Today, I am SUPER DUPER excited to bring this sponsor love + giveaway post! Ilene, from Much Love, Illy first met through the blog world this past summer (not exactly sure how, but SO glad that we did)! My summer was packed full of traveling and one of the stops was Chicago~! And I happened to be passing by there a few weeks before Ilene left for South Carolina, so we decided we’d have a “blind date”! 😉 We met up for delicious food at Grand Luxe and chatted the afternoon away! And the rest is history~! Haha, but foreals, meeting a blogger in real life is always like a “blind date”, except for the fact that you already know A LOT about them and you know what they look like but sometimes people can be different in person than in real life, ya know? But Ilene was just as sweet, bubbly and cute in person as she is on her super fun blog, really! Here’s a picture that we took together on our meet-up! Since then, we’ve become such great blog (and real life) friends and I love that we always bounce ideas off of each other if one of us needs help. We even started the Cold Hands, Warm Hearts swap together and it was so fun to have a partner to do it with (can’t wait to see your blog posts soon, ladies)!! I am sooo glad I’ll be seeing her again at Creative Estates in April, can’t wait!! 🙂 Can you tell I just love this girl?
If you need a new blog to read, then I highly recommend Much Love, Illy. She has tons of posts from her daily life that range from her cute dog, her outfits, happenings in her life and shop updates! And I am sure you guys are already familiar with her shop, if you aren’t, have you been hiding under a rock? She makes the most beautiful poppy headbands and sells other cute accessories as well! Here are just a few of my faves, but my faves rotate pretty much weekly!
Ilene has soo graciously answered a few questions (some tough ones too) for us so that we could get to know her just a little bit better! And seriously, I’m digging all her answers, you can just tell how fun of a person she is from them!
{MEET THE ARTIST}
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Ilene, a 26 year old girl who recently (is 2 months ago recent? it feels recent!) moved from Chicago to the South to spend time with her family and to start the wedding planning process (got engaged to my best friend in August and couldn’t be happier!). I love all things creative (crafting, blogging, photography and writing – you name it!). I’m obsessed with spending time with my family and fiance, missions work in the Philippines, coffee with lots of creamer, nailpolish and colored tights…oh, and listening to one song over and over again (yeah, roommates always got annoyed with that!). I also am currently struggling with whether or not, I need to wait till after Thanksgiving to listen to Christmas music. (I normally do, but I’m also antsy to break the tradition and listen to it before my Thanksgiving meal). Just being honest here with struggles, people. 😉
Fashion Obsession #1 – Colored Tights (I think everyone knows this about me with how often I write and tweet about them). I just love the pop of color they add to any outfit. They are just so much more fun and less boring than black or gray – but those tights def. have their place for the more colorful outfits. I also love sliding across bare floors with tights. Now that is fun!
Fashion Obsession #2 – Vests. I love taking a really girly outfit (lots of florals and pops of color) and then throwing on a vest. It adds a fun menswear kick to it. I even love wearing vests in the summer time over tank tops and dresses.
Fashion Obsession #3 – Shoes. Is that too broad an obsession? It probably is – but if you saw my closet, you would know that I’m speaking the truth, people. I love shoes. I get it from my mom – or maybe Imedla Marcos (a former First Lady of the Philippines know for her huge collection of shoes)? Like tights, shoes can do a lot to an outfit. I’m currently drooling over boots and platforms if we have to narrow it down.
{GIVEAWAY}
Ilene is giving away $25 credit to her shop! Ummm isn’t that amazing? Talk about getting your holiday shopping done (without having to spend any money!)
How to enter:
1. Leave a comment with your answer to this question
“What is your favorite thing to do during the holiday season?”
For additional entries (please leave separate comment for each action):
2. Follow this blog with Google Friend Connect on right (if you already do, please let me know)
3. Follow Much Love, Illy with Google Friend Connect (if you already do, please let me know)
4. Tweet about this giveaway (make sure to use @sandyalamode and @muchloveilly in your tweet)
Feel free to use this tweet:
I just entered an awesome #GIVEAWAY for $25 shop credit to @muchloveilly on @sandyalamode! http://bit.ly/idKJ6K
This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and closes on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 9PM CST. Winner will be announced shortly after.
