new favorite app.

a new app for the iPhone was released this week.

it's for your pictures {but really for instagram!}

check it out.

it's from the cutest bloggers over at a beautiful mess. 

so much fun. i've been spending WAY too much time messing with it this week. 

try it out & see how you like it! lots of different ways to play!!

happy thursday, ya'll. 

 oh!!! and don't miss it!

over on instagram, little branches will be having our first ever insta-sale!!!

head on over, follow the directions under this picture and then YOU could win this cutie pie 12" x 12" hand painted sign! woot!! how fun would that be? 

{you're also eligible for a 10% discount on any purchase you make during the instasale!!!}

the online shop will be stocked a few days after the sale - this is just a fun preview of what's to come. mostly restocking the spring line, but there will be some new items too!!! 

top five: new to me music. {and a winner!}

***scroll down to see winner of kiwi crate giveaway!!***

today i'm "introducing" you to my new favorite music! i am a huge fan of mumford, john mayer, taylor swift & the civil wars.... so i guess you could say i like a wide range of music. does that make me unsophisticated? hmmm... maybe?

 i love the singer/songwriter stuff {which is why i like taylor swift so much!} and a folksy sound does me in. {have you heard that cute folksy couple on nashville? if you haven't - you should! love them!!}

so i'm always on the hunt for new {to me} music. here's what i've found more recently that sits well with me! i hope you find something new to enjoy too!

 1. the lumineers. i think i was introduced to them last summer by my brother in law. LOVE. i could listen to them all day.

2. jillian edwards. i don't even know how i found this little lady. but her music makes me happy. reminds me of falling in love with my hubby. it makes me want to bop around on a sunny day and daydream all day long. ahhhh.... love. 

3. the head & the heart. i put a notice out on ig a few weeks ago that i was on the hunt for new music & this was one of the suggestions. i have to say that i was put of by the album cover... as in i thought i might have nightmares. BUT, it's GOOOOD. promise. i landed on an older album because their newer stuff sounded a bet more techno-y? i could totally be wrong but that's what it sounded like at first listen & that's not really "my sound".

4. the paper kites. i checked these lovelies out after seeing it posted on beth's ig.  i think we would be friends. i have listened to these short little albums on repeat on my trips to austin. happy music.

5. of monsters & men. i MUST tell you that they're probably gaining in popularity by the day. i had heard a few of their songs before & not even realized it. you need to check them out. really good music. relaxing. good to work to - kind of cathartic, in my opinion!

 

OH. and i have a giveaway to cash in on, huh??? who's the lucky winner??? NUMBER 17.

 

eeek! stephanie, it's you!!! email me & let me know if you want me to wait and send it on your new adventure! :) hope this brightens your monday!

kiwi crate. {a giveaway!}

 

for christmas, nana got us a subscription to kiwi crate. 

i originally saw it on meg's blog and thought that it would be such a fun idea for my kids but didn't want to pay a subscription at $20 for a month for crafting supplies. 

but - y'all - it's SUCH a good deal. there's SO much in each box AND it is so fun to open it up and see what fun goodies come each month!

and if you order through this link, you'll get $10 off!

the first month we got a cute pair of scissors, pastels, watercolors, four postcards to paint & a game of penguin bowling. the littles thought that was SO much fun. 

each month seems to have a theme and the last box we opened was family game night. it included two games {and we haven't even done the board game yet!} it's such a good rainy day thing to have on hand. my kids seem to be bickering a lot lately {c. has learned that she doesn't necessarily have to do everything her brother tells her} and sometimes it's nice to open up our kiwi crate & have a slight break from the fighting. {until they both want the red marker!}   

i have been super impressed with kiwi crate, to say the least. you get so much packed in the little box and they always have a little pamphlet that has even more ideas for crafts, games & activities that go along with that theme! we will definitely be continuing our subscription when it runs out. it is such a fun idea!

so - today - i'm giving away a THREE MONTH SUBSCRIPTION to kiwi crate!!! {not a sponsored post - i just want you to see how great it is!}. i just know that you, too, will LOVE it as much as i do! i can't wait for you to see!

***********there are three chances to win:*********

for your first entry - leave a comment HERE telling me when you'd pull out the kiwi crate! right when you get it? a rainy day? when you're trying to cook dinner??

for your second entry - share this giveaway on ANY social media! facebook, instagram, your blog! {you can share on all three, but it only counts once!!} make sure to leave a comment HERE telling me you did this!

for your third entry - like my page on facebook & leave a comment HERE telling me that you're a fan on facebook!

GOOD LUCK! the giveaway will close on sunday night at 5 and i'll announce the winners here on monday morning!!!

have a great wednesday! i'm off to find my third cup of coffee!!

****remember, this is NOT sponsored by kiwi crate! i just wanted to share with you! all of us mommies can use a good rainy day supply of goodies, right???****

if you want to go ahead & order a kiwi crate - use this link & we will BOTH get $10 off!!!

instafriday + a WINNER!

this week flew by, even though i felt at a slower pace, we just kept going. i haven't been feeling well for the past few weeks. a cold will come, i'll feel better and then a new cold will come. it's SUMMER time! 

i've been convicted lately about our 'diets' in our home. in fact, i've been convicted about using that word, "diet". we need to cut it out at our house and just plain eat healthy! i've been praying about what this looks like, which i'll talk more about next week after i get more of my plan together, but one of the first things i hate is WHITE FLOUR. this has been engrained in me ever since i read the south beach book years ago after i had b. so i made my own whole grain tortillas. SO easy. why haven't i done it before? and they are so so yummy! we ate these twice this week!

i love me a green monster smoothie. i had been making one with peanut butter, almond milk, some greek yogurt and banana {in addition to the spinach, of course} but it was really heavy. even though it tasted great, i could never drink more than a fourth of it. but i found a new one that i can't stop drinking. it's frozen pineapple, frozen banana, spinach, ice and water. light & refreshing!

uncle bubba & lil' miss have somewhat of a tumultous relationship. well... i guess you could say that about lil' miss & pretty much any male figure other than her daddy. she just does not like them. but sunday night we took a big step and bubba held her for a bit without her melting. {i don't think she realized it was him holding her!}

the hubbs was in a 'circus' production one year at school and i believe was the lion tamer. his mamaw made him this awesome costume. complete with a plunging neckline. love. and now that b. loves to pretend he's in the circus, he wears the costume at mimi's house. he's so cute. {and serious.}

and there you have it. instafriday, once again! have a great weekend!

*** the winner of the apron giveaway is Karen!!! Karen, email me your mailing address and I will get your apron in the mail!! Congratulations!! I too love the sunshine - but especially the dayLIGHT!!!***