from the depths of... my pantry

i apologize in advance...

alright ladies and gentlemen, i bring you exhibit A

these cookies were mysteriously placed into a CLEAR jar onto an OPEN counter

for any passers by to SEE!

who ever did this is up to no good!

this, my greatest weakness against which - i have no defense. {hangs head}

so clearly if i ate one or two... or seven it would be expected; right?

this is impossible! i have been, finally, exercising all week to come to THIS!

fierce tummy grumbling. intense drooling. mass consumption. devastation.

ack, i can't take it any more i can't even write about it without my mouth watering.

goodbye. i am going to eat a handfull of cookies in the pantry 

with the door closed, but the lights on...

don't try and stop me.

then i'm going to leave the rest in the jar IN the pantry.

case closed!

and you? what is your weakness?

what i love wednesday linky party {No. 9}!!

i wanted to share with you a FEW of my favorite blogs.
i seriously love so many talented, sweet, beautiful ladies out there
that it would take all day to post them.
so i leave you with a FEW ;) i look forward to seeing tweets and instagrams throughout the day from these ladies as well as reading their blogs...

Lindsey of The Pleated Poppy is just real; a fellow homeschooling mom who works her little tail off to make sweet goodies and blog such nice posts. i love how she shares tutorials, fun shops in the area, and her parties. she also shares what she wore all week, and sometimes she teaches me how to beautifully be humble -i'm still working on that. she let's you know she isn't perfect even though first glance would have you doubtful. Lindsey doesn't need me to write about her she has a huge following, but it's what I LOVE wednesday, i digress.

Jeannett of Life Rearranged also has a huge following, however, i am going to share her as well. i love how Jeannett writes straight, with her heart on her sleeve -i can relate. as mothers we have our challanges and hardships and she makes no pretenses in sharing honestly with sharp witty writing that usually has me either rolling on the floor laughing or quietly sobbing in my hot cup of espresso roast. she's a keepa.

Ruthanne of Eclectic Whatnot is in one word HILARIOUS! i love love love her! she is amazing, i just love reading all of her tweets and blog posts. she is a sweet doll. a fellow homeschooler and a true hard worker. and through all of her great writing and fabulous sewing pretties she too, has naturally earned herself huge following.

Lisa Leonard. i know, i know, super famous like celebrity blogger/entrepreneur, BUT, i read her tweets and blog daily. why? (i know you already know, but i'm gonna tell you anyway. shhhh, let me finish.) ok, she is fresh, smart, and beautiful. everything she says everyday has a beautiful message. never negative, she never complains. we could all have a good gripe session once in while, but that's not what Lisa writes about. she honestly shares life's trials and struggles, yet somehow she makes it beautiful. everything she touches (or writes) turns to gold. and her shutter snaps perfect pictures to match the beauty that runneth over in her vast cup. love you Lisa.

no pressure to be perfect. no pressure. just sharing the LOVE.

these ladies are a few of whom i respect and look up to for growth and how to actually blog. thank you ladies for your inspiration, honesty, and heart. i will have some more wonderful ladies in about 6 weeks!

can't wait to see what you're loving today :)

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" /><br /> </a>

Playdate Cards {the bees knees!}

ok so i'm just gonna throw it out there. i haven't talked about these cuties in a looong time. however, i LOVE them - they are a huge hit: calling all moms! (or dads if that's how you roll, it's cool). have you ever met a mom at the park, church, school and after your kids hit it off you thought it would be a great idea to hang out more? enter in your lovely playdate card, *trumpets sound ta-da!*

 hand over your card so they can call/email you for a future playdate :) 

maybe list your blog, just for fun!

here are some fun samples

 great to hand out at school, to neighbors, friends at church, and play groups!

i need to come up with an easier way to list these in my shop.

let me know if you have any ideas!!

font choices:

 clip art choices: 

(feel free to request something you don't see here)

$20 for 20. $12 for 10.

just email me your choices and i will get your playdate cards out to you!

annnnd it's...

my spring newsletter comes out this week 

so please sign up and you'll get a 15% off discount code for my shop :)

have a wonderful week!

