Wednesday Wonders v.9

These are just a few things that [mostly] have made me really excited the past week.5....

1. this pretty piece of art reminiscent of the ones i showed you here. 

lynzie posted this on my facebook and i think it's awesome. of course, neither

of us can take credit for this, but i am unsure of the site it came from! 

2. got this from Nick's dad for Christmas, and we have basically 

been playing it non stop since the 25th... we've already beat 2 years

and are well on our way to beating the third!

3. this pretty picture of candles that i took a long time ago. i recently 

found this on my computer and liked it!

4. NEW jeans. i love getting new jeans.

5. screen cap of my Google homepage. I love that you can change the skins, now.

This one is so pretty!

6. don't forget about the giveaway! only three more days to get your entries in :)

7. almost 100 readers... just ONE away! this makes me really happy + thankful!

8. lastly, this is Guillermo. you all know him, right? i talk about him enough.

anyways, yesterday we took him to the vet to get his leg checked out before we begin

physical therapy. well. it turns out that they found something peculiar in his

belly when they did the xray.... a twisty tie. this is actually pretty serious, after considering

the ridiculous fact that he decided it was a delicious snack... it has potential for puncturing his

intestine, and if we aren't careful (this means giving him the correct foods to make it safe

to travel through his system) then he may have to have another surgery. 

please say some prayers/send us good thoughts! 

*silly guillermo...*

Bloggin' Ladies: Sandy a la Mode

Bloggin' Ladies this week is all about Sandy from Sandy a la Mode. She is so sweet, and the most helpful person to talk to! Please enjoy her blog + interview. BUT don't forget about the giveaway! I am closing entries on Friday at midnight, so get them in while you can!! Click here to find out more. 

on with the interview...! 

Name+Age+Site/Blog
Hi! My name is Sandy, I'm 27 and I blog over at Sandy a la Mode

Tell us something interesting about you!
I'm a Consultant and my job take's me all over the world! The most interesting place I've been with my job is Egypt!

Why did you begin blogging?
I began blogging as a way to document my journey in sewing, photography, baking, home renovations, and crafting!

How long have you been blogging?
My first blog post was written on January 12, 2010, so almost a year! My very first post on Easy Peasy Peanut Butter Cookies was inspired by the amazing Bakerella!

Who is your inspiration for writing/doing what you do?
Myself.  It's nice to have a fun little hobby on the side as a way to decompress from a stressful day at work!  But I also enjoy sharing what I've been up to with family and friends too!

Where do you get your ideas?As cliche as it sounds, I'm inspired by pretty much anything and everything!  I love taking pictures of time spent with family or weddings I attend and then blogging about it!  I love to bake for potlucks and work parties and I'll take pictures of the process so I can blog about it!  If I make something that I'd like to share with others, I make sure to take pictures of the process and blog about it!  If I see a cute bunny outside my house, I take a picture and a blog about it!  OK, I hope you get the idea.  ;)

What is something interesting about you?
I have one near sighted eye and one far sighted eye so I don't need to wear glasses!

Do you have any advice that you want to share with fellow lady bloggers?
Always be true to yourself in your blog posts.  Spend time on writing quality blog posts and do it because you love it and not because you want followers, comments, better statistics.  If you take something from another website/blog, make sure to give them credit for it.  

What is one thing you are looking forward to most in your future (blog or otherwise)?
I am looking forward to meeting some of my new blog friends in person at the Creative Estates conference in April!  

femmena mala giveaway 2010!

guys! it's that time! i am really excited for today because i finally get to host this huge giveaway i have been telling you about for a whole MONTH. some really awesome, spectacular, fantastic ladies are helping me out, and there are a total of 10 things you can enter to win!

1. Windshield Diaries/CAPow! Designs - Win a $30 combination of prints from CAPow! Designs! 

"What inspires me to create is also what inspires me to blog. I am blown away by the talent, creativity, and innovation that I find on blogs every day. It makes me want to strive for more, to live life more fully, and celebrate the little things. You are all an inspiration to me.

