Sunday, August 28, 2011

Saturday Social Features and a WINNER!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend!  If you were on the east coast, I hope you stayed out of Irene's way, and are safe and sound.  My family lives in the town in New Jersey (Little Egg Harbor) where the hurricane made landfall early this morning.  They are all safe and were spared any floods or damage than goodness.  My sister did see the eye this morning though - she said it was really eerie!!

I on the other hand, spent the weekend at Lake Hartwell in North Georgia with some friends.  We had lots of fun in the sun, and it was a much needed weekend away.  Very relaxing!!

Addie with her friends on Lake Hartwell
Before I announce the winner of my very first giveaway, I wanted to post my favorites from Saturday Social this weekend.

First, is a very delicious looking dish shared by Colleen at So Much to Say.  You can find the recipe for this Fusilli alla Caprese on her blog.  How refreshing does this look?  I pinned this and planned to make it for dinner this week!
 

My other feature is this awesome antique sap bucket turned trashcan!  This is one of many before and afters that Melissa posted at Shabby Love this week.  You have to check out all of the others as well - so great!!


If you were featured, please feel free to grab a button from my sidebar.

OK - and now for what you have been waiting for!!!  This lucky person wins a set of 20 personalized stationery from yours truly!  You can choose any combination of the four patterns shown here.


To choose my winner, I printed all of the comments from the contest post, cut them in equal sized strips, folded them and placed them in a container.


Then, Addison chose the winner for me - she was so excited to be a part of it!!!  And the lucky winner is.......


EVE!!!!!  Please shoot me an email:  jennifer@socialsalutations.com to let me know how many of which colors you want.  Congratulations!!!  

Thank you to everyone who entered!  Hopefully I can do another one soon!!  Have a great week!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Saturday Social - Week 14

Hi everyone - I hope you had a fabulous week!!  This week I launched my very first giveaway!  Don't forget to enter to win my Graphics Stationery line!!  I'm going to announce the winner when I post the features from this party on Sunday!!



Time to link up to Saturday Social.  Every week I see more and more creative and delicious ideas!  Can't wait to see what you bring to the party!

Here's how it works:

Link to a Specific Post - not just your blog homepage (we want to be able to find your creation!). 
Share any handmade craft, home decor, or recipe you would like (just no Etsy shops or items for sale please).

Grab a button from my side bar, or have a link back to my blog…so everyone can join in the party!

Be social and visit some of your Linky Neighbors - mingling makes for a better party!!

The party goes till noon on Sunday.  Come back Sunday night for my features!  Happy Linking!!
 

Friday I'm in Love - Week 14

Happy Friday everyone!!  So this week's Friday I'm In Love favorites have no rhyme or reason - no theme this week - just all things that I fell in love with.  That said, I'm just going to jump right in!

I saw this couch the other day and was quite literally floored.  Natalie from Johnny in a Dress completely transformed this vinyl couch with spray paint!!  It started out as gray, and not is a beautiful creamy white.  Unbelievable - spray paint a couch?  My husband would think I was crazy if I ever approached him with that idea!!  Then I could just show him this!! 



I have seen blueprint artwork at Restoration Hardware, and loved it.  Becca from From Gardners to Bergers made this great knockoff!  She shares a tutorial on her blog - love this idea!!



So, my husband is about to kill me because I have 7 wood pallets taking up space in my garage that I haven't decided what to do with.  Now - I may have found an idea!!  Alicia made this AWESOME pallet bed - I love everything - from the headboard to the linens!! She shared lots of great pictures at her blog La Famille - head over to see the rest!



I think these sailboat invitations speak for themselves.  Aren't they adorable??  Alexis from Jac o' lyn Murphy has outdone herself with these.  I love the clean lines and wood base - SO cute!!



Finally - I am a sucker for a white cottage room.  I just love this Late Summer Decor from Kristy at Starfish Cottage.  This is her living room, but she also shared her family room and dining room in this post.  Kristy, can I move in please?


