ginormous giveaway #1.

I am so excited to bring you this giveaway today guys.  I promise, you will LOVE it!  Four companies, four fabulous prizes, one winner.  How lucky do you feel?

Olive Mana : A lovely textile and paper goods store.  It is filled to the tippy top with so much packaging goodness.  Oh yes it is.  Stamps, labels, tags & bags, you can find everything your paper heart desires right here.  Olive Mana has so generously donated a notebook and a mixed boxed!  Total retail value of $84.

Parks and Pepper : Looking for a custom card, invitation, announcement?  Maren, of Parks and Pepper, can help you do just that.  Her designs are fresh and modern and perfect for any occasion. Let Maren help you create the perfect invite!  If you win, you will have the opportunity to work with Maren on a custom invitation or announcement.

Whisker Graphics :  Does your heart skip a little beat when you browse Whisker Graphics?  Mine does. Oh, so much twine goodness!  The colors are gorgeous and the quality top notch.  Whisker Graphics also offers up sweet printables and paper goods too.  The winner gets to choose THREE spools of Divine Twine valued at $42.  Yes please :)

Freshly Picked :  I've gushed about Freshly Picked before.  I have the his + her pillows and a bunting pillow and am waiting on my bow bag.  Umm, see, I really like her goods.  Susan is super talented with the sewing machine.  If you're the lucky one, you'll be winning a $50 gift certificate to spend at Freshly Picked however your heart desires.  Sa-weet!

Be sure to check out each store and follow them on Twitter or Facebook!
Freshly Picked
Olive Mana (twitter/facebook)

To enter :
Drop me a comment (leave your email - makes it easier to get in touch)
To gain an extra entry, simply tweet about it, come back here and leave the link.
To gain another extra entry, LIKE my favorite things on facebook, come back here and let me know.
Boom, three chances.
Giveaway closes Wednesday, Feb 2.  Winner will be announced Saturday.
US residents only
Good luck and may the force be with you!

update | the winner is Leslie of a room somewhere
please email me with your shipping info
ps - i use random.org to pick all of my winners

link love.

(source)

Happy Monday friends!  Hope you had a relaxing weekend.  Lots of wonderful links to share but here are a top few from the last week that made my favorites. 


I so downloaded these floral tags.
Did you know Jordan of Oh Happy Day (Letterpress), is open for business?
I so made this for breakfast on Saturday. (seen on a cup of jo)
Such a sweet way to encourage learning, no?
This makes me want to holiday at the beach and learn to surf, well maybe learn to surf.

happy birthday my favorite things.

(source)

Did you know February is My Favorite Things birthday month?
This year she turns three.
I am super excited about the new look and thrilled that each of you take time to visit.  And I want to say thank you in a big way.

This week, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, are giveaway days.  I have three ginormous giveaways lined up and I simply can't wait to share.

Spread the word friends.  Spread the word.

ps. The new look is still being tweaked here and there.  The whole design process is quite time consuming.  A big thank you to my FABULOUS designer Jenna of q.a design.  She is a gem to work with and puts up with my pickiness.  Once the new look is complete, I'm going to gush all about her!

Design Story.

Aack!  I know I said I was taking the day off but I just had to jump on here super fast and share.  design/story is this awesomely cool new site that sells designer goods at a fraction of the cost.  Each week, design/story will bring a new array of goodies to the table, just for you.  If you love modern design, this is the site you simply must visit.

Sign up here and receive a $10 credit just for joining.  You'll also be spreading the love, since I will also receive a credit too.  Think of it as paying it forward :)

ps. rifle paper co is being featured.  but hurry up, that stuff is selling.  selling fast!
pps. first spotted on Dandee Designs

worn out.

(the style of this picture is called worn out.  i thought it fitting. taken with the trusty iPhone.)

Hi guys!  I'm checking out early today.
no DIY, no friday favorites.
I'm feeling a bit stretched.  A bit worn out.
I forgot how utterly wrapped up one is when caring for a newborn.  I love N, oh how I love him.  But on the days when he needs me more, my energy quickly vanishes.

But...
Since I love you dearly and appreciate your loyal readership, I have HUGE surprises in the works for next week.  You want to know, don't you?

Think a new blog look, Valentine gift guides, Valentine ideas and THREE ginormous giveaways.  I've lined up some of my most favorite companies to participate.

See you Monday friends!

bookends : serena and lily.

I am head over heels in love with these adorable bookends from Serena and Lily.  I need someone to gift them to me. Pronto.  Any takers?

roman shades : the hunt, the discovery.

(quick iPhone photo to give you an idea. will post the real deal when they are all up!)

Nicholas' room has faux wood white blinds.  They do the job but I knew I wanted to add curtains or some type of a roman shade to block the sun a bit.  Don't we all sleep better in the dark?

I started my search a while ago and came across jcpenny online.  I was a little unsure of the quality, so I put off purchasing any for the time being.  Then, I believe, Stephmodo either tweeted or posted about them and so I decided to take one more look.  The price was the deal breaker.  I basically got three panels for the price of one.

The quality is so-so and we had to hang them on the outside of the window as opposed to flush with the inside.  The widths only came in whole sizes.  But I wasn't willing to pay for custom shades, so that is the only downfall.  Because of that, I chose to leave the blinds underneath to block out more light.

My husband has already hung one panel and will finish up the other two this weekend.  Overall, I'm happy with my purchase and would suggest checking out their selection before the sale ends or the stock runs dry!

a helpful hint : making the bed.

(my benny's bed)

Please tell me I am not the only one who hates making the bed.  Because I do.  And now that my boys are old enough to learn how, I wanted to make it easy enough that once they made the bed, it still looked, well, kind of nice.

Want to know how to cheat a little?

Don't use a top sheet.  That way, all you have to do is straighten out the duvet or quilt and boom.  Throw the pillows on the bed and done.  Seriously takes less than a minute.

for sale : are you interested?

Hi guys!  I have a few things I was thinking about listing on craigs list and wanted to offer them up to you before I did so.

I have a coach handbag.  In excellent condition.  Brown.
And a vtech vmotion game console with four games and two controllers.

If you are at all interested shoot me an email with "for sale" in the subject line.
molly(at)afewofmyfavorites.com

wide leg trouser : jean style.

I love skinny.
I love straight.
I love boot cut.
I love trouser.
Really can you ever have too many jeans?
No.  No you can't.

I just ordered the new wide leg trouser from the gap.  Super affordable + I had a coupon + I got free shipping.  Pure awesomeness!

So what is your favorite jean style?

ila security.

How about a company that creates products to empower woman, yes?

Please say hello to ila security!
ila security was launched in 2008 with the general idea that there was a need for stylish products for the personal safety of women.

Now that I am a mom, my worry meter has been kicked up a notch.  There is always a little voice at the back of my mind, reminding me to be a little cautious.

Are you runner?
Do you travel frequently?
Do you ever have to pump gas or go grocery shopping, especially at night?

I am pretty sure I can safely guess that we all will answer yes to a majority of those questions.  Right after I married my husband, we lived on the road for his job.  That means we were living in extended stays and I'll admit, I never always felt 100% safe.  Browsing through the products at ila security, I only wish I had ila wedge door alarm.  Or how about if you jog, wouldn't you feel safer toting the ila sport pedometer alarm?

I had the opportunity to test out the ila handbag hook and am here to declare that I use it.  All. The Time.  I actually almost left it behind at a restaurant one time.  Luckily the manager caught me before I departed.  The ila handbag hook, is just that, a hook for your purse or tote or in my case, diaper bag.  It conveniently fits snuggly in your bag, ready to be used when needed.  It slides on the edge of the table, where your handbag can hang safely by your side.  No setting it on the dirty ground or hanging it on the back of the chair.  It is actually quite a brilliant idea, I only wish I had thought of it.

Check out all of ila security's products here!

eyebrows : threaded.

(source)

I have such a hard time getting back into life come Monday.  I so enjoy my weekends that I wish I could stretch them just one extra day and skip Monday all together.  I need to load all three boys up and make a trip to the mall.  Ugh, not my idea of fun but...  My eyebrows need a little attention and my choice of grooming is threading.  I'll let you know if the trip was worth it.  But nothing beats a good shaped eyebrow, no?

