a vintage holiday...

T&T was invited to participate in a quaint holiday guide right up my alley...A Vintage Holiday! Check it out for yourself here... It is full of fab finds, discount codes, and unique gifts! So if you plan on shopping online here is a great start!

I took a quick stroll through it and already found a few favorites...
How cute is she!? You can make her yourself from the kit at Angelina's.
and this...this would look just lovely around my neck!


and this for my arm...oh my! I hope hubby reads this post!

google showing T&T some love!

YEA!!! I randomly checked out GOOGLE today to see where T&T ranked for "art folio". Check out this screen shot...we are ranked #2 on the first page!!!!! SWEET!!!

{ now if only I can get "lunch tote" moved up from page 34. } We came in #75 out of 905,000 for "mommy calling cards"putting us on page 8...not too bad! I am happy to be in under 100 and on a single digit page!

hail, rain, & snow + an antique buffet...

The things I'll do for a good piece of furniture! I was on my way home earlier this week...it was hailing pencil erasers and already dark as I headed through the 5:00pm traffic! I spotted a piece of furniture with great legs on the side of the road. Got out in the hail and rain to check out this piece...it was a lovely antique buffet!...and being drenched by the rain, snow, and hail. I headed to their front to door to see if they minded if I have their trash and if they could keep it in their garage until my husband got home with his truck!

Knowing that hubby was in surgery fixing an ankle for either 20 min. or several hours {depended on the damage}...I was at a LOSS of how to get this antique buffet home seeing that it was only 1 block away and getting DRENCHED! Well...Miss Jessica called wanting company for a trip to the grocery store. I then proceeded to try to talk her into getting the dolly and walking the buffet back to our apartment. "Its hailing outside Ashley!!"...I know the furniture will be ruined! We decided to drive-by and measure see if it would fit in her car...nope! Again, I tried to get the owner to see if they would store their trash for me. To no avail! We ended up at the grocery store instead since the dolly was locked in the storage room of the basement!

Hubby called a bit later...tired and hungry since he had been at the hospital since 6:30am and hadn't eaten since then! I asked him for a favor to warn him of the help I would need...I offered cinnamon rolls in the oven! Hubby agreed {well sorta not really, ok not at all, but helped me anyway} and we headed to get the buffet...still raining and hailing pencil erasers!

I will try to snap a picture this weekend...with the time change it is always dark in the basement by the time I get home! Oh yea...the small part I didn't mention...the buffet is in the basement right now because it won't fit in our apartment...yet!

***ETA: I was able to snap a pic...only because of the flash though. Therefore, it is still hard to access the damage of the rain and hail. Nevertheless, I am planning to paint it black and detress it a bit. I think it might turn out just nicely!

the rainbow after the storm...

I am chilled and overwhelmed once again by God's blessings. In early May 2007, the Coble family of California lost their 3 young children, Emma, Katie, and Kyle when an 18-wheeler ran into the back of their mini van. I didn't know them, but can't explain how forever touched I was by their story. As many others, I was compelled to follow their story...I was drawn to their strength and amazed by their love for each other and their children which showed through in each picture. They were special parents...they seemed to not get caught up in the busi-ness of life. Lori was a stay-at-home mom who was all of a sudden not consumed with the morning routine of school, toys all over the floor, dinner for 5, and bedtime stories. I began reading their story, keeping up with their progress, and wondering how can one family endure the loss of all of their children to such a horrific and senseless act. There wasn't a day for months that the thought of them didn't flood my mind and ache my heart. So I would pray.

They closed their guest book in August and there was no longer a way to keep up with them...they still remained on my mind at random times. I was just thinking of them this week and wishing there was a way to see how they were coping with "the new normal". I heard today the blessing out of this tragedy...the Cobles are pregnant with TRIPLETS! One boy and two girls! They are due in May! "Bittersweet", they say, but a blessing all the way!

{ Borrowed picture from LifetoMotion.com }

NOT cool!...freezing!

It is SO cold here! It snowed today and hailed all evening...sooo not cool! I am not mentally ready for winter...now, I realize mother nature doesn't need my permission or mental stability in order to turn on the winter machine, but seriously she was just visiting in April. She has more than worn out her welcome this year! Please...not yet! I am enjoying the flaming red trees and golden leaves that have glittered the ground...lets not yet cover it with snow!

giggles make for a great weekend!

There is nothing like spending time with your sister! It was great to have her visit us this weekend! We had fun shopping, seeing the sites, making handmade treats, enjoying good eats, and walking the beach!

a witch, 2 chickens, and a lion...