My shop started out selling handmade wallets (what?!) but I didn't enjoy making them, it felt like work. So on a whim I decided to try and list some of my photography and fine art prints. I had a few orders here and there. But around Valentine's Day 2010 inspiration struck and my Hometown Hearts series was born. I have hundreds of prints listed in this series, and if there isn't a print yet for your hometown, ask me and I will gladly make you one! This one little piece of inspiration has shown me just how much of a life changer running an Etsy shop can be, and I am so grateful for every single sale."

2. Fancy Biscuit: STUFF - Win a $50 credit to Danielle's STUFF shop! 

"Knowing that there are other girls out there who struggle with the same issues I do, knowing that we can all come together in this one blog scene and support each other, knowing that even if I'm outrageous all my blogger buds will still support me. Everyone around me inspires me to blog and share my thoughts with the world. I am very blessed with this amazing online community.  About my shop? This is EASY! It's a place I sell my STUFF. Literally, and it's all random and weird and perfect for any shopper who has no  idea what they're looking for! :)"

3. RooFresh: Win a hand crafted Gentleman's Journal! 

"Since I was a kid I was always looking at objects in a different way and seeing how I could reinvent them. My books are a product of sad, abandoned or unwanted little treasures that I try to breathe life back into. I save the pages to make into other trinkets like paper flowers, pinwheels or envelopes. I started making books when I was in high school as journals for my personal use or as gifts to friends, and now I plan on opening my Etsy shop, Roofresh, shortly to share with others interested in my handmade hobby."

This handmade journal is 80 pages front and back, and measures 8 1/4" x 5 1/2". The pages are acid free card stock and the cover is made carefully with craft paper. This is a great art journal and it has durable blank pages that are hand sewn and glued into a recovered, recycled book cover. Everything about my books are handmade, including the lovely mustache on this one which was cut carefully by hand, so keep that in mind if you find a tiny imperfection. 

4. Travelgirl: Win a combination of lovely travel items! 

"I've always needed a project! When I was little it was coloring and making houses for my barbies out of old cardboard boxes....now it's crafting and writing! Travel inspires my writing, and crafting lifts my spirits during those recovery periods between adventures.

It is my belief that every lady should feel her best when she's traveling, whether she's on a summer vacation in Europe, a business trip in Ohio, or just a quick trip down the hall to the bathroom! That's why I'm giving away four very vintage-y, very adorable, very ladylike accessories: a vintage silky scarf (modeled by my giraffe), a pair of vintage black and white painted earrings, a vintage brown leather belt with a very sassy silver buckle, and a personalized luggage tag made by yours truly, featuring a little vintage travel advertisement that I think is really cute!"

5. Sings the Magpie: Win hand crafted dishes by artisan Anna Brown!

"I do all sorts of things.  I am a jack (jane?) of all trades, yet master of none.  I write, paint, sculpt, scrapbook, draw, destroy, photograph anything and everything.  I don't have a shop, I mostly just give away everything that I create.  That way, there are no deadlines, no quotas, no pressure -- I work better that way.  When I am not doing creative things, I am getting my master's degree in teaching and working at Borders. The giveaway is handcrafted dishes from one of our local artisans.  Her name is Anna Brown and she is from Morgantown, WV. She takes actual leaves and stamps them onto her creations, which can be used as wedding favors, decorations or catch-alls for jewelry, keys and other small trinkets."


6. Whimsical Winston: Win handmade hair clips from Whimsical Winston Etsy! 

"We have drawn inspiration from the natural beauty of our surroundings which in our travels has taken us from the North Cascade's to the Grand Canyon and as far away as Madagascar. This seeming nomadic lifestyle has loaded us with a myriad of colors and cultures that we desire to express and we hope will enrich, enlighten and inspire others to enjoy life just a little bit more.

Challenged by a history of art and music in our family we desired to share our love for striving to make life beautiful with others.  We decided to become a mother/daughter team, crafting and creating the things that we envision into reality. Working out of our home, we create a unique variety of products designed to bring joy and beauty to the lives of our customers that will enhance and enrich any decor with a touch of class."


7. Lynzieloo: Win a portrait of your choice in a pretty cute style! 

If your name is drawn, you will get the chance to speak with the artist herself and discuss a portrait style to recreate of yourself! What's better than personalized art?! 


