Raspberry Patch

2011-10-26T15:11:00.001-06:00

If you want to see all the great ideas I find from around the web, you can

JJ Cole Warehouse Sale

2011-05-18T16:35:00.001-06:00

JJ Cole, most famous for their Bundle Me's and diaper bags, is having a warehouse online starting tomorrow! This the first time they're doing the sale online, in the past they've held the sale at their warehouse--and the line is always really long! This will be a great sale to stock up on boutique baby items! And if you aren't looking for baby stuff, be sure to check out their picnic blankets.

I didn't receive a special code to use, so I'm not sure what you have to do to get VIP access, but if you want me to forward the email on to you go ahead and leave your email in the comments.

JoAnn' Special

2011-04-06T10:20:00.001-06:00

Even though she is 5 years younger than me, my sister, Deidra and I have found ourselves at the same stage of life. Married to grad students. Both of our husband's are working towards PhD's. She moved to Middle America this past summer and I'm thousands of miles away in Utah. We've started a blog together as a way to survive the late nights and low budgets. JoAnn's Special (you can read more about our name) is where we share a little bit of everything.

We'd love if you'd join us over there as we share how we make the dollar stretch and still have things we love. You're guaranteed a design tip or two, the best place to find quality swim suits for less, some craftiness, recipes, and printables!

Workout Music

2011-01-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

Looking for some new music to workout to?

Download the latest The Biggest Loser and Subway Workout Mix-Wake Up and Workout for free.

Enter your email address and the download will start automatically.

Cookie & Milk Tasting Party

2010-12-21T16:33:00.001-07:00

We threw together a last minute Christmas party over the weekend--and I think it is a keeper--our newest tradition if you will. The idea came from here and I used the cookie exchange tags for the invitation and cookie identification.

The invite was emailed out:

Because it was last minute I had low expectations, but knew there would be competition and the winner would expect a prize. So I used my Silhouette and a plate I picked up on clearance at TJ Maxx to make this trophy:

I used a tag from the cookie exchange and changed the words to make it a Santa's cookie plate. I love how it turned out!

We had milk, chocolate milk and egg nog to drink and five different types of cookies to choose from.

Cookie 1: Easy Shortbread cookies
Cookie 2: Triple Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal cookies
Cookie 3: I don't know the official name, but it was a chocolate cookie with a Rolo inside
Cookie 4: Grandma Mackay's Christmas cookie
Cookie 5: Soft Molasses cookies

Everyone took the job of tasting very seriously, and it was fun to hear the different opinions of the cookies.

My brother-in-law's cookie--his grandma's special Christmas cookie-- won by a point! And chocolate milk came out the clear winner in the milk department.

Do you host a yearly Christmas Party?

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Men

2010-12-15T20:31:00.001-07:00

Last year my brother-in-law and husband took time out of their busy lives and, at the pleas of their wives, brained stormed up a somewhat generic, but sure to be a hit stocking stuffer list for men!

Movie theater-sized box of candy
Gift cards in smaller denominations to their favorite fast food restaurants {guiltless bachelor eating when you're out of town or when they "forget" to pack a lunch}
Program their phone to remind them of important days a few days before the event {they want to be your prince, so help them succeed}
Shoe shine kit. All out fancy, or just a Kiwi Express Shine {keep their kicks looking classy}
Air freshener that doesn't make their car smell like a girl {Scentsy has some that the girl in their life can still live with}
Snazzy socks {they recommend some hearty argyle--making desk jobs more fun}
Movie tickets {for a date with you, or a shoot 'em up with the boys}
New set of pliers {needle nose got voted "most likely to have disappeared the past year"}
A 12 pack of their favorite soda {forgo the stocking and sit this one on the hearth}
Hair paste/product {they don't want to be girlie, but they need good stuff for their 'do}
Box of candy bars {think Costco or Sam's Club sized, and watch their will-power put to the limit}
Hat with their favorite team's logo {beanie or baseball, they aren't too picky}
Pack of razor blades, fancy or just their regular brand {for smooth kissing at New Year's}
Small LED keychain flashlight {for seeing the lock at night or finding hidden treasures beneath the sofa}
Can of Easy Cheese and crackers {because they are so deprived now that they're married}
Gloves for whatever they're into {batting | gardening | nice leather driving gloves | golfing | nitrile coated for odd jobs}
A can of nuts {no peanuts please. Pistachios got a hearty endorsement, but they aren't too picky}
Car wash tokens or punch pass

This was lifted straight from Deidra's blog with a few changes made.
image

Christmas Stars

2010-12-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

A few Christmas favorites from around the web:

Frosty's hat and trees both made from toilet paper rolls--great crafts for little people.

