A few of my favorite things...

This is a completely random list of a few things that are makin' me happy lately and I thought that I would share:

Jane Green - I love her books! I listen to them in the car (my sister gave me this fabulous idea... books on tape are not just for road trips). I listen whenever I've just dropped off the children at school or whenever I'm waiting for dance class to let out. It really makes me look forward to being the taxi mom a lot more when I have a good book to listen to. I check them out from the library and Jane Green is one of my faves - great 'chick lit'.

My gray Antelope shoes - They go with everything and make me feel tall. It takes a while to break them in. They have a tendancy to rub the back of your heel, but once broken in... they are fabulous!

My new floral cropped sleep pants - They are so comfy! Made by Gilligan and O'Malley, you can find them at Target for $14.99. Just add a comfortable tee and you're ready for bedtime or some nice loungin' around the house.

My two favorite opi nail polish colors - For hands: 'Sweetheart'. It is the softest pale pink shade. I've worn it for years and love it... nice and clean. For feet: 'You don't know Jacques'. It is a very trendy shade of taupe. I just recently discovered it and I'm in love!

Little Nooks

Got an extra closet?...Give it a makeover. Here are three nice ideas that I found in Real Simple magazine this month.

Another Crafty Idea

This is a thoughtful gift that a child can actually make, as well...also found it at chasing-fireflies.com. My children can't stand it when I buy something and we wrap it up and say that it is from them. They feel that they had nothing to do with it and they feel like it is not, in fact, a gift from them. I always suggest that they make something like a card or maybe paint a rock to be used as a paperweight on daddy's desk. They are old enough now that they want to give something more real. It can still be a hand-made something...but it has to really be a more substantial something. These 2 kits definitely give me a good direction for the next gift-giving occasion...whether I order it or start from scratch and pick up my own materials from the crafts store...they are each a great idea!

Cute Craft

I found this little kit on chasing-fireflies.com. I really love it because it makes a terrific gift for mom, dad, sister, grandparent or any special person in your child's life. It is a great project for a young child and they really feel like they did something. My (almost) 11-year-old would love to make this.

Light of my Life

This is kinda' random...but I found this lamp at Anthropologie.com and I really love it. Along with my chair fetish, tabletop/dishes fetish and shoe fetish...I apparently have a thing for lamps, too. When we moved a few years ago, my father-in-law volunteered to move all of our lamps and artwork for us since I couldn't quite figure out how to pack them due to their size and fragileness. He still loves to remind me that I own 198 lamps! All shapes...all sizes. I have a real thing for lamps...the look...the light that they create...it just feels so nice and cozy and makes such a difference. I suppose I don't need this lamp...I don't think that I could find another spot to put one...but if I was in the market for a lamp, this would be the one for me.

Here are the 2 dinner recipes that I recently found that my family loves. They are now added to my repertoire. The meatball recipe came from Kaboose.com and the chicken and dumplings is a very easy and de-lish recipe that I got from my cousin Leslie.

Cute Lunch Totes

Say "good-bye" to the brown paper bag and go green in style with a lunch tote that insulates up to 4 hours.

Top: French Bull Gourmet Lunch Totes, $25; builtny.com or containerstore.com

Bottom: EZ Freeze Ice Block, $1.99 each; containerstore.com

Lunchtime

I feel like I could go to the grocery store with a blindfold on and make it home with everything that I need because I buy the same items every time...kinda' like a "food rut". I have really made a concious effort since school started last week, to "shake things up" a little at dinner time and I have found 2 good new easy dinner ideas that are kid tested and approved with flying colors. I'll share those recipes with you tomorrow. Today, I'm breakin' out of the same 'ole thing food rut with a few new lunch ideas that I found in Country Living Magazine (Sept. '09).

Elsita

Don't you just love it when you find a new blog that makes you smile? Last night I found one that definitely did just that...The Hidden Seed is a blog dedicated to the personal style of artist Elsa Mora. The photographs that she shares of herself dressed in all different outfits that she pulls together after shopping at places like J. Crew, Anthropologie, Forever 21 and H&M are creatively fashionable. She's even pictured wearing an adorable top that she found in the children's department at Target! (Now, I'll admit, I have purchased a few things myself in the children's department at Target...but I have never managed to pull it together like she has!) I just think that she has a great sense of color and style. I love the backgrounds that she chooses for her photographs as well. I will stay tuned to see what new look she comes up with next...Elsita...I love your style! You amaze me!

Dream On

In my next life when I live at the beach, you'll see me on one of these pale blue Madsen bicycles carting around children and groceries. It'll be my sole mode of transportation and I'll always be ready for bikini season. (just dreaming)

Make a Wish

I spotted this on lmnop's blog the other day. Such cute birthday candles from manufacturer TAG. They make me want to have a birthday party just so that I can use them! I can see them on a white frosted cake with jelly belly's bordering the top...too, cute!

