The Downside of Blogging.... I knew this would happen

I read a few other blogs. Some from dear friends, others by people whose style I love, and others that are just pure entertainment.

This morning I read a post by a blog called "Habitually Chic" - a blog that I read for style inspiration by a woman who I think is, well...'chic' and honest. She's a much better and more consistent blogger than I am.

Anyway, her post this morning was about a new law where bloggers must disclose if companies they are reviewing are sending them any freebies or payment for reviews.

To read "Habitually Chic's" interesting blog post and the NY Times article about the law click here

In a world where traditional advertising is not working anymore, I can see how companies are trying to capitalize on the growing number of bloggers and blog followers. Like "Habitually Chic" I just want to let all of you know that I have never approached or been approached by a company to review their products - nor do I receive any freebies from anyone. I only write about products I use and love because people are always asking me for recommendations (and because I decided to take a year off of working and needed to connect with the world somehow!).

I do have a 'store' where people can buy some of the products I recommend from Amazon, but most of these products can be found locally. If people do purchase from Amazon, I get a small kick-back, but have not received a penny to date. Also, as I am now a Stella & Dot Stylist, I will promote those products, of course, because I love them and do make money from that, but the corporate office does not know about my blog at all - it's just me and my own business (which I wouldn't have started if I didn't LOVE the products).

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that you can read "The Krafty Life" with confidence. I write this blog for fun and because I sometimes have something worth reading! BUT, also like "Habitually Chic," if any company wants to start sending me free stuff - like Louboutin, Chanel or even Mr. Clean Magic sponge - I already love you and will write anything you want - hehehehehe!!

A's 30th Birthday!

Today is A's 30th Birthday! He has now decided that I can write his real name ("Andrew") on my blog since we haven't encountered any stalkers so far.

I can't believe that we've known each other for over 10 years! I'm a lucky girl to be with the man who knew me through many different stages of my life.

Here's Andrew with Tucker (who is growing by the minute!) in our new place in Cherry Creek.

Andrew accepted a job with Lawrence Covell - one of the top retail stores in the country. This made me super duper happy because we got to move back to Denver!!

Among many other things, he is creating a blog for them. Check it out lawrencecovellblog.blogspot.com

If you're in the area, be sure to stop by the store in Cherry Creek.

The men in my life are just so well dressed! I definitely need to break out of my sweat pant habit (that's a topic for another day!).

Happy Birthday Andrew - I'm excited for the next 3o years!

Tucker Time!

Last Sunday we drove down to Boulder to pick up our 8 week old puppy!  We were so excited and so freaked out at the same time - our house isn't quite done and here we are bringing a puppy into the mess (more on that later)!

We named him "Lord Tucker of Manchester"

Lord - His grandfather won Westminster (whatever that means) so he needed a 'title'

Tucker - We loved this name and this is what we call him (we also call him 'Bug' for some reason)

Manchester - 'A's' favorite soccer team

Here's Tucker on our way home in his crate - he was pretty scared and begging to get out!

Once home, we introduced him to the wooly Lamb/Giraffe (not sure what it is exactly), but it's his favorite toy.  He wrestles with it when he's out of the crate and sleeps with it when he's in the crate.

He looks so innocent, but he peed on our new floors 12 times in the first day.  Not his fault at all because he was in a new place, but I started freaking out and thinking that no one under the legal drinking age should be able to adopt a dog, because you need a drink...or three!

After a traumatic bath experience where poor Tucker shook the entire time, he fell asleep in my arms.

And he slept a lot for the rest of the day, he was 'tuckered out'!  Sorry, lame joke.

I know I'm supposed to make him sleep in his crate, but I just couldn't do it the first day.  What's cuter than this?

Puppy Puppy!

The other day I was sitting in our living room and saw the neighbor doggies staring at me through the window.  It was a bit unnerving - like they could sense that something was up.

Dogs are so smart!  After months of discussion and research, 'A' and I have decided to add to our family - we're buying a puppy!  We know it's a huge responsibility, but we're ready for it.  Plus, living in Vail you feel like a complete alien if you don't own a dog.  

We've decided to add to the Golden Retriever cause for "Total Vail Domination."  We found a small breeder in Boulder who has excellent health records, family tree and a long  waiting list. 

Yesterday, we traveled to Boulder to look at the 6 week old puppies and choose our 2 favorites... 

The Golden puppies have a lot of love to give and we got tons of licks all morning.  They were all saying 'Pick me, pick me!!"

At 6 weeks the puppies still waddle around and slip all over the place.  The puppy above just gave up after awhile.

Puppies like to feel sheltered so they were all trying to hide behind our backs and around our legs.

We held each puppy, trying to see which ones we liked and which ones seemed to like us.  We learned that the puppy really chooses the family, not the other way around!   The one I'm holding is sticking his tongue out at 'A'.  They must be a match made in heaven - now I can have 2  mischievous boys in the house!

Here's Becky Hayes, the breeder, holding our favorite boy.  She and her husband (who is a  Veterinarian) have been breeding and showing dogs for a long time.  They own Redog Kennels in Boulder.  They only have a few litters per year and our puppy has champion lines (his grandfather won Westminster in 2002)!  Too bad our champion puppy will only be sitting on his throne in our house all his life and ruling the rivers in Vail.  

Puppy Play!!

The mommy dog, Charlotte, was very happy when 'A' was petting her while nursing.

It was so hard to choose which puppy we loved most - I wanted them all!  We chose our top two and we get to pick him up May 4th (right after we move back into our house!).  

We might be crazy.

I'm Back!!

I feel horrible!  I've been out of touch for a while because I needed to escape the snow and visit my old home, San Francisco for a week.  When I returned, the internet service that we've been "borrowing" from the neighbor at our rental house went down!  I can't remember how I functioned before the internet - it was a tough week.   