Entries for this giveaway have been closed! Thanks!
Favorite holiday activity: caroling!
Following!
And about the giveaway: can’t get cuter than this one!
oxoxox
Denalee
cuddle up on the couch with my husband after our little one is in bed and watch movies or our favorite shows while we drink hot cocoa.
I’m a new follower.
I LOVE baking during the holidays — my family has recipes that were handed down from my grandmother (we still have her hand written recipes too!) for the MOST DELICIOUS Russian Thumbprint cookies. The SECOND my dad starts pulling out the ingredients I sit there and wait at the oven like a little kid. 🙂
new follower over at much love, illy as well.
tweeted http://bit.ly/hDEROI @ShanLeAnn
I already follow you & Ilene! 🙂
& you girls just got a tweet too!
Favorite activity…probably baking! I love baking stuff to share with family and friends.
love to finish a book, eat good food, and visit family.
sorry I could list just one. They are all equal. Love her shop and I would love to win!
I follow you with GFC.
I follow Much Love Illy with GFC.
cuddle with my love and eat homemade treats we just baked!
We always dig out the old family photo albums and make fun of the RIDICULOUS things we all used to wear!! I love it!!
I follow you via GFC!
I also follow Ilene via GFC
AND I’m tweeting right now!!
oooh great giveaway!!
I love baking apple pie!
I follow your blog! 🙂
I follow Ilene’s blog!
I tweeted!
Wow that stuff looks A-MAZING! My favorite thing to do during the holiday season is curl up on the couch with popcorn and hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies!
I love to bake during the holidays, sweets are the funnest things to make !
marloweopat at gmail dot com
I follow you on GFC!
marloweopat at gmail dot com
These are so cute and adorable! What a creative and talented lady!
I follow Much Love, Illy on GFC!
marloweopat at gmail dot com
My favourite thing is to go for walks and look at the pretty Christmas lights 🙂
I follow you on GFC of course 😉
And I follow the lovely Illy too 😉
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/Mropat29/status/7308028600651776
marlweopat at gmail dot com
Crafting and knitting. I have so much more free time around the holidays! I love being a teacher!
Nikki
My favorite thing to do during the holiday season is to make some homemade hot cocoa.
Mmmm. I melt up some chocolate, mix with milk, add some whip cream. (No marshmallows for me.)
Now that is the stuff!
Already following 🙂
I immediately started to follow her blog once you started talking about how wonderful she is.
Tweeted it! Yay!
My favorite thing to do is drink something warm in front of the fireplace. Even in California 🙂
I’m a friend/follower obvi!
My favorite pary is probably all of the baking and the Christmas music! Oh and the smells… Love the smell of the holidays!
*kate
I’m a follower of Ilene too! 🙂
*kate
I follow you on google, Sandy!
I also follow Ilene and love it!
I tweeted about it too!
and my favorite thing to do during the holidays is spend time with my family, catch up with friends, and find the perfect gift to give to everyone. I have always loved giving things to see expressions of happiness!
my favorite thing to do is curl up by the fire with some bing crosby christmas songs playing 🙂
i follow you via GFC 🙂
i follow much love, illy via GFC
tweeted!
favorite holiday activity: getting the tree and decorating it…actually i just love pulling out my boxes of Christmas decor!
following your fab blog via GFC
following much love illy via GFC
tweet, tweet
I love to decorate for the holidays! Christmas is my favorite. I love all the lights. I also love listening to Christmas music.
I follow this blog.
I follow Much Love, Illy
I tweeted about this giveaway
http://twitter.com/#!/kendradiaries
Love this giveaway…and so nice that you became such great friends! My favorite thing to do during the holiday season is make soup. Over the years I’ve perfectly a few and I have so much fun doing it now. Hmm…maybe that’s what we’ll have for dinner tonight! Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving!
