Thursday, September 27, 2012

Fall Fashion Favorites

I think Fall has officially arrived in Maryland, and we are thrilled. I love being able to sleep with the windows open, and have even started breaking out some sweaters! And, my checking account is definitely grateful for a reprieve in our electric bill this month.

I know I've mentioned it before, but fall fashion is definitely my favorite. I love when the weather is cool enough for layers, but still warm enough to wear flats and not have freezing cold feet. 

Pinterest has been covered with images of fall-inspired outfits clad with boots, accessories and prints. My favorite trends for this fall? Bold colors, riding boots (still), layering and LOTS of animal prints! 

Her are just a few of my favorite combos so far. Luckily, I already have some of these items (or something similar) in my closet. But, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking for a colorful blazer, and have my eye on a kelly green JCrew cardi. 

via
via

via

via

via

via

via

Happy Shopping! :o)

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

This Morning, I Am Thankful.

This morning was like any other morning. I was woken by the annoying sound of my 'take-your-temp!' alarm around 6:20am. A few minutes later, B was up and getting ready for work, and I was about to nestle back in for another hour of sleep. 

In typical fashion, Riley had other things in mind and came to my side of the bed whimpering for breakfast as soon as B was out the door and on the road. I finally rolled out of bed around 7:40. 

Most days, I still wake up groggy, and then a big smile comes to my face when I remember that I am basically living out my dream job. Already. At the age of 28. But that deserves a whole post of its own another time.

But, this morning was a little different. I've been working on allowing myself to enjoy moments. Normally I get up, get ready and dressed for what the day holds, and am on my way up to the office or out the door (armed with coffee, of course) within an hour. 

Today will be different. In fact, it already has been. I am sitting here sipping on my (already twice reheated) coffee, writing out a post that wasn't already on my calendar or agenda, while still wearing PJs. I have been productive over the past two days with work stuff, so I'm thinking about treating myself to last night's season premiere of Private Practice around 10. Ahh, flexibility, you are my favorite thing some days.

So, today, I'm pausing. Not only to relish in my morning coffee and the realization that I didn't have to be out the door by 8:30AM, but because this life that I have is even better than I could have dreamed of when I was walking across that stage to grab my degree six years ago.

Some days, we all deserve to give ourselves a pat on the back for everything we have accomplished, instead of kicking ourselves because our to-do lists are still chock full of items. And, today, I'm extra thankful that God has entrusted me with this life. With my health, my home, and the beautiful beginning of my little family to enjoy every day.
What are you thankful for today?

Monday, September 24, 2012

Project Pinterest Week 2: Super Easy DIY Fall Wreath: $15 and Just 15 Minutes!!


I am so glad that AP started this linkup. I love having a reason to get my most recent Pinterest projects up on the blog, and I love seeing what everyone else is working on, too! 

This week, I wanted to share the wreath that I made for fall. I wanted a new wreath to adorn the french door that leads out to our deck in my kitchen. It would also be replacing my summer wreath. My inspiration started with this pin.

In typical fashion, I ran off to Hobby Lobby one afternoon with a short list of the items I would need to complete this project. It ended up being the easiest wreath I have made to date; about 15 minutes and only $15!!


DIY Fall Wreath: $15

What You'll Need
1 14 inch round twig wreath
2 fall sprigs (I bought two of the round sprigs that were marked down in the fall section that are typically used for candle surrounds)
1 roll of thick, wire-trimmed ribbon in the pattern of your choice
1 glue gun
2 glue sticks


I started by deciding which way I wanted my wreath to face based on its shape, etc. Once I had this nailed down, I cut my fall candle surrounds with a sharp scissor to open them up into a semi circle shape (they started as closed circles) and lightly bent the wire to form them to the same curve as my twig wreath.

Once I had the sprigs shaped, I glued them down on opposite sides of the wreath leaving one opening between the two a few inches larger than the other. 

Then, I used my fancy animal printed ribbon to create a bow. I attached the bow with a twitsy tie, and then added some hot glue for good measure.


That's really it! Once I had everything glued down, I gave it a few minutes to dry and then hung it up. I even got compliments from my husband, which is a huge success in my book! You know, since he doesn't always notice the new seasonal items that I spread all over our house. 

Simple fall success. Now, get your projects together and head over for this weeks Project Pinterest linkup!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Have You Checked Out These 'Must-Reads?'