Do you thread, tweeze, wax?

link love.

(source)

Happy Monday friends!  Hope you had a relaxing weekend.  Lots of wonderful links to share but here are a top few from the last week that made my favorites.


I want this illustration.  Totally rad!
This lady has great style.  I always enjoy her "outfits deconstructed" posts.
I want this e-book, don't you?
I'm in love with braids.  Yes I am.
How about some sweet valentine printables?  Please and thank you :)

DIY friday : fabric pom poms.

Is it okay to admit that I have not tired of the pom pom trend?  Sorry if you are so over them.  But I just had to share this idea of fashioning pom poms out of old tee shirts.  See the full tutorial here!

friday favorites : by law momma.

(source)

a few of law momma's favorite things

my Modern Bird art, created from a picture of husband and my first dance

sunday morning giggles with my son

soft, warm down comforters pulled up to my chin

the feel of an ocean breeze on my face when my eyes are closed

the salty smell of marshland

warming my hands on a mug of salted caramel hot chocolate

thumbcards from The Other Penguin

the first bite of a fresh apple

sweet pina coladas with dark rum floaters

pizza with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and basil

thanks law momma and happy friday!

go here if you want to be featured on friday favorites.

i'd love for you to join me.

my nicholas.

(taken with the trusty iPhone, just this week)

My sweet mr. Nicholas it already 11 weeks along in his little life and we finally made it to the pedi for his two month well visit.  Nic weighs in at almost 12 lbs (11 pounds 14 ounces to be exact) and is 24 inches long.  I basically have a long skinny guy on my hands.  It will most definitely be fun to watch as he continues to grow and develop.

My apologies for the lack of posts today.  Nic unfortunately was on the receiving end of some vaccinations and needed a little TLC, which I happily provided.

p.s. I am relieved it is Friday tomorrow.  I don't think I could last much more until the weekend.  I am pretty sure mama needs a little TLC :)

zigzag rug.

I really really want this zigzag rug for my entry.
Like really.

mamas & papas : a stylish high chair.

I have never owned a highchair.
I've always believed them to be, well, ugly and unappealing design wise.  And they take up so much space!  For my first two boys, I went with the equally ugly high chair seat that straps onto a regular chair.  The only upside was the fact that it didn't take up any extra space.

So when Mamas & Papas approached me about trying out a highchair, I was a bit skeptical.  But I am pleased to announce that I am a convert.  There is such a thing as a high chair that looks cool and doesn't cost lots of these $$$.

I was given the Go Eat Highchair to take for a test spin.  Now baby N isn't quite old enough to require a special chair to dine with us quite yet, so I enlisted the help of a dear friend and her lovely little gal Q.

The highchair is easy on the eyes.  Check.
The bottom of the highchair folds up for easy storage.  Check.
Easy to assemble and use.  Check.
Simple to wipe clean.  Check.

I like the simple design, two tone color.  Black and white.  It speaks to my minimalist side.  The tray slides in and out like butter and the leatherette seat pad can be removed for easy and quick cleaning.  Because we all know, babies are quite frankly messy eaters, no?  And at $179.99, you won't break the bank.

Do you use a highchair?

the text hook : a dashboard for your mobile life.

Okay ladies.  I've found a must have item if you have a stroller or like to work out or both.  Ready?

It is called The Text Hook and it is completely genius!

The text hook is a smartphone holder.  Clip it on the stroller or hook it to a treadmill and you have your phone right at your finger tips.  It is completely easy to strap in place, click your phone into the holder and zoom, off you go.  I leave mine attached to our stroller but you can transfer it quite quickly.  I have the iPhone 4, with a case and it fits perfectly.  Not sure if your phone is compatible?  Here is a list for all the phones that work with the text hook.

I use mine every time I get out the stroller to run an errand or go for a walk.  No longer do I have to dig through my diaper bag, searching for the phone, while I hope that I get to it before it stops ringing.

