BACKYARD PICNIC

Backyard picnics on the weekends have become a regular routine recently. Nothing pinterest-worthy, just good food, on the back lawn, with my loves. It usually involves a little bbq on Jeff's part too. The grilled bread with olive-cheese spread is his recent born specialty.

After a three week break, Jeff started back to school this past week. Good news, it's only summer school and only one day a week. So he still has time to make olive-cheese spread. Other good news, Ewan has since had a haircut. See shag above.

Hope you have made plans and started your summer routines...

and hope you had a happy happy weekend!

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And to make your Monday happy too...

crochet BOWS up for grabs over on Simply Bold!

Enter her birthday giveaway {HERE}

HAPPY SPRING!

Happy official first day of Spring!

I'm over at Sandy A La Mode today, bunny hop over to say hello

and enter to win over $40 worth of crochet goodies from the shop!

xo!

A QUICK DATE, AND GIVEAWAY!

We had a quick family date early this morning,

starbucks, one year checkup, haircuts, post office, park and slides.

And now Jeff's at work, the boys are passed out in bed and on the couch,

and I'm enjoying a fluffer nutter, with the Hunger Games waiting for me.

(Just got to the actual games, day threeee!)

Just popped in to remind you, LAST day to enter the GIVEAWAY!

I  was wearing my pinkpoppyseed today, such a crowd pleaser that necklace is.

Have a great thursday! And good luck below!

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Update: Winner announced below! Have a great weekend! xo!

GIVEAWAY!

You saw me wearing it here... it's pinkpoppyseed!

This delightful ETSY shop is filled with upcycled t-shirts and vintage fabric, stripped into a yarn to make soft, statement jewelry. The orange necklace is currently featured in Babiekins Magazine, and after wearing it all day at the shoot, I was begging to take it home. I was so excited to later discover the online shop that is full of bold colored, beautifully braided, handmade pretties! The t-shirt necklaces are hands-down my favorite...

I also own one of her bracelets...

...the vintage floral on the right. ;)

Katie Jo is the creator behind the beautiful shop, here she is...

Hi, I’m Katie Jo, owner and creative designer behind Pinkpoppyseed which is full of all things handmade and upcycled! I love creating and repurposing things with my own hands. My sister introduced me to Etsy and I fell in love with it! So I decided to open my own store - Pinkpoppyseed! I was really nervous thinking “What if no one likes what I make?!” But I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly and supportive everyone was! I have had so much fun meeting all of the amazing people who are part of the Esty world! One of my most memorable meetings on Etsy was from Heather at Babiekins Magazine - asking if I would like to participate in their Spring 2012 magazine!!! I was so excited I told everyone I knew! Heather and everyone at Babiekins were a dream to work with ..... and it ended up being a double blessing as I was introduced to the super sweet model that wore my necklace during the magazine shoot, Katrina!

Um, let's just replace model with mom blogger, haa! Thanks Katie! Like me, she is also a mama to two boys. And I love that she has created such a girlie shop, you know, to balance the everyday life with all boys. :)

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And now for the giveaway, Katie Jo has generously offered this

perfectly spring, pale pink t-shirt necklace to go to one of you!

TO ENTER:

• Be a follower of this blog, and visit pinkpoppyseed on etsy
• Then come back and leave a comment below with your favorite item from the shop!

WANT TO UP YOUR CHANCES:

• Blog or facebook about the giveaway, linking back to here
• Tweet about the giveaway, tag @calikatrina
• Follow pinkpoppyseed on facebook, and bonus, use coupon code FACEBOOKFAN for 15% off any purchase though March 31st!

I can't thank Katie Jo enough for such a generous giveaway. I told her I was a small-time blog, but have sweet readers who would love her shop and spread the word about all it's loveliness!

So get going! xo!

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.
Entry comments below open until March 15th at midnight. Good luck!

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Update: CONGRATS to Libby!! Can't wait to send you your pinkpoppyseed!

And THANKYOU to all who entered!

Katie and I so appreciate the time you took to visit her shop and comment here.

Don't forget to use coupon code FACEBOOKFAN for 15% off any shop purchase through March 31st!