xoxo,

new goodies just listed in my shop

hello! happy spring! spring officially started yesterday so i wanted to share some of my new spring items with you. i actually recorded several video blogs for this post, but alas, i am new to vlogging and have much more to learn so that i don't send you running and screaming in the other direction! haha. someday i plan to vlog my new products so you can get a better feel for my cards and prints. for now we have only photographs - though i hope you fully enjoy them :)

find all these items and more in my shop: lollipops.bigcartel.com

happy monday!

xoxo,

For Japan with Love

i am donating to shelter box through Japan with Love and i encourage you to

find a way to give to Japan if you haven't done so already.

i will not be blogging friday to keep this day of silence 

like a candle light vigil for Japan.

we as a family hold the devastation of Japan in our hearts,

and pray for those who remain to have

health, safety, food, clean water, and hope.

yours truly, 

krystina

the letter writing project: assignment No. 2

please take a moment to get to know the Soares family.

Gretchen has a son with spina bifida, i encourage you to read Nathaniel's story here. 

or visit her blog at simplysoares.blogspot.com

your writing assignment is to write Gretchen to lift her up and give her support. 

• i know she has daily challenges that complicate life. 
• i know she struggles with time for herself and 
• i know she is a good mother trying to do everything she can for her children. 

your words received through the mail in a letter to her will greatly impact her heart - i know.

unfortunately because of family situations Gretchen would prefer to keep her address private for now.

So please write to:

Gretchen Soares

in care of lollipops

po box 329

morro bay ca 93443

i will be hand delivering your sealed acts of kindness to her as they arrive.

xoxo,

what i love wednesday linky party {No. 8}!!

super sweet loves linked up from last week:


my love this week:

i have been accepted to the queen bee market!!! squeeeeee!

i cannot wait i am so thrilled!!! yay!!!!

the font above is impervious by kevin and amanda

if you are also a QBM vendor, i can't wait to meet you :)

if not, i sure hope you can attend so i can meet you! it's going to be fabulous!!!

feel free to click on and print out this flyer to hand out to everyone you know ;)

so i wanna see what you love today, mmmmkay?!!

xoxo,

krystina

<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" /><br /> </a>

Tuesday Tutorial {i collect jars...}

i collect glass jars.
from sauce, olives, beans, tapenade, salsa, artichokes on the list goes.

once the food is gone i can't throw them away.
a practically resourceful addiction i guess.
one of my favorites is a tiny little glass jar from Trader Joe's for capers it's sides are an octagon, so pretty.

for a long time these empty jars would sit upon my shelf and once in a while i would put a bouquet of fresh flowers picked from my garden.
and slowly i began to use them more and more for many different things...

shells

punch

crafts, clothes pins, straws

i also have a huge jar in my bathroom filled with pretty bars of soap.

and the surfer guy likes to drink water and iced green tea out of my saved glass jars.

• how to save your glass jar 

eat or use the contents
soak in hot soapy water for a few hours or overnight

peel off the label
scrub the sticky off with steel wool or a steel scrubber like this

these actually start out looking like this...

i guess mine has been around the block a few times :)

and presto you now have an empty glass :)

what will you fill it with?

xoxo,

Hand Me Down {Love}

three sweet hand me downs.


bear given to Mr. Boy by big sis Soleil.
he's not an oldie, but he is a goodie.

for 10 years bear sat on Soleil's shelf with all the other stuffed animals
then along came Mr. Boy.
Mr. Boy hasn't let go of bear, aka BearN von Trapp
for almost 2 whole years now. (see here)
Mr. Boy also cannot sleep without bear.

my mother's apron from when she was a little girl.

she gave it to me when i was little and later i gave it to my girls.
my mother once got in trouble from her mother
for writing her name on it in ink.
this apron has been so loved for 50 years.

the rocking chair.

isn't it adorable?
it was mine when i was a tot.
it used to be dark brown, but Nana painted it white, see....

there's me in my rocking chair. 

i'm probably waiting for brownies or cake or something good from the oven. 

boy i sure miss those footed sleepers and those blonde curls.

do you have hand me downs?

xoxo,