Handmade Shower hostess gifts

This weekend was a wonderful whirlwind of blessings and fun preparing for Isla. I have the best friends in the world and can not say that enough. Twelve of my friends threw a baby shower for me and it was so much fun! I wanted to do something special and handmade for each of them to show them how much I love them and appreciate their support during this season of life. Here are some bags I created for my ladies and filled them with chocolates and homemade grapefruit lip balm. The bags are made of felt, embroidery floss and vintage buttons. Pictures coming soon from the shower, but it was beyond dreamy...handmade and dainty. Perfect in every way!

Isla Harper Lutito

It's intimidating to name a human being...really intimidating! We kicked around a list of names since the beginning of this pregnancy, then once we found out we were having a girl, it at least narrowed it down a good bit. So, after much discussion we ended up coming back to the name we have LOVED since before we even found out about this little lady coming into our lives. Isla Harper Lutito will be the newest addition to our family and we couldn't be more excited. Isla is a Scottish name and we think its just beautiful. Many people may struggle at first to know how to pronounce it, but I think its pretty easy once you hear it. It is pronounced "eye-la". It's really not that hard, just say island and take off the end! Yet, some people really have a hard time. That has been my main concern, but I'm not going to let it overshadow how special that name is to us and how lovely it will suit her. Harper, her middle name, is after Harper Lee, the author of my favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird. This book had such a profound affect on me and I just saw so much love and redemption in the characters. There are so many lessons in that book about love, childhood imagination, true sacrifice, and what equality should look like.

So, there it is. Miss Isla Harper Lutito will be coming into our lives late April and we couldn't be more happy. We're in the process of preparing for this little one the best we can, but are well aware that there is only so much you can do to prepare before our lives get totally rocked in such a beautiful way.

Also, these photos were taken by my incredibly sweet and talented friend Mandy Mann. Check out her blog! Thanks Mandy! I love them!

xoxo
Kellie

My Funny Valentine

I thought I'd get a little crafty this year with the valentine for my hubby and this is what I came up with. Easy as pie to make and a sweet way to show someone you love them in a handmade fashion!

Materials
pink or red felt
embroidery thread of any color
embroidery needle
toilet paper or cotton balls for stuffing
scissors

Start by cutting out 2 identical heart shapes. Thread your needle with the embroidery floss and sketch out where you want your letters on your heart with a pen or pencil. I just eyeballed it, but it may help to sketch it out first. Working from back to front, thread your needle in and out in the shape of your letters using a double running stitch. Once you're through with the letters, knot it in the back, so it will be on the inside of the heart.

Use a whip stitch to sew together both hearts at the edges. Once you have completed about 75% of the heart, stuff some toilet paper or cotton balls in to make the heart puffy. Complete the whip stitch all the way around until complete and knot off. This part was tricky so the knot wouldn't show, but I was able to tuck mine on the inside.

Think my handmade heart and some Olive & Sinclair chocolate will do just the trick this Valentine's Day!

xoxo

Amazing reads

I don't know if it's the weather, but I've been devouring books like they are candy these days. This week I read two incredible books that I highly recommend!

Madeleine L'Engle A Wrinkle In Time
It's a classic that is actually part of a children's series. I've always wanted to read it and when I finally sat down to, I couldn't put it down. It was so nice to runaway in my mind and I felt removed from my adult mindset of having to feel grown up these days.



Sara Gruen Water For Elephants
I got wrapped up in this story about a traveling circus in the 1930's during the prohibition and depression. There is a movie coming out soon, but I doubt it can be as good as the book! Usually isn't :(

Dreaming of Spring...

and a tall, cold adult beverage. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wait about 3 months for both of those to happen. Came across this ginger lime margarita recipe on Design*Sponge today that made me salivate, both for its lovely pictures and the drink itself.

Chic & Cheap Nursery Give Away!

One of my favorite blogs Chic & Cheap Nursery is doing a load of give aways from now until Feb 13th and one of them is a gorgeous cylinder pendant light from Olio Studio. I am in love with it and hope I can win it for little lady's nursery! Think it would go perfect with her color scheme. Go to the event page on Chic & Cheap to check out all the goodies they are giving away!