Fall means new clothes, new weather, new football season, and here, it means some fabulous NEW sponsors! I am thrilled to have each one of them, and we welcome new sponsors all the time. Want to know more about sponsoring Our Love Nest? Click here for more!


One of our longest running, and most loyal sponsors is Kelly. She is joining us again, and since her last intro, she has gotten married, and her blog has gotten a new look! I love her 'Wedding Wednesday' posts because I get nostalgic about my own wedding when I get to read about all of her little details.




Make sure and stop by her blog, you will be so happy that you did! You can also visit Kelly on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook!


 
I am thrilled to introduce you to Tina. If you haven't read her blog yet, you are truly missing out on a fabulous girl, and fellow JMU alumni! While we may not have known each other while we were at JMU, I am s glad that we have gotten to know each other since! She has guest blogged for me, and I just adore her sense of humor
 
 
Catch up with her and the many adventures of her and her hubby! You can also find her on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook!


 
One of my favorite returning sponsors is back with us again! From the moment I 'met' Lindsey, via the Internet, we struck up a real friendship. Even though we may not know each other yet, I consider Lindsey a friend, and a beautiful one at that!
 
 
Lindsey blogs over at Love to the Moon about her beautiful family: her hubby and two precious daughters. Lindsey is a great Mom, and a beautiful person inside and out. Head on over and join in on the fun and show her some love! You can also find her on Twitter here! And, make sure to 'Like' Love to the Moon's new Facebook page!
 

You may already know Kerry of Bridier Baubles from all of the internet buzz, and from the giveaway I hosted back in April! Do you love nautical, JCrew, Nantucket inspired accessories?! Who doesn't?

Since I found Bridier Baubles, I have been totally hooked. I have submitted at least ten five separate orders, and her accessories just keep getting cuter and cuter!  If you are looking for that perfect accent piece, or you want to buy gifts for your sisters, girlfriends, or even bridesmaids, Kerry is your girl! 
 
And? Her Fall 2012 Collection is TO.DIE.FOR. Make sure to check out the new 'collections' that she is selling where she pairs up 2 or more items and offers them at a discounted price!

If you haven't already perused her site, you need to head over there ASAP! You can also find Kerry on Twitter here and here, and definitely 'Like' the Bridier Baubles Facebook Page to keep up on flash sales and specials!
 
 
I'm sure you remember Sonja from Running in Pearls! Sonja describes herself as a Mom, Blogger, Half Marathoner, Florida Gator Lover who functions on Starbucks, running, and desserts. That's my kinda girl! Well, except for the Florida Gator thing. Sorry Sonja!! :o)


 She blogs about everything from her adorable daughter, to fashion, to what she's currently loving on Pinterest, which is a personal favorite of mine! You can also find Sonja on Twitter and Pinterest. Head on over and join in the fun!


{Not So} Newlyweds' Brittany 
Brittany is the charming, funny and adorable voice of the blog '{Not So} Newlyweds! She and I have been Twitter 'buddies' for some time now, but just connected recently, and I am so glad that we did. I love hopping over to her blog and reading about their journey as newlyweds.


Brittany is a teacher by day, and just recently made a big transition in her career. I can't wait to hear what happens next! Head over and get to know Brittany a little better, trust me, you won't be disappointed! You can also find her on Twitter and Pinterest!


Last, but certainly not least is our other newest sponsor, the beautiful Molly from Stilettos & Diapers. Not only is Molly the beautiful Momma of 2 gorgeous boys, but she is also one of my 'real life' blog friends! I had the pleasure of meeting her in person for lunch a few weeks back, and we hit it off instantly! 
 
 
If you're not already reading her blog, you need to start ASAP! She blogs about motherhood, recipes, fashion and lots of other things, and I just adore her. You can also check her out on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook!

 
 
Whew! If you're still reading, thank you SO MUCH for your support of our new sponsors. I am super excited about each one of them, and writing this post really helped to remind me of all of the wonderful friends and connections I've made through blogging. 
 
If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, email me directly at ourlovenestblog{at}gmail{dot}com

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Fall

There are few things that make me happier than when the seasons begin to change (well, other than Christmas, duh). When Fall begins to approach and the air gets crisper, football starts, and Starbucks starts selling Pumpkin Spice Lattes, my heart swells. 

A few weekends ago, B was away at a bachelor party, so I had some free time on my hands. What did I do with this free time? Well, I made a wreath, cleaned my house, caught up on my DVR, and decorated for fall! 

