like clock work they arrived a week later. I am so excited to send out my cards this year!

And one of you will have the opportunity to win a $50 gift code

to use on any item in the

Tiny Prints On-Line Store!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER

FOLLOW HTB {ONE ENTRY}
VISIT THE CHRISTMAS CARD SECTION ON THE TINY PRINTS WEBSITE AND LEAVE A COMMENT HERE WITH THE NAME OF YOUR FAVORITE CARD {ONE ENTRY}
FOLLOW TINY PRINTS ON TWITTER {ONE ENTRY}
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVE AWAY POST {2 ENTRIES!}

Please leave a seperate comment for each entry ~ make sure your entries count!

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM HTB & TINY PRINTS!

{Contest ends Sunday December 5 @ midnight ~ winner announced Monday December 6}

Monica Dyer Photography WINNER!

2010-11-13T08:37:00.005-05:00

Today is the day to announce the lucky winner of the Monica Dyer Photography Giveaway!

The winner will receive:

One family photography session (valued at $150-$195)
5 FREE hi-resolution digital images from your photo shoot to take and have printed anywhere you choose & as many times as you'd like! They're yours!

Sooooooo without further adieu

The winner is....................

Jen!

Congratualtions!

{FAMILY PORTRAIT GIVEAWAY}

2010-11-06T09:24:00.006-04:00

THIS IS THE GIVEAWAY OF ALL GIVEAWAYS!

A TRUE GIFT THAT WILL LAST A LIFE TIME!

MEMORIES!

{worth over $250}

I recently had the opportunity to meet and work with Monica of

Monica Dyer Photography!

And was THRILLED when she offered my LOCAL readers the chance to work with her, too!

So here's your chance....

If you live in the South Florida area and would love a

family or child portrait session {regularly priced at $125-$195}

plus 5 FREE digital prints you can take anywhere to have printed.

Here's what you do!

You must be a HTB follower!
Visit Monica Dyer Photography & sign up for her news letter !
Visit & become a fan of Monica Dyer Photography's Facebook page!
Leave a comment on this Hoity Toity BABY post telling me you've completed #'s 1-3

It's as simple as that!

And what better time than now to have your family portrait taken!

Just in time for Christmas!

Mr. HTB and I were thrilled with the photographs she took of Jake & Laney and I don't have to tell you ~ these moments in time are brief! We are fortunate to have such wonderful photographs to look back on and Monica wants the same for you and your family!

Good Luck!

Contest ends Friday, November 12 @ 12pm!

This contest is open to South Florida HTB readers only! Sorry, no exceptions!

Monica Dyer Photography {Sneak Peak}

2010-11-02T12:35:00.007-04:00

Recently I was contacted by the very kind and VERY talented Monica Dyer {that facebook....it's amazing!} asking about photographing Jake & Laney. I jumped at the chance and I am so happy I did! We haven't had our photographs taken in 2 years and it was time to document how our family has evolved. I haven't sat down with Monica since the shoot but she's given us a sneak peak into her BEAUTIFUL work! So here is your sneak peak and.....I think she will be offering one of my local readers a chance to work with her....so stick around!!!!!!!

Halloween Anticipation

2010-10-30T11:05:00.007-04:00

Once upon a blog post I reminisced about Halloweens past and the costumes we all have worn. This year for Jake & Laney it was no different. We need the perfect costumes. I admit.....while Jake settled on his TMNT Leonardo costume Laney and I decided on Belle only to change it the Monday before her Fall Harvest Festival at school. Take a look at these pictures and tell me if you agree...... after all there were bound to be more than one Belle roaming the halls of the pre~school....but in anticipation of Disney's Tangled opening on November 24th there probably wouldn't be any Rapunzels', right? RIGHT!

We are all ready here at the HTB home for the start of the Holidays!

Lost in the Fog

2010-10-15T14:43:00.006-04:00

This morning as I readied for work I couldn't help but think about this blog, the shoppe, my dreams, my life and my reality. I couldn't help but think of them all in the regard of what I thought each would be and what they truly are. So I thought I'd come clean. With all of you and most importantly with myself. Because, in harsh reality, all of it is far from what I'd hoped or envisioned. With the exception of one or two aspects.

The Blog: I dreamed of THOUSANDS of readers and followers who hung on my every word. Who looked to me for laughter, insight and ideas. I thought that I had so much to share with the world that it would be difficult to choose which content to use. The reality is that the number of followers, is far from the THOUSANDS I'd envisioned. I am thankful for the 234 ***(oops, I stand corrected 233 ~ someone "unfollowed" me)*** of you who do follow, however, I feel I've let you all down. My witty outlook has been lost in the fog of motherhood and, well, life in general. And that fog has kept me from more than just blogging.....

The Shoppe: For the HTB shoppe I dreamed of success. Measured success I suppose. While my dreams would be less grand here I hoped that 2 or 3 boutiques would love to carry the HTB line. To create something and see it actually hanging in a store or boutique was my ultimate goal. But in order to make money you have to spend money and alas....there is no money to spend. I have had a few orders and I am so grateful and thankful to those of you out there that actually ordered something! And remember that fog? Well it has completely eclipsed my creative view. And motherhood, work and family have taken the rest of that time I could have spent nurturing HTB. Sometimes I think it would be easier to be creative if I had a partner to help develop and actually create new items. Ahh to dream!

My Dreams: I suppose this encompasses all of the areas in my life that I touch upon today. Dreams are wonderful. When we are little they not only seem possible they are the epitome of what will be. Inevitable reality, actually, to that little girl who dreamed of a grand life. More fiction, however, to the adult I've become who understands that life has a way of getting in its own way. And thus the dreams we have for our lives get pushed aside in order to make sure that we have the money to pay the mortgage and the bills. Reality really does bite....to some degree.

My life: Ahh, my life. My life started with dreams of living grand. Here is where I will be brutally honest to each and every single one of my 324 readers out there in the blogesphere. My first dream for my life was that I would be the next Barbara Streisand. Now, I can carry a tune but let's face it...if I'd ever auditioned for American Idol I never would have made it past the 1st round of auditions. I'd be the one they politely told that it just isn't good enough and that they were looking for someone with that "star/it quality". And I guess my inability to sing in front of anyone seriously hindered my dreams of stardom. So once I figured that I would never sell millions of records (yes...records not CDs) I moved on to the more important dream I had as a young girl.....to be a Mommy!

This "dream" is what I wanted most in life. I never thought I'd have a career in the sense of professional employment. If you'd asked the little girl I once was, "What do you want to be when you grow up?", I'd answer, without hesitation, "A Mommy!". This is one aspect of my life that I can truly say didn't get lost in the fog! It has in all honesty, helped to create the fog I meander my daily life in. Yet I wouldn't change my desire for a family to live in a less foggy world.

My Reality: My reality is that I'm a wife to an amazing husband. A man who would do anything for his family. My reality is that I'm a Mommy of 2 beautiful, smart, amazing little people who think I'm amazing. My reality is that I have the best parents in the world. Parents who continue to cheer for my dreams and help with my reality. My reality is that I live with self doubt at times and complete belief at other times. My reality is that I am just like every other woman out there. And one day....the fog will begin to lift and I will have a clearer vision, dream, desire and path to travel.

HEEEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO!

2010-09-15T15:12:00.003-04:00

I'm back! We've been around the world and back it seems. But I'm happy to be back and hopefully ready to jump in with both feet. A million things have happened since I last posted and while I don't have time to delve into each story I can say that I'm doing a lot of soul searching and looking deep into my heart in hopes of figuring out exactly what it is I want to accomplish in my life! But one thing I do know without much thought is that my life is beautiful!

The BIG day!

2010-08-23T21:32:00.002-04:00

For weeks now every time we'd drive past Jake & Laney's pre-school I'd hear (almost in unison) "There my scoo Mommy!" Each time it was said with sweet excitement and anticipation. I would respond with "Yep and pretty soon you'll be there playing on the playground with all your new friends!" They couldn't wait! We couldn't wait! We got new sneakers, our first lunch boxes and made plans of what we would wear on the big day. And then we counted down the days....

To today!

{our first ~ first day of school picture}

{I couldn't resist!}

{The sweetest thing I've ever seen....Jake grabs his sister's hand as
they cross the threshold into a new world together..... *tear*}

{Laney & Jake ran to Miss Whitney and gave her a big hug}

{And just for fun....Jake's face says it all}

It was a happy day filled with so much excitement that

I'm both sad and proud all at the same time!

Hello Friends

2010-08-09T18:09:00.006-04:00

I'm back.....did you notice I was gone? I've missed you all and have a TON of things to share with you. I just don't know where to start.

Let's start with the bad news..... I GOT A JOB! You're not seeing things. You saw that word. That nasty 3 letter word that I thought I wouldn't utter from these lips for some time to come. But I did! There it's out there. There's no taking it back (as much as I'd like to). I'm a working girl. But not in that sense. :) (well I'm a working girl from 8am to 12pm)

Secondly we had a WONDERFUL time in Atlanta and Dallas visiting my wonderful Aunts Lynn & Keri and my parents! And I can say that it is FREAKING hot in Dallas! 105 when we left to come home. Ugh...yet still I want to move there and raise my kids there. And I am hoping that we can stick to a 2-3 year plan and move our family out there.

Thirdly (and this is a HUGE one) JAKE IS COMPLETELY POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!! NO MORE DIAPERS! DID YOU HEAR ME PEOPLE! NO MORE DIAPERS! NO MORE WIPES!