I love spending time with my family!
i am following you!
i am following much love, illy!
i tweeted!
http://twitter.com/#!/cupcakebookblog/status/7423531822350336
I love our annual family trip to the mountains to get our tree, and then listening to Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate while decorating the house with my husband and little ones!
I follow your blog 🙂
And I follow Ilene’s blog.
And, of course, I Tweeted!
She looks so adorable!
My fave thing about the holiday season, too many to count, spending time with family and friends, decorating the tree, gift shopping, they’re all so fun to me:)
p.s. I follow your blog, hun!
xx
I looove decorating & buying/making/wrapping up gifts! Oh, and listening to Christmas music, too. 🙂
blog follower!
Much Love, Illy follower, too!
Love this girl too!!
Such a fun interview to read! and what a fabulous giveaway!
Favorite thing to do during Holiday Season?? Sing Christmas Carols with my family and play all new fun fames around the tree!
Tweeted! 🙂
My favorite thing to do during the holiday season is make delicious baked goods to give as gifts to people. There’s something so nice about homemade food and knowing someone spent a lot of time and effort to make something for you.
And I do follow your blog on Google Friend Connect.
HOw fun! She is so sweet! I love decorating the tree and listing to Frank!!!
Just wrote and scheduled a tweet too!
My favorite thing is spending time with my family doing absolutely nothing.
My favorite holiday activity is gift wrapping!! I make a day out of it and I package each with gift with extra love and care! I follow on Google Friend Connect 🙂
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is spending time with my family and friends!
Of course I follow your super sweet blog!
And I certainly follow Illy’s great blog as well! Love it!
tweet tweet @chrissyza
I love making holiday cookies during the holidays 🙂 yum yum!
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is bake and make homemade Christmas presents for everyone!
I’m following your blog!
Following Illy’s blog!
Tweeted! @Kayla_Harvey
My favorite thing to do is drive around and look at Christmas lights! 🙂
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
OF COURSE I follow you through GFC! And I love it!
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
I love following Much Love, Illy through GFC too!
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
I tweeted! Fingers crossed!
http://twitter.com/#!/AHastyLife/status/7458475080687617
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is spend time reading all cuddled up in a blanket, and of course spend time with my family!
I just tweeted!
twitter.com/brooke09395
I love to make gifts for everyone!
I’m a GFC follower!
I’m following you with Google Friend Connect!
I’m following Much Love- Illy on Google Friend Connect!
I have a few favorite things to do during the holidays. This year, however, I’m just excited to spend Briar’s first Christmas with my little family. I’m so excited to start new traditions with her!!
Tweet Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/Danielle_Jeanne/status/7469131632738304
Following you 🙂
Following Ilene 🙂
My favorite thing is just the FEELING that you get during the holidays. Like even if things aren’t going perfect everything still feels good anyway.
colored tights are soo in right now. i love them! same as vests, like those furry ones. I’m going to go check out her store now!
i love ilene and you both so much!
my favorite thing to do during the holidays is EAT. i know, spoken like a true fat kid <3
My favorite thing to do during the holiday season is spend time with family. Staying inside where its nice and warm, eating leftovers from the big meals, playing silly board games or wii, just having fun!
I’m a follower of Sandy a la Mode. Love it!
I’m a new follower of Much Love Illy…great tights! 🙂
And I tweeted too! @plumstars
That is such a wonderful giveaway..I love Much Love Illy:)
Balazs and I love going on Christmas Markets during the Holidays…We enjoy some hot wine, Christmas music and yummy food:) Fingers crossed, darling
Happy Day:)
you guys look soooo cute and gorgeous in the pictures!! plus i love ur dress Sandy!!
Let see during the holidays, I love putting up the lights and the holiday decorations, spending time with family and just pigging out!!
yayy!! ilene is probably one of the sweetest ladies i’ve been in the land of blogging. fun interview! that is a hard question to answer, but i’ll go with strolling through our downtown to see the beautiful lights (the display is spectacular).
My favourite thing to do during the holiday season is to get bundled up, go for a walk in the snow and make snow angels…hoping for enough snow this year to do that!
I’m a follower of your blog!
