Mother's Day Gift Ideas

This has to be probably one of my favorite gifts that Mark has ever given me! My mom and sister both have Trollbead bracelets and I wanted one so bad for a long time. On Christmas morning he surprised me with my very own! We weren't supposed to do anything for each other this year, I cried! He started me out with the bracelet and 3 beads, since then we have added to it. In January during the week of the 14th it was the first anniversary of my Dad's passing and Mark bought me a bead for every day of that week. So sweet. I love these bracelets, each bead has a special meaning. For instance mine range from my Grandmother's name (Florence), to Moon Ocean ( you know how I love the ocean! ) The Great Wall ( because we climbed the Great Wall when we adopted our daughter from China), Abba, because me, my mom and Myah love Momma Mia (actually I have always loved Abba), Khaki stripe, duh, I love khaki and stripes, black squirrel because my Dad used to take me with her squirrel hunting when I was little ( I never hunted, too scared! ) and Team for Dayton, it is a cool silver bead representing all sports. I need just a few more to complete my bracelet. I treasure this gift so much and love adding to it.

This time of year there are so many beautiful items in the stores to purchase. I love browsing the malls this time of year. I feel so bad for the guys that are walking around aimlessly looking for something that they think would make their wife happy. I thought I would give my little list of things that I think any momma would love to receive. ( I know I would, hint hint!) How can you go wrong with Anthropologie? I browsed around there the other day and so many things caught my eye. I thought these were just precious! Flower measuring cups and spoons! Wouldn't these just brighten up mom's kitchen?!

I actually had them wrap this one up for me as a little treasure,little measuring cups that are shells. See how cute it looks in my kitchen!!?

I love my pillows from my sister's little business Lettered Threads. She can personalize them with your own special numbers or letters.

I love this line, although I have only purchased the sample $9 bottle of perfume, I don't know any woman who wouldn't love a gift of Lollia! They are a bit pricey, isn't that what we do on Mother's Day, buy her something she would never buy herself?! I fell in love with all of their fragrances but Wish was my favorite.

It is no secret that I am turning 40 this year, oh my a few months to be exact, and I have decided it is time to take better care of my skin. People always think I am younger than what I am (I would like to keep it that way! ) I do see my skin changing so much lately. I have used Arbonne before in the past but their new RE9 Advanced anti aging line is incredible. I have a good friend who sells it and she gave me a sample, oh my I am not kidding when I tell you I saw visible results within an hour, no joke slowpoke!!! So I had me a little pampering party with my friends the other night and earned this whole collection for next to nothing! I am so happy with my products, they smell amazing and use only the best natural ingredients. Love it! They even have a lift product that will give you a mini facelift for 12 hours!

I love my panini maker, this one is from Williams Sonoma and is on sale this week. We use ours for everything, grilling, making quesadillas, paninis etc. A great addition to any mom's kitchen! My sweet hubby just surprised me with Kari Jobe's cd, she is a CCM artist and I love her style. She has a gorgeous voice and I love her music, very inspiring and relaxing at the same time. Plus she is as cute as a button and her blog is eye candy!

Us mom's love a good movie! I am running out today to buy It's Complicated, I have not seem it yet but everyone told me how good it was, my mother in law sent me the sweetest card and a gift card to Target for mom's day (isn't that just the nicest?) and I am going later to pick it up! I also saw the Blindside last week, talk about an inspiring mom! Loved it too!

I am in love with Essie nail polish, especially because I can buy it at Target or Meijers now. I love the Ballet Slipper shade, so delicate.

I spotted these adorable mom/daughter aprons at Anthro the other day too! I grew up in a family where we wear our aprons when we cook so my kiddos always want their own too. I know I would have loved to have my own little apron when I was helping my Grandma and Momma cook!

I saved my favorite gift for last. The other day I was in a store and saw these boxes full of quotes, like super cool quotes, 365 of them to be exact. The store was selling the quotes individually but they can be purchased in a whole set. I love this gift. Say it again, I LOVE this gift!!! It is made by Sugarboo Designs and comes in a white or black box. I have a few of these quotes hung around my house! I found mine locally at RSVP in Plymouth.

Here they are in my house.
"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel" Love that one!

Hope this inspires some of you to get something beautiful and meaningful for your sweet mother this year!

Introducing Lettered Threads!!!

We took these on Myah's sweet little bed!

Love these!!!!

I am thrilled to announce that my little sister Melanie has finally opened her own Etsy shop called Lettered Threads. She came down today and I took pictures of her awesome artwork and her gorgeous pillows. We had so much fun getting her site up and running today. Please stop by and say hello! Here are a few sneak peaks for you!!!

