[dandee]

A little thank you.

2012-01-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

I have felt so much love from those around me lately. From the friends and family that watched my children while I was away at ALT to all of you that visit + leave comments here. It all means so much and I'm grateful.

Before my flight left Utah on Saturday I snuck away to Anthropologie and snagged a few of these darling little spice jars. They are the perfect treat to say thank you and are officially my new favorite thing.

I filled a couple with Swedish fish and packaged them up for some special friends. Friends that are always there cheering me on and encouraging me when I need it most. I hope you have a friend like that because everyone should.

After I delivered these treats I got to thinking what a sweet Valentine they would make too. Draw a little heart on the chalkboard label, fill with some yummy chocolates and you're golden. Perhaps a weekend project? I think yes.

Good Morning Northwest.

2012-01-26T10:05:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I was asked to teach a few community classes for the Parks & Recreation Department. This week a local TV station picked up the story and asked if I would come into the studio at 5:30 for an early morning segment. I was really nervous (and tired!) but it went well thanks to the kind host, Crystal Costa.

I have a new respect for news anchors. They have a tough gig and it's inspiring to see them effortlessly switch gears as they report on different stories. Here is a link to the segment in case you're curious to see it for yourself. Or if you'd just like to hear my real life voice which is always a crazy experience for bloggers, am I right?

ALT Calling Cards 2012.

2012-01-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

Exchanging business cards with fellow creatives is one of my favorite aspects of the Altitude Design Summit. I was pretty busy getting ready for the Method party and didn't exchange as many cards as I would have liked, but the ones I did get my hands on were beautiful!

Letterpress cards will always be a personal favorite. I'll never tire over the way they feel in my hands, the weight of the paper or the intricate designs. Jane's card was especially lovely.

My new friend Marie created cards that came with a caramel and the recipe. It was all packaged sweetly in a glassine envelope. And in case you're wondering, the caramel was delicious! I'm excited to try Marie's recipe for myself.

The lovely Danni is a packaging queen so it's always a treat to get one of her cards. I love the little animal paperclip and vinyl "Press On" that came with each one.

Before I left for Alt Lindsay sent a text telling me to keep an eye out for one of her bloggy favorites, Mindy Gayer. I was unfamiliar with Mindy and didn't think my chances were very good spotting someone when I didn't even know what she looked like. Well, guess who I just happened to sit next to during one of the panels? Yes, it was Mindy and she was so kind and lovely. A real gem. Plus, her card? It's pretty rad.

Some of my other favorite cards of Alt 2012:
ISLY
Annily Green
Swoon
Old Sweet Song
Mer Mag
Melanie Saucier
Love & Lemons
Rachelle Francey
Lupa & Pepi
Hilary Schuster (love her picture! so clever and a great way to be remembered.)
Kacy Faulconer
Deb Averett
Brianna Webb

See my favorite cards from Alt 2011 here.
My wooden business cards here.
And a great pinboard of even more business cards here.

ALT.

2012-01-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Last week while at ALT I had the opportunity to throw a mini party alongside Melanie and Susan with the fabulous sponsor Method. It was a blast. ALT never disappoints (hello amazing speakers!) but adding a little Smilebooth to the mix didn't hurt. I'm spending my day catching up around the cozy brick house. There are babies to cuddle, laundry to do and emails to return. Plus, I have all sorts of great ideas brewing since leaving the conference which means I'll be making lots of lists. Lots + lots of lists.

Browse the Alt Flickr account to spot some of your favorite bloggers and scroll through hundreds of Smilebooth shots from the Method party right here.

Snow Globe Valentines.

2012-01-17T16:24:00.000-08:00

Snow globes are so magical. I remember being entranced by them as a child and even today I love watching the "snow" inside drift slowly to the bottom. Audrey shares my fascination with snow globes so we decided to make some for her preschool friends in honor of Valentine's Day.

To make Snow Globe Valentines you'll need:
-glass baby food jars
-2" styrofoam balls
-pipe cleaners
-glitter (we used Martha Stewart Crafts Tinsel Glitter)
-glycerin
-serrated knife
-hot glue gun + hot glue sticks
-spray paint (for the baby food jar lids)

Start by painting the lids of your baby food jars. They will need about 24 hours drying time.

When your lids are dry you can assemble your snow globes. Using the serrated knife cut one rounded side off a styrofoam ball. You want the cut piece to fit inside the the center of the jar lid, leaving enough space for lid to tighten securely when it's put back on the jar.

Next form the pipe cleaner into a heart shape. Twist the bottom two ends a couple of times to secure.

Stick the twisted ends of the pipe cleaner heart into the center of the cut styrofoam piece.

Trim off the ends of the pipe cleaner.

Using your hot glue gun secure the styrofoam piece to the inside center of the lid.

While the hot glue dries, fill the jar with water. Add 1 tsp of glycerin and as much tinsel glitter as you like. We used about 1 tsp or so.

Finally, attach a cute tag and deliver to your loves.

Pinned.

2012-01-13T13:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! I have spent this week stitching + stitching + stitching away on Valentine Heart Pin orders. Thank you for your kind response! It's been fun.

While giving my fingers a rest this afternoon I hopped over to Pinterest for some eye candy and to freshen up my boards. Oh that site never disappoints! Obviously mustard yellow is speaking to me.

1.Flora from Bonjour-Celine via Kelly | 2.Sweater Hug from K. Miller Photographs via Lindsay | 3.Heart of Gold from Besotted Brand via Rachel | 4.Blanket from Batixa via Kelly | 5.Simplicity from Bubby & Bean via Lindsay

Valentine Heart Pins.

2012-01-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

Monday's nearly gone, friends but I couldn't let it slip away without telling you that I've added a couple of new things to the shop. Valentine Heart Pins! These have been in my head for awhile. I think they're the perfect token to give your loves this Valentine's Day. Each pin is hand stitched by me and is attached to a little card with a favorite E.E. Cummings quote:

"I carry your heart with me. I carry it in my heart."

Get yours while you can here.

Friendship Bracelet Valentines | An Update.

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Are you starting to think about Valentine's Day yet? I already have ideas brewing in my head for the children's 2012 valentines and plan on sharing at least one of them with you next week.

Until then, here's some happy news. Thanks to Pinterest, my inbox has been bursting with inquires about a possible printable for Abby's Friendship Bracelet Valentines from a couple of years ago. I'm happy to tell you there's now a free printable for you to enjoy.

You can download the file here.

12 Calendars for 2012.

2012-01-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finally took a few minutes to set out my calendars for this year. I own this one and this one and love them both. Here are twelve of my other favorites from around the web including a couple of free desktop calendars from some favorite designers. Hopefully they help brighten up your year, friends.

1.Free Desktop Calendar from new to me artist Rebekka Seale. Rebekka's blog Dear Friend is a new fave. | 2.Geometric Wall Calendar from Leah Duncan | 3.Limited Edition Calendar from the lovely Suann Song from Simplesong Design | 4.Language of Flowers glicee print wall calendar from The House That Lars Built | 5.Tea Towel Calendar DIY Embroidery Kit from Curious Doodles | 6.Watercolor Wash from Oh My Deer Handmades | 7.The Instagrams from my dear friend Passionista Presents | 8.A Year In Food perfect for all you foodies out there by Sweet Fine Day | 9.Printed Linen Wall Art calendar from Bookhou at Home | 10.Free Desktop Calendar from artist Shanna Murray | 11.Cross Stitch Letterpress calendar from Pistachio Press | 12.Garden Calendar Print from Rifle Paper Co.

My Beastly Book of Hilarious Heroes.

2012-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

This book just may be the biggest hit of our Christmas. At least in the eyes of my 7 year old. Many of you know we follow the Want, Need, Wear, Read tradition for our gift giving during the holidays. A month or so ago, while searching the shelves for Owen's "read", I happened upon My Beastly Book of Hilarious Heroes and knew instantly he would be in little boy heaven.

Owen has an incredible imagination and oftentimes prefers drawing and playing to reading. I was happy to discover that while enjoying My Beastly Book of Hilarious Heroes he would be doing all three. Each page offers little artists simple instructions while leaving plenty of room for their imaginations to run free.

In the week and a half since he opened it Owen has be filling this books pages with characters from his seven-year-old mind. Including the one above which is my personal favorite for obvious reasons.

Weekending | Christmas Break Edition.

2012-01-02T15:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, friends! Today is Ryan's last day of vacation and I am s l o w l y letting myself get back in the ol' routine. Tomorrow I'll be scrubbing down the cozy brick house and (finally!) putting away the rest of our Christmas decor before the children head back to school on Wednesday. It's been a lovely break. Probably my favorite ever.

We've been admiring the glow of our pretty tree,

taking road trips to Portland to see the Blazers stomp on the Kings,

adding pink sparkles to our nails,

enjoying our first family ice skating session,

and listening to The Head and the Heart over + over + over again.

Other highlights: Filling out our Resolution Kits, reading The Hunger Games, and watching a new movie every night. It's been wonderful and I'm sad to see it end.

I hope you've had an equally enjoyable holiday season with the ones you love too. Twenty-Twelve is going to be a great year. I just know it.

New Year's Resolution Kit Printable.

2011-12-29T10:11:00.000-08:00

I know it often gets a bad wrap due to the dreary gray skies and cold, short days but I'm sort of in love with January. I love the idea of starting fresh. I love the potential of a whole new year. It's hard to believe that 2012 is just days away. This past week I've been pondering my goals for this next chapter, making lists in my head. You too?

If you get excited about setting goals and making lists you'll want to print off a few of these Resolution Kits. They're a simple collaboration between me and my talented friend Lindsay of Run Lucas Run. She designed them up, I snapped a few shots + we're both excited to share them with you.

You can download the kit here on Lindsay's blog. I think they would make the perfect party activity/favor come Saturday night.

