Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: Hannahs Jewels

Featuring today is Hannah's Jewels. Hannah is the creative force behind the jewelry and believes that something as simple as wearing jewelry can completely change your day. She sells affordable, beautiful, handcrafted pieces all made by her in her Etsy shop. Stop in for a minute and check her out.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HannahsJewels

Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: Crafty Night Owls

Not a Michigan business, but a new bloggy friend is Crafty Night Owls. Run by two of the sweetest gals you could hope to know, sisters Carrie and Shauna. They have a blog and an Etsy shop where they feature some of the cutest quilting patterns! They also sell kits and other homemade goodies. Please take a look.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyNightOwls
http://craftynightowls.blogspot.com/

Edited 2014:
Crafty Night Owls had to change their shop name, you can find them here now at https://www.etsy.com/shop/City2CountryShop

Favorite Things Cont. Featuring: Less Ordinary Designs

Today I would like to feature Less Ordinary Designs. Run by the multi talented Sara Luke. She creates unique custom photo birth announcements, holiday cards, birthday party invitations and printables, save the dates, shower invites and has so much more in her Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/saralukecreative
  Also check her out on her website here http://www.a-life-less-ordinary.com/

Favorite Things Cont.. Featuring: Denny Dicks of DSquared

Denny Dicks is an up and coming Michigan photographer from Ann Arbor. He takes some really astounding photographs of Michigan scenery and has a really unique perspective that comes out in his photography. He was a winner in the Lake Superior Magazines yearly photo contest and his work will be featured on an upcoming NBC comedy. Be sure to check out his Etsy shop and let him know we sent you.
http://www.etsy.com/s

hop/DSquaredPhotography

Family and missing mom...

So some of you may know that I lost my mom last year to lupus.  It has been really hard on all of us.  I am finding that I haven't really grieved over her loss this whole year, and now it is really hitting me hard.  The loss feels brand new still, and lately I haven't been able to keep the tears from flowing.  Though the week mom died, I read an amazing blog post from Lil Blue Boo about when she lost her dad.  I have read that same blog post nearly every day.  Here's the thing.  I have a huge family. No, really.  I mean it. HUGE. It happens in split families like adopted families.  I was blessed enough to be able to locate my birth mom around my eighteenth birthday and slowly get to know her and my dad again after thirteen years.  And for twelve years I did.  We got especially close the past six years or so.  Especially once B and I married and had Mu.  I feel incredibly blessed for her to have been able to see me get married and have my son.  She had an awesome relationship with B.  Her love for her grandson knew no bounds. He was the apple of her eye and I truly believe she fought to stay with us the last year to be able to spend more time getting to know Mu and loving on him.
      I miss her though, we would spend hours on the phone just talking and laughing over Mu's newest antics. Or we might just chat about something I was concerned over.  She might just encourage me about some insecurity I was going through as a new mom.  When I was going through PPD, mom talked me down from the ledge most days.  I will always be grateful for these past few years that I really was able to come to know her as a person.
    My adopted mom is a great person, and I am so glad that I am able to work on our relationship still. She absolutely adores Mu and she really likes B.  Both really important to me.  She was actually there when Mu was born.  It was an absolute amazing experience for all of us.  Momma Paige is becoming someone I am growing to respect more and more. I see now since becoming a mom myself how much she gave of herself to have us become a family.
     Most of my family are really great people, and I wish I could spend more time with them all getting to know more about them.  I am really shy though.  I seem really extroverted, but I am not!  I miss hanging out with my cousins and other extended family members. I am hoping to try to work on relationships this year, and learn when it's time to let go if necessary. Praying that it will be a fruitful year and many new experiences gained.

3viee

Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: Meli and Me

Meli and Me is our featured Michigan business for today. Lindsey is the own and operator of this adorable Etsy shop where she makes really beautiful handcrafted silver, gold and gemstone jewelry that you can wear everyday. Please take a minute to look around her shop!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeliAndMe

Favorite Things Cont. Featuring: ChicalooKate

Today's featured Michigan business is ChicaLooKate! Kate creates quote print artwork. She has all sorts of neat items such as quote prints you can frame and admire, along with notebooks, mirrors, magnets and so much more! Definitely worth a peek. Check her out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/chicalookate

