Lyndsay and the Johnsons

Trying my hand at Minted

2012-02-13T01:00:00.001-07:00

I thought I would enter the Minted design challenge this week. On a whim. The category is women's personal stationery flat-cards. I wanted to do something ikat-inspired with a tapestry feel. Something elegant. Here is my final design. If you like it, you can vote for me, HERE. Kisses!

Saving my sanity with french fries

2012-02-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

It's true that I am still eating very limited sugar, and adhering strictly (and successfully) to my insane diet. I really have no other alternative. (Although I have had a cold and spent all day Tuesday watching made-for-BBC Jane Austen movies, drinking chamomile tea, and eating dairy-free chocolate chips hoping they weren't doing more harm than good...) But on a normal, more lucid day, I am diligent because I know it's what my body currently requires of me. So I am obliging. The ONE THING that keeps me from dissolving on the floor in a pool of my own cake-craving madness is french fries. French fries. A normal person's food! But (of course there's a but), I have to make them myself. And I have them down to a science. Just see below for evidence.

These are not deep-fried (oven-baked instead), but taste just as good in my book. I use Simple Heinz ketchup because it is gluten-free and has the least sugar with all-natural ingredients. Here's my method:

Lyndsay's Oven Fries

• Rinse/scrub as many Idaho potatoes as your little heart desires (2-3 small to medium sized, in my case—I share with Maya)

• Peel first if you don't like the skins. Lately I am a fan of the skins!

• Cut into strips as thick as you like (hint: thinner = crispier + more authentic)

• Soak overnight in water. This is my secret step thanks to a recent tip. It may seem like it's not worth the wait. I assure you IT IS. The fries are SO crispy when soaked. If you're in a big hurry, at least rinse. But I am telling you. Soaking makes these fries!

• Rinse, drain, dry a little to remove excess water.

• Toss in a bowl with olive oil, garlic salt, and pepper.

• Bake on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes until crispy and golden brown.

• Serve with ketchup or your favorite fry sauce. Enjoy!

I also like to crack a little extra sea salt over the whole lot for visual appeal before serving. Hey—it's the little things at this point. :)

Valentine's Day Freebies!

2012-02-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Last year I sold these little numbers to raise money for a good cause. But this year they're all yours—for free! Just the right size for school. Simply click HERE to download.

Little Dancer

2012-02-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Maya started ballet and tap today...

But not without her usual dose of sassafrass!

Valentine cheer this time of year

2012-02-08T23:48:00.001-07:00

Valentine's Day. Ugh. NOT my best holiday, I'll admit. But I wanted to try to get into the spirit just a bit. So I'll be handing out a few of these this year:

The jars were simple and fun to assemble. Here is how you do it:

Add ingredients in this order to a quart-sized, wide-mouthed glass jar

(you can get smooth jars for crafts if you prefer to add a sticker label):

1 1/3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

wisk together, and pour in bottom of jar, packed down

Add to jar in this order:

1 cup oats, packed down

3/4 cup M&Ms

3/4 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)

1/2 cup white sugar

To bake the cookies, follow these instructions. They can be printed on a small label for the jar, as well, if you don't want to do a hang tag:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir dry ingredients in a large bowl and add:

½ cup butter almost melted

1 slightly beaten egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine thoroughly

Roll into 1 ½ inch balls

Bake for 10-15 minutes

I prefer not to have a sticky label on my jar because then I have to scrape it off. So I just printed out these small instructions, punched them out with a 2" round circle punch, and glued them on to 3" flower-punched cardstock to make my label. Add a little fabric and ribbon, and you're good to go!

Enjoy! I know Maya did...

Walls, adorned

2012-02-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Despite demanding little ones, absentee husbands, and persistent colds, some part of me still asks to be a graphic designer. And I am definitely dedicated to adorning walls with beautiful things. So I stocked my shop. It includes lots of cheery and colorful new designs, some additions you might recognize, and it now even boasts a few prints perfect for Valentine's Day. So if your walls are begging for a little love, click on over and check out my shop, Sprig and Sprocket, for fresh and fun designs:

State of the Union

2012-02-05T14:25:00.002-07:00

Wes just got back from a week away on an IMAX shoot:

Normally a week without Wes isn't so bad, but this week was rough. The kids were really sick, and I have just started in on the first sniffles of what will become my illness, as well. But hopefully things are on the path to normal again. While I'm getting caught up, here are some shots (Instagram-style) from our rather uneventful week. I challenge you to create Neverland in your dining room. Super fun!

working through this pile o' books

bribing Maya to eat

ordered a little love letter

neverland

little sneak last night when Dada was occupied with Finn and video games

Hope everyone has a great week!