I follow much love, illy and love it!
i’m a follower and love your blog:)
gina
I don’t get much sleep, so during the holiday break I sleep in a lot. The weather in SoCal has been super frosty lately, so now I just want to stay home lately and drink hot chocolate 🙂
michellemlhuynh[at]gmail[dot]com
I am following your blog via GFC!
michellemlhuynh[at]gmail[dot]com
I am following Illy’s blog via GFC! (michelle-esque)
michellemlhuynh[at]gmail[dot]com
My favorite thing to do is snuggle on the couch and drink hot chocolate with my kids in the evening when all the lights are off except those of the Christmas tree.
my fave thing to do is eat plates of Christmas cookies, especially the kind with red and green sprinkles.
Get together with family!
I love her! I thinks he is fabulous. I have to say, I met this girl through an old blog a few years ago and we have talked almost everyday since! Haven’t met yet since she was across the US and now in a different country, but we skype all the time, that is kind of the same right???
anyway my favorite thing isssss…sitting by the fire 🙂 🙂
i loveee you two. you guys are probably my favorite pairing of bloggers. gosh, don’t ever stop the goodness!
My favorite thing to do in the holiday season is snuggle up in obnoxious christmas sweaters with the family by the fire, drink hot chocolate, watch the snow outside and make christmas themed cookies. 🙂
my favorite thing to do during the holiday season is spend time with my friends, family, and boyfriend. i love that the holidays bring everyone together <3
of course i already follow your blog silly!
i follow much love, illy as wellllll <3
I have lots of favorite things! Baking Christmas cookies, snuggling by the fire, curling up with hot chocolate and a good book, being dysfunctional with my family!
already following via GFC
following Much Love, Illy via GFC
I love getting out all of the decorations and telling stories about where they all came from!
hhhmm….favorite thing to do: spend time with family <3
You two make a cute team. Thanks for organizing cold hands, warm hearts.
My favorite thing to do during the holiday season is watch Christmas movies (Elf, This Christmas, The Holiday, Love Actually).
I am already a follower of both your blogs.
I love nothing more than to hang out on the couch with fam and friends drinking hot chocolate:)
I am already a follower of your lovely blog.
Just signed up to follow much love, illy’s blog.
I love walking my dog after dark and looking at all the Christmas lights. Hopefully there will be snow!
I follow your blog through GFC as sandyandcosmo.
Make sugar cookies and decorate them, spend time with family, go ice skating, sing christmas carols.
During the holiday season, I just love a good festive party! omydarlingblog(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow your blog.
I follow Illy’s blog!
Me and my family go and cut a christmas tree.
I love baking with my mama! Because food is so yummy 🙂
Im following your blog
What an awesome giveaway, Sandy!! My favorite thing to do during the holidays is cuddle and sip hot chocolate next to the Christmas tree. Magical!
And I’m a follower!
We have our own little traditions – my dad’s yeast rolls, bean salad, chocolate pecan pie. Some are common, some are just in our family. Even though I don’t make it home for Christmas anymore, I love continuing the tradition with my own little family.
I’m a new google friend! 🙂
On of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is being with my family and enjoy each other company!!!
Following your blog!
Following Much Love, Illy with Google Friend Connect!
I looove sitting with my family on Christmas morning while the monkey bread is baking and everyone is so happy, but so tired since we woke up so early!
I’m a follower of your blog!!
I’ve been following much love, Illy for awhile!!
Aaaaand I tweeted about it. Yay! Bring on the giftcards!
I love both of you!! Awesome interview, haha and I totally agree with her favourite ice cream flavour!! 🙂 My favourite thing to do during the holiday season is to get together wit friends & family! 🙂
I definitely follow your blog!
& I follow Ilene’s blog!
ms(dot)verymarried(at)gmail(dot)com
i love to do crafts and cook!
Just tweeted! 🙂
Hi Sandy! Happy Thanksgiving!
My favorite holiday activity is listening ro Christmas music!
I follow you on GFC!
Have you heard about the art of doing nothing ? Since i am so busy in work days, so i’d love to doing nothing in long holiday, such as sleep, eat, watching dvd 🙂
Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone 🙂
liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com
So excited with the giveaway. I would like to participate in it.