8. Live & Conquer: Win a beautiful handmade turban by Cheyenne! 

"I've been making things since I can't remember. ;D My Mom is an artist 

and my Dad is one of those "can build, make and do anything" kind of Dads, so I'm sure 

that did something to me. I love thinking of, dreaming of and imaging items to make 

and then send off into the world. I don't like idle hands, so when I'm not making things,

I'm off taking photographs, or working on my parents organic hobby farm."

9. Blackbird Fly: Win an original ink drawing by the blogger, herself! 

"Life's little gems that everyone else seem to miss are what inspire me to blog. From the little green vine growing through the cracks in the pavement, to the sparrows playing in the rain puddles. I think people often get lost looking for life's pearls, when the oysters can be quite pretty as well. Sometimes I think we need to be reminded of that. So my little blog has become a place for me to appreciate life's oysters, so to speak."

The item: 

An original ink owl drawing, signed and framed.

The owl is drawn in an art deco style and is holding a banner that reads "hoot..."

the frame measures 7" X 5" 

10. Femmena Mala: A handmade necklace from & paper hearts etsy shop! 

Supporting handmade (by a friend, too!) since you guys have supported me so much! <3

~~~~~~~~

Here's how to enter the giveaway:

1. Follow Femmena Mala Blog! Leave a comment letting me know that you did, or if you already do + email address.

2. Leave a separate comment telling me your favorite memory from this year's holiday. (include your email address!)

For additional entries:

[leave a separate comment for EACH.]

1. Follow @FemmenaMala on Twitter

2. 'Like' Femmena Mala on Facebook

3. Add one of the giveaway buttons (below) to your page, and make sure to paste the link in your comment!

4. Tweet about this giveaway! You can use this pre made one:

@FemmenaMala is having a super awesome giveaway. check it! http://fb.me/HLsTivrm

CONTEST WILL CLOSE DECEMBER 31!

Here are a few buttons that you can feel free to add to your page :)

<a href="http://femmenamala.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i223/smazzella1/giveawaybutton5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

<a href="http://femmenamala.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i223/smazzella1/giveawaybutton4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

<a href="http://femmenamala.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i223/smazzella1/giveawaybutton12.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

Good luck, everyone! <3

Guess what?

I won a very HP giveaway! I told you all about this the other day, but here are some pictures :) If you want to get yourself something like it, go visit Mary Rebecca's Etsy shop! She makes beautiful handmade jewelry that is NOT limited to this awesome-possum snitch locket!

~~~~~

In other, sadder, news, I have to go to a very abrupt, and unexpected funeral this week for a childhood friend. While we weren't very close, another of my very good friends was extremely close to her when we were young. It's an extremely sad situation, and I hope that if any of you, or if you know of anyone who is struggling so much with anything happening in their lives, that they would resort to suicide as a way out, would do your best to get yourself or your friend help. Not that any of you wouldn't, but less things like this need to happen in the world. So, if you could all keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers, I would so greatly appreciate it. <3 <3

HOLY THURSDAY!

It has probably been the longest week of my life, this week. With only 6 days of student teaching left, you can bet I have been hurrying them along. And you can also bet that since I have been hurrying them along, they have been
d   r   a   g   g   i   n   g.  I am having a real moral dilemma... should I do something nice for the kids on my last day? I want to... but do they deserve it? Ideas/suggestions are welcome. I was considering letting them watch a movie and just chill out since my last day is their last day before Christmas, also, and after three days of six two-hour exams... Since next week is exams, and Holly has me not teaching this week, I have basically just been sitting around the classroom a lot, grading *late* papers and reading Harry Potter, and working on that awesome giveaway I posted the other day!

Speaking of which... I wanted to go into a little more explanation for you guys about that! Since I am quickly approaching 100 followers, I really wanted to celebrate by helping 10 other bloggers/crafters get their shops and blogs known as well. I figured that since you all have supported me so much, I want to give back a little. [I never expected for Femmena Mala to come this far... Thank you guys so much!]

