falling in love again.

top: f21 (from forever ago) / shorts: GAP / shoes: Blowfish Shoes / cross body bag: c/o Le Mode Accessories

you really shouldn't throw out clothes that you think have gone out of style 'cause they seriously always come back - like this shirt. it already has a fun, vintage vibe to it. i bought it five years ago then i kinda forgot about it. i pulled it out of the closet (no worries, i washed it - it's clean) and decide to rock it out, and it was like falling in love again. or like Christmas.

 speaking of falling in love, guess who my little sister got to meet over the weekend?

not really, but sort of. loved the reactions of all cosmetic consultants, shaking their heads as i took pictures of Ashley and her "boyfriend." he actually was really nice. 

 *wink*

much love.

[happy weekend, friend.]

p.s. two sweet giveaways to checkout this weekend:

-Le Mode Accessories $25 gift card

- Yellow & Savvy Design choice of blogging package

let's do this.

call it a sister project.

and yeah, we are a little behind the times. 

i remember bloggers writing about this 1-2 years ago.

but i've been wanting one of these for forever.

so when i found one one sale at a TJMaxx, i pretty much freaked out over it.

there is one more month left of the summer, so we wanna tackle this mini project before it ends. if we are good and keep up with it (cuz duuuuude, there are some crazy, weird tasks in it), you'll see mini updates here and there on this here blog.

what are some projects you wanna finish before summer ends?

or have some of you actually finished The Wreck Journal?

(include your blog posts in your comment so we can see.)

much love.

[happy weekend, friend.]

p.s. two sweet giveaways going on HERE and  HERE.

some mega July sponsor love + a giveaway winner!!

i seriously have the best rocking sponsors in the world! wait, do i say that every month? maybe i do - but i mean it. every. single. time. i have been blessed with sponsors who have inspired me by their creativity, cracked me up with their tweets, and encourage me by their emails. so this is one small way, i'm able to thank them - bragging on them like craaaazy! so, drum roll, pleeaaaase...

shop / blog / facebook / twitter

E L Vintage should be at the top of your vintage clothing and accessories - if not, taking over your number one slot of vintage go-tos. i love the variety of pretty much everything in shop. i love the E L Vintage goodies that i own, especially this awesome belt i rocked on this here post. and for extra points, Emily is an absolute doll!

 

blog / shop

i actually had the chance to run into sweet Malori when i lived in Chicago. she was super sweet and as charming in person as she is on her cute blog. she records her every day adventures in the Windy City. can't you see why i love this girl so much? and she is just so freakin' cute!

blog / twitter / shop

if you have never heard of this awesomespice of a woman, you must be living under a rock! okay, maybe not really - but Lauren really is incredible and i have adored her blog for a very long time now. she is beautiful, fashionable, hilarious, and...the best part, my Bones buddy for life.

blog / shop

Krista has easily become of my favorite artists out there. when i peruse her blog and shop, my jaw doesn't want to stay closed...at all. her talent for color and her hand for drawing keep me speechless. and her blog - absolutely adorable with her gorgeous outfit posts and the photos of her precious family. in love with all of it!

shop / twitter/ blog

Polly is one of my role models. the woman is uh-mazing! she is a full-time homeschooling mom while juggling an etsy shop and a blog on the side. the accessories and clothing you will find in her shop have a taste of bohemian, whimsical flair to them. oh and did i mention? she has some rockin' red hair that i hope to have myself one day?!

  shop / blog / twitter

erika and i share something very much in common - our mad love for hair accessories! you'll find silk flowers, feather accents, and darling ruffles in her pretty shop. also be sure to follow her blog so that you can tag along on all the adventures she shares with her hubby and dog. she also has a love for vintage and all things handmade! oh and p.s. be sure to check out her recent rockin' vlog - it is epic.

and that's a wrap! 

be sure to stop by these lovely ladies shops and bloggity-blogs and show 'em lots of love.

and to make sure you leave them some lovin', i'm closing up comments here, okey-doke?!

it's sneaky, i know, but you'll love me for it.