They are getting so big it's amazing. Laney is a feisty little bug and Jake is a boy's boy! And I love everything about them. Ok minus the whining! I don't like that so much.

We are gearing up for another vacation. Our last for the year this year. We are heading down to the Florida Keys for some R&R with my Mom, Dad, Sister & Bro in law, my Brother, Sis in law and Niece. And a BABYSITTER (the Labor Day weekend)! Margaritas....here I come! :)

And the biggest change of all ...... Jake & Laney are starting pre-school! ***sniff, sniff*** They are going 3 days a week for 1/2 days. Laney is SOOOO excited! She can't wait to go and meet her teacher on the 18th for orientation. And Jake, while he doesn't verbalize it as much as Laney, is excited too. He'll put his back pack on and tell me he's going to "scooo". It's such an exciting time in our life. Time is flying and they are growing at rapid speed. It's exciting, sad and wonderful all at the same time.

Hoity Toity ANNOUNCEMENT

2010-07-11T18:28:00.004-04:00

Hoity Toity BABY has reduced it's prices! SUBSTANTIALLY!

So check it out!

Bits & Pieces

2010-07-09T13:15:00.006-04:00

This Wednesday we drove up to Orlando to spend the day with my brother,

sister-in-law & their kids. We took the opportunity to use

our annual passes for Sea World and Jake & Laney had a blast!

Here are just a few pictures from yesterday!

{Jake & Mommy}

{Just Us}

{Cheese!}

{For Auntie Brynne ~ SHE'S CRAZY ABOUT MANATEES!}

{Jake & the stingrays}

{Laney LOVES her Uncle Mike}

{The gang}

{The Cousins, Jalke, Laney, Travis & Jake}

{Laney & Savannah}

Star Spangled Tutorial

2010-07-02T12:23:00.007-04:00

That's right a Tutorial! :) Bet you didn't think that you'd find that here on HTB but SURPRISE! And it's just in time for your 4Th of July celebration!

PATRIOTIC PILLOWCASE DRESSAnneliese of Aesthetic Nest has submitted this fab tutorial to HTB for those of you out there who love to sew and are looking for something that is simply, easy & breezy! And I promise... you still have time to whip up one or two before your festivities!

Here's what you will need:

{Supplies for one dress size 2 and 4 with & without ruffle}

1 Bar Harbor Scarf panel {or fabric of your choice 23" x 44"}
1 package seam binding in off white or oyster
1/2 yard red cotton fabric for ruffle & tie {54" or wider}
Off white or oyster thread and red thread

Start with a Bar Harbor Anchor Scarf panel {these measure 23" x 44"}. This includes a set of two "scarves" and will serve as the front and back of the dress. Trim the selvage so the pattern is centered on the fabric.

Next you will need to cut out the arm holes. Do this by holding the panel {the 2 "scarves"} in half lengthwise so you can cut perfectly symmetrical arm holes. For a size 4 you need to cut down 6 inches from the top of the fabric and 2 inches from the sides {round the corner as shown in the chalk markings below}. For size 2 cut down 4 inches from the top and 2 inches from the side again rounding the corner.

Next use french seams to join the front and back "scarves" by first pinning and seaming the pieces with WRONG sides together {Anneliese stitches this first seam with the fabric aligned with the edge of her sewing foot}, then pressing the seam to one side, turn the garment inside out and seam RIGHT sides together. The second seam should be slightly wider than the first so you encase the first seam inside it. {You'll want to seam the folded edge of this panel just as you do the raw/cut edge to keep the dress symmetrical}

{Both Annelise and I love french seams because the produce such a nicely finished garment ~No need to zigzag or serge the seam allowances on the inside}

No use the seam binding to finish the armholes. do this by opening out the fold and lining up the edge of the seam binding with the edge of the fabric, RIGHT sides together. Pin carefully, especially around the curve, to avoid puckering and pleating in the fabric. Stitch in the fold line of the seam binding. Trim seam and fold seam binding to the inside or WRONG side of the dress. Again, pin carefully and top stitch on the right side of the arm hole ~ being careful to catch both halves of the seam binding.

Next is the casing at the neck for the ties:

Fold down 1/4" from the top of the front and back sides of the dress and stitch a small hem. Then fold the tops down 1 and 1/2 " and stitch in place to form the casing in the front and back.

You can now hem the bottom of the dress by folding under the fabric 1/4" twice and top stitching. {Cut off about 1 & 1/2" from the bottom first before hemming to shorten for the smaller size}

Here it is.... Your finished pillow case dress!

{You could now use ribbon to cinch the neck and form the ties, but Annelise loves the look of a wider fabric tie.}

To make the tie and ruffle, cut strips the width of your 54" cotton fabric: 2 six inch strips for the ruffle and 1 four inch strip for the tie. Cut with the fabric folded {selvage or rough cut edges together. Note: you may use 45" wide fabric but the ruffle won't be as full and you will need to measure your child. To measure use a piece of ribbon in place of the tie perhaps and see if you need to cut an extra strip to lengthen the tie}

Hem the edges of the tie by folding under twice as narrowly as possible. {aiming or 1/4 : or less}. To save time, fold under twice and stitch as you go. {or you can certainly fold once, pin and stitch and then do it again}. Finish the ends similarly. You can miter the corners if you like. The tie is now ready to thread through the casing. A large safety pin as a guide is helpful.

To make the ruffle, sew the 2 six inch strips of fabric RIGHT sides together on the short ends to form a ring. Press and finish the seams with a zigzag stitch or serger. Now hem the bottom edge by folding under 1/4" twice and top stitching {similar to the finishing of the tie}. Then finish the top edge with a zigzag stitch or serger and you're ready for the gathering.

The easiest way to gather a long piece of fabric such as this is to use the zigzag - dental floss method. Do this by laying the dental floss under the middle of your sewing foot and sewing over it with a WIDE, LONG zigzag as shown below:

This will allow you to pull the dental floss through the zigzag stitching to gather the fabric. It works really well, no risk of broken thread, and it gathers more evenly.

Because the dress is already hemmed, pin the RIGHT side of the ruffle to the WRONG side of the bottom edge of the dress {so you are pinning the ruffle inside the dress as it will look when it's finished}. Match side seams and centers of front and back and pull the dental floss to gather evening around. Pin carefully then top stitch on the RIGHT side of the hemmed edge of the dress. And the ruffle is attached!

If you haven't already done so, thread the tie through the casing at the top of the dress and voila! IT'S FINISHED!

Thank you so much to Anneliese for this fantastic tutorial and dress!

For larger photographs on this dress and other great ideas be sure to hop over to
AESTHETIC NEST

and

HAPPY JULY 4TH!

The Knot , The Nest, The Bump

2010-07-01T12:44:00.004-04:00

When I was planning my wedding I was on The Knot {dot} com all day everyday! It was my ritual. I looked up venues, menus and everything in between. The day we were married I never looked back. I never visited my friend of a year. I should have because the people over at the knot were creating new informative sites that I would have immersed myself in. Like The Nest {dot} com and The Bump {dot} com. Oh to go back a few years and know about The bump {dot} com! I would have jumped into everything baby to the nth degree. {LOL yeah...I know...I did anyway} But how I wish I could go back and know then what I know now! That the bump {dot} com is the mecca of all things baby and baby related! It is Hoity Toity BABY!

I found it today because Rebecca over at Ella Minnow Pea and The Pink Orange has submitted her darling nursery in the bump's "Our Real Nursery Contest" . It's a fantastic contest and I am such a fan of Rebbeca and her talent as a designer that I immediately went over to the bump and voted for her nursery.

After I cast my vote I was hooked. And my kids are far from bumps anymore! But I couldn't help myself! And you won't either.... I promise. Sorry!

Cheese!

2010-06-28T20:48:00.001-04:00

{Laney & Kiki}

Catch of the Day!

2010-06-28T09:55:00.005-04:00

We live in the boating capital of the world! South Florida is the best place to partake in the ocean and all it has to offer. And Mr. HTB LOVES to fish! A couple of weekends ago he came home with his haul of Dorado. (a/k/a Dolphin or Mahi Mahi). It's always fun for the kids when Daddy gets home from a fishing trip. And while I would rather NOT get my hands on these things.....Jake & Laney are more than happy to show off Daddy's catch of the day!

FREEBIE TIME

2010-06-27T08:50:00.006-04:00

This time it's all about the 4Th!

I am always searching the www for great freebies and this month I'm bringing you some great 4Th of July inspired freebies for that block, family or community party you attend!

{the pink orange}

Rebecca over at The Pink Orange created these simple 4Th of July printables for

The Sweetest Occasion

{source: the pink orange}

{vale design}

Erin over at Vale Design {Leo on the Loose} created these wonderful bottle tags!

{source: vale designs}

These fantastic FREE DIY printables are the gift of each designer

so please use common sense and don't take these ideas as your own!

And remember to always give credit where credit is due!

ENJOY & HAPPY 4TH!

Laney's 1st Visit to the Dentist

2010-06-24T12:24:00.010-04:00

{All pictures in this post are taken at the office of Dr. Jason Hirsh}

The first trip to the dentist can be a traumatic one for most people. I have always been a freak of nature when it comes to the dentist. I actually enjoy seeing the dentist. I started working in dental offices when I was in high school and I suppose knowing what all the instruments are and how procedures are done helps to make my visits enjoyable. Well...as enjoyable as having a crown done can be....but those semi annual cleanings and check-ups......I LOVE UM! And it was important to me that Jake & Laney feel the same way!

