we are so INSANELY ready for march 23rd.

the question is: are you?

* bought these shirts from this hunger games inspired etsy shop. and when they arrived in the mail, my sister and i screamed so loud we woke our dad up from his afternoon nap. i think we scared peyton (our dog), too. oops. oh, well. this is a haaaa-uuuuge deal, so no one in our house was really surprised by our caaa-raaazy reactions. and p.s. sorry about the crappy lighting. we were too excited to care to fix the camera settings. these photos followed with more screaming and camera phone pics instead.* 

much love.

{happy weekend (again), friend.}

i hung out with a couple models on a friday afternoon. and it was swell.

i got the chance to hang out with these two friends of mine, olivia and avery.

they were the best models ever, rocking out in some brand new Much Love, illy poppy garland colors for the upcoming spring season! even though these headbands will not be in stock until mid-March, i couldn't help but give you friends a sneak peek! 

 i was seriously excited over the spring line - but these suh-weet girls got me so beyond giddy and over the moon even more (if possible!) because of their mad modeling skills! did they work it...or did they work it?! eeek! 

and in case you were wondering (since i get this question lots about the current products in stock), ALL Much Love, illy headbands are fit children and adults alike! i also have baby/toddler headbands in stock made with nylon headbands - they are a better, more gentle fit for baby's head. 

so be on the lookout in the next couple of weeks 'cause these Spring 2012 colors, designs (and more!) will be making their appearance in the shop! thanks for all the continued support, friends.

much love.

{happy weekend, friend.}

rainy days filled with 10 things other than puddles and raindrops.

1. shamrock shakes. duh.

2. sewing up lots of shop orders and also new spring color options for headbands and bows.

3. preparing for a photo shoot with two cutest sisters in the world (can't wait to show off pics - praying that the weather holds up!)

4. officially sucked into Downton Abbey and planning to camp out at pbs.com to finish up season 2 - eeek!

5. looking for a new book to read! i haven't found a book to get lost into since Lola and the Boy Next Door (total chick lit - not my normal taste but ate this one up). so this girl is def up for recommendations!

6. put on my big girl pants and went to the dentist and doctor this week - holla! such a big deal for a wuss like me.

7.  discovery of the world's best red velvet cupcake.

8. We Are Young by Fun. on repeat.

9. ordering Hunger Games t-shirts for me and mah sister  (we are in the month of Hunger Games. i die.)

10. looking forward to the fact that a week from today, i will be in AZ with my peeps at Creative Estates. cannot. wait.

here's to the first weekend in March, folks!

much love.

{happy friday, friend.}

i really don't mean to freak anyone out. not really.

one of my mom's best friends and i went on a cupcake adventure to Crave, a cupcake bakery that opened up downtown more than a few months ago. and upon entering this beautiful bright pink building, i felt like i was transported back to my Chicago days of cupcake bakeries on every corner and cupcakes of every flavor.

i think i might have freaked out the girl working that day. Miss Sue and i were over the top with excitement. who gets this excited over cupcakes? *points to self* um, this girl. this girl gets overly excited. 

and i ended up buying a half dozen - for me, dad and my sister, of course. not entirely all for me. *wink* i came home with an oreo (for me!), maple bacon (up for grabs!), red velvet (for me!), peanut butter (for me!), banana pudding (for daddy!), and coconut (for ashley!). oh, my goodness - i indulged in the PB (so good!) and the Red Velvet one today (heavenly! to die for!). i cannot wait to try the Oreo one next. i'll see if i can wait it out till tomorrow...

i'm thinking that i might have to venture on another Crave cupcake adventure very, very soon. anyone care to join? 

i'll try not to freak you (or anyone else) out with my cupcake giddiness. 

i said i'd try. not making any promises.

much love.

{happy thursday, friend.}

p.s. two sweet giveaways happening HERE and oh, yes HERE.

caaa-razy awesome february group GIVEAWAY.

little things make me giddy.

cupcakes. lipstick. Starbucks. a new book.

but even bigger things make me go caaaa-raaazy.

like this sweet line-up of giveaways from my incredible February sponsors! 

i have a feeling that you, my friend, might just go caaaa-raaazy yourself.

meet Simply Audrey Boutique

and find them via shop / facebook / blog / twitter

giving away $30 store credit!

exclusive discount - FREE SHIPPING on all domestic orders with coupon code MUCHLOVEILLY

meet Sandy of Sandyalamode

and find her via blog / twitter / bloglovin'

giving away 3 months of standard sponsorship ($50 value)!

meet Tricia of Mama Marchand's Nest/Mama's Nest Designs.

and find her via blog / shop / twitter / facebook 

giving away $20 shop credit and Large Ad space ($30 total value)!

exclusive discount - use coupon code ILLY20 for 20% off of your entire order

meet Kristen of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

and find her via blog / twitter

giving away $50 Customized blog layout!

(check out her portfolio HERE!)

meet Laura of Along for the Ride

and find her via blog / shop / twitter / facebook

giving away $30 shop credit! 

exclusive discount - use coupon code LOVEILLY20 for 20% off your entire order

meet Holly of HollyDolly

and find her via shop / blog / twitter

giving away HollyDolly's Polka Dot Detachable Collar and a Colorful Mini Bow Necklace (valued at $32)! 

meet Kenye of Glow Kouture

and find her via blog / shop / facebook / twitter

giving away a Dots in Persimmon Wallet Clutch and 1 month of Large Ad Space for April 2012!

meet Dannielle of Red Rag Designs

and find her via blog / shop / facebook

giving away a set of 3 crochet flower clips ($20 value) and 3 months of Large Ad space ($25 value)! 

exclusive discount - use coupon code DEAL 10 for 10% off of your entire order

***

everything just about makes you swoon, doesn't it?

one more thing to make you swoon, friends:

one very lucky Much Love, illy reader gets the chance to be WINNER TAKE ALL!

say whaaaat?! yup, all of it, peeps. 

{how to enter:}

be a GFC follower of this blog!

(mandatory entry - that's it!)

{really, really wanna win?}

additional entries - keep in separate comments to count as individual entries

- follow, like, or heart any of the listed links and lemme know for which sponsor

- tweet, blog, or facebook about the giveaway and lemme know you did

feel free to copy/paste the following tweet:

i love me some shopping, blogging and handmade so i entered the caaa-raaazy Feb GIVEAWAY over @muchloveilly! http://tinyurl.com/6ql6q3a

Giveaway is open to ALL Much Love, illy readers thru March 6th.

Winner will be announced on March 7th. 

much love.

{happy wednesday, friend.}