Me in Melange

Cool paper site!

I love beautiful wrapping, and love making gifts look like a beautiful presentation but I often need "inspiration" because on the fly I forget the cool things you can do.  I found a great site called, Olive Paper, and they have tips, gorgeous papers, and great ideas!  Now there is NO excuse to reuse that ugly gift bag from two years ago for lack of a better idea!  Signed, ME {lv}

time wasters...

Found this on 'how about orange' this morning and had to take 5 secs and make on of my own! (Follow her instructions ) I love for things to have their own home. :) signed, me {CA}

 

naturally dyed

Thought this was a pretty cute idea, to dye your easter eggs with items from the produce aisle.  You can use spinach, blueberries, cranberries, spices... the list goes on and on.  And the outcome is such pretty shades, I love it!  Click here for a how-to and ideas on how to get really cool patterns on the eggs as well. A great weekend project with the kids! signed, me {CA}

Raleighwood!

SUPER excited to see my hometown featured on one of my favorite blogs, Design Sponge.  Who knew my little southern mecca would be so stylish one day! Makes me miss sweet tea, warm hospitality, and well... non-rainy weather. ;)  signed, me {CA}

from one happy hard tail to another...

Just wanted to give a special 'thanks!!' to Diane over at Everything Yoga for saying such nice things about us in her blog yesterday!! You made us blush. :)  We're happy to have yet another Hard Tail fan shopping with us... speaking of Hard Tail, have you seen all the new arrivals?!?  Even more coming today!  signed me, {CA}

Great modern pieces for the home!

2 Modern is a great site on which I found these pillows that I adore....Signed, ME {lv}

wdydwyd?

This is such a cool art project that a friend of mine from NC just shared with me... it's a blog/ worldwide community-art project' to answer the simple question "why you do what you do" by combining image and text in a creative way.  It all started when a 12 year old randomly called Tony Deifell and asked him just that, for a school project.  It really hits home, makes you slow down for a second and appreciate why you got up before the sun this morning... I love it!  Here's a link to my friend, Greg's picture.  He's a fabulous hair stylist in Chapel Hill, NC... and world traveler extraordinare. signed, me {CA}

masha dyans

The other day I finally got around to sorting through our wedding cards. Out of all of them, my two favorites just happened to be by the same artist, Masha Dyans.  This one, given at a shower from my in-laws....

And this one, given to us by my parents for our wedding....

I love how expressive they are!  And the watercolors are so vivid and full of life.  Here are some of my other favorites...

Some are just perfect for Valentine's Day!  To see the full collection of Masha's work, click here. signed, me {CA}

Cool Quote!

We often choose a friend as we do a mistress - for no particular excellence in themselves, but merely from some circumstance that flatters our self-love.”

William Hazlitt quotes

I found this quote today while looking for something else, and I really like it.  Thought I would pass it on!  Signed, ME {lv}

Mindy Kaling!

Speaking of 'Things I've bought that I love'.... I am smitten with Mindy Kaling's blog.  You know her from 'The Office', and she has a hilarious blog where she discusses all the frivolous and fun things in life.

Check her out when you have time, or when you need a good laugh!  signed, me {CA} 

stamp it pretty...

I was looking for an interesting stamp for a wedding invite that I'm designing for a friend and I was delighted to find these...

I love that they're elegant and pretty without being too wedding-ish.  signed, me {CA}

Cute kid's clothing site!

Ava just had her 5th birthday and received a dress from this site, www.comfykid.com, they have some adorable clothing--bit hard to navigate but worth the effort!  Signed, ME {lv}

"oh gee, I'd love to but..."

A coworker and I were scheming up ways to get out of a girly holiday party (where way too many calories would be consumed in not so fun ways... ie. dozens and dozens of cookies instead of mimosas).  The only valuable excuse we could come up with is 'work', which still isn't so bad.  But now, there's the Holiday Party Excuse Generator to save the day... or at least make it a little more entertaining! Simply tell the generator about your holiday bash dilemma and it will generate an email-able excuse to your hostess expressing just how sorry, (or not sorry) you really are for not making it.  signed, me {CA}

Cool site!

www.vivaterra.com , I thought this was a cool site, and particular I loved this wreath and thought it would make such a great gift for someone who has everything! Signed, ME {lv}

ps  and it is GREEN too!

Site for cool address labels!

www.iomoi.com, check out these very cool address labels....kind of makes you want to send some mail!  Signed, ME {lv}

Great gift idea!

Three Designing Woman   Can't remember if I blogged about this last year, but I don't think I did.  These are GREAT gifts for friends.  Really pretty address stamps that are different and fun.  I ordered them last year for a bunch of friends and family.....my only word of advice is check your spelling 5 million times because even though I "thought" I did, I still managed to spell my mom's name wrong (and have yet to order her replacement one--OOPS)!!  Do it after two cups of a coffee and not late at night :-)!  Signed, ME {lv}

Great site for ordering holiday cards!

