Crush of the Month

This month I'm currently crushing on the newest bag from the Gap. The Denim Tassel Tote will become your everyday carryall which will last forever since it is made out of denim. It is big enough to fit your books, umbrella, or even your laptop. The design is extremely functional with the magnetic snap closure, two side pockets, one interior zip pocket and a flat bottom so it will stand upright. Don't forget the little dangling tassel for an added pop of color. Retails for $39.50

Photos courtesy of Gap

Happy Blogiversary

Little Creative Maven is celebrating our first blogiversary! A big thank you to all of our loyal readers :)

A Rush to Lilly Pulitzer for Sorority Girls

If you are a fan of Lilly Pulitzer and are a sorority girl we have exciting news for you! Lilly Pulitzer has debuted a new line of sorority prints which incorporates each sororities color, flower, mascot and other symbolic items. So far the line includes Delta Zeta, Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Delta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. Don't worry if your sorority hasn't been chosen, I'm sure in time they will expand the sorority line to include all sororities.

The Murfee Scarf - Delta Zeta is made of cashmere/silk and retails for $118.

The Zippity-do Make-up Bag - Delta Delta Delta retails for $38.

 The Original Tote - Kappa Kappa Gamma retails for $88.

 The Pencil Me In Case - Kappa Delta retails for $28.

All the items are available in each sorority print but I've only included a small sampling :) Stop by Lilly Pulitzer and check out all of the adorable items.

Photos courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer

The First Day of Summer

Summer has arrived!

BBQ Season in Full Swing

My current crush for summer barbecuing is from Pier 1 Imports. They have some of the cutest BBQ gear I've ever seen! The BBQ Dip Bowl (pictured above) was the first thing that instantly caught my eye to accent my tabletop. Details always help to pull off a successful table spread for all your parties why not display your summer dips in the mini grill. The BBQ Dip Bowl is hand-painted and crafted of earthenware which retails for $14.95.

Shake it like a salt shaker (shake it like a salt shaker)...
It's hard to choose just one so I included two sets of salt & pepper shakers, Mini Corn Cobs & Mini Hamburgers. The Mini Corn (set of 4) is hand-painted and crafted of earthenware which retails for $9.95.


The Mini Hamburger salt & pepper shaker is hand-painted and crafted of earthenware which retails for $6.95. Both sets are just too cute to pass up! Why not purchase both? My philosophy is the more the merrier :)

Even though ants can be quite the pest they just adorn these plates in a way that makes them almost lovable. The Gingham Ant Plate resembles the iconic image of a picnic being invaded by an army of ants but thankfully these ants won't steal your meal. The Gingham Ant Plate is crafted of porcelain which retails for $5/per plate.

Since we all can't be super crafty like Martha Stewart and handcraft our own real watermelon bowl try this reuseable Watermelon Bowl to use all summer long. Its perfect for fruit salads or anything really. Hand-painted and crafted of earthenware the bowl retails for $34.95.


Finally, a proper BBQ wouldn't be complete without a proper way to display your condiments. Once again I couldn't simply choose just one, so here are the two choices. The Hamburger Condiment Spinner will hold ketchup, mustard, relish, mayo or onions. The set is hand-painted earthenware and retails for $22.95. Did I mention it spins? :) The BBQ Condiment Serving Set, which matches the dip bowl, will hold up to three different condiments. The set is made of earthenware and retails for $34.95.

Photos courtesy of Pier 1 Imports

Quite possibly one of the cutest things I've ever seen...

Boxers are simply the best dogs ever. I can't wait until we finally add one to our happy home!

Old World Market

 

I recently was on a quest to find the perfect window covering for my kitchen and was pleasantly surprised to find some unique choices from Old World Market. "Unique, authentic and always affordable" is their company slogan and my recent purchase definitely lived up to it. The style I chose was the Henri Floral Roman Shade pictured above. The price was $34.99 for 31"Wx62"L and $39.99 for 36"Wx62"L size. If you check their weekly ad you can score some helpful coupons which I was lucky to snag the $10 off of $30! Check out my photo below of our recently installed shade. Let me know what you think of it.

Make sure you check out the food and wine section! Happy Shopping!

Photos courtesy of Old World Market

Flowers 101 Redux

I just received my course grade for Flowers 101 and in bold print was....F. Martha Stewart would not be pleased with my efforts and would consider it an epic failure. I guess it is a little tougher to grow flowers from microscopic seeds but alas I will give it another try maybe next year. My thumb may not be green quite yet but I am determined to achieve the coveted green thumb. Anyways, I have bigger fish to fry such as planting a Hydrangea, Peony and other already established flowers. Let's hope these don't die on me either. Pictures to come shortly.