I Heart Minted

2012-01-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

Minted was so amazing for my Christmas cards, that I decided to go with them for Finn's classroom Valentine's cards this year, as well. The fun thing about Minted's classroom cards is that they are the most adorable tiny size—perfect for little classmates. They come in so many darling designs. Finn and I decided on the whale:

I was able to choose a customized color scheme, text, and fonts. They also have a wide range of Valentine's Day photo cards, too (you know...if you were a little behind on your holiday cards this year). Here are some of my all-around favorites:

I can't imagine an easier way to do Valentine's Day cards this year! They shipped quickly, the price was right, they were excellent quality, and they even came with matching little envelopes. I might have squealed when I opened the box...dont' tell.

Be sure to order by February 7th so that your kiddos can hand them out on the 14th!! Check out all of Minted's Valentine's Day cards and gifts HERE. To enjoy Free Shipping on Valentine's Day orders of $35+ use the code CUPID35 (valid through 2/7/12).

Today Finn turns five

2012-01-21T17:04:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love this boy!

One of the last little wobbly walks with just the two of us before Maya arrived.

So glad I get to share my journey with such a special soul as Finn!

Happy Birthday to Me :)

2012-01-19T21:25:00.001-07:00

I had the best Birthday today! I didn't even miss cake. (Probably because I made cupcake for Finn's birthday celebration at school tomorrow, so at least I got to smell cake...that's the same, right?) Since Finn and I only have the 20th to separate our Birthdays, we decided to go on a special date: Tin Tin and Anthropologie. Tintin was really great. I loved it. And Anthro? Well, of course it was a success. Finn was very obliging. Such a good little sport. The fact that I took him to Target to buy four new Cars 2 cars probably helped that fact, though.

Thanks so much for everyone's words of encouragement this past week! I'm chugging along, learning new things every day.

Clever Calendar Ideas

2012-01-13T21:08:00.001-07:00

My partner in crime over at The Blog Guidebook posted all of these super clever ideas for using the calendar I designed this year (found in my sidebar). I thought I would share the post with you!

The printed calendar is glossy and spiral bound

Here's a few example of crafty things you can do with our calendar (or any calendar for that matter!):

Just print out the page of your choice, frame it (8x10), and get instant prettiness!

All you need is a pair of scissors or paper cutter. Cut out images you love. Save the clippings!

The four girls have endless possibilities: first through fourth birthday invitations, labels, gift tags, framed and homemade cards.

Print out and trim, use scissors to cut out tag shapes

A small hole punch and thin ribbon can create a one of a kind gift tag!

Cut out extra butterflies and glue down the bodies, lift the wings. You will have created a shadow-box effect! You can frame this without glass and you've got your own butterfly collection, and no pins!


September will make a super cute tea party invitation! Just trim closely, then write or print out the invite on the inside.

Plan that tea party for September 2012!

After you've used the images you like, save the excess printed paper and use a large circle punch to create extra gift tags!

My friend SIBO (and by friend I mean mortal enemy)

2012-01-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

I finally had some time to sit and write about the crazy health roller coaster I've been on this past year. I'll warn you that it involves stomach ailments of the worst kind, and I can't imagine anyone other than fellow sufferers and possibly some family members actually caring to read on. But if you love TMI, go for it.

It seems I have a new life partner, and it goes by the name SIBO. SIBO is short for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. And it has been hanging out in my body for quite some time now. I will distill the bulk of this down so that I don't have to relive all of the horror that was this summer (and so that you can keep your appetite). But essentially I was starting to have severe stomach issues every few weeks that mimicked the stomach flu (cast your mind). Of course I couldn't function that way at all, so I started seeing a gastroenterologist who ran lots of tests (blood tests, stool tests, more blood tests). I didn't have celiac, IBD was a negative, no parasites, thyroid a-ok, and all my bloodwork was normal. Commence head scratching. I was diagnosed with "leaky gut" (which isn't a diagnosis at all—it's a symptom). And after no relief, I finally opted for the very pricey and extensive blood test to identify my food intolerances (which I knew were significant at this point). That list came back with the following:
• wheat
• yeast
• egg whites
• ALL dairy (whimper)
• mushrooms
• shrimp
• oysters
• cinnamon, mace, and turmeric
• pineapple and plums
...and a handful of other oddities