Add a little festivity with this printable Christmas sign.

These shortbread cookies really are easy! I mixed up a batch a few days ago and we've been cutting a baking daily for different Christmas parties.

If I were feeling more ambitious I'd decorate our photos like reindeer. Definitely next year.

Merry & Bright Banner

2010-12-13T09:59:00.001-07:00

Time's running out for me to get this banner for Christmas up! Where has December gone? I think it would be really cute in a child's room, or shrunk down to use as an embellishment on a gift, or if your Christmas decor is non-traditional colors hang it on your mantle.

You can download here. Personal use only. Thanks.

Cookie Exchange Tags

2010-12-07T22:57:00.000-07:00

Whether you are hosting a cookie exchange party, or just in need of pretties, hop over to Joy Ever After where you'll find tags, and cards for your holiday baking and giving

50% off at JoAnn's

2010-12-02T08:51:00.000-07:00

Whether you are in the middle of a project, or need a jump start to your Christmas crafting here's a 50% off 1 item and 20% off your entire purchase coupons from JoAnn's.

50% off Martha at Michael's

2010-12-01T06:00:00.001-07:00

Print for 50% off Martha Stewart Crafts at Michael's

Elf on the Shelf

2010-11-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Barnes & Noble has The Elf on the Shelf 40% off this week for members (a trial membership is free). Use an in store coupon or code 147851 to order online.

Our elf, Levi, is due to return from the North Pole tomorrow, Dec. 1st and my boys can't wait.

Even if you don't get an elf, be sure to show your little ones the website, it is a December favorite at our house!

Handmade Christmas :: Part 1

2010-11-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

If you haven't met Ana before, let me introduce you. Ana White posts (free) furniture plans on her site. Plans that are very similar to furniture from places like Potterybarn, West Elm, Land of Nod, Crate and Barrel, etc.

If Santa can pull it off, he'll be leaving these under--or next to our tree. When shopping for the WOW gift we go for every year we decided this would be our best option since we'll need them eventually (we've had the plans printed off for at least a year...). And our 4 year old begs us for bunkbeds frequently (ever since he saw the cousins--he wants one blue and one green just like theirs too).

Land of Nod sells their's for $1,499. Last time we priced lumber we figured the total cost to be around $130 and I pick up a gallon of mis-mixed paint for $5. All we need to add is a little manual labor and we are set!

Now where are those elves?

West Elm Tags

2010-11-19T07:00:00.001-07:00

West Elm is offering free gift tags, menus, recipe cards, and place cards for your holiday season convenience.

Sunglasses for Christmas

2010-11-18T21:02:00.002-07:00

I used to buy relatively cheap sunglasses ($10 or less) because I figured they were all the same.

Then one day our local sporting goods store had their Smith sunglasses on sale for $28, and I splurged and bought a pair (normally they'd be priced around a Benjamin). Let me tell you, not all sunglasses are created equal! I swore I'd never buy cheap sunglasses again.They only lasted a few months before I lost them (still kicking myself) and I had almost resigned myself to another pair of cheap sunglasses--because paying full price for another pair of Smith's is out of the questions--when my sister pointed me right back to our local sporting goods store. Turns out they have a wide selection of Smith glasses for just a few dollars more than I had paid!

Here's where you know I don't hold back from sharing: While a new pair is on my Christmas wish list, they haven't been secured yet (so don't buy them out). Al's Sports is the place and they even have free shipping, so if you don't live in the valley it doesn't matter! Prices start at $19.99 and go up. There's a small catch though, none of the glasses come with carrying cases. For $80-$100 savings that's something I've chosen to overlook.

