{Fabulous Friday Giveaway} WIN Two Fabulous 8x10 Prints from The Love Shop!

UPDATE!!

We have a lucky winner!

And that person is....

COMMENT #247 Champagne Mom

She said:  "My favorite is 'Follow Your Heart', it really pulls a deep emotional feeling from within.

And I also really like 'Do What You <3'. I need to follow that motto more often."

Well Champagne Mom, you are going to have some beautiful new artwork to give you inspiration every day!  Lucky girl!  Please email me at toni@thetomkatstudio.com to claim your wonderful prize!

Happy Friday! It's Toni again, bringing you our latest Fabulous Friday Giveaway! I have been giddy with excitement about this giveaway ALL WEEK! You may recognize some of the prints in this post! Kim has been a big fan of The Love Shop art prints for a long time, and uses them occasionally here on the blog as a visual to express her feelings! You have probably seen them here and here and here!

I have had the extreme pleasure of chatting this past week with JJ, the owner and creator of the prints sold at The Love Shop. She says she "loves to create beautiful products that inspire your dreams, uplift your spirit, and ignite your imagination."  Let me tell you, she exudes that positive energy even in the short emails that we have been sending back and forth! JJ is truly a gracious and lovely woman! She lives in Australia and ships all over the world! So guess that means? This week's giveaway is open to EVERYONE, no matter where you live! Fabulous!

The giveaway this week is TWO (2) 8x10 Prints of your choice from The Love Shop.  Each print is Professionally printed onto A4 (8.26" x 11.7") Deluxe Gloss paper with Epson UltraChrome K3™ pigment inks - fade resistant for up to 75+ years. Awesome!

Here is how to enter:(Enter up to 3 times, leaving a separate comment for each item below)

1)  Visit The Love Shop, come back here and leave a comment telling which TWO prints you would choose if you win! 

2)  Are you a fan of TomKat Studio on Facebook? Become one and let us know! If you already are a fan on Facebook, let us know!

3) Who's on Twitter? If you follow TomKat Studio on Twitter, comment for an additional entry!

Winner will be chosen on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 11:00pm (MST). Any entries received after this time will not be considered.  Winner will be chosen using random.org.

This is MY favorite print.  Kind of sums up how I try to live my life. 

Have a fabulous weekend!!

~Toni

Confession of My Latest Obsession {Beware: This Post Isn't About Parties}

Okay, I'm going to confess....
I am lovesick obsessed teenager at heart. Not to mention my OCD, which makes obsessive behavior pretty typical for me. I was OBSESSED with New Kids on the Block during my younger days. I really need to share a photo of my room so you can understand the depth of my obsession. My mom was nice enough to let me "decorate" however I wanted, which meant a picture of Joe or Jordan plastered on every inch of my room. Even pictures pinned on my lampshade. I mean everywhere.

Last year when they made their comeback, I went right back to being obsessed.
It felt like yesterday.

During college, the movie, Titanic came out. I again felt that same OBSESSIVENESS. It just got me. I determined that I was so connected with it, that I must have died on the Titanic in my previous life (or something). I watched it seven (yes, 7) times in the theater. I waited in line (with my now, husband :) at midnight the day the VIDEO was released. One of my prized possessions is a limited edition framed piece of wood from the ship in the movie that my then-boyfriend, now husband bought me. I have books, magazines....and yes, I was obsessed with Leo. Weren't you?

{i'll never let go, jack....i'll never let go}

My friend, Shannon finally convinced me to read THE vampire book this summer. Like many, I was leery of the whole sci-fi vampire "thing". However, it's so much more than that!
It was AMAZING. I LOVED IT.
I finished it in two days (my family missed me those days while I was in la-la land), and rented the movie the next day. And the day after that? Ran to the store for New Moon. At that point, I knew I had it.....the Twilight Fever and I now I know...I have it bad.

My 12-year old neighbor (yes, I'm friends with a seventh grader...) texted me the night of the New Moon Premiere, and asked if I was going. I wasn't, and I thought "why not?!" Her mom wouldn't let her go since she had school the next day, but me...the 32 year old....I should have gone! This is what obsessive teenagers/cougars do! It was too late to try to go, but I figured I could convince my hubby to take me this weekend for our date night. Well, we had a fabulous dinner and then headed to the theater. He decided New Moon just wasn't up his alley (he's probably right), and wanted to see something else.
Not me...I was going with or without him. And I did just that! :)
We went to our separate theaters....
and boy, did I enjoy my time alone with Jacob (& Edward)!
I walked out smiling to myself (a big smile), I just couldn't help it! :)

Now, I can't stop thinking about the movie (and Jacob)
....and I need to go buy Eclipse!
Please confess. (don't be afraid)
Are you with me on this or should I stop acting like a silly lovestruck teenager?