{At the tooth brushing station with Miss Lupe}

When I first moved to South Florida I worked for a Pediatric Dentist and LOVED working with the kids. I felt like I was really fostering a great experience for each of the children I worked on. I used to travel during the school year from elementary school to elementary school talking to kids about visiting the dentist. It was a great experience.

{Waiting with Daddy in the GAME ROOM}

So when I set out to find a dentist for Jake & Laney it was important to me to find an office that was happy, fun, open and welcoming. The first office I was referred to by our insurance company was horrific! When I scheduled the appointment I thought .... this would be great if it end up loving the dentist because it's close to our house. When I walked in I was shocked! The reception area was TINY painted "institution" green and the wallpaper border was falling off of the walls in many places. There was a tiny 13 inch television high up on shelf in the corner and that was it. As I filled out the 6 page (not kidding) new patient packet I sat there mortified at the thought of allowing my children to be seen in this office but reassured myself that I am sure the dentist is fantastic. And that it would be fine. Then the dentist walked through the reception area. He was ancient, hunched over and his eyes were fixated on the floor. He walked past all of us waiting while mumbling something about the mail. He never made eye contact with us, never said hello. Nothing. Just walked out of the office. I was amazed. Not shocked....amazed. I asked the woman sitting next to me if she'd been coming to this dentist long. She said yes. She said that the girls in the office were fantastic but that the dentist would barely say two words to you. {NO DUH ~ I thought}. Then they called Laney's name.

{My brave girl}

{Having her teeth "counted"}

Now I knew the protocol of most Pediatric Dental offices. The parents were usually asked to wait in the reception room. And that was fine with me, BUT NOT ON HER FIRST VISIT! They would not let me past the threshold of the adjoining door. I reluctantly told Laney it would be fine. That Jake & Mommy would be right here and that when she was all done that I would come back and take her picture. And she was off. Jake and I just sat there. Soon the front desk girl opened her little window and told me that if I gave her my camera that she would take Laney's picture. I was flabbergasted. YOU WON'T EVEN LET ME TAKE HER PICTURE. Just then....the power went out! The entire complex had lost power and it would take a while for it to return. Oh happy day! THANK YOU LORD! THERE IS NOTHING LIKE DIVINE INTERVENTION! They brought Laney out to me and I politely said that I would have to reschedule. As I stood at the window I asked the assistant how long she'd worked for the dentist. She told me she'd worked there for 10 years and that the dentist was great. I looked her dead in the eyes and said "Really? He seems a bit out of touch." to which she replied "He is and it's probably time for him to retire." WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT?????????????!!!!!!! Well then he can "treat" someone else's children.....not mine! And we left.

{All clean!}

{Picking her prize ~ the prizes weren't like that when I was a kid!}

I went home and started googling pediatric dentist for my area and the very first website I came upon was FANTASTIC! I called to find when I could schedule the kids and explained the situation. While they didn't accept my insurance I was pleased to hear their office policy. The parents were welcomed back with the children for cleanings. ESPECIALLY on their first visit. There was a game room for the kids to play in while waiting, a large TV for them to watch cartoons and I could bring Laney in 1st thing the next morning. (Today)

{Laney & Dr. Jason}

Laney was a trouper! She walked right in there. Listened to the hygienist, sat in that chair and took it all in like the brave little girl she is! She set a fantastic example for her brother and hasn't stopped talking about the "dentis, Dr Jay-shon" and smiling so I can see her clean "teef". I am so proud of her!

Walking out of the office yesterday was the right thing to do! I found a fantastic office and a fantastic dentist for Jake & Laney! Dr. Hirsh's staff is amazing! The girls are sweet, caring and their office is beautiful! I couldn't have asked for anything more! You have patients for life! Thank you Dr. Jason Hirsch for making Laney's first visit a fantastic experience! Jakey.... you're next buddy!

FU BP!

2010-06-21T10:53:00.007-04:00

source : one by four sudio

This isn't a normal post for HTB but I can't believe the morons over at BP! Just the other day as I sat watching the latest BS that BP is spewing (in addition to the thousands and millions of gallons of oil they are spewing into our precious ocean) the thought crossed my mind....."It's just a matter of time before we catch them out there in the world living their lives as if nothing has happened." As if they weren't single handedly destroying the precious Eco system that is the Gulf of Mexico.

And here we are.....

This SOB

participating in a regatta!

Read the story HERE

This on the heals of comments like this:

"I'd like my life back"
~so would the men and women who lost their lives on the rig
"The oil is on the surface. There aren't any plumes"
~ really? there aren't ANY
"I think the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to have been very, very modest"
~i'd hate to see what he considers catastrophic
And of course he Chairman who refereed to caring about the "little people"
~he claims that English is not his 1st language.....GREAT EXCUSE!

If you watched the 60 Minutes piece they did on the Deep Water Horizon Blow Out Part I and Deep Water Horizon Blow Out Part II you would be even more disgusted at the entire situation!

I just don't even know what more to say.

Toy Story 3

2010-06-18T14:34:00.003-04:00

If you are a kid at heart {like I am} then you will love

We just returned home from seeing the 3rd installment of the childhood classic Toy Story and I have to say that it exceeded my expectations! Jake & Delaney couldn't wait to see it! We have been talking about it for months and I can say that as we sat in the theater chomping on popcorn it was like we were surrounded by kids of all ages....oh wait...we were! I honestly think that parents took their kids not only for their kids enjoyment for their own excitement and nostalgia to see their old friends Buzz & Woody!

The original Toy Story was released 15 years ago and for most young parents it was something that they themselves enjoyed as kids! So I highly recommend that you take your kids to see this one!

As we left the theater Jake asked if we could go home and play with his Buzz & Woody and that is a testament to the marketing geniuses at Disney and Pixar!

Here's a little look!

Sandwich 365 ~ GIVE AWAY!

2010-06-18T09:08:00.005-04:00

There's a give away over at Sandwich 365!

This time it's for a cool modern BREAD BOX

Head over to Sandwich 365 today to enter!

I did!

Tell It Sister!

2010-06-15T18:32:00.001-04:00

We should all take a lesson!

Need I Say More?

2010-06-14T19:08:00.006-04:00

Need I say more?

Cheeky Umbrella Review

2010-06-09T12:19:00.011-04:00

About a year ago I stumbled across the Cheeky Umbrella website when I wrote this post and fell in love with what I found on their website.

WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA!, I thought.

HOW CUTE ARE THESE?, I said aloud.
I WANT ONE!, I declared.

I contacted the company to offer a review of their product only to find out that I had inquired a little too late and that they had met their quota for product review for 2009. But I didn't give up hope and this year as the rainy season approached I contacted them again and was so excited to be chosen to do a review of these adorable umbrellas! But not as excited as I was today when I returned home to find a delivery on my doorstep! IT WAS HERE! THE UBER CUTE AND TOO COOL CHEEKY UMBRELLA ~ all the way from Canada!

To give you a little background on Cheeky Umbrella you first have to meet the fantastic Jen Zurowski the founder and designer of Cheeky Umbrella.

That's her under one of her umbrellas.

" The idea [for Cheeky Umbrella] came out of my own needs and wants actually. When I first moved to Vancouver in 2001, I was commuting on transit to work downtown , so I was looking for an umbrella with good quality and a cute design. Unfortunately I couldn't find what I was looking for, and when I talked to my female friends and colleagues, I found that they had the same frustration in finding an umbrella. I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so this idea stuck with me until I was ready and able to make the jump to self-employment. I researched the idea over the many years that followed and launched Cheeky umbrella in September 2008."

"I work together with a wonderfully talented graphic designer, Cynthia Merriman, on the designs and I write the "cheeky" lines myself. The colours, designs and statements are all created with intention of brightening a rainy day. Rainy days don't have to be grey and gloomy! I believe you can (and should!) look and feel as fabulous on rainy days as you do on sunny ones!"

{Muddy Enough Kids Umbrella}

And who can argue with that?! These umbrellas are made superbly! And have a lifetime warranty!

{Muddy Enough Kids Umbrella}

Cheeky Umbrella sells GOLF, KIDS, LONG, COMPACT & BRIDAL umbrellas to suit any one's need! With easy open buttons and really "cheeky" sayings & cute designs the burden of carrying an umbrella is gone! Jen sent me the adorable "Muddy Enough!" Kids Umbrella for Jake & Laney to review and let me tell you. They couldn't wait to get their hands on it. It's the perfect weight for kids (and adults) and I will be ordering another one for Laney!

AND AS SOON AS IT STARTS RAINING AGAIN I'LL BE POSTING SOME PICTURES OF OUR NEW CHEEKY UMBRELLA IN ACTION!

Thank you Jen and Cheeky Umbrella for the opportunity to review your product!

Huggies Goes Denim!

2010-05-29T19:51:00.002-04:00

I wish they'd had these when Jake & Laney were in diapers!

Hoity Toity SUMMER

2010-05-27T21:04:00.007-04:00

Just in time for summer....

The Hoity Toity Halter Dress

{4th of July perfect!}

ORDER YOURS NOW IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY @ HOITYTOITYBABY

Weekend Bit's & Pieces

2010-05-26T20:03:00.005-04:00

Since we had such a busy and fun filled weekend I thought I'd just show you some bits & pieces!

Saturday we celebrated Jake & Laney's 3rd Birthday!

Sunday we spent the day on the boat ~ floating around at the sandbar with friends!

