What have we been up to?

I started this blog with the intent to hold myself to getting my home improvement projects done!  They are coming along slowly, but surely.
Since my last post,  we added a daughter to our little boy clan.

....and manufactured some dresses for our business....most recently we have been working on swimwear!

Through the help of some very supportive friends and co-workers we have officially launched a kickstarter campaign to meet our goal of $20,000.00

It is an all or nothing goal so we need to raise the money by April 27th or we get nothing from what is already raised.

To learn what a kickstarter project is go to the following link.

http://blackandwhiteapparel.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-have-we-been-up-to.html

There are perks for you when you help us back our project.  You can get an adorable swimsuit, towel, t-shirtor even a fabulous lookbook!

Here is our kickstarter link

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/919054986/whimsey-lane-swimwear-coverage-meets-glamour

When you pre-order a swimsuit you help us get closer to our goal!

You can also help us by spreading the word on facebook and pinterest!

Wish us luck!!

The Winner of the $50 Gift Certificate!

The

     winner

                of

                   the

                       $50

                            Gift

                                  Certificate

                                               To

                                                  Black and White Apparel

                                                                Is

                                                          LeWalk

          Congratulations!

   I had a lot of fun with this giveaway!

My Dream Bedding!

So I found my dream bedding set for the bedroom!  The price range however is kind of in my Pottery Barn Dreams.....

   I have had something like this in mind for the past year.  I am hoping that I'll be able to knock this one off for say $40.00?!
My Bedroom is still  a ways off but when I get to it I will know exactly what I want to do with it!!

Bedroom Wall Inspiration- Stripes and Tufting

I mentioned a little while back that my husband and I would be swapping rooms with our boys so they could have the master bedroom and a bigger place to play.

Last weekend we finally did it!  It was a really big feat because our house is tiny and moving a bunch of furniture around into different rooms caused a huge traffic jam!  For once I was grateful for the door that adjoins our bedroom and the boys bedroom.  We had to bring some of the furniture through there while OUR furniture sat in the front room :)

So while I am working on the kitchen and the work room OF COURSE I am thinking of something else completely :)  Our room is super small with our queen sized bed and tall dresser.  That is about all that fits.
In fact our bed is too big so we had to leave the footboard off of it so it would fit :)   So I am thinking of other alternatives with the bed and the walls.  I am probably going to boot the sleigh bed and make a BEAUTIFUL TUFTED headboard because now I have an excuse....

Don't worry!.....This is only in the planning stages because I have to finish my TWO house projects first :)
Since that was one of my goals for this year!

I love the shape of this headboard but probably wouldn't do it in white because it can't just be thrown in the wash when my kids fingerprints end up on it :)

Since our room is small but the walls are tall I thought some horizontal stripes would be amazing!

Creamylife.com

Maybe even some thicker stripes.  I love how it makes a long, narrow room look wider!

I am thinking in our bedroom I will do less browns and keep the blues and add more white and grays.

Maybe even a chandelier with a few crystals....hmmmm the wheels in my head are turning!

What would be your perfect bedroom?

I have given myself a time line on the kitchen....a week.  So next Thursday I should be done :)

Presenting a GIVEAWAY to celebrate the new dress line in my shop!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED!
THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW!

Do you like to win things?  I know I do!

I am so excited to present the first two dresses ever in my Etsy shop that I am giving away.....

A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO BLACK AND WHITE APPAREL!!!

The Ava Dress

Dainty pleats at the neckline and sleeves.

A Bubble hem and pleats at the waist for a little extra something special.

The Veronica Dress

Pretty spring flowers.

The fabric is light enough for spring and long sleeves keep you warm during those cooler beginnings of the season.

With a whimsy tie in the back...how can you resist?

To enter for my giveaway here is a list of options:

1-Log in to Facebook and type in Black and White Apparel LLC.  Once you are there click like and leave a comment.  It could be about your favorite item in my shop or something you would like me to put in my shop.   Sometimes I leave questions open on my wall to anyone who would like to answer them:)

2-  Log into Facebook and type in A Beautiful Cottage Home and click LIKE and then leave me a comment on my wall that let's me know what you like about my blog or what you would like to see on my blog....I love input.

3-You can also become a follower of A Beautiful Cottage Home on my blog and leave me a comment there as well.

4-Purchase something from my shop and leave me a message telling me you would like to be entered in my giveaway.

5- For every friend you get to "like" and leave a comment on Facebook you get an extra entry.

I've changed the rules....you can enter as many times as you like!   This means you can enter every day if you want!
 This Giveaway ends February 18, 2011

Good Luck!!

Another Kitchen Inspiration!

House of Turquoise had this lovely picture of the look I hope my kitchen will have...only smaller haha!

I especially love the butcher block countertops and have had my eye on some for my kitchen!
I also found an accessory that would look great by the window in my kitchen!!

I like it so much that I added it to my iphoto FOUR times!  Ha ha!

I have already talked to my Mom and she told me how to do it.......even has a container for me already!
I love how she always seems to have something similar on hand at all times!

A TIMER works like a charm- Cleaning Tip #10

I was up late last night trying to get my home in order after the kids were asleep.  They have been particularly destructive this week.....as they can be in the winter time.

I wanted to get a lot done but only had about an hour to do so.  So I set a timer for 10 minutes of scrubbing and picking up per room.  It was really easy to do because for ten minutes at a time all I had to do was focus on that one room.
Let me tell you......I got a lot done!
While the five minute clean sweep per room is great.....if you have a little more energy do ten minutes per room after the kids have gone to bed....You will be amazed at how much you can get done!!

Go try it and let me know how it goes!