Calling Cards

I guess as you get older you realize you have to grow up and invest in some proper "calling cards". I know, this is just a way for me to get something with my name on it to give to friends and other people who will need my information for Caroline and such, but I love any and every excuse for personalized paper!
Here is just a peak at some of my favorites- now I just need help figuring out which to get...thoughts?

via HarperGray

via Creative Fox Studio

via Flair Designery LLC

via Scratch Paper Studio

via Haley Bragg

Happy Easter!

To celebrate Caroline's first holiday, I wanted to have a very special Easter basket...one that she can keep to use each and every year and of course, it just had to be personalized. ;)
I started stocking up on basket goodies about a month or so ago, as I knew my shopping time would be cut drastically once she was here {boy was I right about that!}. Of course I just have to show some of the fun contents she'll be "opening" from the Easter Bunny come Sunday...

I sought out the fabulous Etsy shop, Two Sisters Designs, for a fun basket-ordered it in pink with polka dots and her name added to the design! It turned out perfectly.

Now for the actual goodies: Carters Bubble and Dress, Baby Gap Ruffle Bathing Suit, Pastel Hairbows, The Velveteen Rabbit Book, Waterproof Argyle Bib, Green Reusable Eating Utensils, and Peter Cottontail Book.

Instead of the normal hustle and bustle of Easter, this year we'll be celebrating at our house...the thought of having Caroline make her church debut this Sunday makes me a little apprehensive, so we'll be waiting just a bit longer to venture to the church nursery.
However, in proper Easter day ritual, we'll be all dressed up in our Sunday best and will be spending the afternoon with our families...even better, we'll be having one of my favorite holiday traditions--a Honeybaked Ham!
I'll be giving away a $25 gift certificate, too...just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Easter food tradition and why it's your favorite--contest runs through Monday so make sure to participate!!
Happy Easter friends...

Photo Challenge Day 2: Words and Brain Banter

1. Yesterday I started the February Photo-A-Day Challenge--today's category is "words". it is one of my favorite quotes that I wrote out this morning. Oh what fun!

2. The Superbowl is fast approaching on Sunday...shout out to Eli and the NY Giants, for I am cheering for a Manning boy of course! I can't lie, I always get more excited about the food and commercials than the actual game-this year, I found some great Superbowl posts from fellow bloggers for food ideas...check them out here, here, and here.

3. I got the best package delivered on Monday-another Etsy find! I stumbled across Dilly Baby a few months ago and bookmarked it so I could purchase a Change N Go system-a way to conveniently transport diapers, wipes, and a changing pad all in one! I absolutely love it and the Ppoppies Amy Butler pattern is perfect.

4. Tuesday night, I finished reading my first book of 2012-Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. Fantastic read, and it's quite the pageturner. Hops from present day in Paris back to 1942 during WWII. Ready to get started on #2 this year...any ideas you can send my way would be wonderful!

5. I have been on a shopping spree lately for Little Miss-with such cute spring stuff out on the racks, how can I say no? Here are some new additions to Caroline's closet: {P.S. is it obvious I heart stripes and patterns?}

6. Opry Mills is FINALLY set to reopen in 54 days! I cannot wait for my favorite outlet mall to reopen with some new stores {Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren among a few others}...perfect indoor place to take the little one for shopping adventures during maternity leave.

I know the groundhog technically saw his shadow this morning, but if we're in for 6 more weeks of temperatures like we've been having in Music City, winter can stay around and I won't be complaining one bit! Mid 60s today with loads of sunshine-happy day!!  

The Wonderland of Etsy

For as much as I buy from the world of Etsy, I wanted to blog about some of my absolute favorite vendors and shops I have stumbled across {and bought from} the past few years...here they are, in no particular order:

Sugar Fresh

Fresh & Modern Artwork for Children and Home

Blackberry Graphics

Customized Wedding and Event Stationery

Baby Mae Boutique

Blankets, Bibs, and Burp Cloths

Studio SloMo

Design + Letterpress

Lucy Sue

Gifts and Stationery

A Box for my Treasure

Chic and Whimsical Handmade Jewelry 

Not going to lie, Etsy is a site I routinely get sucked into...browsing through stores for anything and everything. Plus, I just love supporting small businesses! 

What are some of your favorite Etsy shops?