Monday we went to Target to spend one of our gift cards we received for our birthday!

Of course I got a Transformer!

Tuesday was our actual birthday! And Mommy took us to the Dr?

I'm 38 3/4 in tall!

I'm 38 1/2 in tall!

After the visiting the Dr we went to get McDonald's then off to see Shrek!

And after the movie we went to suprise Unc "Kron" at his shop!

How many kids can say that they got this close to a jet engine?

Or even sat on one?!

We hope you had as much fun as we did!

Party On!

2010-05-21T10:30:00.005-04:00

The countdown has begun! We're getting ready for tomorrows Birthday Bash!

Jake & Laney's 3rd BIRTHDAY PARTY!

I can't believe they are turning 3! I couldn't even tell you when we crossed that elusive threshold from BABIES to TODDLERS to KIDS! But we did! And I'm sad & happy & proud that they are growing into the funny, sweet, loving people they are! But enough of the sappy sentiment....let's talk PAR-TAY!

If I'd been blessed with 2 boys or 2 girls the "theme" aspect of the party would be simple. We'd {OK I'd) pick out their favorite character and run with it! I'd theme the party OUT! But that's not my reality. This year Mr. HTB and I took them to Party City and let them choose their themes. And this is what we were faced with. Wait for it...................

THE LITTLE MERMAID

meets

THE TRANSFORMERS

Yep... that's my reality! So I went with it!

Laney's celebration will be decked out in pinks & purples, Ariel & Flounder and everything princess and girlie!

Jake's celebration will be filled with fantastic "battle" sounds that only boys can make and classic "good vs. evil" Transformer style!

As a little girl we ALWAYS had birthday parties. Of course, the parties you and I remember as kids with home made cake, ice cream, party hats & pin the tail on the donkey have been replaced over the years with grand and elaborate parties that include things like bounce houses, custom cakes, Djs and character appearances. The party is as much for the adults as the kids and I'm all for that!

I will continue the fantastic birthday party tradition my own Mommy started for me and
celebrate the day Jake & Laney took over my world! At some point I am sure their parties will be separate and filled with classmates and best friends. But for now we will invite friends & family to celebrate our 2 amazing kiddies!

So this year.... the Little Mermaid & Transformers will party on together in harmony. They will enjoy hot dogs & hamburgers, lemonade, ice cream & cake. They'll jump, bounce & swim till their little hearts are content. And then we will all pass out! I can't wait!

What are some of your fondest childhood birthday memories!

John Travolta & Kelly Preston

2010-05-19T13:33:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I listed on the side bar that John Travolta and Kelly Preston have announced that they are expecting a baby! I am sure you've all heard the good news! But after the year that the Travolta family endured I am sure their fans are wishing them happiness and love!

JT {as we refer to him in my family} has been a huge part of my childhood. Not because of family ties or anything like that but because my sister was so majorly in LOVE with him that I can remember sitting in the small bedroom we shared as young girl flipping through the blue spiral photo album she created of all things JT! She spent hours cutting out photos and articles and carefully peeling back the clear cellophane cover only to meticulously place each coveted item exactly on the sticky page where it was sure to spend eternity. Then neatly placing it back on her book shelf. She cherished that photo album. So this post is for her! I love you and I know you love JT!

PeaceLoveMom ~ And the WINNER is...

2010-05-19T08:44:00.006-04:00

The winner of the PeaceLoveMom Festive Mom Burn Out Vneck T~shirt was chosen this morning via Random.Org

There were a total of 24 entries counted starting from the 1st Give Away post {1-20} and then the reminder post {2-5} {the 1st comment of the reminder post was removed by the author of that comment}

THE WINNER IS ...

PENNY LANE DESIGNS

Congratulations!

Don't Forget~PeaceLoveMom Give Away!

2010-05-18T07:57:00.009-04:00

Don't forget today is your last chance to enter to win a PeaceLoveMom Burn Out T~Shirt!

SO FOLLOW, TWEET & BLOG ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY!

Earn up to 4 entries!

*as seen on Jon & Kate Plus 8, Real Housewives of NJ, Cindy Crawford, Cheryl Hines and many more celebrities!

Taga~rific!

2010-05-15T16:52:00.006-04:00

The ingenius design of the Taga Bike & Stroller is what every eco-friendly Mom & Dad needs!

Designed for it's compactablitiy and ease you never have to worry about dragging a stroller along with you. It's right there. It's a bike... it's a stroller!

{Tori Spelling & Dean McDermott}

{to visit Taga.com click the photo above}

If I had one of these with 2 seats I would ride it EVERYWHERE!

I have fallen in love!

It's the ultimate!

Mommy Blogger of the Year Contest

2010-05-15T16:24:00.006-04:00

Project Mommyhood

is hosting it's 2nd annual Mommy Blogger of the Year contest!

So hop on over to the 'hood and nominate your favs!

[you have until May 20th to get your fav Mommy Blog nominated!]

The top 5 will be announced and voting will begin on May 25th !

The winner will receive a celebrity worthy swag bag full of fun goodies!

Peace Love Mom

2010-05-13T20:44:00.012-04:00

I am happy to announce the latest Hoity Toity BABY Give Away!

You may have seen these T's on celebs such as

Cindy Crawford, Tia Carrere, Cheryl Heines and many more!

I first fell in love with Peace Love Mom T~Shirts when I saw Kate {Jon & Kate Plus Eight} wearing the Happy Mom Tee. So when they contacted me to host a give away and review I was thrilled and honored! When I received the T~Shirt I was immediately impressed with the quality of the material. Made of 100% cotton it is soft to the touch and the cut of the Tee is perfect!

And the best part..... they're chic!

And one lucky HTB reader will have the chance to spread the philosophy of

Peace Love Mom

with her very own Festive Mom Black Burn Out Vneck Tee!

{shown above}

Here's how the PeaceLoveMom Tee can be yours!

1. Visit the PeaceLoveMom website, shop around,

come back & comment on which was your fav!

2. Follow PeaceLoveMom on TWITTER

[contest open to residents of the continental US only]

PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPERATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY!

TWEET OR POST ABOUT THE HTB & PLM GIVE AWAY FOR ONE EXTRA ENTRY!

[give away ends Tuesday @ midnight]

Launch : Nursery 101! {Twins Nursery}

2010-05-13T09:50:00.006-04:00

Today I am launching Nursery 101!

Nursery 101! is a design series featuring ideas and inspiration for your own nursery needs. In addition to design ideas we'll explore the world of babies and what every Mommy to be believes she needs.....and believe me....

you don't need the majority of the things you think you need!

To kick the series off I'm featuring our nursery that I

designed just 3 short years ago!

It's hard to believe that they are in separate bedrooms now and that I am gearing up to redecorate Laney's room {the nursery}

I chose a very "Pottery Barn Kids" feel.

Wall Color : Lettuce Alone [Olympic Paint]

Cribs : $199.99 ea. [Baby Love]

These cribs were a steal at $199.00 ea! Originally priced at $700.00 ea they were discounted due to possible defect in the lot. They were absolutely perfect! So look for discontinued or 'irregulars' because you never know what treasure you will find!
Crib Bedding : Babylicious [Target ~ online]

Corner Unit : [Pottery Barn Kids]

I wanted to make sure that I had some vintage touches in the room as well. I was very fortunate to receive the toddler rocker from my husbands family. It was his mother's when she was a toddler. I also included an afghan that my grandmother had crocheted. Touches of nostalgia and love from their grandmother and great grandmother watching over them.

I'd love to feature your nursery. Simply submit photos of your nursery {HERE}

The Swagger Wagon ~ Love it!

2010-05-11T19:44:00.001-04:00

A Legend Gone

2010-05-10T12:45:00.002-04:00

RIP

Lena Horne

Happy Mother's Day and More!

2010-05-09T21:19:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there! I have been MIA for the past week due to family visiting! We always enjoy visiting with family! This time it was 'Lat Lynn. We had a lovely visit and spent our days shopping and coming up with new and exciting sewing crafts. She has helped me pick fabric and lay out the design for a quilt I am making Laney for her birthday. Very exciting!

Other exciting news is that Mr. HTB bought me a beautiful new computer system to go with the BEAUTIFUL new wide screen monitor he gave me for my birthday! So while in the interim it will be difficult to maneuver my way around my new baby {I'm lost without all my goodies I had on my other system, i.e, pics, favorites and my beloved outlook express} it will be better in the long run! So please bear with me while I figure all of this out!

A Day At The Beach

2010-05-04T18:49:00.003-04:00

When you live in sunny South Florida and your

beautiful little girl says, "Mama, I wanna go Beeetch"

You go to the beach!

Hoity Toity Review ~ Twirl Bird's Twirl Skirts

2010-04-30T13:50:00.012-04:00

As one who loves to sew and create adorable clothing for little princesses all around the country I was instantly in LOVE when I found Amy {the little twirly bird} at Twirl!

I instantly contacted Amy and offered to do a review of her adorable skirts. Made by hand in Amy's sewing room overlooking her gorgeous yard each skirt is created with love and just enough whimsy to make a girl of any age twirl with excitement!

The moment Delaney's Twirl Skirt arrived she was so excited to wear it. And so was I! The quality is outstanding! The colors so bright and modern! And the second she slipped it on it was like summer was here!

Every little girl should have a Twirl Skirt!

And just like Amy says....

twirl skirts are funky.

twirl skirts are fun.

twirls are for girls ages 2 to 91!

