Thursday, February 28, 2013

GIVEAWAY // Win a Pair of Gentle Souls Shoes (of Your Choice!)


Win a Pair of Shoes from Planet Shoes and Bubby & Bean!

I am SO excited to be partnering with the amazing PlanetShoes.com today for a truly incredible giveaway!  I recently became the proud owner of a pair of their shoes (the Gentle Souls Blinique in Chocolate), and I can't even tell you guys how in love with them I am.  They are crazy comfortable, the quality is impeccable, and they're one of the chicest pair of sandals I've ever seen.  In addition to the fact that Planet Shoes carries thousands of gorgeous shoes (from over 160 brands!), they also have a commitment to respect the earth, which is a pretty big deal in my eyes.  Their mission is to find designs that blend function, style, and comfort with eco-ethics, and they work alongside several environmental organizations in effort to better our planet.  I'm a fan.  And now you have the chance to own a pair of your very own from their Gentle Souls line (my favorite!) - a $120 to $395 value - of your choice!

Win a Pair of Shoes from Planet Shoes and Bubby & Bean!


To enter, just visit the Planet Shoes website and leave a comment below telling me which pair of Gentle Souls is your favorite.  That's it!


Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following.  (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).
  • Like Planet Shoes on Facebook
  • Follow Planet Shoes on Twitter 
  • Tweet this:  I entered the @PlanetShoes giveaway hosted by @MotM_EcoFashion for a chance to win my choice of Gentle Souls! >> http://bit.ly/13zGk9N
  • Follow Planet Shoes on Pinterest 
  • Pin an image from this post to Pinterest 
  • Click the Facebook Like button below to like this post on Facebook.  
  • Repost the Planet Shoes Giveaway image from Bubby & Bean's Instagram with hashtag #bubbyandbeangiveaway

This giveaway is open through March 6th and is open to all Bubby and Bean readers who live in (or can have their prize shipped to) the U.S. and Canada.  The winner's name will be randomly chosen and announced shortly after.  Thank you again to Planet Shoes for offering our readers the chance to win a pair of their amazing shoes! GOOD LUCK!

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Homemade Coffee Creamer, 3 Ways


Homemade Coffee Creamer // Bubby and Bean
This guest post was written by our February featured sponsor, Gina of Acute Designs.

I am a self-professed coffee addict.  Every morning, before I walk and feed my dogs, I start the coffee maker. When I return from walking my dogs, I enjoy one too many cups of coffee...always laced with some sort of sweet creamer.

When I have the time, I love to make my own coffee creamer.  The end result is subtly sweet and the flavor is so much better than store bought.



INGREDIENTS
  • Nutella
  • honey
  • one vanilla bean
  • cinnamon and sugar -  a mix of 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
  • 3 cups of milk or cream -  I used low fat milk, but vitamin d milk, heavy cream, or half and half will work too

NUTELLA CREAMER
If you have never had nutella in your coffee, prepare yourself for a little cup of amazing goodness.  It tastes like a mocha, but so much better.

In a small saucepan, stir together one cup of milk and two heaping tablespoons of nutella.  Keep the heat low so that the milk does not begin to boil and stir until all is combined.   Pour into an airtight jar or plastic container and allow to cool. This creamer will last about a week in the refrigerator but it will begin to separate, so be sure to give it a good shake before adding to your coffee.


HONEY VANILLA CREAMER
You can use vanilla extract in the recipe but the flavor from a full vanilla bean is so delicious and totally worth the extra cost.

Pour one cup of milk in a small saucepan, add a heaping tablespoon of honey, and warm over low heat.  Split the vanilla bean, lengthwise and add to the pan.  Continue to heat the milk for about five minutes and pour into an airtight jar or plastic container.  Leave the vanilla bean in the milk so that the flavor continues to infuse the milk as it sits in the refrigerator.


CINNAMON SUGAR CREAMER
When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of the cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  This creamer tastes a lot like the sweet milk that was left after a bowl of the sugary cereal.  Sweet and cinnamon-y and a little nostalgic. Perfect.

In a small saucepan, stir together one cup of milk, two tablespoons sugar, and one tablespoon cinnamon. Keep the heat low so that the milk does not begin to boil and stir until all is combined and the sugar is melted, about 3 minutes.  Pour into an airtight jar or plastic container and allow to cool. This creamer will last about a week in the refrigerator but it will begin to separate, so be sure to give it a good shake before adding to your coffee.