'cause seriously, these peeps are the bomb-diggity!

much love.

[happy friday, friend.]

p.s. are you Jess (#46) of Friday? 'Cause you just won the Etta Grace giveaway for the adorable Brittany gray tank (i'm totally jealous!!)! be sure to shoot me an email at muchloveilly[at]gmail[dot]com with your mailing address so that we can make sure you get your pretty package soon!

sponsor love: meet Steph Anne of Luxe Chandelier (and psst!! a giveaway!!).

meet steph anne. 

Hi! My name is Steph Anne. I'm deaf and married to my high school sweetheart who proposed to me at the airport. Other than decorating our home, I'm a blog designer and the owner of Yellow & Savvy Design. I sell pre-made Wordpress & Blogger templates that are clean, modern, simple, airy with pops of color here and there!

when i came across Steph Anne's blog, i was completely inspired - not only with her creativity (i mean, check out her beautiful blog designs!) - but even more so by her story. i love that she is married to her high school sweetheart. i love that she speaks openly about being deaf and uses her story to inspire so many. and is she not soooooo cute?! love that intro pic above! and like i said...this girl is rockin' talented! i have been perusing her portfolio and so many eye-catching styles...like whoa.

{giveaway}

today one luuuuuucccckkkky Much Love, illy reader has the chance to win...

a Wordpress theme (self-hosted), Blogger template or 6 Printable PDFs inspired by the $369 prints from Crate & Barrel

i mean how uh-maaaazing is that for all of you bloggity-bloggers out there?!

and even if you don't have a blog, this might be the perfect time for you to start one!

NOTE: Wordpress themes are only for websites that have their own domain name and hosting plan (self-hosted).

{how to enter:}

visit Yellow and Savvy Design and comment with which item/template you would choose if you won! (1 entry)

{really, really wanna win?}

keep in separate comments to count as individual entries!

- "like" Yellow and Savvy Design on Facebook (1 entry)

- be a public follower of Much Love, illy (1 entry)

- "like" Steph Anne's blog on Facebook (1 entry)

- follow @muchloveilly and @luxechandlier via twitter (1 entry)

- send out a tweet about this giveaway!

(be sure to include @muchloveilly and @luxechandelier so we can track it!)

feel free to copy/paste this tweet:
i want to win the @luxechandelier giveaway over at @muchloveilly! if you're a blogger, don't miss out! http://tinyurl.com/3uq992m 

{don't wanna wait?}

use coupon code LOVEILLY15 at Yellow and Savvy Design Etsy shop (valid thru August 5, 2011).

Giveaway will be open to ALL Much Love, illy readers thru Wednesday, August 3. Winner will be announced on Thursday, August 4.

much love.

[happy thursday, friend.]

she's the best. she really is.

(Baguio City, Philippines. college days. daddy is to the far right of the photo.)

 

to my sweet mom:

i hope that you didn't need today to be reminded of how much we all love you, 

but i do hope that you feel extra special and blessed to be our mom because of it.

i am beyond grateful that you are not only my mom.

you are also my friend. 

you live out the life of someone who loves Christ.

you are stylish and beautiful.

 you love Daddy.

you are the best living room dancer...ever.

you are the best person to watch chick flicks and tv shows with (especially the ones with Zac Efron and Avan Jogia ).

you make us laugh ("a la!").

you have sacrificed for the family and continue to.

you love me and that's all i really could ask for.

mom, you pretty much rock.

we love you more than food.

and you know, that's a lot when it comes to this family.

much love.

[happy birthday, mom!]

p.s. be sure to enter this giveaway and this one, too!

smoothies vs. hot chocolate.

 top: F21 / skirt: belk / necklace: Aldo / shoes: Belk

watch: Fossil / bracelet: c/o In Honor of Design

during the beginning of the summer, i was on a mad hunt for the perfect maxi skirt.

then i found this one in this post and fell in love with it.

and then i found this colorful mess of loveliness and am adoring it!

the colors, the length and the feel - love it all.

and can you believe that just around the corner is a brand new month?!

there is a part of me that is not ready for beach days, summer dresses and smoothie runs to be over, but there is a part of me that cannot wait for the days of hot chocolate, chunky boots, tights and sweaters. 

so funny, how we wish for things we don't have for the moment.

come winter, i'll be more than ready to have back the hot, humid days of summer, and the silly cycle of "the grass is greener on the other side" begins again.

