Humble Hilo

Bag: Humble Hilo
Dress: similar
Hat: Anthropologie (on crazy sale, like, you need to buy it!)
Boots: similar

*Photos by Nathan Petty

A few months ago I won this bag from Humble Hilo (it doubles as an extra cute diaper or camera bag), and I thought it would be fun to share their brand and story with you! Humble Hilo is run by two entrepreneurial mamas, and all of the bags are one-of-a-kind and handmade from "huipiles" in Guatemala. The making of these goods employs women in small Guatemalan towns, which in turn helps them support their own families and communities. 

My absolute favorite part of this brand is that you get to choose in which way you would like to give humanitarian aid whenever you purchase an item — the options are infant and child nutrition, literacy and education, and microfinance loans for women. And what's even more awesome is that they give an update every month of how many women and children have been helped. Girl power!

Mixing fashion with philanthropy is pure genius. I love the awareness and self-reliance it creates on all ends of the spectrum. If you're going to go shopping, why not make it a double whammy by supporting small business and eliminating the effects of poverty? Yep, makes sense to me, too.

And one last thing before I sign off. Have you seen these baby sandals? ADORABLE. Hello, summer sandals for Luke and Wes (I wish they were in my size)!

Be sure to go check out their shop. It's well worth it and I have a feeling you won't leave empty-handed. 

*No, I don't have extensions. These photos are from a few solid weeks ago, although it would be fun to have long hair for a day. Maybe.

Benny The Blind Chihuahua

Sunday evening is our designated family walk day. We love walking to the view point that spans the Pacific coast and letting Luke and Benny run free as the sun sets. However, there is one little hitch. If you have been reading this blog for awhile now, you probably know that Benny is our chihuahua. And he is blind. Blind as a freaking bat.

Luke loves Benny. Adores the little creature. Every morning he starts off his breakfast with his daily inquiry about his beloved puppy, "Ben-nnyyy? Oof-oof!" (that's "woof-woof" in partially coherent one-year old babble). However, a tumbly toddler chasing a 4-pound dog that can't see him coming can get a little dicey. Luke is learning to not run so frantically around Benny and to pet him softly, little by little.

As I watched them play, I realized I've never told the story about Benny. Officially, anyway. So get some treats and settle down for story time (don't worry, it's a short one).

Matt and I had been married for a few weeks and decided we needed a little fur baby. Being the dirt poor newlyweds we were, our apartment was teeny-tiny, so naturally we would need a teeny-tiny puppy. Ding, ding, ding!  Chihuahua it was to be!

The search on KSL began, and we happened upon the homeliest, buggy-eyed, crooked-eared chihuahua puppy. The so-ugly-it's-cute kind of thing going on. And he was the runt of the litter! Jackpot. Phone calls were made, puppy gear was purchased and soon we were meeting our newest addition in a parking lot in Salt Lake. 

Benny was beyond adorable. He fit perfectly into my cupped hands and I couldn't believe there were puppies that tiny! He whimpered and snuggled into my lap, although he was unusually skiddish.

A few weeks passed, and we realized something wasn't quite right. After countless efforts to play fetch or chase string, he still just sat there with a blank stare and didn't respond to any games. The trip to the vet a couple days later confirmed our suspicions that he was indeed blind. We had unknowingly bought a blind dog (that kind of thing would happen to us), but it was one of the best unintentional decisions of our lives. Benny is sweet and special and one of a kind! In fact, our next dog will quite possibly be another blind one. 

Because we love fur babies and support animal-friendly and cruelty-free products, I want to share with you the "Designed for Good" limited edition Method soap campaign. First off, all Method products are not tested on animals, use no animal by-products and are environmentally friendly. We use them in our home and I love, love love them. They smell yummy and are always designed with a sharp aesthetic appeal. Secondly, in honor of looking out for our furry companions, Method will donate 15% of sales on Soap.com to the ASPCA to help fight animal cruelty for the month of June and you get 20% off your first purchase using code PAWPRINT at checkout. You can also enter your animal pals into their photo contest to enter to win a $50 gift card to Soap.com. 

Can't wait to see your fluffy buddies and hear your pet stories! 