Little old organized me just ordered my Christmas cards....yep, they are on there way and will no doubt be addressed and ready to go before the end of October (I'm obsessed, I know).  It was just another thing I wanted knocked off my list before the baby comes.  Anyway, I ordered them from www.tinyprints.com, which had adorable prints and patterns (nothing cheesey or too ordinary), and the program was super easy to use if you want to upload pictures etc.  They aren't inexpensive, but the cuteness factor and quality easily make up for the fact (I first heard about it because a cousin-in-law sent a birth announcement and it was so cute I made sure to save it and noted the website on the back).  Anyway, for all of you OCD gals who might do your cards early, I highly recommend it!  Signed, ME {lv}

Cool blog for design!

www.designismine.blogspot.com  Just found this blogging site with great ideas and references to designs.  Very cool stuff!  Signed, ME {lv}

Good local site!

In my search to find local birthday party ideas for Ava's 5th birthday (not until January, but if I wait until then to find something it will be year #5 that she doesn't have a formal party.)  The problem is that that every parent, of every kid she knows, has raised the birthday bar WAY too high.  I think I (along with everyone else my age) had maybe one or two "parties" growing up and they were a big deal.  Now blow up jumpy houses, gym afternoons, and swim parties are the NORM for every birthday.  It is keepin' up with the Jones' KID that is going to kill me.  I've kept it at bay for the last 4 years, but now she is articulate enough to lay on the guilt, "why does everyone else get a party and not me?"  Better mommy I suppose :-). 

ANYWAY, in my search I found this local to Portland, Oregon blog site called www.urbanmammas.typepad.com  and it has been great for getting recommendations on b-day parties, cake places etc.  If you live in the area it is worth checking out!  Signed, ME {lv}

Photo Journals

I came across photojojo.com this weekend, a super cute website offering tips on picture-taking and very cool DIY projects.  I started this one (photo journals) last night... I'll let ya know how it turns out.  But I'm thinking they would make really great "thinking of you" presents for friends and fam. signed, me {CA}

sharing...

I'm always bummed about trying to share photos via email.  My computer inevitably crashes, I forget to include someone from my address book, or their server rejects my loaded email.  But now I'm excited because I just started my own flickr.com account.  Flickr provides a super easy way to load your photos and make your own albums... friends and family can even leave comments on pictures and such.  Really cool, check it out... I must confess, I just spent 2 hours fixing pics and loading them, might become an addiction with my new found free time.  signed me, {CA} that's right, I'm back and with a new initial! ;)

Good gift idea!

I found this little giftie item and thought it was perfect for the kiddies.  I ordered them for my kids and all the kids I needed gifts for from now through Christmas....thought they would be adorable filled with trial size travel things like mini toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand sanitzer, kid soap etc.  Most kids I know love to play with "little" things and they love when stuff is "their" own stuff so this would be fun for traveling, overnights etc.! Terry Cloth Toiletry Bag (monogramming is included in the price--SUCH a deal)!  Signed, ME {lv}

find your inner picasso...

Something just for fun!  A great way to procrastinate and/or to make you smile while you grab a bite to eat at your desk.... try making your own Mr. Picassohead!  :) Here's mine.  signed, me {c}

things that make you go 'mmmmm...'

Inspirations for lunchtime.  A fantastic food blog.... http://www.nordljus.co.uk/ enjoy! signed, me {c}

 

My Publisher Photo Books

For Mother's Day my very sweet, sentimental and all together wonderful husband put together a 30 page book on this site called  My Publisher.  It comes like an actual "book", a book of photos and whatever cute little verbiage you want to put beneath the pictures.  You choose the layout on each page (you can do it front and back or just the front of each page).  The quality is great, the pictures looked great, and I think it is one of the most wonderful gifts I've ever gotten!  He chronologically went from pictures of myself pregnant with our first, through the present with 2 children and one on the way.  There is something so concrete and timeless about putting pictures in a "book" form.  It feels different than the millions of photo albums that I have.  Anyway, I wanted to share this site because it makes for a great gift, and now that I have the idea I plan on doing it for my mom and mother-in-law....and whoever else I can think of :-)!  Signed, ME {lv|

Looking for an alternative to flowers....

I've been trolling the internet looking for an alternative gift for a group of people, other than flowers.  I don't know them personally, it is merely a "thank you" gesture, but flowers for a group just doesn't make much of an impact.  So...I've found this adorable site, Dough Monkey, and I'm having an easily loved, crowd pleasing gift delivered--cookies and cakes!  Everything looks delicious on the site, and how could someone not love a little sugar in the afternoon?  Signed, ME {lv}

this little birdie...

How cute are these little birds by artist, Ann Wood.  I am just in love with how incredibly sweet each one is and love that they are all handmade.  I might have to start stalking her site to be able to score one of her 'daily birds'.  Enjoy...  signed, me {c}