Christmas Cards 2011.

2011-12-24T22:44:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve + I'm feeling thankful. Thankful for my little babe (I can still call him that, right?) who has been fighting a cold all day but is making a comeback. For a husband who has banned me from the living room so he can finish his wrapping. For four "big kids" who chose to sleep together on the family room floor. For cinnamon rolls rising for brunch in the morning. For those snippets of time when my eyes fill with tears because I can't imagine being happier than I am at this very moment. But especially for our Savior. For his birth, his life and love.

If I could, I would package up a Merry Christmas card to send to each of you. Sadly that's not really a possibility but I wanted to give you a peek anyway.

Image of us by You Look Nice Today Photography, cards ordered from Minted.

Elf On The Shelf Ideas.

2011-12-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

Our little elf friend has had a lot of fun in the cozy brick house. Here's what Simon's been up to:

I keep my Instagram feed (@danyelle_mathews) updated on all our elf's happenings. Have you seen any great ideas Simon should know about?

Christmas In A Jar.

2011-12-19T17:09:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading this blog for any time at all you've figured out that I have a thing for packaging. Specifically, packaging something up and then naming it based upon what it's contained in. For example, Spring In A Can, New Year's Party In A Box, Summer In A Basket. . . I'm sure there are more but those were the first few off the top of my head.

This latest installment, Christmas In A Jar, is just another way to package up the neighbor gifts I mentioned a few years back. You will need to borrow a food dehydrator if you don't already own one but that is the extent of the work this project takes. It's so simple and is a wonderful gift because it doesn't involve slaving away in the kitchen and there isn't a single calorie to count. Hooray!

To make a few to give to friends, neighbors or teachers here's what you need:

-Christmas Potpourri Recipe
-Glass Jars (I found mine at Wal-Mart)
-Coffee Filters
-String
-Downloadable Christmas In A Jar labels.

As always, have fun putting this project together and of course feel free to blog about it. Just make sure to link to this post instead of linking directly to the download.

P.S. I'll be announcing the 31 Favorite Things package winner tomorrow. One more day to enter!

31 Tomorrow.

2011-12-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

There is something magical about having a birthday in December. The twinkling lights strung up around town, the parties, the treats dropped off on doorsteps. Everyone is happier. Friendlier. More willing to share a smile. When I was younger I remember the only concern I had on my birthday was whether or not my sweet mother would make the mistake of wrapping my gifts with Christmas paper (those of you with December birthdays know what I'm talking about). A first world problem, I know.

As I've gotten older the concerns have changed. Like they should. This year on my birthday the one thing I keep thinking about is my family. Their happiness. I am so thankful for the gifts they give me everyday.

I'm also feeling thankful for you. I know it seems like a small thing but your comments brighten my day. This week I've received a couple not so nice ones (that were deleted) and it's made me appreciate those of you that leave encouraging and thoughtful words in this space. Thank you.

To show my appreciation I'd like to offer a giveaway to all of you. Just like last year. A happy mail package filled with 31 of my favorite treats. I have some new favorite things I can't wait to send to one of you! To enter simply leave a comment on this post. You can add another entry to the hat by giving a "Like" to my sparkling new Facebook page. I'll choose a winner in a couple of days and announce it at the bottom of this post.

Image of us by You Look Nice Today Photography

I'll be sending my 31 Favorite Things package to:

Congratulations, Natalie! I'll be contacting you shortly.

Pinned.

2011-12-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

It's Friday already? How can that be? This week has been a busy one here in the cozy brick house. There have been projects for school, plays, Christmas preparations (working on our cards now) and poor Ryan came down with a fever and sore throat yesterday. As busy as things are I couldn't let the week slip by without sharing some of my favorite recent pins. Lately I've been inspired by simple hearts. Can you tell?

1.Molasses Cookies from Always With Butter via Suann | 2.Little Trees from Dainty and Dangerous via Mandi | 3.Home Love (added to my wishlist) via Pamela | 4.Good People from FifiduVie via Lindsay | 5.Jacket Florals Stripes via Mandi | 6.Kraft + Heart packaging from Swoon! via my original pin.

P.S. Be sure to meet me back here later today, dears. Something fun is in the works. xo.

How To Wrap A Gift.

2011-12-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

Four years ago I shared a tutorial on how to wrap a gift. Since then, my gift wrapping method hasn't changed but the posting capabilities we now enjoy on blogs has. Pictures are BIGGER and it's possible to add video. I decided it would be nice to make a little gift wrapping video since oftentimes it's easier to learn from watching someone complete a task rather than just following along a string of photos.

I'm by no means a professional vlogger but I hope you enjoy it anyway, friends. Perhaps it will make wrapping those piles of gifts a bit easier this season.

Weekending.

2011-12-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hooray for wintertime weekends! It's a nice change to wake up on a Saturday morning and not feel like yard work is the order of the day. Instead, we curled up on the couch and watched Mr. Popper's Penquins. It was lovely.

This weekend we drank smoothies for breakfast,

caught Simon reading one of our favorite Christmas books,

made cranberry garlands,

enjoyed cheesesteaks and fries,

and cooed over our newest little cousin at the annual progressive dinner.

Other highlights: Finishing up the children's stocking suffers, new bedding, and the lighted boat parade.

A Few Announcements.

2011-12-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

Hello, friends. I have a few bits of news to share with you today.

First up: I started a Dandee Designs Facebook page! I'm excited to have another way to connect with all of you. I'm still learning the ropes but thought I would host a little giveaway to kick things off. How does a package full of some of my favorite things sound? Something like this, perhaps? I'll be sure to tuck the latest goodies from my shop in too. All you need to do to enter is "like" the Dandee Designs Facebook page. I'll pick a winner from the bunch first thing Monday morning and shipping the package off later that afternoon to guarantee delivery before Christmas. Fun, right?

I also wanted to let you know that I spent some time this week updating my Projects page. Maybe there's something in there you'd like to make over the weekend? How about these for that little girl on your list? There's also a new batch of favorite posts on the sidebar to click through. This time they're all holiday related.

Finally, I received an email from a reader in New Zealand letting me know that this little blog of mine was mentioned in the latest Australian Home Beautiful. Do any of you Australian readers know how I might get my hands on a copy? I'd love to see it in person!

Have a happy weekend, friends. I'll be wrapping gifts and putting the finishing touches on our holiday decor. Plus, I've been dying to take Easton and Abby to Hugo. Have any of you seen it? What did you think?

Reader Worthy | My Life as a Sugar Lander.

2011-12-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

How do you choose which blogs are added to your google reader? For me, it's a tricky process. My computer time (as is yours, I'm sure) is very limited. My family is my first and foremost priority so I try to be careful about the number of blogs I subscribe to. This helps keep that pull to the computer at bay. Some blogs are perused every few weeks, others longer than that. Every so often I come across a blog that is immediately added to my google reader because I don't want to miss a single post.

My Life as a Sugar Lander is one of those blogs.

I first came across Casey's cute blog, My Life as a Sugar Lander, after stumbling upon her etsy shop. Hello, darling tooth fairy kits! On My Life as a Sugar Lander Casey posts about her current craft projects, her family, and her (awesome!) baby finds. It's a fun spot full of fresh ideas and is definitely reader worthy.

p.s. I'm totally LOVING Casey's most recent project. Amazing, right?

Image: Brooke Schwab

Hello, Paper Coterie + A GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Paper Coterie Giveaway is:

Congratulations! You will be contacted shortly.

How's your holiday shopping going friends? If you still have a few people to check off your list you're going to LOVE my latest sponsor, Paper Coterie. I prefer to give sentimental gifts, especially for family and Paper Coterie is full of amazing ideas that I know you will love. They have cute photo books, clever memory boxes, calendars and holiday cards that will stand out from the crowd. I give my mother a calendar every year plastered with images of her grandchildren and I'm especially smitten with this clip wall version.

Paper Coterie would like to offer a $50 coupon code plus free shipping to one lucky Dandee reader. Wouldn't that come in handy right about now? For a chance to win simply follow the giveaway guidelines below. Good luck!

Giveaway Guidelines:

-Make one comment on this post telling me what your favorite Paper Coterie design is.
-For an extra entry "Like" the Paper Coterie Facebook page.

-Giveaway closes Sunday, December 11th.
-Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Monday December 12th at the top of this post.

Make Something | Snowman Straw.

2011-12-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

We drink hot chocolate by the gallons this time of year. It's always a special treat but sprucing up our cute striped straws with a marshmallow snowman makes it even sweeter.

To make a marshmallow snowman straw you will need:
-straws
-large jet puffed marshmallows
-twizzlers pull n' peel licorice
-bakers chocolate
-colored sprinkles
-skewers + toothpicks

Melt your bakers chocolate according to package directions. Push a straw through one marshmallow at a time until you have three stacked on top of each other. Tie a couple of twizzlers around as a scarf and trim. Dip the end of a skewer and/or toothpick into the melted bakers chocolate and create the face, mouth, and buttons. Stick an orange sprinkle on for a nose and you're done!

Make sure you involve the kids. They will have fun making (then drinking!) with their little snowman creations. I'm sure they won't mind eating them either.

Pinned.

2011-12-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that I've been pinning a little less lately. I'm so busy caring for my family, filling orders and crossing off my holiday to do's my boards have been quieter than usual. When I have hopped on Pinterest, anything Christmas related pops out to me. I'm really loving the classic holiday red, evergreen trees, pretty packages (what's new?) and snowy scenes. What are you pinning?

1.Wrapped In Lights from Haley Sheffield (LOVE her work!) via Mandi | 2.Write More Letters from Mary Kate McDevitt via Marta | 3.Kraft + Tiny Bow from One Fine Dae via Hana | 4.Go There from Fox On The Run via Lindsay | 5.Paper Twine from Cox & Cox via Ez.

