Greeting Cards Have Arrived + KV Wishbox Giveaway

I'm back today with two big shop announcements! First off, a dream come true for me:

Printed greeting cards have come to the Streetlights at Midnight Collection at KV Designs! Previously, printable digital downloads were for sale, which still are, but now the real thing is too, complete with signature midnight blue envelopes.

I am SO excited about this! For right now, seven of my card designs are listed, and I'm working to get all 39 designs listed. But until then, here is this listing that will get you any of the printable greeting card designs in printed format that are not yet individually listed as such.

Now giving a special card to someone you love with chronic illness is even easier. And I promise you, doing so will mean more than you know.

In other news, a possible dream come true for you!

That's right--I've gone crazy and am having a KV Wishbox giveaway! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, hopefully you've seen it, but if not, there's still time to enter! It runs until Friday, February 5 at midnight EST, so just head over to Facebook or Instagram--or both!--to enter to win one wish, a $19 value, to be used by itself in addition to one or two wishes. I'd totally enter if I weren't the one running this show--that's a not-yet-released, free piece of jewelry of your choice!

If you miss out on the giveaway or aren't the lucky winner, don't worry--the KV Wishbox is still available in my shop until February 12 at midnight. The first Wishboxes are currently headed out to their recipients--I would love to send yours on its way too! (Inside info: want to know what those who have purchased a Wishbox are saying? It's really hard to pick just three! So I'm going to venture to say it's worth a try. :)

Happy entering, and good luck! 

200th Post Celebration: Reader Survey + My Biggest Giveaway Yet!

Here we are! Post #200! It really feels like I was just celebrating my 100th post, and on Monday I shared your all's favorite 7 posts since then. Now as promised, I'm back today with a surprise for you guys!

But first: I've been wanting to do this for a while, and thought why not celebrate 200 posts with a reader survey? I'd love for you to take a couple minutes to fill this out. And if you do, there'll be a reward for you at the end! (If you complete the survey and don't see a reward, please let me know.) And, there will be an extra perk for answering this later on in this post!




Now that that's done, if you want to use your reward, here's where to go. :)

And now! I had to celebrate 200 posts with a giveaway, right? As I mentioned on Monday, I don't really have a blogiversary, so this is my version of it and we are celebrating accordingly.

Yep, my biggest giveaway ever! Here we are in that in-between time of the seasons (at least here in NC), so there's a little bit of both in this Katya Valera giveaway:

1~ A chunky, silver tone summer rose on wide silver tone chain. Perfect for layering or wearing alone.

2~ Silver plated dangle earrings that I like to call coffee (or tea) lover earrings. And the best I can tell, that's every. single. one of you reading this. ;)

3~ Fall-colored clay roses and mum on an antique-look silver tone, asymmetric heart charm hanging from silver tone chain.

4~ And finally, a burnt red-orange geometric, wood-look charm on long, silver tone chain. Great for layering!

You'll be set for fall with these four handmade pieces from Katya Valera! Or keep a couple and give a couple as gifts now, or get ahead on Christmas shopping! And yes, you'll see that if you filled out the survey, you get more entries!

This giveaway is open only to the US and Canada (sorry!) and will end Thursday, Oct. 9 at 12:00 AM EST. I will contact the winner by email, and the winner will have 24 hours to respond, at which point I'll pick a new winner. I will verify the winning entry and and reserve the right to disqualify an invalid entry.

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Okay, survey, giveaway, oh and one more thing in honor of the milestone: 

I've got a brand new about page, so be sure to check it out! :)

{Linking up with Little Friday, Thinking Out Loud, Treat Yo Self Thursday, Let Your Light Shine}

Free Favicon and New Designs!

Well guys, it's only been a week since I announced my new Etsy shop, and I have added so many more premade designs to it since then! Like I've said before, just like with my jewelry, every new piece becomes my favorite... So I have to share a few of the newest ones! Just click through to go to each one's listing--your favorite can be yours!

