It’s My Party

     Happy Tuesday, lovies!  I hope the week is off to a great start for each of you.  As far as Mondays go, mine wasn’t terrible…and we’re already one day closer to the weekend!  I have a full week of posting planned, and I am excited about all of them.  First things first -

Congratulations
to

Kathie McAuliffe
for winning Cupcakes and Candy Canes’ first giveaway!

     I’ve sent your contact info to Kelsey Bang, and I hope you enjoy your adorable elephant.  Big, big, big thanks to each of you who entered.  This was a huge step for my little slice of the blogosphere, and I am so pleased with how it went. Thank you!
     Onto the real reason for this post – Keith and I now have a fully formed wedding party!  This is not huge news to me as I always knew it would be a small group, but it’s so nice to have it all decided and share it with you.  Keith will have his brother as his best man and one of his fraternity brothers as a groomsman.
     I will have my sister as my maid of honor (technically matron of honor) and my super-bestie, Tiffany, as a bridesmaid.  Tiff and I have known each other since we were three, and even though we aren’t at school together anymore, she is still one of the first one’s I call/text/whatever with news.  Plus she’s the type of friend that I can just hang out with no matter how long it’s been (and isn’t that the best kind?).  I wanted to do something a little cute to ask, especially since I hadn’t seen her in forever.

     I decided a little notebook and a frame would be perfect.  Tiffany is a really great writer, and the notebook was just too cute for words!  I almost wrote “reserved for a picture of me and my bridesmaid” in the frame, but I figured this was pretty classic.  In case you’re wondering, the notebook and the frame came from TJ Maxx.  Get this…when she opened the gift bag, she said, “I thought you weren’t having any bridesmaids!”  We haven’t talked about that in a long time, and she remembered because she knows me.  That was almost my favorite part of all of it – aside from her saying yes.
     I cannot wait to go dress shopping for them now!  I’m definitely still thinking navy blue…possibly with a nude shoe.  I’m also having lots of thoughts about cute bridesmaids gifts, but I can’t tell those to you because my sister reads this.  We’re another step closer; so excited!  Next on my list is booking a photographer and then meeting with the flower guy to really get some concrete ideas about looks and colors.  

In unrelated news…I’m ready to go to the beach.

Red Letter Day

     It is a red letter day at Cupcakes and Candy Canes!  I have been wanting to do this for awhile now, but I’ve just now gotten everything organized.  I’m hosting a giveaway with Kelsey Bang today, and it’s all in honor of all you sweeties who follow along!  I love sharing with y’all here, and I am so excited to off one of my readers a special little something for hanging around!
     If you haven’t met Kelsey yet, you should definitely stop by her blog and get to know her.  In addition to her fabo (another abbreviation – for fabulous; I learned it from my theatre teacher) blog, she has an Etsy shop where she sells some of the cutest little handmade goodies you’ve ever seen.  A few months ago, I was lucky enough to win a little ruffle pouch and a bow tie, and I’m still loving them!  In addition to pouches or clutches and bowties, she also sells some seriously adorable stuffed animals, iPad covers, wallets and bags. 

     Today, Kelsey has been kind enough to offer one of my readers possibly the cutest thing in her shop:

A Black Chevron Elephant!

     If I could win this giveaway, I so would!  Unfortunately for me, this one is all for you!  The giveaway will run from now through Monday, and you will have plenty of chances to win.  To get started on your way to being the proud owner of this little fella, check out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

      There you go lovies!  That’s about a billion opportunities for you!  I am so excited about this opportunity, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.  I would like to give a big, big thank you to Kelsey Bang and another big thanks to all of you sweeties who hang out with me!