  

what are your favorite things of summer 

that you want to savor before it's all over?

and hey, if you are Egle (#49), you just won the $25 shop credit giveaway to Jaclyn1423's adorable shop! shoot me an email at muchloveilly[at]gmail[dot]com so that we can get your hands on that shop credit ASAP! congrats, Egle and thank YOU, Jaclyn!

much love.

[happy tuesday, friend.]

p.s. just a couple days left to enter the Etta Grace giveaway for the cutest Brittany gray tank!

and also be sure to enter the Le Mode Accessories giveaway for a $25 gift card!

in case you missed it...

i got the chance to hangout at one of the most awesomespice places in bloggity-blog world.

visit me over at Busy Bee Lauren to check out my twist on one of Lauren's outfits!

much love.

[happy monday.]

p.s. don't forget to check out the Le Mode Accessories giveaway happening HERE!

sponsor love: Le Mode Accessories Giveaway!!

 

i seriously use my traveling paths handbag pretty much every day.

it's the perfect bag to carry all my daily junk (including my camera) - and it's definitely my bag of choice for road trips to GA! 

it's stylish and roomy - and i looooouuuurve it!

Le Mode Accessories is an online boutique that is your source for trendy and affordable fashion jewelry, handbags, and accessories. With trends always changing, you can always find new items being added. 

So whatever you're in the mood for, Le Mode is sure to satisfy your current craving!

today one  Much Love, illy reader has a chance to win...

$25 gift card to Le Mode Accessories!!!

i mean come on - is that not soooooo ridiculously awesome!?!

and with the collection of accessories that Le Mode offers, you could go craaaazy with so many lovelies to choose from.

{how to enter:}

visit Le Mode Accessories and comment below with what you'd spend the gift card on if you win!

{really, really wanna win?}

keep in separate comments to count as individual entries!

- "like" Le Mode on Facebook
- be a public follower of Much Love, illy blog
- follow @shoplemode via twitter
- follow @muchloveilly via twitter
- tweet about the giveaway
(be sure to include @muchloveilly and @shoplemode so we can track your tweet!)

feel free to use this tweet:
i wanna win the @ShopLeMode giveaway for a $25 gift card over at @muchloveilly!! check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/43tkbca 

{don't wanna wait?}

use coupon code ILLY at checkout or 15% off of your entire Le Mode Accessories purchase!

Giveaway is open to US and Canadian Much Love, illy readers thru August 1st.
Winner will be announced on August 2nd.

much love.

[happy monday, friend.]

Toy Story has forever tainted my feelings towards non-living objects.

i know that couches don't have feelings.

but neither do toys...yet Toy Story made us feel like they do.

and i felt that way when we say good-bye to these couches.

i grew up with them and can't remember our house without them.

maybe that sounds gross to some people but they were in great condition for the longest time. we posed for Christmas pictures around them. when i was little, there was a special corner of the loveseat couch that i'd bury my face in before i fully woke up (never have been a morning person). we posed for family photos around one for many years. they were the best couches to takes naps in. but today, we said good-bye to them, dropping them off at a local Salvation Army, so hopefully they find a good home. 

oh and see mom in that second to last picture? she's not praying to it. she's sad - and even whispered to the couches before we left them at SA, be good to the people you live with. yeah, we are all crazy.

and of course, ash and i couldn't resist squeezing in a few planking picture.

much love.