When Life Gives You Lemons Make Lemonade

In the mood for some refreshing lemonade? If you are in Hollywood California then I know of the best place. Skooby's Hot Dogs is located right in the heart of Hollywood directly on the Walk of Fame. They claim to have the best hot dogs in Hollywood, the best fries in Los Angeles, and the best lemonade in California. From my personal experience all of the above are true! Nothing beats their fresh squeezed for $3.00 on a hot summer day. Why not make a meal out of it and order a #2 which includes one hot dog, fries and a drink for $6.95.  Side tip - Space is limited so be prepared to eat standing up.

Skooby's Hot Dogs is located at:
6654 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) HOT-DOGS

Open seven days a week on Hollywood Blvd

Monday	11am – 12 midnight
Tuesday	11am – 12 midnight
Wednesday	11am – 12 midnight
Thursday	11am – 12 midnight
Friday	11am – 12 midnight
Saturday	11am – 12 midnight
Sunday	11am – 12 midnight

 Photos courtesy of Skooby's Hot Dogs

Flowers 101

How hard would it be to grow flowers from seeds? Typically I would purchase my flowers from a local nursery or home improvement store like Home Depot and pay a premium price but there has to be a better alternative, right?

Since I am a new homeowner, I especially wanted to enhance our landscaping this spring with some colorful flowers. I've often walked past the rows of seed packets at local stores and didn't think it was actually possible or worth while to grow my own. This year I've decided to challenge myself and grow flowers from teeny tiny seeds. I think Martha Stewart would especially be proud! I mean really all the seeds need is a little dirt, sun, water, and TLC!

Starting today I planted three different types of flowers: Cosmos, Zinnias, and Poppies. The brand I decided to go with is Burpee since it had the overwhelming choice of seeds at Home Depot.

Cosmos - Attract butterflies and will be a bright mix of orange, red, and yellow. According to the package they are "easy to grow" and are great for cutting and borders. Let's hope they are "easy to grow" because they will be beautiful once they bloom. The seedlings should appear in 7-10 days.

Zinnias - Growing vigorously up to 3' tall, these will be a mix of purple and chartreuse. Apparently there is no indication on the package that these will be "easy to grow", so here is hoping. These will be perfect for beds, borders, and arrangements. The seedlings should appear in 7-10 days.

Poppies - Best known from the movie Wizard of Oz these will be a vivid red and black blotches in the center. These will be perfect in beds. The seedlings should appear in 10-20 days.

Photos courtesy of Burpee

Dapper Doggies

Does your pooch need a makeover for summer? The best way to start is with a new collar. Pecan Pie Puppies has created a stylish line of eye catching collars sold exclusively on Etsy. By purchasing a collar, you help their rescue efforts by financing their dog rescue work.

Each collar is hand-crafted using durable, high-quality materials including durable hardware to ensure safety and a comfortable fit. The collars cost $22.50 plus shipping. Below are a few other selected styles but be sure to check out the whole listing on Etsy.

You can also follow Pecan Pie Puppies blog!

Photos courtesy of Pecan Pie Puppies

Welcome Home

Sorry for the delay in new posts but we've been busy purchasing our first home. We moved in just over a week ago and already have a long list of home improvement projects. Stay tuned for more news and new posts!

Victoria's Secret PINK and Major League Baseball Team Up

Victoria's Secret PINK and Major League Baseball have teamed up together to create a new line of clothing for baseball season. The line includes t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants. Word has it that the first six teams to offer merchandise are Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and White Sox, New York Mets and Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies.

The Victoria's Secret store in Woodfield Mall had Chicago Cubs and White Sox items and they are all super cute! So far you can't buy any of the items online but hopefully they will be offering that option soon for out of town fans.

Check out this article:
Victoria's Secret PINK and Major League Baseball Properties Announce New Co-Branded Collection -- COLUMBUS Ohio, March 15 /PRNewswire/ --

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Baseball season is almost here! Can't wait for the home opener for my team, the White Sox, on Monday, April 5th @ 1:05pm. What team will you be cheering for this season?

Herb Garden

Thinking of starting an herb garden? It is easy and fun to grow your own herb garden and with the help of these beautiful pots from Crate & Barrel you will be adding style to your mini garden. The pots are a set of three white clay pots with the corresponding herb painted on the front. The price of the pots is $19.95.

The wire caddy is an additional $29.95 and isn't exactly necessary in the grand scheme of things but makes it handy to transport the pots from outdoors to your kitchen. The caddy is hand-formed with a bronze finish.

To top off your herb garden you will want to purchase the chalkboard herb markers. Once again they won't make your herbs grow faster or taste better but you wouldn't make a sundae and leave of the cherry topping. The cost is $3.95 each.

Finally, you can also pick up your seeds at Crate & Barrel. The set includes Parsley, Heirloom Strawberries, Oregano, and Basil. You can always pick up a pack of seeds from any local store but why not just make it a one stop trip. The cost is $7.95 each.