Here are just a few snapshots of some of the fall decor that is making my house feel more like home at the moment.






Tuesday, September 18, 2012

If You Really Knew Me ...

I have seen a few posts like this floating around the interwebs recently, and it got me to thinking that there are probably a bunch of things that my readers don't know about me. Things that you wouldn't really know unless you knew me in person. So, I thought I'd put together a list to help you guys to get to know me a little better. I know, you're welcome ;o)


If you really knew me then you'd know ...
  • That I am a total neat freak. Like, all dishes in the dishwasher, counters wiped down, laundry put away kind of freak. I just can't seem to stop myself sometimes. 
  • I am always late. For everything. It's one of my least favorite things about myself, and it drives B craaazy.
  • I love to dress up, but you can often find me in comfy clothes while working out of my home office. Some days I get dressed right before B walks in the door so I don't look like a total bum.
  • Same goes with my hair. I have a thick head of dark, wavy hair, and while I can do lots of things with it, I often throw it in a ponytail or messy bun because I'm too lazy to straighten it everyday.
  • One of my very favorite things is TV. I am sure that it has something to do with the fact that we watched a lot of TV in our house while I was growing up, but it is one of my favorite things to do, and one of the ways I relax. I watch way more shows than I'd like to admit.
  • I'm not sure if I have a favorite color. Wardrobe wise, I wear mostly black, but that can't be a favorite color, right? I love brights and fall colors. I guess I don't really discriminate.
  • I am the oldest of four children, and while this has been a great job, my type-A, leadership qualities get exhausting sometimes.
  • There are days where I wish I could just lay on the sofa and watch countless hours of television instead of running around cleaning, organizing, working, blogging and running errands all.the.time. I think I feel guilty if I give myself time to 'relax,' and I wish I could stop doing that to myself.
  • One of my most favorite things to do is stream an episode of the Kardashians, Smash or Felicity and drink a glass of wine (or 3) while I cook dinner. I think this will be the thing I miss most once I get pregnant.
  • I wound up living in Maryland by way of New Jersey and Virginia. While I do love being here surrounded by so many of our friends, I miss home a lot and think about moving back all the time.
  • I have a few girlfriends that I cannot go more than two days without talking to. There are about 4 of them and they know who they are. I have the best girl friends ever.
  • I am a child of God and my faith is very important to me. Perhaps I should talk about that part of my life more here. Cue the planning
  • My absolute biggest vice (when it comes to food) is macaroni and cheese. I cannot get it out of my system, and still find myself buying boxes of Annie's or even Kraft at the grocery store. Someone please sign me up for a support group.

Well, there's a little more about me, I hope you enjoyed it, and weren't bored to tears. I'd love it if some of my readers would comment and leave me 1-2 things I probably didn't know about them!


Monday, September 17, 2012

Project Pinterest Linkup: Kitchen Command Center



If you've been visiting these parts lately, you know that I have become a total sucker for some linkups. I mean, who doesn't want to see what their favorite bloggers looked like in high school, or what their wedding dresses were like?!

When my favorite SIL decided to start a linkup that was Pinterest inspired? It was like two of my favorite things coming together to create something even more fabulous! Like she mentions in her intro to this new linkup, I am one that pins a TON of stuff: crafts, recipes, organization and cleaning tips, and then I only get around to doing about 20% of the actual pins. This way, I'll be held accountable, and it will give me one more excuse to make frequent trips to HobLob!

What's up for week 1? Well, a few weeks ago, I found the idea for a Kitchen Command Center on Jennifer's blog. Then, I found the pin for her project, and I knew that this simple organization project could make a world of difference in my house! This 'Command Center' would give me a place to store all of the items that are usually floating around on my kitchen counters, or taking residence on our kitchen table.

Since I don't have much leftover cabinet space in my kitchen, I knew I would need to get creative with where I would house this center. So, trust me, there are ways to make this work, even if you don't think you have ample enough cabinet space for it!


Kitchen Command Center (Our Love Nest Version)

What You'll Need
At least one shelf inside of a kitchen cabinet (or cabinet in a mud room, etc. if that works better for your family!)
1 roll of flat corkboard with adhesive backing
1 basket (size of your choice, as long as it fits inside the cabinet)
1 3M adhesive key hook
1 package magnetic clips
1 small bucket (I found mine in the $1 section at Target!)
2-3 plastic sheet protectors
Weekly checklist/planner printables of your choice (I got mine here and here


I started by adhering the roll of corkboard to the inside of my cabinet door. This gave me a nice, blank slate where I could attach my printables. I slipped my two printables (one for cleaning, one for schedule) into the sheet protectors and taped them to the corkboard. Each week, I use my dry erase marker to write on the sheet protector, and then, at the end of the week, or as I complete the listed tasks, I simply erase them and start over.