I hope you enjoyed my favorites this week!  If you were featured, feel free to grab a button from my sidebar.  Don't forget - only two more days to enter my giveaway!!  Also - tune in tonight for my Saturday Social Linky Party!!!


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!!

Addison's school has spirit day every Friday starting this week.  Each Friday, students need to wear a school t-shirt, school colors, or a t-shirt of their favorite sports team.  Since she has a plethora of pink, and not so many sports t-shirts, I had to get creative.

The school colors are red, gold and black, so I decided to make a fun headband for her to wear.  I am sure this will be one of many that I make for her so she can swap them out each week.  I will probably end up doing some shirts for her too, but I need to get out to the store to get some solid color shirts.

This is what I came up with, using the fabric I already had on hand.



I made this last night, and when Addie came downstairs this morning she saw it sitting on the island in the kitchen.  "Ooh - that's so pretty Mommy!!"  She was very pleased that it was for her!!  I loved the horseshoe printed fabric - they were some scraps given to me from a friend.  I wondered what I would use it for, and this was as good of a project as any!!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway - only 5 days left!!


Linking Up To:







 
36th Avenue
 
 

Monday, August 22, 2011

A Celebratory Giveaway!!

Thank you again to my 100 Followers!  I was just as excited seeing that number as I was when I got my first follower - Anne from WobiSobi!!  Since then Anne and I have become fast friends, and I can't believe how many more people I have met as well!!  I never thought I would meet so many wonderful people who share a love for all of my favorite things - family, crafting, cooking and fashion!!  This has been a wonderful 8 months, and I plan to continue for a long time to come!!

To thank everyone, I have decided to do my first giveaway.  It was important for me that this prize was something that I made with my very own hands, and something personal that the winner will get to enjoy.  Remember my new line of stationery?


The winner of this giveaway will receive a set of 20 personalized note cards - made my yours truly!!   You can choose 20 of the same pattern, or mix and match - totally up to you!  Here's a closeup of each one so you can get a better look:





Here's how to enter:

Each of the below counts as 1 entry.  Please leave me a separate comment for each entry.

1. If you don't already - follow Social Salutations publicly (pretty please)

2. Like Social Salutations on Facebook.

3. Follow me on Pinterest

4. Follow @SoclSalutations on Twitter.

5. Tell your friends about this giveaway (via Facebook or Twitter).

The giveaway winner will be announced on Sunday when I announce the Saturday Social features.  I can't wait to see who wins!  Good luck!
 
 



Sunday, August 21, 2011

Saturday Social Week 13 Features

Thanks again to everyone for linking up!!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend - mine wasn't so good.  I came down with a cold on Thursday, and it has gotten progressively worse each day.  Who in the world gets sick during the summer??  Me I suppose...that's ok.  It gave me a much needed excuse to stay home and work on some orders, so at least I was productive, right?

There were a lot of great recipes linked up this week, and it was hard to choose.  In the end, I went with the ones that made my mouth water the most.  LOL.  I also chose the craft that made my mouth water the most - so pretty!!

Let's start with breakfast.  Brie Joy from Breezy Pink Daisies shared this amazing Blueberry Buckle.  I just had a conversation with Addie yesterday about making blueberry muffins, but have decided to make this instead!  I can already see myself enjoying this with my morning coffee!! 


Next, is a savory Chicken Wire Memo Board made by my friend Jen at Scissors and Spatulas!  Can we say night and day??  We go from a very manly (hubby-esque) Buck,  to a pretty, girlie, lovely creation!  I love the shape of the frame, and the fabric she used.  Gorgeous!!


Finally, we come to dessert!!  So, this chocolate cheesecake has only 4 ingredients.  I think even I could make this!!  Nikki from Chef-N-Training always has the best recipes that look so amazing!  Drool....


Feel free to grab a button from my sidebar if you were featured.  Tune in tomorrow for my 100 Follower Giveaway!!!


