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My Favorite ‘Small Shops’ (Giveaway!)

ShopSmallGiveawayOne of the greatest blessings that has happened this year is the newly formed friendships I’ve made with some incredibly inspiring women. I started my Instagram account almost one year ago, and through it, I’ve ‘met’ (and really met) very talented photographers, bloggers, makeup artists, event planners, and last, but not least, small business owners, most of whom are ‘mompreneurs.’ Being a WAHM (or ‘Work at Home Mom’ – so many acronyms to keep up with!) is not an easy task, as balancing raising children with running a business is no easy task.

I am such a big advocate of the whole ‘shop small’ and ‘shop local’ movement, which I believe was greatly empowered by the creation of Etsy. Although I would be lying if I said I didn’t love buying clothes from big retailers like Gap, Nordstrom, Carters, etc., I do make a very conscious effort to purchase a lot of our outfits and gifts from ‘small shops’ (this always feels like a funny term, since some of the stores below are far from small!). 

Today, I’m sharing eight of my favorite shops, all of whom have kindly offered some of my favorite items in a giveaway (which, to be honest, I’d really like to win!). Enter using the widget below and make sure to read about each of the shops below! Also, make sure to check out my favorite Etsy stores post here for more small shop love! 

PS This post was supposed to be published yesterday as part of the Shop Small linkup (here), but I had a nasty stomach bug! Make sure to check out some of the other posts in the linkup.

Shop Small Giveaway

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Cuteheads: Esther, the owner of cuteheads, is one of my favorite mamas around – you’ll quickly know that from reading her #GIRLBOSS interview here. I’m sad that Isla no longer fits into her adorable cuteheads chambray pom-pom romper. It’s so cute! I am so excited to see the new collection, and I’m even more excited (read: jealous) that Esther is including a seersucker top in the giveaway. 

Tinsel and Tables Workshop

Two weeks ago, I attended a Tinsel & Tables Workshop, hosted by Christina of Christina Leigh Events (first mentioned here). The event was so much fun – not to mention delicious (feast your eyes on the delicious baked goods from Buttercup Bakery). The attendees gathered at Over the Top Linen on a beautiful Sunday, and we learned napkin folds and discussed table settings, talked about cute paper goods with Katie of Katie and Co., practiced calligraphy with Jenny of A Fine Flourish and learned all about perfecting your holiday decor with Christina. She taught us how to make natural wreaths and the perfect bows. Needless to say, it was a very informative four hours. I took my wreath home and have it on our table as our centerpiece!

Over the Top Linen is the most incredible store ever (fabric heaven). I am dying to get my hands on those fancy sequin fabrics for Isla’s first birthday party. The entire event was exciting, as I had been following many of these lovely ladies on Instagram for awhile, and it was great to meet them (all incredibly sweet). I’m looking forward to Christina’s next workshop!

The entire workshop was photographed by the incredibly talented Jessica of Ever and Anon (all photos below are courtesy of Jessica). I hope to have her take photos for us in the future! Her pictures are beautiful.

PS Seeing these photos of me with the blond hair now makes me cringe. So excited to be a brunette again (photo here)!

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Isla Loves: A Little Lady Shop (Giveaway)

Everything is bigger in Texas, including their hair bows. I must admit it, I am not a huge fan of the over-the-top-floofy flower headbands that take up 70% of a newborn baby’s head. However, I do love cute bows that are appropriately sized for baby girls’ heads (I am a bow fanatic after all). When I discovered A Little Lady Shop, I fell in love. They have the best – I mean, best– bow selection for little girls of all ages. Marie, owner of A Little Lady Shop, kindly sent me three adorable bows – Felt Bow in Teal on Alligator ClipPink Leather Bow on Alligator Clip, and Felt Tails Bow in Navy on Alligator Clip. I love them all so much! The bows are all available in a wide range of colors and the option to be put on an elastic band for a headband or an alligator clip. With Isla’s fluffy hair, I opted for alligator clip. It stays in her hair better than any of the other bows we’ve tried. The bows are available in such a wide range of colors, you could literally have a bow that matched every single outfit (yes, I dream of this).

Not only are their bows adorable, but also they have the sweetest fabric wraps and crown headbands. I am so upset that I did not find these products before Isla was born – I wish she was wearing these in her newborn photos.

