I'm an apple!

I became a vivacious redhead!! Yaaay, lovin this new color :) And I have a new nailpolish that I *loooove* :] (the post-it notes are part of an Indie Business Session) Happy Sunday!! LA :) * Don't forget to mail your Pin Cushion to your Swap Partner

Thrifting & 2 Winners

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my out-of-town friend, Suzanne :) We went for lunch at Eat-Bistro and then, thrift shopping :) She's so sweet, Suzanne made me this pretty necklace that I LOVE, check out her pretty jewelry shop to get your own :) 2 WINNERS February Big Giveaway Winner: Emily February AdSpace Winner (through twitter): Tessaboo Vintage Emily & Tessaboo, please email me (frecklednest@gmail.com) to claim your prizes :] Thank you everyone for supporting our February Sponsors and entering the giveaways :) * I have two spots left for March, please email me if you'd like to be a March sponsor & featured in our monthly sponsor feature/giveaway post :) XOXO, Happy Friday!!! Love Leigh-Ann

Feature & Interview with lacylike

A couple of weeks ago, I completed a grand makeover of my friend Lacy's blog, Lacylike! I'm very proud of this project and I feel like I really represented Lacy's glowing joy within the design of her website. Check out Lacy's blog along with all the special pages connected through her navigation bar under the banner. Enjoy :)




Lacy is a good friend of mine and her strength & genuine positivity is contagious and amazing, so I recently interviewed Lacy as a way to share some of her story with you! Enjoy and visit her site for more goodness :)
*

1. What does Lacylike mean to you?
I love this question. For so long my identity was hung up in my role as daughter, sister, friend or wife. I played the roles so well but I felt stressed out and not my best. Lacylike was born from desire to be my best self, my most authentic self. It's about loving my flaws and all and finding that supremely beautiful. It's about being fabulous, confidant, audacious and sincerely so. It's about being better than ok -- about being whole as I am... it's about loving me to the maximum! Aaaand it's about encouraging everyone else to be like no one else but themselves! To me Leigh-AnnLike is puppies and laughter, it's beauty and creating magnificent pieces of smile worthy art! Leigh-AnnLike is candid honesty and love.

*

2. Please share your favorite thing in the whole world.

My favorite thing in the whole world has to be laughing. True authentic undeniable laughter.

I have the most epic laughing story! When I went away to the yoga intensive... we are all in yoga practice and I'm practicing next to Ji. He's all sweaty and has his shirt off. Rolf leads us to the floor and we are finally happily laying on our backs. Ji's back suctions to the mat and as he goes to move it lets out this enormous fart sounding noise. I look over at Ji and see his entire body quaking as he tries to hold in the laughter. Just then this little trailing woosh air-filled fart sound squeaks out and I loose it! I am talking whole body laughter--- right there on the floor in the middle of class. I tried to say out loud 'I'm Sorry' but I was laughing so hard it barely came out. Ji released his laughter too and the entire room erupted in rounds and rounds of true pure hysterical belly laughter. It was the greatest moment ever. Epic. Hilarious. Pure. True. Oh the magic of a fart sound!
*

3. Why is wellness important to you?

Reading that question I wish there was a more exciting word for wellness b/c the word itself just doesn't elicit the excitement that I feel about it. Perhaps I will have to come up with another word. Wellness to me is an extension of my lacylike answer... it's about truly being the me I was meant to be. It's about breaking the family struggle with yo-yo weight loss and weight gain year over year. It's about one day having a daughter or son who doesn't get dressed for school each day and feel fat. Wellness is the essence of making the most of this life! As far as I know we only get one shot and I want this one to be as magic and joy filled as it possibly can be! Wellness is freedom and happiness and life lived FULL OUT!

