New Pattern Invitations

We have been working hard on a new collection of fun and fashionable all-occasion invitations that will be available soon on our website. Here's a sneak preview of a few cards, along with some of my "photo inspiration" of beautiful spaces. Check out website in the weeks ahead to see all of the new designs.
Images courtesy of delikatissen.com (first three) and mylife-myloves.blogspot.com (last).

Annie B Boutique

My 13 year old daughter Annie started a jewelry and hair accessories business about a year ago. She enjoys keeping up with her business...shopping for the findings, designing and actually making the product and making her rounds to the various shops that she sells to. She does all of this with my help along with the assistance of her 10 year old sister Claire. annie b boutique (anniebboutique@gmail.com) is a fun business that we all have a blast doing together even though there are some days we don't do anything because Annie declares that she "just wants to be a kid today." The business is growing as her product offerings have expanded to include: hairclips, pony-tail holders, necklaces and rings. A portion of the money that she is making is being donated to St. Judes research hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Here are a few photos of her ever-changing line.

Even puppies enjoy pony-o's by annie b boutique!

A "Sticky" Situation

Here are a few fun "foods-on-a-stick" that I found in my latest issue of Food Network Magazine, which I think makes terrific party food. Salad on a stick

Pizza on a stick

Strawberry Waffle ball on a stick

Pinkberry

We don't have a Pinkberry in Birmingham yet, but I'm sure that it's just a matter of time. It's so hot outside today, I could really go for a nice cup of this healthy yummy treat. Everything looks so fresh...mmmm....

I noticed a recipe in my new Food Network Magazine that says they have been able to duplicate Pinkberry's secret recipe. I have to try this out!

Girl's Best Friend

This is a quick shot of some pieces that I did for a recent charity art show in Rosemary Beach benefiting The Alaqua Animal Refuge. I used three little shadowboxes, lined the back with new patterns from our line, then pasted hand-cut silhouettes of my favorite pooch, Addie on top of the patterned paper. I thought they ended up looking very "beachy" and would fit right in to a cute beachside cottage. Hopefully they will make someone happy and raise a little money for a terrific organization.

Here is what I can tell you about AAR...

The TRANSFORMATIONS art show and silent auction benefits the Alaqua Animal Refuge (www.aarflorida.com) which is a no kill shelter that was started by one individual super woman named Laurie Hood. It is located on her ranch in Freeport, Florida and is truly a beautiful happy place with rolling pastures and shady trees. She has a great adoption rate but things have slowed down with the "economy" and they have sooo many animals now that need our help! The art show has a website where you can view the artworks and even bid online. www.goingtothedogsfl.com .

Flower Power

I am quite sure that I am a little old for this fun hippie look, but I can't help myself. I must have these fun nails! You can get this look with an adhesive film called minx, which is applied at a professional salon for about $55. Go to minxnails.com for a salon in your area.

Fun and Games

I found this game on it's all good and it really works! How does it work? I don't understand why it works because I'm not a math/numbers kinda' gal. I'll just 'chalk it up' to magic and go on. Try it... you'll be amazed!

Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway-but your waiter may know! YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH This is pretty neat. DON'T CHEAT BY LOOKING DOWN FIRST! It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read ...Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.
1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat. (more than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50.
5.If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759...If you haven't, add 1758.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should have a three digit number.
The first digit of this was your original number. (i.e., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)The next two numbers are YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!!!)
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS

Cake Toppers

I just love this precious wedding cake topper from lollipop workshop. Also... a few wedding party invitations from Stacy Claire Boyd.

Another adorable cake topper from lollipop workshop with a few fun girly party invitations from us at Stacy Claire Boyd.

Yellow Party

I found this adorable yellow-themed party in Cookie Magazine. When my children were younger, we had a yellow-themed lemonade stand/party. It was one of our best parties ever. Having the yellow theme to work with really made the shopping for the party so much more fun...it was easier really because the color dictated what we would buy and it all worked together so nicely.

Anyway, this party for 2 year-old Creed looks like a sunshiney good time!

Wrapped up in the details

I love good packaging...even if it's just a package that you're sending off to your child at camp, it's all about the packaging. These decorative tapes, mailing labels and envelope-wraparounds from tapeswell.com are must-haves for shipping out your pretty parcels.

Cannelle et Vanille

This is a beautiful blog that I found several months ago. Beautiful photography, gorgeous food... enjoy!

Handmade Paper Mobiles

I love these beautiful mobiles made by Frazier & Wing. I especially love the idea of using one above a table as a party decoration and then hanging it in a child's bedroom when the party is over.

Star-Spangled Ideas

Here are a few suggestions for your 4th of July celebration:

Enhance the fireworks with a pair of 3-D fireworks glasses. They will give your light show a cool kaleidoscope effect. Available at amazon.com or 3dglassesonline.com
Utensils wrapped in festive paper napkins then bound with thin strips of scrapbook or oragami paper and secured with double-sided tape.