It's safe to say I am pretty well obsessed with blog design now. I had no idea there was some other creative endeavor out there for me besides writing and jewelry that I could not only love so much and find so exciting and relaxing, but that I could also make a business out of. (Okay, I can think of a couple more--it's like a disease with me!--but still, I didn't see this one coming. ;) 

Once I started my jewelry business a couple years ago, I started noticing everybody's jewelry and the details of how each piece was made--people I'd see out in public or on TV. So now? Every blog I visit I notice the details of their design, and then I have to scroll down to the bottom to see who their designer was if they clearly had one. And then there are always some that I think, Ah, you need me! ;) Are you one of those people? I'm at your service! :)

But one of the little things I keep noticing is such lovely blog designs that don't have a customized favicon. Don't know what that is? It's the tiny little square up next to your blog's name when it's being viewed:

I know it's such a little thing, but it makes me sad when a lovely blog has the automatic orange and white Blogger B as their favicon when it could be the perfect finishing touch! I'll be adding a custom favicon listing to my shop soon, but first, I wanted to offer a free one! Like I said, it's so small, but something I would love to help someone out with! So the first person to comment and claim it will get a custom favicon from me! I'll make it and then can install it for you or can talk you through it (it's very, very easy!).

So if you have your blog exactly how you want it but wish that little orange and white square could be something more personal, it's your lucky day! =)

{Linking up with Little Friday}

My Friday Five: Discoveries, Weight Loss, and Jewelry Sale!

We'll get there ;)

Happy Friday, and Happy 4th, you guys! I hope you all are having a great start to the weekend. I've definitely been a lot better, so here's hoping the end of this long weekend will bring some improvements in the health department... Meanwhile, here's my 5:

1~ While I've had a very hard week with health problems, I am thrilled to have discovered a new blog that did a really good job distracting me if just for a few minutes: Abbie's guest post on 34 Magnolia Street (another of my favorite blogs) was just amazing--so I of course had to take a look at her blog. And "Step One" is one of my favorite posts of hers so far, which actually builds on something I mentioned in my post on Wednesday. You've got to check out her blog--I can't wait to see more from her!

2~ And speaking of Wednesday's post, if you haven't gotten a chance to read it, please do. I've been wanting to tell you guys about my weight loss really for months now and finally got a chance to. Anyone can do what I did to lose whatever weight you might need to!

3~ Did you see the giveaway I'm having over at Elizabeth's blog? You can win the piece of your choice from my Military Sweetheart Collection! Whether you've got a significant other in the military or just love camo or patriotic colors, this giveaway is for you! It ends July 8th, so don't miss out--you can enter below!

4~ Speaking of my jewelry, I wanted to let you guys know about a huge sale I'm having--actually my biggest yet! You might have gathered that medical bills are leaving funds hard to find around these parts, so you can get 30% off in my Etsy shop with coupon code Summertime30! When is it good till? I don't know--I guess until I start running low on inventory? ;) And I've been adding so many new pieces to my shop, so please take a look! I would love for you to find something you love, and also share this sale with your friends!! :)

5~ Have any of you had issues commenting on my blog lately? I've had one reader let me know that they have, and I've had only one issue with the comment system here myself recently, so please let me know if you have too! If there is indeed a problem, I have no idea how I'd fix it, but I'd really like to know if this is an ongoing issue!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway, and also take advantage of that huge sale in my Etsy shop! Have a wonderful weekend!

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P.S. Linking up with Friday Favorites, Little Friday, Friday Favorites,Thursday Favorite Things, Treat Yo'Self Thursday, Anything Goes Linky, High Five for Friday, Friday's Fab Favorites, Link Love

Regal Cottage Review + Giveaway!

When the time came to find a gift for my niece's 1st birthday recently, I knew I had to get her something special. And very Aunt Kacie. So naturally, I turned to Etsy to look for matryoshka dolls. Of course.

When I saw the dolls at Regal Cottage, I 'bout died. I ended up ordering a large one and a baby one, and when they arrived, I wanted to keep them for myself... They have since found their happy home, but I now at least have these pictures of them. ;)

They were wrapped up so sweetly, and isn't that the cutest business card??