These are all things in my life that I'd eaten happily for years (with some sporadic issues with dairy). So why were they suddenly causing me so much distress? As in "cutting my stomach out with a knife" distress. Removing those items from my diet offered, to my relief, relief. But not total relief. I would still get randomly sick, and have unpredictable symptoms. I learned early on that I could forget about eating out. I've had a few intense experiences with eating out that scared me straight. So I cook. And let me tell you—this diet is a full-time job. I am cooking all the time. All. The. Time. Mostly I eat healthy delicious foods that my kids would rather die than eat (carrots, spinach, zucchini, chicken...a LOT of chicken). And while I feel very grateful for the things I can eat, I miss some foods like crazy. So much that I have to detach myself from my previous life of food-loving. I am not going to even go into the amount of emotional restraint I have to exercise over not being able to eat a shrimp quesadilla at Tia Rosas, a burger with my kids at In-N-Out, or my own birthday cake. But then there are normal things, like cereal in the morning. What to do there? I buy gluten-free everything. I obsess over crumbs on the counter, and heaven forbid I find them in my vegan butter. I use unsweetened almond milk in lieu of milk (50% more calcium!), and flax seeds in place of eggs in baking (weird-o). And for the most part it's fine. But it was starting to worry me, too. How long would this last? Forever? What happens when I want to travel...to someplace like Iceland with my husband?? What happens if I get sick in the middle of hiking a glacier?! Or in Target with two kids with a full shopping cart...the horror. I had to get to the bottom of this.

U.S. News and World Report listed the top gastroenterologists in the nation. And a few were right here in my own backyard! I ditched my first GI doc for the pros at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (one perk of living in L.A.). After 10 minutes, Dr. Stein diagnosed my illness (something my previous doctor couldn't do in 10 visits): Post-infectious IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). "30 year olds don't get this," I thought. Not so. 30 year olds who travel abroad get this. It seems the little trip I took to Greece over a year ago is the culprit. I got horribly ill with a stomach bug while there (gastroenteritis? food poisoning?). Dr. Stein knew immediately that this was my problem. In his words, "You went to Greece and got screwed. Now it's my job to coach you through this." Then he gave me a handful of options and wanted me to choose for myself after I did the research (upper/lower GI scoping, breath testing, antidepressants, antispasmodics, acupuncture, herbalists, hypnotherapy—the big thing in London). I talked it over with Wes and my family, then asked Dr. Stein's medical opinion. Out of everything, he thought I really needed the Lactulose Breath Test for a thing called SIBO. It seems that after a major infection, bacteria can infest the small intestines, set up camp, and throw a party. I went in for the test. I had to drink a sugary liquid and then breathe into a little bag every 15 minutes for 2 hours. Test POSITIVE. OK—a diagnosis! But where to go from here?? (Hint: don't go to Google unless you want to think you have 4 types of cancer...)

Dr. Stein referred me to a book written by his colleague at Cedars named Mark Pimintel (the physician who actually processed the results of my breath test). He is the definitive source on SIBO. I read the book from cover to cover in a day. I learned a lot. Mostly I learned that tons of people with IBS are walking around with SIBO and don't even know it. For years—decades, even! Their quality of life suffers, and this is something that's treatable. It's even curable in some people! And not only that, but SIBO leads to other conditions like rosacea, acne (ahem, yep), even fibromyalgia. For instance, a study by researchers at Cedars-Sinai examined 202 people who met the diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome and gave them the test for bacterial overgrowth (called the lactulose hydrogen test). Researchers found that 157 of the 202 people (78%) had bacterial overgrowth. When the unwanted intestinal bacteria were eradicated, symptoms of IBS improved in 48% of the subjects, particularly diarrhea and abdominal pain. It's not just people with IBS-like symptoms that have bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial overgrowth can also present with non-digestive symptoms such as fatigue. It's believed to be involved in chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergies, arthritis, lupus, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and many other chronic conditions. Even FOOD SENSITIVITIES.

It seems that bacteria like to bore holes in the small intestines, allowing toxins to leak into the body. So that leaky gut idea from doctor #1? Not all wrong, but again—not a diagnosis. A symptom. And that leaky gut leads to autoimmune responses in the body (like food intolerances). So now we had to treat this problem. I was prescribed a heavy course of antibiotics. But before you freak out and say that antibiotics make stomach issues worse, these antibiotics are not absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead, they stay in the small intestines! Bingo. Neomycin + Rifaxin for 10 days. Only problem? My insurance wouldn't cover the $500 Rifaxan (I won't go into the reasons, but it's a problem with this drug across the board). Luckily I have an amazing doctor who just gave me the medicine because I needed the treatment. After the 10 days, I could feel a difference. I am now not as sensitive and feel more normal. I do have some lingering heartburn and abdominal discomfort, but nothing like before. I do believe some (if not all) of the bacteria has been eradicated. But I also found out that it doesn't end there. The diet now has to be adjusted.

