We Will Always Have Paris

Two For Tuesday: Berry Boxes and "Learn With Jenny" Blog

Two fantastic new things to check out (with videos!!):

1.  My Favorite Things Berry Box Die:  My daughters had so much fun during our Spring Tea last year that I think I'm going to do it again.  Once I laid eyes on this cute die, I knew what my theme was going to be -- strawberry lemonade.  Think giant red and yellow tissue paper pom poms... Think red and white striped paper straws... Think chocolate covered strawberries on tiered plates...  Think little strawberry boxes filled with tasty treats!!!

This will die cut a little treat box that folds into a strawberry.  IT EVEN EMBOSSES ADORABLE LITTLE SEEDS FOR YOU!  For an amazing example, check out Karen Giron's sample here. 

2.  "Learn With Jenny" blog:  I love reading blogs for inspiration.  I find great cupcake recipes (which I never use), card ideas (which I never make) and great ideas for my kids' playdates (I actually do use these!).  Every once in a long while, I stumble upon a blog that knocks my socks off.  If you haven't seen "Learn With Jenny"'s blog, you must.  Absolutely must.

My friend Suni uses a number of shocking phrases that always make me laugh.  For example, her computer never crashes.  It goes "tits up".  Nobody ever has an unpleasant look to them.  They "have a face like a cat's ass".  One of my favorite Suni gems is "balls outside the pants".  She uses it when she's done something completely over the top, without regard for what others might think.  I love it.

I love Jenny's blog because she completely lives with her"balls outside of her pants."  Diagnosed with cancer 6 years ago, Jenny sat down and wrote a "life list" of things that she wanted to do with her life.  She battled and won her cancer battle, and then set about living her life -- work, kids, everything else that comes with it.  Several years later, she realized that she hadn't accomplished much on her "life list" and changed her way of thinking.  There was an amazing life to be lived!  There's so much to learn!

I love watching Jenny cross items off of her "life list".  Some are small (hold a bake sale with her kids) and some are really "reach for the stars" dreams (dance with Ellen DeGeneres on her show).

One of my favorite Jenny list items was to dance in front of all of the Washington Monuments.  Watch this and tell me that you don't love Jenny too:

Now, that's living with your balls outside of your pants...

I'm off to do something on my "life list".

Photos of the Week: LOVE

Happy Valentine's Day (a day early, but I can't help myself -- these pics are too cute to not post right away)!

 

 

 

photos by Melanie Zajicek

Printable Coupons Updated (AC Moore, Hobby Lobby & Michaels)

Printable coupons for AC Moore, Hobby Lobby and Michaels have been updated.  You will find them all under the "Hot Links" section of the left sidebar of my home page.  Take advantage of the AC Moore & Michaels coupons, as they are both 50% off this week! 

Happy shopping!

Photo Of The Week: Look Mom!

A new Hobby Lobby recently opened in Northern Virginia (2/12/12 edited to add:  You'll find the new Hobby Lobby in Winchester, VA).  My children believe that this has replaced Disney World as the "Happiest Place On Earth".  Last week I found this picture on my 6 year-old's art table.  I love the fact that she's saying, "Look Mom!  Hobby Lobby!" and I'm responding (with my super long legs), "I see it!".  She pointed out that the sun shines brighter on Hobby Lobby.

Also notice that there is a gumball machine.  Now, that's heaven when you are 6 years old. 

Printable Coupon Links Updated: AC Moore, Hobby Lobby & Michaels

Printable coupon links have been updated for AC Moore, Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  You will find them all under the "Hot Links" section of the left sidebar of my home page.

Happy shopping!

Two For Tuesday: Valentine Twine and Ribbon Cutter

Two must-haves this week:

 

1.  Peppermint Divine Twine.  Gasp!  Those lovely people at Whisker Graphics have just released a new style of bakers twine in red, pink & white.  Just in time for Valentine's Day.  $15 for 240 yards.  Mama wants!!  (While you're buying yours, make sure you add some polka dot bitty bags to your shopping cart.)

2.  i-magicut Ribbon Cutter.  I've been using a ton of ribbon (may God bless you Offray Ribbon Factory Outlet) on my projects lately and I hate sealing the ends of my ribbons so they don't fray.  I tend to be a little heavy handed with the flame and end up with wonky ends.  The other day I discovered a new tool to help me solve this problem!  It cuts the ends perfectly (in various styles) AND SEALS THE ENDS FOR ME!

Enjoy!

Printable Coupon Links Updated (AC Moore, Hobby Lobby & Michaels)

Printable coupon links have been updated for AC Moore, Hobby Lobby & Michaels.  You'll find them all under the "Hot Links" section of the left sidebar on my home page.  Happy shopping!

Additional Nancy Drew Date Books Added To Etsy

I'm still receiving requests for additional Nancy Drew Date Books for 2012, so I've added a few new kits to the store.  For those of you that are (ahem...) running late in getting organized, you'll be thrilled to know that these Date Books include pages through January 2013, so you'll still get to enjoy Nancy for a year!

The Secret Of The Wooden Lady kit includes beautiful green and dusty mauve papers & embellishments.  I love the ominous water on the front cover -- great for the boating enthusiast or anyone who loves the water!  You'll find it here.

The Invisible Intruder kit offers up sky blue and espresso brown papers & embellishments.  The cover is classic Nancy Drew... perplexed Nancy and creepy background.  Fantastic!  You'll find it here.

I had a few others prepared, but they sold before I could even get them to Etsy.  These are probably the last that I will put together before this Fall.  Grab them while they last!

Two For Tuesday: Ali Edwards 52 Creative Lifts and Becky Higgins Project Life

I'm feeling super creative this week, gathering inspiration wherever I can.  Here are two things that might help inspire you:

1.  Ali Edwards' 52 Creative Lifts Newsletter.  Ali Edwards has inspired thousands of scrapbookers with her innovative scrapbooking ideas.  Her December Daily album has been replicated across the country.  Now, she's offering up a weekly inspiration newsletter for free.  FREE PEOPLE.  FREE.  I was so appreciative of the most recent issue that I actually sat down and wrote her a fan letter (well, a fan e-mail).  She's that cool.  You can subscribe to her Creative Lifts newsletter here.

2.  Becky Higgins' Project Life.  I started Project Life last year as a way to preserve more memories in less time.  I was initially resistant to the concept because I love traditional scrapbooking with big beautiful layouts.  However, I'm only cranking out 10 - 20 layouts a year and the rest of our memories are being shoved into file folders or, worse yet, left as unprinted images on my computer.  Once I started getting into the groove with Project Life, I discovered that this system can be anything you want it to be.  I love this.  If you are unfamiliar with Project Life, check it out here.  I'll be back soon with pics of my Project Life system and how I'm making it work for me.

Printab Coupon Links Updated (AC Moore, Hobby Lobby & Michaels)

Printable coupon links have been updated for AC Moore, Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  You will find them all under the "Hot Links" section of the left sidebar on my home page.  Happy shopping!