This post is sponsored by Method. All opinions are my own.

Mommy At Heart

Tee: c/o Mommy at Heart. Jacket: LOFT. Shades: Anthropologie.

To all my fellow mamas, nannies, big sisters, and caretakers out there:

We assume the title of cook, doctor, maid, activities coordinator, therapist, sanitation engineer, chaffeur, coach, teacher, even CEO of the household to name a few. Hundreds of other titles are still left unnamed on this long list of jobs we take on as mothers and mother figures, and oh how that list could go on for decades. Please pipe in with you favorite one-- they are really quite comical.

Mommy at Heart is a young company with this humorous approach to all the tasks we take on as Supermoms each day. They specialize in graphic tees which proudly display a few of those specialized jobs we'd be getting paid some serious cash monies for if it were out in the work force. I am most definitely a top-notch sanitation engineer with the loads of diapers and laundry I am changing out every single day. If I had a dollar for every diaper I change... oh wait, I give a dollar for every diaper I change.

Since motherhood is messy and expensive, it's a good thing to invest in some comfy tees that can add some amusement to your day. Mommy at Heart offers nine different t-shirts that are perfect for a casual, yet spunky outfit. The best part of their brand is that for every purchase you make, they donate $5 to a Non-Profit Organization which focuses on helping women and children throughout the world. Did I mention these would make awesome gifts? Perfect for baby showers or for the hospital! You can get 15% off your entire purchase using code ABBEYSREADERS090909. And...

Because Mommy at Heart is such a generous and beautiful business, they are giving away a tee of your choice, as well as donating $5 to their NPO of the month for your free t-shirt! All you have to do is hop on down below to enter to win one.

Please join in their amazing cause by entering, even if you aren't officially a mama, and be sure to check out their adorable shop. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We Did It!

As many of you know, I was selling Hope necklaces to support Breast Cancer Awareness month.

My goal was to raise $100  from sales to donate to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and...

WE DID IT!

Thank you to all you who supported this cause by spreading the word and by purchasing items from my shop, Sprightly So.

I will continue to donate 10% of proceeds from all purchases to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation throughout the holidays, so be sure to stop by and take a look! The necklaces make awesome gifts for the holidays, and I take custom orders!

Thanks again for all your help!

Perfection

Blouse: LOFT.
Striped tee. LOFT.
Necklace: Vintage.
Belt: LOFT.
Leggings: H&M.
Earrings: H&M.

"Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."  

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I make loads of mistakes. I have my own issues and often beat myself up for making them. But you know what? Emerson has it right. "Blunders and absurdities" definitely weasel their way into life every single day, and letting them dictate life will lead to destruction.

Here is my solution to letting go of those demons and finding peace:

1) Admit your mistakes--denial and excuses are jet fuel to the fire of weakness.

2) Count your blessings--look at all the great things you've created in your life!

3) Control your thoughts-- you are what you think, and your thoughts will ultimately lead you to your actions, which ultimately lead to the formation of your character. Think good things!

4)Pray--whether you believe in a higher power or not, just try it. It works.

5) Love yourself and realize you are only human-- nothing is permanent in this world, especially crappy times. There is always a chance for redemption, at least until you're dead, and even then I'm sure there is room for negotiation.

6) Never give up-- remember that every cloud has a silver lining, and break-throughs often occur when you feel all is lost.

7) Find a hero to look up to-- my inspirational guru is the Pixar company. I'll lend them to you while you find your own even! Read up on them. Anything is possible if you just believe!

Thanks to all of you that have contributed to Breast Cancer Awareness and visited or purchased from my shop! We have raised $80 to donate to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation so far! Woohoo! Let's get to the goal of $100! Who's with me!?

Colonel Mustard In The Library

I think I have played Clue once in my life, but I can't be too sure. It is sufficient to say though that Colonel Mustard would be my guy. Mustard is my favorite fall color, if you didn't already know.

Now, the condiment mustard is an entirely different story...I didn't start liking it until about 5 years ago, and I still  place limits on what I will eat it with. You could say my tastebuds have matured, but my meal prefernces have not. I will only eat mustard with corn dogs and sloppy joes. In fact, 90% of the foods I eat are generally categorized into the meal plan of a 6-year old...

