sponsor highlight + giveaway ((featuring hello hue studio & kiecap designs))

Oh, I have a treat for y'all today! Meet two of my sweet sponsors - Hello Hue Studio & KiecaP!

I've never been able to paint or draw well, which is why I admire Lindsay's talent. She just reopened her shop & her new prints are AMAZING!

 "Give me a paintbrush, a few globs of bright paint and a blank canvas, and I'm a happy girl. Getting the chance to share that artwork with YOU makes me smile even bigger."

GIVEAWAY ITEM:

DISCOUNT CODE: 

OHSWEETJOY for 10% off

LINK LOVE:

twitter // facebook // blog // instagram

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We all know how much of a sucker I am for statment necklaces. One of my newer sponsors, Kieca, makes some GORGEOUS jewelry that will definitely make an outfit pop. Here are my favorites, followed by a little greeting from Kieca!

"Hello, I’m Kieca, the designer behind Kiecap. I love making jewelry that lets the ordinary girl become extraordinary. Jewelry is both practical and magical. For me, a flash of inspiration is where it all begins and it can come from nature, fabrics, shapes, vivid colors and trends."

GIVEAWAY ITEM:

DISCOUNT CODE:

 SweetKiecap for 15% off

(( SHOP LINK ))

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

love.

((outfit schmoutfit)) fighting with the seasons

In my brain, I know that it's January - almost February - and that it's definitely still Winter. However, last week we had several AMAZING sunny & 60 degree days, so I'm a bit confused. Not to mention, due to the little bun in the oven, I'm warm ALL THE TIME. This has made getting dressed in the mornings a challenge to say the least...& I love a good challenge! 

Cowl - C/O MelodyJoy1983

Bracelets:

Watch - Fossil

 J.Crew Necklace turned wrap bracelet (gift)

Black Stone Bangle C/O ROMWE

V-neck - Old Navy

Maxi Skirt - Made it

Flats - Target

Yesterday, when we woke up to a few inches of fresh, beautiful snow I was excited to get to go cross country skiing. I had much to do when I got back, so I had to get dressed for the day. Comfort is the name of the game these days, so I went with a handmade maxi skirt, my favorite comfy v-neck, and a cozy cowl. And yes, I'm aware that the skirt is a bit short. That's what happens when you have a bump to cover ;)

Easy peasy, y'all.

love.

adventures at the flea market

This past weekend, I went thrifting for the first time in such a long time! Unfortunately, I didn't find anything that had to come home with me, but those vintage lunch boxes catch my eye every time. I did find an amazing globe that the water was a dark, rich blue - almost navy - instead of light blue or aqua, but alas...it wasn't for sale. 

Don't want to dig through dirty stuff? Check out some of these great vintage shops on etsy who have done all the grunt work for ya ;)

Attic 17 // The Gingerbread Shop // Wooden Sleepers (men's vintage) // River House Designs

love.

((handmade monday)) embellished flats

I have to admit that I'm not one to branch out very often. I know what I like and tend to stick with it. Color schemes in my closet are limited and the same goes for my household. Often times, there's even a lot of overlap between those two ((my closet and my home)). 

For instance, this Anthropologie vase is one of my favorite items in my house. It lives on my mantel and makes me so happy. A while ago, I pinned these shoes and knew I was going to DIY them because I had just purchased these mint flats. It was such a quick project and I've been meaning to share it with you for months. Ready?

What you'll need:

Brightly colored flats

A few inches of felt by the yard 

Shoe clips

Hot glue

Directions:

1. Using this tutorial ((the first one!)) and your felt, make your felt flowers. 

2. Take a square (or circle) of felt, cut a slit in it and slip  half of the shoe clip underneath. Glue the felt square/clip to the felt flower. This will ensure that your shoe doesn't get scratched by the shoe clip. Remember these shoe embellishments? Same process.