{To purchase a Twirl Skirt or to visit the Twirl Bird Blog simply click on the graphics above}

Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Fat?

2010-04-30T13:25:00.004-04:00

Some of you may or may not know that I am on a journey....a weight loss journey. I started a month ago. And I am happy to report that I am down 10lbs! In hopes of staying motivated and holding myself accountable I started a blog called

{just click on the sign above to link to the site!}

I'd love for you to follow and help to keep me and my fellow DTBMMBLFers motivated with your comments!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Fantastic Freebies

2010-04-28T15:08:00.006-04:00

Erin over at Vale Design has out done herself again! This time she's stripped it down and gone old school on us! She's designed FREE DIY COLORING PAGES for your little ones to color for you for Mother's Day!

Give um to Dad....he'll have them color them & then act surprised!}

;)

{photo source: Vale Designs}

Penny Lane Designs ~ A Huge Thank You!

2010-04-28T09:18:00.003-04:00

I've said it before....and I'll say it again! Thank you Marina at Penny Lane Designs! Your generosity and talent is infectious and your spirit shines through your work! I encourage each of you to take the time to visit her {Shop} and her {Blog} and to consider her for your next blog or website design! Thank you for you for all you've done!

If Only

2010-04-24T15:59:00.000-04:00

We could all dress like this.....

And look that cute!

Star Light Star Bright

2010-04-23T08:47:00.003-04:00

I am always amazed by the things I hear my little ones say. Sometimes it's funny sometimes it's upsetting but last night it was darling, precious, amazing, innocent and heart warming.....

Driving home from their Great Grandmother's house late at night with the windows rolled down I hear.....

Laney {hands clasped together}: "I wish, I wish, I wish....my whole world!"

Her first time wishing on a star!

Back To Reality

2010-04-15T21:48:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone. I've been MIA for about a week or so. Mr. HTB & I hit the road for a quick trip to Orlando with NO kids! That's right! You read correctly! This was the FIRST time we've been away just the two of us since the kids were 7 months old! It was funny how at times we both noticed that we were walking around the Disney parks not talking. Not for a lack of anything to talk about but because we could! There was no Mommy this or Daddy that. Just us, walking hand in hand. It was lovely. We didn't even take a camera with us.

On the blog front I have a few reviews lined up. I am so excited to get working on these. I also have a bunch of sewing to do. I haven't forgotten about any of you! I have my little sewing list and will plan a day where Mr. HTB takes the kids out for the entire day so that I can sit here in my office/sewing room and get to work!

In the meantime I had some items sitting around and when I got an email from Phyllis over at Baby Swags saying that Erik Estrada and his wife were sponsoring an auction that would benefit a local Southern California elementary school I quickly packaged everything up and mailed it out. First I have to say that I was born and raised in SoCal so it's near and dear to my heart. And secondly....it's Ponch....come on. LOL

Tomorrow I have decided that I am going to take the day to stop by blogs and check in on all of your lovelies. I haven't been good about that and I am so very sorry. But I am changing my ways and will stop by to see what you're all up to!

So until then.....

{top ten} Reasons the Kids Will Be All Right

2010-04-07T18:39:00.004-04:00

Reasons the Kids Will Be All Right

They hardly remember anything before age 2.
Your toddler is too small to understand what you called the #&*%! who cut you off on the parkway.
Your tween is big enough to understand what you said ~ but smart enough not to repeat it in front of Grandma.
Sooner or later, your child will come to see a large purple dinosaur as unsuitable marriage material.
There must be at least some trace mineral in chips.
Losing the spelling bee or suffering through a few years of braces actually does build character.
Because unless she's the nest Jennifer Garner, her awkward yearbook photo won't haunt her for the rest of her life.
Because there are a million and one ways to raise kids right, and only a few ways to screw them up royally.
Because they've got the world's greatest mom. THAT'S YOU, BABE!

According to Parenting Magazine {April 2010}

Fantastic Freebies

2010-04-07T09:06:00.007-04:00

If you recall I was pleased to offer a set of Finch & Hawk

notepads in the Spring Give Away and at that time I told you how FANTASTIC I thought Erin's design and talent was. I wanted to make sure that everyone has the chance to visit her site {HERE} and partake in her AMAZING freebies.

So today I launch HTB's Fantasitc Freebies. Not only will I feature Vale Designs freebies but other freebies that I feel are worth a mention! This is a great opportunity to find and learn of some great web & blog based designers and their great gift of what we all love....

Erin Vale the designer and owner of Finch & Hawk and Vale Designs offers

To access the PDF download simply click on

HoneyDew List

Learn more about Erin {HERE}

And as Erin asks....please use the common sense rule

COMMON SENSE RULE: PLEASE DO NOT COPY, REPRODUCE, MODIFY OR PROFIT FROM THIS DESIGN IN ANYWAY. {Cheating means we have to stop sharing. Please don't be that person.}

Thank you Erin...for filling the blog world full of some pretty amazing FREE goodies!

Easter Fun

2010-04-05T22:39:00.004-04:00

We had a great Easter this year. Jake & Laney were so much fun. My little Bug was so excited to wear her new Easter dress & sandals. She was so proud as she ran to show her Daddy just how pretty she looked. Jake was, as usual, the man on a mission of "where's my present?!" He was so handsome in his Easter shirt!

They didn't need any explination about looking for easter eggs. They ran around the back yard yelling "I found "anudder" one!

This year really opened my eyes as to the wonder that fills Jake & Delaney's world. Everything is new and exciting! The idea of the Easter Bunny visiting their home and leaving them a basket full of goodies is pure amazement and joy.

After all the eggs were found and their belly's full they changed into their bathing "soups" and spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the water and chasing butterflies and of course..... laughing! It was a beautiful day!!!

I hope your Easter was as magical!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T08:48:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter!

This was our very own Easter Bunny "Walli" before we had kids!

HTB Meets ETSY

2010-03-26T09:18:00.013-04:00

For some time now I have had a love affair with all things Etsy! I only wish I had dreamed up the wonderful dream that is Etsy. I have toyed with the idea of having my own little space on Etsy. I've discussed it with myself and gone back and forth between {you have a website silly & yeah, but a million people know about Etsy and not my website}. So last night in the quiet of a house full of sleeping husbands & toddlers I created My Etsy Shop. *The store banner needs some tweaking but I am hoping that it helps Hoity Toity BABY grow and motivates me to get a little creative and come up with some new things. And in that spirit I am re~opening the HTB website today along with the Etsy Shoppe!

Anything purchased from the Etsy Shoppe

will come with a FREE GIFT!

* Thanks to Marina @

Penny Lane Designs

I have a new beautiful Etsy banner!

Thanks Marina! :)

Movie Madness

2010-03-26T08:58:00.003-04:00

Today we're venturing out to see the new Dreamworks animated movie HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON! Wanna come? I am particularly excited about this one! It's voiced by Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill, America Ferrera and Kristen Wiig just to name a few! It should be a fun day!

Kimmy Kistner

2010-03-25T18:30:00.005-04:00

My dear friend (and fellow artsy fartsy) Kimmy Kistner has finally launched her Etsy Shoppe! I am so happy to be able to bring her creations to you! These are the perfect finishing touch to any nursery!

{Bubblehead}

{He Loves Me & Owlie}

{Polly The Pachyderm}

I am so lucky to know this talented painter!

She's a great girl and her joy shines in each piece

of her art!

Liberty Chic

2010-03-22T13:27:00.008-04:00

If you have been hiding under a rock then you probably haven't seen the new line of chic accessories and clothing at Target. I'm all about name brands and high end design but the reality of it is that unless you have disposible income then you probably can't afford most of it!

Liberty of London has a new line for Target and I'm in love! Here are some of the affordable, chic and oh so pretty Liberty of London goodies at Target!

Certainly NOT Normal HTB Talk

2010-03-21T17:02:00.002-04:00

Do I dare ask. I think I may be the only one on the face of the earth that was completely blindsided by this news (pardon the pun) except for the beautiful & talented Sandra Bullock. But what are your thoughts on the news of Jesse James cheating on Sandra with a cheap, nasty excuse for a woman? Like I said I'm in SHOCK!

Update :)

2010-03-21T13:25:00.005-04:00

Well, these last few weeks have been super busy for us! We had a family emergency with my brother in law. He had emergency surgery (and is ok, thank God) so we rushed up to Vero Beach to see him when that happened. Then the following weekend we went to Orlando to visit Mickey. The kids were great! Not one temper tantrum or meltdown for anything! They were perfect little troupers waiting in line for rides! It was a dream! We got home last Monday night and settled into our routine only for Mr. HTB to tell me that he had accepted a job in Vero Beach on Saturday. Because his brother can't work (they're both electricians) Mr. HTB did the job so his brother could continue to mend after his surgery. We're home now, the kids are napping and I am sitting here at my desk catching up on emails and posts. :) It's funny at how attached we can get to our computers. If I had a laptop I would have been on it all weekend up in Vero. I miss checking on my little piece of property here on the wild wild web. I have become so invested in HTB and all of you sweet readers that I can't wait to check on you every couple of hours. I know....it sounds like I'm obsessed. LOL But I can't help it. It's my little bit of sanity! You don't whine at me! And you always have a kind word for me. Thank you for that!

Please Vote For HTB!

2010-03-19T09:31:00.003-04:00

If you love HTB please take the time to vote for us on Top Baby Blogs

It's simple, just click the link below! Thanks!