Passionista Presents: A Holiday Concert With Mindy Gledhill.

2011-12-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

Happy news! Mindy Gledhill is coming to our neck of the woods for a special holiday concert. Our family is loving Mindy's new album so you better believe I've marked our calendar and purchased our tickets. It's the perfect family activity and will surely be a night to remember. Will I see you there?

You can find more information about the show and purchase your tickets right here.

Concert Poster by Lovely Lindsay

Photography by Jefra Starr Linn

Weekending.

2011-12-05T11:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend I was hoping to relax, wrap gifts and catch up on the laundry.

None of that really happened but it was still nice. Busy, but nice.

We watched Easton play in the same middle school gym I played in over 19 years ago,

hung up our outdoor Christmas lights,

started a new project,

discovered our little elf is a Lisa Frank fan,

and fell asleep mid breathing treatments.

Other highlights: starting our Christmas cards + decorating, then un-decorating the Christmas tree (more on that later).

P.S. Today's the last day to enter the Tiny Prints Giveaway. The winner will be announced tomorrow at the top of this post and will receive a $50 gift certificate. Don't miss out!

Elf On The Shelf.

2011-12-01T22:47:00.000-08:00

Tip of the day: It's never too late to begin a new family tradition. After seeing this cute little Elf On The Shelf all over Pinterest and running into him at Target and Barnes & Noble I decided it would be a good idea to have him live with us at the cozy brick house.

On the last day of November the children unwrapped him, we read the story, then pronounced his name. Simon! Simon watches over us and reports our deeds back to Santa each and every night, the good and the bad. While we're asleep he also gets into a bit of mischief. Take last night for example. Our little elf friend found my new camera and snapped away. There are shots of him with our Santa pillow, in the (still undecorated) Christmas tree, and even one on sleeping Owen's head!

I'm a bit surprised at how excited I am by having him around. The children are thrilled too. So friends, do you elf? If so, I'd love to hear where you have found your elf in the morning.

Looking for more Elf On The Shelf inspiration? My friend see_jane on Instagram has all sorts of great ideas.

Hello, Fuzzy Sushi.

2011-11-30T22:43:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for fun knits! I'm excited to tell you about Fuzzy Sushi, a cute shop full of knit and crocheted hats + accessories for you and baby. Isn't that mouse hat the cutest? It would be the perfect stocking stuffer for your little one. Or how about those boot cuffs? Such a clever way to get the look of this seasons popular boot socks without the added bulk.

Fuzzy Sushi is my latest sponsor and is offering up a 20% discount to Dandee readers. Simply use coupon code DANDEE at checkout and be sure to order before December 8th to receive your package in time for Christmas. Happy shopping!

This is a sponsored post. If you have a shop that you think would be a good fit for Dandee and are interested in sponsorship, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at dandeedesigns@gmail.com for more information.

Pinned.

2011-11-29T17:05:00.000-08:00

I've been collecting images on my Holiday Time board of simple trees for awhile now. There really is nothing quite like a fresh tree. This year, we've opted for a living tree. Ryan picked it up from the nursery this afternoon and we're hoping to get her decorated soon. Once the holidays are over and spring has come she'll be planted in our yard. Just the thought makes me so happy it's silly. I'll be sure to share pictures when she's decorated and more put together. Is your tree up? Do you go for the real or artificial variety? I think both have their benefits.

1.Perfect from Remodelista via Sara | 2.XO from Danske via Paula | 3.Live Tree Love from Anetteshus via Tanya | 4.Simple Christmas Tree from My Scandinavian Retreat via Kidding Around | 5.Vintage Christmas Tree via Cyd.

Hello, Tiny Prints + A GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Tiny Prints Giveaway is:

Congratulations! You will be contacted shortly.

December is just days away and my newest sponsor Tiny Prints would like to help you ring in the happiest of seasons with a little giveaway. Tiny Prints has a HUGE selection of Christmas cards + holiday cards. If you're like me and procrastinate they even have a lovely selection of New Years cards. Basically they have something for everyone and today they're offering up a $50 gift certificate to one lucky reader. Just follow the giveaway guidelines below and keep your fingers crossed.

Giveaway Guidelines:
-Make one comment on this post telling me what your favorite Tiny Prints card design is.
-For an extra entry "Like" the Tiny Prints Facebook Page.

-Giveaway closes Monday, December 5th.
-Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Tuesday December 6th at the top of this post.

Weekending.

2011-11-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello! Aren't four day weekends the best? I feel completely rejuvenated after lounging around the cozy brick house all weekend. I'm happy to say I'm ready to take on December. You?

This weekend we enjoyed a nice walk after our Thanksgiving feast,

ate pumpkin pie for breakfast the next morning,

marveled at the bluest skies,

raked bags + bags of crunchy fall leaves,

and lined our Sunday shoes by the toasty fire before church.

Other highlights: Pulling out the Christmas movies, taking our family pictures, and sipping mug after mug of steamy hot chocolate.

P.S. Don't forget my Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale going on in the shop. Enter code BLACKFRIDAY and enjoy 20% off your entire order. Ends this Wednesday.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale in the Shop!

2011-11-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

A little discount for all of you dears. Use code "BLACKFRIDAY" at checkout in my shop and save 20% on your ENTIRE PURCHASE! The sale runs through Wednesday November 30th.

A few other places to save this weekend:
-Armelle Jewelry. Save 20% on your purchase now through Dec. 2nd. Use code "BLACKFRIDAY"
-Freshly Picked. Save 25% on your purchase now through Nov. 30th. Use code "TURKEY"
-Elsa Bags. Save 20% through Cyber Monday. No code necessary.
-Annilygreen. Save 20% through Dec. 4th. Use code "BLACKFRIDAY20"

Any other good deals to be had out there? If you have a shop or know of one having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, leave the link in the comments section. I would love to check them out and I'm sure my readers would too.

Thankful.

2011-11-23T14:09:00.000-08:00

The other night at our dinner table it was Ollie's turn to offer the blessing. Arms folded, eyes closed (very tightly) and head bowed. I know it wasn't the most reverent thing to do, but I hopped up and snapped a picture. I wanted to capture this sliver of time. It's moments like this that I'm feeling especially thankful for. I'm thankful to be a mother. I'm thankful to live in a land where I have the freedom of worshiping where I choose. I'm thankful to know who I am and why I am here. And I'm thankful for this space. For you. For your friendships, your insights and kindnesses.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Be sure to pop in on Black Friday for some fun. I may have a little something for you.

xo.

Dandee

Hello, Elisa Shere Jewelry.

2011-11-23T10:16:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to welcome back Elisa Shere Jewelry as a sponsor. Elisa's shop is one of my favorites. She handcrafts each of her pretty jewelry pieces from scratch using recycled metals. Her designs are original, sweet and simple-they go with everything! Not to mention, they're the perfect size to slip into your stocking (these are on my list).

Elisa is offering a special discount code to you lovely readers good through November and December. 10% off your entire purchase PLUS free shipping! Use the code DANDEE at checkout. Have fun shopping!

This is a sponsored post. If you have a shop that you think would be a good fit for Dandee and are interested in sponsorship, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at dandeedesigns@gmail.com for more information.

You Look Nice Today Photography.

2011-11-22T11:12:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned a time or two how much I love a good family photography session. The best we've had has been with Ryan from You Look Nice Today Photography. There is so much to love about working with Ryan and his lovely wife Tiffany. They are relaxed (which is good when you're shooting five children!), friendly, and they simply know what they're doing. Ryan's work has been featured on numerous wedding blogs, in magazines and Martha Stewart Weddings.

This coming Saturday Ryan and Tiffany will be shooting our family portraits for a third time. We're so excited! Would you like some good news? While they're in town, Ryan has a couple of spots available for additional family sessions. If you're anywhere near the Tri-Cities WA area, contact Ryan as soon as possible here. You'll be so happy you did.

See images from our family shoots with You Look Nice Today Photography here:
2009
2010

Pinned.

2011-11-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

I gathered a few of my favorite Thanksgiving inspired pins to share with you today. Are you getting ready for the big meal too? Our turkey is defrosting as we speak. Keep your fingers crossed for me that it's ready in time!

1.Cabin from Wish! via Lindsay | 2.Plaid from Now and Then via Alexandra | 3.Thankful Cards from Satsuma Press via Chelsea | 4.Leaves from Roost via Natalie

Weekending.

2011-11-21T10:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! I can't help but be chipper this morning, it's one of our favorite weeks of the year. Plus, I had a very productive weekend which is like icing on the cake.

This weekend we went to the temple for date night,

celebrated the successful re-opening of the shop,

purchased two new Christmas albums to enjoy (love them both!),

and cuddled miss Audrey. A stomach bug took hold of her most of the weekend. Sad face.

Other highlights: Sparkling wood floors (thanks to Ryan), an organized inbox, and my Christmas shopping is 99.9% complete. Looks like I'm going to make my before Thanksgiving goal! Hooray!

P.S. Today is the last day to enter the Winter Moon Giveaway. The winner will be announced tomorrow at the top of this post and will receive Mindy Gledhill's new Christmas album, her 2010 release Anchor and a little treat from me too. Good Luck!

Dandee Shop | Now Open!

2011-11-18T14:45:00.000-08:00

The Dandee Shop is officially open for the holidays! Brand new Want, Need, Wear, Read tags, Cross Stitch Kits and packaging goodies to keep you merry and bright.

Happy Weekend to you, friends!

Winter Moon GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Winter Moon Giveaway is:

Congratulations! You will be contacted shortly.