3. Clip on your shoes and strut your stuff.

All in all ((including the shoes!)) this project cost far less than $20. Winning.

love.

favorite things friday ((my go-to beauty products))

I've never been one to love make-up and hair products, but when you're pregnant and nothing fits...something about fixing your hair and make-up makes the biggest difference in how you feel for the day. Lately, I feel more put together when I have skinny jeans and just a tank and cardigan on if I have my hair styled and some basic make-up on. I thought I'd share some of my favorite beauty products with you today, they're nothing fancy but what usually makes up my day to day routine :)

1. OPI Nail Polishes - My mom got me hooked on these at a young age and now anything less than OPI or Essie is bunk. Who knew I'd ever be a nailpolish snob?!

2. It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Conditioner - It's SUPER dry in Colorado and this is the one leave in treatment that doesn't make my hair greasy, but conditions it well. Can be purchased at  any salon or beauty supply store. I saw it at Target this week, as well.

3. No Zit Sherlock - Silly name, serious acne treatment. Seriously, had this been named anything else I probably wouldn't have gotten it haha It works really well (when I'm routine about using it) and I've used it for a couple of years now. Can be purchased at Sephora or Beauty Brands.

4. Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara - By far my favorite "drug store" mascara. It replaced my orange tube that I'd used for years and years!

5. E.L.F. eyelash curler - I typically don't leave the house without a quick eyelash curl & coat of mascara. Can be found at Target or online for super cheap.

6. NuMe 4Play Curling Wand - Get your mind out of the gutter, dirty birds. It's a curling wand...and it's the BEST. I scored it for $60 on NuMe's website with a discount code I found online. Seriously saved me over $130. It's been worth every penny ((my curling iron was about to bite the dust)).

7. E.L.F. brown liquid eyeliner - Somehow working at Anthro gave me confidence to wear cat-eye makeup (I tend to channel Lauren Conrad every morning with my curling wand and cat-eyes). This is what I use and it's super cheap. The long lid allows for great control. Can be purchased at Target.

8. Hana straightener from Misikko - I've had bad luck with Chi straighteners since 2003, y'all. They either break or one of the hot plates breaks off or stops heating up all-together. My hair isn't super curly, just mostly wavy but my bangs are another story. I HAVE to straighten my bangs every morning and this definitely does the trick! I received one courtesy of Misikko and would definitely recommend it. 

9. Bare Minerals - I can't go cheap on items that go all over my face. Bare Minerals not only helped my skin clear up when I had to get off of birth control and my hormones freaked out, but it's easy to use and I love how light it is. I purchase my "starter kits" from Sephora. 

What are your go-to beauty products in your daily routine? Anything I need to add? If anyone has a thermal conditioner or heat protectant that they recommend, I'm in the market! 

love.

Brussels Sprouts Chips ((recipe from Lizzy Pancakes))

I'm so excited to have Lizzy share another recipe with y'all today...especially because brussels sprouts are near & dear to my heart. As if I needed another reason to love Lizzy...she's showing y'all how to make brussels sprouts into a healthy chip! 

Hello, pretty Oh, Sweet Joy readers! Lizzy from Lizzy Pancakes, here. I am in the business of sweets and I know it seems like all I eat is cake.  Trust me, I truly, way-deep-down wish I could live like that.  Truth is I eat a ton of vegetables, and brussels sprouts are by far my favorite.  And in my humble, vegetable-scarfing opinion, you can never go wrong roasting them.

I got this recipe from Vegetarian Times.  It is super simple and this makes a great appetizer or party snack.  Done in 25 minutes tops.  The only somewhat annoying part is getting the leaves off of the brussels sprouts, but I'm sure you can handle it.  

INGREDIENTS

20 large brussels sprouts

4 tbsp olive oil

pepper to taste

grated parmesan (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Place oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325.

Take 8 to 10 leaves off of each brussels sprout.  Put all leaves in a bowl and toss with olive oil and pepper.  Spread over a baking sheet with parchment paper covering it.

