Beauty Tips Tuesday - Breakouts Bumming You Out?

We all know how much of a bummer it is to be plagued with an occasional breakout, but how totally frustrating when you struggle with it on a daily basis! Believe it or not, many persistent bouts of acne are exacerbated by common things like phones, pillow cases, and dirty make up brushes. They all can harbor insane amounts of bacteria, (not to mention styling products, make up residue, and oils from your face), and they are items we generally use everyday.
Touching your face with your hands can be a huge culprit too. Just think of all the things your hands come in contact with! By touching your face needlessly, you are inviting pore clogging bacteria to wreak havoc on your skin.
So make sure to wipe down your cell phone, (I like to use those handy little wipes made to clean computer monitors), change your pillow case often, (if you have a bad case of acne, use ea. side of your pillow once and then change), make sure to avoid touching your face (this includes picking/popping!), and wash your make up brushes often (click here for a how-to).

Like the cell phone b l i n g ? The photo is courtesy of Crystal Icing, and their site can be checked out here.

Coordinated Finds

1. Paper Biscuit cell pouch 2. The Glass Chef cupcake charm
3. Cucio cell case 4. Candy Bead purse charm

Lindsay's Loves ♥

Wedding season is well underway, and though I am no longer planning my own (my hunk of a husband and I will be celebrating 6yrs this Oct.), like most girls, I am still drawn to all those lovely little beautiful bridal things! And if we were to do it all over again, I most definitely would be including some of this exquisite handmade l o v e l i n e s s.

1. Rohm 2. Twigs and Honey 3. Bedouin 4. Urban Heirlooms 5. Brenda's Bridal Veils

6. English Department 7. Elephant and Chickpea 8. Leanne F. Designs

Peddler's Podium - Marolsha and Giveaway!

M a r o l s h a. . . rolls off the tongue and carries with it a sound of exquisite beauty. Very fitting store name for this week's featured seller, Maddy. Read on to learn a few tidbits about this full time jewelry designer, and drool over the yummy recipe she shares. Oh! and of course the details of this week's
g i v e a w a y!

Where do you currently live and who do you live with?

We currently live in Toronto, Canada. We were previously living in Singapore - that's where we met and fall in love :P We are currently engaged... and plan to get married sometime this year :) Its just the two of us in our condo apartment. We hope to adopt a pet.. i love cats, whereas my husband loves dogs.

When did your creative ways come to life?

I have always loved jewelry. I would go to the stores, or on line to search for that piece of jewelry to match my outfits. My shoes, bags had to match and come together. So, jewelry to me was the final component to complete that look ! When we moved to Toronto, I had some time in my hands, so I decided to take up a hobby. I haven't looked back since and enjoying every moment creating and coming up with new designs.

Is there any specific event/thing/person that inspired your creativeness?

It was mostly having that treasured time. I used to work as a secretary and used to clock in long hours, that I would hardly have any time to relax, let alone take up a hobby. After moving to Canada, I had some time, and that gave me the opportunity to learn a new hobby and it has been the most rewarding and satisfying decision I have made.

What motivated you to sell your goodies on Etsy?

It was by chance. I happened to visit a jewelry site while surfing on the web and discovered a jewelry designer had a link to her etsy shop as well. I was so amazed and fascinated by the numerous talented artisans on etsy. I was overwhelmed by it initially.

Where do you create your jewelry?

At the moment, I share a small desk area that has been converted to a work space to create my jewelry. We live in a condo with limited space... Sometimes, I would be working on 4 to 5 design pieces at the same time... and it can be challenging to have a flow of things when I have an idea in mind. Most of the time, I have to scribble them in a note book and go back to it another day to finish it.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Passionate

Sense of Humor

Generous

Kind

Soft spoken

If you could be famous for doing something you don’t currently do, what would it be? I would love to be on Dancing with the Stars! I just admire the dance movements and the partnership/teamwork bet ween two people. Each type of dance requires skills ranging from upbeat to gracefulness, and at the same time to always be in time with your partner! I think it's lots of fun, hard work, and great for weight loss too!!

