Shabby Apple Giveaway

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Today I have an extra special treat for you guys! Shabby Apple is giving another one of you lucky ladies out there a $50 gift card to spend as you please!! 

Just in case you need some inspiration on what to spend that $50 on, I've decided to pick out 3 of my current favorites from their site ;) 

First up and top of my list, is the gorgeous desert modern jersey maxi dress with kimono sleeves. I love to dress in all different shades of gray (a little obsessed) and this looks so amazingly comfortable, I don't think I'd ever want to take it off. Plus, it looks like it would work as a great maternity option as well to accomodate a growing bump.

I also wouldn't turn down this cute first stop peplum skirt. The eggplant/oxblood color seems to be a perfect fit for this time of year don't you think? 

Lastly, how about this stunning palatine hill sheath dress? I know it is very white but what a great silhouette and how easily could it be accessorized? This is my favorite pick for a last minute spring break get-away to some place warm. If you can't make it to Rome like this lucky model, how about one of my all-time favorite spots, the Florida gulf coast! 

Now to win that $50 all you have to do is the following:

-Like Shabby Apple's facebook page here and leave a comment on this post saying that you did. 

-Please follow The Forge via GFC and leave a comment.

-Visit Shabby Apple shop and pick out a favorite item, leave a comment here stating which one you picked.

Make sure to also include your email address!!

For extra entries you may:

Tweet about the giveaway (leave a comment with the twitter link please)

Follow The Forge on twitter (leave a comment here)

Follow The Forge on Facebook (leave a comment here)

Follow The Forge on Instagram (leave a comment) 

If you just can't wait to shop Shabby Apple, and I won't blame you, then use code THEFORGE10OFF to receive 10% off your entire purchase :)

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Giveaway ends Thursday 1/31 at midnight EST. 

Winner will be announced and contacted within 72 hours and has 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be drawn.

Click here for detailed giveaway rules and disclosure .

Good Luck! 

The winner of the $50 credit is entry number 4, Mandy Ford. 

Congrats!!

excuse my sleepy eyes

T-Shirt: Zara, Sweater: Esprit, Pants: Unionbay, Jacket: old Navy, Shoes: Steve Madden, Hat: Pieces

Do you ever look at pictures of yourself and suddenly realize how much your child looks like you? I mean it's not like I never noticed the similarities before but looking at these pictures I was like, holy cow we have the same exact "still sleepy, I just woke up" eyes. The ones that make me look like I'm 12!! 

Oh well, that was my random fact of the day.

On another note, my in-laws gave me two tickets to see Les Miserable (broadway version) for my birthday and so Jason and I got all gussied up and went on a real date last night. Including a fabulous dinner at Meat&Potatoes.

It was so nice to get out of the house and enjoy an adult evening out. We even made an effort not to talk about Logan the entire time, which of course was a total failure ;) and let's be honest, there simply is nothing better to talk about than that awesome little guy.

Tuesday Giveaway

Today we have another amazing giveaway from the lovely Julie over at Coco and Cocoa blog and shop. Julie loves to knit, crochet and eat. She is a mom to three boys, including hyper-active twins and a fearless toddler.
Go visit Julie over at her blog and say Hi!

Julie is giving one of you this lovely crochet chevron necklace. It's in one of my favorite happy colors: turquoise!! It's the perfect pop of color to add to your outfit on a cold and dreary winter day.

To enter the giveaway please do ALL of the following:

Follow The Forge via GFC

Follow Coco and Cocoa via GFC 

If you tweet about this giveaway to get the word out there, you will receive 10 entries for doing so !! :)) Please play by the rules or your entries can not be admitted. Thank you :) 

Giveaway ends on Tuesday the 29th at midnight EST. 

Open to US and Canada residents only!

GOOD LUCK! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

soo-y and i missu (yeah you read that right)

It is Monday and I woke up with a sore throat and a runny nose. Yay for me!! 

While temperatures outside are dropping by the minute, we spent the morning admiring the snow flurries from the window seat. Then we huddled up inside Logan's tent and did some fake napping and block building (because that's what tents are for) until the little guy got up and reached for my hand with his usual "ha, ha" (hand), manuvered us around the sleeping pups with several apologetic "soo-y's" (sorry) and then threw in a few "I missu's" (I miss you) for good measure, making sure his mama's heart was melted into one giant ole' puddle on the floor. 