Mason Jars tied and knotted with torn strips of patriotic-colored fabric and filled with cherry limeaid. Too cute!

Serve:

Easy BBQ RIBS

Tasty Slaw à la Stacy

1 (16 oz.) pkg. angel hair slaw

5 green onions, chopped

8 oz. crumbled feta cheese

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Bottled Italian Dressing

Mix all ingredients together (better if you make it the night before). Cover and refrigerate. I just add the dressing until it looks right. I don't think that you can mess it up (I usually add 3/4's of a large bottle of dressing).

Star Spangled Pound Cake

Cute Watermelon Cookies

Cupcakes

Cupcakes are so big right now, and Martha Stewart has a new book out about them. It has 175 ideas for cupcake lovers...everything from fun lollipop cupcakes to fancy tiramisu ones. Yum!

It's in the Bag

Your handbag says a lot about you...your style, your personality...so much is reflected in the bag you carry. Have you ever wanted to design your own? Check out 1154 Lill Studio where you can do just that. I fell in love with this "Brianna" handbag shown with patterns "Frida's Flowers" and "Yellow". So many styles, fabrics and colors. Lotsa' options, lotsa' fun.

Charm Bracelet

My children are away at summer camp for a month having a great time. Every few days I try to send them a sweet postcard, a magazine, or a little activity book... just a little something. It's like a hug from home. Today I am sending my daughter Claire a bracelet that I crafted using Martha Stewart's charm bracelet kit. You can find these at Michael's Arts and Crafts. Rather than using photos for the charms, I used little reduced print outs of our family's silhouettes. The bracelet comes with 3 two-sided charms which allows just enough room for our 6 member family (including our 4- legged friend Addie). The kit has a cute keepsake pouch to tuck the bracelet into, which makes it a complete little gift. This package from home will surely make her smile!

The Dog Days of Summer

Have you noticed lately how many people have dogs that are a breed that you've never really heard of? I am a dog lover and have one (my heart and soul) that is not a real AKC breed. She is a mix called a labradoodle (a labrador and poodle, all in one). My sister has a doodle (a dacshund/poodle). My friend has a schnoodle (a schnauzer/poodle) and I have met so many cute golden doodles (a golden retriever/poodle) lately. Everyone is so doodly!

Photographer, Amanda Jones has a new book out called "A Breed Apart", which celebrates mixed breed dogs/mutts. Aren't they precious?

Here are some fun pictures of my doodly dog, Addie. She's my BFF! Here we are at the beach last week frolicking in the sand... We had an awesome time! These photos were shot by my friend, photographer Jennifer Jones:

Party Kit

I went to Michael's arts & crafts store yesterday and had the best time. There are so many fantastic products and I seem to hyperventilate more and more with every row I walk down. It is a really fun place and always makes me wish there were more hours in the day that could be designated to crafting. Oh...dream on! Anyhow, I was thrilled to find this Martha Stewart party kit for $6.99 on the clearance aisle. I'm not having a party, but this kit has so many cute little items in it that you could use for whatever. For example, I took a photo of 3 little gift boxes with orange twill handles that were in the kit. I filled them with some dried fruit and granola for a little addition to my father-in-law's gift yesterday for father's day. This kit has cute tiny bags, stickers, envelopes, cupcake toppers and little decorative cups that would be so cute filled with candies etc. etc... I was just so excited to buy a few of these party kits at $6.99 because there are lots of uses for all of the precious stuff inside.

Father's Day

Father's Day is upon us and here are some oh so cute gift ideas from marthastewart.com to show dad how much you love him.

Clockwise from top left: Homemade Card with tickets for a special night out with dad, Homemade Bar-B-Que sauce, a special dinner just for him, a fun and funky patterned necktie card, travel kit, "DAD" cut-out photo frame, carwash kit, decorated notepad cube.

car möbel

This site tickles the right side of my brain! car möbel is a German company, so you can't understand the website (unless you speak German), but check out the website rice for much of the same product...in English. The colors are so fun...I just love and want it all!
Das good, ya?

Shadow Boxes

I'm always drawn to anything that's in a shadow box. It's like a secret little protected world! Usually whatever is inside is special and worthy of living in it's own little personal space. Shadow boxes may contain art or personal collectibles, but they can also be functional. Here are a few situations that I like:

Summer Hair

This hairstyle is not a new style for Sienna Miller, but I love it. Such a cute summer 'do'!

Alicia Paulson

I love Alicia Paulson's work. Her blogsite rosy little things has a lot of great stuff, but I am particularly drawn to these little paper mache birds created from a kit she sells. Got to get one!