Smile And Wave

October Sponsor Giveaway Day

It's giveaway day on Smile and Wave! Scroll down to see what three fantastic prizes you could win from some of October's sponsors. One winner will receive all three items! Aren't you lucky.

Hello! My name is Maeg, I'm an artist and mama living and loving in Western Massachusetts. You can find me on my blog, Edison Rex, writing about art-making, kid-raising, and the creative life. Visit my shop to find sweet prints that are sure to bring extra joy and pops of color to your home.

BLOG/SHOP

 

Ashley Ann is giving away one spot in her next photography course! “SnapShops were born out of a desire to enable others not only to grasp the basics of photography with a dslr camera, but also learn how to capture the beauty in their everydays.” It's a great course to work through before the holidays hit so you can capture those extra special memories!

The next course will be available for viewing at 5:00pm US Central on November 13th, 2011. It's valued at $200.

BLOG/SHOP

Howdy, all! I'm Elisabeth, a full time jewelry designer who loves to intersperse moments of my workday with calls to my sister, peaks out my window, picking berries when in season, petting my 2 fat kitties, drinking too much coffee, and reading anything from political blogs, to Steinbeck, to science fiction.

Creating an eclectic array of styles for any and all kinds of women helps me eagerly approach each day and it's challenges. Working with oodles of countless colors and textures is a treat! Pairing gemstones with precious metals, I create new designs through a very free flowing process of making whatever comes to mind, partially based on the seasons or my color du jour.

SHOP

To enter to win share what you're doing on Halloween in the comment section below. Are you dressing up, going out, or staying at home because it's just another day? One lucky winner will be chosen on Wednesday.

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THE WINNER OF THE DEJAVU GIVEAWAY IS...

oh, i would LOVE the pride & glory sweater!!

Posted by: ashley | 10/22/2011 at 01:44 PM

Congrats, Ashley! E-mail me and I'll pass your information along.

Thanks for reading!

xo,

Rachel

 

 

We Like To Party. We Like To Party, Party

We all survived Ruby's birthday party yesterday! There's a sponsor giveaway post and DeJaVu winner coming up this afternoon so stay tuned. One more day until Halloween!

xo,

Rachel

Slowing Down

Life is always busy for most of us. We have lists, goals, expectations, deadlines, responsibilities - not to mention aspirations of becoming the ideal such and such and so and so. This week I've been coming to terms with what I can and can't handle and have realized how much I value room to breath a little. That white space that helps us keep a strong and steady pace as we march through the day to day without growing too weary.

October brought us news that Brett got Active Duty with the Army - an outcome we were hoping for but one that meant big changes. We found out he would be leaving for BOLC (Basic Officer Leadership Course) for three months right before Ruby's birthday and then found out his first duty station. We were thankful to learn we'd be stationed in Colorado Springs, CO but saddened by the realization that we only had a short time left in Springfield.

We've got some deluxe, top of the line, first class friends here in town. Friends that have and will always mean so much to us because of their role in our lives. Friends we will undoubtedly see once or twice a year when they come see us (because who doesn't want to visit Colorado Springs!), and who we'll stay in touch with through one social media outlet or another. We've been here for three and a half fantastic years and will always feel like this was home for awhile. I plan on enjoying it as much as possible until we have to drive out of town in late February.

Brett leaving soon means a shift in our family rhythm again. We'll be making adjustments here and there but blogging will continue. It's always been a source of enjoyment and inspiration for me and I know that cutting back too much or altogether would be like trying to force myself to stop brushing my teeth to conserve water. Nobody wants that.

I plan on sharing all of the changes as they come and I'll continue to focus on the things that make Smile and Wave what it is because they are a part of my life. I am hoping to make some more room for that white space so we can fully enjoy where we are right now. I need it.

In the meantime, I've got a giant cardboard doll house to build. I'll be sure to share photos of it soon. Four more days until Halloween!

xo,
Rachel

 

Fall Looks So Good On You

I was finally able to decorate our living/dining room for the fall season this week. Our space already works well with fall colors since there is so much blue and tan already so a few pumpkins was all it took to make it feel more festive.