*

4. Please share a few tips for a healthy life.

You know that water stuff, drink it! Get a super cute bottle that you love and carry it around with you always. Klean Kanteen has so many cute ones! Your entire body functions better when you are hydrated! Your skin and eyes are brighter, your elimination is better. H2O... it's plain and simple and so so good for you!
*

Sleep- get some! Figure out how many hours you need and then allow your body to rest. Sleeping in at our house is a necessity not a luxury. I know that my body needs 8-9 hours of sleep to run at maximum so that's what it gets.
*

Move your body! If you are moving more and eating less you will feel magnificent and have the energy you need to laugh and play and live a wonderful life. Even if it is just 5 minutes of dancing in your living room or taking the stairs two-by-two do something to move!
*

Laugh and love- fill your life with things that make you happy. This goes from your home to your friendships. If they aren't serving you positively it's time for some spring cleaning! Healthy and happy always go together!
*

5. What has been the biggest learning experience in your life?

Don't wait to live your life... LIVE IT NOW! It's so easy to get into that "I'll be happy when" rut. For so long I said I'll be happy when I am a size 8 again and when I am debt free. Guess what folks... I've been back in a size 8 (and then not) and I've been debt free (and then not) and even when I had those things I still said oh but now I need to have this or that! Those are details that will work themselves out and don't deserve my putting anything on hold till they are satisfied.

We all go through wake up calls in life and I listened closely to mine and then set out to changing things and I've never looked back. There was a moment when I had surgery on my trachea in ICU that brought new perspective on how fragile life can be. I was throwing up after surgery and you are NOT supposed to throw up. It sounds so dramatic but I'd just had part of my trachea cut out and stitched back together and if you pop that stitch by the exertion of vomiting that could be it. As I was laying there my body writhing in more pain than I'd ever experienced and unable to open my eyes I felt Cliff squeeze my hand and say, "you're going to be okay" and he reached to the wall, grabbed the suction and helped me. And I was okay. I've actually been better than okay for almost two years and those moments are never far out of my reach.

You always hear people say that sickness gave them a wake up call. Losing your health and quality of life has a way of making what's important super clear. You don't have to wait for some weird scar tissue, live your life NOW! Let the "i'll be happy when ___" go and be happy now! I betcha life will get pretty great for you if you focus on happiness!

*

6. How did Lacy and Leigh-Ann meet?

I met LA in blog land! Our stories were so similar and we were friends immediately but the really good story is when we first got to meet in person! It was at the Red Velvet Art Weekend in Missouri last year! I had just gotten into town it was late, dark and balmy out! I found my way to Commercial Street where the RVA store and Elsie's loft are and LA met me outside. I parked and started to walk and heard a squeal Laaay-Seeeeeee and we ran towards each other like in some sappy movie slow motion movie montage magic! We hugged and jumped up and down like little girls. It was so much fun!
*
7. And a few other little details for fun!
- Ice cream or cake? Yes please!
- If I could have one talent it would be to sing! I'm so bad! SO BAD but I love it!
- I think I should be able to go on vacation once a month... that's so part of my best life plan!
- My favorite thing is being silly with Cliff, laughing and singing and dancing and making videos!
- I want a dog but I'd happily never get one if Ned could live forever cause he's the coolest cat EVER!

- Kayla and I used to watch Grease weekly! I was a Grease girl and she preferred the Stephanie Zanonie Cool Rider singing Grease 2.
- I want to build a baby with Cliff and it took me work to get here and now I admittedly think about it too much. I have the "i want one" thing happening. Ah geeze. Kayla says I need to relax. I totally agree but I don't know how to yet (cause the "trying" is all still new). And I'm keeping notes of the journey so that I can blog about it later on!
- I really want a yard with a tepee and a hammock and a secret garden. Ohhh I loved The Secret Garden when I was a kid, I knew every line! EVERY LINE!
- I can't imagine my life without my sis.
- Oh and I love Freckled Nest! Yay for Leigh-Ann and Canada!
*
(Contact us at FreckledNest@gmail.com for Custom Blog package & rates information)

Thanks Lacy, your blog is my new fave!!
XO, Leigh-Ann :)

you just know I'm squealing right now:

Teaching Indie Business just got a even cooler when Elsie turned us into cartoon girls! Thanks Elsie!! Full Online Class Details at indie-business.com Please Note: If you've registered for Indie Business and haven't received an access email, please check your spam folder and contact Leigh-Ann at indieworldwide@gmail.com XOXO, Leigh-Ann

Color my Sunday, Week 13

I'm all tucked up in bed today with a headcold, and have had many naps, daydreams and online wandering. Wanna see some pretty things? (click images for sources) * (before and after) Lomo/Cross-Processed effect done with this tutorial from PhotoshopGirl (my favorite ps tutorial writer)!