Spring Give Away Winners

2010-03-18T17:21:00.006-04:00

HERE ARE THE WINNERS!

{HOW EXCITING}

{ALL WINNERS PICKED USING RANDOM GENERATOR}

Day ONE

Ribbons For Rae flip~Flops

#5 Amy Croley

___________________________

Day TWO

Swanky Bakes 1 dz Cupcake Cookies

#88 Dana

___________________________

Day THREE

Penny Lane Design

CUSTOM BLOG #6 Nicki

PRE~FAB BLOG #30 A Wedding Story

____________________________

Day FOUR

Finch & Hawk Note Pads

#2 Party Box Designs

#18 Judy

#35 Meredith

____________________________

Day FIVE

Lucky Blue Bird Art Print

#21 Meredith

____________________________

Day SIX

Bubbalou Band

#45 Ry & Ally

____________________________

Day SEVEN

Ink Obsession Design

10 custom note cards

#27 Paige {Mommy & Charli}

____________________________

Day EIGHT

Bebeloosh Mini

2 eco~friendly bluebird snack sacks

#4 Paige {Some days you gotta dance}

____________________________

Day NINE

Monkey See Boutique

2 Reusable Market Bags

# 44 The Wright Stuff

____________________________

Day TEN

Vinyl Design and Decor

Owl Decal

#6 Party Box Designs

_____________________________

and

Day ELEVEN

Hoity Toity BABY

Applique T~Shirt

#18 Ry & Ally

______________________________

Congratulations to all the winners!

And thank you for participating!

Come back frequently because I have some

Spring Give Away UPDATE!

2010-03-18T14:03:00.007-04:00

I have had to push up the announcements of the give aways!
I was just informed that we will be working ALL WEEKEND and I will not be near a computer to post the winners!
The Spring Give Away will now end

@ 5pm TONIGHT!

Winner's will be announced at

5:15 pm SHARP!

I am sorry for the inconvenience!

But I figured that everyone would rather get their prize early rather than wait til monday!

Spring Give Away {Day ELEVEN}

2010-03-15T21:42:00.007-04:00

Here it is...the final feature of the Hoity Toity BABY Spring Give Away!

One lucky HTB reader will receive a HTB T~Shirt!

Boy ~ Casual Friday T~Shirt

Girl ~ Spring Applique T~Shirt

You know the drill! :)

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visit HTB {the Shoppe} {HERE} & come back to let me know an item that caught your eye {1 entry}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog {or both} about the HTB Give away {1 entry for each}

PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES!

And don't forget to enter these give aways, too!

Day ONE ~ Ribbons For Rae ~ Custom Girls Flip ~ Flops {super cute}

Day TWO ~ Swanky Bakes ~ 1 Dz Cup~Cake Cake Cookies

Day THREE ~ Penny Lane Designs ~ 1 Prefab Blog Design & 1 Custom Blog Design

Day FOUR ~ Finch & Hawk Chic List Pads

Day FIVE ~ Lucky Blue Bird Art Print of your choice

Day SIX ~ BubbaLou Band {chic children's headband}

Day SEVEN ~ Ink Obsession Designs ~ Set of 10 Custom Note Cards

Day EIGHT ~ Bebeloosh Mini ~ Set of 2 Eco Friendly Blue Bird Snack Sacks

Day NINE ~ Monkey See Boutique ~ Set of 2 Reusable Market Bags

Day TEN ~ Vinyl Design & Decor ~ Owl Decal

GOOD LUCK!

This is the final Daily Feature!

So be sure to get your entries in for all 11

~THAT'S RIGHT~

E L E V E N

Give Aways!

Winners will be announced on Saturday Morning!

Bright & Early!

All winners will be picked via Random.org and will be posted in one blog post. As well as in a comment on your blog. If, for some reason, winners do NOT contact me via email by Monday Morning a new winner for that item will be picked! So be sure to check back on Saturday, March 20th!

Spring Give Away {Day TEN}

2010-03-11T16:19:00.008-05:00

When I was planning the decor for Jake's room I wanted to find something to make it special. And when I found Vinyl Design & Decor I hit the jackpot! At Vinyl Design & Decor they offer a variety of vinyl lettering for your home: wall lettering, decals, wall art, tile lettering, etc.

From airplanes, growth charts & decals to beautiful phrases & scrolls there is something for every room in your house! And if you don't believe me you can check out their website {HERE}!

And today Vinyl Design & Decor is gifting one lucky HTB reader an Owl Decal in the color of your choice! Click {HERE} to view colors. And look at this guy...who wouldn't want to take him home?

Here's How to Enter

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visit VD&D {HERE} & come back to let me know an item that caught your eye {1 entry}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog {or both} about the HTB Give away {1 entry for each}

PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES!

And don't forget to enter these give aways either!

Day ONE ~ Ribbons For Rae ~ Custom Girls Flip ~ Flops {super cute}
Day TWO ~ Swanky Bakes ~ 1 Dz Cup~Cake Cake Cookies
Day THREE ~ Penny Lane Designs ~ 1 Prefab Blog Design & 1 Custom Blog Design
Day FOUR ~ Finch & Hawk Chic List Pads
Day FIVE ~ Lucky Blue Bird Art Print of your choice
Day SIX ~ BubbaLou Band {chic children's headband}
Day SEVEN ~ Ink Obsession Designs ~ Set of 10 Custom Note Cards
Day EIGHT ~ Bebeloosh Mini ~ Set of 2 Eco Friendly Blue Bird Snack Sacks

Day NINE ~ Monkey See Boutique ~ Set of 2 Reusable Market Bags

GOOD LUCK!

Extra Entry!

2010-03-10T21:11:00.006-05:00

I wanted to let everyone know that Sam over at Sandwich365 is hosting a give away! You can enter to win a set of Rachel Ray bakeware! So head over to S365 & enter to win this GiveAway! And if you enter the S365 giveaway...I'll give you an extra entry into the giveaway of your choice here on HTB! Just be sure to leave a comment on the correct HTB giveaway you choose to use your extra entry on!

Spring Give Away {Day NINE}

2010-03-09T18:32:00.011-05:00

If you're looking for "Preppy" boutique quality finds then

Monkey See Boutique is your one stop shop!

Monkey See Boutique is a mecca of all

things monogrammed and accessories that are sure to have tongues wagging!

Whether the Monkey See Boutique {Website} or the {Etsy Shop} you are sure to find that something special for everyone in your family!

Here's your chance to win Monkey See Boutique's

Reusable Market Bag! MSB is offering one lucky HTB reader the chance to win a set of

2 Reusable Market Bags

{Design of your choice}

Browse the Reusable Market Bags {HERE} to choose the style you'd like to win!

Here's How to Enter

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visit MSB {HERE} look over the Market Bags & come back to let me know which you'd like to win {1 entry}
Follow the MSB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog {or both} about the HTB Give away {1 entry for each}

PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES!

And don't forget to enter these give aways either!

Day ONE ~ Ribbons For Rae ~ Custom Girls Flip ~ Flops {super cute}

Day TWO ~ Swanky Bakes ~ 1 Dz Cup~Cake Cake Cookies

Day THREE ~ Penny Lane Designs ~ 1 Prefab Blog Design & 1 Custom Blog Design

Day FOUR ~ Finch & Hawk Chic List Pads

Day FIVE ~ Lucky Blue Bird Art Print of your choice

Day SIX ~ BubbaLou Band {chic children's & cool Mommies headband}

Day SEVEN ~ Ink Obsession Designs ~ Set of 10 Custom Note Cards

Day EIGHT ~ Bebeloosh Mini ~ Set of 2 Eco Friendly Blue Bird Snack Sacks

GOOD LUCK!

Spring Give Away {Day EIGHT}

2010-03-08T21:07:00.008-05:00

When I found Bebeloosh Mini on Etsy I instantly thought of all of us Moms out there who try on a daily basis to do our part for the environment and for our families! Whether it's trying to save money, recycle or the decision to be as organic as possible these reusable snack bags are perfect for any one! Not just organic Mommies but for all Mommies! And they're cute too!

Each reusable sandwich and snack bag is made from 55% recycled hemp and 45% organic unbleached cotton and beautifully decorated. The mix of hemp is gives the sack enhanced durability and "wearability". This eco-friendly sack keeps plastic bags and harmful materials away from your food and features a Velcro enclosure that will keep all crumbs inside.

Elena, the designer of these adorable snack bags has graciously donated 2 "blue bird" snack bags to one lucky HTB reader! That's right...how cute would these snack bags be in your son or daughter's lunch box?

Elena's designs are super cute! And she doesn't only design snack bags! You can visit her other Etsy stores {Bebeloosh Paper} & {Bebeloosh} to see her creations!

Here's how to enter

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visit BebeLoosh {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog about the HTB Give Away {2 entries}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}

All winner's will be announced March 20th!

GOOD LUCK!

PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES!

And don't forget to enter these give aways either!

Day ONE ~ Ribbons For Rae ~ Custom Girls Flip ~ Flops {super cute}

Day TWO ~ Swanky Bakes ~ 1 Dz Cup~Cake Cake Cookies

Day THREE ~ Penny Lane Designs ~ 1 Prefab Blog Design & 1 Custom Blog Design

Day FOUR ~ Finch & Hawk Chic List Pads

Day FIVE ~ Lucky Blue Bird Art Print of your choice

Day SIX ~ BubbaLou Band {chic children's & cool Mommies headband}

Day SEVEN ~ Ink Obsession Designs ~ Set of 10 Custom Note Cards

Spring Give Away {Day SEVEN}

2010-03-08T12:08:00.009-05:00

Ink Obsession Designs says it best...
"If you are looking for a unique design with a boutique feel, you've come to the right place. An obsession for ink, a love of paper and the desire to provide high end, Eco friendly materials like *solid ink is what separates this design studio from the rest!"