**Edited: Free shipping is for orders over $75, but pick up in store is free. Use coupon code WINNER to save an extra 10%**

Smith Optics come with a lifetime warranty.

Would someone on your gift list like sunglasses?

Stars: Thinking Fall

2010-11-15T19:58:00.001-07:00

I have a feeling these j umping cups will be used to pass many hours this winter.

Do you know you need to be better at keeping track of special dates? Jot them down on this pretty birthday calender and you'll want to hang it where everyone can see.

It's tradition after Thanksgiving dinner in our family to have the ladies inside crafting and the men outside shooting skeet. These flowers would make a great project for this year.

It is officially cold--I'm having to get used to scraping the windshield before leaving. Which means soups are wiggling their way onto the menu.

Am excited to make these bonnets for our Joy School Thanksgiving feast.

Image found her.

iPod Nano Deal

2010-11-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Cowboom is offering the 4th generation, 8 gb iPod Nano for $69.99 today! That's $30 less than the refurbed on the Apple site!

Inspiration Everywhere:: A free class

2010-11-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

JessicaSprague.com is offering another free class, Inspiration Everywhere. If you've never taken a class from JS.com know that you can access the class after it is over from your account. Which means if you don't have time to do it now, it will be waiting for you later (and it's free!)

2010-11-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Students of Jessica Sprague's Digital Design class are having a blog hop with lots of stellar Christmas items! Start here.

Or if you don't have time to hop, I've listed my favorites here:

me Designs

Pumpkin Carmel Cupcakes

2010-11-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

Do these sound intimidating? Because they totally aren't.

First, bake a pumpkin cupcake. I've used Martha's Pumpkin Cupcake recipe before and it's good. But the other day I was in a time crunch and out of a few ingredients so I pulled out a trusty yellow cake mix and added pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice to it and it was good too.

Once the cupcakes are cool you pull out the big guns, the secret ingredient, the WOW. The Smuckers carmel icecream topping in the squeeze bottle.

Drizzle a little carmel on top of each cupcake, being careful to not make a mess. The carmel will spread so error on the side of too little.

Then top with your favorite cream cheese frosting and you'll have a dessert to wow! Really, I've made these twice in the last week and they were a hit both times. In fact I heard a "this is the best cupcake I've had in my entire life."

Family Fun

2010-11-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

Get a 1 year Family Fun subscription from Tanga for only $2.99 today! Use code DISNEY. I just ordered 4 years for $10.96!

Family Fun is a great magazine for mom's with kids of all ages and makes a great gift. One that keeps giving all year long!

Birthday Dilemma

2010-11-03T20:16:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is my husband's birthday, and I don't have a gift for him. Not a single thing.

I've spent hours wandering stores and talking to salespeople, but what it comes down to is that the man has expensive wants. He'd really like one of these, but that's not happening for 5,000 reasons!

While trying to figure out a gift, I did make up these little cup sleeves to put on hot chocolate to take into his work tomorrow along with our favorite muffins.

I loved the Halloween ones and think this birthday version turned out handsomely. But now I'm second guessing myself, should I put the sleeves on all the cups or just the birthday boys? Would it be weird handing his boss a cup of cocoa with 'hot stuff' written on it?

What do you think?

Plentiful

2010-10-31T07:35:00.001-06:00

The newest from Shabby Princess.

Bath and Body Works Free Lip Gloss

2010-10-29T09:53:00.000-06:00

Bath and Body Works is giving away 1 free lip product with any purchase with this coupon. Pick up a $1 item and this lip gloss!

Expires 10/31

Picaboo on Groupon

2010-10-28T13:00:00.000-06:00

Picaboo had a free book promo running that ended earlier this week. I started a book, but when I realized only the first 20 pages were included in the free I stopped. But I loved the Picaboo software. It is totally customizeable--number of photos, size of the photos, angles of the photos--really the it's the best and so easy to use.

Today Groupon is selling $100 gift cards to Picaboo for $35. You can bet your bottom dollar that I've already picked mine up and I'm off to order my book!