Happy {Finally Here!} Weekend

Phew, that was a close one. I wasn't quite sure I was going to make it through to the end of this week. But at long last, Friday has arrived and I'm ready to fall back into the bliss that is two full fancy free days away.from.it.all.


image via sacramento street

Sure there is plenty of fall shopping to do {did you catch the Shopbop giveaway on the Beauty File -that is just what the fall wardrobe ordered}, new recipes to try, a friend's big 3-0 party to help plan, and home remodels to get started {kitchen-gasm right here} and an endless RSS reader to catch up on.

Or maybe I'll just scrap it all and focus on making the next 48 hours feel like 480!

Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

And the Winner Is

Thanks to everyone for entering the Design in the Bag giveaway! It is a DIY remodeler's dream and I can't wait to see what the winner accomplishes with their prize.

Without further ado, the winner is....

via pretty stuff

Susan Jill! Susan, email apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize!

Thanks again to Design in Bag for the great offer for Apartment 34 readers. I can't wait to use their tips for our own home re-do!

To everyone else, happy weekend! Till Monday luvies,
*Mrs. E

And the Winner Is...

Thanks again to everyone who left comments on my birthday giveaway. You all made me smile, but only one could win. 

The lucky winner of Untamed Petals  Swarovski Rhinestone Halo Headband is Brittany of Inside my Locket.

Congratulations Brittany! I'm sure the headband will look lovely on you.

photo via seven eight

This weekend I encourage everyone to go out and treat yourselves like the pretty pretty princesses that you are.

Cheer luvies,

*E

Women of the Hour

For this week's giveaway I asked everyone to comment about what makes you feel like the woman of the hour. I have just loved reading the responses and had to share some of my favorites.

I feel like the woman of the hour whenever my boyfriend cleans up after dinner. It's so sweet to chat with him in the kitchen, enjoying a glass of wine while he tidies up. - Jessica

I feel like the woman of the hour when I buy fresh flowers from the market and the vendors smile as I walk home - Caz

I feel like the woman of the hour when i just got a new haircut - Sandy

I feel like woman of the hour after I finish a yoga class. I dont know why, I just leave feeling so strong and confident, love it! - Lindsey

When i am wearing a very inexpensive forever 21 or even target dress and get more compliments than i can ever imagine! - Rebecca June

What makes me feel like the woman of the hour, for me, always winds up being my outfit! Nothing better than walking into a room with a sassy new top or pair of boots. - katecouture

What makes me feel like the woman of the hour is really great earrings - large, long, dangly, sparkly earrings - put on to go out after a day of corporate drudgery. - emma belle

I feel like a woman when I come home with bagettes and cheese. - april

I love to sip champagne while getting ready for a night out. Adding little decadent details to everyday duties makes me feel like a woman! - logan

I feel like the woman of the hour after baking some gorgeous sweetly delicious dessert and having people swoon over its yumminess! - Bespoke letterpress

images via haute design, sterling style, simply seductive &  plush palate 

I just have to say, all of my readers and commenters make me feel like the woman of the hour everyday. Thank you so much!

PS - you still have an hour left to enter the giveaway!

A Birthday Giveaway

Since all of you out there in blogland made me feel like queen for a day for the big 3-0, I thought I'd try to spread the feeling around. Consider it a very merry un-birthday present from me to you!

I'm so excited that Amanda from Untamed Petals offered her Swarovski Rhinestone Halo Headband to one lucky Apartment #34 reader. You'd certainly be the belle of any holiday ball when wearing this beauty. 

photos by frenchie & flea and abbey feldcamp

To enter to win, leave a comment letting us know what makes you feel like the woman of the hour. A winner will be chosen at random at noon on Friday, Nov. 13 and notified via email.

In the meantime head to Amanda's blog for great inspiration here. 

Wedding Wednesday {Giveaway}

To celebrate the completion of a major wedding planning milestone - sending out our save the date announcements, we have a great giveaway for you - a grab bag of amazing greeting cards by Wiley Valentine.

Wiley Valentine creates wedding invitations, stationary, note cards and all things us paper addicts adore. They are generously offering Apt#34 readers a card grab bag that includes flat and letterpress greetings and their environmentally friendly seed cards.