PLUS? Giveaways are fun. Especially when they are in the masses :) I am so astounded at how quickly the spots have filled up, and there's only one more left! (if you want to take part in featuring your shop, read more here!) [the giveaway is full! thanks, guys! <3] The giveaway is going to go up around Christmastime, because, DUH. Anyhow, I am SO excited about it. This is my first giveaway since the teeny tiny one I did back in... September? About 6 people entered, and I gave away a mixed CD with a handmade sleeve. It was very fun, but I am excited to do the same thing on a much larger scale this time!

Back to the topic at hand... I know I haven't posted about my new job recently, or really posted anything significant about my life at all in the last few weeks, but I have been SO busy and extremely tired ALL. THE. TIME. But, the job is going awesomely. I have been getting the perfect amount of hours, and having money for once is such an awesome feeling. Plus? I get to play with puppies all day long and who wouldn't want to be paid to do that? I am learning a lot about animals, and have already found out some better ways that Nick and I can improve our care for Guillermo. [Who, by the way, is still not using his bad leg, and we are seriously thinking that we'll need to get him those water physical therapy sessions after Christmas, when the cash is somewhat flowing again... such a bad dog!]

ALSO. I am getting so, so, so excited about Christmas, and I am seriously counting down the days until I can give all these awesome presents that are mounting in my bedroom to their respective giftees! I bought the prettiest wrapping paper from Target for really cheap last week, and I can't wait to get some pretty red ribbon to set it off... pictures to come!

Also, ALSO! I won a really awesome giveaway at Roxy's blog, grrfeisty, the other day from Mary Rebecca's etsy shop! I am not going to give anything away here, but I am so, so, so excited to blog about it when it comes in the mail!! Let's just say I was clapping my hands and bouncing in my seat when I found out... eee! <3

Shew. If you guys got to the bottom of this, my love for you is renewed, and you are teh awesome.

<3 S

Wednesday Wonders v.3

I am really excited about this week's Wednesday Wonders because I have some really neat (yes, I still use the word neat) photos, mostly courtesy of my awesome boyfriend who is addicted to Mozilla's StumbleUpon and sends me awesome stuff every day. :)

Before we get started, I want to remind you about my very first giveaway. Entries are closed on Friday, so get over there and enter NOW! You might win a Mixed CD + cover made by yours truly! There are three ways to enter, and all you have to do is leave a comment for each entry.

Wednesday Wonders....*

1. So continues my obsession with owls... Should I or should I not? 

2. This is the album cover of the CD where I got my blog name. 

You can learn more about it at my feature by Blackbird Fly here! 

3. Another awesome picture sent to my by Nick. How do

you think this would look on Guillermo?

4. Readers, meet Guillermo. Er... Guillermo's tongue. Hello!

5. I don't remember where I found this picture, but I thought it was

incredibly inspirational. And subtle.

6. Courtesy of Nick, again. He sent me this site of 60 amazing 

fall pictures. I absolutely love the colors in this photo.

7. This is a piece of art that I swiped from strataflora.com. She 

featured an amazing artist who has many more pieces

lik this one. Check her out! 

8. Remember when I said I have the best boyfriend ever? Still do. 

9. This is my puppy. This is my puppy napping. Are you

bored of hearing about my puppy yet?

10. Another courtesy of Nick. He sent me this site with an article called

"Human Bones Take Part in an Artistic Project Against Violence." You

should check it out, because there are some awesome pictures. 

That's it for this Wednesday's wonders!! Don't forget to check out the giveaway mentioned at the top of the post! p.s. Hello to all my new readers and followers!! <3

Mixed CD Giveaway!

Hey guys! Remember when I told you about the CD swap I got involved with over at Odelma Vintage? Well, I finally finished it, and it's all ready to mail out tomorrow!! Yay! Here are some final pictures and

I am going to make a special one for my very first giveaway!! 

The CD will be reminiscent of this:

In order to enter to get your very own Mixed CD by me, all you have to do is:

1. Follow Femmena Mala by clicking the button at the top left

 and leave a comment with your email and your favorite song of all time!

2. Tweet this post :)

3. 'Like' Fremmena Mala's Facebook fanpage! 

Each of the above are worth one entry; leave a separate comment for each!

The drawing will be held this Saturday, October 16th! 

I am really excited about my first giveaway! Good luck to everyone! <3