My visit to San Francisco was amazing.  Visited old friends and took photos of EVERY flower I saw.  Living in Vail, I can't remember the last time I saw a flower growing.  

Here's best friend, Amber, picking out strollers for her twin boys on the way! 

This fire hydrant was so funny...

Beautiful rose around Coit Tower...

One of the parrots of Coit Tower...there are hundreds.

I followed my heart to Colorado, but I definitely left some of it in San Francisco...

Beautiful view.  I used to drive to word every morning across the Golden Gate bridge and think to myself, "I can't believe I live here."

What an amazing city.   It was great seeing all my friends - missing them already!

Babies on the Way

...No, not mine!  I have to say that so many of my good girlfriends either just had a baby or are pregnant.  One great friend, Courtney, in Denver just had twins and my best friend, Amber, in San Francisco is due with twin boys in July!  This is keeping me quite busy.  I'm obsessed with the babies - designing closets, lusting after and buying cute clothes and trying to help my new mama friends with anything they need.  I'm even going to San Francisco for a month to help Amber when the twins are born - I'm so excited!  

There's me talking to Amber's boys (one of them will be my god-son) while she was visiting us in Vail in February (here tummy is growing so quickly now).  Check out her blog about being a pregnant lady who loves to run in San Francisco.

Here are some great things I got for the twin boys from Styleicious in Denver:

The coolest 'Camo' baby socks by Trumpette.  I would buy these for boys or girls!

I think it's cute when twins match, but not exactly.  I found these adorable blue and brown onsies with hats by Margery Ellen.  I bought them in "Newborn" size because I want the twins to wear them while Auntie Krafty is in town!

I also got Courtney and Amber "Weleda Baby Products."  The products smell like Calendula and I love natural products for babies.  To treat the mamas, I got them some hippie/witchcraft 'belly butter' from the farmers market in Santa Fe - always be sure to take care of the mama too!

The Laundress also makes great baby laundry products - I believe in gifts that people can use!  

Congrats to all my friends in baby mode!  This is going to be great practice for me (no mom, not yet!!!).

Bring Home The Bacon

We have a ton of guests.  I am always washing sheets and towels, and drinking AND eating.  I love easy recipes for my guests that look like they took a really long time to make.

My friend Breanna, who is a fabulous cook and, I must say, one of the best houseguests EVER, taught me how to make a very easy, mouth-watering appetizer.  

Ingredients:

*Dates 

*Almonds and/or goat cheese

*Bacon 

How To:

1.  Make a small slit on the side of the date so that you can get the pit out.  

2.  Stuff one almond or some goat cheese (or both!) in the opening of the date to create a 'filling'

3.  Cut pieces of bacon in half 

4.  Wrap a 'half-piece' of bacon around each date

5.  Broil in the oven until bacon is cooked.

They don't look very good but they're so yummy and unique!!

My Boutique!

So it's not really a boutique, but I thought it would be great to have a place online that holds many of the products that I've been recommending.  This is powered by Amazon an you can find my store on the right hand side of my blog and click on "The Krafty Life Store."  There are different sections of the store that I keep adding onto... Beauty, Health, Gift Ideas etc.  Enjoy!

Mmmm....Mmmmm...Good!

Moving to Vail has increased our popularity by.... A LOT.  We have guests all the time and I love it.  Trying to be the "Hostess with the Mostest," I  explored an area that I'm not that great at - Baking.  I was craving Oatmeal Raisin Cookies for our house guests to enjoy and was really looking forward to our house smelling great.  

After trying an online recipe for 'healthy' cookies, I basically only got the good house smell.  The cookies were terrible.  Even 'A', who usually makes me feel so good about my creations, said "Sweetheart, these are really bad."  After all that effort, these cookies were crunchy, tooth-breaking frisbees.  So if anyone has a great recipe, please let me know!!  I need it.

For now, I'm taking our guests out to eat at places like Russell's - it's a steak house but seriously, best crabs legs in the US (and I've lived on the coast).

I'm in the Wrong Business!

Yesterday I had to drive 60 miles to get one of our cars serviced (oy, life outside the big city!!) and I was dreading not only the drive, but the waiting.... Until I discovered that there was a Target in this town!  I didn't realize when I moved outside of the city how living without Target would effect me.  It's my place.  I find so many things there that I didn't know I would ever need!!  So I happily walked into Target with two things on my list.  20 items and $136 later I walked out of Target.  When I was at the check-out, the lady was ringing up a few cute birthday cards that I got for some friends.  The cards were $6.95 each - WHAT?!?!?  When did a paper card (okay, these had sequins and ribbon, but still) become almost $7?  I could get into that business!  So here's the question.  Do people keep birthday cards or just toss them?  I'm happy to pay a bit of money for a card if people will keep them, but I'm not sure people do and I would rather buy them a glass of wine or something.  Let me know what you think - do you keep your cards?

Tragic Technology

If you are an iphone owner, like me, you are part of a special club that only 'we' can understand.  I have turned into the biggest dork since becoming an Apple convert.....and I LOVE it.  However, this love of technology can suck the soul right out of you.  I have discovered an "Application" on my iphone that is a game called ReMoveEm.  If you find this game, do not download it - run for your life!  I have a very unhealthy addiction to this game.  It's completely basic (like Tetris, but even easier) but I can't stop playing it.  'A' is always asking if I'm playing the game and I say 'no' so now I hide in the bathroom to play it.  I'm living a secret life.   So if you would like to keep your job and keep a happy family life, stay far far away from this game. 

 Plus, I hold all of the 'Top Scores" anyway so you would feel very intimidated playing it.