Sponsor Features & 8 Giveaways!

Every month, Freckled Nest promotes a great collection of shops, blogs and artists in the right sidebar. This month, I've invited my sponsors to share about something that i n s p i r e s them! Most sponsors have also contributed something special & cool to our big giveaway!! Yeee!

To enter the big giveaway, leave an encouraging comment on each sponsors blog (links below), then write your name and email address in the comments of this post and in a few days, we will draw one person who wins everything!


BONUS GIVEAWAY: A separate winner will be drawn from our Twitter Followers every month and win a Small Ad spot on Freckled Nest for the month ahead :] Note: re-gifting allowed if you don't have a blog or shop.

Blog

Hello. My name is Danielle Andreoli. I'm a young{ish} mum living in outback Australia with my family. For the past two years I've had a huge obsession with owls. I know owls are everywhere these days but I like to tell myself I liked owls before they were hip {again}.
Over the years I've been addicted to allot of things. Shopping, handbags, op shopping, shoes, blogs, the color grey..you name it and it's probably been on my list. I like to say I'm a little bit addicted to everything and totally addicted to living life to the full. Nowadays I have a new addiction. While my husband is at work, I spend my days fabric cutting patterns and sewing handbags. When I'm sewing I feel like I'm in my own little world... I love to get creative and I am excellent at making a mess. I recently opened my own little store and it's a real buzz to sell one of your own creations.

Giveaway: a homemade handbag by Hello Owl

*

Blog

Hiya, I'm Patria from Lello & Bu! I feel most inspired when I am creating something new and different, dreamed up, thought about, planned and then actually made. It is like a light bulb goes off in my head and suddenly my hands are working faster than my brain can think! and then, right before my very eyes, an idea has come to life and there is something tangible for me to see and feel and proudly show off! Above is a photo of me on the floor surrounded by paper making something, who knows what...

Giveaway: Paper Aeroplane "fly" and Heart-o-vore Dino

*


Blog & Etsy

I'm Andrea and I am the artist behind Paper-Sparrow. I grew up in England and I currently live in Florida. My art is inspired by nature, walks in the woods, memories of the New Forest and vintage childrens books. I love painting animals and I imagine all the fun things that they get up to when we're not looking. At the moment, I'm looking forward to spring time colors, baby animals, and spending more time outside. When I'm not painting pictures for Paper-Sparrow, I play cello, love a good cup of coffee and am planning my next road trip in my beloved Swedish wagon.

Giveaway: an 8x10 print of my Down by the River painting

*

Blog & Etsy

Hi Everyone! My name is Jane Heinrichs and I am an illustrator who calls both London (UK) and Winnipeg (Canada) home. I am most inspired by fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The image you see above is from a recent project of mine to illustrate the mother goose rhyme, "The Queen of Hearts, she baked some tarts." I think fairy tales and nursery rhymes gives such scope for imagination and interpretation. They are so fun to draw!
I love children’s books, especially vintage ones. I recently wrote and illustrated a children’s book called “Magic at the Museum”. I created my own publishing company to self-publish this book. Within one year of publication “Magic at the Museum” was short-listed for a major Canadian illustration award and spent two weeks on the bestseller list in Winnipeg. This is a testament to the power of confidence and the chutzpah of an indie-business! Come visit my blog to witness the inside workings of a small publishing company.