I LOVE Pretty, Pretty Flowers!

Yesterday was my 8th wedding anniversary! Boy, the years have flown by! My wonderful husband bought me the gorgeous roses in the above photo and I had to share them with you! I always tell him that if he is going to buy me flowers, to buy them in bunches and not arranged because I LOVE to arrange them myself! I even arranged one of my best friend's wedding flowers and bouquets! I'm an amateur, but practice makes perfect, right?

We had a lovely day with the kids and dinner out with my best friend & her hubby, as our wedding day is also her birthday! At our wedding, I had a small cake made to match my wedding cake and presented it to her later in the night and all of the wedding guests sang her Happy Birthday! We have been best friends since junior high school, and I am lucky to have her.
Here are some roses I arranged for her when her 2nd baby girl was born last year!

Late in the day yesterday, we received some BIG news! We found out that an offer we made on another home was accepted by the bank! (This is not the house we currently live in...so we will be moving AGAIN in 3-4 weeks!) I'll tell you more about the house later, but it will be a project so get ready for some fun remodeling posts next month! It is in a beautiful kid-friendly community and we are so excited to get to work on it and get settled finally!

The photo of my anniversary flowers was taken in my favorite little corner of "The TomKat Studio" in our current house. There's a long story behind my new fabulous pink & orange chair...
I'll be telling you about it soon!

Isn't it gorgeous?!

On My Mind: Perfect Ice Cream Parlour

I can't stop thinking about this. When I first came across it, I thought for sure this was the handiwork of my beloved, Amy Atlas but this comes from Eat.Drink.Chic., (a new Amy to worship)! I don't have to say much, because the pictures speak for themselves.....

You know me. Isn't this everything I live for? Pink, sweets, ice cream, fabulous fonts, fabulous design, free printable labels.......I can't get enough!

I'm in love. love. love.

Reminds me of one of my favorite invitations I designed:

New Auction to Benefit Kate McRae - Amy Butler Bib & Burp Cloth from Amy Rose Designs

It is so wonderful to hear from other people who want to do what they can to support the McRae family. If you haven't read about Kate McRae, a local Gilbert 5-year old in the hospital with cancer, please READ about her here. I hosted an auction for a custom party package a couple weeks ago, and since many others have done the same. I am gathering the proceeds and will be purchasing gift cards for the family next week. Sandra, the creator of Amy Rose Designs and Bloome clothing, saw my tweet about the last auction for a dress by Jaime at BusyBizzyB and offered to auction a matching bib & burp cloth from her collection (shown above).

PLEASE visit Sandra's blog to bid on the auction HERE!

Visit Amy Rose Designs Etsy shop HERE

New Auction to Benefit Kate McRae - Sweet Dress

Jaime from Busy Bizzy B, offered to auction off this adorable onesie dress (size 12 months) made with Amy Butler fabrics (my fave!) to benefit little Kate McRae. If you aren't familiar with Kate's story, you can read my posts here and here. After being on vacation last week, I caught up on the lastest post on her mom's journal today. The heartbreak continues as Kate has started chemotherapy. A recent video captures a day in Kate's life now. Extremely different from what her life was just a month ago, I'm sure. Please keep this little angel in your thoughts and prayers.

To enter the auction, please visit Jaime's BLOG HERE

Visit Jaime's Etsy Shop HERE

Fashion: Another Hot Pink Purse!

I rarely write about fashion and accessories here on my creative blog, but when I came across this Kate Spade purse online, I had to share it with you. It might be a little "much" for most....but it would be my perfect summer purse! (if I was ready to spend that kind of money!) Do you think I have a thing for PINK? I have been using my little hot pink Coach purse a ton and I love it!

What do you think? Do you like it? hate it?

Maybe my hubby will see this post and get me a belated birthday present.....hint! hint! :)

This Greek Girl is Going Home!