This is a card lover's dream prize people!

To enter, visit Wiley Valentine, peruse their lovely cards and then leave a comment here letting us know which one is your fave. A winner will be chosen at random at noon on Friday, Oct. 30 and notified via email.

Bonus: If you follow Apt#34 on twitter and tweet (or retweet) this giveaway you'll get an extra five entires.

In the meantime head to Wiley Valentine's blog for great wedding inspiration here. 

Good luck!

Good Karma

I must be doing something right because I truly never win anything. That is why I'm so excited to report that I won a blog giveaway! I'm the lucky recipient of a complimentary 2010 calendar made by the uber-talented SeeSaw Designs.

I'll be watching my mailbox with great anticipation. Thanks again guys!

I realized I also didn't get to my wedding tabletop ideas. I'll think I'll just have to extend Wedding Wednesday to tomorrow!

And the Winner Is...

Jump for joy, we are ready to announce the winner of the BrooklynThread bracelet giveaway. 

image via {this is glamorous}

I want to thank everyone for all the great comments on the contest. I was so inspired by the various fabulousness people were doing with their weekends. 

From trips to Central Park and Northhampton, to camp outs in the wilderness and a simple glass of wine on the back deck with loved ones, it seems Apt#34 readers really know the best ways to relax and unwind. I'm certainly taking notes.

Now, back to the prize. Our winner is....

Amanda, of A Blonde's Guide to Life. Congratulations Amanda. 

Email me within the next 24 hours to claim your prize!

Happy {Fabulously Long} Weekend

There is nothing I like better than a long weekend. I'll try to ignore the fact that this one is Labor Day and another season has slipped by. 

Instead, I'm going to focus on treasuring the moments here and now. I plan to do a little of this,

a little of that,

And a lot of this.

photos via le love and {this is glamorous}

I hope you spend your weekend surrounded by your nearest and dearest - romantic or otherwise. 

Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway before your fun begins. A winner will be selected next week!

*E

Reward for Good Behavior

With the long labor day weekend almost upon us, I thought it was high time my darling readers got a little reward! I really do love you guys.

Thankfully, the lovely Jo of BrooklynThread has offered Apt#34 readers a gorgeous gift - her Gold Cube Leather Bangle bracelet. 

All you have to do is leave a comment telling us what you're doing to say a proper goodbye to summer. A winner will be randomly selected at 9:00 am PST on Wednesday, September 9.

Don't forget to check out all the other pretty pieces at BrooklynThread to make sure you're properly accessorized for fall.

Good luck luvies!

And the Winner Is...

Congratulations to big winner of the BB Dakota jacket...

Mariel4985 of lemon&waltzes. Email Apt#34 to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone for playing - I hope to feature another great giveaway very soon.

Twilight Is a Big Deal

Or so I've been told. Will I be shunned if I admit I've yet to see the movie nor read any of the books? However, I hear the cool kids are loving it these days. 

That's why I'm so excited about the latest Apt#34 giveaway from chickdowntown.com. It also works nicely with my casual bent these days.

The BB Dakota Jacket, worn by Bella in Twilight, is the perfect addition to a casual Friday-look. 

You can also heck out chickdowntown.com for more designer dresses. There are a lot featured by BB Dakota, the same designer of Bella's jacket. It's exactly what you need to throw over a sweet summer frock.

Check out what BB Dakota has to offer at chickdowntown, then leave a comment here. A winner will be picked at 11:59 pm on Friday!

Update: the winner of the BBDakota giveaway is Mariel4985 of lemon&waltzes!

Winner, Winner....

And the lucky recipient of the Tolani Scarf giveaway is....

via you are my fave

Morgan! Congratulations Morgan. 

Email Apt34blog {at} gmail {dot} com to confirm your pick and let me know where to send it.

Thanks to everyone for playing. I hope to have another fun giveaway soon. 

Pretties

Spring continues to flirt with Seattle - but still isn't quite ready to commit. So I'll keep flirting with the idea of lovely spring ensembles.

When the sun actually arrives for good I will consider some real commitment - to all of these looks!