Oh the diet. I cannot have any sugar. Take a moment and read that again. Bacteria thrives on sugar. It wants to have a sugar party in my body. And I cannot stomach that idea (pardon the pun). But because I might lose my mind entirely if I cut out ALL carbs and sugar, the limit is no more than 10g of sugar per day. The only sugar that is ok is glucose (but that isn't a naturally occurring sweetener, so I am at a loss there). Fructose is the worst, so no fruit or fruit juice. And I have to wait 3-5 hours between meals. No snacks (collective groan). If I thought I was getting skinny before, I am probably in for another round of weight loss. I can assure you it is not welcomed at this point—I need to gain about 15 pounds. And if you think "You're lucky—I wish I had that problem" I might slug you (yes, people have told me that to my face). The idea is that once the bacteria is gone (fingers crossed), I have to prevent it from coming back. Then I have to restore the "cleansing waves" that go on in the body after eating (hence the 3-5 hour breaks). Plus there's the issue of liver detox. That's another bottle of supplements to clear out all those leaking toxins and give my liver a break. Tons of water. Lots of veggies. Some meat and protein. A few grains. No sugar. I can do this. I think...

The next step is healing my "leaky gut." I think that is the most unfortunate combo of words in the english language. Who wants to say they have a leaky gut (or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, for that matter)?! So to heal the lining, I am doing things like taking glutamine powder (proven to help some people who suffer from SIBO), and I plan to do a cabbage juice regimen soon. I also take peppermint/oregano oil capsules, which are natural antibiotics. And I drink a lot of tea (ginger, mostly). Probiotics are a big NO when you have SIBO. No bacteria is good bacteria in this case, and I do feel worse when I take probiotics. I've been instructed to stay away from them entirely. In the case of SIBO, many things that would normally seem appropriate in other "living healthy" scenarios do not apply (no probiotics, don't eat frequent smaller meals throughout the day, white rice is your friend—in moderation, etc.). This is its own beast.

I try very earnestly to focus on finding joy in the things that I can eat. I am very grateful that I am not intolerant to corn or soy (dairy and wheat are enough to make my head spin). I attempt to walk stoically past the popcorn at the movies (fiber + butter = trouble). And I don't ever want someone to feel guilty when they are eating something yummy in front of me at a restaurant while I sip my water and smile. Most of the time it's fine. Although with the new addition of no sugar or snacks I admit I had a brief moment of hysteria (hunger will do that to you).

I recently read that this is considered a chronic condition. It can be controlled and almost completely eliminated in some people. And I am hoping I am in that percentage. But the truth is that it will most likely be something I live with and treat for a long while—possibly my whole life on some level. My hope is that I can get it to a manageable state so that I can travel and eat out safely. I hope to get my energy up, and rid my body of those toxins that have been building up these past months. I hope that one day I can have another baby (a strict no-no right now). But in the mean time I will keep plugging along. I found this quote a few days ago when I was feeling deflated by all of this:

There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember—David did win!
~President Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Living the Abundant Life" found here.

A lot has changed in my life. I have almost completely put design and blog work on hold. Any free time is spent creating my meals from scratch (then the kids' meals, since they won't eat what I am eating at their wee stage in life). And a lot of my thoughts are consumed with my health (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual). Stress also triggers symptoms, so I am trying to manage that. I have a plan for exercise that promotes healing and de-stress meditation (if I can find the time, ha). There are a lot of side effects with SIBO. And often when I think I am having a good day, some other malady presents itself. So my serious lack of blogging is due to that. I have debated over just making my blog private and becoming a truly lazy blogger just for my own journal's sake. But I enjoy the community. So I think I will most likely stick around. I also feel strongly that if any of this information can help even one person, than it's worth the extra effort to blog about it. I've provided a list of resources at the end of this post for anyone interested, and please email me at lyndsayjohnson@gmail.com if you have any questions.