Bake for 15 minutes.  If not browned yet, stir them around and turn the sheet and roast for 5 minutes at a time more.  When they're done, sprinkle them with grated parmesan if you'd like.  I didn't and they were still amazing.

I told you it was easy. Now put on your grown up pants and make some brussels sprouts. Your mom would be so proud.

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YUM! I'm totally making these for lunch today. Make sure to check out Lizzy at the following places if you haven't already! I know you'll love her :)
blog // twitter 

love.

((outfit schmoutfit)) a shirt dress & prayers?

There's not much I love more in my closet than a good shirt dress. Classic, a bit retro, easy to outfit, and a breeze to layer. This one is a weird neutral...kind of a grey-ish-purple-hued-brown, but it's a blank slate for accessories so I can't complain. 

I had my 28 week glucose test this week and I passed! No gestational diabetes up in this crib. Plus, my iron levels are "superb," so I'm thankful for that as well. I have an ultrasound on Monday to see if my Placenta Previa is still a problem. Please pray that my placenta has has moved so I can go forward with a standard delivery vs. a C-section. If it hasn't moved, at least I get to see my Little One!

Did I just ask thousands of people to pray for my placenta? Oh, yes I did. Also, that is such a disgusting word in my book.

Ultimately, the Lord is in control so if He wants me to have a medical birth, that's what is going to happen AND whatever is best for the baby is A-Okay with me. I guess I just have a hard time scheduling such a medical birth when my body was made to do this, ya know? Anywho, here's the baby bump at 28 weeks :)

Horse Scarf: Urban Outfitters

Shirt Dress: Anthropologie

Watch: C/O Wristology

((use code OHSWEET20))

Maternity Leggings: Old Navy

Booties: Blowfish ((similar ones))

((use code BFSWEET15))

love.

linking up with lindsey!

exciting things in store for february ((join us!))

Looking for a blog to sponsor this month to launch your blog or business? I would absolutely be honored to work with you. Lucky for you, the ad program is getting tweaked a bit so that it's even MORE beneficial for you.

Here are some exciting changes & new things on the radar for Oh, Sweet Joy! in the upcoming month:

1. I'm teaching an online class on the Influence Network on Finding Your Place in the Ginormous World of Handmade. I'm incredibly humbled and honored to be a part of this. Isn't it awesome when God gives us an opportunity to give Him all the glory? Come join us and hear personal experiences from myself in what worked & didn't work, ask questions, and get some encouragement if you're trying to find a place in this big sea of handmade. 

2. Three month ad partners will now have the opportunity for a google+ or skype chat with me. This is something that I'm adding so that I can be more intentional with my sponsors. I don't want this space to be a drop by and advertise for a month, get featured, some sales, and then move on. I'm wanting this to be more of a community and I think this is the perfect way to make it happen. You can think of some questions ((how do I get more sales? my blog isn't growing, what do i do? how often am i supposed to give discount code in my shop? etc)), send them to me, we'll schedule a time and I'll go over your questions while we chat. 

3. A week-long Valentine's Day series. Can you say heart-shaped cutesy goodness?!

4. Large ad partners now have the opportunity to guest post instead of a highlight+giveaway post. This is SO great for my sponsors who are bloggers that don't have a shop. They get to share a relevant post with y'all, I get to share them with  you, and you get some fresh material from a different perspective. I tested it out this past month and it was a big hit, I've really enjoyed it. Win-Win!

5. I am PLANNING on launching my new headband line this month. I'm trying a different method ((aka having everything made ahead of time)) so that the turnaround isn't so long, so we'll see how it goes! I'm still tweaking the design so that it's *perfect* and am really excited about it. ((I'm on the 4th prototype if that gives you any idea how important the quality & design is to me!))

6. Oh, Sweet Joy! is on track to hit 1 million page views in the next month or so! What the heck!? That isn't so impressive for some of those massive blogs out there, but I'm pumped for this milestone! 