Offering a wide array of products you are sure to find the perfect piece to send loved ones & friends to celebrate those special moments in our lives! From bridal to birth, Ink Obsession Designs has the right announcements, invites, thank yous and everyday note cards to suit you style in an Eco friendly way. *All card stock printing is done with a solid ink press. The Eco friendly, non-toxic solid inks produce a vibrant image with 90% less waste to the environment and the paper is FSC certified ~ meaning it has been harvested from well managed forests and all envelopes are recycled!

Erin's work has been seen in several local {Chicagoland} venues on t.v., in billboards and in print. Her ad campaigns have also been featured on national level media outlets such as the Chicago Tribune, Midwest Home & LUXE.

And today one very lucky HTB reader has the chance to win a set of 10 CUSTOM note cards from her stationary collection! Browse her collection {HERE}!

Here's how to enter:

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visit Ink Obsession Designs {HERE} look over Erin's designs & come back to tell me which you'd love to win {1 entry}
Follow the Ink Obsession Design Blog {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog about the HTB Give Away {2 entries}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}

All winner's will be announced March 20th!

GOOD LUCK!

PLEASE BE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY OR YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ENTRIES!

And don't forget to enter these give aways either!

Day SIX ~ BubbaLou Band {chic children's & cool Mommies headband}

Spring Give Away {Day SIX}

2010-03-05T07:45:00.013-05:00

{click the BubbaLou Bands banner above to visit the Etsy Shop}

Bubbalou Bands are, in one word, sophisticated!

For those fashion forward & oh~so chic tots a Bubbalou Band is what you need! Based in Ottawa, Canada, Lisa, a Mommy of 2 & the designer had one simple goal in mind...."to craft one of a kind, hip, chic & modern headbands for your little bubbalou"!

I was so excited when Lisa agreed to participate in this give away!

I have followed {her blog} and admired her designs & {photography} for some time.

I can't wait to order some of these for my little Laney!

One VERY lucky HTB friend has the chance today to win the "Maelle" Bubbalou band

{the "Maelle" ~ Bubbalou bands}

This Bubbalou band is absolutely perfect for even the tiniest little Bubbalou as it's a mere 2 inches big. The band fits newborns all the way up to adults ~ SO EVEN HIP MOMMIES CAN WEAR IT!

When I asked Lisa about her Bubbalou bands she said:

"After a few months of working the kinks out of my designs, I began to make what I truly believe to be the most unique modern and yet classically beautiful children's headbands ever! Each flower is sewn together one hand cut petal at a time, in fact it can take more than an hour to make one band! They truly are a labor of love and a favorite of countless professional photographers and modern mom's everywhere."

And I agree! These headbands surpass anything I've seen over the last 3 years of being a Mommy ~ by leaps and bounds!

Here's how to enter

All entrants MUST be HTB followers {1st entry}
Visit BB {HERE} browse around & let me know if you love these as much as I do {1 entry}
Follow The Blog Baby blog {HERE} {1 entry}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog about HTB's Spring Give Away {2 entries}

PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY
{OR YOU WON'T RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM ENTRIES POSSIBLE}

Winner's will be be announced March 20th

Enter to win each of the items listed here as well!

Day ONE ~ Ribbons For Rae ~ Custom Girls Flip - Flops {super cute}

Day TWO ~ Swanky Bakes ~ 1 Dz Cup~Cake Cake Cookies

Day THREE ~ Penny Lane Designs ~ 1 Prefab Blog Design & 1 Custom Blog Design

Day FOUR ~ Finch & Hawk Chic List Pads

Day FIVE ~ Lucky Blue Bird Art Print of your choice

GOOD LUCK!

Spring Give Away (Day FIVE}

2010-03-03T14:16:00.010-05:00

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the designs of Lucky Blue Bird Art!

The moment I found Amanda's Etsy Shop I knew instantly I wanted to feature her talent!

Amanda's sweet charm is what welcomes you as you enter her Etsy Shop.

"Welcome to my little corner of Etsy. I love to design and these are just a few of my latest creations. I will be adding more as often as I can. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy".

It's as if you just walked into your favorite boutique on Main Street, USA.

That goes for her designs, too. There is something for every room in your house! And her color pallet is refreshing and happy!

Here is an example of her modern designs

Here's your chance to own a Lucky Blue Bird Art print! Amanda is offering ONE lucky HTB reader the chance to win the "PRINT OF YOUR CHOICE" * from her Etsy Shop!

* up to 11x14

Here's how to enter

All entrants MUST be HTB followers {1st entry}
Visit LBBA {HERE} look over her designs & tell me which you would love! {1 entry}
Follow the LBBA Blog {HERE} {1 entry}
Follow LBBA on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog about the Spring Give Away {2 entries}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}

Please leave a separate comment for each entry!

Winner's announced March 20th!

GOOD LUCK!

Don't forget to enter the other give aways here:

Day ONE ~ Ribbons For Rae ~ Custom Girls Flip - Flops {super cute}

Day TWO ~ Swanky Bakes ~ 1 Dz Cup~Cake Cookies

Day THREE ~ Penny Lane Designs ~ 1 Prefab Blog Design & 1 Custom Blog Design

Day FOUR ~ Finch & Hawk Chic List Pads

Spring give Away {Day FOUR}

2010-03-02T15:38:00.010-05:00

Finch & Hawk is my newest love!

If you are looking for amazing Printable Favor Boxes & Paper Goods for any occasion this is the place to get them. Erin Vale {the spectacular designer} creates items that add the perfect touch to any thank you gift, wedding or shower favor!

But that's not all, her best seller is something that really caught my eye. The Freakin' Never Ending To Do List & the Pain In The Groceries To Buy List are so chic you won't mind making either of these lists!

TWO lucky HTB readers will have a chance to win each of these notepads!

Erin is graciously gifting "The Freakin' NEVER ENDING TO DO LIST"

and "The Pain In The GROCERIES TO BUY LIST"

to the winners of this give away!

In my many conversations via email with Erin I have discovered that she is a fantastic freelance designer. And from what I've seen on both her Etsy page and her website

her package design & branding are top notch!

Visit her Etsy Store HERE and her Website HERE!

And watch HTB in the future for more about Erin Vale, she offers

some great freebies that I don't want anyone to miss out on!

Here's how to enter the Finch & Hawk Give Away!

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visith Finch & Hawk {HERE} look over her designs and tell me which list pad you'd love
Follow Erin on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog about the HTB Spring Give Away {2 entries}

PLEASE LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY!

AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER

{DAY ONE }, {DAY TWO }& {DAY THREE}

OF THE GIVE AWAY

YOU COULD WIN MULTIPLE ITEMS!

GOOD LUCK!

Spring Give Away Feature {DAY THREE}

2010-03-01T20:47:00.022-05:00

**** some said that the links weren't working today for PLD....I have refreshed them all and all are working properly at this time....I apologize for the inconvenience****

This is sooooooooo exciting!

I am happy and oh-so proud to

announce this feature for the

Hoity Toity BABY

SPRING GIVE AWAY!

Let me take this opportunity to introduce you to the woman behind the talent.....

"Hi there! I'm Marina the owner and designer of Penny Lane Designs. I started PLD when I realized I had a passion for design and a knack for geeky technology stuff (like learning html) and combining the two to make something pretty.

As a kid I was always the 'creative' type and spent a fair amount of time on the computer, so I suppose this little business was my destiny. :) I strive to make sure that all of my designs are unique, clean and polished, and not something that you would find anywhere else.

You can view tons of examples of my designs {HERE}. I truly enjoy every minute of my job and love working with so many different people! When I am not busy on my computer, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our 7 month old little boy, Owen, and with friends and family.

I was excited when Nicole contacted me about participating in this giveaway and I am looking forward to working with TWO lucky bloggers! Good luck everyone!"

Isn't she a breath of fresh air? And her designs are just as refreshing!

Take a look...

What's up for grabs?!

~One Custom Blog Design~
Custom Blog Header and Background
6 Matching Sidebar Titles Matching Post Signature

~One Prefab Blog Layout~
Prefab PLD Layout of your choice {your choice of colors} {click HERE to see prefab choices}

Here's how to enter:

LEAVE A SEPERATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visit Penny Lane Designs {HERE} tell me which Prefab design you'd love {1 entry}
Follow the Penny Lane Designs Blog {HERE} {1 entry}
Follow HTB on Twitter {HERE} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog about the HTB Spring Give Away {1 entry} {be sure to add a link on this entry}
Add the HTB Button to your blog or website {1 entry}

THIS IS SO EXCITING...AND IS GOING TO MAKE 2 BLOGGERS' VERY HAPPY!

It truly brings me joy to bring this opportunity to you!

GOOD LUCK!

All winners will be announced March 20th!

Don't forget ...

Day ONE GiveAway HERE & Day TWO GiveAway HERE

Spring Give Away {Day TWO}

2010-02-28T14:06:00.015-05:00

Swanky Bakes is synonymous with deliciously chic! I have featured this scrumptious Etsy Shop on HTB before and I am such a fan I couldn't resist the chance to feature this hand~decorated sweetness again!