Then, I attached my handy dandy 3M key hook. It was super easy, and gave me a great place to keep my spare car, house and mail keys safe.

Then, I placed my basket, Home Management Binder, budget notebook and dry erase marker on the cabinet shelf. I am using my basket to house birthday and thank you cards, iPhone and iPad chargers, my weekly meal planning notebook, coupons, cough drops, etc. It has basically become a neat way for me to house all of the 'catch-all' items I had laying around.


I know this picture doesn't look as clean and neat as I had hoped, but there was nowhere else for our ever-growing collection of travel coffee mugs to live other than the shelf right above this one. 

My 'Peek at the Week' printable gives me a place to write down weekly tasks, map out our schedule for that particular week, and to remind myself of random things like gifts I need to buy, errands I need to run, etc.


And, because I can never do just one simple project, I actually created a combination of Jennifer's Command Center and this one. Once I got everything off of the front of my fridge, I felt so much better! Using the side of the fridge works out great for us. 

You must be wondering what I could have had left to put on the side of the fridge, right?


I have talked about our monthly calendar before, and it's still working out great for us. I jot down everything from lunch dates to birthdays to work meetings, and it has been super functional. 

I use the bucket for my colorful dry erase markers, and the hanging filer (from Target) for an extra notepad. And, obviously this was the perfect new home for our NY Jets magnet!

So far, this project has made a huge difference in our house. I am no longer sorting through random piles several times per week, and trying to figure out how to get everything off of my kitchen table. I'm sure that, over time, I will need to clean out the basket to keep it from becoming a total dumping zone, but it has been fabulous having everything in one place!


So, what are you waiting for? Head over and linkup your most recent Pinterest project with AP for 'Project Pinterest' every Monday!!


Show & Tell Mondays: High School Memories



It's Monday, which means I'm linking up for Show & Tell again! This week, we're talking about high school. I have great memories from high school, and I definitely wouldn't trade that time for anything in the world. But, I am happy to be past my school days, and am loving this chapter of life. Head on over and link up with Becky today, you know you want to share your old high school pics!

High School Memories
 
1. Tell us what kind of student you were in high school {popular, nerd, sport obsessed, choir, etc}
Hmm, I guess I was a combination of these things. I had great friends, an adorable boyfriend (senior year), I was in the chorus, and I ran cross country and track. No wonder I'm so well rounded today. Ha, riiiiight.
 
2. Share with us some high school pictures. We know you have them somewhere.
Haha, ohhh high school pictures. They are somewhat embarrassing. When I look back, I wonder what I was thinking. The clothes? Omg. 
 
But, I was blessed with a FABULOUS group of girl friends. We have  stayed close to this day, and for that, I am so grateful.
 



 

3. Tell us about your school. Private? Public? How many in graduating class? Mascots? School colors?
Public high school all the way! Woot! I went to a small-medium sized high school in Bergen County, NJ. You know, the one the RHONJ Manzo kids went to?! 

Seriously though, I loved my high school. It was well known for being a quality, public education. I graduated with about 265 kids, and we were the 'Raider Cats.' Our colors were green and white, which is super convenient being that I'm a Jets fan.
 
4. Tell us about some of your favorite memories of high school. Or what stands out the most? Any teachers? Specific classes?
When I think back to high school, I don't really think about/remember the classes and subjects. Although I do think that taking AP classes helped to prepare me for college, my most favorite memories from high school are the nights/weekends that I spent with my best girlfriends.  Meeting at our lockers between classes, talking about boys, shopping and sharing clothes. Oh, and the parties :o)
 
5. Tell us a piece of advice you would pass on to your children or any child entering high school.
Although high school may seem like the stepping stone to the rest of your life, you will look back and realize they were some of your best days. So, even though you may be trying to race through to graduation and finally start college, enjoy it!
 
I would also recommend getting involved. In clubs, sports and extra curriculars. Do I think I'd still have gotten into college without these things? Sure, probably. But, it was these things that helped shape my character, and helped me branch out and find some things that I really do love.  
 
