A few of our favorite things...

We love spring! We love pink, pennants, chocolate, cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, soap, hydrangeas, pretty stationery, school supplies, monograms, fabulous quotes, jewelry, and...

We could go on and on. But, most of all, we love to share. So, we are sharing with all of you, a few of our favorite things. And, in addition to sharing them with you, you can enter to win them! Isn't that swell?!

You will find instructions on exactly how to enter this delightful giveaway. But, in the meantime, please enjoy some of our favorite things.

Introducing... Laurie's Lagniappe


Laurie offers so many personalized items, I couldn't possibly list them all. They are all beyond cuteness, but here are a few that I love...




Don't you love these? Well, Laurie has generously donated a $50 gift certificate to her fabulous website!



Introducing... Sweet & Sour, unique and personalized art for kids.

I love wall art. I love personalized wall art. Laura creates the most wonderful things and the winner of her prize donation will win two small wall hangings, or one large canvas!


Here are a few of my favorite of Laura's beautiful creations...






Introducing... Mine for the Making!

Kara makes beautiful, handmade items that I just know you will love. She has donated to our giveaway, the winner's choice of a yellow or strawberry wildflower ring.





Introducing... Lima Bean Kids!

You are probably already familiar with Lima Bean Kids if you are a regular Sweet Funky Vintage shopper. We started carrying their products a few seasons ago. But, if you haven't browsed their adorable designs and purchased and experienced their terrific quality - you definitely should!

They will be giving one winner the waterbottle of their choice!



Some of our favorite Lima Bean Kid products:






Are you ready for some serious cuteness? Are you ready to throw parties that are the absolute envy of all of your friends? Do you want to throw children's parties that make Martha Stewart green with envy? Then, you will want to meet... One Charming Party.



I discovered One Charming Party last fall and totally fell head over heels in love with their Thanksgiving ideas. You may remember us showing our take on their Thanksgiving turkey back in the fall.


One Charming Party will send one winner the DIY party plan of their choice - a $25value! So, you will be ready to throw a show-stopping party!

Choose from one of five rockin' themes. I am torn between the art gallery party or the baking party.






Introducing.... The Pleated Poppy.



Do you know The Pleated Poppy? I have followed Lindsey's blog for quite awhile. So long that I feel like she is an old friend and I just know you are going to love her too! She does a blog feature called, "What I wore Wednesday" that is the best for getting new outfit ideas. Whenever I feel like I am getting in a rut and wearing the same tired outfits all the time, I hop over and check out Lindsey and the links posted by all of her blog readers who all post pictures about the different outfits they have been wearing. I can usually find a couple of really great looking ones that I can copy from items I already have in my closet. Now, I did have to buy a couple of cute accessories from Lindsey - I just couldn't help myself! And, because I know you won't be able to help yourself either - you are in luck! Lindsey is giving one lucky winner a $25 gift certificate to spend in her shop. You lucky girl!





Introducing... Anders Ruff Designs.

In a suburb of Charlotte...
Maureen (Anders) and the new girl, Adria (Ruff), were complete strangers until a preschool open house. In the hallway before parting, they realized that they had a lot in common - the love of all things paper, parties, design and art. From there a wonderful friendship formed and they decided to embark upon a business together! Both devoted and passionate about graphic design, they hoped to change the face of celebration style for those who love it as well.




We know Adria because she is a Sweet Funky Vintage customer. So, when we discovered she was getting her graphic on, we became hooked right away! She recently invited us to participate in a photo shoot they were styling for their Easter Collection. Divine!


If you need a printable party package - Anders Ruff has some wonderful ones to offer and they are offering one winner a $50 gift certificate to shop with!





Introducing... Kathi's Kreations.



Kathi sells her adorable crafts on etsy. I purchased some of her re-usable fabric snack bags for my girls awhile ago and we are asked about them all the time! They are the perfect earth-friendly solution for taking snacks with us on errands or in the girl's lunches to school.


Kathi will be giving one winner their choice of fabrics on a medium sized fabric bin.




Introducing... Bari J Ackerman a.k.a. BariJ!



If memory serves me, I first met Bari a few years ago in Chicago at the Country Living Women Entrepreneur's Event. But it might not have been until the International Quilt Market in Houston. Bari is a remarkable artist and I have been delighted to watch her successes over the past few years. She has designed several fabric collections, designed sewing patterns, been featured in numorous books and magazines and just recently had her first book published!