Mommy matryoshka...

... and baby matryoshka!

How incredibly adorable is that baby one? I could hardly stand it!

And they're all soft on the back!

Now if Regal Cottage sold nothing but matryoshka dolls, I'd be a huge fan on that alone. But the sweet owner, Regina, has all kinds of other items, including these:

Cute cloud rattle, available here.

Organic toy ball with rattle, available here.

Hot/cold packs, available here.

A happy cloud pillow, available here.

And more Russian dolls! Available here.

All of the items at Regal Cottage are eco-friendly, and the shop is located in Texas and run by Regina, with the help of her husband and the guidance of their four children's good taste in toys. You can learn more about Regina's love for toy making and her view of the importance of "EcoFabFun" toys here.

And because Regina is so awesome, you can now enter to win one of these two toy sets from her Etsy shop! 

3 Russian rattle dolls set

3 Little Adventurers rattle dolls set

Of course you know which I would choose! This giveaway is open worldwide and ends June 10th at midnight. The winning entry will be verified and the winner notified by email shortly thereafter. Either of these sets would make the perfect gift for a little one, or hey, keep them for yourself. I would might! Good luck! :)

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P.S. Linking up with Funday Monday, Manic Monday here and here, Wake Up Wednesday, Lovely Thursdays, Thursday Favorite Things

Weekend Wrap Up + Giveaway

Howdy again! Is it just me, or are the weeks flying quicker than ever before? I literally feel like 2014 is shaping up to be the fastest year I've ever experienced--seriously.

I hope your week was lovely. Mine involved more bloodwork yesterday (hey, I got about a four-month break since the last time, so that's nice) to see if I have a certain gene mutation that we're actually kind of hoping I have. Because then we'd have an answer and a missing link to treat.

In other news, I sold my first piece on Etsy to Prince Edward Island!! :D Totally made my week...

And the sky--opposite the sunset--looked like this the other evening. It was pretty crazy.

So did you get to try this Cauliflower Popcorn I shared on Monday? Or maybe the broccoli version? If you didn't, I promise it's tasty--and goes well with chicken (what doesn't though?). And if you did, what did you think?

On Tuesday I offered my two cents on a quote that I find particularly encouraging:

Oh, and this happened:

One of my current favorite Katya Valera pieces was styled in two looks thanks to Polyvore's amazing help:

You can get a sneak peak of upcoming Polyvore looks of mine and follow me here!

I finally got to purchase the cutest matryoshka makeup bag ever:

Bag available here on Etsy.

And I also shared my new-found love for midi rings:

Meanwhile, I'm excited to share that the lovely Jacquelyn over at The Style Worthwhile is hosting a GIVEAWAY of one of my newest and most popular pieces!

The necklace is also for sale here if you just can't wait. ;)

Head on over there to enter--it's open to the US and Canada and ends April 30th.

Happy weekend, and Happy Easter, you guys!

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory

 through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:55-57

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17

P.S. Linking up with Little Friday, Link Love, Thinking Out Loud, and Funday Monday.

Giveaway Winner + Surprise for Everyone Who Entered!

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Congratulations, Megan! I hope you love your necklace!

Thank you all so very much for making this, by far, my most successful giveaway ever! Every like and follow, every comment made me so happy--and definitely made for one happy week! I truly appreciate the time you took, especially the enthusiastic comments many of you left about my jewelry and your favorite pieces.

As my thank you for your awesomeness, I want to offer a special coupon code for all of you who entered the giveaway! (There are too many of you to spam email--you're welcome! ;) Just use coupon code ThankYou10 at checkout for 10% off anything in my shop, no limit! Here's your chance to claim that piece that was calling your name during the giveaway! The code is good through the end of March, and if you have any questions about using it, please feel free to comment here or message me on Etsy.

Oh, and if your favorite piece was the prize for the giveaway, not to worry: it's also for sale here! :D

Happy Spring!