1 year ago...

i sat at my keyboard and plunked away html code to create lollipops.
for many hours of the day and late into the night.
yes, it was new years eve, the surfer guy was actually away on business (sadly).
and with 3 kiddos i wasn't planning on going to any swanky parties.
the other thought was, with all the frivolity who's going to notice
my blog in the middle of construction? that was my thought.

lollipops in the "early days" 

i learned so much in one night writing code from scratch all by myself, i couldn't believe it! i love learning! and i love creating! what a perfect match!

so with the dawn of 2012 begins year 2 for lollipops.
all next week i will be celebrating my 1st bloggy birthday complete with giveaways to
thank you, dear readers and subscribers, for your amazing support and friendships!

i hope you will join me for twenty-twelve!

xoxo,

Sponsor Spots Available!

i have a few sponsor spots available for the new year! January twenty-twelve, lovelies ;)

i would love for you to join me!

if you are interested click here to see my low rates and fun packages.

i have a lot of big stuff planned for the new year and lots of goodies 

starting next week = great exposure! yay!!

what do you have planned for the new year?

xoxo,

Thank You Top Referrers for 2011

gussysews.com
thepleatedpoppy.com
abeautifulmess.typepad.com
lisaleonardonline.com
everyday-lovely.blogspot.com
frecklednest.typepad.com
my3boybarians.com
liferearranged.com
allorahandmade-blog.com
sugaranddots.com
knittybitties.blogspot.com
afamiliarpath.com
thequeenbeemarket.com
sandyalamode.com
eclecticwhatnot.com
rougeandwhimsy.blogspot.com
angryjuliemonday.com
thatunreliablegirl.com
sewbeastly.com
kellymoorephotography.com
number17cherrytreelane.com
bloomingonbainbridge.blogspot.com
justlovelythings.blogspot.com
covertocoverandbetween.blogspot.com
nameyourjoy.com
heinekampfamily.blogspot.com
callmeblessed.com
littlebluefeathers.blogspot.com
ragstostitchesboutique.com
thirtyhandmadedays.com
thechattymommy.com
go.tipjunkie.com
megandandymade.blogspot.com
runwithglitter.blogspot.com
allthingslovelyblog.com
txkate.blogspot.com
trailergypsy.net
ohsweetleeme.blogspot.com
forjapanwithlove.com
wearetheholdens.blogspot.com
iheartfaces.com
bluecorduroysewing.blogspot.com
sweetestpetunia.blogspot.com
allthelivelongday.com
katiesnestingspot.com
paint-me-a-picture.blogspot.com
eisleyraeclothing.blogspot.com
apearantlysew.blogspot.com
thedomesticfringe.com
beginningofeverafter.blogspot.com
whatkatiesbaking.com
blogsugar11.com

you are all a huge support! 

you made my bloggy first year so wonderful!

December Group Sponsor Love

the lovely Citlalli of Sew Beastly...

has been such a loyal supporter and fan of lollipops from the very first day sponsor spaces opened up! thank you so much Citlalli! i love your work and your growing blog :)

please visit her shop and blog today!

.........

my friend Meagan of...

 she has had a very busy holiday season and for good reason! just look at her wares!

she has quite a fun and "fabulous" variety in her shop with great prices! remember my brown and red argyle front door wreath? she made that :) stop by her shop and blog and say hi!

.........

please welcome Jordan Marie of Holding on to the Little Things blog and hottlt blog design

i am excited to get to know Jordan and so glad she's here on lollipops!
isn't she lovely? and her baby is super cute!! stop by to say hello to her today :)

i am so thankful to have such awesome sponsors here on lollipops. 

gives me warm fuzzies all over ;)

xoxo

What I Love Wednesday {No. 48}

i went to the design district on cedros and was captivated by the store: "Solo"

here is a little tour of their drool coaxing wares...

i love Solo. if the building was burning down while i was inside shopping i would never know!

sigh.