Photos courtesy of Crate & Barrel

Puka Dog

What I wouldn't give for a Puka Dog right now! Too bad we live on the mainland and not on the island tropical paradise called Kauai. We stumbled upon this hidden gem during our honeymoon to Kauai and I'm so thankful we did. There is nothing quite like a Puka Dog!

In Hawaiian Puka means hole. So basically they take a bun-sized loaf of bread and make a hole (puka) then toast it. Next, they add their super secret recipe relishes and sauces. Finally, they insert the polish sausage or veggie dog. Now you have yourself an authentic Puka Dog.

My personal recommendation would be this, a veggie dog with the original garlic lemon sauce and pineapple relish. So yummy! Check out their menu below.

Here are a list of their locations:
ISLAND OF KAUAI
Poipu Shopping Village
2650 Kiahuna Plantation Dr.
KOLOA /HAWAII 96756


ISLAND OF OAHU Waikiki Town Center
2301 Kuhio Avenue # 2
HONOLULU/ HAWAII 96815

Our Puka Dogs

Island of Kauai - Poipu Shopping Village

 
Photos courtesy of Puka Dog & Personal Photos

Keeping time in style

I recently received this new digital timer by Polder for Christmas and absolutely love it! I had my eye on one ever since I was over at a friends house who had one. The sleek hourglass design sure beats the old fashioned egg timer model I previously owned. Here are a few friendly stats:

• Digital timer
• Flip it over to change between clock and time
• Features a clock, 100-min. timer, stopwatch and even digital sand
• Four colors available: Red, Black, White and Silver
• Available at Target (online only) for $14.99
  

Photos courtesy of Target and Polder

Famous architecture for your home

Whether you're from the East or West Coasts or if you just love architecture then you might not want to miss out on what Restoration Hardware has to offer. The Brooklyn Bridge blueprints, pictured above, measures 60"x45" and can only be found in the catalog or website only. Display this piece of art with pride just like John Augustus Roebling, the architect, had when he finished the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. The cost of this masterpiece is $995.

Also available, are the blueprints from the Golden Gate Bridge. Just like the Brooklyn Bridge blueprints, it measures 60"x45" and can only be found in the catalog or website only. The cost is $995.

Photos courtesy of Restoration Hardware

Snowflake Pints

Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things,
but just look what they do when they stick together.

~Verna M. Kelly

During these long and cold winter months share a pint with friends in these unique snowflake pint glasses I found on Etsy. Each glass is hand engraved by Daydream Designs and just like snowflakes every glass is one of a kind. No two glasses are alike. A set of these beautiful glasses would make a great housewarming, birthday, or wedding gift. The will cost you $60 plus $14.50 shipping. Hurry before they sell out!

Photos courtesy of Daydream Designs

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

After a long holiday hiatus we are back online! Please check back this week for new posts.

Holiday Hiatus

Sorry for the gap in posts but the busy holiday season has kept me quite busy. Stay tuned for new posts...

A blizzard of snowflake ornaments

My Christmas tree is already decorated and yes its not even Thanksgiving yet! It's hard not to get sucked into the holiday spirit when they are playing Christmas music on the radio, every department store is decorated from the floor to the ceiling in red and green decorations, and the weather outside feels more like winter than fall.

 

The theme of my tree for years has been snowflakes and this year I am attempting to make a few of my own snowflake ornaments. I did some searching for designs and finally found a few on the Better Homes and Gardens website. The first one, pictured above, is the Beaded Snowflake Ornament. The directions are easy to follow and can be found on the previous link. The finished product looks professional and makes a beautiful addition to any tree.

 

The next design I found on Better Homes and Gardens was the Jingle Bell Snowflake (pictured above). Decorating with jingle bells are a great way to incorporate simple and practical items into a unique holiday ornament. If you want to match your Jingle Bell Snowflakes to your color scheme just use colored bells. They might be harder to find at your local craft store so I would suggest doing a search on Etsy in their supplies section.

All of these are inexpensive to make and supplies can be found at your local craft store such as Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann Fabrics, or online at Esty.

Photos courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Holiday Decorations

I recently discovered Craft Junkie 28's shop on Etsy and fell in love with her ideas for each holiday season. Every season is unique in style with a combination of scrapbook paper, paint, and glitter among other craft items. I love how she incorporates a graphical image like in the picture above. She uses a turkey in place of the letter a in the word thanks. You can find the give thanks design here. The Thanksgiving letters cost $28.00 plus $8.00 shipping. Don't delay these won't last long!

Sweet and simple with a button O full of the Christmas spirit. The HO HO HO set cost $28.00 plus $8.00 shipping.

Finally, the Snowman set can be enjoyed all winter long. The cost is $33.00 plus $9.00 shipping. If you are interested in purchasing more than one item the shipping charges are discounted. Make sure to check out all the other items that Craft Junkie 28 has to offer!

Photos courtesy of Craft Junkie 28