Etsy Finds...Thanksgiving Edition

Now more than ever, I find myself seeking out Etsy for ideas, inspiration, and fantastic products from sellers with clever ideas...with great prices. With the gobble gobble holiday fast approching {a mere 3 weeks away friends}, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite finds I just happened to stumble across--maybe you'll just need some of these, too ;)

Hosting a Thanksgiving get together? Look at this cute handmade garland to deck out any mantle or room in the house from Polka Dot Shop

Love the smell of freshly baked bread, pumpkins, or the overarching scent of the season? Try this fall bundle of candles via Red barn Candles' Shop

If I were hosting Thanksgiving at our home this year, I would certainly send out festive yet simple invites, such as these I found from Paper Theory

Needing to switch out the door decor for something more festive? I am loving this homemade burlap wreath over at Carolina Moon Crafts

Planning on sending greeting cards out to friends and family for this year's Thanksgiving? Letterpress card via The Paper Peony

Wanting to make some yummy favors perfect for fall? I love these homemade kraft bags found at Sincerely Sadie

A New Sponsor and A Giveaway!!

I know you all love giveaway prizes just as much as I do, right? When Heidi of Wishberries contacted me, I headed straight over to her shop to see her custom creations, and loved every one of them.
Heidi told me she was an avid reader of my blog and thought us partnering together would be a fun new venture...to which I quickly agreed. A little background: 

Heidi comes to us from the other side of the country, Bridal Veil, Oregon (which is a short drive from scenic Portland). From an early age, she was always busy crafting and creating, which is how she got the idea to embark on her current venture. At the age of 17, she was involved in a sports-related accident, which has consequently caused her to have multiple surgeries on her lower back. She is a wife, mother, and upbeat young woman who has suffered through a number of setbacks, but hasn't lost her faith in God. As her family works to pay off major medical bills for her as well as her husband after a work accident, she decided to follow her dream and start a business...that's how Wishberries was born. What an incredible story we can all learn from. 

Sweet Heidi has graciously offered to give away one of her too cute London blankets. So, how do you enter the giveaway?

First, you must be a follower of Hello! Happiness. Then hop on over to the Wishberries' store and leave me a comment telling me who you'd be giving this blanket to, and why. What a perfect gift for a little one this upcoming holiday season!

Giveaway ends next Wednesday, November 2nd...thanks everyone for participating and good luck!

Weekend Recap and Bumpdate...15 Weeks!

This past weekend was all about relaxing...after being out of town for a week, things at the house needed to get in order--groceries, endless amounts of laundry, de-cluttering to make way for the contractor starting TODAY, and getting out the fall decor to spiffy up a bit. It was by no means glamorous, but it was much needed due to the fact that we have only 1 more weekend until Thanksgiving where we are in town with no plans...WHOA.
Friday night, I spent some time with me, myself, and I. Jeff was at a important meeting golf tournament in Knoxville and wasn't getting home until late, so I whipped myself up some dinner and spent most of my evening on the couch catching up on TV.
Saturday, we slept in and then headed to the gym before I disembarked on a shopping adventure. I started by searching out cribs to save some $$ though I am fully aware I am most likely going to break down and buy what I desperately want from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child {if they would ever have another promotion on furniture!}. Then it was on to another store to scope out baby strollers...lordy lordy! Are you aware of how many strollers there are to choose from? This lady got overwhelmed after I couldn't figure out how to get one assembled and called it a day--Jeff gets to come back with me next time ;).
On Sunday, we were bad and skipped church because I couldn't seem to get up and moving...so instead, we made homemade belgium waffles and relaxed around the house the rest of the afternoon until our shows came on. The season premiere of Boardwalk Empire {AMAZING just as I expected} and then Pan Am which was really good, too--new shows, yay! 

Alright, now onto the baby stuff:

How far along? 15 weeks, 3 days...172 days to go!

Size of the bambino? A navel orange

Maternity Clothes? I used the Bella Band for the first time last week and it works wonders I tell you. I can still wear my regular jeans--and yes, this makes me think I am still that small, though the tummy, butt, and thighs are ever expanding ;)

Weight Gain? Ewww...the bad part--5 pounds

Stretch Marks? Nope--that cocoa butter/prego lotion seems to be doing the trick!

Gender? See my new little addtion to the right? I'd love to hear your thoughts/votes and see what you think the little peanut is...I cannot WAIT to find out! We are having our gender reveal party on October 22 with friends and family, though Jeff and I will find out earlier that week on the 18th, only to keep the secret for a few days. We went back and forth on whether or not we wanted to know before everyone else, but thought this could be a fun moment for just the two of us to enjoy together. 
Movement? I swear I thought I felt something the other night, but I think it was just my stomach grumbling--haha.
Sleep? This isn't going so well this week. I officially have passed the "I can still sleep on my stomach" portion of the pregnancy and sleeping on my side for a whole night just isn't working. Fail. =(
Food Cravings? The most random things...chicken nuggets, grapes, and cookies--hey, there is some nutrition in there. Do alcoholic beverages count as cravings?
What I Miss? Working out regularly--lately, I am so tired I can barely keep my head up at work, not to mention getting up for morning rendezvous at the gym aren't happening as frequently as I would like--this week's goal: 3 days of gym time! I also miss going to late dinners with Jeff. He knows if I don't eat by 6:30 it's game over.
Symptoms? Insomnia, indigestion, and I swear I am getting cankles--gross.
Best Moment of the Week? Jeff and I were laying in bed Sunday morning watching TV and I couldn't help but think that in a mere 5.5 months, we'll have a little snuggle bear to spend our mornings with...happy heart!
Oh, and I sent out our gender reveal party invites--take a look! I worked with Jen of Blackberry Graphics on Etsy to design them and they turned out perfectly with the colors we are using for the party...I think it's going to be a lot of fun! {just showing the top part of the invitation, as the bottom features our contact info--not necesasry to show--lol}