(photo of my YiaYia with my son ~ 2006}

On a whim, I decided it is time to go to New York to visit my family there. I was born in Orchard Park, New York and moved to Arizona when I was 11. The entire family on my dad's side (the Greek side) live in upstate New York. This includes my YiaYia (my beloved grandmother), as well as my aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, third cousins, etc, etc. Good think I got married in Arizona, or else my wedding would have had 800 guests!

My family there hasn't met my daughter yet, and last time I visited with my son, he was only one year old. I can't wait for everyone to see how sweet my babies are! My YiaYia is one of the strongest women I know, and tells me the greatest stories about her life growing up, living in a small village in the "old country", sneaking out of her village to bring my grandfather food while he hid out in the mountains during war, coming over on "the ship" with three little kids and how horrible it was. Although my YiaYia and Papou's marriage was arranged (can you believe that?), my YiaYia loved her husband with all of her heart. When he had a stroke many years ago, she nursed him back to health and re-taught him everything he needed to know. My Papou passed away several years ago, and she is alone. She has family nearby, of course, but still lives in the same house that they have owned for (30?) years and takes care of herself. She won't have it any other way.

I can't wait for her to hug and hold my children so they can feel the love that she has given me all of my life.

If I have time to get a few posts together before I leave, you may hear from me this week! However, I am going to try to stay "unplugged" so I can enjoy every minute that we have there!

I'll be back soon,

Love, Kim

Kate McRae: Auction Results

Thank you so much to all of you who bid on my party package auction to benefit Kate McRae. Congratulations to Brooke Meyenberg from Jackaroo Love blog, who placed the highest bid of $200. I want to also say thank you to everyone who is supporting this family and praying for this little girl.

This is an excerpt from Kate's mom's post today, and it brought tears to my eyes reading it..

Today we realized Kate was really processing what was going on around her and to her. We stopped as I was pushing her in the hallway and she asked "Mommy, am I going to be bald?" We were waiting to have this conversation a little further down the road with the Child Life Specialists. She wasn't going to wait. So there in the middle of the hallway, I sat down and tried to explain to her why the kids were on this floor, and why most of them lost their hair. And that yes, we were pretty sure she would lose hers. She began to wimper and say "no, no, i don't want to". My heart broke knowing her anxiety, and yet also knowing the battle was over so much more than her losing her hair. We did assure her that hair grows back. She seemed a little more at ease knowing that. But some days it is so difficult to tell what her little 5 year old mind is all thinking. So pray for her anxieties. She is a thinker, and I know by her question that none of this has escaped her. Innocence stolen.

Follow Kate's progress HERE

Kate McRae: Party Package Auction - Latest Bids!

THANK YOU for your support!

I was so happy to wake up to 3 new bids!

The party package is now at retail value!

$150

7/15 8:41am

Interested in bidding?

PLEASE COMMENT HERE!

Also, please feel free to grab the button above, that my friend Andra created. Add it to your blog sidebar to show support for Kate. You can link it to:

http://www.prayforkate.com/

Kate McRae: Auction from Dolce Vita Mia

One of my local Twitter friends, and fellow Etsy seller, Dolce Vita Mia generously offered to auction one of her adorable onesie sets!She picked my very favorite one from her collection! It is made with Heather Bailey fabric and includes a onesie & matching hair clippie. All proceeds will go directly to the McRae family.

PLEASE visit her blog ASAP to BID on this item!

Perfect for baby shower gift, or for your own little one!

Thank you, Mia for your support!!

Visit the Dolce Vita Mia Etsy SHOP HERE

My Baby Kate!

I am browsing some old photos looking for something to post for my birthday, and I just came across this adorable perfect little baby photo of my princess Kate. I can't believe how time flies! Isn't she sweet? This picture ALMOST gives me a tiny, little wee feeling about having another baby....but only for a split second. (I'm so done!)

Cupcake Monday: Brownie Cupcake LOVE!

I love cupcakes! I love brownies! These were meant for me!

Aren't these adorable? Courtesy of Martha, of course!

Find them HERE!

I LOVE ETSY: Silhouettes by Le Papier Studio

New Weekly Feature: I LOVE ETSY!

When I first started blogging, I had a photo on my sidebar of this fabulous print that my friend, Meredith sent me! It was a thank you gift for some invitations that I made for her. I absolutely fell in love with it, along with all of Le Papier Studio's other items!

When I visited the Le Papier Studio shop, it was one of my very first visits to Etsy! Now after a few months as a seller, I live on Etsy and absolutely LOVE all of the handmade goods available there. I have decided to add a weekly feature that will highlight an Etsy shop!