And please promise me the next time you eat a piece of cheesecake that you won't bemoan the calories, but just enjoy the treat!! :)

My SIBO Resource List
Trust me—I've done a LOT of googling, and have distilled it down for you here:
Cedars-Sinai SIBO page
SIBO—what IS it?
Very comprehensive SIBO site from a GI who subscribes to Dr. Pimintel's research
Great overall article on IBS and SIBO
The case against probiotics and SIBO

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

And a VERY happy 33 to my man, Wesley Roy,

who is celebrating his birthday in the land of myths and glaciers!

Treasure Hunt on Lake Granbury! Arrrrrggghhhh, mateys!

2011-12-30T09:36:00.000-07:00

A very merry time, indeed

2011-12-29T20:18:00.002-07:00

Hope yours was wonderful! Oh and then this happened with my Aunt Shannon... :)

Merry Christmas from the Johnsons!

2011-12-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

I am in love with my Minted Christmas Cards. I received quite a few Minted cards this year from other families, in fact. And each one was unique and beautiful! I think it's safe to say they are my go-to for holiday cards from now on. Shipping was speedy, quality was the best, and I loved that a graphic designer physically looked over and approved my design before it went to press (especially since I had a Danish character in my greeting on the front). They turned out perfectly! I know it totally sounds like a Minted plug, but honestly I just truly appreciate good design. I think it's safe to say that Minted could pretty much make any occasion a little more special (and stylish)! I can't wait for the next holiday requiring cards. Let's see... Valentine's Day. Oh my:

One thing I am super excited about is Minted's Design Challenge! Any designer can enter their original designs to be voted on by the public. The best designs are chosen and used in Minted's collection! Click HERE to get your designs minted.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-20T14:05:00.001-07:00

I'm taking a much-needed break for a couple of weeks (not like I've been super productive on my blog lately, though, right?). We're ready to celebrate Christmas with family. We're all getting over winter colds. And I am starting a couple of weeks worth of a treatment that will hopefully set me on the path to health (and a restored diet, thank heavens). I plan to write more about all that after the new year, because it's information that I think some people could be interested in learning. Other than that, the Johnson house is on Christmas countdown. Presents are bought and wrapped. Santa has been informed of wishes. And I am ready for holiday movies, hot tea, and down slippers. Here are some of my current favorites:

Want, Need, Wear, Read gift tags from Dandee Designs (adorning my gifts this year):

REI Down Booties (they may look ridiculous, but WOW are they ever amazing):

David Tolk's Christmas Album:
This magical story, read every night to Finn and Maya:
This Gift to the World
What are your favorites today?

Simple Gifts

2011-12-10T17:50:00.001-07:00

There are many gifts of the season. But I have a gift of a lifetime—my children. As I type this, my two little ones are napping on either side of me. Their sweet, slow breathing is mixing with the soft music coming from my laptop, and I thought it would be nice to offer something to my readers. It's been a while since I've done a Pantone Colorstrology poster. And today's color is Porcelain Green: Innovative, Wise, Gracious. Wonderful qualities to cultivate! Especially during the holidays.

Listening to David Tolk's version of the song Simple Gifts gave me the inspiration for this little holiday download. Just click the link below to download the 8.5x11 design. Then print it out to use in your home or digital designs. (You could also convert the PDF to a jpeg and upload to Vista Print if you ever wanted the poster professionally printed, as well.) Happy Holidays!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

What are your favorite gifts in life right now?

Holiday Giveaway with Shabby Apple! {now closed}

2011-12-02T10:06:00.001-07:00

Congrats to lucky number 37! Cathy, you are the winner of the Shabby Apple Ballerina dress.

Sometimes it pays to be the last person to comment on the giveaway. :)

Shabby Apple is the definitive online boutique for stylish, affordable, and unique women's dresses. And today you are in luck, because the always fashionable Shabby Apple is giving away this lovely little number to one very lucky reader! It's the perfect dress for all of those holiday shin digs. You can layer for warmth, then cool off again when the party warms up! I chose the Ballerina dress because it seemed flattering on many figures. And the rich plum color will be gorgeous for the season! Shabby Apple has an amazing selection, so be sure to check out their collections, especially the new Tinseltown.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY (you have three chances to win, in this order):

1. You MUST "Like" Shabby Apple in Facebook. To do so, click HERE. Then come back and leave a comment in this post with your name and email.

2. Post about, tweet, or Facebook this giveaway. Then come back and leave a comment in this post with your name and email.

3. Become a follower of Lyndsay and the Johnsons. Then leave a comment in this post with your name and email.

Giveaway ends at midnight, Tuesday December 6th. The winner will be announced in this post Wednesday December 7th, and contacted via email. Bon chance, tout le monde!