 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Easiest Pumpkin Muffins You'll EVER Make: The Recipe

Is everyone as excited as I am that fall has finally graced us with its presence? Here in MD, the summer heat and humidity has been trying to hold on with everything its got, but I was thrilled to wake up Sunday morning to crisp, cool air. I immediately threw all of the windows in the house open, took a look around at my small amount of fall decor, and knew it was time to kick things up a notch!

B was out of town over the weekend at a bachelor party, and although I missed him while he was gone, the few days gave me tons of time to finish DIY projects, clean and decorate my house, meal plan, and even sneak in a new, fall recipe.

Now, when it comes to fall recipes, I love almost anything that has pumpkin in the title. So, when I saw this pin, I quickly checked my pantry. Just as I suspected, I already had all TWO ingredients required to make these muffins. Early Sunday morning, before B came back into town, I got right to it. I think I get brownie points for having the house smelling clean, fresh, and like justoutoftheoven pumpkin muffins when he walked through the door, yes?!


Super Easy {and Mega Delicious} Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

What You'll Need
1 box yellow cake mix 
1 15oz. can Libby's 100% pure pumpkin 

Yes, that's really it! 



Simply dump your dry cake mix into a medium mixing bowl, then add your pumpkin, and stir until the mixture is blended well. It should create a nice, thick batter.


Then, add your batter to a lightly sprayed, standard muffin tin (I made 12) in equal portions. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes and voila!

These muffins are moist, rich and perfect for a fall morning with a piping hot cup of coffee! They are also husband approved, which is a definite win in this house!




ENJOY!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?!

We are a football family. I may like football more than the average girl, but I just can't help it. I spent more hours than I would like to admit watching Sports Center and Mike & Mike last week getting to know every stat I could about the start of the season. I even joined a fantasy football league this year for the first time ever. I know.

One of the things that I love most about football is that B and I both enjoy it so much. It's one of the things that we love doing together, and we get to do it every week for four months of the year.

I'm sure I don't need to say it again, but I'm a HUGE New York Jets fan. I mean really, can you blame me?!


B is a big time Baltimore Ravens fan, which of course makes sense since he was born, raised and still resides in MD. 

We get asked all the time how we can be married to each other when we like 'opposing teams?' Honestly, I don't really see the Ravens as Jets as opponents, except when they play each other every other year, and when it gets to be playoff time and the wildcard hunt begins. But, for at least half of the season, I think we coexist quite well! 

And, don't tell any of my friends from back home (or my Dad), but I even recently purchased a cute, girly Ravens top from Old Navy to help support B's team when they play on a different night than the Jets, or when the Jets have a bi-week.

So, what better way to celebrate our mutual love for the sport than to host our very first football party of the 2012 season opening week?! That's right; the Ravens opened up their season with a Monday night prime time game last night, and we had a few close friends over for the game and some yummy, football themed food. 

The menu was simple, consisting of pulled chicken BBQ sandwiches, tater tots (yes.), fresh veggies, hummus, pretzels, salsa, guacamole, and a whole plethora of chips. And, of course, it wouldn't be MNF without a few ice cold beers.  

It was fun and relaxing, and I was happy to host for such an exciting game. The Ravens pulled out a big win, and even came close to tying the Jets for the highest scoring game in week 1 :o)

And, what kind of football party would it have been without cupcakes?!


Now, please excuse me while I go eat one for breakfast.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Show & Tell Monday: Baby Talk!


Yep, we're back for another 'Show & Tell' Monday with Becky. I couldn't help but spend some time reflecting, and daydreaming, about this next set of questions! If you've been around here lately, you already know where we are at in our TTC journey. I thought it would be fun to spend some time thinking about fun questions like these while we're at it!


1. Tell us your favorite baby names? 
For some reason, I have always had an easier time coming up with boy names than girl. Call it a premonition.  B has lots of boys is his family, so I wouldn't be surprised if these names come in handy later on, but I would absolutely love for B to have a daughter. He'd be absolutely smitten.

Some of my favorite boy names are Conner, Colin and Dylan. Yes, I'm a pretty traditional girl when it comes to names

For girls, I've always loved the names Taylor and Morgan. Not sure Morgan will go well with our last name, so I might have to ditch that one. Back to the drawing board!

2. Show me your "dream" nursery {can be your baby's nursery or one that you love}

Thank you, Pinterest, for providing me with oodles of nursery pics for me to save until the time comes. Who knows what I'll actually love/want when the decision needs to be made, but some nurseries that I love look something like this ...

via
via
3. How many children would you like to have? How far apart?

