{winner!}

Wow. There are Lisa Leonard fans in abundance. We hope that each of you find your perfect piece of jewelry.

Kristen who said, "I would LOVE to win this! just gorgeous." is the winner! We're excited for you. Please send us your shipping information as well as the personalization for both the necklace and keychain. We will be sure to pass it on quickly.

We hope for a good Tuesday for all of us. And keep checking in. We're full of happy surprises.

binth.

If you love the Binth Alaphabet Poster {me! I do} you'll be happy to see single alphabet prints available too. And it's a less expensive way to showcase modern letters in your nursery.

$24 at Spunky Sprout

read this when...

My favorite Real Simple family feature was the "read this when..." section: letters written to children by their parents to be read at various milestones. "Some are funny, some are instructive, some are bittersweet, but rest assured: All of them will make you want to pick up a pen." It's true.

{I searched the internet for the printed article.. but couldn't find it. I retyped my favorite of the letters.}

to Sloane, age one, to be read on your wedding day
by Rob Corddry
{Rob Corddry is an actor is Los Angeles.}

Sloane!
Hey bug! Who's a bug? Who's a bug? Are you a little bug?
I hope that still makes you laugh. In 2007 I kill with that. Sometimes you laugh so hard, I think you're going to turn inside out. But if you are reading this letter, you haven't. You are still right side in, and you are getting married. I wonder what year it is. When do people get married in the future? Your mother and I got married late compared with our parents. I do hope you're not 75. I understand that you may want to have fun and travel, but 75 is way too old to get married for the first time.
Are you happy? Are you the person you want to be? I hope so. If not, don't worry; you still have plenty of time. I hope this person you're marrying helps you out with that.
Here's a good question: Do you still make "the goofy face"? Let me explain. The other morning, I got you out of your crib (are you sleeping past 6:30 A.M. these days?) and brought you into bed with us like I always do. I laid you next to your mother, and you turned and looked at me with the goofy face. It's a very calm yet intentionally piercing gaze, contemplative in the way you cock your head and purse your lips at me. You don't stare at your mom in this fashion. It's almost as if you know I'm going to say something stupid and you are giving me the requisite look, pre-embarrassment.
"She's making that goofy face again," I said to your mom.
"That's not a goofy face," your mom said. "That's a mature face."
And at that moment everything changed. I saw you as you may look today, reading this letter. I saw a flash of the young woman you may become. And in that flash I fell more deeply in love with you, if that's even possible. I reveled for a second in the relationship that we have barely begun to forge. I can't wait.
I hope you enjoy this day. I hope your mother and I weren't impossible and didn't invite too many of our friends or clients. Then again, I am, most likely, paying for this damn thing.
Have a wonder-filled day and a wonder-filled marriage and a wonder-filled life. I'm trying to raise you with love and just the perfect amount of detachment, for as a wise man once said, "You don't belong to me. You belong to God." Tell your partner that when he gets a little too clingy.
Bless you, Sloaney Baloney. My little girl. My little bug.

bookhou designs

A lovely gift: a bag of black and white printed animals with soft, fleece backing. By Bookhou Design.

little odd forest.

Any website that offers "forest inspired oddities for all humankind..." is just great. I especially love their bags collection. You can't have enough, right?! My favorites:

the snotty bird bag

forest seedlings tote (mint)

forest hare pocket tote

special issue.

I'm a fan of Real Simple Magazine. You know that. We've highlighted bits and pieces from their online library over the last 9 months. I like the simple layout. The gift ideas. Their "new uses for old things" chapter in each issue. So you can imagine my delight when I'm at the local grocery store buying ingredients for homemade bbq chicken pizza (cilantro, Gouda, fresh mozzarella, grilled chicken on fresh homemade dough) and see that a special Real Simple issue has been published: REAL SIMPLE family. And although that $4.50 from-the-shelf price tag just seems hard to fit justify sometimes, I feel like I'm left without an option. It's perfect for me. Justified. I purchase it. It goes into the bag with the perfectly ripe pineapple.

So.. what I'm telling you is no worries if you haven't brought home your copy yet. I'll be highlighting my favorites throughout the week. Maybe one post a day. It's saves you $4.50. Although... it's a good one to read on one of those night where you just need a little bit of indulgence. And then shelf it for future reference.

p.s. Even Dooce, a local celebrity and fellow blogger, is published. Apparently I haven't been checking in enough.

[image by dooce.]

lisa leonard jewelry GIVEAWAY.

I always say two thumbs up to any woman who makes the most of her life. Those were my thoughts exactly when Lisa Leonard contacted us about her jewelry.


She was born with both desire and talent to create beautiful things and thus her jewelry line was born. "It's the little things" is her mantra: be it designing {and/or wearing} a new necklace or being able to stay at home with her husband and two sons, Lisa appreciates those simplicities. {View Lisa's personal blog here.} And she helps us do the same.

Lisa creates unique pieces, combining different materials and textures such as sterling silver, semi-precious gemstones, fire-polished glass and freshwater pearls. She encourages, "As you browse through my jewelry, keep an eye out for the collection that first catches your eye. We are usually drawn to pieces and colors that reflect our personalities. Wear what you like. Try a fun, fresh combination. A new necklace or earrings can completely change the look of an outfit. Jewelry is meant to be fun. It’s meant to make you sparkle!"

To help in the effort to reflect or sprout some personality, Lisa has chosen to give one Tangled and True reader two pieces from her collection.

one: the Original necklace

A 1 1/4 inch sterling circle (so classic!) with up to four names. 1-2 names curved around edge, 3-4 names, each name on a separate line. The perfect gift for you or a friend! Strung on an 18" sterling ball chain with a freshwater pearl. $44

two: the keychain

A great keepsake for wedding attendants or the man in your life! Rectangle measures 1 1/2" $32

Each piece can be personalized by the winner! Hooray for creativity.

Be sure to browse the rest of her collection.. like her newest, the sterling cuff. I think it's my favorite.

With all orders {and a mention of Tangled and True}, Lisa will include a silver polish cloth with each order {a $5 value}.

You know the drill:
[life in the nest giveaway rules]
*you must enter a comment on this post-with your name.
*please only enter once.
*entry will be open until midnight PST Monday. {comments posted after this will not be considered.}
*at this time, we can't guarantee international shipping of giveaway prizes. {do you have a friend with a domestic address? is he/she nice enough to accept the package for you? comment away.}
*winner will be announced on Tangled and True on Tuesday morning.

Good luck.. and happy Friday! Tangled and True.