P.S. You can find the Ballerina dress on Shabby Apple's site. Here is a little more about that specific dress:

Plum-colored folds of soft jersey fabric dip from the shoulders into a ruched waist that runs from bust to hip on this flouncy, ballet-inspired dress. Perfect for traveling, this dress sports a V-neck and fully lined skirt for extra coverage, so whether at the office or on the road, you'll feel comfortable and beautiful.

This dress follows our Fits Generously size chart. We recommend ordering a size down for petite customers and/or those preferring a more snug fit. This dress flatters most body types and is particularly nice for new mothers as it hides a tummy!

Poly/Rayon/Spandex blend jersey fabric. Machine wash cold, delicate cycle. Line dry.

'Tis the Season!

2011-12-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist. I HAD to post our Christmas photo, stat. This was the best we could get out of them. No joke. But not to worry! We have a clever solution for Christmas cards, thanks to Minted. I'll post later this month with the final design. How did your photos turn out? Leave me a link in this post to share your family pics for the holidays!

Downloadable Calendar discount in honor of Black Friday!

2011-11-25T15:55:00.001-07:00

My 2012 calendar design is now available as a download!

In honor of the crazed-shopping day, Black Friday, my partner in crime over at The Blog Guidebook (super Sarah), decided to offer our calendar download at a discounted price, through the end of the day on Cyber Monday (smart girl)!

The regular price is $6.95, but for this short time you can get it for $4...that's almost $3 off and quite a bargain for this gorgeous little design, also usable for much more than a calendar! You can print it as many times as you need, and use it in many different ways.

To purchase just click the "buy now" button below, and after payment we will email you a PDF of the calendar (within 24 hours). This is not an instant download.

SPECIAL OFFER $4

Thankful!

2011-11-23T20:34:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone has a happy, blessed Thanksgiving!

source
We'll be eating this pie which I whipped up tonight, quite literally. (Technically I won't be eating any pie, but as stated in the print above, I'm not missing out if I have other "things" to fill my day with. :)

Mint Yourself!

2011-11-18T22:23:00.001-07:00

You know that post right down there that I just published yesterday about Minted? Well guess what. You can save 15% off all holiday cards through November 28, 2011 with the code READERS52. I don't gain anything by my readers using that code. Minted was just kind enough to pass along the discount! So click on over and start saving!

Note: Minted has this awesome feature called "find it fast" where you upload a photo and it plugs it into tons of designs so you can choose the best one for your photo! Click the image below to try it our for yourself:

Get Minted this holiday season!

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

This year I have decided to dedicate myself to holiday excellence in an envelope. And I am doing it with Minted. I will have super stylish Christmas cards to send out, and it's all thanks to the freshest designs on paper (I secretly want to design for them). Let's be honest. I do NOT have time for Christmas cards. I usually pull it together at the last minute, and leave all the work to my hubby the photographer to make my cards sing by way of the photo. Not this year! No, I will have cute cards, too, by golly. I am in love with so many of Minted's holiday photo card designs. Which will I choose? I can't give that away just yet. But I'll be back in the next month to show off the final selection fully equipped with family photo.

Here are some of my favorites:

But that's not all!(click titles to go to their site) I'm in love with their personal stationery:
Somebody, please, get me this journal, stat!
Oh my fox. I am giving away all my good gift ideas here...
Aaaahhhh! Skinny Wrap Address Labels!Ahem. I am more composed. But still inspired! So click on over to Minted and have an inspired holiday, yourself!

Sneekity Peekity

2011-11-16T18:52:00.001-07:00

I've been working tirelessly on something the past few days. It's almost ready, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek. You might remember last year that I created a calendar for The Blog Guidebook (you can find the original with its free download HERE). And since it's almost 2012 (eeek), we decided it was time for a new one! It's a little bit different than my typically modern aesthetic, but I geared it more towards the Blog Guidebook readers. I have to say I'm really happy with how it has turned out. Here is the work in progress:

Stay tuned for the final version. This year we will be selling our calendar because more time and effort went into the design. But I think it will be totally worth it.

The size on this calendar is 8.5 x 11. Last year we offered a smaller version. But with my recent health issues and the busy holiday season, we thought we'd keep it as simple as possible. The downloadable version (coming soon) can totally be resized to whatever printable size you would like. And it's high res, of course, so you can print it on any stock you like!

To PRE ORDER a printed version (we order through Vista Print), click HERE (or visit the button in my sidebar---------->). And keep an eye out for the digital version in the next week!