Etsy Love...Tailgate Edition

Do you ever find yourself on Etsy browing for anything and everything? I am all about supporting the small businesses, the stay-at-home moms with side hobbies, etc and I love how Etsy brings that option to so many of us... not to mention, custom orders are usually welcomed and you can score some great and fun finds!
For this Friday, I bring you anything and everything for hosting the perfect football/tailgate/sporting event party...afterall, it's inching closer--only 2 weeks to kick-off!!

Football Cupcake Toppers and Wraps via Shindig Parties

Custom Football Party Invite via Paper Theory

Football Sugar Cookies via Whimsical Originals DB

Burlap Football Door Hanger via Nurse Jeanne G

Fondant Cupcake Toppers via The Posh Penguin

Handpainted Canvas Wall Sign via Sherj87

Personalized Metal Serving Tray via Two Sisters 76

Friday Happies and Answers to Questions

First of all, thanks for all your kinds words about the bridal brunch...I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since we were all together in celebration, but time really does fly when you're having fun! I received a lot of questions from readers after I posted yesterday so wanted to answer before I forgot:

Question from Kelsea: Where did you find the embroidered handkerchefs? Lucky that I stumbled on Etsy early into the wedding planning, I found Molly and Mom and knew Cathy would help me with the perfect gifts. Fabulous vendor who was quick, detailed, and a pleasure to work with.
Question from Courtney: She said she was obsessed with our wedding invitations, and was wanting to know where they came from? Let's go ahead and be honest here, I found my wedding invitation designer long before I was ever proposed to--sorry Jeff. I knew I had found "the graphical one" years ago when I stumbled across the lovely Joni of Chocolate Butterbean. She is the epitomy of designing classicly southern and eleganct invitations, monograms, and wooden signs and I was certain I had to have her design our custom invitations--hands down, my absolute favorite detail of my wedding because it set the tone for our big day.

Question from Laura, CMae, and Little Bit of My Life: These ladies are just itching to know where I found the dress I wore for my bridal brunch... Interestingly enough, Macy's of all places. It's a Kensie dress I found online months ago and ordered it because I knew it would be perfect for one of my bridal showers or events. It was dressy, but still casual, very comfortable, and I loved the floral appliques. Perfect for ANY bride-to-be!!

Question from Sarah: She's wanting to know what the custom earrings for the bridesmaids looked like...well, here they are! I worked with Judith from her Etsy shop "A Box For My Treasure" which was a wonderful experience--she designed a few styles based on ideas I had sent her, and this is what we came up with...they looked great with the girls' dresses and they are earrings they can definitely wear again and again.

Alright, alright, enough of wedding chatter for the day, because it's FRIDAY lovelies! Almost time to relax and enjoy the weekend and I am excited to spend it with that handsome beau of mine...on tonight's agenda, we're headed to "gift" ourselves...friends and family were generous enough to give us gift cards and cash to buy the rest of our wedding registry gifts so we'll be stocking up on our everyday flatware and pots and pans--I know, glamorous, right? Then we're headed to meet up with mom and dad for a little late dinner action in Cool Springs.

Tomorrow, we'll be up and at it--hitting the gym early before it gets too humid, and then playing operation organization at the house...old with the old and in with the new! Shopping for new bedding, de-clutterizing, and spending some time out in the yard working on the landscaping.

Then, it's time for this lady to do some MAJOR shopping for work clothes. Unfortunately, my closet is stocked to the brim with festive and fun wedding and party dreses, swimsuits, and cover-ups, though my wardrobe in the work department has been suffering--hoping I can stock up on some sales at the mall. Later that afternoon, we'll be wining and dining with the Grunkes' for dinner and drinks.

I am so looking forward to Sunday--we'll finally be making our way back to church after a lengthy sabactle and then relaxing at the parent's neighborhood pool all afternoon so we can attempt to keep up our tans ;).

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!! I am counting down the minutes until lunch because we're having a dessert party at work and I can gorge myself with the homemade pina colada cake I made--oh yes, the sweets are calling my name and I am ready to indulge a bit...it has been a crazy busy week so I deserve it--hehe. Enjoy the summertime weather friends!