I brought out the chalkboard tablet that I made this time last year and made a Pick and Choose list of fall activities for when we have time together but can't think of something to do. Ruby came home a few minutes later, walked straight to her room to get a baby wipe, and proceeded to erase most of it. She's such a helper.

I got the bats from JoAnn's and strung them together to make a garland. Two points for a cheap and easy Halloween DIY.

Speaking of cheap and easy, this little owl was a thrift store find. I spray painted him and his little friend black for a stronger Halloween look and then broke his friend into five pieces when I was bringing him inside to dry. He's a little lonely but happy, nonetheless.

A quick trip to the grocery store was all it took to create a pretty and fragrant floral arrangement of tinted sage and eucalyptus and the white mini pumpkins made themselves at home on a cake stand I bought on sale last year at Hobby Lobby.

I don't get into the spooky stuff at our house, at least not in large doses, but I do like to celebrate each fun holiday to give our family good memories. Ruby has already adopted the surviving owl as her own pet and Sebastian loves the bat garland because it reminds him of a certain superhero.

All we need now are Halloween costumes! Not only have I not even started on our costumes, I haven't finalized three of the four of them. Oh, and we're throwing Ruby a birthday party on Saturday. Someone save me!

xo,

Rachel

 

Vintage Here, Vintage There: Pumpkin Patch Edition

We joined the Shelton family on a pumpkin patch outing on Friday to Campbell's Farm and had a lovely time. Johnny followed after Sebastian and Hope in the corn maze whilst Katie, Brett, Poesy and I wandered around making sure Ruby didn't get lost in the rows. We did a bit of everything and ended with a hayride out to pick out pumpkins. There was a chill in the air along with the smell of burning leaves. It was the whole package. Here's a little peek into our fun afternoon.

I tried getting the posed shot of both kids sitting on the hay bales. What I got was a photo that looks like Sebastian is taking a whiz. If you're wondering why Ruby looks so offended scroll down to the next photo and take a closer look.

Yes, we got the full farm experience.

Brett got a fever. BABY FEVER.

Sebastian got a sucker. It may have been the best part of his night.

Poesy charmed us all.

And we found a pumpkin even Cinderella would be proud of.

Ruby's Wearing: Vintage dress, thrifted. Leg warmers, made from women's socks from Target. Minnetonka Mocs, Ozarkland. Cardigan, H&M kids. Cowl, Hey!JenRenee.

We had so much fun at the pumpkin patch that we decided it'd be a shame to call it a night and headed to get Mexican food back in Springfield. Then we talked ourselves into Starbucks drinks on the way to Krispie Kreme for some pumpkin cake donuts. That was my favorite part.

I'm Wearing: Vanilla and Lace dress. Tights, Top Shop. Cardigan, H&M. Clogs c/o Lotta from Stockholm. Necklace, vintage. Belt, thrifted.

You'll have to ask Katie herself about her gorgeous jacket find and pretty headband. Isn't she such a beauty! Her whole family is just precious.

Have you hit up the pumpkin patch yet? Are you a pumpkin carver or a pumpkin pacifist? I like to save mine through Halloween until we get through Thanksgiving. Cheap or sentimental...not sure.

Here are a few other lovelies I'd wear to a pumpkin patch: this dress, this blouse, this poncho, this dress, and these boots.

Head over to see Rubyellen's newly expanded family and the poncho she made for Soul. I need to use that idea for my Ruby! I absolutely love how she dresses her girls. They are always so stylish!

xo,

Rachel

 

 

Home Sweet Home: House Tour with Cindy Hosmer, Part Two

Last week for Home Sweet Home, Janae and I shared the downstairs of Cindy and Bob's charming vintage/modern abode and we're back this week to give you a little tour of the upstairs portion which includes three of their four childrens' rooms. If you love vintage infused kid's rooms as much as Janae and I you're going to love this post! I've asked Cindy to share a little bit about whose rooms these are and the stories behind a few of her favorite finds.