Go here to check out the text hook.  I promise, you will want one.

strawberry lip balm.

(source)

Carmex and I use to be besties.
But then I discovered this Strawberry Lip Balm.
And yeah, the new stuff won.

Do you have a favorite chapstick, lip balm, lip gloss?

link love.

(image)

Happy Monday friends!  Hope you had a relaxing weekend.  Lots of wonderful links to share but here are a top few from the last week that made my favorites.

My paper would smile if these paperclips were its mate.
I think I need this nail polish. (i can't seem to remember what blog i saw this on, anyone?)
Can someone tell me how to get my hair to look like this?
I want one of these rad musical posters.
Dandee got a blog makeover.  Lovely yes?

friday favorites : by Kayla.

(source)

a few of Kayla's favorite things

hot coffee & cold lemonade
big hearts & little hands
terrific minds & terrible jokes
fragrant flowers & stinky cheeses
heavy books & dainty teacups
fiery spirit & relaxed conversation
bold color & understated elegance
fast cars & slow mornings
simple pleasures & complex ideas
long kisses & short lines
ordinary objects & extraordinary stories

thanks Kayla and happy friday guys!

want to share your favorites?  go here to find out how.

DIY friday : fabric tape.

I love tape.
I love japanese masking tape.
But how about a simple tutorial for crafting your own fabric tape?
Pretty cool.  Go here to read directions.

a small list of goals.

(source)

Besides writing up my small list of goals [with my family], using lovely lindsay's printables, I decided I needed to really think about who I wanted to be this year.  Here are three concrete goals that took shape...

1. BE ME

I want to be me.  Be Molly.  Be authentic with who I am.  The good.  The bad.  And yes, sometimes the ugly.  I want to be comfortable in my skin.  To look in the mirror and honestly say, I'm pretty.  Not nit-pick my flaws to death.  To not feel silly if I love to belt out country songs.

2. ADD COLOR

I am a slave to neutrals.  Mainly gray and navy and brown/taupe.  My goal is to add splashes of color in my life.  A new shirt.  A colorful print (sitting on my mantel as we speak).  Wear red lipstick more often.  I will always be a neutral gal, but I need a little color too!

3. ACT THE WAY I WANT TO FEEL
(I completely borrowed this from The Happiness Project)


I tend to have a temper that can get the better of me.  I am a bit of a perfectionist and sometimes stress over the smallest of things.  I plan to smile more.  Speak softer.  I want to be happy[er].

a helpful hint : bathing the babe.

Here's a little hint on how to keep bath time a little more pleasant for your wee little one...
Plug in a space heater and get the bathroom nice and toasty before bathing the babe.  Baby stays nice and warm and much happier!

my benny turned FOUR.

My sweet rambunctious Benny turned four right after the new year.  I've kept his parties simple each year, especially this time around [think right after the holidays + a newborn].  He was dead set on a robot party, so of course I had to deliver.

Ingredients for a robot party...
japanese masking tape
trio blocks
robot magnets
creativity

I didn't want to spend a lot of money and I wanted my boys to be able to help decorate.  We used the robot magnets we had to decorate the side of the refrigerator.  We used japanese masking tape to dress up the walls [got the idea from Oh Happy Day] and our trio blocks took on a life of their own in the shape of robots, courtesy of big brother Tyler.  We played a lego robot game, popped confetti poppers, ate pizza and cookie cake and made wishes with the letting go of balloons.  It was simple and completely perfect.

kimmel kids.

I know I have a lot of favorites, obviously since I have a my little blog dedicated to just that.  But every once in a while, I get extra super excited about a company.

I'm not sure even where to start.  Kimmel Kids is just that cool.  They offer creative products [think stencils and notebooks] along side educational tools.  I will be the first to admit, art intimidates me.  I don't feel like my talent lies in that field but I do like to sit down with my boys and create.  Cut, color, glue or stick.  My boys like to use their imagination.