Big Hair and Stupidity

     Before we begin, this is not an indictment on beauty queens, newscasters, or anyone else who typically has big hair…it’s an indictment on myself and my total inability to “do good hair” (ten points if you can guess the movie).  You may have heard me mention that I love big hair and that I’m totally incapable of doing my hair.  In fact, my last several “I Know and I Don’ts” have mentioned my situation.  While I do my best to ignore my pitiful-ness, when I receive an email like I did today, I get to face my problems head on…and hopefully win something fabulous.  I got an email from Misikko Beauty detailing their current giveaway.  Three lucky bloggers are being offered a chance to win $350 worth of products from their site!  How could you pass up that sort of opportunity?!
     The prompt suggests that you detail what you would buy and why if you were to win…and as someone who is a total drugstore beauty product/implement girl, this is like being in a candy store!

      My hair looks like this…every. single. day.  Is it an awful look?  No.  Is my hair terribly  unhealthy?  No.  Is this extremely boring day in and day out?  Absolutely. 
     To give you a little insight into what I do now:  1. wash hair with volumizing shampoo 2. blow dry with a regular old hair dryer 3. brush.  That is all.  On rare occasions I throw it in a ponytail.  While I am pretty hair implement clueless, I loved looking at all the goodies over at Misikko.  If I were to win, I would treat myself in a big, big way.

via

    First things first, a dependable hair dryer is a must.  You would think that with baby fine hair, I wouldn’t spend a lot of time drying…and you would be wrong.  For some reason I my hair holds onto water like a cactus in the desert.  If it can get it, it won’t let go.  The Hot Tools Professional Ionic Hair Dryer has amazing reviews and sounds like it might be just the thing for my mane.  (It will surely do better than the thing I have now…which has no brand and has been in my cabinet for years.)

via

     Let  me be honest…I don’t really straighten my hair a lot.  Like I said, it’s super fine, and my current straightener is very bulky and leaves my hair really limp.  This UNIL Infrashine flat iron with it’s 1” ceramic plates sounds perfect for my mess.  I love the look of curls done with a straightener and the smooth look of straight hair, but what I have now just isn’t doing it for me…  What I need most of all is some motivation, and some fab-o products like this are already making me excited!

via

     I have been dying for a decent curling iron, and I have heard nothing but good things about the Corioliss Clipless Wand Ceramic Curling Iron (.7”).  The curlers of the old days with a spring-loaded clip are just not doing it for me any more.  This little gem seems to give great curl without crushing half of it…or getting it stuck in the spring – ouch!

     Because I’m about to start student teaching (and then job hunting), I am really wanting to put my best foot (or hairstyle) forward.  The same old stuff just isn’t going to give me that edge that says, “I put extra effort into my hair…and everything else I do.”  Aaaaand, because I’m jumping head first into wedding stuff, I need to be looking my very best for engagement pictures and other wedding-y fun things.
     I always say I’m going to start doing something to my hair…just look at my 101 in 1001, but I never seem to drum up the motivation.  I would like to give a big, huge thank you to Misikko Beauty for lighting a fire under this girl.  I could definitely use a little sprucing up…or maybe just some sweet words of motivation!  Fingers crossed!

GiGi New York

     Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or possibly if you don’t read the same blogs I read) you’ve probably heard of GiGi New York.  I like to think of it as it’s parent company, Graphic Image’s, sassy little sister.  About a month ago, I entered a giveaway at Hello! Happiness for a GiGi New York clutch totally not expecting to win; honestly, I forgot all about it after I entered. 
     A few weeks later I got an email from Natasha at Hello! Happiness telling me that I won – total shock.  You can read more about my shock and awe here.  I know I haven’t told you all about how fabulous it is, and that is clearly why I’m here today.

     

     Y’all, I have never even received such a fancy box!  Let’s be honest though – that was just the tip of the iceberg.