Is there one thing you are Superfabulous at or think is Amazing, and can share with my readers?
There is a simple and nutritious dish that I have been making quite regularly now. It's broccoli and pine nuts!
- heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in pan or wok
- add a cup of pine-nuts
- you may add more if you have more broccoli or if you love pine nuts like we do.
- stir fry pine-nuts till they turn golden brown... watch for the heat as they do get brown/burnt easily
- remove and set aside - with the same oil, stir fry the broccoli
- return the pine-nuts to the pan/wok, a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste
- remove and viola! A simple, low fat, and yummy vegetable dish!

List 3 things you hope to accomplish/see/do in your lifetime.
Do as much traveling as possible. I would love to see the world. It really opens up your horizons and perspectives of other cultures... Its so fascinating. Skydive - I am afraid of heights.. but wish to do it one day for the experience and to overcome my fear!

G I V E A W A Y!

Maddy is generously offering one lucky reader $15 in credit to her store, so that the winner may choose a prize that best fits their taste! (No change will be issued if less then $15 is redeemed.) Additionally, with any purchase from her shop, recieve 50% off an additional item of equal or lesser value. Just enter code: SkylarkDawn in the notes to seller upon checkout.

Here's how to enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite piece of Marolsha jewelry. You must include your first name along with your email address or Etsy username with each entry. (So we have a way to contact you in the event you win!)
For additional entries, you can do the following and post ea. individually in the comments to let me know:
* Twitter about this feature
* Follow/Subscribe to my blog
* Blog about this feature and post a link with your entry

Contest closes just before MIDNIGHT CST Tuesday, June 23rd and the winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Wednesday June 24th. Thank-you so much for playing and Good Luck!

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Color me new!

No need to buy a whole new warm weather wardrobe! Wake up last year's summer staples with a few well placed pops of color. Whether you are wearing jeans and a tank, shorts and a tee, or a light weight summer dress, adding colorful accessories will help to breath new life into what you already own!

Zelaya hand bag - $72

Chelsea of the Sea silk scarf - $25

Eastern Sky cotton bangles - $12

The b-line scarlett ring - $19

Lust and Must Monday

Must Have!
So my husband has it in his head that we need to become a family of leisurely bikers. With Rhiannon verbalizing her readiness to trade in her Big Wheel for a "big girl bike" and Ryan's want of extending his boundary past the four corners of our block, I think that the timing is just about right. Minneapolis is ranked really high for biker friendliness and we live in an area where we are spitting distance from multiple parks and lakes that all provide excellent biking trails. And though I haven't been on a bike pretty much since I got my driver's license (though my bike got extensive use prior, and I still have it!), after seeing this adorable bike basket from Huset, it has provided me with some major motivation to dust off that old bike and take it for a spin! Not only is this basket the cutest bike accessory ever, but it converts to a shopping basket in a snap, making it mandatory that you hang up your keys and bike to your local farmer's market!

Lusty Coordinated Finds

1. Old Future Industries valve caps 2. Linkel Designs necklace 3. Saint Chicago tee

Peddler's Podium - Elle Moss Photography and Giveaway!

Remember Elle? I first did a mini introduction of her work here and was so taken with it, that I just had to find out more! So read on to hear how she got started, what inspires her, and all the details of this week's fabulous giveaway!

Where do you live and who do you live with?
I'm from Ann Arbor Michigan and live with my husband of 16 years, our 2 children(a boy and a girl, 16 and 3), and 2 cats.

When did your creative ways come to life?
I've always been creative, but never had a good outlet for it.
Attempted writing, fashion design, all forms of art...nothing let me express myself the way photography does. Though I have always taken
photographs and loved it dearly, I didn't become serious about it until 2006, when my husband bought me my first DSLR.


Is there any specific event/thing/person that inspired your creativeness?
The Mexican surrealist Remedios Varo has been an influence of mine
since I was 17. My grandmother, Muriel, is another source of inspiration. She was forever creating and never gave up.

What motivated you to sell your goodies on Etsy?
I liked the idea of having complete control over my prints and the community was friendly.

Where do you do the creation of your art?
My house is my most common backdrop, and my basement office is where I do all of my post processing. I spend the most time there, at my desk, creating and promoting.

Do you currently create full time, or do you also have a day job?
This is it!

If you could be famous for doing something you don’t currently do, what would it be?
I'd love to be a famous actress, ballerina, or opera singer!

Describe your personality in 5 words.
kind. determined. sensitive. introverted. creative.

What is one trait you wished you possessed?
confidence!

What is one trait you possess but wished you didn’t?
fear of public speaking.