I have some happy news for your evening, friends. Mindy Gledhill recently released her Christmas album Winter Moon and I've been listening to it non stop. Do you listen to Christmas music early too? I have to admit, I usually wait until the day after Thanksgiving to pull out the holiday tunes but when Mindy's album came in the mail, I couldn't help myself. Winter Moon boasts Christmas classics like 'O Come All Ye Faithful' and 'Silent Night' and even has a couple of original songs that I know you'll love. The title track 'Winter Moon' is a catchy little number that instantly has me singing along. 'Little Soldier' is a gorgeous mellow song that quickly made it's way to my favorites list.

You need to add Winter Moon to your holiday music collection, that's all there is to it. Happily, Mindy is offering a copy of Winter Moon AND a copy of her 2010 release Anchor to one lucky Dandee reader. To put your name in the hat simply follow the giveaway guidelines below and keep your fingers crossed. This is one to get excited about!

Giveaway Guidelines:
-Make one comment on this post telling me what your favorite Christmas song is.
-For an extra entry "Like" Mindy's Facebook Page.
-Giveaway closes Monday, November 21st.
-Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Tuesday November 22nd at the top of this post.

The 15 Friends Project.

2011-11-16T09:09:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting and waiting to tell you about this little collaboration project and I'm thrilled today is the day. A few weeks ago I was contacted by the lovely Steve and Michelle from Twig Creative. They gave me details about this awesome idea they had for a traveling art project. They were calling it The 15 Friends Project. The idea was to ship a canvas between different artists all over the country, each person adding a bit to the piece. At the end the canvas would be auctioned off. Of course I said yes right away. I was intrigued and excited and really couldn't wait to see how it all panned out.

I received the canvas last week and was the second person to add my artwork. I'd been ~~hoarding~~ saving this image from a vintage book and knew it would add a sweet touch. Some balloons made from book pages, embroidery floss and a little mod podge later and my contribution was complete. The canvas has been packed back up and is probably in the home of the next artist on the list. I can't wait to see what the other artists add and how the finished canvas looks!

You can read updates about the traveling canvas by following along at the Twig Creative blog. This post gives you all the details about how the project started.

Also, visit the amazing talent they have lined up. I'm sure you'll be inspired. I'm still pinching myself that I was included with such a group.

Dear Lizzy // That's Happy // Oh, Hello Friend // Hue & Hum // Unruly Things // Dandee Designs // Papernstitch // Creature Comforts // IHOD // Rockstar Diaries // Design For Mankind // Gussy Sews // K Barteski

Make Something | Gratitude Garland.

2011-11-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is next week and I've been brainstorming ways to help my children express their gratitude. When put on the spot (say, around the table before the big meal) the kids clam up and can't remember all the things they are thankful for. I thought this garland would be a great way for them to record their feelings throughout the next week.

Each envelope is full of little business card size papers that say "I am thankful for..."The children simply fill in the rest when they are feeling particularly thankful and put the papers back in the mini bags. Then, on Thanksgiving Day we'll gather up the little pieces of paper and read them out loud.

To make my garland I gathered pine cones, twigs, doilies, ribbon, burlap, feathers, tiny brown paper bags, clothespins and card stock. I've recently become affiliated with Lifestyle Crafts and used their new High Rise letter die (so familiar to my new favorite font) for the letters on the tiny paper bags. High Rise is part of the new "Just For You" line and it's all really fun.

Want some happy news for your Tuesday afternoon? Use promo code DANDEE and get 20% off your purchase from Lifestyle Crafts. I have my eye on the Rosettes Die. I think it would so cute on holiday packages. Oh, and so you know, I own an Epic but Lifestyle Crafts dies work with any manual die cutting machines.

Pinned.

2011-11-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed a slew of packaging pins on my boards recently. I gave a gift wrapping presentation this past week and used some of these images as inspiration for my class. It was a lot of fun! I got to thinking you might like some inspiration for your holiday wrapping too. It will be here before you know it!

1.Hand Cut Feathers by Fellow Fellow via Nicolette | 2.Fabric Strips as Ribbon by The Sweetest Occasion via Jade | 3.Clothespins from Zsa Zsa Bellagio via Jessica | 4.Doilies by Doble Ele via Claire | 5.Letters + Numbers from Heirloom Philosophy via Cheryl

Weekending.

2011-11-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

Cozy weekends at home are the best. I feel rejuvenated and especially inspired from a talk that was given yesterday at church. It was on time management and exactly what I needed to hear.

This weekend we painted our nails,

pretended to be "supa heeros!",

stocked up on our favorite before bedtime snack,

started some new cross stitch projects,

listened to sweet Ella,

and wrote letters to Santa. Too early? Try telling him that.

Other highlights: Costa Vida, happy mail, and 3 basketball games for Easton. How was your weekend?

P.S. Today's the last day to enter the Garnish Giveaway. There will be TWO winners and they will be announced at the top of this post.

Links to Love.

2011-11-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, friends! The first thing I did when I woke up this morning was put out our Old Glory. I'm grateful to be an American and feel especially thankful to the men and women who have served/continue to serve this land that I love.

Do you have any exciting plans for this weekend? Easton has a basketball tournament tomorrow and I'm hoping to cross a lot off my list in preparation for my shop opening. Hopefully this next week!

Here are some links from this week that I loved.
-A triangle garland!
-The prettiest lantern DIY by Melanie.
-Commonly happy things.
-These brownies are at the tippity top of my "to bake" list.
-A cute way to dress up simple muslin bags.

Pinecone Turkey Place Cards.

2011-11-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks from today. Every other year I host my side of the family and guess what? This is my year. Luckily I don't do all the cooking (my mother still takes care of the turkey) but I am in charge of the decor.

Yesterday I made these cute pinecone turkeys for our place cards. They're simple to create, cost next to nothing and will add just the right amount of charm to your holiday table.

Click "read more" below for the full tutorial.

You'll need to gather a few supplies:
-1 1/2" wood discs. You need one for each place card.
-Feathers
-Pine cones
-Hot glue gun + hot glue

Arrange and glue the feathers one by one to the wood disc. I used seven feathers for each place card and arranged them according to size. I placed the largest feather in the center and worked my way to the smallest feather on each side of the disc.

Next, glue the pinecone to the wood disc.

To attach the names, I simply put a dab of hot glue on the edge of the paper and secured it to the pinecone.

Found Favorites | Pistachio Press.

2011-11-09T17:31:00.000-08:00

I have a friend who writes thank you cards for every occasion. I've received sweet notes for simple things, from dinner invitations to holding her sweet babe while she plays the piano at church. These little gestures I find in my mailbox have made an incredible impression upon me. My friend truly has a thankful heart. I've decided to follow her example and plan to write (and send!) a thank you card a day for the remaining days this month.

While searching out pretty new stationery for the occasion I stumbled upon the lovely shop Pistachio Press. Letterpress + cross stitch? Be still my heart. This month is going to be easier than I thought.

Images: Pistachio Press

Hello, Garnish + A GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

The winners of the Garnish giveaway are:

Congratulations! You will be contacted shortly.

Friends, I love a well packaged gift or goodie. This shouldn't be a surprise to you. You also won't be surprised to discover how obsessed I am over Garnish. Garnish is my go-to source for bamboo serving pieces, cute berry boxes, kraft ripple cups and soup (or ice cream) containers. I have a closet full of Garnishes + I'm so happy to have them as my latest sponsor.

Garnish and I think it's important to have cute packaging supplies on hand. You never know when you'll need a gift in a jiffy. Ready for some exciting news? Today Garnish is giving away two $25 gift certificates to Dandee readers! Two winners! To put your name in the hat follow the giveaway guidelines below. Good Luck!

Giveaway Guidelines:
-Make one comment on this post telling me what you like about Garnish to enter.
-For an extra entry "Like" Garnish's Facebook page.
-Giveaway closes Monday, November 14th.
-Winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Tuesday November 15th at the top of this post.

This is a sponsored post. If you have a shop that you think would be a good fit for Dandee and are interested in sponsorship, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at dandeedesigns@gmail.com for more information.

Pinned.

2011-11-08T06:57:00.000-08:00

Is it getting cold where you are? As I type this I'm wearing fingerless gloves and thinking it's about time to pull the space heater out of storage to keep under my desk. Oh the joys of living in an old home!

Despite the temperatures, this is still my favorite time of the year. I'm a sucker for any kind of knitted item and that pixie hat? I die! So happy Casey blogged about it yesterday. I added it to my boards faster than you can say "baby hungry."

1.November Desktop Calendar by Shanna Murray via my original pin | 2.Pom Pom Garland by White Wonder via Sarah | 3.Let It Be by The Foundary via Marcia | 4.Heart Sweater by J. Crew via Nicolette | 5.Pixie Hat for Bebe by Sweet K.M. via Casey

Weekending.

2011-11-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

Ryan and I indulged in a day long date Saturday. We left early and Christmas shopped (I have a goal to be done before Thanksgiving!), dined and enjoyed being together.

We also hunted for this year's Christmas wrap,

wore cute stripey socks,

read our collection of Where's Waldo? books with the children,

and snuggled up in our coziest pajamas.

Other highlights: I bought an Instax camera...then returned it. More coming on that this week.

How was your weekend? Are you feeling the Holiday buzz in the air too? I'm loving it.

Happiness.

2011-11-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

I post a lot about what makes me happy and the positive aspects of my life. I think this often gets misunderstood. Being happy doesn't mean we don't have trails and challenges. It just means that we look for the happy. We seek it out. In my own life, when I take notice of the happy I handle the unpleasant more gracefully. I am more patient. I understand those wise words "this too shall pass" a little more. I have a better perspective. I believe even in the most common of circumstances there is happy to be found.