sweater covered pillow, test tubes, miniature bicycles, a chandelier made from spoons,

silly books, surf spots, old fashioned flash cards, an array of incredible coffee table and cookbooks...

what are you loving today???

i can't wait to see!

xoxo,

<a href="http://www.lollipopscards.com/search/label/what%20i%20love%20wednesdays" target="_blank"><img alt="lollipops" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9_XYUUYAXJiCLm3sQ3sWjgxnbKNG_nG4PYhheWlO07gp_NuIk-C6RL0OeY1driw_ZKR-9-LxCXLL2dFs7Acljw0DV_7eYiNAYm7k-98TqEjxh3lLswrOG-f60VLP4omnfP1AEhydyyRs/s150/DSC_0305_2-1.JPG" /> </a>

Merry Christmas to You!

this year's Christmas card for you...

the surfer guy suggested to do a collage this year, and i'm so glad he did.

i used photoshop and printed 5x7 borderless cards.

and i made return address stickers :)

wishing you the Merriest of Christmases and sending you big ((hugs))!

from our family to yours,

Merry Christmas!!

xoxo,

Christmas Card Display

merry Christmas cards over my mantle...

i used hemp twine and these cute mini clothes pins from we love citrus :)

i love coming up with creative ways to display our Christmas cards 

every year and now i get to experiment ideas with our new home.

where are your cards "hanging out" this year?

xoxo,

What I Love Wednesday {No. 47}

my friend Betsy has the most lovely snow globe collection on her coffee table every year.
and every year i drool over each beautiful piece...
then i take a hanky and wipe, ok just kidding.
it really is lovely.
i think the two reasons i love it so much is:
1. i love Betsy :)
and 2. i can tell it didn't happen in one year, she has been collecting her
snow globes {passionately} over many years, and i think that is beautiful.

this what i love wednesday is dedicated to my lovely friend Betsy, who by no reason of blogging, fame, fortune, or ulterior motive she just is. and i miss her.

 via 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

xoxo,

<a href="http://www.lollipopscards.com/search/label/what%20i%20love%20wednesdays" target="_blank"><img alt="lollipops" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9_XYUUYAXJiCLm3sQ3sWjgxnbKNG_nG4PYhheWlO07gp_NuIk-C6RL0OeY1driw_ZKR-9-LxCXLL2dFs7Acljw0DV_7eYiNAYm7k-98TqEjxh3lLswrOG-f60VLP4omnfP1AEhydyyRs/s150/DSC_0305_2-1.JPG" /> </a>

Pretty Clever {No. 11}

did you see marissa's bustle skirt tutorial linked up last week?

sew darling!

stop by her blog to try out this cute tutorial!

then link up your fun DIY :)

xoxo,

<a href="http://www.lollipopscards.com/search/label/pretty%20clever" target="_blank"><img alt="lollipops" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwHac_Cc42NxGo0GRwmSx10S4fNVW2-bKzaRw-1vb7QWU56Ns8p2KcQQSpFg8NqB-CNIkm4RW12to2KwW1aeNlgLBzQclbue4p-fWOIYVYOUSt-kV48qHJaRnGzKimZwxzkZwCtFHHYvI/s150/IMG_0239.JPG" /> </a>

'tis better to give...

my favorite charities to give to:

bracletes made by Ashlynn - 100% goes to Compassion!!

love 146: a movement to end human slavery.

Reece's Rainbow adoption ministry

and i asked my facebook friends who they would recommend to give to.
thank you to those who contributed!
here are they're answers:

• local homeless shelters
• feeding the hungry through local churches 
• the christmas shoebox project 
• foodbank 
• soldier families

who do you like to give to?

Christmas Decor

among the hustle and bustle of the holidays we are settling in to
our new place and while unpacking we also added a few Christmas decorations.
here are little snippets of Christmas around our home. enjoy...

one of these years i am going to have a Nativity.

so, what is your favorite?

have you decorated yet?

xoxo,

ps. today is the last day for Christmas shopping in my shop