Do you have a favorite flavor that you add to your coffee?  If so, please share, I am always looking for new sweet coffee ideas :).
xo,
Gina


Many thanks to Gina for sharing these recipes and for being such a wonderful featured sponsor.   Make sure you pay a visit to her blog and shop.  She makes some truly gorgeous jewelry and hair accessories!  You can also find Gina on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter xo, melissa



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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Colorful Combo

Colorful Combo // Bubby and Bean



Our pal Stephanie asked if she could put together a little colorful combo of goodness to share with you guys, to bring some bold + bright to these last dreary days of winter.  I'd say she did a pretty great job.  Which is your favorite?


Stephanie loves putting together colorful treasures, and her passion for curating led her to recently open an online boutique called Baba Souk.  It's a destination for creative cool cats, indie design & craft lovers.  Have a look at her latest finds over here!  You can also find her on Facebook and Pinterest.


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Monday, February 25, 2013

Life Lately // In Snapshots


Pics from top:  1. winter skies are pretty, but it's time to make way for spring  // 2. celebrating love // 3. another fantastic target clearance find // 4. girlfriends and taco dates ftw  // 5. my favorite baby boy crawled for the first time at auntie melissa's house last week! // 6. brand new thank you card sets in the shop // 7. reading about yerba mate in the bookstore cafe // 8. we made vegan buffalo cauliflower bites and they were amazing // 9. pretty fantastic package i received from PlanetShoes.com on friday  // 10. found this gem from 2006; my sis and i hanging sidestage while my boyfriend (now husband) worked  // 11. a record a day keeps the doctor (& winter blues) away // 12. love that my dad saves me copies of fashion week articles from his new york times // 13. robbie brought me back my all-time favorite food (chura momos) from my all-time favorite restaurant (little tibet in bloomington, in) // 14. drying my valentine flowers


How was your weekend?  Despite that fact that it was Oscars weekend (watching the Oscars has been one of my absolute favorite things to do since I was a little girl!), truthfully, this weekend was pretty crap-tastic.  I really don't like to make the blog an outlet for trivial complaints.  We all have problems, and an inspiration blog isn't the place to vent them.  That said, I have to say it - this weekend was just plain sucky.  Robbie finally got a break after the band's 5-week winter tour last week, but after just a few days at home, he got a call on Saturday evening that his sweet grandmother wasn't doing well.  So he left immediately and drove through the night to go be with her.  I'm hoping to meet him out there over the next day or so, so that we can spend some time with her before he leaves to go back on the road - but the winter storm that's supposed to come through may force him to head home early.  My grandmother has also not been well over the last few weeks, and although they have both lived long and absolutely incredible lives, this is a difficult time.  In fact, this month has been difficult in general - lots of loss, lots of stress, lots of time away from my husband, lots of curve balls, lots of winter blahs. There is always a bright side though, and February's complete lack of awesomeness has made me even more excited for March.  Yay spring!  Springtime always makes everything better, doesn't it?

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Friday, February 22, 2013

Be A Part of Bubby and Bean in March!


Join the Bubby & Bean Sponsor Team

The end of the month is less than a week away, which means it's time for the official sponsor call here at Bubby and Bean.  I'm really excited about our plans for the blog in March (hello, springtime!).  If you have a blog, shop, Etsy store, small business, or brand you'd like to promote to several thousands of interested people every single day, I'd love to help you through a Bubby and Bean Sponsorship!

In addition to promoting sponsors through their ads on all pages and posts here at Bubby and Bean, I work one on one with each advertiser to ensure they are given optimum exposure through the blog and our social media channels.  For more information on our various advertising packages, current stats, press, and pricing, visit our sponsor page right here. You can also book your ad space there directly in one click.  We currently have a handful of spots open in each size (including the coveted featured spot!).  All ad spaces are first come, first serve. 

Have questions?  Feel free to contact me

Thursday, February 21, 2013

February GIVEAWAY // Win a Prize Package of Goodies Worth $440!


The Bubby and Bean February Giveaway // Win 6 Prizes Worth $440!

This month's group giveaway is one of those giveaways that I really wish I could enter myself - the prizes are just that good.  From art to paper goods to custom design work to home decor to life coaching, our February sponsors have really put together an above-and-beyond package this time around.  And Bubby & Bean Art decided to throw something in too!  This amazing giveaway is valued at nearly $440 - and one lucky Bubby and Bean reader will win it all!


VISIT THIS BLOG  //  VISIT THIS SHOP



VISIT THIS SHOP  //  VISIT THIS BLOG



VISIT THIS SITE  //  VISIT THIS SHOP



VISIT THIS BLOG  //  VISIT THIS SHOP



VISIT THIS BLOG



VISIT THIS SHOP 




This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers.  If you're a new reader, just make sure to subscribe first using GFC or one of these readers
Then just leave a comment telling me which item you'd most like to win!
 


Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following.  (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count).