Looks by Quail via darling dexter, PorterGrey and Graydn via mustard and sage

Last Chance - Palazzo Giveaway

Update - the winner is esther lee! Esther, send me an email and we will get you your calendar. Congratulations - and thanks to everyone who left a comment!

You still have time to get in on the lovely giveaway from Palazzo! I'll draw the winner today at 4:00 pm so be sure to leave your comment.

Good luck!

Life is Like...

Fellow Seattle blogger Stacy over at rockin' la boudoir was offering up a box of her favorite chocolates as her August giveaway, and I won!

To do so I had to openly discuss my guilty pleasure of dumping chocolate chips directly into a jar of peanut butter, but the reward will be sweet.

Thanks Stacy!

And the Winner (s) Is...

Amber Smith and Njeri Thande!  

Amber and Njeri, you will receive an email shortly about how to claim your free ticket to the Make Mine a Million $ Business event.

Thank you to everyone who entered!  I hope you'll still consider joining the fun and participating in the great inspiration, learning, and networking that will take place in Seattle on June 11.  

You can click here to register for the event.  The online registration deadline is TODAY.

Free Stuff!

Nothing in this world is free right?  There's always a catch, isn't there?

via absolutely bananas

Well, not this time. You too could be a winner! 

This is your last chance to enter to win a free ticket to the upcoming women's business event happening in Seattle on June 11 - Make Mine a Million $ Business.  

Leave a comment if you want to enter.  I'll announce the winners here at Noon PST!

Good luck!

A Little OT

Forgive me as I go OT (off-topic) today. Btw, I have to thank one of my favorite bloggers, Decorno, for adding OT to my blogger lingo. Anyway, here we go. We'll start with the back story. I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting the writer behind Decorno as well as three other prolific Seattle-based bloggers, Not Martha, Shelteriffic and MirrorMirror at Velocity Art & Design Center's monthly meet-up called The Lab.



Inspired by a series of design meet-ups organized by Grace of Design Sponge, uber talented (and really nice) owner of Velocity, John Tusher, has kept the community gatherings alive at his fabulous store. If you live in the Seattle area, go. Now.




Velocity Art & Design Center in Seattle

Not only did I get to hear insights from some amazingly talented bloggers who I read religiously, but I was also graciously given the opportunity to talk about a really cool event for small business owners that is happening in Seattle on June 11. I think it is so cool in fact that I'm giving away two free tickets!

Did you know that of the 10.4 million women-owned businesses less than 230,000 businesses have achieved $1 million in annual sales? I sure didn't. Or that if more women grew their businesses, they would create over 7 million new jobs? It's seriously amazing. Check out this recent Newsweek article for more scary stats.

If you've ever thought about starting or growing a business and you live in the Northwest, you have a really cool one-time opportunity for some inspiration, know-how, and networking.

On June 11, Make Mine a Million $ Business is holding a day long conference at the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion.

The program has proven highly effective in other parts of the country in helping woman business owners grow their businesses. Nell Merlino, founder of Take Your Daughters to Work Day as well as the program below, believes that future economic growth in this country will be the result of the success of woman-owned businesses. The June 11 event will provide useful tools on how to grow a business as well as be a terrific networking opportunity.

Here are a few quick facts:

• Full day event on June 11 at the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion


• Cost $75


• Keynote speaker Governor Chris Gregoire


• 500 women business-owners from five state region


• Experts in financing, marketing, technology, business software and insurance inspiring women to grow their businesses


• Local Sponsors include Biznik.com and The Crave Company


• Opportunity to win prizes from JetBlue, Dell, The Seattle Storm, Woodland Park Zoo, Experience Music Project, Seattle Art Museum and Pacific Science Center and more
  
  
  
  

To register for the event click here

But wait, there's more! I am holding a contest!

I have two free tickets for the June 11 Make Mine a Million event to give away. Send me an email between Thursday May 29 and Thursday June 5 and you'll be entered in a drawing for free admission (normally $75!).

I hope you'll spread the word about the event far and wide. And I hope I'll see some of you out there in the blogosphere live and in full effect on June 11!