Common things making me happy today:
-A husband who picks up the slack when I'm under the weather.
-Happy texts between friends.
-Cozy pajamas and warm slippers.
-A new movie.
-Kind emails that brighten up the day.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Keep your eyes peeled for commonly happy things and come tell me about them. I'd love to hear!

xo.
Dandee

Image: Pinned here via Kelly via Molly who found it here. (Did you get all that?)

Reader Worthy | Swoon.

2011-11-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

Swoon is a relatively new lifestyle blog written by Randi, a party planner, invitation designer and all around great gal. Randi's posts range from fashion, design and family, to cute printables and DIY's. Plus, her family recently packed up and moved to the dreamy city of San Francisco so there are lots of "I want to live there" posts too. It's a happy visit everyday and is definitely reader worthy.

Images: Swoon.

Shop Update | Coming Soon.

2011-11-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

Setting up shop and getting so very excited to share what I've been up to. Things are just about in place so I thought I'd give you a sneak peek. Think simple, cross stitch, holidays and packaging. It's going to be good. Get ready!

Hello, Allora Handmade.

2011-11-01T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hello again, friends. I have something fun to round out your Tuesday. I'm happy to welcome one of my favorite handmade accessory shops, Allora Handmade, as a new sponsor. Are you familiar with Allora? Let me help you get acquainted.

Jessica (the creative mastermind behind Allora Handmade) creates the prettiest fabric flower accessories out there. I own the Modern Pearl Rosette Necklace and it's a favorite (you can see me wearing it here). The quality is superior to any other fabric necklaces I've seen. Rosette necklaces aren't Jessica's only specialty. There are bobbies, clips, brooches, and headbands for you and baby.

Today is an exciting day at Allora Handmade. The shop has reopened and will be accepting orders until December 1st. Order quick! To help make your shopping experience extra fun, Jessica is offering a 10% discount code to you, my dear readers for today only. Enter DANDEEROCKS at checkout. Think that's generous? Visit Jessica's blog for another extra special treat today. You won't want to miss it.

If you have a shop that you think would be a good fit for Dandee and are interested in sponsorship, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at dandeedesigns@gmail.com for more information.

Pinned.

2011-11-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

Happy November! I'm so happy we are getting into the holiday season. I think Leslie said it perectly yesterday, "let's get on with the real holidays!" The golden hues on the trees outside my windows have obviously been effecting my boards. No wonder this is my favorite time of year. The colors are so rich and beautiful.

1.Huge Farmhouse Table via Jaime | 2.Black and White and Leather by East Atlanta via Love Letters | 3.Homemade Twix from La Receta de la Felicidad via Suann | 4.Oh, Julia! from Revelment via Jennifer | 5.Dark Wall from Highway Design via Suann | 6.Cozy mustard Socks from Toast via my original pin

Weekending.

2011-10-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've received a few emails requesting the return of my Weekending feature. Guess what? I've missed them too so. . . they're back! Every Monday you'll get a sneak peek into a weekend inside the cozy brick house. Yay!

This weekend there was. . .

New pillows for my living room chairs,

sunlight on the tippity tops of our backyard trees,

Aunt Alison's pink strawberry cake,

and costumes!

Instead of a group costume like last year, the children wanted to be completely different things. We took a hobo, a ceiling fan, a cowgirl, a cheerleader and batman with us to our church party Saturday evening.

Other highlights: A late night trip to Target all by myself, baby holding (dangerous for a person like me), long phone conversations with people I admire and caramel apples. Lots + lots of caramel apples.

You can read the earlier editions of Weekending right here.

Halloween Treat Printable.

2011-10-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

Today was Audrey's Halloween party at her little school. She had her costume picked out, she had her shoes by the door but she was missing treat bags to share with her friends. (I remembered that little detail at 2 am, does that ever happen to any of you?)

As soon as I got up for the day I took inventory of my stash and found kraft label paper + muslin bags. They would be perfect! I quickly designed up these Boo! stickers and miraculously had everyone to school on time. Seriously, it was a miracle.

I turned the labels into a printable for you dears. You know, just in case you find yourselves in a pinch too. You can download + print to your hearts content right here.

You can purchase kraft label paper here. Oh, and this is a good resource for muslin bags.

Found Favorites | Olive Manna.

2011-10-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Olive Manna for years. My packaging loving heart can't resist the cute tags + bags. On my most recent visit I was thrilled to see how the site (and inventory!) has grown and now includes home goods and a sweet little vintage collection. Everyone needs bingo chip magnets, right?

Holiday Gift Swap.

2011-10-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Are you a handmade artist? Do you plan on giving handmade this year? Susan of Freshly Picked and Kersey of Ardor are hosting a Holiday Gift Swap and it just may be the thing to save your sanity this gift giving season. I just signed up + am excited to get started on the handmade items I'll be swapping. You should sign up too! Maybe we'll be partners!

Read more about the Holiday Gift Swap here then head to the Freshly Picked Facebook page to sign up!

Pinned.

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Confession: I haven't been able to get image #1 out of my head since I pinned it this past week. Isn't it pretty? I am in love with that skirt + imagine it would be perfect for twirling.

Speaking of twirling, I indulged and watched You've Got Mail yesterday during nap time. There may or may not have been cookie dough involved. And some cross stitch. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. I highly recommend it.

1.Casual Tulle Skirt via Bee | 2.DIY Pleated Wrap Skirt from Grand Revival via Erin | 3.Pumpkin + Chocolate from Barefoot in the Kitchen via my original pin | 4.Paper Lovers Heaven from Besotted Brand spotted via Creature Comforts | 5.Twinkle Lights from La Maison D' Anna G via Julie

Autumn Party.

2011-10-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, friends! Did you have a nice weekend? The highlight of ours was celebrating Abby's 10th Birthday. I kept her party simple, mostly because I was sick most of last week and didn't have the energy to fuss over details. In the end I was happy I didn't stress. The party turned out great and Abby had a wonderful time with her friends.

For decorations, Ryan strung up twinkle lights along the perimeter of our backyard and I stuck vinyl letters on a few of our garden pumpkins to welcome guests. The girls painted pumpkins and had tether ball matches between eating bowls of Abby's favorite soup, pumpkin pie and apple cider.

I'm always amazed at the impact a few strings of lights can make. They instantly make any space feel festive and magical. Which is exactly the way a 10th birthday should feel, no?

Favorites.

2011-10-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

I went to dinner and a movie (Footloose!) with some girlfriends last night. This is the exact outfit I wore and have since declared it my fall uniform. It was cozy and casual. Perfect for me. I think the thing I like best about this ensemble is that each piece was carefully selected and acquired over time. The jeans were purchased last winter, the handbag and necklace this past summer, the shoes earlier this month and the shirt just a couple days ago. That's the trick to a happy closet. Be patient + only buy pieces you love.

I'm spending today getting the details of Abby's party finalized + scrubbing the cozy brick house. This weekend is all about relaxing and I'm really looking forward to it. What are your plans? Perhaps a trip to the pumpkin patch? Whatever it is you'll be doing, have fun! I'll look forward to seeing you here next week.

Fall Uniform Resources- Shirt | Jeans | Bag | Necklace | Loafers

Autumn Birthday Party Invitations.

2011-10-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Abby will be having her 10th birthday party tomorrow. 10! Since she's an October baby and fall just so happens to be her favorite season, she chose to have an autumn themed party. I had so much fun with Audrey during all of her party preparations, I knew I wanted Abby involved in the planning of her party too.

These invitations were very simple to create. To begin, Abby hand wrote all the party information on manila tags. While she wrote away, I created sleeves for the tags out of kraft paper.

To tie in the theme of the party we thought it would be fun to give her friends a mini pumpkin along with the invite. We used a vinyl machine to cut each of her friends' initials and adhered them to the pumpkins. We also added a little bunting to the kraft sleeve. To finish the invites off we tied the tag to the pumpkin with a simple black bow.

Pinned.

2011-10-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

I just had a realization. I'm currently nursing a bad cold and everything in this post is comforting to me in one way or another. Funny how the subconscious works isn't it? While I get back to getting better, you enjoy clicking around these links. They're good ones.

1.Oooh! from Purl Bee via Leslie | 2.Printable Fall Tags from Swoon via my original pin | 3.Feather Garland from Swoon Events via Natalie | 4.Brown Paper Package from Lovely Package via Miya | 5.An Elbow Patch Tutorial! from Freshly Picked via my original pin.

Make Something | Yarn Wrapped Headbands.

2011-10-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Being the mother of a nearly 10 year old, very crafty girl means I frequently hear the words, "Mommy, can I make something?" While I love creating with Abby it can be difficult finding crafts for her skill level. That's where the idea for the new feature "Make Something" was born. Every so often I will share a favorite (simple) craft that you can do with the little crafty people in your life. First up: yarn wrapped headbands.

A dear friend gifted Audrey a couple of these sweet headbands for her birthday. I knew immediately they would be a fun project for me and Abby to tackle together.

On a recent trip to the craft store we bought plastic headbands and yarn. You'll also need a hot glue gun and scissors for this project.

Step 1: Begin by taking the end of your yarn and glueing it to the very tip of the headband.

Step 2: Wrap the yarn around, covering the plastic end completely.

Step 3: Next, add an inch of glue to the surface of the headband and wrap more yarn.

Continue wrapping the yarn all the way around the headband (no gluing necessary) until you get to the other end and repeat steps 1-3 in reverse order. Trim the end of the yarn.

Abby's always had a difficult time keeping headbands in her fine hair. I'm happy to report these yarn wrapped babies stay in place all day! Plus, they don't give her a headache like the kind with the little plastic comb.

Beauty.

2011-10-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

I snapped this picture on our Sunday drive nearly a week ago and have been thinking about it since. Sounds silly, right? Hear me out.