For those of you who would like to unleash your inner craftiness... Bari will be giving an autographed copy of her new book to one lucky winner!



Introducing... Jolie Marche!


I can often be found at the computer, drooling on my keyboard over the art and artists that etsy has to offer. Recently I added, Jolie Marche, to my favorites. Sigh. Her work is just scrumptious. See for yourself...




Jolie Marche will award one winner with a $40 gift certificate to her shop. I sure wish I could win!




Introducing... Paper + Cake

When we hosted our Lemonade Stand for Japanese Disaster Relief recently, we found the perfect printable party package at Paper + Cake. It was just the right thing, and super easy to use! Paper + Cake has divine printable party packages and the photo booth props are too stinkin' cute! We contacted Abigail about creating a patriotic themed photo prop set for our upcoming school carnival and she created a set that is absolutely perfect! We can't wait to use them!



Abigail has offered a $50 gift certificate for a winner to purchase their own perfect printable party sets!



Introducing... Sweet Designs Boutique.

I find myself really drawn to signs and quotes lately. I just cannot get enough of them. When I ran across the Sweet Designs Boutique store on etsy, I kept it as a favorite so I could visit again and again.



The winner of this prize will be able to treat themselves to a $30 gift certificate!



An "Our Favorite Things" giveaway wouldn't be complete without a giveaway from us, so we are going to send a lucky winner a box of a few of our favorite things...
including one of our fabulous and funky hostess aprons (may be different than the one pictured, though), our favorite soap - Cherish by Primal Elements, our favorite guilty pleasure - People magazine, our favorite microwave popcorn - Pop Secret Homestyle, our favorite lip glosses set - from ELF cosmetics, and last but totally not least - a $40 Gift Certificate to Sweet Funky Vintage - a total value of approximately $100!




So, how do you enter? Easy Peasy...

1. Click on the link for each vendor below and become a fan or follower of their site. This step is a must! You must like EVERY vendor in order to qualify. Please feel free to leave a comment when you're there to let them know what you like most about their shop (because who doesn't love a compliment, right?).

2. Come back to this blog and leave ONE COMMENT indicating you've "liked" all the vendors. This completes the first way to enter the contest. : )

OPTIONAL second entry:
3. Repost this info on your own wall on Facebook (copy and paste--be sure to type the @ symbol before sweetfunkyvintage, so it links back to me!


I just entered the Favorite Things Giveaway at @sweetfunkyvintage. Check out this amazing giveaway: http://www.sweetfunkyvintage.blogspot.com

4. Come back to this blog and leave a second comment indicating you've completed step #3. This now qualifies you a second time for the contest.

The contest runs until 9 pm pacific time Sunday, May 8th. The winners will be chosen through random.org. Have fun and good luck! : )


Laurie's Lagniappe

Sweet & Sour

Mine for the Making

Lima Bean Kids

One Charming Party

The Pleated Poppy

Anders Ruff Designs

Kathi's Kreations

Bari J

Jolie Marche (look down the left side and you can choose the facebook "like" button)

Paper + Cake

Sweet Designs Boutique

Sweet Funky Vintage

Favorite Things Giveaway

Coming later today is a fantastic welcome to spring... a giveaway!

But, not only is it a giveaway, but it is a giveaway of our favorite things! We have invited a few of our favorite artists and businesses to join with us to celebrate spring and they have graciously agreed to treat you all with something special from each of them.

Stay tuned for more information about how to enter...

Whew! What a week!

Well, it was spring break around here last week, and most of us here at Sweet Funky Vintage took a well-needed vacation! We have been working like crazy to get all of our Easter deliveries out and have already begun preparing for our fall 2011 season! We will be sending catalog samples out to our photographers in the next two weeks, and our fall trunk samples are already with the seamstresses. We are really excited about our upcoming fall collection.
However, our spring 2011 season is in its last week or two. Our trunks will be returning home and reserved samples will be shipped out, and then we will have our sample sale online in late May.
We are also busy getting ready for the Queen Bee Market, here in San Diego, at the Del Mar Hilton. So, if you are in the area, stop by and see us. The market is Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8. We are taking a ton of great clothing for all of your sweet, funky kids! If you do stop by and tell us that you read our blog, we will give you a sweet, funky surprise! :)




Upcoming Sweet Funky Vintage:

1. Now booking Fall SFV trunk shows! Special incentive for booking your show (or signing up to be a Sweet Funky rep) by May 1st! Contact Sydney for more information.