Q. Whose rooms are these?

 A. Upstairs sleep 3 of my 4 children. My oldest ,Silas, is going to college and living on his own. The other 3 children's rooms are Ruby:15, Vivian:8 and Georgie;5.

Q. Do your kids have strong opinions about the design of their space? Have they ever helped out on how it's set up/designed?

A. As far as the little ones go, they have no opinion. I can barely get them to clean up off the floor. Ruby, my 15 year old, is highly opinionated which really cramps my style sometimes. Although, I'm not going to complain because it will really come in handy someday for her. Right now, we go back and forth.

Before Silas moved out his room was painted a beautiful dark grey. When she took over the room, she really wanted it hot pink from a picture she found in a House Beautiful magazine. I tried to convince her by saying she could add in some hot pink to the grey and it would look nice. I obviously didn't win that battle. It is very hot pink! It's growing on me. The color is happy, just like Ruby.

Q. Where did you find items in each room? Is there anything you searched extra hard for?

A. I would say the matching beds in Vivian's room are what I searched the hardest for. I believe matching twin beds are hard to come by. I finally found them at a local flea market. Ruby and Vivian used to share a room and slept in the matching beds until Silas moved out.  Ruby, in her teenage years, finally has her own room. It's really cut down on the sisterly fighting. I catch them every once in a while having a pleasant time together in the old room.

I really like decorating with books in adult rooms but it is so much more fun in a children's room. There are so many beautiful children's books. I wish I could display them all! I also love dolls. There is a doll in a high chair that is in Vivian's room that I saved my money for when I was a girl. I think it took me a year. The draw was that she had partial real hair and she was made in Germany. Vivian plays with her quite a bit and that makes me happy. The doll is still getting good use.

Vivian has a red clothing bar that Bob made her from a picture I found in a magazine. I looked a long time for one before I asked him to finally just make one. She has a hard time seeing her clothes up high in her closet.  It is nice because it puts all her clothes right in front of her.  Ruby has a doll that she puts on her bed (on the rare times that she makes it)  A friend of mine made it for me as a baby gift when Ruby was born. It has black hair and blue eyes. Just like Ruby.

In Georgie's room there is a large shelf that my sister helped me find at a local flea market. My sister has a good eye. The shelf originally had doors on it, with ugly wood and I couldn't see the potential. My sister nonchalantly said, "why can't you just take off the doors and paint it?" Needless to say, I thought it was a great idea. Georgie loves trucks and cars. I have a few trucks that I covet. I found them in the trash when someone was moving. I try to put those way up high on his shelf so he can't get to them. I know, that's sad. Bob, my husband, made Georgie's toybox with sliding doors. I saw it on an online website and wouldn't quit bugging him until he made it. It houses a lot of his junk toys.

What I love most about Cindy's style is her use of vintage throughout her kids' rooms in a way that represents their interests and personalities. They're colorful, practical, and inviting and it's easy to see how their spaces are set up for creative play. I love the standing, open wardrobe in Vivian's room, the three little bears family in Georgie's room, and that Ruby saw something she liked in a magazine and wanted to recreate it on her own terms.

Thank you, again, Cindy, for sharing your beautiful home and a little bit about your sweet family. Head over to this post to see Part One of Cindy and Bob's house tour which features the entire first floor.

Janae and I have another house tour lined up for November that has a playroom that ensures only kids can enter and enjoy! It's another local stunner and we're eager to share it with you on Smile and Wave.

xo,

Rachel

Home Sweet Home: House Tour with Cindy Hosmer, Part One

Home Sweet Home: House Tour with Amy Boyd

Our House Tour: Parts One, Two, Three, and Four

House Tour with Rachel Burch

House Tour with Brooke Biette

Ruby Duby

This little one is going to be two on November 7th. It's so hard to believe this time two years ago I was waddling around with Braxton-Hicks thinking she'd show up early. This month she's learned her last name but prefers to be called Ruby Duby. She's a girl of few words but she's got that one down.

