A Good Deal

I've seen a few signs lately that prove the economy is not where it once was...

- a few days ago when I was about town, I saw a man rummaging through a public ashtray for decent sized cigarette butts to finish smoking, he gathered several and went on his way...now there's a way to save money.

- on a recent Baskin Robbins trip, I ordered my favorite...Peanut Butter Chocolate. But this time, it was heavy on the chocolate and pretty skimpy on the peanut butter...it was, in fact, just chocolate ice cream. Booo!

But there are some really great deals out there, too. Like this one:

Buy one, get one free at one of my favorite Etsy shops, PrintSpace.

Looking forward to:

• Chase and The Reach at The Red Room - Saturday, May2nd, 8pm. Local artist, Chase Thompson, will be performing at The Red Room in Kennewick. This will be his official album release and if you like OneRepublic you will probably enjoy his music as well. He's got a few new songs streaming on his MySpace, so check him out. I've got my tickets already, you can get your tickets here. Tickets are $15.

• So You Think You Can Dance to start, only 24 days and counting.
  

• June is going to be a really awesome month for new music, here's a list of the album releases I'm looking forward to:

-Paolo Nutini
-Brooke White
-Regina Spektor
-Wilco

• Coldplay in July at the Gorge

• New albums later in the year from Kate Walsh, Katharine McPhee, and Michael Buble.

I wish I was here...

The last couple days have been among the hardest as a mother...but there's a few things that cheer me up instantly...one of them is the incomparable Michael Buble...

watch this...





There! Now I feel much much better.

Click Here

You know how you might be having one of those days when you just don't feel 100% but then you stumble upon something that cheers you up, or touches your heart, or just makes you smile. That's what happened to me today.

Click here.

and here.

and here.

And one more for good measure, click here.

Thank you bloggers!


Photo via Kelly's shop.

Sneak Peek

A sneak peek into May's mix...

1. Ari Hest - Twelve Mondays. One of my absolute favorite new albums. His voice is so warm and rich and beautiful. (If you're in the Seattle area, see him tonight at The Triple Door...I wish I was going.)

2. Jem - Down to Earth. A great pop album that makes me want to get moving.

3. Vetiver - Tight Knit. I keep coming back to this album...it's soooo good.

4. Alexi Murdoch - Time Without Consequence. New to me, the #1 track is my favorite.

5. Wallis Bird - Spoons. Another new to me artist, her voice is very interesting...sort of hard to classify...sort of pop, sort of rock, sort of soul.

6. Lucy Schwartz - Gone Away (single). It drives me crazy when I discover a great artist two years after their original release...it makes me feel like I've been missing out on something really great. For example, Lucy Schwartz. I love her new single and her debut album is on my must purchase list.

7. Other Lives - Other Lives. A new discovery with a brand new album, a really great sound, and they'll be playing locally in Kennewick at The Red Room on May 23rd.

Today:

- the sunshine is beautiful
- the flowers love the sunshine
- enjoy 85 degrees
- wash bed sheets
- do dishes
- vacuum
- fold laundry [while catching up on my favorite food network episodes]
- work at the book fair
- make something good for dinner...maybe something on the BBQ
- plan FHE: A Spring Renewal: applying the Atonement in our lives

Modest Swimsuit Directory

**Update: this post has received overwhelming support, but unfortunately, some of the links here are dead. I've posted a NEW UPDATED SWIMSUIT DIRECTORY here. Thanks for visiting!


Some great resources for modest swimsuits...

[ click on picture to view better ]

1. Layers Clothing - 12 different styles, great patterns, all modest.
2. Rey Swimwear - my favorite site so far. Young, hip, very very cool!
3. Shade Clothing- some basic styles available in different colors and patterns.
4. ModBod - they only have 4 suits to choose from, but it's one more option.
5. Lime Ricki - a very adorable line of swimsuits, my daughters will instantly be attracted to their girly styles.
6. Swim Outlet - the site I posted about last year, they have some great prices. This suit in particular is only $19.95.
7. Hapari - a generous collection of super cute tankinis.
8. Modbe - A great selection of cute, cute suits. My favorite is the "flounce" suit.
9. DownEast Basics - another great source for reasonably priced suits.

