spring's palette

  It feels as if everything around you has suddenly been painted in pastels. The dull-brown grass is renewed with luscious greenery and the naked trees and bushes with blossoming flowers. The happy little twittering birds are once again taking a dip in the bird bath or pecking around at the feeder. The warm sunshine flashes down, bright on the Earth, transforming the pastels into more vivid shades. Spring has awakened.

  Today has been a good one. The windows have stayed opened, allowing a slight breeze to trail through along with the scent of freshly cut grass. I have spent the day relaxing in my bedroom, listening to the birds chirping, and finishing up some school work + sipping a lemonade from Lexington Drug -- pure Heaven. These kinds of days are my favorite.

  As a side note -- My sweet friend Kimberly, over at Amusing, has inspired me to make a video answering questions of yours. Have any questions? Ask away and I will answer them on video soon!

Smitten Sunday - The Lake

Today, after church, my family and I went down to my MeeMaw's house to bring her some cookies (she had mouth surgery a few weeks ago). While we were there, I was able to capture some beautiful scenery throughout her yard.

It is especially fun in the Summer to ride her pontoon/jet ski...and go tubing!

^sooc





How have you spent your Sunday?

Spring Fest: Giveaway WINNERS!



First off, I would like to thank each and every one of you for entering the giveaways for Spring Fest! I got more entries than I actually thought I would! We didn't reach 100 followers, but that is ok! We are close enough, having 88!

Want to see if you won any of the magnificent prizes? Keep reading....

Winner of the Partridge in a Pear Tree Necklace: Rachel @ Finding Joy!

Winner of $15 credit to aPearantly Sew: Veronnica @ The Adventures of Miss V!

Winner of the Delicious Cake Soap: My friend in real life, Beth!

Winner of the Design Your Own coffee cuff: Kristin @ Hope Unfolding!

Congratulations, ladies! Please email me at sunshinegirl101@triad.rr.com with you mailing info so you can receive your prizes!

Once again, thank you to all who entered and I can't wait until we have another giveaway!

Simply Spring



I am linking up with Miss Carlotta's Spring themed photo challenge!

I know you guys have seen this picture on here before (and if you look on my sidebar, you will see it is the picture for Spring Fest!).



Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-13

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Just a quick reminder, you guys have until tomorrow to enter all of the giveaways for Spring Fest! The winners will be announced Saturday afternoon!

Spring Fest: Day 1
Spring Fest: Day 2
Spring Fest: Day 3
Spring Fest: Day 4

Have a lovely Day!

Spring Fest {Giveaway: Day 4}

Well, today is the last giveaway for Spring Fest! I have been so happy with the feedback I have been getting, and I know you all will LOVE this giveaway!


Meet Jaime, the owner of Little Bird Creations! How many of you like a steaming, hot cup of coffee? How many of you would like a *ahem* coffee protector so your delicate little hand doesn't get burnt while holding the steaming goodness? <----(Run on sentence)

^How cute is that?



Guess what? Jaime has decided to offer one of you lovely readers one of her adorable coffee cuffs! Ya know what's even better? You get to design your very own!

Mandatory Entry:

Hop over to Little Bird Creations

and tell me what the design of your

coffee cuff would look like by clicking here!

Extra Entries (each worth 1 entry):

Follow Bella Vita

Blog, tweet and/or facebook about the giveaway

Put the Spring Fest button on your sidebar

You guys have until Friday to enter all of the giveaways! Winners will be announced Saturday! Also, let's see if we can reach 100 followers in three days. We are up to 90...only 10 more to go! Whoo hoo!

Spring Fest {Giveaway: Day 3}



Welcome to Day 3 of Spring Fest! If you have not entered the giveaways for Day 1 & Day 2 of Spring Fest, click here and here.



I would like for you all to give a warm welcome to the lovely Artemis over at Servas Gschaeft! Oh. My. Goodness. This girl makes the cutest, most creative, and yes, tasty looking soaps! Honestly, when I look at her soaps I truly, truly, truly want to eat it. There. I said it.

Well, today is your lucky day because Artemis has generously offered one of her adorable cake soaps to one of you fortunate readers! Exciting, huh?!

Mandatory Entry:

Hop over to Servas Gschaeft

and let me know which of her

soaps you love!

Extra Entries (each worth 1 entry)

"Like" Servas Gschaeft on facebook

Follow Bella Vita

Blog, tweet, and/or facebook about the giveaway

Put the Spring Fest button on your sidebar

P.S. So far, Bella Vita hasn't gained many followers! Let's try to advertise this as much as possible so that we can get up to 100 followers! Thank you, friends!

Spring Fest {Giveaway: Day 2)



Who's ready for day 2 of Spring Fest? Me! Before I tell you what today's giveaway is, let me go ahead and tell you that tomorrow (Sunday) I will not have a giveaway. I am going to wait until Monday to do the third giveaway.