Friday, August 19, 2011

Saturday Social - Week 13

It's lucky Week 13 of Saturday Social, and I hit my 100th follower today!  I need to tell you all how honored and lucky I feel to be able to share my life and love of crafts with you.  When I started this blog, I really never thought that anyone would care what I have to say.  I just wanted to blab about my need to have a creative outlet - crafting!!  But now, this blog, and all of you have become a huge part of my life.  I have met so many wonderful and talented people, and continue to make new friends!!!

To thank all of you, I want to do a little giveaway.  I am not ready to announce it yet, but tune in on Monday for all of the details!!

OK - so finally on to the PARTY!!!



Here's how it works:

Link to a Specific Post - not just your blog homepage (we want to be able to find your creation!). 
Share any handmade craft, home decor, or recipe you would like (just no Etsy shops or items for sale please).

Grab a button from my side bar, or have a link back to my blog…so everyone can join in the party!

Be social and visit some of your Linky Neighbors - mingling makes for a better party!!

The party goes till noon on Sunday.  Come back Sunday night for my features!  Happy Linking!!


Friday I'm In Love - Trash to Treasure Style!!

Happy Friday everyone!!  I have just been itching to buy some Annie Sloan Chalk paint and redo some old piece of furniture.  BUT, alas, I have had no time as of late.  So instead, I have to obsess over other people's wares. 

That brings me to this week's addition of Friday I'm In Love - Trash to Treasure Furniture Style!!

These faux-stenciled tables made by Connie from Salvage Savvy are so great!  Pretty cute for $28, wouldn't you say?  How are they faux-stenciled you ask?  Head over to her blog to find out!!


I heart this Blue Farmhouse Table!!  This is the kind of project I'm talking about!!  Linda from Our Lovely Bungelow did such an amazing job on this transformation!  You have to see the chairs she painted and recovered as well.  I'm so jealous!!


All I can say about this Campaign Dresser from Wildwood Creek is that I WANT THIS IN MY HOUSE!!   Don't suppose you'll be re-selling this on Craigslist Katie??  It's gorgeous!!!



Kristine from The Painted Hive painted this Side Table to Chippy Perfection!  This vignette is so perfect - love the white walls, white paint, leather chair, fan - everything!!  Also - congrats on the new baby Kristine!!



And finally, the colors of this Vanity Desk are so beautiful!   Megan from the team at Elizabeth & Co outdid herself on this one!  Love the mix of gray and white, and LOVE the casters!!  


That's all for today, I hope you enjoyed looking at this eye candy as much as I did!!  If you were featured, feel free to grab a button from my sidebar!  

Come back tonight to Link Up to Saturday Social!!!


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Move Over Miss Nicole!!

Remember I told you Hubby and I went to the Keith Urban concert last weekend?  Hubby won backstage passes, so we got to meet him, and take a picture with him (in a group, not fun enough).  Here is the picture I received:


So I decided that Keith and I got to know each other - we got really close in that 30 seconds.  That deserves a solo pic, dontcha think??

This is how I remember the night...
Much better, right?

Ahhh, Photoshop is so wonderful!!!  LOL.  That's how it should have happened.... 
Move over Nicole!!


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

I love me some BBQ!!

My Brother and Sister in Law moved here from Austin about a year ago.  My brother in law had the dream of opening his own Texas BBQ restaurant.  For months were were lucky enough to get to try out all of his test recipes - his food is absolutely AMAZING!   So, two weeks ago they finally opened!!  It's so exciting and I'm so proud of them!

Brooke, Jason and the kids on opening night

Raising the flags to signal they are open!


That's me and my girlfriend, Mai
 Brooke asked me to design some stationery for them - and I was so happy to help!  I used their logo, added some stars, and Voila!  I love the texture of the kraft paper with the red and blue!




We have been heading over there for ribs and brisket every Friday night - it's becoming our new tradition!!  So happy for you guys!!