Halloween was quite the adventure! My sister flew into town just in time to take part in the festivities! We trick or treated down the street with the Diller kiddos.

Jackson the little lion at just a year and a half had the whole routine down. He carried his own bucket, asked for his own candy, and toddled down the street along side us. Miss Hannah looked quite chic as a witch complete with her T&T tutu! The little boys were chickens who also got treats of milk bones along the way. Besides the "oh, how cute" and the "they are so little" we even had one lady mistake my little chickens...as "little angels with devil tails"! Now that one took some thought!

sister sister!

Krystal Kathleen has made it to town!! We are going to spend the weekend shopping, chatting, eating, seeing the sights, crafting, cooking, and well...more shopping!

Be back next week with updates!
May you all have the loveliest weekend too!

tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow

...only a day away! My lil sis is flying in from Texas....tomorrow! She hasn't been up to visit since we moved here in 2004. We are so excited to see her!!!

a face a mother would love...and PEOPLE too!

Stanley has made his national debut to the big screen...your computer! People.com loved him in his chicken...{rooster} costume so much that they added him to their site! He's a big deal now! Check his debut out here!

Wilson is a crab for halloween...a happy one at that! {Can't you tell!} His picture hasn't been picked...maybe it was too dark of a picture or maybe he looks like he is being tortured and abused and they felt that might be offensive and felt they may get a call from PETA!

home coming!

hubby comes home tomorrow!!! I am so excited to be living with my husband again! Thank goodness this is his last month-long-extern away!

what a ride!

If you could only see how crazy things seem to be behind the scenes at T&T this evening!
...A magazine, a magazine-to-be, an invite to Hollywood, a super helpful wholesaler/friend full of more knowledge than I can ever hope to glean, and a customer playing email-tag with me while trying to check-out in a rain storm with no electricity! ...Priceless!

all decked out for halloween!

I pulled out some old and made some new! As I have said before...I just love halloween decorations because they are no fuss, no expectations, and all whimsy!

I made the "trick or treat" garland the first fall we were married...I have one for each season. I enjoy making them with all the embellishments and all! I make the hallow-tree each year with a fun little glitter bucket mom sent us our first halloween. I still don't have white pumpkins yet this year...but come Monday they will be here! A very thoughtful friend picked some up for me this weekend...I can't wait to see them!!!

baby legs!

Ok...so its true...I have so many favorite products in the store. I can't help it. There are so many creative & innovated mommies out there that have worked hard to raise their families and still take the time to offer a wonderful product to the rest of us after harsh product testing on the littlest of critics! BabyLegs are no exception to this! These chic leg warmers are a wonderful example of..."brillant! Why didn't I think of that?" I just LOVE these little leg warmers for the little legs of our babes! I just got a new shipment in of these and so many new designs that I couldn't pass up! So our offering has grown...Check them out! We have over 30 styles to choose from now! I just love that these fit from infant all the way to at least 10 yrs. old!


With chillier temps here the fact that these also help stop gapiosis* is a reason they should be a must have in your little ones fashion for the fall. { *Gapiosis: The space between the sock and the bottom of the pant, often accentuated by being held in arms or by being placed in a carrier or stroller. }

reversible tutus...

only a momma...a chic momma...would have created this one! Mrs. Jen of EBK has created the frilly frock for little girls' imaginations to flourish!

This is by far the CUTEST and most well-made tutu I have ever seen all the way down to the pointed-edging, cotton-waistband and dual-sided ribbon! I am not partial, I am not saying just because I carry them...although...I only buy the best and the chicest for T&T, but I am telling you because its true! I am frilled...I mean thrilled to be carrying these precious girlie girl goodies!You may also recognize them from the recent press in COOKIE Magazine. Super Model Veronica Web and her 2 littles hit the high seas with the season's hippest fashions...tutus included of course!

{ picture from Cookie Mag.com }

lovely family!

I've been nursing a cold...yet again...I am sick all the time now days! YucK! I have even been popping Vitamin C drops all week...to no avail I suppose. {I know mom...vitamins, vitamins, vitamins!} I have been downing sprite, sipping homemade soups, and watching seasons of Samantha!

On a healthier note...I am so excited!!! Hubby comes home soon, my sis is flying in on Halloween, and my oldest brother has decided to join us for Thanksgiving! It will be so nice to be surrounded by family after a month of "living solo".

Surprise!!! We're on camera!!