2. Queen Bee Market - amazing hand crafted show - Del Mar Hilton - May 7th & 8th! Come see us! - Del Mar, California.

3. May 20th - mark your calendars - sample sale online!

4. May 21st - Saturday - We will have a vendor booth at the San Pasqual School Carnival from 10am to 4pm.

5. May 24th - Sip & See sample sale - Escondido, CA - more information to come!

6. July 15th - Fall 2011 trunk show season begins!!

For those of you who hold a bird magnet, check your lucky number! If you have one of the following numbers, email us and we will send you some Sweet, Funky swag!

100, 139, 247

Have a great week!

Easy Easter Table Centerpiece

I love fun and easy decorating ideas, don't you?
I put this together on a recent trip to Ikea. I purchased the pink tray in the garden department, and the glass container and the ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE pink and white polka dot candles in the candle department. The plastic easter eggs I had in with our Easter stuff, and the green paper shred was recycled from a recent gift basket. Viola! Cute Easter centerpiece for our kitchen table for about $20. And, I already have plans for re-purposing the glass container and aluminum tray after Easter!

Quick! Enter our Easter Giveaway!

Did you wait until the last minute to find an Easter outfit for your little guy? Never fear! We have just the thing - our new style - the Brayden bow tie. We have sampled it in sweet baby blue velveteen, in a size small (fits 12-24m) and are giving it away to a lucky winner! It is adjustable with hook and loop tape (otherwise known as velcro) and is precious with a white or pink button down.
Check out little Sam sporting his bow tie! It coordinates beautifully with our Kennedy dress shown here on Sophia, in blue velveteen too (we have two available for purchase and immediate ship - size 2 and 5 if you really waited until the last minute and need an Easter dress too!)

So, how do you enter to win our new Brayden bow tie?

1. You must visit our facebook page and become a fan.
2. Post on our blog or facebook page about your favorite Easter tradition.

Giveaway entries due by Friday morning 4/15, 9am Eastern. We will choose a winner and ship out the bowtie in order for it to arrive in time!



Oh... and for those of you who have purchased and received an order from Sweet Funky Vintage this spring, pull out your magnet and check your lucky numbers!
If you have 167, 130, or 175, email us and we will send some SFV swag your way!

My New Favorite Soup Recipe

I love Paula Deen. Love her. I mean, really, her recipes are yumm-eee.
My new favorite recipe is one of hers and it is for the crockpot. Swoon.
Try it. You'll see what I mean. On the other hand, how can you go wrong with a recipe when there are fritos involved?

The first time I made it, I halfed it, because I didn't think the girls and I would eat it all. Boy, was I sorry. There wasn't enough left over and I was sad. :(

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
2 cups chopped onion
2 15 1/2 oz cans pink kidney beans (at my grocery store, the cans all said light red. light red/pink whatever!)
2 15 1/2 oz cans pinto beans
1 15 1/4 oz can niblet corn, drained
1 14 1/2 oz can Mexican Tomatoes
1 14 1/2 oz can tomatoes with chilis
2 4 1/2 oz cans diced green chilis
1 small can black olives, drained, sliced
1/2 cup green olives, sliced (I didn't put this in)
one 1 1/4 oz package taco seasoning mix
one 1 ounce package Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix
corn chips (fritos!!!)
sour cream
grated cheese
chopped onion

Brown the ground beef and onions, drain the exess fat and transfer beef and onions to your crockpot (needs to be a large sized one). Add the beans, corn, tomatoes, chilies, olives, and seasonings, and cook on low all day (6-8 hours). To serve, place a few corn chips in each bowl and ladle soup over them. Top with sour cream, cheese, and onions.

Be prepared for your stomach to growl. All. Day. Long.
And the leftovers are super duper yummy if you have any! ;)

Fitness Update

Okay. The plastic wrap has been removed from the yoga mat and the Tracy Anderson mat workout dvd. I gave it the old college try and did the mat workout. sort of. It was a little hard to hear her instructions over the cracking and popping of my joints as I attempted to follow along. So, I turned the volume up and kept at it. My four year old joined in at one point by tapping me on the tummy every time I paused to catch my breath while Tracy continued the repititions on the TV. How is that for motivation?
Bottom line, the workout is good. I won't say I did every repition, because I didn't. But, I'll work up to it. I didn't use weights, and I still think my arms might actually fall off. I just hope I can walk tomorrow!