Oh Joy!

Guys. Have you seen the new bedding from the wonderful Joy Cho over on The Land of Nod?! I have a serious case of holy cuteness. Mixed with tons of sprinkles.

If you haven't checked out Joy's blog, Oh Joy, do so now! You won't be disappointed!

Blessing Basket Giveaway [OVER]

This giveaway is now over! A big congrats to Jade S. for winning! 

I have a confession. I'm a basket lover. Okay. Maybe a hoarder. But whateves. I love baskets. From woven baskets, to tiered baskets, to wooden baskets, I want them all.

That's where the Blessing Basket comes into play. This is an amazing company. One that actually does something good for people. They offer artisans in impoverished communities a chance to earn more than fair trade wages for the products they make. So, basically, the Blessing Basket's items are all handmade, and by purchasing them you are actually helping people. And that's what life should really be all about.

I use these baskets for everything. EVERYTHING. They hold my magazines, blankets, toys, shoes, and towels. You name it. The Blessing Basket company has many different sizes to pick from. They have smaller baskets, which are ideal for holding fresh fruits, and they have larger baskets, perfect for gathering a whole load of veggies from your garden.

Each basket is totally unique. The woven baskets are dyed with plant dyes making them so vibrant. And they come in a variety of colors, making them perfect for any color scheme. My favorite part of these baskets are their handles, which are wrapped with goat leather. Something about a leather handle gets me every time.

I love what the Blessing Basket Project is doing. I love the idea of helping others help others. Does that make sense?

Anyhoo, now it's your chance to win a Blessing Basket. Details below!

For your chance to win, just log into the Rafflecopter below (or make a new Rafflecopter account), and follow the directions for each entry. Please make sure to actually do what's required for each entry. If you just click enter and not do what it's asking, I'll know. If you are unsure how to do one, skip it and contact me. I can't stress this enough. I go back and check to make sure the winner actually did what was required. I will not let cheaters win. DON'T CHEAT. Meh.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is now over! A big congrats to Jade S. for winning! 

And don't forget to earn extra entries by tagging your friends on the picture of this giveaway on Coffee and Cashmere's Instagram account (@coffeeandcashmerelove). More details over on my Instagram profile!

This giveaway will end Sunday, April 20th, 2014. One winner will be picked at random via Rafflecopter. The winner will receive a basket from The Blessing Basket. The winner will be announced on coffeeandcashmere.com and will also be notified via email. The winner will have ONE week to respond to the email to claim their prize. If a winner never responds, a second winner will be picked at random.

A big high five and fist bump to The Blessing Basket Project for caring. We need more of that on our planet.

Congrats to Christina K. for winning my last great giveaway!

Bird's Nest Cookies Revisited

It's finally April 1st! But I'm not going to have any April Fool's jokes for you guys. I don't like all that nonsense. Ohandplusalso, this is officially my birthday month! ::fist bumps:: 

Since I want to go run outside and scream I LOVE APRIL and feel the warm spring sun on my face, I'm stopping in real quick only to share this yummy recipe. I blogged about these bird's nest cookies a few years ago. They are pretty much the perfect treat for both spring and Easter. Hey-oh!

Benna.co.uk

If you know me, you know I absolutely love statement jewelry. The flashier, the better. Diamonds, rhinestones, sparkles, gold, I love. it. all.

That said, Benna.co.uk is my go to online jewelry store. This site is filled with everything pretty. Benna.co.uk was started by a young jewelry and fashion designer who wanted to bring customers unique and cutting edge pieces of jewelry. She surely succeeded. From unbelievable rainbow colored necklaces from Shourouk, to new-aged friendship bracelets from Monica Vinader, to one of the most gorgeous green amethyst rings that I've ever seen from Alex Monroe, there is something for everyone.

I put together a few of my absolute favorites below. Oh, and that green amethyst ring, I die.

Be sure to check out Benna on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Strawberry Children

You guys. I haven't been around these parts in so long. I'm embarrassed. The past month has been a whirlwind and I'm just now getting back in the groove. I apologize for my tardiness.

I'm stopping by today to talk about Strawberry Children. This amazing online children's boutique offers some of the most adorable and unique fashions for the tiny-sized humans. They even sell clothing from high-end designers such as Armani Junior, Catimini, and Monnalisa Kids.

Here are two looks that I put together from Strawberry Children. Those tiny Vivienne Westwood jelly sandals? Dead.

Since spring is here and the sun is finally shinning, it's time to update the kiddo's wardrobe. Check out Strawberry Children for all the warm weather cuteness.

Birthday Love

Each year I promise myself that I won't go all out on my child's birthday party. And each year I do. The past three years, Adrienne's birthdays have been a huge ordeal, and I never get to enjoy it. Too many countless hours spent preparing and decorating. Too many people end up getting invited. Too many presents for the kid to open. Too much over-stimulation. Adrienne ends up crying, I take like maybe ten photos, my house gets trashed, and wait, what? I didn't even get a piece of cake?

Oh, and get this, Adrienne came down with the stomach flu the night before her third birthday party. So all the planning, the money spent, and the food prepared was basically pointless. I had to call and cancel with most of the guests. I mean, the day of her party mostly dealt with me cleaning up poop. And the stack of presents? She could have cared less.

Done. Over. No more, "Pleased to meet you, my name is Basket-Case, and welcome to my child's ridiculous birthday party!"

So, when her fourth birthday rolled around this past December, we didn't have a party. We didn't have an excessive amount of presents. No invites, no decor, (nothing for me to clean up), and guess what? She. didn't. care. She opened a few presents, her two best buddies stopped by, we ate steaks for dinner, followed by a homemade chocolate dessert. And did I mention NOTHING TO CLEAN UP?

I wouldn't trade that day for all the parties in the world.

Full Disclaimer: I totally am not against parents throwing huge parties for their kids. I'm just envious of your skills.

Winsome Words Wednesday

Print by Stephanie Ryan Art.