Sharing Sundays... just dandy.

today's feature is especially for those mothers-to-be or if you're looking for the perfect gift for any baby shower.

Beautiful first time Mom Jill Hickman over at just dandy creates the cutest baby accessories. Almost as cute as her little guy.

she is so crafty, look at her mostly DIY nursery : i adore the tree stump ottoman.

her husband (fellow Texan!) painted the wall.

my girlfriend Courtney and her husband (who was also my favourite news photographer back in my reporting days) just had their first baby (a pretty girl named Zoey!) & in my search for the perfect gift, i found Jill's etsy shop. What gift would be more micaela than a pair of shoes? 

Jill can customize any style & size (newborn - 9 months) with your choice of color. My choice for little Zoey? Pink Mocs!!! She was so sweet to send directly to the Gist family with a note to Zoey from her auntie Micaela saying that i believe every girl should own a pair of moccasins.

how precious are these ballet pink mary janes?!

my little girl is def. going to have a ruffled bib!

& if i have a cute boy? no problem. Check out the handkerchief bib.

handmade toys... i just love handmade anything & you know she just makes them with love.

check out Jill's blog / etsy shop and you HAVE to check out this video her husband made of her growing belly. ADORABLE! i want max to do the same thing one day for my preggo belly and i hope i'm as cute as she is.

Jill, thank-you for my customized pink mocs!! Zoey & Courtney LOVE them! you were so fast with shipping & sweet for offering to send them directly to Oregon with my note. xoxo

happy things.

don't forget to send me a photo of your fave shoes!

having a free day, i decided to treat myself to a pedi; a "me" date. I really love my comfy urban outfitters sandals.

other things making me happy having to do with my blog babies:

^twinkie's first blog meet up!!! while she was in Tampa, she met our beautiful Shelly!

^Claire (who looks GORGEOUS in the top i gave her. i just knew it was so her) found out she gets to keep her job which is just WONDERFUL!!! with budget cuts, we were a little worried. Couldn't come at a better time since her birthday is the 16th of this month! (and she is every bit a Leo)

^this just made my day!!! this is the goodie package pretty Faiza is sending my brother in Iraq. I told her he has always loved Mariah Carey and so she printed out this pic of the diva and gave her a "marco tattoo." AWESOME!!! i laughed out loud.

UGH. Rhianne informed me this morning that this is going to be the new Mrs. Williams, as in Mrs. Robbie Williams. As in who i've shamelessly teeny bopperly have loved since i was 10. obviously, i can't compete...

all kidding aside, it was cute Rhianne thought of me when she heard the news this morning.

my real life love who's puts up with my "fake grieving" and tells me he may not be Robbie Williams, but at least he'll love me back *wink. Seriously, i love my husband-to-be!!! 

^i really love animals. My new job involves finding homes for puppies. Danielle shares this love of mine and is donating 25% of her etsy sales to our local humane society. awesome!

^Erin and her darling boys are on a plane to London right this very minute. I'm so excited for them (she'll have her own blog meet up too)! Pray for their safe travels please!

^help a creative blogger out with a photo project? be a part of what dollface Tillie is up to!

Dear Readers,

XOXO

warms my heart.

my littlest niece 3 year old Sophia at my sister's wedding, dancing with her Uncle Marco. Look at her face! nothing warms my heart more.

she'll tell you she's 5 when you ask how old she is and then smile and admit she's only 3.

she'll play with your ear when she falls asleep in your arms; it's her version of a kid sucking her thumb. Somehow it comforts her.

she pronounces her name "so-pia."

she loves to dance!

she's the love of my life.

Wanting to Know you Wens.

When I go on a just discovered blog, i notice the pretty blog banner yes, but first the name of the blog. There's a lot of weight in the name, isn't there? it's what people will know you as before they remember your actual name.

"you know, that girl that blogs at ...Or so i feel? i love her!"

So i am curious to know how you got your blog title. Tell me your blog's name & the meaning behind it?

Dolce Vita.  I daydream in Italian... Italy is my heaven on earth and Dolce Vita is what i called the summer i was 19; living and laughing under the Tuscan Sun. My banner was created by photographer Ashley, who's only instructions were simple + art. She remembered me saying my favorite painting was Gustav Klimt's "the kiss." Perfection.

( blog banners above: danielle, elise, polly, diana, camilla )

*thanks to the success of last week's coffee date (yay!!!) this upcoming wens. i need your help again! let's show off our favorite pair of shoes in our closets? it can be anything from heels to converse.  Email me a photo of your shoes to micaela.lechugaATgmail.com by next tuesday night.

my italian j.crew heels

I'll show your photos next wens. right here!

Postal Service.

^a dolce italian package from pretty Faiza. I loved it!!! italian art & the language? perfetto! Faiza picked these at a book sale across from her work and thought of my love for Italy. Grazie bella!

^the cutest fawn envelope from cute Megan (reminds me of my little guy) that included a card she bought for me from the National Library knowing how much i love books. Sweetness!

^I sent a handmade postcrossing to Kristina in Slovenia, telling her my very first pen pal was from Slo and we've kept in touch ever since we were 13. Kristina asked if she could write me and this is her first adorable letter. (she works a a chocolate shop and sent me a little candy... delish!!!) it's amazing the connections you can make in the teeny space of a postcard.

^postcard from Janette in Germany & card from Phoenix

^postcard lindsey got me in France. jolie!

slowly catching up on my outbounds...

^replies to Zoe, Shelly, and a handmade postcrossing who also likes Neil Patrick Harris (doogie? really? ha)

: front : 

: back : 

^letter & postcard to one of my absolute favourites, L. Nicole 

^replies to Blanca, Phoenix, and Carolyn 

^i sent these parrot cards to Danielle after seeing them in a stationary boutique in Baltimore. Any wonder why they made me think of her and Flojo? 

^since Ria got my letter, this is what i sent her (vintage hankie, cheeky journal, ring, and some teas. (you can see everything on her blog post here)

and these will actually be on their way tomorrow...

^mini parcels to Faiza & Gracie

Hope your mailboxes are as full as mine!  Off to make my tummy full with my favorite (indian food!) with my favorite (Max!). Enjoy your Monday nights!!! (can't wait til Monday nights mean Monday Night Football!!!)

Le Giveaway Winner!

when i asked if anyone would like to help me spread some cheer through the postal system to my brother in Iraq, you lovies showed me even more what big hearts you have. 

35 friends from around the world emailed and asked for Marco's address. A few i have never talked to before the email which meant that much more to me. I can not thank you all enough. Your kindness touched my heart and i know will greatly touch my brother's heart. 

i wish i could send everyone a personal thank you gift, because trust me i would! i hosted this little giveaway with all your names entered and had Max randomly select a magic number.

Gabby darling, send me your address and these will be headed your way!!! xoxo

Sharing Sundays... Restless General Store.

by now you know i'm a huge fan of UK artist Olivia Jeffries. She was, after all, my first original art purchase. I just love her work and now; her taste. She recently opened another etsy shop filled with quirky finds from the 1920s to the 1950s - all chosen with her love of aged materials such as wood, glass, metal, and cotton.

remember this mirror from my wish list?

not that i can keep anything but a bamboo plant alive, but how kitsch is that ceramic log planter? the tin would go well with my collection. When in an antique shop, i love going through boxes of old photographs searching for any of couples. I purchase them wondering about their love story. The one titled "on top of the world" is magical.

visit the restless things general store here // store blog here.