The Cutest Photo Box Ever, Made by Tammy

Look what my niece Tammy made yesterday in just a few hours. Is this cute or what? She says it was super easy but then again she is really good at this:-) Still, I'm going to give it a try. She bought a white metal lunchpail at Michaels (using a 1/2 off coupon it was only $3.50...yay Tammy) and spent about $7.00 on scrapbook papers to add to it. If you look closely at the front, You'll see the letters "Pent" and then H2O. This stands for one of our favorite family vacation spots in Pentwater, Michigan. The back shows a sandcastle cut-out. This box is going to be for extra Pentwater photos Tam has. Very cool, huh? Tie a bunch of ribbon pieces to the handle and 3 hours later...VOILA...the perfect little place to keep photos. I imagine you could use these for so many other things too...gift packaging, recipe box, receipts, crayons or other kids stuff like scissors, glue... My daughter Taylor is forever collecting things so I think I'll make one for her to use...or better yet, have her make one. Thanks for the awesome idea Tam!

My Favorite Things

...or "Stuff I Love". I decided two things...Friday is going to be my favorite things day and if Oprah can do it, I can too!:-) The list will be very random...new things, cool finds, special treats...whatever I am liking at the time. So here goes...

My iphone~~
and the blinged case I made for it. I really wasn't that crazy about this phone...until I broke mine and had to live without it. I bought a like new red blackberry on ebay and thought it would be good enough. NO WAY. I turned around and sold it on ebay the same day I got it...for more than I paid:-) Anyway, having the ipod built in and the touch screen is awesome. To all of those people I talked out of this phone...I am so sorry! There is no comparison:-)

Victoria Secret Body Souffle
These are the best!!! I've used these for 2 years now. They are so smooth and fluffy. They come in about 8 scents and they are also very light so they aren't overpowering. There is just the very slightest hint of shimmer. Best of all is the price...they are $10 each and last a long time, but right now they are 4 for $20. These make AWESOME gifts. (And for what it's worth, they always seem to be on sale:-) Anything Lilly Pulitzer...
and I mean anything!
Clothes, accessories, bedding...you name it and she has it. Lilly means fun, bright, tropical, summer, Palm Beach (couldn't resist:-) Every day is a vacation with Lilly!
Visit Lilly's blog at http://www.blog.lillypulitzer.com


Jewelry with inspirational sayings...I love this stuff!This is sold on etsy at jeanskipper store.

And last but definitely not least...Shabby Chic, by Rachel Ashwell. First of all, I love everything! I also found out she has a blog that is cool so check that out at www.rachelashwellshabbychic.blogspot.com
Just look at this dining room...

Look at her sign..."Keep calm and Carry on"...love it!
On that note...See ya!

Calendars, Planners and Organizers...Oh my!

Well, it's January 15th and there's still time for some of us to get organized for the New Year, right? (Well, maybe not me but there's still time for you:-)

The other day I got a message from my sister, Kathy. It was a quick message asking me "what kind of planner" I was planning to use this year. I was on my cell phone at the zoo when I got the message and the monkeys were screeching in my other ear, so I had my daughter listen to make sure I heard right because I couldn't believe she asked ME about a planner. Sure enough, that's what she said. I cracked up then and there, enough to embarrass my girls for at least the 3rd time in an hour. I love my sister and besides her husband and children, I am probably the only one who can laugh at her over this. The reason...if she thinks SHE has organization/calendar problems, she should come to my house!!! At least she remembers Dr. appointments and birthdays. I wait until I get the reminder call the day before and work like crazy re-arranging my schedule to make the appointment. I have Taylor write birthdays on her calendar since she is the only one in the house to look at it daily. (Not only does she look at it often, every night she "rates" the day and writes fun little notes about what happened. She might say "good day, today was awesome, tired today, sad, dance was fun, dance was hard...) Her calendars are like journals.
But back to my sis...bless her heart, she tries every year to find a planner that will work for her. We laugh about this at least 3 or 4 times during the year, usually when she finds a new way to keep track of things because the old one is out the window. (Don't get me wrong, I buy new planners all the time too hoping this is "the one" that will turn me into Miss Organized, but no luck yet.) Anyway, I asked her to take a picture of all of the organizers she could find in her house, so here goes.Here is how she described her planners:
Left to right, 2008 brown/pink Target Franklin planner, bought the second this year as it is cheaper than a refill, second row is three types of good black leather planners from Franklin/Covey, My Apple Ical, small free Hallmark purse-size date book, slim Target one, Golden Retriever wall calendar...am I ready or what!
Yep...I'd say you're ready!!! Looks like 9 calendars to me. Hahaha.
Okay, what my sister doesn't realize is that she doesn't need to worry about this because she is waaaaay more organized than most of us and besides, that is not what is she is all about. She is the best wife/mother/daughter/sister/friend you will ever hope to find...THAT is what my sister is all about. (But it is kind of fun talking to her about planners and trying to discover the newest way to keep...or should I say "GET" our act together!)
Love you Sis!!!