Inspiration, for me, often comes in unexpected places. It can be a song, a long drive, a color. This time it came in the form of an inconspicuous tiny golden leaf. When I picked up the leaf from the floor of my van it was slightly crumpled. No doubt carried in on the bottom of someones shoe. I was immediately drawn to it's bright yellow hue. Upon closer inspection I saw all the minuscule veins running from the stem up to the tippity top. It was small, for sure. But there was a lot more going on inside that little leaf than could be seen at first glance. It had a purpose. It was intricate. It was beautiful.

I believe we are all surrounded by beautiful things like that tiny gold leaf everyday. Things like a kind smile from a stranger or a favorite flower in bloom. For me, that day, it was a leaf. These reminders are here to help us find the beauty. We just have to be willing to see the beauty. We have to open our eyes, get past ourselves and see.

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

xo.

Dandee

Fall Favorites.

2011-10-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Since a good majority of you dears use a reader to view my blog, I thought I'd let you know of a brand new feature. I've been busy collecting some of my favorite posts from the archives, posts I've loved and one's that you've loved, and are featuring them on the sidebar. The featured posts will change frequently and will oftentimes be related to the season, so hop over often. Simply click the image in the grid you're interested in and you'll be taken directly to the original post. It couldn't be easier!

Our Best Bites.

2011-10-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

This summer I found myself in a HUGE recipe/cooking slump. My cooking always takes a bit of a dive through the warmer months (I'd rather be by the pool than in a hot kitchen) but this summer was worse. Way worse. It got so bad that I didn't even want to eat the same old recipes in my repertoire. Luckily, a friend told me about the Our Best Bitescook book and I was immediately cured.

I've visited Sara and Kate's popular blog many times in the past and knew their book wouldn't disappoint, so I had no problem picking it up at Costco for a song. All of the recipes are simple, easy to follow and call for ingredients that I'm familiar with. Plus, they're very child friendly. The bookitself is spiral bound (love that!) and even has a cute little conversion chart in the front which is very helpful.

I've been cooking out of it for a few weeks now and still haven't been disappointed with a single recipe. We love the buttermilk caramel syrup on pancakes, ice cream, spoons. . . it's so good!

And the sugar cookie recipe is my all time fave.

And don't even get me started on the steak fries. Oliver would be a happy boy if I prepared them everyday. They're delish.

Do you have Our Best Bites and if so, what's your favorite recipe?

Pinned.

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm always attracted to simple things. Simple rooms, packaging, recipes, art. By the look of my boards this week, maybe more so than ever? I've been thinking a lot about simplifying life. This fall for the first time in what seems like forever, my children aren't participating in sports. We don't have practices after school or games on Saturdays. It's been simple. And lovely. And I know it's not going to last long (basketball season's just around the corner, you know) but I'm basking in the lightness while it lasts.

1.Serene + Simple from Annaleenas Hem via love letters | 2.Kraft + Black packaging by Scout's Honor Co. from Design Inspiration via April | 3.Feathers + Fabric from Once Wed via Randi | 4.Cookies from Desserts for Breakfast via Bonnie | 5.Do Good from TWAMIES via Kelly

DIY Watercolor Party Streamers.

2011-10-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

I love party streamers! They are an inexpensive way to transform any room into a festive party place. When planning Audrey's Watercolor Party, Lindsay suggested trying to dye white streamers to mimic the look of watercolor. We were both skeptical if it would work but I gave it a shot anyhow. After a couple of failed attempts I came up with a technique that worked and couldn't wait to share my method with you.

You need to gather some basic supplies. Most can be found in your kitchen:

-glass bowls

-cooling racks

-food coloring

-water

-white party streamers

Fill your glass bowls with a tiny amount of water. I think I used about a cup and a half. Add your selected food coloring colors to the water. I used 15 drops of each color to get the intensity I was looking for.

Place your crepe paper roll into the bowl and let it absorb the water.

Allow the dyed crepe paper party streamers to dry on your cooling racks.

Additional tips:
-Don't use too much water! The crepe paper absorbs the water quickly and will become soggy and unusable if you use too much.
-Give yourself a few days drying time. I made my party streamers the day before Audrey's party and spent a good portion that night drying them with a hair dryer.
-Buy a few extra white crepe paper rolls and test out your method. Depending on the color saturation you're looking for, you may want to use less/more food coloring than I did.

Watercolor Party Decor | Behind the Scenes.

2011-10-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Putting together Audrey's Watercolor Party was so much fun I wanted to show a little behind the scenes of the preparations. To create the decorations and details, Audrey and I hunkered down in my craft room and got to work. She painted white poster board (for the large number four we placed over the fireplace), paper cups, and a happy birthday banner while I dyed party streamers (more on that tomorrow).

To keep continuity we stuck with the same color scheme Audrey chose for the invitations but other than that, there were no guidelines. Audrey painted and painted to her hearts content while we chatted about super important things. Things like why Sam has hair all over his body, why red and yellow make orange and how she wants a van + a house + a baby for Christmas.

It was a fun afternoon and one I hope she'll always remember. I know I will.

Watercolor Party.

2011-10-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

Everyone handles birthday parties differently. In the cozy brick house, our children have a 'friend party' on their even birthdays beginning when they turn four. We celebrate their big days as a family every year but I've learned waiting until they're four to have the first real friend party makes the most sense. All the guests are potty trained, have overcome separation anxiety from their parents and are all around more capable of enjoying the games and activities.

Since Audrey Mae turned four this year, she invited all the little girls from her church class over to our house for lunch and dancing (her favorite activity) to celebrate.

My little four year old was a HUGE part of making the decorations. Anything you see that's been painted was created by Audrey herself.

I dyed white party streamers to go with the watercolor theme.

The only party activity I planned was dancing. I turned up Audrey's favorite dance music, handed each of the guests a ribbon wand and moved out of the way. The girls LOVED it! The ribbon wands were very simple to make and were a big hit.

Click 'read more' to see the rest of Audrey's party.

For lunch we served heart shaped peanut butter and jam sandwiches, fruit and crackers. We also had beverages that fit into the color scheme. The one in highest demand? The pink lemonade, of course.

I baked Ina's Coconut Cupcakes for dessert. They're a favorite in our family but I think Audrey's guests would have been happier if I would have omitted the coconut from the recipe. Needless to say, we had a lot of cupcakes left over.

At the end of the party each of Audrey's friends took home a ribbon wand + a little watercolor kit.

This party is right up there with my favorites. It was really low key. I loved creating the decorations with Audrey and seeing her happy smile when her friends started dancing. Plus, I think I spent a total of $25 for the entire event. Favors, decorations, food, invitations, everything. Doesn't get better than that!

Pinned.

2011-10-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'm noticing a trend on my boards lately. Lots of fashion inspired pins with a side of sweets and decor. I'm thinking a lot about the cozy things I want to wear, eat and decorate with this fall and winter. Oh! I nearly forgot. Remember when I mentioned that I'm searching for the perfect cardigan with elbow patches? Well this one is currently in contention. I just have to decide on a color. . .

Have you noticed a trend on your boards? What are you pinning?

1.Patches via Jayna | 2.Babycord Bow Dress from Hucklebones via Seesaw | 3.Pumpkin Spice Whoopies from Barefoot in the Kitchen via Stephanie | 4.Fish Braid from Owlseatpie's Flikr via Rebecca | 5.Try Hard Every Day from We Will Be Ok via Colin | 6.Black Dutch Door from Inspired Design via Shannon

Watercolor Invitations.

2011-10-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

For the theme of Audrey's fourth birthday party I decided to combine two of her very favorite things: watercolor painting and dancing. Watercolor was used in the decor and dancing was the activity.

After designing super simple invitations I had Audrey paint over the "Let's Dance" portion in the colors she chose for her party- pink (of course), orange and yellow. A little bit of yellow stitching and rounded corners finished them off.

Luckily, Lindsay helped + wrote each of the guests names on the envelopes in her amazing handwriting.

I'm going to be honest, It was tough balancing the "dance" theme portion of the party. I spent an entire morning wavering between an invite that was designed like a record or something more subtle. Ultimately, (with Lindsay's help) I came to this design. I think this invitation strikes a nice balance and although it took a while to decide on the concept, the design came together in a jiffy once it was started. Plus, you should have seen how proud Miss Audrey was to be a part of the process. It made me so happy to see her creating something she was so excited about.

Some Happy Things.

2011-10-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

Some things making me happy today:

A four year old birthday party, general conference, October, pumpkin spice whoopies, striped socks, cloudy skies and cool nights, cross stitching to my hearts content, plaid shirts, pumpkin butter, new art supplies, family.

Happy Weekend to you, friends!

p.s. More details on the party coming next week. Stay tuned!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars.

2011-09-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

When Ryan and I were married (nearly 13 years ago!) my soon to be sister in law gave me a very thoughtful bridal shower gift. She wrote out every one of my husbands favorite recipes that his mom prepared for their family while growing up and gave them to me on 3X5 cards, ready to be placed in a recipe box. I remember thumbing through that stack and testing out recipes our entire first year of marriage. Many were keepers- recipes I still prepare frequently. This Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bar recipe was one of them and has been made so many times throughout our marriage. I love it because it's quick (bars are a great treat when you don't have time to bake multiple sheets of cookies), calls for ingredients I always have in my pantry, and of course its delicious.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp water

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

2 cups oats

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 375. In your stand mixer blend together the butter and sugars. Add vanilla, water and eggs. In a separate bowl mix the flour, soda and salt. Add the oats to the flour mixture, then add the oats and flour mixture to the batter in your mixer. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread batter in a spayed 9x13 pan and bake for 22 minutes.

Notes: I always use rolled oats in recipes that call for oats, not the quick kind. I like the taste and texture better. Also, If you like your bars a bit undercooked pull them out of the oven after 20 minutes. Slightly overcooked at 24. The 22 minute time I gave in the recipe above seems to be the perfect time for my oven, but your oven may vary. Happy baking!