I would love to have 3 or 4 kids, but I think we will be happy with whatever God has in the cards for us. I think B would be happy with 2, but I remind him (sometimes) that my minimum might be three. I grew up as the oldest of four, and although it was a pain back then, I have the best memories of a house full of chaos, and I want that for us, too.
 
4. Tell us what you think the importance of parenting is?

Is there any more important job? My goal is to keep my role as a wife at the top, then my role as a Mom, because I never want to lose what B and I have worked so hard to get in the first place.

But, I think the role of a parent is so important, that it's hard to really even describe. I'm sure, once we have kids of our own, I would be able to go on for days about this, but just the fact that this little human being is from you, your 100% responsibility, and will learn almost everything in the first five years of its' life from you, simply blows my mind.
 
5. Show us your favorite newborn photo {can be your children or random}

This picture basically makes my heart want to burst! 

via

6.  Tell us some things you promise to never do as a parent
Wow, this is a tough one. I have always said that I don't want to be that Mom that is sharing her bed with her kids for the first five years of their life. I am hopeful that I can keep our bed just for us.

 I also want to be an example to my kids of how to love others. Whether it be my relationship with B, my family, his family, friends, or just a random passerby, I want to lead by example and always try and show a kind heart and loving spirit. I don't want to be harsh, judgmental, or exhibit the 'road rage' that we all know tends to happen. Hopefully my patience grows immensely over the next few years :o)

Thursday, September 6, 2012

DIY Wall Hung Bookshelf & Reading Corner

A few months ago, while I was perusing Pinterest (again), I came across this pin. Naturally, I filled it away under my 'Future Littles' category and then moved on.

A few weeks later, my in-laws hired me to help them organize and re-decorate the upstairs of their house (yes, that is another one of my many side jobs). As soon as my mother-in-law told me that she wanted to use one of her extra bedrooms as a storage/craft/grandchild friendly room, I knew this would be the perfect place to put shelves like these into action!

We started with a medium-sized open wall space in the room, and went from there. I found these shelves from Home Decorators and knew they would be perfect, and not at all time consuming!


DIY Wall Hung Children's Bookshelf Reading Corner

What You'll Need

3-4 'Euro Floating Wall Shelves (screws included)
We purchased four of these shelves, but only ended up hanging three of them in this section of the room. We will likely use the fourth shelf for another space in the room to display pictures, etc.

A Hammer/screw driver/drill of your choice
An open wall space
Oodles of children's books!

Simply follow the instructions that come with the shelves to hang them. We spaced ours about 2 feet apart on each side to allow for books of all sizes to be placed on the shelves.
I absolutely love the way this project came out. The shelves are sleek and simple, and have a lip on the front of the to hold the books in place! Once the shelves were hung, the whole corner of the room had such a fun and inviting vibe. I know that we will definitely be creating something similar to this in our home home once we have kids!


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Fall Fashion For A Good Cause!

One of the things that I love most about blogging is the network of women that it has introduced me to. Women that are smart, caring, creative, and whom I never would have 'met' if it hadn't been for blogging (well, and Twitter!). Forming new relationships with this large community of women can have it's challenges, but it can also offer great rewards!

When Jordan presented me with a way to help give back, especially to the Autism community, I couldn't help but oblige!

Want to know more? I'm so glad you asked! 

Jordan is helping to put on an event 9/20 in St. Petersburg, FL that helps families who are not able to afford therapies for the children who are affected by Autism. How great is that?! If you are local to the area, you can purchase tickets for the event by using this link.
St.Petersburg/Tampa residents: the fundraiser will be at Push Ultra Lounge on September 20th at 5:30pm that you.should.go.to. Tickets can be purchased here. Great raffles, auctions items and more importantly, a great cause!



And, if you're not local to the area, you can still help! The group will be hosting a Stella & Dot Trunk Show to support it as well. Tracy has so graciously offered to be the host of this trunk show, and I just love her heart for doing so!

Tracy is hosting an online Trunk Show to benefit the Lawyers Autism Awareness Fund as well! You can shop here. *a large majority of the proceeds from Tracy's show will go to support the Lawyers Autism Awareness Fund.

And, that's still not all! These ladies are also hosting a giveaway for everyone that gets involved in the blog community!  Simply use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for the chance to win this adorable 'Lucky Charm' necklace!!



Thanks, of course for all your help and support!