THIS TIME one lucky HTB reader has the chance to taste these delectable goodies! That's because Swanky Bakes is generously gifting one lucky HTB reader with

1 DOZEN cup~cake cookies

{a $34.00 value} in the color combo their choice!

Who wouldn't want a chance to win a box full of delicious sugar cookies?

Here's how to enter:

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}
Visit Swanky Bakes {here} look over the delicious goodness & tell me what fab color combo you'd love {1 entry}
Become a follower of my personal blog {here} {1 entry}
Follow HTB on Twitter {here} {1 entry}
Tweet or Blog about the HTB Spring Give Away {1 entry}{be sure to add a link on this entry}
Add the HTB Button to your blog or website {1 entry}

GOOD LUCK!

ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED MARCH 20TH

And don't forget that you can enter to win all 10 give away items!

Come back each day to see what's up for grabs!

RIBBONS FOR RAE ~ DAY ONE

Spring Give Away {Day ONE}

2010-02-27T20:53:00.010-05:00

Ribbons For Rae

defines it's work with one word "couture" but maybe she should change it to "cute~ture"! Because that is what these fantastic flip~flops are!

Each accessory is chic, stylish, custom made by hand & as original as the little diva that wears it. Be it hair accessories or flip~flops the ribbons & embellishments are hand picked to create adorable, affordable couture fashion accessories for any girl's wardrobe!

And now here is your chance to send your little diva out the door in style! Jena at Ribbons For Rae is giving one lucky Hoity Toity BABY reader the chance to win a pair of her newest couture accessory ... The Ribbons For Rae Flip~Flop!

Here's how to enter

All entrants MUST be an HTB follower {1st entry}

Visit Ribbons For Rae {here} look over her fantastic designs & tell me what fab color combo you'd love & your child's shoe size {1 entry}

Become a follower of my personal blog {here} {1 entry}

Follow HTB on Twitter {here} {1 entry}

Tweet or Blog about the HTB Spring Give Away {1 entry}{be sure to add a link on this entry}

Add the HTB Button to your blog or website {1 entry}

GOOD LUCK!

ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED MARCH 20TH

Spring Give Away

2010-02-27T18:34:00.018-05:00

Starting tomorrow you can enter to win one

of the following prizes here on

HTB!

Each day I will feature a different company

and the item you can enter to win! So take the time

to visit back daily... it only takes a couple of minutes!!!

This is the give away of all give aways!

I have hand picked some of my favorite websites, Etsy Shops and

designers to participate in this give away & gathered 10 companies

who have donated items for 10 lucky

HTB

followers to try your luck at winning!

Here is a list of each company & a photo of the item {or items} up for grab!

~ Day ONE ~

Ribbons For Rae

Girls Custom Flip~Flops

~Day TWO ~

Swanky Bakes

One dozen Custom Cup~Cake Cookies

{$34.00 value}

~ Day THREE ~

Finch & Hawk

{two winners}

{1st winner} the Pain in the Groceries to Buy List pad

{2nd winner} The Freakin Never Ending To Do List pad

~ Day FOUR ~

Bubbalou Bands
Custom girls Head Band

~ Day FIVE ~

Ink Obsession Design

Set of 10 Custom Note Cards

~ Day SIX ~

Bebeloosh Mini

2 Eco Friendly Blue Bird Snack Bags

~ Day SEVEN ~

Vinyl Design & Decor

Owl Decal {color of your choice}

~ Day EIGHT ~

{two winners}

Monkey See Boutique

Eco Friendly Reusable Market Bags

~ Day NINE ~

Lucky Blue Bird Art
Any Lucky Blue Bird Art print

{up to 11x14}

~ Day TEN ~

Hoity Toity Baby

HTB T~Shirt

{Boy or Girl up to size 5T}

Standard Entry Rules apply:

*be sure to read the daily feature for each item as there are extra entry possibilities!

1. All entrants MUST be a HTB follower {1st entry}

~so if you're not....simply become a follower today~

2. Follow HTB on Twitter {Here} {1 entry}

3. Tweet or Blog about the HTB Spring Give Away {2 entries}

4. Become a follower of my personal blog {Here} {1 entry}

Please make sure that you leave a separate comment for each entry on the appropriate item feature! You can enter to win them all! Have fun! Winners will be announced March 20Th!

TO VIEW ANY OF THE ETSY STORES OR WEBSITES SIMPLY CLICK ON THE PHOTOS ABOVE!

GOOD LUCK!

Big Spring Give Away Sneak Peek

2010-02-22T22:21:00.011-05:00

To kick off spring and hopefully some warmer weather for every one I'm hosting the

Hoity Toity BABY Spring Give Away!

Begins March 1st
Winners Announced March 20th

Here's your chance to win items from artist & designers like:

Ribbons For Rae {custom kid's flip~flops}

Ink Obsession Designs {10 custom note cards}

Bubbalou Bands {Headband for your little BUBBALou}

Lucky Blue Bird Art {LBB art print}

Vinyl Design & Decor {owl decal}

Monkey See Boutique {2 reusable market bags}

Finch & Hawk {list note pad}

BebelooshiMini {2 Reusable Organic Sandwich/Snack Bags with Blue Bird}

Swanky Bakes {1 dz cupcake cookies}

and

Hoity Toity BABY {HTB t~shirt}

10 items

10 winners!

Make sure that you come back on March 1st!

Love

2010-02-19T11:36:00.002-05:00

Happy Anniversary Mr. HTB

*MUAH*

Self~Fulfilling Prophecy

2010-02-17T21:12:00.008-05:00

Isn't that what they call it when you unknowingly make something happen in your life. For example....you blog about needing the Super Nanny {read that post here} and now....they are actually calling you to set up an interview.

*EXPLANATION*

A while back I sent in an application to the Super Nanny pitching an idea for them feature a family with toddler age children who are not quite out of control, not yet. Their show is great and I know MANY families who watch it and thank GOD their children are not like that. I'm one of those parents. But I'm also a parent who sees that if Mr. HTB & I don't form a united front against the kids that we will be in the same boat as a ton of other families out there! We'll be raising brats! Kids that everyone groans and complains about when they see our family coming! I CAN'T HAVE THAT! So my idea was for TSN to come in and teach us (first time parents of 2 1/2 year old twins) the techniques we need to discipline them BEFORE they start taking over.

So jump forward to last Wednesday when I get this very causal email from "Jordan" asking if I was still interested and if so to fill out the attached application again and send it back along with pictures of our family. So after some good old fashioned Nancy Drew investigation I confirmed that "Jordan" works for The Super Nanny's production company and it's legit! This is hilarious! And yesterday I actually received a phone call from "Jordan" asking if we were going to be in town next week as they will be here for interviews and that he'd call back with the interview date and time! OMG!

Now, since all of this has transpired I have determined that while my little Jake & Laney are good kids....WE DO NEED NANNY JO! I just hope to GOD that if they do pick us and the show airs...that I don't completely embarrass me, my family and everyone else I know and love.

To be continued....

HoityToityBaby

I'm Still Here ~ Are you?

Whatchutalkinbout' Lunch Lady?????

Extreme Couponing ~ Oh How I Adore Thee

Keep Moving Forward

Boy Crazy!

Spring Is In the Air!

CURIOUS BABY WINS THE RACE!

MIXBOOK WINNER!

It's GIVEAWAY TIME!

There's a New Blog in Town!

Parents

All I Did Was Blink....

Modern Portrait Photography at it's Best!

Change

Merry Christmas

Honeysuckle....The Color for 2011!

TINY PRINTS GIVE AWAY WINNER!

IT'S GIVE AWAY TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Monica Dyer Photography WINNER!

{FAMILY PORTRAIT GIVEAWAY}

Monica Dyer Photography {Sneak Peak}

Halloween Anticipation

Lost in the Fog

HEEEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO!

The BIG day!

Hello Friends

Hoity Toity ANNOUNCEMENT

Bits & Pieces

Star Spangled Tutorial

The Knot , The Nest, The Bump

Cheese!

Catch of the Day!

***FREEBIE TIME***

Laney's 1st Visit to the Dentist

FU BP!

Toy Story 3

Sandwich 365 ~ GIVE AWAY!

Tell It Sister!

Need I Say More?

Cheeky Umbrella Review

Huggies Goes Denim!

Hoity Toity SUMMER

Weekend Bit's & Pieces

Party On!

John Travolta & Kelly Preston

PeaceLoveMom ~ And the WINNER is...

Don't Forget~PeaceLoveMom Give Away!

Taga~rific!

Mommy Blogger of the Year Contest

Peace Love Mom

Launch : Nursery 101! {Twins Nursery}

The Swagger Wagon ~ Love it!

A Legend Gone

Happy Mother's Day and More!

A Day At The Beach

Hoity Toity Review ~ Twirl Bird's Twirl Skirts

Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Fat?

Fantastic Freebies

Penny Lane Designs ~ A Huge Thank You!

If Only

Star Light Star Bright

Back To Reality

{top ten} Reasons the Kids Will Be All Right

Fantastic Freebies

Easter Fun

Happy Easter

HTB Meets ETSY

Movie Madness

Kimmy Kistner

Liberty Chic

Certainly NOT Normal HTB Talk

Update :)

Please Vote For HTB!

Spring Give Away Winners

Spring Give Away UPDATE!

Spring Give Away {Day ELEVEN}

Spring Give Away {Day TEN}

Extra Entry!

Spring Give Away {Day NINE}

FREEBIE TIME