100 Days of Holidays at Parents.

2011-09-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Exciting news today! Parents online recently launched their fantastic 100 Days of Holidays newsletter series and included my mustache ghost sucker in the Cool + Creepy Halloween Decorations slideshow. Fun, right? You can subscribe to receive emails of all the holiday craft ideas and recipes by going here. Thanks for including me, Parents!

Pinned.

2011-09-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

I've obviously fallen into Autumn with both feet, haven't I? I can't help myself! It's my favorite time of year. The past few days have been cloudy + cool which has lead to a lot of fallish pins on my boards.

I've enjoyed putting these Pinned posts together so much I'm considering making it a weekly feature in this space. What do you think? Meet me here on Tuesdays?

1.Closetoe Wedge in black from Marais USA via Lindsay's pin of the gray version | 2.Wreath Stamp from Emilie Friday via EZ | 3.Simple Gibson Tuck Tutorial from Simply Stardust via Laura | 4.Cozy Nook Bunkbeds photographed by Richard Leo Johnson on Suziebeezie via Love Letters | 5.Thank You Kindly by The Black Apple via Christina

Shop for Sharlie | Secret Project Revealed.

2011-09-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Cross stitch is one of my favorite pass times when the weather cools. I love to sit by the cozy fire and stitch away. This weekend I finished up a series of designs that I think would look perfect in your space. The patterns are simple, great for a beginner and available for download for only $5. The best part of buying these patterns? You will be making a huge difference in the life of a lovely woman named Sharlie.

Sharlie is a wife and mom.

She loves to read.
She loves to laugh.
She has an infectious smile.
And the best hugs on the planet.
Sharlie is also awaiting a double lung AND heart transplant.
She is an inspiration.
A fighter.
A miracle.

Jessica (one of Sharlie's best friends) and Mique reached out to the creative community to come up with a way to raise funds for her impending medical bills. They created a Shop for Sharlie- full of tutorials, printables, and advertising opportunities. Every single dollar raised will go straight to Sharlie's Angels. So shop 'til your heart is content. And in return it will help Sharlie get her new heart.

This very moment...

2011-09-23T11:45:00.000-07:00

It's officially Fall! I'm so happy I could cry.

To celebrate, this weekend I plan to:

-eat pumpkin pie

-paint my nails this lovely color

-finish up a secret project

-find the perfect cardigan with elbow patches

Happy weekend to you!

How To Clean A Mac Keyboard.

2011-09-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

Fall always gets me in the mood for cleaning and organizing. While typing away recently I was horrified by how filthy my keyboard was looking. Dirt and grime were covering my once pretty white keys. After a little goggle-ing I discovered people have all kinds of techniques, although half of them didn't sound safe for electronics. I decided that using a dampened lint-free cloth (we bought a HUGE bag at Costco) would be the safest cleaning method and was surprised by how easily the keyboard came clean. The entire process took less than five minutes and now my grimy keyboard looks good as new.

Reader Worthy.

2011-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Recently Stephanie shared a picture on Instagram of a darling fishtail she did in her sweet Mabel's hair. She mentioned The Beauty Department which offered the tutorial so I clicked over and was immediately smitten. The Beauty Department is full of hair and make up tips, tricks and tutorials and has me happily awaiting every new post. The site is authored by Lauren Conrad, Kristin Ess and Amy Nadine. Their tips and tutorials are so great! Plus, The Beauty Department is, for lack of a better word, beautiful. The posts are thought out and well designed. It's an inspiring place to visit and is definitely reader worthy.

Image: Angela + Ithyle/thebeautydepartment.com

Organizing Children's School Papers + Memorabilia.

2011-09-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago I asked you dears how you organize your children's memorabilia. Your tips were wonderful and inspired me to finally clear up my desk and get some kind of system into place.

Here's what I did:

-Waded through boxes and piles of colored pages, stories, tracings of hands + feet, and the cutest little stick people drawings you've ever seen. I sorted out our favorites from the collection.

-Once I had our favorites picked out I organized them by child + age/grade level.

-I purchased file boxes + folders from Office Max and organized each child's memorabilia into their own file box.

I loved Jen's idea of making a cover sheet for each year's folder. I decided to design a label for each year that could be printed off easily and filled in with each child's information. Along with the label, I attached that years school photo to the front of the folder using self adhesive picture corners. When the files are slipped into the clear file boxes it's easy to see who the box belongs to. Plus, each file box is stored in an easily accessible place making it handy to add to the collection when those special treasures come home from school.

The labels I made go from Preschool through 12th grade and were designed to be printed onto Avery 3 1/3x4" Shipping Labels. If you would like to use them to organize your children's school papers and memorabilia you can download + print them here. Happy organizing!

School Paper Organization Labels download.

First Day For Audrey Mae.

2011-09-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this babe is already in preschool? Me either. It seems like just yesterday she was crawling around + getting into the superglue. It's true what they say, children grow up too fast. Happily, miss Audrey had the best day. In fact she cried this morning when I told her she only got to go to preschool two mornings a week, not the five she was hoping for.

Pinned.

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

It feels like summer is finally winding down in my neck of the woods. How's the weather where you are, dearies? I told Ryan this morning as we were getting ready for the day that I would give about anything for a nice cloudy day. I know it sounds weird but clouds and rain invigorate me. Unfortunately, there aren't any clouds in the forecast but the temps are progressively decreasing which has me happy enough.

Also making me happy? Pinterest and all the inspiration found there. Here are a few lovely images I've pinned recently.

1.California Girl by Amanda's Flickr via Kelly | 2.Alice's pretty nursery by Tiny Warbler via Casey | 3.Work Hard And Be Nice To People by Anthony Burrill via Suann | 4.Newlywed Roadtrip by Ryan Ray on Ruffled via my original pin | 5.* originally pinned by EZ E from Holy Hellsbells via Marta

Surprise!

2011-09-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

You know what's fun? Surprising your daughter with tickets to the Taylor Swift concert the day of the show, minutes before you pack up the car and make the drive over the mountains. That's what I did Wednesday. You should have seen Abby's face when I told her (tears welled in her eyes and everything!) . She knew her best friend was headed to the concert but had no idea I had purchased tickets months ago for us as well. It was a perfect couple of days spent with our favorite people. We finally made it to the new American Girl store too which was like icing on the 9 year old girl cake. I think I can officially count this as the best executed surprise of my life. Have you ever surprised someone or been surprised with something amazing? Do share, I'd love to hear all about it!

p.s. The best two parts of the trip? 1. Listening to Abby and Brynn giggle and giggle and giggle in the backseat. 2. Hearing Abby sing along with Taylor with all her might. It was darling and something I never want to forget.

Bake, Craft & Sew Along.

2011-09-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Good news! I revamped my stationery kit and and shared how to create a sweet teachers gift as part of the Bake, Craft & Sew Along. All month According to Kelly, Skip To My Lou and A Southern Fairytale will be posting projects + recipes to inspire earlier holiday preparations. I've already started making my holiday lists and these recipes and crafts are perfect inspiration. My hope is that getting things done early will alleviate that end of December stress. You know what I'm talking about, right?

Read my teacher gift post on According to Kelly here + keep up with the projects all month long on Skip To My Lou right here.

Styled.

2011-09-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

Need some inspiration for your fall parties? Victoria of A Subtle Revelry has just launched the autumn issue of Styled. and it's really beautiful. There are over 100 pages filled to the brim with ideas for merry making during my favorite time of year. My head is spinning from all the loveliness! The best part? I've contributed a little piece to the issue and I'd love for you to check it out and tell me what you think. It's a favor idea I hope you love.

View Styled. online here and purchase your printed copy of issue two right here.

Welcome, September.

2011-09-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

Friends, our ladies are officially laying! What a lovely way to begin one of my favorite months.

Other things making this first day of September especially happy: "Merino Cool" on my nails, putting away flip flops + wearing my favorite black flats, and toddlers that think coloring and cutting paper is the coolest thing to do. Ever.

What's making you over the moon happy today?

Passionista Presents: A Houseboat Concert With Sarah Sample.

2011-08-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've made no secret of how much I adore Sarah Sample. Really, I love her. Sarah + my beloved river? Well, now. That just sounds about as close to heaven as I can imagine. The Passionista has arranged to have Sarah perform a special concert on the Mighty Columbia River with guest Kate Graves. It's going to be a magical night. I snagged my ticket yesterday as a "I survived the first day of school and I only ate two cookies in the process" reward. You deserve a reward too.

Buy your ticket here and come sway along side me.

Beautiful concert poster by the ever inspiring Lovely Lindsay.

First Day 2011.

2011-08-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

A few things to remember about the first day of 2011...

1. The past few days I've been a nervous wreck thinking about sending Easton to middle school. I've been wondering who would be in his classes, would his teachers be kind, is he ready? And then this morning when he came up the stairs looking so handsome in his new shirt, I knew he would be fine. There was a peacefulness in his countenance and his calm nerves soothed mine.

2. Owen was as excited as can be to head out the door. He was ready to go (with shoes and backpack on) an hour and a half before he should have been. What's he most excited about? Recess, of course. And a special friend that's in his class.

3. Abby wasn't nervous at all. She was cool and collected, ready to start this new year and eager to wear her new clothes. The happiest part of her day? Finding out her best friend was assigned to sit next to her in class. Lucky girls.

I always thought it would become easier to send my children off to school the older they got. It hasn't. I dread the first day of school like other mothers dread the last. I miss my children when they're gone and so do Audrey and Oliver. They've already asked too many times to count today, "is it time to get the kids?"

What do I look forward to? The routine. Hello, happy school days routine!

Weekending | Home Movie Edition.

