thank you Erin!!!

i have been dreaming of 3 columns for like ever. 

i have tried doing the online tutorials {and many of you have pointed me to the ones you've used so kindly!} but would get stuck on the HTML code lingo.

Erin over at dailee tidbits  is a favorite of mine and i noticed that her blog layout is exactly what i liked (more space, THREE COLUMNS). so i emailed her and asked about her template, told her what i was looking for & this sweet and beautiful lady offered to make these little changes for me happily! -right away, she did.

i adore you Erin Elder!  it means so much to me.

say hello & thanks for me to my friend Erin over at dailee tidbits.

She's just moved into her dream place and it's fun to see the decorating in process. I'm loving her new grown up desk!

postcard : snow bear productions

embroidery : alli coate

Wanting to Know you Wens : show me a halloween costume!

with Halloween just around the corner, i thought a fun virtual date would be halloween costumes!

email me a pic of an old halloween costume you loved or take a photo of the one you've picked out this year.

you've seen probably my favorite halloween costume {the year i was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader} so here's a plainer one... my fall back is bunny or cat ears when i have to put together something quickly- like last year- see what i mean?

I had just left work and went straight to my girlfriend Lauren's halloween bash {don't you love her Marie Antoinette?} Twinkie was an 80's secretary (too bad you can't see my tail!)

this photo cracks me up! Shots in a toy gun... looks kind of sexual. {i love you lo!}

this year i'm thinking Wonder Woman. Email your costumes to micaela.lechugaATgmail.com by next Wens. and i'll post them right here on Dolce Vita Wens. night.

include your blog link {if you have one!} & what you are. Can't wait to see them!!! 

i do so love when you play along...  xo

We have ourselves a WINNER!!!

thank-you darling readers (lovies!) for entering the Very Fine House giveaway, courtesy of lovely shop owner Kate. i love doing drawings the old fashioned way.

max helps by picking the winner and each time i tell him he's about to hopefully make someone's day! {it's cute}

Brittan, these will be coming your way soon!!! please email me your address so i can pass it along to Kate. CHEERS

P.S. Kate just added pretty things to her vintage shop! i love her finds.  

dog people.

stella had her first haircut today!

okay Mommy, leave me alone!

everyone loved her at the groomers. She really is just the sweetest puppy! Stella also got a new name tag that reads: "stella lechuga-maxham." i love my dog children.

Tomorrow is my co-worker Edward's birthday and i'm so excited about his gift! Having a job that's based on finding homes for puppies, you can imagine all of us who work there have at least one at home. We all know which breed we like most {can you guess my breed? "frou frou" dogs!} Edward's a pug guy. His pug's name is Polly Woggle. 

so when i saw this shirt by Gemma Correll it was perfection {he always wears the neatest screen t's}. 

i love dog people. 

& i love puppy cuddles.

"His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, referring to her cocker spaniel, Flush

also....

LAST DAY TO ENTER A Very Fine House GIVEAWAY!!! Winner announced tomorrow!!! xo

Postal Service.

i love the Kiefer sisters!!! you know i love me some Claire and now i know her sister Kate who's hosting a giveaway for you darling dolce vita readers ( ENTER HERE : 2 more days ). Kate sent me a thank-you card, along with a vintage letter M. How adorable is she?!

as much so as her sister who sent me a beautiful print from Chicago artist Robyn Wells and my new favourite ring, also an original by Robyn!!! it is SO me and i love claire for picking it out for that reason. i loooove it!

(Robyn's packaging is always so cute)

the ring is called "A Fine Lady" -  robyn's description: This ring's focal point showcases a lovely mixed media piece made from a woman's gaze, a flower cut from the folds of a marble statue, a looped string, a doily, and some antiqued paper all encapsulated in clear resin.


i love you Claire!!! xo

^sweetest thank-you card from Jess 

^letter from maria : the card i believe in- "Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative." brilliant! and the stationary reads, "i was never meant to work." 

^postcard from Carrie Marie of a gorgeous photograph her friend took

^cute stationary + postcards from Hosanna Lee who's studying in Manchester 

^"walking on the pier" postcard  from L. Nicole 

^card for sweet Sandra

^thank-you for Catherine for my ROBBIE mag : handmade soap & book plates

^postcrossing going to Germany

^glittery hearts go to phoenix

^a housewarming/birthday gift for Rhianne who loves yellow and cameras. When i had just moved to Virginia, Rhianne surprised me with a housewarming gift on a night i was stuck at home thanks to record snow--  i was especially homesick. It meant so much to me!



i seriously have THE BEST blog friends who i simply adore. xo

ONLY THREE MORE DAYS to enter...

you could win both of these pretties courtesy of a very fine house.

Click HERE to enter.