{ Dream Shopping Becomes Reality }

Fantastic news, friends!
I am so excited to share that one of my favorite blogs,

The Swelle Life

just opened an online boutique!

All images courtesy of The Swelle Life and Swelle Boutique


The sweetheart author behind The Swelle Life has impeccable taste, so I knew the boutique would be fabulous and unique.
She has a great eye for all things lovely-- emerging designers, gourmet cupcakes, couture collections, eclectic artwork, new accessories, incredible architecture ... literally, this list could go on for days. She finds beauty everywhere.

And now it's translated into a shop... Helloooo, happiness!

You know a boutique is special when it literally makes you feel giddy just seeing the clothes... imagine the thrill of actually owning them! The pieces are ethereal, feminine, whimsical, yet so very practical. There's a variety of gorgeous hues and textures represented and all pieces are either one of a kind or limited edition. Also of note: the prices are unbelievably reasonable.

Here's a tiny sample.

Thank you Denise for adding a spoonful of sugar to my day!

But enough of this typing... I have shopping to do.

Visit Swelle Boutique at http://www.swelleboutique.com/

{ The Most Swelle Blog on the Block }

This gorgeous blog, The Swelle Life, was one of my inspirations to start my own blog. It's joy.

And it meets... nay, exceeds... the highest of expectations for a fantastic site.

The author is a cosmopolitan Canadian-turned-Brit (check!), freelance fashion writer (check!), with amazing photography skills (check!), and an eye for fashion and all things fabulous
(ch-ch-check!).

And she has this thing called "Cupcake Monday."
For REAL.

Every Monday, she features luscious cupcakes in various states of dress. I'm always surprised at what I see. Mondays are definitely more fun for me because there are new cupcakes-in-costumes in it.

Cupcake Monday: Floral Edition;
Cupcake Monday: Handbag Edition; and
Cupcake Monday: Manly Butch Edition, just to name a few.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of The Swelle Life.

It was on her blog I got my first look at Alexander McQueen's final collection.












Her blog introduced her great weekly column that pays homage to the art of accessorizing.

FROM THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010:
ACCESSORIZE THIS: THE PERFECTLY SUITED
SCARVES OF MARGO PETITTI

FROM THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010
LONDON FASHION WEEK:
ACCESSORIES TRENDS
TREAD LIGHTLY

FROM THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010:
ACCESSORIZE THIS: THE LITTLE THINGS

So it's not suprising that this avid reader of The Swelle Life-- who happens to love free stuff-- immediately honed in on a new post that included the word "giveaway." A proud member of the I- never-win-anything-club since 1989, I didn't think I had much of a chance. Truly, I stopped stuffing boxes with strategically-crumpled slips of paper when I was about 9.

But, when I saw what she was giving away, I just had to try.

Archie Grand notebooks!

Photos courtesy of Archie Grand

They're kitschy, cheeky, and delightful. I've wanted one forever. Little notebooks great for list-making or jotting down random thoughts. Tres' cute when pulled out of a tote bag. They have a matte satin cardstock cover and inside are 160 blank pages of Lessebo Linné paper with sewn signatures.

The only thing you had to do for this giveaway was visit the Archie Grand website, which I enjoyed, and become a fan of Swelle Life on Facebook, which I already had. You could also Tweet about the giveaway.

Seeing as the amount of space this entry has taken up, either I'm an extremely good sport and can lose with total grace and dignity...

Girl, please.


We all know I'm writing this because I won!!!

Thank you to the lovely Denise of The Swelle Life for your generosity!!! I am beyond excited about my win and appreciate it so much. Thank you also for your always delightful blog, it never fails to brighten my day. It really gives me something to emulate and enjoy in the process.