2011-08-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hooray! I'm excited to share this little home movie we made this weekend to mark our last summer Saturday before school starts. I shot all of the video with my iPhone + used this cool iSupr8 app to make it look like the opening credits from The Wonder Years. That's what it reminds me of anyway. Hope you enjoy it + Happy Monday!

iSupr8 app found via the darling Ruby of Cakies. "You For Me" by Terra Naomi.

Back to School Feast 2010 | A Year Late.

2011-08-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, dearies! I hope your day is off to a fine start. Unfortunately I've been laid up all morning with an awful sinus headache. Boo! Good news is, while in bed I was planning our annual back to school feast + realized I never got around to showing you pictures from last years dinner. Shameful. Can you believe how much these children can grow in one year? Makes me sad to see how their little faces have changed in such a short period of time.

Now that my headache has subsided I'm off to Costco (with 5 children in tow, pray for me) to get all the necessities for Sunday. I'm feeling a little blue that summer is winding down and plan on soaking in as much fun this weekend as possible. I hope you do too.

p.s. You can see our feast from 2009 right here.

The Girls' Room | Progress.

2011-08-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Wow! Thank you for your kind words on my last post. From your comments it sounds like I'm not the only one that has commitment problems when it comes to decorating. Perhaps in our browsing through pages + pages of design magazines, blog posts, scouring through catalogs and online shops we have convinced ourselves that everyone is living in lovely, well designed spaces. I know I discouraged myself, I thought that my house couldn't measure up - so I gave up. Sad. I want to stop thinking that way. I want to see my home as a work in progress, not like a project that is too overwhelming to even begin. Who's with me?

With my new found resolve I've been collecting a few ideas for the girls' room and wanted to share them with you. I mentioned that we'll be keeping most of the girls' furniture so the bulk of the re-decorating is coming through the accessories. That's the fun part anyway, right?

No. 1- I love this print! I already have it framed and everything, aren't you proud?!

No. 2- My cousin Lisa has this set of lovely books in her music parlor. When Abigail and I visit for her weekly violin lesson I secretly covet them. I'm excited to add the set to the girls' bookcase.

No. 3- Kristin brought this Ikea striped fabric to my attention and I can't stop thinking about it. The window in the girls' room is teeny tiny so a pop of pattern in a roman shade might be nice. Especially since I plan on keeping the bedding simple.

No. 4- I envision all white bedding for the space. I'm not set on this duvet quite yet. I like that it's feminine, but perhaps too much so? What are your thoughts? Have you seen anything out there that we might like more?

No. 5- You might remember I included this decal headboard in my Houzz ideabook. In the early planning stages of the room redo I was thinking of upholstering a headboard for the girls but this decal is so budget friendly, it won over. Plus, I think it will add a fun little kick to the room.

I think I'll keep the rest of the details a secret until the big reveal. I promise not to keep you waiting too long.

The Girls' Room.

2011-08-23T00:10:00.000-07:00

I have a problem when it comes to decorating the cozy brick house: I obsess over the details + I can't commit. I search online for the perfect chairs and let them sit in my virtual shopping cart for 3 weeks while I decide if they're really the right ones. I buy prints that go unframed for...ever? I make a decision. Then I second guess myself. I get distracted by life, other projects, stuff. Do you do the same? Please... someone out there, please say you do the same!

It's time for a change. I'm tired of living in a half decorated space + I have a game plan. I know I promised a couple of weeks ago to reveal my craft room but another project has more priority right now. It's the girls' room. Abigail and Audrey begged and pleaded to move their room. They wanted to sleep closer to the boys which meant my old craft room would become their new space. They've been in their new (completely undecorated!) room for months. I'm ashamed.

Here are some changes we've made so far:
-Abby chose a soft blue paint color and Ryan promptly painted.
-We organized the dresser, dejunked the bookcase and donated the old decor.
-We ditched the girls' separate beds and opted to have them share a queen.

We're keeping the old furniture. I plan to replace the hardware on the dresser and hopefully snag a nightstand on Craigslist that can be painted an accent color. This means all there is to buy is bedding and accessories. I've already purchased some favorite things and have even had a few of them tucked away for awhile. I plan on sharing those with you soon. Maybe later today or tomorrow? Until then, I'd love to know how you go about decorating. Do you do it slowly over time or tackle it all at once? Do you decorate room by room? Going room by room is helping me stay focused right now but I'm all ears. I'm really interested in how other people do this.

Houzz.

2011-08-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

If you're inspired by design as much as I am, you might enjoy a new-to-me site called Houzz. Houzz is a place for design enthusiasts to come together, share ideas and get feedback on their work. Professionals can upload their portfolios to reach out to potential clients and homeowners can create ideabooks to store inspiring images. You can create ideabooks for products or specific rooms. Perhaps a project you're working on like redesigning your dining room will get it's very own ideabook. It's a great way to keep ideas organized and get advice and feedback from design professionals. I really love the search capabilities the site offers too. Just click on "Laundry Room" under the "Browse by Space" header. I dare you. You will be inspired to the moon and back.

I recently finished up my very first Houzz ideabook. This go around I decided to highlight some of my favorite accessories for children's spaces. My first ideabook was showcased on the Houzz homepage earlier today + I would love for you to click over and tell me what you think. It was so much fun to create! You can keep up with my monthly ideabooks by clicking the link in my sidebar.

What To Wear To Preschool.

2011-08-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Why is Audrey excited to go to preschool? The backpack. When I showed her a few options online she fell in love with this little owl version + has asked when it will be here a million times since ordering it. I have to tell you, I'm lucky when it comes to dressing Audrey. She hasn't formed much of an opinion yet as far as her wardrobe is concerned so I get to pick out whatever I like. I'm sure it's not going to last long but I plan to buy her mary janes every fall until she begins to protest.

Round Neck Cardigan from Zara Kids $19.90 | Ruffled Flutter Sleeve Dress from Old Navy $16.94 | Zoo Pack Backpack from Skip Hop $20 | Striped Tights from Gap $10.50 | Black Mary Janes from Target $9.99 | Polka Dot Barrettes from Crewcuts $9.50

What To Wear To First Grade.

2011-08-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

First grade is calling Owen's name. He's so excited he can barely stand it. Finally, he'll be at school all day like the big kids. Eating a sacked lunch and enjoying not one, but THREE recesses. These are super important things to a 6 year old, you know. I wasn't surprised at all by Owen's back to school selections. He has a colorful personality so this outfit fits him to a t. I'm in love with his idea of jazzing up his basic chucks with some bright green shoelaces, his favorite color.

Boys' Grand Prix Tee from Crewcuts $18.30 | Cardigan from H&M $14.95 | Skinny Jeans (medium gray wash) from Gap $20.97 | Chuck Taylor All Star from Converse $30 | Kids MacAlister Laces from Crewcuts $4

What To Wear To 4th Grade.

2011-08-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Abby's heading into the fourth grade in a couple of weeks. Her style mimics mine so closely, I often find myself wishing I could squeeze into her clothes. This outfit she pulled together is no different. Aside from the pink hair bow, I can easily see this working for me. The striped cardigan over the patterned top is so fun!

Yesterday a reader commented about thriftiness and I thought she brought up some good points. Don't be fooled by these inspiration boards, we're on a budget too. Earlier this month I was able to stock up on jeans for all my school age children at Gap (8 pairs for under $100, holla!) using coupons and taking advantage of a great sale. I do my best to hunt out coupon codes online and usually only pay full price for shoes. My children are slow growers-rarely outgrowing shoes before the school year's over. I don't mind paying for shoes because we get our use out of them. What about you? What do you do to save money when shopping for your children without sacrificing quality and style?

Key Hole Floral Top from Gap $26.50 | Big Bow Hair Clip by Gymboree $3.99 | Striped Cardigan from Target $16.99 | Goldenrod Cord Toms $38 | Super Skinny Jeans (saturated dark wash) from Gap $22

What To Wear To Middle School.

2011-08-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that Easton (my Young Bibliomaniac) will be heading off to middle school this year. I still remember how he (and I!) cried nearly everyday for weeks when I dropped him off at Kindergarten. Oh, how the time flies.

There are so many great things about having older children. The conversations, the laughs, the free babysitting. . . One of my favorite things lately is seeing Easton's personal style develop. He has an opinion about the color and style of his shoes + what fit his jeans are. It's made school shopping especially fun (and frustrating) this year. We've weeded through a lot of stores and have come up with our favorite back to school essentials to share with you.

Dakine Varial Backpack from Altrec $49.95 | Bold Buffalo Paid Shirt from 77 Kids $29.50 | Super Stitch T-Shirt from Johnny B. $28 | Original Fit Jeans from Gap (faded black wash) $25 | Adidas Retro Gazelle Sneakers from J.Crew $45

Modern Toddler Chore Chart.

2011-08-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

Since I'm a list maker at heart, I love the idea of a chore chart to help keep children on track in regards to their daily chores. The problem? Charts can be tricky for the 4 and under crowd who are not yet reading but still want to feel like the big kids. I've used this chart in the past for my older children but it wasn't suitable for my little ones.

My solution was creating a chart with Audrey (3) and Oliver (2) in mind. I kept with the same color scheme as the older children's chart but the daily tasks are more simple and are things I want them to get in the habit of doing on their own. They are: making their beds, getting dressed, clearing their dishes from the table, brushing their teeth and putting away toys. I realize that some of these tasks will require my help (brushing their teeth and helping Oliver get dressed) but for the most part, they are capable of accomplishing them with minimal parental interference.

Audrey + Oliver love adding stickers to the page when a task is complete. Another good alternative would be laminating the chart and using a dry erase marker to track progress.

I have high hopes this chart is going to help ease some of the morning rush chaos once school rolls around. Do you have toddlers in your home too? I turned our chore chart into a PDF printable just for you!

-Download the Modern Toddler Chore Chart here.