[happy weekend, friend.]

p.s. just a couple more days to enter the Jaclyn1423 giveaway for $25 shop credit!

and don't miss out the Etta Grace Brittany tank giveaway either!

i had a craving, yo.

while i was in GA over the weekend, in two days in a row, we made two frozen yogurt runs. and i was so not complaining. ever since i left Chicago, i have been craving me some good ole frozen yogurt.

and no, if you were wondering, Margaret (Ryan's mom) and I didn't get our lips plumped. we had frozen yogurt mustaches but unfortunately, red velvet frozen yogurt doesn't show up so well in these pictures with the lightning - so it looks like we're trying to pull the Angelina Jolie.

we also all had too much fun sampling all the craaaazy flavors.

i settled with original tart and blueberry acai tart on my two yogurt visits, topped off with a ton of fruit. i also did not miss out on the chance to include a galour of sprinkles in one.

do you have a favorite fro yo place?

what are your fave flavors?

and psssst! August sponsorships spots are now available. shoot me an email at muchloveilly[at]gmail[dot[com] 
if you're interested in stats and rates.

much love.

[happy friday, friend.]

p.s. be sure to enter the Jaclyn1423 and the EttaGrace giveaways before the weekend is up!

AUGUST sponsorships available NOW!!

do you have a business, blog, or site that you'd like to promote!

think that you and i would work well together?

if you're thinking yes! and yes! then shoot me an email at muchloveilly[at]gmail[dot]com. 

 i will then send you the 411 on stats and rates.

thanks. much love, friend!

i had one of my moments ((again)).

 top: base exchange (for 92 cents!) / shorts: GAP / necklace: Yellow Heart Art / 

neon bracelets: c/o In Honor of Design / shoes: c/o Blowfish Shoes

whenever i hang out with Ryan (whether it was back in Chicago or while in GA), 

our moments do not go by without me having one of my "moments."
  
Ryan: ilene, could you turn that knob to the left two times for me?

me: (reaching for the doorknob and turn it to the left twice)

Ryan: um, no the other knob.

me: sure. (i start turning the other door knob closest to me two times.)

Ryan: (cracking up) noooo, the knob on the wall to turn the fan!

 
okay, so maybe you had to have been there.

read it out loud and if you still don't get it...guess you had to have been there.

i don't know what was thinking! i heard knob so i reached for the doorknob.

but i really don't know what that would accomplish to turn a doorknob twice.

like i said, it was one of my moments.

Ryan said he loves my moments. he says it keeps him thoroughly amused.

it's a good thing 'cause once we're married, he's gonna have to deal with these moments every single day. *wink*

do you have "moments," too?

oh btw, if you are "Loves Tea" (#99) of Chamomile Conversations, then you just won the epic CAPow! giveaway. shoot me an email at muchloveilly[at]gmail[dot]com to claim your prize - congrats!! and thank you to Crystal for such a suh-weet giveaway!!

much love.

[happy thursday, friend.]

p.s. two incredible giveaways happening on the blog this week.

this ONE and that ONE. seriously. do not miss one!

welcome to the world, Princess Lily Rose!!!

i got to meet my ((almost)) niece during my visit to GA!

is not Lily Rose the most precious thing you've ever seen?!

i'm especially in love with her dark hair - and you gotta love her taste in headbands?

*wink*

Cricket (Lily Rose's momma), Margaret (Ryan's mom) and I had waaaaay to much fun doing her newborn photo shoot. we took so many pictures and adorned her in so many of her adorable accessories. i guess Lily Rose is gonna get used to Auntie Ilene coming over and taking pictures of all of this adorableness. i do not mind at all!

we had quite the conversation.

she and i talked about going on an ice cream date together and for me to teach her how to make chevron friendship bracelets. but then she got hungry (i think it was the mention of icecream) so i had to give her back to her momma. 

welcome to the world, Princess Lily Rose!

we heart you so ridiculously much.

oh and Lily Rose told me to tell you to stop by the shop if your lil' baby wants a headband for herself. they are up for grabs, like NOW!

much love.

[happy wednesday, friend.]

p.s. don't forget to check out today's Etta Grace Gray Brittany Tank Top giveaway. click HERE.