These bows are the perfect gift for anyone you know who has a girl or is expecting one. If you fit this bill, then you need them too!


I’m excited to be teaming up with A Little Lady Shop to give away a free bow or headband (of your choice) to one lucky individual! In order to enter the giveaway, you must do the following:

  1. Reply to this post, including your name and which bow or headband you would like to win
  2. You will get an extra entry by being or becoming a follower of my blog, Snapshots and My Thoughts (see ‘Follow’ button at the bottom righthand corner on desktop version of the blog)
  3. You will get an extra entry by posting the giveaway’s URL to your Twitter or Facebook account (please tag @ailee_petrovic on Twitter or mention Snapshots and My Thoughts on Facebook)
  4. You will get an extra entry by re-posting my Instagram post about the giveaway and tagging me @SnapshotsAndMyThoughts

One winner will be drawn at random. The more entries you have, the higher the chance you’ll win! The giveaway ends at midnight on Wednesday, September 10. I will announce the winner by Friday. I look forward to reading your responses.

Follow A Little Lady Shop on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest // Follow Snapshots and My Thoughts on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest


Felt Bow in Teal on Alligator Clip

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Pink Leather Bow on Alligator Clip

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Felt Tails Bow in Navy on Alligator Clip

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I was given the baby bows by A Little Lady Shop for my review. I was allowed to keep the product, but the opinion I am sharing remains my own.

Save vs. Splurge: Fall Shoes

After checking Weather.com, it looks like Texas is not entering into the fall season any time soon, but it definitely feels close here in Colorado.The lows here this week are around 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius), which definitely requires a jacket, jeans and boots. While spring is my favorite season, fall is a close second. I love the burgundy, browns, and deep greens of fall fashion, and most especially fall shoes. Some of my the pumps and booties that I’ve bookmarked cost a pretty penny (basically everything from Tory Burch), but there are also some really cute cheaper shoes that I’m eyeing (especially those from J. Crew Factory!).

I’ve put together a collection of splurges and thrifty finds below. Which is your favorite? Are you ready for fall to come?

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1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

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1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

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Week 5 in Durango

Week five has come and gone, and ohmygosh, I am not ready to go back to the ‘real world’ (i.e. Texas). However, I do miss everyone like crazy, and cannot wait to hug all of my family and friends. This past week flew by in anticipation of one of my best friends, Kirby, arriving on Thursday. I managed to run every day this past week, clock between 13,000-20,000 steps every day, enjoy short hikes to the top of a nearby mountain in the mornings, continue my Illustrator 101 and Floral Arranging 101 classes, work on the blog (some fun giveaways coming up soon!), and spend lots of time with Sasha, Belle (our dog) and sweet Isla. We also hiked the 6 mi. trail of the Animas Mountain together for the first time – Sasha and I did it last Labor Day when we were visiting (see photos here).

As you can tell from the thousands of photos below, I love taking pictures of Isla’s cute face, because I know I won’t have as much time to once we are back in Houston (and because she cannot yet tell me to stop).

In case you want to keep track of our Colorado sabbatical, you can also read about Week 1, Weeks 2 and 3, and Week 4.

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Isla being sassy in her Carter’s Romper (similar here) – that last face kills me – her personality is shining through

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Pretty in pink (and white!)

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Cheesin’ it up

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Hot pink is my absolute favorite (similar bodysuit here)

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Someone was none-too-pleased with us taking photos before she got to eat ‘lunch’

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Bows on bows on bows (buy dress here) – and Sophie the Giraffe making an appearance (and Isla loves her hands if you can’t tell!)

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I swear this isn’t a hunger cue, Isla just adores her hands (praying this is ‘self soothing’!)

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Kisses from her ‘Tata’ and (the much dreaded) tummy time (similar outfit here)

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Saturday mornings are for PJs and superman time with dad

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Her hair is seriously out of control, but I love it

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Isla’s little Gap peplum top and leggings

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This was taken after five minutes in her new heaven – i.e. the Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym… she’s enamored (this is a GREAT baby shower gift)

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Loving the views from the top of the Animas Mountain – Isla loves the view from over my shoulder (her favorite holding position)

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Vegan ice cream at Cream Bean Berry – my one true weakness!

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Isla LOVES (eating) this lovie!

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A sneak preview of my first homework assignment from Floral Arranging 101 (more to come tomorrow!)


Three weeks left! Have a great day. xo