A Shabby Apple Giveaway!

Welcome to my very 1st giveaway!

I have always wanted to do a giveaway on Cutest Little Things, but I wanted it to be something special...something fitting to the site.  So when I was contacted by Hannah Stewart at Shabby Apple to partner on a special giveaway opportunity for my readers, I positively just jumped at the chance!

With spring weddings on the horizon, graduations, Mother's Day and Easter, who couldn't use a beautiful, new dress in their wardrobe?!

Shabby Apple's New Caledonia dress from their South Pacific collection.

If you haven't heard of Shabby Apple, you simply MUST check them out!  Their philosophy that beautiful, vintage-inspired dressing shouldn't be complicated is one that I can completely relate to.  All that's required is some confidence and maybe a few cute accessories!

Shabby Apple's Bon Voyage Dress ~ perfect for any adventure.

Shabby Apple is generously offering a
$50.00 gift card
to one of my lucky readers!
Oh, and did I mention they also have an adorable line of preteen and kids' dresses?

Want to win?
Entering is easy peasy!

To enter this fabulous giveaway, you must do the following:

1.  Like Shabby Apple on their facebook page and leave a comment below

with your blog or email address by Sunday, April 15th.

For extra entries...

2.  Be a follower of Cutest-Little-Things Blog (3 extra entries)

2) Tweet about it on Twitter (1 extra entry)
3) Blog about it (or put it on your sidebar) (2 extra entries)
4) Share it on Facebook (1 extra entry)

If you do any of the above for extra entries, please leave a separate comment for EACH way you spread the word and provide the link.
Additional ways you enter will increase your chances of winning!!

One lucky winner will be awarded a $50.00 gift card to Shabby Apple

 chosen by Random Number Generator
on Monday, April 16th.

Thanks for entering!
Good luck!!!!

In addition all of my readers are eligible for a special,

10% off code for one month towards any Shabby Apple purchase...

just use code: cutestlittlethings10off when ordering.

Gnome Sweet Gnome {cupcakes}

Well it was that time again, my son's turn to bring in a treat to school.  The last time it was his turn, we brought in healthy, skim-milk cheese strings and fruit.  This time, unhealthy but delicious cupcakes!

Since it was the beginning of spring, I settled on something from the garden ~ gnomes!

These cute little guys were made from fondant and coated in candy melts.

Their hats are candy coated bugle corn snacks :)

I piped on royal icing for their beards and food-coloring marker for the eyes.

I loved how they turned out! 

Then I made spring garden cupcakes, with spring-green {buttercream} grass, {candy sprinkle} flowers, and mini toadstools made from micro-marshmallows and fondant caps {with royal icing dots}.

Baked in bright, spring-colored, ruffled cupcake liners.

Didn't they turn out super cute?

And speaking of cupcakes,

if you have to transport a few dozen to a classroom or party,

You MUST get one of these...

It's called the Cupcake Courier,

and mine holds 36 cupcakes securely.

No more fumbling with cheap, cardboard bakery boxes or tupperware.

This thing ROCKS!
I bought mine on Amazon.com.

Gnome sweet Gnome cupcakes.

The perfect way to welcome the new season :)

Happy Spring

Wish me luck

Genuine 4 leaf clover I found last summer.

We all have seasons of our lives.  Good times and bad, happy and sad.  I've had more than my share.  Right now, is a trying season. 

At the start of the month, I was given notice that my company is downsizing and I'll be getting laid off at the end of February.  It wasn't a total surprise: the company has been struggling to secure new contracts and has undergone two massive layoffs in four months.  

What was a surprise was that being my boss' right hand person, he swore to me my job was secure - that I was the best hire he's ever made and he'd never let me go.  Being told that I was among those cut this round did blindside me...and maybe shook my confidence and trust more than I'd care to admit.  I was aggressively recruited to this company just one year ago!

Losing ones' job is never pleasant, whether it's through one's own fault or not, but I can't help but feel somewhat disenchanted and jaded since I believed (and was told) that I was doing such a flawless job.  I think you can tell from my little blog that I'm a very passionate person.  I live deeply, love deeply, and take people at their word - well, at least until they give me reason not to. 

I know I'll end up on my feet {eventually...I hope}, but right now, I sort of feel vulnerable and a little teeny bit sorry for myself...and scared.  It's not the best economy to be unemployed and looking for a job :(  My husband and I have had to scramble to make provisions for our health coverage {not fun} and to go over our budget carefully to see what we can cut if I should find myself unemployed for any significant length of time. SO not cute or pleasant :(

I'll be back to blogging, but it may take me a wee bit of time to get my personal life back in better shape. 

The upside in all this mess is all of the extra time I get to spend with my sweet little dude :)  Really lovin' being able to wake up together, to pick him up from school, have lunch at the park, and catch up on cartoons.  I love him <3

I've been doing the interview circuit {blech!} so hopefully something wonderful will come down the pike for me soon.  Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, please :) 

And wish me lots and lots of luck.
I certainly could use it.