PB & J
Mac N' Cheese
Tater tots
Honey Nut Cheerios
Apple slices
Fruit snacks
Gogurt
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets

Yep, that pretty much sums up my diet.

Sweater dress: LOFT.
Beanie: F21.
Belt: Anthropologie.
Leggings: F21.
Leg warmers: H&M
Boots: Buffalo Exchange (thrifted)

Ok, I really don't know why I am rambling on about food so much, because I have other important news you absolutely must know about.

Many of you know the amazing Ashley from The Shine Project. She is an extraordinary example of happiness and what life is about! Her most recent project is The Shine Fundraising Event, where she is hosting a raffle and auction to provide college scholarships for 8 kids from Cesar Chavez High School! You can click here to participate in the raffle, where you can enter to win $500 worth of merchandise donated by bloggers (myself included)!




It's loads of fun and you are helping a truly phenomenal cause!

P.S.
My $25 LOFT gift card giveaway ends tomorrow, Saturday, October 15, so get your cutie-patootie over here and enter!

Life With Breast Cancer

2/15/2011
(Jerry)
Both biopsies confirm that Cathi has invasive ductile carcinoma cancer in her right breast with a grade rating of “high”. We both KNOW that Cathi will recover, although we may have a rough road ahead of us.


3/07/11
(Jerry)
We just heard from the surgeon and here are the results of Cathi's pathology report:
- there was NO cancer in the left breast
- there were small tumors in the lymphatic channels
- The surgeon took out 17 lymph nodes and out of these 17, Cathi only had cancer in the original two lymph nodes that were removed
 The surgeon said that Cathi will probably be facing six rounds (12-15 weeks) of chemo therapy and around five rounds of radiation after that.


3/16/11
(Cathi)
I am so grateful for the blessings in my life.  I've got a fantastic husband and wonderful kids who make me smile and laugh all the time.  I've got the greatest extended family members and friends that a person could ask for.  I've been flooded with cards, letters, phone calls, e-mails, food, and the most creative, delightful gifts that you could imagine, since this yucky cancer came into my life.  I feel so spoiled!  But even more than that, I've been blessed with the faith and prayers of great people everywhere.  My burden is being made light by all of you, and I'm truly grateful.  The Lord is in charge, and He knows what we need and when we need it, and I'm grateful for the blessing of knowing that.


3/22/11
(Cathi)
"Jerry, I am going to fight this cancer with everything I have…my physical self, my mental self, and my spiritual self. And I will continue to have faith that I will fully recover from this.”


6/19/11
(Jerry)
Although you will rarely hear Cathi complain about this whole experience (and more likely hear her make light of it), this is NOT the easiest thing in the world. The effects of the chemo are much more than physical. Cathi explains that because the drugs affect her concentration and cause restlessness and fatigue at the same time...and because the treatment spans so many weeks, it's really easy to slip into irrational thinking and forget that it will end. Fortunately, the timing of the worst effects have been fairly routine. She gets her chemo on a Tuesday and will be fine Tuesday and Wednesday. Somewhere around Thursday, the worst will start kicking in and she'll suffer through until Saturday when she starts feeling a little better.


10/1/11
(Jerry)
"On July 26, Cathi received her last treatment...finally so close to the peak and feeling the hope that comes just before the end of a long, tough journey. Then Cathi was advised she should begin six weeks of daily radiation. While this has turned out to be a "walk in the park" compared to chemotherapy, her initial realization that more "climbing" was required to reach the summit...In 1975, after becoming the first woman to climb Mount Everest, Junko Tabei said, "Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money or be given by others . . . it rises from your heart". I am married to a woman who has done something no less incredible than climb the highest mountain in the world.

Aunt Cathi & Uncle Jerry

These excerpts are from the blog of my Aunt Cathi and Uncle Jerry. Their words are a beacon of faith, wisdom, and hope as my Aunt Cathi fights the daily battle of breast cancer. 

Isn't she a remarkable woman? I admire her strength and optimism she has possessed through this entire struggle, as well as the support and faith of my Uncle Jerry.  

