Smile And Wave

Around These Parts

Thank you for the birthday wishes yesterday! I felt so loved on and thankful. We're probably going to be catching up on some rest today after a busy birthday. Or some reading in Ruby's case.

xo,

Rachel

It's My Birthday

 
I've reached a new decade. I'm going to celebrate with my little family and some caramel apple pie.

Thank you for sharing all of life's milestones with me over these last few years. I wouldn't be the same without this space.

All my thirty year old love,

Rachel Allison Denbow

Pillow Case Update - THE STASH

 

The pillow cases have all been added. Head over to snag a few in your favorite coordinating colors for your sewing and sleeping needs!

xo,
Rachel

 

August Sponsor Giveaway Day

Hi! My name is Stacie Bloomfield, the artist behind Gingiber, an online Nursery Decor Shop, and occasional blogger at my personal blog, GingiberSnap. My shop is filled with original prints, handmade pillows, and lots of other cute goodies aimed at the stylish (and off beat) children's room.

I am currently pregnant with my second daughter, and nesting has fully kicked in. Aside from sewing bedding and curtains for her room, I realized that my own nursery could use some fun, original plush animals. thus my new line of illustrated fox, owl, and deer pillows were born! I hope that you like them as much as I do!

Blog/Shop

 

Tiny Yellow Bird is a  creative outlet where I combine two great loves: vintage and a good bargain. I'm all about playing up the silly side of style: finding off-beat, eccentric pieces and working them into everyday looks. Give me colors, patterns, crazy shapes!  

Blog/Shop

I'm Kristen of Ola Mae's where I blog about my sewing, crafting and cooking projects.  In Ola Mae's shop I sell some of my creations, all women's clothing designed and made in my home studio. 

Blog/Shop

A sweet hello to you. I'm Katie, and in my shop I go by katie scarlett. I'm a lifetime artist who enjoys filling up every last page of my sketchbook with quotes, notes, and pretty designs. During summer, I'm a full-time artist and poet; during the year I'm a full time high school English teacher. I have a box of poetry and stories I've yet to publish under my bed.

I enjoy taking photos, baking, and styling my hair all sorts of beautiful. I'm married to the love of my life, and we hope to travel the world over and back together, forever and ever. For more about me, please check out my blog. It chronicles my year of not buying a single new thing in 2010:) And I've posted lots of artful and crafty diys.

Blog/Shop

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One lucky winner will be getting all four giveaway items! All you have to do is leave a comment below with your favorite fall trend for a chance to win this sponsor giveaways. Winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, September 1st.

Thank you to all of my lovely sponsors this month for your support of Smile and Wave! If you've not stopped by their shops and blogs take advantage of these last two days to do so. Also, if you'd like to sponsor Smile and Wave in September we are still accepting ads until August 31st in the evening. E-mail admanagers@frecklednest.com to receive your media kit and secure a spot!

xo,
Rachel

 

THE STASH - PILLOW CASE UPDATE

I've got over 70 vintage pillow cases ready to be added to THE STASH on Tuesday, August 30th at 7 p.m. CST.

Pillow cases are an easy and inexpensive way to add some charm and color to your bed but are also great for sewing projects. If you've been wanting to start your first patchwork quilt or want to try your hand at toddler dresses you'll want to be there on Tuesday to get a few cases to get your own stash started.

All cases have been washed in eco-friendly detergent and stored in plastic tubs. Most are in great vintage condition and all imperfections are noted and shown so there are no surprises when you receive your merchandise.

Note: Shipping adjustments will be made to refund shipping overages on all purchases when the total is more than $1.00.

Write yourself a sticky note and put it on your computer so you don't forget! Tuesday, August 30th at 7 p.m. CST at THE STASH.

See you there!

xo,

Rachel

 

 

The Weekend Edition

This weekend I've:

* Worked out once.

* Finished a fall DIY.

* Chased Ruby around the library in my new clogs and gotten a blister.

* Slept in until 8:30 a.m. (Glorious!)

* Gotten up with the kids the next morning at 6:45 a.m. (Not. Glorious.)

* Had a movie on the couch date with Brett.

* Avoided frozen yogurt. (high five!)

* Heard Sebastian tell Brett he loves our family 40 feet long. And that's A LOT!

* Tried not to worry about my brother in Iraq.

* Day dreamed of being in California.

* Helped make date night plans for my birthday on Wednesday.

* Organized myself for September's workload.

* Started on my next E-Course.

* Reminded the kids ten times not to eat on the couch.

* Watched the start of Sebastian's love of Star Wars.

* Kept an eye on twitter to hear how online friends were dealing with Irene.

* Used up a gift card at Urban Flea Market. I bought a dress and velvet jacket, both vintage. (thanks, Emma!)

* NOT run out of clean underwear because Brett has completely taken care of the laundry problem - the problem being that it's always needing done.

 

What have you done this weekend? And don't saying nothing. That's a lazy answer.

xo,

Rachel

Day Tripping

On Tuesday we woke up to overcast skies and showers. I made the executive decision right before noon that we needed to 'get outta Dodge' so to speak and go on a little adventure somewhere. Brett was game so we packed the kids up and headed to...(drum roll, please)...Bolivar, MO!

It was far enough away to feel like a trip but not so far that we couldn't make it home in time for dinner. We had lunch downtown and then hit up a flea market that Elsie had taken me to three years ago when we first moved to town.

Three years ago we came across a horse head paint-by-number for less than $10 but it just wasn't special enough for either of us to take home. I laughed when I rounded the same corner and saw it again. Poor little paint-by-number.

I DID take home those two adorable dresses, a couple of vintage books, a lovely velvet hat, and some old keys. One is a gift for a friend but I think I'll make the others into a necklace.

We got back in town around 5 p.m. and Brett and I decided that's exactly what we needed to reconnect before school started. Sometimes all it takes is an hour on the road.

Have you had any end of summer thrifting luck lately?

xo,
Rachel

Advertise with Smile and Wave in September

September is starting up a new season here on Smile and Wave! I'm excited to be sharing two beautiful home tours, introducing a weekly Interior Inspiration feature, and rolling out a new E-Course. All of this on top of regular family updates, vintage finds, and fashion posts means this space will be getting plenty of exciting content!

I'm also excited to share that I've taken a spot as a Home Decor and DIY contributor to a special blog (waiting on their announcement) so September is going to be all bright and shiny!

I'd love to have you join in the excitement in September as a blog sponsor. If you're ready to share your business or blog on Smile and Wave you'll be reaching over 4,530 readers through Google Friend Connect, 4,220 Twitter followers, 800 + Bloglovin' fans, and new followers every day. You can view rates here or contact admanagers@frecklednest.com to secure your spot.

I've tidied up my studio space in preparation for all the pretty messes I'll be making and am already making lists upon lists of supplies and project details. There's just something about a shift in seasons to breathe new inspiration into me. Are you feeling it, too?

xo,

Rachel

 

 

The First Day of the Rest of His Life

It was a great success! Sebastian was fearless. Brett got teary-eyed but I didn't bat an eyelash. I'm proud of my son no matter what but his independent nature made it easy for him to walk through that long corridor to his classroom, put his supplies away, and rarely look back as we hugged him goodbye and walked out the door. I am 100% sure Ruby will be a different story.

We were getting ready for his first day of big kid school on Wednesday evening when what I have described as a series of unfortunate events started to play out.

I sat on the couch labeling all of Sebastian's school supplies with a black sharpie when Ruby got a hold of the second box of washable markers and ripped the cardboard top off to get them out. No big deal. I asked Sebastian to throw it away so that Sunday wouldn't eat it and he headed to the kitchen. Being the easily distracted boy that he is he bypassed the trash can and opened the fridge. I heard a funny noise and then he called out that he'd dropped an egg on the floor.

I capped my sharpie, set down my things, and briskly walked into the kitchen where I discovered not one but a dozen cracked eggs leaking all over the floor. The organic, cage-free, raised on a local Amish farm eggs that Brett had just purchased earlier that day. Yep. I said something dramatic and Brett quickly showed up to survey the damage as I gathered paper towels and cleaned up the mess.

I then realized Ruby hadn't been at my heels as I was cleaning which meant she was up to no good. I walked back to the living room to see what she was doing and saw her pulling up her shirt to draw on her belly. WITH THE SHARPIE. As I got closer I realized she'd already drawn all over the front of Sebastian's red backpack. WITH THE SHARPIE.

Brett took the backpack down to the basement to see if stain remover would work in hopes that Sebastian wouldn't be upset about his backpack being vandalized by his little sister. Somehow he saw it but told us he didn't mind that Ruby had scribbled on it. Heart swell.

He didn't complain once about his plain, red backpack with the markings all over it. The cubbies were lined with Transformer and Cars backpacks but he hardly noticed. He just unloaded his supplies, put his backpack on the hook, and sat down to color with his new friends.

I think he's going to be just fine.

In other news, I spent two and a half fantastic hours cleaning up my studio space while Ruby napped this afternoon. I think I'm going to miss him tomorrow, though.

xo,

Rachel

p.s. Margot, we almost made it to Kindergarten with the Spiderman backpack you sent us last year but there was an unfortunate accident involving Sunday and an upset tummy post-surgery. The backpack didn't make it.

His and Hers

I was putting laundry away Tuesday morning when I realized I'd finally amassed quite a few vintage flannels for Brett. In fact, the ONLY vintage he has resides in this little flannel collection of long-sleeved button ups. He's ready for fall, I suppose.

I took a look at my side of the closet (and rearranged everything by color because it's so much nicer on the eyes and Ruby was entertaining herself so I actually had time to give it some attention) and thought about how easy it's been to wear dresses all summer. I have to fight the urge to wear jeans A LOT more when the weather turns cold because as fun as it is to add tights and cardigans, I still feel the cold in my bones.

Maybe I'll just borrow Brett's flannels.

xo,

Rachel