Besides your craft, what things do you enjoy doing in your down time?
Decorating my house, hiking, listening to music, making jewelry (well, I'm just learning, but i like it!), crossword puzzles, and dancing.

If you could eat one food in any quantity for the rest of your life with no ill effects, what food would you choose? C H O C O L A T E

Is there one SuperFabulous life tip you could share?

My only tip is to never doubt yourself and never give up. Do only what feels right to you and stick to your guns. You can do and be anything you set your mind to, so Dream Big!

List 3 things you hope to accomplish/see/do in your lifetime.
I would like to see Europe. Ive been to London, but I've never been to France or Italy or Spain and I'm dying to go!
I want to see my kids get married and have grand kids.
I want to be financially independent.

Any future plans for your business?
I want to start shooting film for awhile and have some ideas for a book that I'm tossing around. I would like to see it grow slow but steady and be something I can do for a long, long time.

G I V E A W A Y!

Elle is offering one lucky reader a copy of her new 8/09-1/11 Calender filled with 20 of her dreamiest photos! Additionally, she is offering all entrants a FREE print with any purchase from her shop. Just mention the giveaway in the notes to seller upon checkout.

Here's how to enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Elle Moss photograph and the feeling it invokes in you. You must include your first name along with your email address or Etsy username with each entry. (So we have a way to contact you in the event you win!)

For additional entries, you can do the following and post ea. individually in the comments to let me know:
* Twitter about this feature
* Follow/Subscribe to my blog
* Follow/Subscribe to Elle's blog
* Blog about this feature and post a link with your entry

Contest closes Wednesday, June 16th at 12 am EST and the winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Wednesday June 17th. Thank-you so much for playing and Good Luck!

Get it for less!

The Etsy Supply Street Team is sponsoring the second annual YART sale (yard + art), this Wednesday, June 10 - Saturday, 14th! Shop keyword "YART" to find sales, promotions, and all around great deals on handmade goodies, supplies, and vintage treasures!

Are you a seller and want to participate? Click here for more info.







Yessy's Designs is offering FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING to her next two customers (sales 44 & 45). Additionally, all her handmade jute purses ship FREE for the month of June.








Kavali8 is offering FREE SHIPPING worldwide on all original canvas paintings.







Evie's Tool Emporium is having a half off sale on all scrapbooking supplies and offering FREE SHIPPING to all US customers who purchase $50 or more.

Peddler's Podium - Artistic Edition and GIVEAWAY!

I am so excited about my new featured seller format and am just thrilled to be kicking it off with MN local Jenna, of Artistic Edition! I met Jenna back in February when I joined the HandmadeMN team (of which she leads), and quickly became aware of her limitless passion and creative energy!
Jenna is in the hair B L I N G business and makes these ingenious little hair accessories that just snap into place. Created in multiple colors and made with genuine Swarovski crystals, there isn't an ensemble that Jenna doesn't have a snap to match! Not to mention, she recently expanded her line to include elegant pearls, glitzy mirrors, casual fabric buttons, and (my personal favorite) retro styled feather fascinators! Doesn't it look just fabulous in my hair? (Yep, that is my head!)
Read further to learn more about Jenna, and to get all the details of this week's GIVEAWAY!

When did your creative ways come to life?

The first memory of my first creative moment was in first grade. We were coloring paper Native Americans for Thanksgiving. There happened to be a penny under the paper and I colored over it. I thought it gave it a cool look, so I started doing the whole piece with penny rubbings. I remember my teacher coming by and he was very upset and said something to the effect that it looked horrible and that it didn’t go with what everyone else was doing, but I didn’t care. I continued to use that penny and was very proud of the result. It wasn’t until 8^th grade that I realized that I had true potential in art. That’s when I concentrated on my calling and the rest is history!

Is there any specific event/thing/person that inspired your creativeness?

I’m always inspired by different things, people and events. Once I get inspired I have to make it, build it, or sketch it out right away. I just can’t stop thinking about it until it’s complete, or at least given a good try.

Where do you create your crafts?

I am one of those types of people that just can’t create in one spot. I like changing my environment. I could be working at the kitchen table one day or at my desk the next.

Do you currently create full time, or do you also have a day job?

I have a full time job[graphic designer], but I would love to be working on my creations full time at some point. I am working towards that goal everyday!

If you could be famous for doing something you don’t currently do, what would it be?