^A lot bold facing, huh? But I must drill it in your head. ;)


Today, I would like to introduce you all to the lovely, Alison, over at aPearantly sew! All I can say is wow - I would so love to be able to sew like her. All of her items are fresh, clean cut, and most importantly, cute.

Alison sells zippered pouches...

Clutches...

....and so much more! She has decided to offer you lovely readers $15 store credit to her shop! Hurrah!


Alrighty, you know the drill...

Mandatory Entry:

Check out Alison's shop

and let me know which of

her products is your favorite!

Extra Entries (each worth 1 entry)

Follow Bella Vita

Blog, tweet, and/or facebook about the giveaway

Put the Spring Fest button on your sidebar

Spring Fest {Giveaway: Day 1}



Now that Spring has officially welcomed itself into the world, I think it is quite appropriate to have another fun giveaway week! Before I go any further with the giveaway details, take a peek at my follower box. See that? We currently have 86 followers...fourteen more to go and we will be up to 100 followers! Whoo hoo! However, to be able to get up to 100 followers, we need to be sure and advertise this giveaway week! How can we do that? Keep on reading.....


I would like for you all to meet the extremely talented, Leigh, over at Barberry & Lace! This lady makes such unique and beautiful jewelry, that you want to purchase everything she has to offer. No joke. Seriously.

Guess what? Leigh has graciously offered her Partridge in a Pear Tree necklace for one of you lucky readers to win!

Eeeek! I just get giddy looking at it. Here is how you can enter to win this stunning necklace:

(Please do each entry as a separate comment)

Mandatory Entry:

Hop over to Leigh's Etsy store

and let me know which of her

items you love!

Extra Entries (each worth 1 entry)

Follow Bella Vita

Blog, tweet, and/or facebook about the giveaway

Put the Spring Fest button on your sidebar

There ya go! Come back tomorrow for another fun giveaway! Winners of each giveaway will be announced next Friday. ^_^

One Word Wednesday - (Signs) of Spring - "Plum Cute"



Funny thing is, I was actually hoping that Hannah's theme for today would be something that had to do with spring; and today's theme is Signs of Spring (hence, the title of this post).

These are the teeny, sweet little flowers blooming on the plum tree that my dad and brother planted in our backyard. Just think, those lovely white flowers will one day be pudgy, purple plums!

Hop over to Hannah's blog so that you can join the fun!

Winner of the Spring Fever Giveaway!

I would like to thank each and every one of you for entering my giveaway! It was so much fun meeting new people and logging on each day and seeing who was entering.


After many entries, writing many names many times, placing all of the entries in my (super cute) sparkly hat, holding it behind my back and grabbing one of the pieces of paper, the winner is.......................

Kendra @ Ismikendra!

Congratulations, Kendra! Please email me at sunshinegirl101@triad.rr.com with your mailing information so that you can claim the prize!

Once again, thank you so much to all who entered, and many congratulations to Kendra!

Spring Is In the Air...

Today is such a nice day! It is around 80 degrees outside even though it is near  the end February. We already are having flowers bloom in our front yard and a patch of grass is a vivid green in the backyard. I am in love with this weater!

A perfect day for a bike ride...



Hannah seems to be enjoying the warm weather as well!

(Sorry, couldn't help but put the flowery frame!)



Are you already enjoying the early Spring weather?

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Have you entered my giveaway yet? *taps foot*

Spring Fever {Giveaway right here!}

As we come close to finishing up the harsh winter, Spring is waiting and ready to welcome us! The days are already getting longer, teeny buds are beginning to show up on the trees, the daily temperatures are finally warmer, flowers are almost ready to bloom, and March is just around the corner.

Who all is ready for Spring? Who wants to have an early Spring celebration?

Well you are fortunate because right here on Bella Vita I am hosting a Spring giveaway! Who doesn't like a giveaway?

Want to know what the prize is? Well keep on reading and you will find out!


Joye over at Joyefulart was so sweet and gratefully donated her stunning Red Lilies water color painting!

Is this not gorgeous? Let me tell you, this lady is such an amazing artist and just viewing her website gets me in the mood for Spring! Eeeek!

Guess what? One of you lucky readers will get to win an 11x14 Red Lilies painting! Here is how you can enter to win:

Please do each entry as a separate comment!

Mandatory Entry (worth 1 entry):

(must be done before other entries count)

Hop over to Joye's site and tell me which of her art pieces is your favorite!

Additional entries (each worth two entries):

♥ Follow my blog

♥ Blog about the giveaway

♥ Tweet and/or facebook about the giveaway

♥ Snag my blog button and put it on your sidebar (click on 'share the love')

That's all ya have to do! The winner will be announced next Friday (3/4/11)