Everything is, "Me, too!" and, "Bashti", and, "Hugs and Kisses!" She's got an infectious giggle and makes us all laugh with her many expressions and exaggerations.

Ruby's Wearing: Shirt c/o Misha Lulu. Skinny jeans, Wal-Mart. Skirt, handmade from vintage tablecloth. Mocs c/o Freshly Picked.

It's hard not to enjoy every minute with this little girl. I love my Ruby Duby.

xo,
Rachel

A Different Kind of House Tour

Last weekend we took the kids to see my SIL in the homecoming court and see my BIL play in their homecoming football game. While we were down there we visited my other SIL's workplace. Let's just say it involves 168 acres, a very large residence, and an old homestead on the way up the long drive to the house. As we were leaving I asked Brett to pull over so I could creep around take a picture with my phone. My BIL, a freshman in high school but just as big as Brett, caught up and told me he'd been inside before. Of course I did what any sensible girl would do in the middle of the day. I followed him in.

I couldn't pass up an opportunity to actually stand in one of these old, abandoned homes I'd seen through thick trees all over the state. We walked in to the living room with a giant fireplace under the stairwell, peeling wallpaper, and creeky floorboards. There was a gorgeous old fridge and broken formica table in the kitchen and some random furniture from different era's nearby. I found out later that the owner's son worked in the film industry and had used the house as a set (hence the newer items).

I asked Grant to lead the way upstairs in case we ran into an angry badger or something. There was bat poop everywhere but it didn't smell bad. As we walked up to the second floor I spied a pile of old quilts, chenille bedspreads, and other old linens that were obviously original to the home. They were chewed on and rotting but you could still make out some of the beautiful prints. I died a little inside.

I could see things piled further on near a window and came into a second upstairs room that had those dresses and coats hanging in the center and a large pile of work boots (I'm guessing 30's-40's) with shoe strings tied together or missing. It felt a little like something one might see in an old war movie. It was creepy but also poetic. I couldn't help wonder if these tidy piles of belongings had been left behind by their original owners in this state or cleaned up by someone who came after. Why wouldn't people take clothing and blankets, such essential items for survival, as they moved on?

The dresses were brittle and moth eaten but I couldn't help but look through them as if I were at a flea market. Oh, there were some beauties.

Back downstairs we saw the root cellar, the pantry, and two bedrooms with mattresses. The mid-century headboards leaning against the wall are what I'd been looking for for Sebastian's room for weeks but you can guarantee I wasn't going to see if they were for sale. I don't believe in ghosts but I still get creeped out by my wild imagination.

We decided it was time to head back rather than check out the outhouse, a leaning barn, and the stables but it was tempting. I loved standing in such a small space imagining what life would've been like.

I also thought it would've made a great scary house tour after dark! Have you ever ventured into an abandoned space to see what was inside? Did you find anything interesting?

xo,
Rachel

 

Feature Sponsor Giveaway - DejaVu

DejaVu is an exciting collection of young contemporary clothing inspired by the feminine and bohemian styles of yesterday and modernized for today's trend conscious woman.

DejaVu is offering Smile and Wave readers 30% off their entire purchase using the discount "smileandwave" as well as a chance to win a $200 gift card! 

Here are a few of my favorite things from their shop. The Make an Impression jacket, Golden Bow Dress,  Tranquil & Silence top, and the A Love Affair top.

If you'd like a chance to win $200 to shop at DejaVu go visit their shop and tell me one item you'd love to spend that gift certificate on! Leave your comment below and I'll pick a winner on Monday.

Thanks, DejaVu for your sponsorship on Smile and Wave this month!

xo,
Rachel

Home Sweet Home: House Tour with Cindy Hosmer, Part One

 

I'm back with another gorgeous house tour! Janae and I have teamed up to feature a few of the interiors that belong to some special women in our neighborhood. What would you say if I told you this home belongs to the sister from the last home tour? I know, right. Good taste runs in their family!