Needless to say, if you've been thinking about it, now is the time to jump on board with Oh, Sweet Joy! to grow your shop and/or blog. I'd LOVE to work with you! Email me for current rates and the info sheet ((OHSWEETJOYatGMAILdotCOM))

Don't forget that if you participated in the Handmade Holidays Gift Guide that you have a special price/package deal awaiting you. Email me to claim it!

love.

((handmade monday)) fringe necklace tutorial

Today, one of my sponsors, April from the Gingerbread blog, will be sharing how to make a super fun necklace! Enjoy & happy crafting!

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Meet April:

I love to craft, create, cook and make big messes. I am always looking for a garage sale, recipe and new project I can start. Gingerbread is a place where I share all my crazy messes and big adventures.

Necklaces are my new earrings ever since my earlobes have decided to reject every pair of earrings I've tried to wear. So out with the ear candy and in with the neck candy! I crafted up this fringe necklace with only a few tools and materials and am lovin' the look.

You will need:

Two strips of fringe that are 10 inches long.

 Scissors

Link of chain (21 inches long)

 Hot glue gun

Lighter

Measuring tape

Cut your fringe and slightly singe the edges just enough to prevent fraying.

Using your hot glue fold over the ends of your fringe.

Then glue the end of your chain in between your fringe, squeeze together while your glue dries.

I placed a small drop of glue every inch or two between my fringe so they wouldn't separate when I wore it, but perhaps you like that look, it's up to you.

You're done! Wear your new neck candy with pride...earrings who?

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Thanks so much for sharing, April! I'm dreaming up color combinations now :D

love.

((favorite things friday)) mama must haves - guest post from lauren of traded dreams

Recently I've been a bit overwhelmed with all the things I need for our Little One who will be here in just a few months. The products out there are a bit daunting and it seems as soon as I I've decided on something, someone tells me to look at something else and then I get all confused. It puts this indecisive gal in a tailspin. I asked Lauren, one of my January sponsors, to share her "mama must haves" for today's Favorite Things Friday. Enjoy!

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Hi there! I'm Lauren from Traded Dreams and I'm here today to share some of my favorite baby items. I have two little ones -- Mareto is my sweet two year old son, and Arsema is bouncy eight month old daughter. I'm so excited to share with you some of my absolute favorite products as a mama.

We absolutely love our aden+anais swaddle blankets. We have about four of their blankets for each of the kids. They're made of a light weight muslin so baby doesn't get too hot and they are big enough to swaddle even the chunkiest baby (like our Mareto was!)

 

 I also adore my Gussy products! Her tote bags are a perfect alternative to the traditional diaper bag. My Gussy market tote is shown here and I love it for when I'm just going out with Mareto. As a toddler he doesn't need quite as much - just a diaper, cup, and a snack. When I go out with both the kids I love using my larger Gussy tote - it holds absolutely everything the kids and I need. She has some super cute new designs out too!

 

 I found Wee and Me on Etsy just before bringing Arsema home from Ethiopia. I couldn't wait to try out her paci clips on my girl and they do not disappoint! Each one is made from soft felt with a sturdy ribbon attached. There are so many cute options so I ordered four of them! The Blueberry Cupcake clip is shown here.

We can't live without our HoMedics sounds machines. We have one for each of the kids' rooms and they are sleep savers! There are a few different settings to choose from but we keep ours on "white noise." It drowns out sounds from around the house and outside -- keeping them asleep and therefore keeping mama happy! :) Here's the one we have.

Both of my babies have very sensitive skin and they both are prone to eczema. After trying a few different things we discovered Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash. No more breakouts and no more dry skin! It's easy on the eyes of course and makes bath time fun again. 

So there you have it, my five favorite things for my babies! What about you? What are your favorite products for little ones?  

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Lauren, thanks so much for sharing these sweet faces and your mom "treasures" with us. SO helpful!

love.