I was lucky enough to receive the Kimmel Kids : the exchange collection.  The collection boast SIX brightly colored stencils, each one laser cut of flexible plastic.  And might I add durable.  If my five and four year old didn't destroy them, I'd say they are top notch in the quality department.  It also includes an insanely cute "grommet bound" book, with pages to spark your imagination [die cut shapes].  To top it off, the collection comes with six neon colored pencils.  All of this is packaged in the raddest canvas bags.

This was the first time my boys have worked with stencils and they gave it two thumbs up.  It takes the pressure off of a blank page and helps jump start your creativity.

Want your own stencil set?  Go here to view the list of retailers.

ps. Kimmel Kids hosted a Crafting Community in Palm Springs last fall.  I so wish I could have taken my boys to that.  Check out all the details here.

the latte bowl is my favorite.

I am in love with the latte bowls offered by none other than my favorite store, Anthropologie.  They are beautiful in all their simplicity.  I have had white latte bowls for quite some time now but I want to start adding splashes of color to my life and the latte bowl was the first place to do it.  First stop, the seafoam color.  I picked up three but will probably go back and pick up a few more.  Maybe even in a different color.  At five dollars a pop, they are so worth it, no?

twenty-eleven : goal making.

I love the start of a new year.  It feels fresh and new.  I am ready to stamp this year as THE. YEAR.  The year of fun.  The year of success.  The year of living in the moment.  I am ready for this year.  I borrowed lovely lindsay's idea and used her completely adorable printable templates to rally my little family to make a list of goals.  I've got all our goal lists taped to the fridge.

Do tell...
do you like to make a list of goals?

link love.

[source]

Lot's of wonderful links to share but here are a top few from the last week that made my favorites!

I love her idea of a weekly cheese consumption commitment.
Can I just say, I want her trench.  Like, really want.
If you blog with blogger, the guidebook has lots of good insider info.
Am completely on board with her new blog look.  Simple + Clean.  Well done C. Jane.
I feel the same way.  When it is winter I want it to be summer and vice versa.

Happy Monday friends!
Let's make it a good week.

iPhone 4 case : kate spade.

Am completely loving my Kate Spade iPhone case.  It is so beauty-ful!

ps. the one i have isn't on her site but i did purchase it at a retail apple store.

friday favorites : by Ashley.

[source]

a few of Ashley's favorite things

chocolate croissants, especially the ones in Paris

grapefruits with lots of sugar

window boxes that are overflowing with flowers

quiet walks in the park

ballet flats

short, red nails

skinny jeans

milk glass

crystal chandeliers….or any chandelier for that matter

making lists

thanks Ashley and happy happy friday.

I want you to join in the fun.  Join My Favorite Things friday favorites line up by going here to find out more!

nursery crashing.

Would you like to take a peek into Nicholas' nursery.

I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to design. 

But I do know I like simple.  I like clean.  I like uncluttered.

And I hope I achieved a little bit of that in Nic's room.

Click on over to good tots!  

ps. I also took the pictures myself. so please excuse the lack of photography skills!

it's mine, all mine : the vitalize blouse.

If I may, I need to gush over what awesomely awesome readers I have.  Truly top notch!  Johanna [a new reader, like so new, the first post she read was about the vitalize blouse I was lusting over] came to my rescue.  And do you know what she did?  Johanna found the blouse at a local Anthropologie in California and shipped it all the way to Texas.  Just like that.  To say I was excited, does not do my emotions justice.  Best surprise ever.  Thanks Johanna!

valentine mini session : auburn soul photography.

My dears, Valentine's Day will be sneaking up on us soon enough.  Maybe I am jumping the gun but I already have ideas for my preschool guy's valentines and I even have a fun package all planned out, that I will gift to my bests [BFF's].  Once they start coming together, I'll be sure to post.  But...

Need a gift idea?
How about a mini session with Stephanie of Auburn Soul Photography.  Remember my family photos?  Yep, she took those.  See, super talented.  You won't be disappointed.  Pinky swear!

ballon : max wanger.

I spotted this fantastically awesome balloon print over at You Are My Fave.  Oh and boy, it has made my favorites list.  I know just the spot to hang it.  Now to convince the husband that it is a need.  Yes a need, definitely not just a want.  Priorities people!