A COUPLE THINGS

Happy MARCH! grassy, kelly, lime, pistachio... I outfitted the shop with new spring greens for the month! Including new color collections to save you a buck or two. woohoo!

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New mama, Sandy a la Mode, is a fan of the shop and offered to put my button up on her blog, exciting! Her newbie Austin makes the cutest bowtie model, and she has a huge group giveaway going on right now, click below!

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Have you heard about The Homies? Sweet sweet Jessica nominated this blog for Apartment Therapy's Best Family Blog 2012! She let me know in the comments of this post, and I couldn't have thanked her enough for being so wonderful. For all the fellow blog writers, you know how much time and love goes into each post, so it's extremely heart-melting to know others are reading, enjoying, and umm... nominating! hello! Just wanted to give her a shoutout and internet hug for such a sweet gesture. Check out all the nominees here!

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Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

We're going to leave the book reading and bow making behindto get out and enjoy the 80 degrees coming our way! xo!

we have a winner!

entry number 8!

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drumroll......

it's kelly! one of my very FIRST followers! love love love her. and so fitting, eh!

congrats miss! email me the bow colors you'd like, can't wait to mail 'em off!

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to all, thank you so much for entering my first giveaway!

and thank you for spreading the word via this crazy social web.

and thank you for being a huge part of this tiny internet corner of mine.

i just love you all to pieces!

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more giveaways coming in 2012! this was just way too much fun. :)

wip wednesday

I've got projects on my lap today (and every day), getting ready to open up shop again next week!

If you haven't already, be sure to enter the giveaway below before Friday!

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Jeff and I are off to a two-day staycation at Disneyland! yippee!
Super pumped to ride every adult ride possible until we puke. Not even kidding.
And I just finished packing my bag, complete with a bathing suit! 80+ degrees again tomorrow!
I mean seriously. It's been weirdly hot here.
I'll be back monday to tell ya all about it... and announce the giveaway winner!
It may be too early to wish you a happy weekend, but I'm doin' it anyways...
make it a good one! xo!

blogoversary + giveaway!

Four years. FOUR YEARS! It's been a long time blogging for me, and four years later I still love it and enjoy my time spent on here chronicling my family's dailys. And still after all these years, I sometimes find myself feeling like a newbie with so much more to learn and accomplish. Bring it, 2012!

This years blogging experience has been particularly amazing, and has me on fire for the coming year! I have recently enjoyed opportunities with blogger event invites (last one was at Knotts Berry Farm!), my first invite to do a guest post, a ridiculously fun modeling offer (Graham and I did a shoot for an upcoming issue of Babiekins Magazine 2012!) and product reviews have just started coming my way... again all new learning experiences making me feel like I have no idea what I'm doing, and totally loving it!

All your kind comments are so appreciated! I love sharing them with Jeff all the time and constantly confusing him by referring to you guys as, "you know, my friend ____, from her cute blog ____!" I cherish all the friendships that have been established and grown over the past four years and it means the world that you take time out of your day to stop by and say hi here. You're all invited to Graham-bear's 1st birthday party in March! :)

My Etsy shop! {Opened December 2nd, 2011.} Such an exciting, successful experience! Big hugs to all of you who have encouraged me in my crochet craft. The shop support I received for something I truly love, has me reaching for the stars now. So thanks guys. I owe you...

Well, how 'bout a GIVEAWAY!! YOU get a bow! And YOU get a bow! And YOU get a bow! (Oprah anyone?) Really though, FOUR bows (for four years!), ONE winner! Aaaand ONE surprise crochet item... I've got some new shop products in the works. Exciting, yes?!

To be the calikatrina-first-time-giveaway winner...

• You must be a follower of this blog and leave a comment below. Let me know if you have any new year's resolutions or goals for 2012!

And for more entries...

• blog it
• tweet it (tag @calikatrina)
• or facebook mention this giveaway!

Leave a separate comment for each and include the social link in your comment.
That's FOUR ways (ahem, four again) to win!
{Giveaway winner picked at random next Friday at midnight.}


Wishing you all a very happy new year weekend! xo!!

{comments are now closed. winner announced monday!}