This is the warm and inviting home of Cindy and Bob Hosmer. It's such a beautiful mix of modern and vintage with nostalgic touches throughout. I about died when I walked into their remodeled kitchen/great room. There's so much space and light! I won't keep you any longer, though. Come on in...

Q: What kind of home do you have and how long have you lived there?

A: Our home is a Colonial Revival house. I have always thought of Colonial Revival as formal but with the addition in the back it seems a bit more casual.

We bought this house almost two years ago. We knew we were going to have to remodel some of the rooms. It seemed overwhelming at the time but I'm so glad we did it. Our family is so blessed to have it. It's perfect for us!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: This is a hard question considering I don't like to be classified into one category. I just know what I like when I see it. I would say a good mix of modern and old would be my pick. It's easy to do that with this house considering the original house was built in 1939 and the addition was built sometime in the 1950's.

Q. What kinds of changes have you made since you moved in?

A. My dad's great aunts, whom were very close, lived in this home for 40 years before we purchased it. They were 96 and 98 years old when they passed away. They slept in the same room until they passed away which is very sweet. They lived on Walnut Street here in Springfield, Missouri and lived across the street from my dad and his 9 siblings when he was growing up. The city tore down their beautiful home on Walnut to build John Q. Hammons hotel. Our house is the home they moved into. There is one piece of furniture that was left in our home when we bought it. It is a large bookshelf. We heard that it was original to the aunt's Walnut Street home and the only piece they saved. We were pleased they left it for us.

We remodeled a tiny kitchen in the center of the house into one large master bathroom and a powder room. The bathroom and walk-in closet in the back of the house was remodeled into a large kitchen overlooking the backyard and family room which became a "great room" when we tore out the walls separating the two. We also did a major remodel to the first floor master bedroom, while adding a master bath. The great room and master bedroom needed new flooring. My husband put in all new hard wood floors in both these two rooms. He is incredibly handy! (I can't believe I got this far without mentioning that.) You would grow tired of reading if I told you everything he has done.

Q. Favorite room in the house and why?

A. Our living room/kitchen or great room. It just has a warm feeling to it, plus, we love to dine and entertain in these areas!

Q. Proudest DIY?

 A. Again I have to say our kitchen. It was a lot of work. Bob, my husband did a lot of it. He made the concrete countertops, put in the floors and the tile. My husband has a full time job but he enjoys working on the house but finding the time is not always easy, so let's just say, we all had to be very patient! 

 I will have to mention myself on the DIY question so Bob doesn't get all of the credit. I painted like there was no tomorrow. I am still painting. Who knows how long it will go on. 

Q: Has your style changed/evolved over the years?

A. Yes, I think it has. When I was younger I wasn't sure what I liked but now that I've grown up, I know the style I like. However, I am constantly changing things according to my changing taste. I feel more comfortable with my style.

Q. What's one thing on your home decor list?

A. Does it have to be “in” the house? Well, I have to admit, I have fantasized quite frequently about an in ground swimming pool. I think that will have to be in the future. For now, we will be focusing on landscaping in the backyard. It's roomy back there, but plain, so we need some landscaping to liven it up a little. Too many projects and not enough time. So common for people who live in old houses. Although, it brings us much joy!

Janae and I loved getting to hang out with Cindy and hearing stories about her great aunts, her upcoming feature in a local magazine, and where that beautiful old map from Missouri came from. The eye candy doesn't stop here, though! Part Two of their beautiful home tour will feature the upstairs bedrooms of three of their four children.

A big thank you to Cindy for sharing their stunning space with us! Your taste is impeccable, lady.

What was your favorite part about their home?

xo,

Rachel

Home Sweet Home: House Tour with Amy Boyd

Our House Tour: Parts One, Two, Three, and Four

House Tour with Rachel Burch

House Tour with Brooke Biette