So yeah, that's what we're doing this Monday. How about you?

PS: Two giveaways coming your way this week, including one from Shabby Apple so make sure to stop back!

recipe: guacamole grilled cheese

I don't know about you, but I love petty much anything that involves avocados. Whenever I make guacamole I make a ton and end up having to find other ways to use it than simply as a dip with pita chips. One of my favorite lunches is a simple guacamole grilled cheese that is quickly made and very filling. 

What you need: 

Guacamole (pre-made or homemade)

Bread

Fresh Spinach 

Mozzarella

A few cherry or grape tomatoes

Butter or Cooking Spray

First, sauté the tomatoes for a couple of minutes. Put aside. Spread some butter on the outsides of your bread or just use cooking spray. Layer your cheese on both insides of the bread, spread the guacamole on top and layer some spinach and tomatoes in between. Grill on a low temperature from both sides until cheese has melted.

Enjoy! 

Birthday Giveaway!

Now onto the giveaway.

The lovely Nicole from Young Love Style has graciously offered to give away 2 pieces of original artwork painted by her. 

Up for grabs are your two favorite 6x6" pieces that you will get to pick from the 8 paintings above. 

Super sweet right? 

Read what Nicole has to say about being an artist and what inspires her:

I'm a painter and illustrator living in Kelowna, BC. I'm currently in my third year of my BFA. My work is very process based, and focuses a lot on colour. My inspiration comes from many of the things around me, particularly books, movies, music, people, locations, and found objects. One of the things I find most inspiring is just seeing other people being creative. Right now I am focusing on changing the way in which I create art. I've recently discovered that I have come up with a recipe for the way that I make my work, using the same structure to produce my art over and over again. I'm looking to break free of this recipe and find new ways of doing what I do.

Also visit her website where she posts more of her artwork and leave her some feedback, won't ya? 

On top of that I am giving the same person this cute bow detail beanie, perfect to keep your head nice and toasty for this coldest part of the winter. 

 To enter:

Be a GFC follower of The Forge and Young Love Style

Additional entries will be unlocked once you complete the mandatory entries :) 

Giveaway ends Friday 1/25/13 at midnight EST.

Open to all US and Canada residents. 

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birthday Reflections

So today is my birthday and over the past few years this day has made me want to reflect more than it used to. See, in my early to mid twenties I was so busy with life that I barely took the time to think about where I was going. I felt pretty rooted and being in college gave me a sure outlook on what was to come in the close future.  I wouldn't say that birthdays are a huge deal to me, I've never paid much attention to the number but 28 feels kind of funny.  So what is it that seems to be changing inside of me? why do I feel so unrooted and sort of anxious all of a sudden? 

I mean, I do notice one or two more wrinkles here and there, and the gray hair has been out of control since I was 16. Nothing new there... but on the inside I suddenly feel like I don't have it figured out at all. 

I moved out at 21, across an entire ocean no less, got a college degree while building a house, adopted two dogs, traveled a ton and finally got pregnant with that beautiful little boy at 26. 

My 20's seem much more grown-up on paper the computer screen than they actually felt (so far, at least). 

Becoming a mom has been the most wonderful experience by far but it has also made me wonder about who I am as woman, aside from the mom and wife part. Over the past year a longing to be more than just that, to no longer just dream but do!, has slowly crept up inside of me. It is easily covered up by the busyness of everyday life and the responsibilities that help rationalize all those wishes and aspirations away into a tiny little room in the back of my mind. Close the door and only take a peek once in a while. But as I get closer to 30 I feel like I need to not let more time slip away from me and then I reprimand myself for having such thoughts when I am so extremely blessed with what I already have, every day. I mean, why am I so confused and why the heck at 28? Shouldn't this have happened a long time ago? 

This feeling is so hard to put into words and maybe you have no idea what I keep rambling on about. That's totally ok ;) I don't really have a good conclusion to this post other than there is an awesome giveaway following. That's always good, right? 

So there you go, confused birthday ramblings are done until next year.

Happy Birthday to me and may I figure it all out this year ;)