Fall is in the Air

It certainly has been a while!  The end of summer definitely snuck up on us.  We've been spending these last few days trying to soak up as much time in the backyard kiddie pool as cooler September days and the start of preschool are not too far in the distance.

In the meantime, I have also created new, fun stuff just in time for back to school! Right now we have a special set of 10 clips, and you pick your own colors from a wide array! This is a very basic and versitile set; your little princess will have a clip to match every outfit in her new school wardrobe:

And who says the kids should have all the fun?  I have just made some awesome bobby pins decorated with very fun fabric covered buttons.  These will be fabulous for teens and moms alike! They will be listed on my etsy shop this week, so keep an eye out! I just love these, and made some for myself already:

Also coming soon... more fall and Halloween themed stuff, as well as some new felt clips!

Makeover!

I just LOVE the new banner created for me by Jamie over at Musk Mallow Designs! It's adorable, and I'm so happy she incorporated one of my favorite clip designs in it!

Be sure to check out her shop (it's linked in the picture below), she has her own cute designs or can create a custom banner and avatar for you for an awesome price!

SALE!

Just 2 days left in my Christmas in July sale! Check out these fun, summery clips!

Also, for just these last 2 days, I'm offering 10% off ALL orders under $10, and 15% off all orders over $10!! Wow!

School Daze

In less than 4 weeks, major changes will be underway here at home: my 3 year old begins preschool.  How is it possible, when it seems like just yesterday I was lying in a hospital bed, loopy from painkillers and exhaustion, holding him for the very first time.  How is it possible that he's ready to take those first steps towards independence? And more importanlty, how in the world am I going to get him and his sister out the door on time in the morning?

I know he is more than ready. But I'm sure the first day will be rough, so we have begun preparing him a little.  One of my little guy's favorite books is "Spot Goes to School." 

I love it because, unlike most books about starting school, this one does not focus too much on the main character's fears.  Instead, it simply shows a variety of fun things that happen in school. We have also read some where the main character is afraid to go to school, and despite the rest of the story, I think all he has taken away from those is that school is something to be nervous about. Even with the Spot book, though, he has asked "Where is Spot's mommy?" This has given us a chance to explain that preschool is a time for him to learn, and have fun with friends, and that mom and dad will be back before he knows it. 

I keep reminding myself that I should appreciate those tears on the first day. Before I know it, the first day of junior high will be upon us, and he'll be begging me to drop him off a block from school so his friends don't see!

Love Story

 July 26, 2003, six years ago today, I was wearing a long white dress, uncomfortable shoes, and doing the "Chicken Dance" after a few glasses of champagne . Yes, today is our anniversary! Pierre and I got married exactly seven years from of the day we met which was July 26, 1996.  

A few days before that fateful day in 1996, I was fresh out of high school and killing some time exploring these new-fangled internets. Well, actually is was America Online (yeah, I know, I know. I was young, sue me).

Anyhow, I suddenly found myself chatting with "Pmalak12151970" through instant messages. It was no big deal to me, but he seemed like an OK guy. Before I knew it, I agreed to meet him for coffee that week.  Yes, I had heard all the warnings. Somewhere in the back of my mind I worried he might be an 80 year old serial killer with a peg-leg, but this was seriously the most wild 'n crazy thing I had ever done, and I had decided I would do it.  Luckily he was not a serial killer;  just a stock broker from Hayward, exactly as described. We hit it off immediately. 

I was comfortable talking with him right away, which is kind of a big deal for me! I was amazed by all the really important things we had in common such as a love of Saturday morning cartoons and a hatred for mayonnaise.  And perhaps most importantly, we had a common experience of being stabbed in the finger with a pencil in the second grade.  In fact, we both have a little piece of "lead" still in our fingers. How many people can say that? At that moment, we both knew it was meant to be.

All these years later, many things have changed: graduation, careers, marriage, house, 2 beautiful kids... but we have gone through all of it together, and we will continue to go through more as the years go on.

Happy anniversary, honey!

A Featured item!

I am so honored to have had my felt covered clip featured on Shop By Hand! Check it out! it's a very cool blog that features all kinds of awesome handmade items grouped by a theme! 

Summer Fun Never Has to End!

Can summer really be ending so fast? Hard to believe August is almost here, and Fall is just around the corner! But with the right accessories, you can put a little summery sunshine in your little girl's day, even on the coldest winter day!

Check out these hot clips!

Farmer's Market Clippies, set of 6 fruit-themed clips with sweet mini-bows!

These bright clips will remind you of delicious, juicy summer fruit all winter long!

A pretty flower can brighten up any rainy day! These clips are even better... because these flowers never wilt! 

So for now, spend as much time drinking cold lemonade and running through the sprinklers with the little ones! Before you know it, a new season will be upon us!