Thank you, Cathi and Jerry for not being afraid to share your experiences and for being a wonderful source of inspiration to many.

With this, I want to invite all of you lovelies to join in on the fight against breast cancer!In an effort to raise funds to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, I have created the limited edition "Hope" necklace for my jewelry line, Sprightly So. 


The necklace is selling for $20, and 50% of the profits will be donated to BCRF. 

(Please visit my shop to order.)

I am so excited to let you all know $80 has been raised so far! 


Yahoo! 


Thank you to all of those have contributed, purchased, and spread the word to this cause! 


It is my goal to raise at least $100. This money supports research for a cure and helps to spread awareness about breast cancer. 

Please help me reach and even exceed the $100 goal! I know we can do it! Let your friends and family know. If you are a blogger, please grab my button below to promote on your blog! 


Help save the lives of the amazing women you love in your life, and potentially your own beautiful life ♥

<a href="http://alongabbeyroad.blogspot.com/p/shop.html" target="_blank" title="Along Abbey Road"><img src="http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee448/rodriguez_abbey/Hope.jpg" width="200" height="180" alt="Along Abbey Road" /></a></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: "> 

Save The Ta-Tas!

"November 22, 2010 – I was working at the Roseville office of RE/MAX Gold when I received a call from Dr. Oide. He identified himself and when I asked him how he was he said, “Oh I’m so sorry to tell you that the biopsy has confirmed that it is breast cancer.” I was in shock. I knew that it certainly was a possibility but was hoping not. The tears began to flow... 

November 29, 2010 – We met with (surgeon) Dr. Thomas Dugoni at 2:30pm. The options for treatment were presented to me (and Jon who is such a support). After hearing what he had to say I felt like a mastectomy was the best option for me...

December 7, 2010 – My surgery was scheduled for 7:00am. I was the first one of the day. I had not slept very well the night before. I was feeling pretty anxious... I felt so nervous as we were walking from the elevator down the hall toward the surgery center... I felt like a lamb going to slaughter...The next thing I knew I was waking up. I was in the same spot so wasn’t sure that I had even gone to surgery yet until I looked down and saw the bandage. I felt so sad and just cried and cried...

February, 2010 – It is getting better each day. I am alive and cancer free and feeling very blessed!! Jon reminds me all the time that I am the love of his life, and that all he wants is for me to be alive and well. Oh, how I love that man of mine!!"

My Aunt Shauna and Uncle Jon

This is the journal of my beautiful Aunt Shauna as she began her battle with breast cancer throughout this last year. Her honest words unveil the reality of the frightening illness that plagues so many women throughout the world. Imagine walking into your visit with the doctor to hear the confirmation of your worst fear...

"You have breast cancer". 

Many of you have personally battled this demon. Many of you have dear family members and friends who are currently fighting, or have lived through the pain of breast cancer. Many of you have lost your companion, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, best friend to breast cancer.

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I have felt a very strong impression to do something to make a difference in the world this year, specifically in the fight against breast cancer, as many of my own family members are currently fighting. 

I need your help.

In an effort to raise funds to donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, I have created the limited edition "Hope" necklace for my jewelry line, Sprightly So. The necklace is selling for $20, and 50% of the profits will be donated to BCRF. 

(Please visit my shop to order.)

It is my goal to raise at least $100. This money will help support research for a cure and spread awareness about breast cancer. 

Please help me in this mission. Let your friends and family know. If you are a blogger, please grab my button below to promote on your blog! Help save the lives of the amazing women you love in your life, and potentially your own beautiful life ♥

<a href="http://alongabbeyroad.blogspot.com/p/shop.html" target="_blank" title="Along Abbey Road"><img src="http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee448/rodriguez_abbey/Hope.jpg" width="200" height="180" alt="Along Abbey Road" /></a></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: "> 

Be Aware, Be Kind, Be Generous

If you haven't heard already, tomorrow will be a day of silence for bloggers in an effort to bring relief to those affected from the disasters in Japan.

Please read here for more information on how you can help.

Thanks for your selfless acts of compassion to help the suffering. 

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson