Two is better than one...

Here is the first giveaway for today that I would like to mention...

I have been honored to have Nathalie from the blog women-prenuers galore host a giveaway for my store Bonita Bellita. The yellow flower has been requested again, so that will be the prize for this contest! You have two weeks to enter, so get out there and give it a try! Best of luck to all of you!





As for the other giveaway, I absolutely love this item! A ceramic white owl with a white glossy glaze, this vase would look fantastic anywhere! Very much in love with this, I myself have entered this contest! Definitely worth a try for those owl lovers out there...


Click here to enter

Just a Wednesday

Happy Wednesday, everyone reading this! It's been an interesting day so far, and since I haven't done a blog lately, I'll do a quick recap -

My last week was mostly spent with my mom. She is one awesome woman, but I would prefer to spend my time with her getting our toes done than I would in a hospital room. She's getting her energy back and is getting on with her new "normal" life. I am proud to be her daughter/friend/chauffeur/personal-assistant/nurse/bad carrier. haha I'm not worried for her, she's going to beat this thing, hands down!

Now that my dear mom is at home resting (who am I kidding, I know she's got her friends over there with margaritas and laughter), I have taken some much needed time with my family. My husband and I went on a date with some friends, and then yesterday we went to the beach. I know, I go there a lot. It was perfect, just laying in the sun and cooling off in the water, my kids collected shells and chased sea gulls. There is just something so zen about it all. This week there was a special summer outdoor market. We bought fresh rainier cherries and enjoyed seeing the street performers and smelling all the food... afterward we walked along the l-o-n-g pier to a restaurant on the end of the harbor and enjoyed some burgers. It was exactly what I needed.



I also had to get used to going back to work. Hadn't been there in a while, and going back was a little weird. I didn't go to my usual department, instead I did various tasks I wouldn't normally be doing. Not bad, I worked with some pretty neat people, just differently than I'm used to. There's a new store coming up, I'm thinking about a transfer... hmmm

My store is getting some nice exposure thanks to a giveaway I'm part of. Feel free to check it out, as it's still going on. There are quite a few ways to enter!
click => HERE Thanks to all of you who have entered already, good luck on winning!

Now that we're on the topic of Bonita Bellita, I'd like to mention that there will be some more variety coming to the store soon, as in before the month is over! I have added some new flower designs that are not currently in my store, and am adding hairclips instead of just headbands. Two small changes but will make BIG statements. Keep an eye out...

This last week...

This last week had some plans but as we all know, the best laid plans of mice and men...

I had originally planned on creating a few new pieces for my store. I'm experimenting with clips and pins, as well as finishing up some headbands. I also recently purchased some lace I'm excited to play around with. There was an aquarium trip planned, and the beach...

but Monday I got a phone call from my mom. I heard the word "ER" and knew I had to see her. I drove to the hospital and got there before the ambulance. It broke my heart to see her in such agony. Between the bleeding that wouldn't stop and the pain she was in, she quickly went from emergency patient to admit to the hospital. The next day was a serious of tests and large amounts of pain medications, all of which resulted in a prognosis: CANCER. She immediately went into surgery and they took out what they could. Wednesday was recovery and blood transfusions, she had lost so much and was very weak. I took her back to her home when it was over. Thursday I realized I hadn't slept in my bed for a week (just those hospital chairs) and was glad to go home and shower. The next several weeks will be full of chemo visits, my day job, and my kids. Oh yeah. And my Etsy store.

I feel like superwoman (if she was dependent and naps and tea, that is). I never did get those Etsy pieces done... good thing I still have the weekend.

Lazy Sunday? NO WAY!! =D

Here's something exciting! No really, it is... I promise! I've just had the pleasure of being featured in an interview and giveaway from the wonderful Johanna (my new etsy/blogging friend) - we are offering the chance to win a beautiful yellow skinny headband. Its one of my first creations, and an accidental success!



Click here to enter for several chances to win!
(don't you just love that? I mean, it's not just one entry... there are 12 ways to enter! Seriously)

I can't even begin to tell her how excited I was for this, to share such a pretty piece with a lucky person out there! To all of you who enter, best of luck! =)

This whole thing has me so excited, I'm working on more new items to post up in the shop... specifically, I'm working with green, pink, red polka dots, and a rose-meets-ivory lace... not all together, of course! Stick around, there will be lots of new items to see!

Why I love the West Coast...

A few days ago I decided I needed a break, just a chance to breathe and relax. The answer to this problem was to jump in a car, drive with my family to the closest aquarium, and spend the day hanging out with fish, jellyfish, puffins, sea otters, sharks, seals, manta rays, and sea-stars. It was absolutely beautiful, I would love to just live in the ocean (or at least closer to it). It's amazing to see the aquatic world through the eyes of a child again, this is something my own son and daughter have taught me.



Of course the day wouldn't have been complete without seeing the beach as well, so even though there was no sun and the waves were already reaching high tide, we drove over and spent some time there too. At the end of the day, I came home happy, relaxed, tan, and at peace.

A New Beginning...

Well, I told myself I was never really going to get a blog. I thought it would be a waste of time, but then I realized how much inspiration I get from other people's blogs, whether it was a family's vacation, photos that just captured my attention, or even just sheer curiosity. There was just something about seeing so much beauty, so much LIFE happening, I fell in love.

So now here I am, my own blog.

I want to keep some focus to my Etsy store on here (http://bonitabellita.etsy.com), but at the same time show my human side. Let's face it, my life is not large oversized flower headbands 24/7. I promise I am so much more interesting than that! =) Well, usually I am. Tonight I'm off to bed, so goodnight, new blogging world. I'll be in touch soon!