Good Things

Earlier this week, I was shopping at Target and noticed they had some little girls shorts on sale for a good price, so I headed over to take a look at them. At the same time, another mother joined me there to check them out. She picked up a pair and realized what I was seeing as well...daisy duke style shorts for little girls. She commented that they were too short, and I told her that I agreed. I commented that I don't want to see my 7 year old daughter in a pair of daisy dukes, and frankly, I don't want to see anyone's daughter in daisy dukes.

This is something that I struggle with on a regular basis, trying to find modest clothing for my daughters. No problem finding modest clothes for my son...the only thing I have to be on the lookout with him is skulls...I'm not a fan of skulls. But go try to find a modest one piece swimsuit, or a modest dress with sleeves that isn't going to show their backsides when they bend over. I'm fed up!


So when I saw this awesome magazine, Eliza, and a call to support them (with a giveaway) in a struggling economy, I headed over to purchase a subscription. $15 to support a modest conscious fashion magazine? You bet! And I can't wait to get my first issue. Read about how Eliza got it's start.

+++ One other big plus, besides showcasing modest fashion, the magazine is committed to staying away from those trashy, smutty articles that fashion magazines typically plaster on their front covers. A big plus!

I'm not sure what else we can do to convince designers that we want more modest fashions, but this is one little thing that I felt compelled to support and share.

Mid April Favorites

[ this shop, and especially this print. ]

sun shining today after crazy weather yesterday.
the promise of a beautiful weekend.
magnolias in bloom.
whole wheat english muffins with peanut butter.
general conference. [especially] President Uchtdorf.
a spring cleaned home. spring green emerging.
vetiver. tax returns. kind people. miracles.
watching a friend realize the
blessings of the gospel.
Noah's Bagels on Queen Anne Hill [thanks Jenny]
Paper Source. making lists. checking them off.
taking the kids to the zoo. mom's easter ham.
family get togethers. april.

The Ardent Sparrow Winner

We had a wonderful, full weekend, and a lovely Easter with family. I hope you had a beautiful Easter as well. I've got a full day ahead of me, plenty of dishes and laundry to keep me busy and then a fun evening tonight.

But today, I've got the results of Friday's giveaway.

Here are your random numbers:

3 

Timestamp: 2009-04-13 16:22:16 UTC

Comment #3 was Annette Lyon, so congratulations Annette, I will get in contact with you and let you know how to claim your $25 gift certificate to The Ardent Sparrow.

An Easter Message for you:

The Ardent Sparrow

Today's giveaway is so cool. Thanks to Rebecca, the generous owner of The Ardent Sparrow, one lucky winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to choose something from her shop. Rebecca's shop is one of my favorites, and after purchasing this beautiful bracelet, we formed a little cyber friendship. I love her blog, and everything in her shop is oh so pretty and feminine.

Maybe you want a Roman Holiday bracelet too, or maybe you want this ring, these earrings (I know I do), or this necklace. It's your choice. She has so generously donated a $25 gift certificate to one lucky Passionista reader, and she is a joy to work with.

Comment once by Monday morning, 9am (pacific time.) Winner will be announced on Monday! So Good Luck!

Subscribe Winner

Today's Winner:

Here are your random numbers:

26 

Timestamp: 2009-04-10 16:08:01 UTC

The 26th commenter was Ashley, aka Tiny Ash. Congratulations Ashley, I will get your first playlist in the mail today!

Each one of you commenters, thank you for your sweet words. It makes my heart happy that you love the music. I wish each one of you could win, and I have thought about how I could legally sell my mixes...but have come up blank. Let me know if you have any great ideas for me.

In the mean time, I publish all of my mixes on iTunes, and they are available for purchase there. Here's how you can find them...open up your iTunes music store, click on music on the top left sidebar, then you will get a new page where on the left sidebar there will be a link to iMix. Click on that and then when you get to the iMix page search for one of my playlists by title:

• Hold Up My Heart
• Wish You Well
• A Fresh New January
• November's Chill
• October's Glory
• A Sweet September
• July (a.k.a Slide Into Summer)
  
• Best of Vintage
• Rainy Days & Mondays
• March Into Spring
• Chinese New Year
• (Everyday in April) I am publishing it to iTunes today!
  