Tommy & Kate's print as an example in her shop! See it HERE!

I also LOVE this little ballerina girl silhouette! As you know, I love tutus! I hope to use it in the future for one of Kate's birthday parties!

TomKat LOVE!

{print and photo via madebygirl}

I spend a ton of time reading blogs, probably TOO MUCH time and TOO MANY blogs (check out my reading list). But, I just came to the conclusion that reading my favorite blogs is like sitting down with a magazine that is FULL to the brim with exactly what I want to read. There are so many great ideas and inspiration out there, I don't want to miss anything!

It makes me happy that people are reading my blog, too! I was checking out my Google Analytics account and noticed a huge spike in traffic on June 4th, which was odd since I was on vacation! I looked into where all the traffic was coming from, and it was when Kate's Lollipop party was featured on Tip Junkie! This is a great blog that compiles all sorts of "tips" from around the web, so you can get groupings of great party ideas, products, crafts, and more! Check out the mention HERE!
I got the goosebumps when I read what Jackie from Brides & Babes had to say about me and my business. Unbelievably sweet! Read the post HERE! Then she went on to post additional items from my shop HERE! She has great taste and picked some of my favorites!


Amy posted my cupcake toppers on her BLOG the other day! She is the co-founder of I Heart Faces, a very popular photography blog! Check out her post HERE!


Thank you fellow bloggers for all the LOVE! XOXO, Kim

The TomKat Studio: Love is in the Air!

{print from madebygirl}

Kate's Lollipop Birthday Party has been getting more LOVE on the web!

It landed today on Baby Lifestyles, described by my blogging friend, Navy Sou as "the preferred lifestyle is the posh, the grand and the creme de la creme of all things “baby”! The writer interviewed me and wrote a very flattering article about The TomKat Studio & Kate's party! TAKE A PEEK HERE!

It's In The Details posted my Party Collections - Yummy Lollipop & Sweet Cupcake Collections, as well as my Little Birdie Baby Shower invite! VIEW HERE

Petit, a fabulous shop for luxury baby and kid items, featured Kate's Lollipop Party on their blog! VIEW HERE Their products have been featured in many of magazines!

My FAVORITE entertaining blog also said it would be featuring the party soon! I am keeping my fingers crossed! Stay tuned....

Warning: This Post is NOT about Parties!

I try to stay on topic on my blog...crafting, parties, invitations, decorating. However, I would just like to say, I REALLY LIKE THIS GUY! He had my heart when he sang "The Way You Look Tonight". He smiles when he's singing to me and I smile back. Don't we all need a little eye candy sometimes? Yum.

(This blog is a place for all things pretty.....I think he fits in!)

PS. For those who don't have a TV, this is Kris Allen, currently in the Top 4 on American Idol!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Decorating: Serena & Lily SALE!

If you are not familiar with Serena & Lily, you should be! This weekend, 2/12-2/16 they are having a 25% off everything sale! They offer gorgeous baby & children's bedding, furniture, gifts for moms and babies, accessories, and many other fabulous things. Here is a mix of my favorite items available!

Request a catalog HERE or shop online for this great sale!

Valentine's Day: Little Love Bug Craft Party!

The Little Love Bug party went great yesterday! I think everyone had a great time! I hired my neighbor girls, Kathleen & Christina to help the kids craft, so the moms could relax (or try to at least!) Tables were set up for both the moms to craft, as well as the kids. It was a really easy party to host, as the main activity just entailed pulling out all my craft supplies, picking out red/pink papers, stickers, etc and letting the guests go to work!

My three year old & I made the heart garland and hung it around the house. It is so easy to make. Just find a heart (I used a chipboard one) or draw and cut one to use as a template. Cut out hearts in different papers, punch two holes and string with ribbon. Simple, inexpensive & cute! I've been noticing paper lanterns as party decor a ton lately, so I picked a couple up at Pier One (they only had white), and stuck some hearts on them.

What's a party with yummy treats? Cupcakes are always a must, so I did strawberry with strawberry frosting, and topped them with M&Ms. I also made heart-shaped brownies, scotcheroos (my fave) and had Valentine candy scattered around for nibbling! The heart shaped fruit pizza cookie (Kristi), strawberries & cream (Sarah) & yummy muffins (Kim) all fit right in!

This was the invite for the party, a quickie I designed and emailed out! Thanks to everyone who came and I hope you all had a great time!