Anw i am totally follower through Google Friend Connect name liz.
Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone 🙂
liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com
I twit here http://twitter.com/#!/dokidokico/status/8122720592072704
Much Thankies for the chance dear
Good luck for me and everyone 🙂
liz_crowny(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite activity during the holiday season is baking! Each year, my grandma and I get together for a holiday cookie baking marathon, and it’s so much fun to catch up, have a glass of wine, enjoy each other’s company and have some sweet goodies at the end to share!
I follow your blog via GFC!
I follow Much Love Illy via GFC!
my favorite thing to do is go ice skatinggg =]
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is bake/decorate cookies. Every. Day. I can’t get enough.
I follow you 🙂
And I follow MLI
I love stuffing myself with all the treats that appear at the holidays, like rumballs and smoked salmon. I also love pulling out the ornaments that are hidden away all the rest of the year.
I love to drink hot cocoa while watching the snow fall!
Oh, I love her headbands–too cute! It’s so hard to choose a favorite holiday activity, but I love making (and eating) the holiday food the most.
And I follow you with Google Friend Connect.
My fave thing to do over the holidays is to watch Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph, and other holiday cartoons. It reminds me of my childhood.
I tweeted this giveaway.
Cookie baking with my mom and daughter is my favorite holiday tradition!
my favorite thing is bundling up in tons of layers, getting some hot chocolate, & heading outside to get our christmas tree! so much fun 🙂
i’m following your super cute blog! not sure why i wasn’t already!
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is attend the candlelit 11pm Christmas Eve service at a local church. There’s no better way to start off Christmas than with singing. 🙂
I signed up to follow this blog…
I’ve been following Much Love, Illy for a little while now.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway, by the way!
favorite thing to do over the holiday season, is snuggle up on the couch, drinking coffee/hot chocolate mix , lights off except for the Christmas Tree!
I follow your glorious blog!
I also follow Much Love Illy!
My favorite this to do during the holiday season is trimming the tree, making pumpkin bread and creating gifts to give to the people I love!!!
xo
I follow your delightful blog via GFC
xo
I follow Ilene’s blog via GFC
xo
“What is your favorite thing to do during the holiday season?”
cuddle up by the fire with the light of the Christmas tree and snow falling outside while I watch christmas classics! (with my friends and family!)
I tweeted!!
xo
http://twitter.com/#!/moonbeamwishes/status/9638208086212609
i love this holiday season..so of course there are many things i like to do. one of them is to (window) shop in malls and stores just so i can hear the christmas music and see the decorations. also love the downtown decorations they put up this time of the year. so pretty!
I love drinking hot chocolate and playing board games in front of the fireplace!
I can’t wait to bake cookies and make candies!!
Follow her blog!
Every Christmas I look forward to making a gingerbread house with my family. My mom started it when we were young and the tradition has carried on for 24 years.
Following you via Google!
Following Illy via Google!
In the holidays i love to visit family, see my grandparents, go dancing with my friends and sleeping a lot!
SHOP for presents! I love love love this part.
Following sandyalamode via Google!
follower of Much Love, Illy via google! 🙂
tweeted! @femmenamala 🙂
My favorite thing to do during the holidays is cook with my mom. 🙂
Fabulous give-away! I love your blog!
Make snowmen of course (when we’re lucky enough to have snow!)
I just tweeted 🙂
I love sitting at home with a nice cup of hot cocoa with the christmas tree lit up and the christmas candles burning!
i’m with you: illy is awesome! not only is she GORGEOUS, she’s sweet and funny and calls my girlfriend when i convo her. love her and her work!
as for my favorite thing about the holidays, it would probably have to be the fact that i can just relax, and everything is slow paced at the holidays, you know?
thanks for the giveaway!
Sarah-Anne
i follow your blog, obviously…
I signed up to follow you with Google Connect!
…and, i folllow illy and her red tights! 🙂
I signed up to follow Much Love, Illy with Google Friend Connect!
I tweeted about this great giveaway!