Something Personal

As we have stated before we love some good monogramming and think a personalized gift is always fun to give and even more fun to get!
We saw this iphone cover at Dani Notes on Etsy and wanted one...bad.

love these gift stickers, perfect for kids and their endless stream of birthday parties 

(my friend Lori has the cutest ones from her daughter that say.Happy Birthday from your friend, Allie )

or who doesn't love some cute stationary

or these adorable plates, both fun baby gifts

there is another go-to personalized gift maven and her name is Dabney Lee at Home,

 these are some of her unique creations that come in a million custom patterns and colors

or some cuties from Clairebella

a cutting board or luggage tags that are personal, reasonable, and useful all at the same time!

make it fun, make it personal and put some great gift ideas

(to give and get) in your back pocket...

We heart you

Wishing you and all of your loved ones a Happy Valentine's Day.  We heart our readers..

images via ItsMaryRuffle,  Cookie, Annika Vannersus, design sponge.

Put  some V-day love in your back pocket...

Little house on the Prairie...ugh.

Jen and her second grade daughter, Lauren, are busy reading Little House on the Prairie.  Isn't that timely considering the e-mail I recently received from POTTERY BARN.  I see "Clearance" in the near future...

Now at least Lauren has a visual when she reads

"Ma and Pa got into the wagonbed and tucked themselves under the old quilt.."

I mean, really? We thought they were coming around!

Put a plan to update your bedding (at somewhere other than Pottery Barn) in your back pocket...  

A Birthday Luau

My daughter celebrated her sixth birthday this weekend and we decided to have a "Winter Luau" since the weather in Phoenix this time of year is usually beautiful (my other kids have summer birthdays so outdoor parties are usually a bust:) Thank the Lord that the sun was shining and the kids had a blast!

I lucked out and found some hibiscus print table runners for $6 at Dillards

We had made tissue paper flowers for centerpieces

each girl got to chose a grass skirt and a lei as they arrived,

 and then they made lei bracelets or anklets as a craft (here is the birthday girl)

I also got some adorable printables from Love the Day on Etsy

sorry for the lame pictures, I was too busy to take good pics so these don't do them justice but here are more pics of the printables taken from Love the Day Blog

We had a pinata (that held like 5 pieces of candy so I had to have 2 pinatas to prevent a revolt)

we also played the limbo, pass the coconut (think hot potato) and learned the hula from a DVD...

It was so fun and easy, there are a HUGE selection of Luau items

from both party stores and Oriental Trading.

Put a birthday luau in your back pocket...

Head of the Table

An easy way to add or "change up" your dining room is to put a little variety to your chairs.  We both are big fans of swapping your "head" chairs for something a little different and fun. You wouldn't believe what a change it makes to your traditional set of chairs......

photos courtesy of, in order, Elle Dceor, Cote de Texas, Cottage Living, decorpad, 22nd Ave.,Carolina Eclrctic, My Home Ideas, 

In my kitchen I have a couple of these from Ballard Designs  

It seems like every season I buy two new slipcovers for a quick change.

 I think I'm going to buy them in "spa linen" for the spring.  

or how about this one...

I'll also keep my eyes open for a fun print on one of my visits to Homegoods.

Put some chair variety at the head of the table in your back pocket...

Aw, Man....

Don't you just love it when you find something great that's also cheap inexpensive?  Well, I spotted these 20in. floor pillows at none other than Kmart.  Because I think I'm addicted to online shopping, I decided to order one...thought it would add some cute pattern to my sunroom.
(It was only $35.99...free shipping, too)

My UPS man  (who my dog waits for when she hears that brown truck come down the street-he always has an endless supply of Milkbones) dropped it off. To my surprise, I had forgotten about buying it-hence the sign of "addiction"- and I opened it eagerly...

O.K., now how can anyone in their right mind look at an order for "GREEN ZIG ZAG Floor Pillow"-that's exactly what the order and receipt said-  and come up with this? Bummer.
I guess you get a little hassle when you save a few bucks.
Off to the the post office...Peace out;)
Put a little mail order mishap in your back pocket...