Horoscopes

Click here to check out your yearly horoscope: Town & Country Magazine

School Portraits

I just love what Brooklyn-based company Stomping Ground is doing with the traditional, boring school photo...They're "shakin' it up" and it's about time. Their concept is to let the child's personality and individuality shine through in their school pictures. The children wear their favorite costume or bring a favorite toy on picture day. The kids get to be themselves and I think it puts a whole new spin on boring school photos. Love it!

Back to School Treats

Chew on your Pencil (credit: Family Fun Magazine)School Colors Cupcakes (credit: Woman's Day Magazine)

This week was "back to school" time for my children. So far, so good...everyone is happy. I never know when I'm going to be called on to send a class snack to the elementary school, but if I am... I'm ready with these 2 cute school-themed ideas.

My Etsy Loves

Here are a few of my favorite Etsy sites for you to enjoy. This is a random list of sites, but they each have such great, unique items. I like to order special little things like this to have on hand, even if I don't have a specific use in mind. When I need it, I have it...whether it's for a party or a school project for the kids...this kind of stuff is always useful and I'm always glad that I have it.

Happy shopping!

Top: Colored Paper Masking Tape and Business card stamps from NothingElegant's shop

Bottom: Checkers Big muffin cups and Polka Dot small cupcake cups from CuteCup's shop

Get Organized

Credit (below): Better Homes & Gardens
Credit (below): Real Simple
Credit (below): Better Homes & GardensI am all about anything that organizes and "makes pretty." I can't say that I ever really manage to get myself there, despite the best of intentions. When I do get things looking good and functioning well, the projects come along and mess it all up again. I can't ever seem to keep the organization after I've got it in place (I hate it when that happens.)

Here are some nice situations that will inspire me to "get my act together".

"N" is for Nick

Last week I told you that I'd show you what I bought at Atmosphere. I couldn't tell you because it was a surprise for my girls. The amazing secret was that we got tickets to see The Jonas Brothers in concert. They had no idea and my husband and I told them yesterday morning...the concert was last night. They were beyond thrilled! My friend Jennifer got great tickets for all of us, and we had a fantastic time. My younger daughter loves Nick so I had gone to Atmosphere to buy a cool big metal "N" for Nick. We decorated it with magnets that we made just for him that included his favorite quote, his monogram, his favorite team (the NY Yankees), a picture of my girls, etc... etc...
We thought that it would be a fun gift and we did get the opportunity to give it to him during the sound check, which was awesome. So that was the secret purchase from the little store that I blogged about last Friday. A good time was had by all...the concert was amazing. At the end of the evening, my daughter Annie said that "it was the best night of her life" and Claire said that "her life was now complete". Me...I say "priceless"!

Thank you Jennifer for getting us the awesome tickets and making it all happen. Here are a few of Jennifer's (Jennifer Jones Photography) fabulous photos of the evening.

Atmosphere

This shop in Birmingham, AL is really cool! They have a little bit of everything and it's always changing. Modern home furnishings & accessories can be found in this exciting store located in the heart of B'hams design district. I'm headed over there now to pick up a little something that I have them holding for me. I'll take a pic and post it for you to see on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Jet Set

This just in from Jet Blue...

They are offering an all-you-can-jet pass from September 8 to October 8. You can travel to over 50 cities on more than 600 daily flights. I may have to start planning!

Garden Party

This little outdoor party from the cute blog hey, bubbles looks like a very sweet and creative birthday celebration.

Clockwise from top left: Butterfly Kisses party invitation from SCB, catching little paper butterflies with a net...too much fun, Flower Wow invitation from SCB, cute chocolate mousse-filled cups planted with a lollipop "flower" and green gummy stem, Little Sweetheart invitation from SCB, a jar of colorful butterfly nets for entertainment

Vintage Wedding

I just saw the most gorgeous wedding photos on Style Me Pretty's blog. It is a vintage wedding shoot full of whimsical colors and charming details. If I had it to do over again, this would be my dream wedding. And could there be a cuter couple? This bride and groom are like movies stars from a past era. Congratulations to them on their big day!

Credit: Photos are from the very talented Lisa Lefkowitz and the amazing styling was done by Gloria Wong.

Welcoming Baby

These nurseries are so beautifully decorated...they just feel magical, and that's exactly how they should feel for the arrival of a sweet newborn baby. The beautiful rooms shown above are designed by Serena and Lily, and below are a handful of our sweet new birth announcements from Stacy Claire Boyd.

oooh la la

Thoughtful gift giving is an art...there's no doubt about it. I love oooh la la cadeau's site because they can always make you a hero when it comes to sending just the right thing. The gift, as well as the packaging, is sheer perfection. Click on their different categories and drink in all of the stylish gift-giving choices. oooh la la cadeau is oooh la lovely!