Giveaway: One archival giclée print of the knave of hearts eating cake in Regent's Park (London)

*

Blog & Etsy

My name is Megan and I'm an illustrator who specializes in pen and ink. Most of my illustrations center around European fairy tales or Victorian tales, which is why I joke with my friends that I was born at least 200 years too late. My blog, named after my Studio MME Illustrations business, shows daily in-progress shots of my work. I think there's something special about watching an artwork come into creation and I love sharing that feeling with others. Last summer I took a month-long trip to Scotland and became enamored with its history and scenery, not only of the countryside, but of the 12th century hospital-turned-manor I stayed in.

Giveaway: Winner's choice of one of the following prints-Daughters of the Forest or Sons of the Forest

*

Blog & Etsy

Hello! My name is Eleise. I'm 24 years old & I enjoy all kinds of crafting from jewelery making, soap making, candle making, crocheting, scrap booking to sewing. I'm inspired by everything baby which is where I find my inspiration for my shop, One Artsy Mama. I enjoy taking pictures & hope to start up my own photography business where I can shoot baby portraits as well. Above is a picture of one of my guitar onesies...I get inspired by really cute fabrics from which I can make adorable onesies with.

Giveaway: 3 iPod soaps (purple, pink, blue ...the actual size of an iPod!)

*

*

Blog & Etsy

Hi, I'm Dixie from DixieDIY. My little etsy shop started out when I thought it might be fun to experiment in making candles. I needed some sort of container so I used old vintage glasses I had and soon enough I had so many that I decided to sell them.

Right now I've really been inspired by the Cathedral of Junk here in Austin, TX. It's this big multi level structure built continuously in some guy's backyard over the past 20 years that is made out of, well, junk! Cast off pieces of metal, bottles, TVs, signs, chairs, bikes, CDs, fences, anything and everything you can imagine! And it's huge! People even have weddings there. It's quite an incredible feat and I love how one man took all of this unwanted stuff (some given to him, some he found) and turned it into something beautiful and spectacular. Talk about recycling! You can learn more about the Cathedral and how it began here. I also have a bunch more photos that I took here as well.

(no giveaway)
*

*

Studio & Gallery & Blog

Hey everyone! I’m Elle, from Elle’s Studio and we have lots of fun scrapbooking tags, embellishments, stamps and more! Our design team keeps us inspired with all their amazing creations, too! The above layout was made by Daniela Dobson – you can see the other design team creations at our Inspiration Gallery. New galleries are posted on the 20th of each month. In March, our business will be three years old (time is going SO fast!) and so we are planning a big celebration! Mark your calendars for the entire month as we get inspired, challenged and more at our blog! There is even an extra special surprise planned, but I can’t spill the beans just yet :) We are on facebook now, too! Become a fan to get the latest updates and fun, exclusive giveaways!

Giveaway: Winner gets all the tags featured below!

*

Blog & Etsy

My name is Jaelynn and I reside in Orange County, Ca. I am quite fond of cameras, photography, owls and American sign language. My blog is more like journal/diary that I'm sharing with the world. Here is where my opinions, ideas, dreams, rants and inspirations all collaborate into a day-by-day story of my life. I am a barista by early morning and an an avid estate saler, thrift store fiend, vintage guru the rest of the time. I enjoy feeding the addictions of other fashionistas with lush one-of-a-kind vintage pieces that encourage an eco-friendly lifestyle. I am the type to be inspired visually- whether its beautiful images found through talented bloggers and photographers, the sky on a beautiful day or the subtle beauty I find in old vintage pieces needed to be restored (like my favorite headphones!)!

Giveaway: Killer Vintage Liquid Embroidered Mushroom Print!

*

Become a Freckled Nest Sponsor

Our ad sizes are changing with for our new blog format...

XL Ad ($90) 160x200

Large Ad ($40) 160x120

Small Ad ($25) 160x60

To be a sponsor in March, please email FreckledNest@gmail.com

Good luck and enjoy visiting these new blogs and inspiring women!

Love Leigh-Ann