T&T goes to your TV screen! Check it out!... {look for us around time: 4:50}


We were featured in the Alpha Mom TV segment, "Retro Baby"!! Cox Cable will be carrying the segment on the Alpha Mom on Demand channel starting in December, and Comcast will follow suit in January!

This was such a nice surprise today! They touched base with me on this sometime last year...so it was such a treat to see it! I have worked with these ladies before because they are oh so sweet in mentioning T&T quite often on their super stylish blog, Cool Mom Picks ! What a treat! I am off to celebrate by heating up my beef stroganoff from last night { my FAVORITE meal! }!

quaint and orange!

rang in fall with a journey south to another little quaint town outside of the city. Mrs. Diller and I headed to a little town she happened upon last year...we were hoping for great buildings and chic boutiques. Despite the fact that most things aren't opened on Sundays there...the 2 cutest shops in the town square were open...could be because they are rivals. Yep! We happened into this cute little store and then ventured across the street to another one. The lady at the 2nd shop let us know {a little too much} about the relationship between she and her ex-worker-now-rival who opened up shop right across the street. ...all this in the first 3 min. in the store! Nevertheless...we found some cute treasures and a new precious spot in this little town!
Later in the afternoon we took the kiddos to the pumpkin patch! Jackson was in awe of all the pumpkins and was too cute trying to pick out his favorite...them all!
Miss Hannah did a great job picking out the pumpkin littles that I love year after year! I missed heading to the pumpkin patch with hubby this year {2 weeks down!}. Going with the Dillers is so much fun through the littles' eyes!

fall is here!...

but the leaves haven't yet changed! I can't wait to see the colors burst! The air is crisp and it has pushed me to bring out my winter clothes {you should see my living room at the moment!}.

I spent the day with Miss Keeley and her momma. I hadn't seen her since August and she has grown into quite the little girlie girl with her sweet squeals and babbles and precious dimples when she laughs. We bundled her up and headed to a quaint little town south of the city.
She had her first lunch outing in a highchair. She did beautifully!!! Just so happy and content to be sitting up like a big girl!
I thought this was the cutest little cupcake store...they were closed ---"all sold out of cupcakes, come back tomorrow"! I guess once they are gone they are gone!

color me a pretty picture

...I have added some new goodies to the store! I love the old world yet so fresh print of this Whats a Dragon! We have the cute little lunch tote and now we have the fun crayon rolls...one mommy's greatest invention!!!
...I have also added some new binkie clips, laminated bibs, aprons, and diaper ditties! Too cute...I think I might need to keep one for my cosmetics!
...you might recognize this cute cute cute apron from the Pregnancy Mag...I now have several in stock full of lots of fun styles to choose from! They too are laminated...what a sweet thing for mommy!

music to my ears!

I have discovered the coolest thing {thanks so much Carla!}! ...Pandora! Pandora is the solution I have long awaited! I have always listened to the same CD all day everyday until it scratches! Well...since discovering the music at Pandora which only will play the music I like...I am hooked!

Check it out for yourself...here. Try it...type in an artist or song you would like to hear...this creates a "station"...you will then hear music to your ears of all songs from that artist or the same genre and sound as the chosen artist or song...you can "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" the songs picked for you in order for Pandora to discover your likes and dislikes. Its free, its fab, and its genius!**I almost hesitate sharing this wonderful site as you may all know about it and it will show me as "out-of-the-techno-loop"...just as I did with the external hard-drive post. Yes, I own an online boutique, yes, I designed it from scratch, yes, I maintain it all myself, but...no, I am in no way up on the hip and techno features of today! Sorry...secret is out! Don't make fun...just head over to Pandora and get some good tunes going!

oh brother...

...growing-up is heartrending, but the biggest heartbreak would be not to grow at all.

our name in print!!!

So excited to be in the current issue of Pregnancy Magazine!

I have been wanting to share this bit of news, but being the first time in print and knowing how print isn't in print until it prints I have held off! However, now that print is print I MUST share with you the behind-the-scenes blessing that you won't see in the magazine!

I had a wonderful bit of surprised press back this summer...it in itself was a wonderful blessing and brought major traffic and sales to T&T...3 days later I received the opportunity to be in this ad...I had never spent this type of advertising dollars before and was quite nervous...I really prayed about it over the next few days...decided to count the income from the surprise press 3 days before...at the time of my count...it was exactly $3 over the price of this ad. Wow! As with so many things with this business and in life...when God opens a door you better walk through it!