I would love to be famous for inspiring others to be creative. I have a passion for creativity and I love sharing it with others, it would be so fantastic if, someday, I could take it global and inspire all around the world.

Besides your craft, what things do you enjoy doing in your down time?

I love playing the piano when I have access of one. Hanging out with friends and family. I also enjoy the occasional road trip with my husband.

Describe your personality in 5 words.

Humorous, Quirky, Passionate, Imaginative, Sincere

What is one trait you wished you possessed?

Concentration with a little bit of focus.

What is one trait you possess but wished you didn’t?

Indecisiveness

Any future plans for your business?

I would like to expand my hair snaps business into bridal shops and hair salons. I would love to be able to do Wedding Expos one day. At least that’s a goal I have!

G I V E A W A Y!

Jenna is offering one lucky reader a variety pack of her Hair Snaps! (5 Swarovski crystal and 5 Swarovski pearl) Additionally, she is offering FREE shipping on all purchases good now through June 30th! Just enter the code SkylarkDawnFreeShip in the notes to seller and wait for a revised invoice.
Here's how to enter:
Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Artistic Edition hair snap.
You must include your first name along with your email address or Etsy username with each entry. (So we have a way to contact you in the event you win!)

For additional entries, you can do the following and post ea. individually in the comments to let me know:
* Twitter about this feature
* Follow/Subscribe to my blog
* Blog about this feature and post link with your entry

*Jenna is also interested in hearing what your first impression of her hair snaps was so that she can better understand if they are being clearly described. Any feedback in this area would be much appreciated and worth an additional entry!

Contest closes Tuesday, June 9th at 11:59 pm CST and the winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Wednesday June 10th. Thank-you so much for playing and Good Luck!

Lindsay's Loves ♥

School is almost out (on the 9th here) and it is time to show a little love and appreciation to the one that is under funded, under appreciated, and many times over worked. And no, I am not talking about myself, (though I just may snag some swag for me too!) I am of course referring to your child's teacher. With all that these educational warriors do from September to June, they deserve a big thank-you and a little handmade g o o d n e s s!

Barbara Anne Designs Thank-you card $6

Made By Jackie Post It note holder $4

Sew Gracious ID badge lanyard $7

Paper Pumpkin Jumbo Magnet Set $6.75

Tootsie Bear Thank-you card and magnetic clips $4

Gifts 2 Give cup sleeve $6.25

Lindsay's Loves ♥

Mother's Day is next weekend, so I thought I would showcase some Etsy goodies that my own mother Susan would be smitten to receive!


My mama can't live without her tea. These little tea rests by Miss Pottery would be perfect! $10 for two












Growing up, I would play "dress up" in my mama's Gunne Sax collection. I am guessing she would just adore this vintage Gunne skirt from Dewberry Vintage. $47









Her favorite color is yellow and these sunny earrings from OBTP are right up her ally. $25










She has always had a thing for anything miniature ever since I can remember. This itty bitty tea set from Mini Pottery by Anita would have her swooning. $24





A long time allergy sufferer, a stash of tissues is always at hand. This would be an adorable tissue tote from Knotty by Nature would be perfect for her purse. $5.75







My mama is in the market for a new purse, and I think this tote from Charm Design has all the features she would want. Long removable strap, zipper closure, interior pocket, and the perfect size. $39.50

Double Dose of Lindsay's Loves ♥

Isn't this purse just divine! See where to find it by checking out my guest post over on the blog
We Chirp! Mavis and Dove are notorious for giveaways, so don't forget to follow them so you don't miss out!

Oh, I almost forgot! One of my items is being featured in a lovely Etsy treasury today and tomorrow, so feel free to check it out if you want even more fun Etsy finds,(or just want to show me some Love ♥)

Lindsay's Loves ♥

I hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend full of joy, family, and yummy food! Today's theme is inspired by the first cleansing rains of Spring and the tranquil blue skies that appear after the storm clouds part.

mQuin - Blue Origami dress $98

MyissaG's Crochet - Seaside Island Crocheted Dishcloths $10

Ruth Singer - Amelia Brooch $20

Otis B - Coin Pearl and Chalcedony Drops Lariat $22

Davie and Chiyo - Spring Leaves 8" Silk Lined Clutch
(you choose lining color!) $75

Milton and Margies - Clean Laundry Soy Candle $12

Wunderlust - Nested no. 2 $40.00