Then once you find one of the playlists, you can click on the link on the right that says see all iMixes by this user. When you view one of my playlists, you will see that you can purchase the playlist. In the playlist info, I list any songs that iTunes didn't publish. I hope that helps! email me if you have any questions... { lomaril at aol dot com }

Subscribe

Today I am offering up a little piece of my heart and soul. A music mix subscription. One years worth of music. It's a pretty big deal if you're a music lover like I am. When I create these mixes, I stew over them for a few weeks and tweak them and listen to them over and over, paying close attention to the way the songs work together. It's my passion.

There are a select few special people in my life who appreciate music the way I do, and so I deliver them a new mix each month, and now I'm offering it to one of you as well. A monthly package from me to you, starting with this month's mix.

Comment by 9am Friday, and the winner will be announced tomorrow.

P.S. I am so super excited about tomorrow's giveaway, I hope you'll all be back for that one!

Favorites Winner

Here are today's results...

Here are your random numbers:

10 

Timestamp: 2009-04-09 15:09:21 UTC

Comment #10 was ... you are NOT going to believe this ... Kristen M. whose birthday is ... TODAY! The only way I can explain this phenomenon is that these lucky birthday week people must be sending out the most positive vibes. Congrats Kristen and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I honestly can't believe it!

Favorites

1. Renee Olstead's - Skylark. This is my go-to album of the year so far. When I want to listen to something really great where every song is perfection, this is the album I scroll to on my iPod.
2. Paper Source Letterpress. My favorite store on the planet, my favorite kind of cards in the universe. Letterpress...it's so pretty. A pack of 8 cards and envelopes that I picked up on a recent stop to my little happy place.
   
3. Tyler candle - Panache. The smells of currant and grapefruit fill my home on a daily basis, and I owe it all to this yummy candle.

You can win this bundle of favorites by commenting once before Thursday, 8am (pacific time). Winner will be announced tomorrow.


P.S. I almost forgot to wish my brother Mitchell a happy birthday! "Mitch, you're such a special boy." Have a happy day, love, your sis.

Girlhula Winner

I decided to go the random.org route to pick the winner for the vintage brooches print, and lo and behold...

Here are your random numbers:

3 

Timestamp: 2009-04-08 16:03:06 UTC

Comment #3 was Lovely Lindsay...which is funny because Karen won yesterday and her birthday is today (Happy Birthday Karen!), Lindsay wins today and her birthday was yesterday...what are the chances?

Anyways sweet Lindsay dear, I'll be seeing you today with that pretty print in tow. Congrats!

Girlhula

One of the things I love most about Etsy, besides the fabulous things you can find there, are the fabulously generous and talented people you find there. Case in point.

I recently wrote girlhula (aka Andrea) to ask her if I could post this picture on my blog with a link to her shop, and she replied yes, it would be fine with her, and she thanked me. Then after I posted it and raved about how much I loved this print, she wrote me back and thanked me again and made me an offer I couldn't refuse, a buy one print- get one free offer.

How generous, right?

I couldn't resist choosing a 2nd Vintage Brooches print to giveaway!

One for me...one for YOU!

So comment once to enter to win this beautiful 8.5x11 print titled "Vintage Brooches." Comment by 9am (pacific time) Wednesday, and the winner will be announced tomorrow. Good Luck!

P.S. Andrea keeps a beautiful blog full of the gorgeous images she captures, plus I really love the way she writes. Click here.

P.P.S Happy Birthday Lovely Lindsay and Happy Birthday to your little Lucas as well!

April Winner

I put all the names in a basket, and this is the one
I pulled out.

PRP, aka Karen.

Happy Birthday Week, Karen, and Congratulations!

Since you're local, I'll save the postage and just swing it by to you today!

April

- it's a new glorious month
- and there's a new playlist up to enjoy
- and this week is full of giveaways here at Passionista
- giveaways like music, awesome Etsy finds,
and favorites of mine
- a new giveaway everyday this week, be sure to check back
- today's giveaway is this playlist, "Everyday in April"
- comment once to win, enter by 9am Tuesday
- winner will be announced tomorrow
- spread the word
- lots of love.


- yay! my blogging slump is officially OVER.
- I'm happy to be back!