Hand Mirror

Awesome Recycled Notebook

Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: For The Love of Maps

     Chris and Nina are the design team behind For The Love of Maps. They have some great prints in their shop and you can tell they really love what they do. They are a fantastic couple to work with and I am excited to feature them today. Take a few minutes to check out some of the items in their shop or check out their blog.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/for
theloveofmaps

http://www.fortheloveofmaps.com/p/about.html

Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: Marchello Art

Marchello Art is who is being featured today. John is the owner and artist of this Esty shop where he makes spoon rings, fork bracelets, and fork art. It truly is one of a kind unique jewelry and art. He has a lot of ready to ship items and also takes custom orders. One of my favorite MI businesses. Check out his Etsy store here
http://www.etsy.com/shop/

MarchelloArt

Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: Kemaily

Today I am featuring Kemaily. A shop run by Meg and her family. They have the most adorable items for baby and toddler but really anyone who loves soft blankets would love them too. You can find her either on Facebook or her two Etsy shops. Check her out. http://www.et

sy.com/shop/Kemaily or http://www.etsy.com/shop/KemailyBoutique

Favorite Things... Organic Makeup

     So I have been sort of stalking this indie makeup business for a while and I finally took the plunge and went and visited the shop.  Oh my goodness you all, it was amazing!!!  The owner/creator/evil makeup genius, Sandi is sweet as pie and super helpful.  Plus she has the cutest little mascots you could ever hope to see.  Sparky and Ruby, chihuahuas.  Here is the most amazing part.  The make up is almost 100% organic and natural.  That means free from harsh chemicals, parabens, nastiness!  I am hooked.  If you ever get the chance to check her out, do it! Check them out here!  http://shop.brazencosmetics.com/

my Brazen Cosmetics haul

Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: Eskimo Jacks

     Up today is Eskimo Jacks Artisan Cookies and Ice Cream. Their tagline is: Warning! May cause uncontrollable happiness. Well, only if you like cookies and ice cream! Which lets face it, most people do. They have two locations, one in Southfield and another right inside the Oakland Mall. You can find them here on Facebook or at their website www.eskimojacks.com. If you do check them out please let them know Candi sent you.

Edited 2014:
Eskimo Jacks closed their location at the Oakland Mall. They are excitingly now in two new locations.   One in Birmingham, MI and the other is in Florida.  My orignal statement still stands, they are still amazing and you should check them out immediately if you haven't already.

Favorite Things Cont... Featuring: Area Fare Kids

     Today our featured business is: Area Fare Kids! Jen is the creative brain behind the shop and does amazing print work for the nursery and home. ABC prints and cute sayings. She even customizes if you have a different color scheme in mind. If you have a chance get on over to her Etsy store and check it out!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/AreaFareKids

Easy Like Sunday Morning, Errr Afternoon...

     Today was a much needed lazy Sunday for our family. Basically we laid around ate leftovers from the party(yummy). Watched two movies I had never seen before but I am sure are now two of my favorites. "Come September" and "Have You Seen My Gal" both on COSI, then we watched Monk on ION. We all needed a lazy do nothing day.  Since we were all up into the wee hours of the morning(Big Daddy crashed after 1am and Bearcat and I stayed up until closer to 3am).
    We had a really tiring, mentally and emotionally exhausting week. Good bits: we got to visit with and see family that we only usually get to see on holidays a few times a year.  Bad bits: it was a really sad occasion.
     
     Our party was such a blast!  I had my friend Ms. Efficient who came early to help out and she was amazing.  Totally took charge and got it done and helped make it look beautiful. Paulette, you are awesome-sauce.   Jessica, you know I love you and it was so much fun having our belated birthday/girls night together! To Rach who stayed after to help me clean up and keep me company, thank you. To all the wonderful ladies who came out to celebrate with us Thank you.  We had so much yummy food, lots of laughs and of course favorite things!
      Also a big Thank You to all the wonderful businesses who sent swag and lent support and friendship in helping to make this party over the top fabulous, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! I will be featuring each business over the next few weeks so that you all can see why they are some of our favorites(and because I don't want you guys to miss any details)

     I also have to say thank you to my amazing, always supportive even when I drive him nuts husband.  I basically left the house forlorn and in shambles(yes, yes I did) but I came home after the party and my house was immaculate. Thanks Big Daddy.  
     The moral of this story. Throw a Favorite Things party. You will not regret it and it will be epic. True story. 

Blessings
3viee