This giveaway is open through February 27th and is open to Bubby and Bean readers worldwide. The winner's name will be chosen randomly and announced soon shortly after.  Good luck!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Transition to Spring >> Graphic Pullovers

Graphic Pullovers // Bubby and Bean

1. Hello Green Champ Pullover, Hello Apparel  //  2. Black Galaxy Pullover, H&M  
3. Gold Foil Graphic Pullover, Target  // 4. Contemplative Canine Top, ModCloth 
 5.
Markus Lupfer Lips Sweater, Net-A-Porter // 6. Listen to the People Sweatshirt, Karmaloop 
7. Vintage Bambi Park Sweatshirt, Free People // 8. Ventana Pullover Light Sweatshirt, Maryink 
9.
KISS Distressed Sweater, Sugar Bullets

Very soon (although not quite soon enough in my opinion), it will be time to put away our bulky winter coats in favor of awesome things like jackets and sweaters.  And although we've got a while to go (at least here in the states) before we'll be frolicking barefoot in shorts and sundresses, the in-between of winter and spring can still be a fun time for casual fashion.  Example: the graphic pullover.  It was a wardrobe staple in the fall, and I think it's the perfect everyday transition piece for early spring as well.  I love how you can pair it with everything from plain jeans to printed skirts.  Graphic pullovers are anything goes - they make boring outfits fun.    


Are you a fan of graphic pullovers?  And are you as excited as I am to bury your winter coat in the back of the closet until next year?

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

A Big Ol' Sale (Just For Blog Readers!) at Bubby & Bean Art



Now that holiday and V-Day madness are over and things have slowed down enough for me to start working on some new designs for the Bubby and Bean Art shop, I thought I'd offer up a discount to you guys for being the best blog readers in alllll the land.  Today through Friday (2/22), take 30% off everything with code BLOG30.  Yep, 30% off.  Yep, on everything.  I just love you guys that much.  

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Monday, February 18, 2013

My Style >> I've Got the Blues


Melissa of Bubby and Bean

It's been about a month since my last My Style post, and there is one word that will explain the reasoning behind this: winter.  I have yet to find a place indoors where the lighting is good enough to snap outfit photos (aside from public places that are much too crowded for me to not burst into awkward laughter while having my picture taken). And it has just been way too cold outside for photo shoots where I'm not covered in endless layers of outerwear.  In the end, I have accepted the fact that as long as I live in the Chicago area, outfit posts here on Bubby and Bean will be scarce in the winter months.  So there you have it.

All my late winter complaining aside, don't let the title of this post mislead you - the only blues I had this day were the ones I was wearing.  Sunshine and mild weather are rare treats this time of year, and I was ready to take full advantage of it.  I finally got to wear this pretty, pretty dress that Sugarlips sent me over a month ago.  And I also got to bust out my beloved Ann Taylor denim jacket (oh how I've missed you!) that I picked up for $4 at Good Will last spring.  It was even bright enough for a couple of hours to wear my favorite sunnies of all time, the Melissa Sunglasses by my pals Beca and Doug over at Tumbleweeds.


This is a very basic, everyday outfit.  As much as I adore getting dressed to the nines from time to time, this type of casual, effortless look is my favorite.  Easy, simple, and comfortable, but still put together enough not to feel sloppy.  I usually wear a lot more layers than I did here, especially in the winter, but there's something to be said for keeping things simple.  It was nice to just throw on the dress, some tights and the jacket, and head out to meet friends for a late afternoon glass of wine.

Normally I wouldn't pair this shade of blue with a denim jacket, but I really loved the way that all of the faded blue tones made the bright embroidered detailing of the dress stand out.  This dress is going to be a spring and summer staple in my closet, I just know it.  I love the subtle high-low hem and the drapey fabric, and how the filigree pattern gives a touch of bohemian to what would otherwise be a more classic shift dress.  And the cut-out back is so rad.  I can't wait until it's warm enough to wear it by itself.


Hair disclaimer:  I am all about the messy hair trend. I'm partial to hair styles that look a little tousled and undone over super-polished looks.  That said, the extreme mess factor going on with the side braid here was not intentional.  I'd like to thank the intense wind that day for styling my half-grown-out bangs into all kinds of awkward positions, and for recreating the exact same look that I had as a 5 year-old after my morning braid had endured several hours of playing "roll down the hill."

Dress: c/o Sugarlips  //  Sunglasses: c/o Tumbleweeds  //  Earrings: handmade 
Jacket: Ann Taylor, thrifted for $4  // Tights: Target  //  Bracelet: gift  //  Shoes: c/o B.A.I.T. 

Who else is excited to start mixing in pieces of warmer weather clothing?  (Exactly 30 days 'til spring you guys.  Just so you know.)

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