The first time to see T&T in print {nationally}...was the coolest feeling! I wasn't at all expecting it as I was told it would be later in the month and then to open and see it...

a lovely weekend with a dear friend...

Lauren and I had a fun-filled weekend full of good times, great food, lovely shops, lots of laughs, fun walks, and of course late nights of chatter!

a visit from Texas!

My dear friend Lauren is headed to Ohio for the weekend...all the way from Texas to see little o'le me! I haven't seen her since the spring and much has happened in life since then. So we are girls weekendin' it and it is just what I need after such a rough week! I hope that you all have just as lovely as a weekend as us!!!This will sooo be use when we are wise, wrinkled, and gray...living it up as always...no rocking chair required!
{ Pic borrowed from clipart! }

first announcement...

I just love Wendy Bellissimo! I fell for her amazing crib bedding over 6 years ago when I started designing children's rooms. I loved using her baby bedding with her beautiful fabrics and high quality attention to details the final product reflected...my customers were always impressed. At that time no one else offered velvets, silks, chenille, linens, and high quality cottons that you could make a flange, ruffle, double skirt, 2 sided-bumper...anything you could create...WB would make!

Well 4 girls later, an exclusive with babies-r-us, and several celebrity nurseries under her belt...WB is breaking the mold again. I am so excited to share her latest offerings with you...First Announcement. It is such a precious way to announce the birth of your little one...in your very own style!!! Create and input the emails of friends and family you would like to be included in your announcement way before the Big birth day...then log back on, enter the stats, add up to 10 pictures...and send away the announcement of your newest little bundle! Check out this precious example! Too cute!

God sends a rainbow...

God sent my rainbow today! It was stormy this morning {I forgot my wedding rings at home...NEVER have I done this before} so I was unsure if it would rain yet again today. I prayed that it wouldn't, but asked for strength in case it did!

It didn't...the rain subsided and a rainbow appeared. My friends are true blessings! The Dillers are letting me use their car until...well...until we figure out what to do for a set of wheels since mine was pronounced dead yesterday...so NICE! ...and Miss Lauren sent ME flowers today! I can't wait to hug her neck when she lands in Ohio on Friday! Precious blessings!It is so much easier to do for others than to accept when others do for you. I hope I seem incredibly grateful because I feel overwhelming blessed.

when having a rough day...

window shop for favorites...pink and pearls!

...this precious vintage tag can be found at Blue Ribbon Designs.

...precious necklace by marzipan found at Poppytalk Handmade.

...Love it! So chic and just as pretty in person! Anthropologie at its best!

...Sweet print from A Fanciful Twist on Etsy!

overwhelmingly blessed...

Its no secret! I am blessed...the Lord continues to amaze and overwhelm me with His hands in my life. Today was no exception...except that as always His fingerprints stunned me and overwhelmed me with gratefulness and such a sense of undeserving.

My day started out a little rusty even before my not-so-great sandwich at lunch. My car made the funniest noises this morning and so I continued on my day knowing that I would end up at the car doc this evening! I said a little prayer in hopes that maybe after a rest the sound would subside. Well...it was still cranky after its nap and I went straight from work to the mechanic. Discouraged and wet from the rain I made it home {by a generous ride!} and was welcomed by a "love" note from my neighbor...complaining. Starving, discouraged, and missing hubby terribly...I made my dinner, said a little prayer for strength while stirring my strewing tomatoes, and decided to find comfort in welcoming Samantha back for the month! Much to my further disappointment the DVD player didn't work! No idea why and didn't have the patience at this point to find out. So I ended up eating my pasta in front of the computer while checking T&T emails...in my email box was a blessing...a rather large one! I received my biggest sale ever today!!! Actually, it trumps my before-biggest sale by double! My mouth dropped open for a good minute as I stared at the screen...then the tears flowed and I was reminded...His fingerprints are always there and I felt His hand of strength and became instantly overwhelmed.

lovely weddin...

Nope! I am not planning a wedding, but I couldn't help sharing this little gem I came across while surfing during lunch today while trying to forget about my not-so-good-sandwich that I had high hopes for lunch. Style Me Pretty is such a stylish approach to planning the chic-est of chic weddings! Much more of a personable approach to style than theKnot.

Be sure and scroll down her blog and check out her posting on Martha Stewart Weddings new lovely confections! Scrumptiously delicious to the eye! Calligraphy and cake...right up my alley!

{ photo taken by Anita Calero and borrowed from Style Me Pretty }

How gorgeous is this necklace from Saylor Sage!... I too found it through Style Me Pretty...just the prettiest little wedding blog!