     

     I opted for black – classic.  I can carry this year-round with pretty much everything.  When I placed my order, I had no idea that the clutch came with a strap (bonus!).  It’s even more versatile this way; it can be a cross body bag or just a clutch. 
    I have a feeling my bag is going to be with me for a long time; it’s timeless and will never go out of style.  The outside is the perfect balance of a little feisty and a lot classy.  The inside (sorry I don’t have a picture!) is so tidy and big enough for my giant wallet, phone, and my few little pretties – that’s what I need.  I love a big giant purse, but sometimes a lady doesn’t need all that clutter.  It’s nice to be able to reach in my purse and find my lipstick without getting tangled in fifteen thousand other things. 
     I’m still calling this my fancy purse, and now that I’ve dipped my toes in the fancy water, I am seriously obsessed with all their products.  I have the envelope clutch, but the wallets and all-in-one totes are equally as fabulous.  All that being said, GiGi New York has graciously offered my readers a 20% discount on orders from GiGi New York and Graphic Image when you use the coupon code CUPCAKES!
     There is so much to choose from at both of these sites, and 20% is incredible.  All of you deserve a Tuesday treat, so hop right over to GiGi New York or Graphic Image and get yourself a little happy.

All Over the Place

     If you know anything about me at all, you know that I have two hair looks – ponytail and down.  When I wrote my 101 in 1001 list I promised that I would try some new hair styles, and so far I haven’t had so much luck.  Today, however…I actually made a little attempt AND wore it out of the house!

     

     Is it the greatest picture? No.  Is it the greatest braid? No.  Do I think this is going to go viral on Pinterest? Absolutely not.  BUT…I tried, and no one gave me strange looks at the grocery store – success! 
     I’ll keep trying – promise.

     Also, you may remember from a few weeks ago that I won a giveaway or two.  Now that I’m home from school, I’ve been able to actually see my lovely prizes.  From Kelsey Bang I won the most adorable little zipper pouch and bow tie.

    

     Both of these (and plenty of other adorable items) can be found in her Etsy shop.  Now if only I could convince Keith to wear a bow tie…
     I am still so surprised that I won, and I can’t wait to put my little goodies to good use!

     In other news, I took my very last final yesterday!  Next semester I have exit interviews (no finals), and then I am a college graduate!  I am so excited to student teach and graduate and be a real, married “grown-up.”  I am really loving the season I’m in right now, and I just keep thinking, “A year from now, I’ll be about two seconds away from getting married…”  Wow.

     I know this post was a little all over the place, but that’s me right now, and I’m okay with it.  Summer is just beginning for me, and I can’t wait to get it started!  Eeeeeeeee! (That’s the noise I make when I’m excited.)

Allyson

Um…Seriously?

     Y’all…today is a red letter day!  A little background – I don’t win things (ever), but since I’ve been blogging I have won three, that’s right – three, giveaways.  The first you may remember from a few months ago.  I haven’t gotten a chance to use my unit yet, but I student teach next semester, and I foresee many opportunities to use it in the near future.
     I haven’t told you about the second (because I just found out about it).  I won a little prize pack from Kelsey Bang.  Not only do I love her blog, but her store has some of the cutest things you will ever see!  The package has arrived, but since it’s at home (and I’m at school), I’ll have to wait two weeks to see it.  I am so excited, and I know it’s going to be so great!
     I hit the jackpot today…I have been reading Hello! Happiness for awhile now, and I jumped on her giveaway a few weeks ago.  Honestly, I totally forgot that I even entered.  Cut to this morning when I checked my email, and had the sweetest note from Natasha informing me that I won this totally adorable GiGi New York clutch (with free personalization).  I almost fell out of my seat; I so did not expect to win because there were about a million entries.  Now for the tough part…I have no idea what color to get!  I love the orange and pink, but I want something I can carry for most of the year, so I’m leaning toward taupe or black (obviously monogrammed).
     I am just so excited about this!  I cannot wait to use my  unit, get home and see my package, and get my fancy new clutch.  I want to thank Erin from Creating and Teaching again.  If you haven’t checked out her site or her TpT or TN stores, you definitely should.  Also, she’s doing site designs now – worth a look.  Another big, big thank you to Kelsey Bang – love her blog and her shop!  And finally, thank you so much to Natasha at Hello! Happiness and GiGi New York. 
     Happy Hump Day to all of you.  We’re having lovely weather here, so I may get out and enjoy it for a little bit.  I’ll be back in a few days for another I Know and I Don’t.

Allyson