My stamp of approval!

I have wanted one of these personalized address stamps for years. I am so sick of printing out little tiny address labels on my computer and then peeling and sticking them on my envelopes. No more of that for me!! I have finally ordered my very own stamp! I have always wanted to have things personalized or monogrammed but I never get around to it (actually, I am very indecisive when it comes down to it). However, the other day I was sitting in the allergist office waiting for Dayton to get his shot, I was enjoying my 25 mintues of peace and quiet while reading the House Beautiful magazine, I stumbled across a coupon for 40% any item here.
I clipped the coupon and went online to order, I found out that you don't need the coupon right now, they are giving you 40% off automatically as part of their Mother's Day promotion. These stamps are pricey, that is why I have never ordered one, they run about $53, but at 40% off they are more in my range. I figure I spend that much alone on paper and ink! Plus the stamp is self inking and is useful up to 10,000 times. I just had to pass this deal on to you, my buddies! I really wanted this one, but hubby and I compromised and .... we chose this one, I love the simple design. Isn't this fun?!! I love getting hand written notes, they are becoming more and more extinct now aren't they? I am going to try to write more after I get my new stamp, hmmm, sounds like a set of new stationary is in my future!

A Few of my Favorite Things!

We interrupt the house tour to bring you the following messages: heee he

I have a few things that I am obsessed with lately and I just had to pass these good things on! This first item is something that I can wake up in the middle of the night, turn over and look at my clock and wish it was time to rise so that I can enjoy these!!!!!!!! Panera's Cinnamon Crunch Bagel with Honey Walnut reduced fat cream cheese spread. I am not kidding, they are like a dessert to me. I have given up eating so many of my favorite things this past year due to my stomach issues. This is sweet as candy for me!!! I litterally almost cried when I sent Dayton in the other evening to pick me up a few and he said that they were sold out!!! So warning, if you live in my area, please make sure you leave enough for me too!!!

I know this saying is everywhere right now but I went into my local Barnes and Noble and they are carrying a whole line of this and the pink cupcake version too. I purchased this little book for a special person in my life and I have been peaking through it until I deliver it to its new owner. I think I need to get one of my own! I love quotes and phrases and this book is filled with little ditties for many stages in ones life that might need a little pick me up. I LOVE it !!!
Here are a few of my favorites from the pages of the book. It was publised by Andrews McMeel Publishing and cost $8.99, a great little gift to keep on hand I think!!! Loving this one for obvious reasons!!
Isn't that the truth!

This reminds me of my sweet bloggy friends! Love both of these!!
Sounds so inspiring doesn't it!!!
I think this is my current state of mind!!!
My number one favorite!!!!!! I need to post this everywhere! I love this soap and rarely do I splurge on it for myself, it is so gentle on my sensitive skin! Lucky for me (and you) Marshall's has a small supply on hand for $6.99, a huge savings!!! I am stocking up when they get it in, I swear the people who live around here just don't like the things I do, this is such a great deal and yet there is always plenty there for weeks! Lucky me! My sister Melanie made these for me this week!!! She is so talented and has taught herself how to sew, she painted these with letters and numbers that had meaning to me!!! I put them on my hall tree and I love them so much!!!

I saved the best for last!!! My sweet little Myah can write!!! The other day she wrote my name without even asking me how to spell my name!! I will treasure this forever!!! Right now it has the distinct honor of gracing my fridge for all to see!!! Oh and I can't leave my Dayton out! Today he received his learners permit for driving! After completing his month long classes we went to the SOS today and got his permit!!! My life will never be the same, I swear that his driving is taking years off of my life!! Just kidding....well kinda!

Lotions and Potions

I have been trying some new products lately and thought that I would share my new found favorites with you. I will preface all of this by saying that I am really trying to take a more natural approach with my face, body and home cleaning lately. I know the benefits for the planet are probably the reason many of these companies created their products but I am finding the benefits for my skin to be my main reason, keeping the planet beautiful is still special to me don't get me wrong! Actually my skin has become very sensitive over the past few years. And after Myah came along I realized that her skin has very different needs as well. I have been reduced to using Gold Bond Medicated Lotion Extra Strength for my skin issues(yes I smell like an old person), I have severe itching, I mean to the point where I will bleed, especially my legs. So I have spent my fair share of moola on tubs of stuff and tubes of goo that have eventually found themselves sitting on a shelf in my linen closet, just not strong enough for me to find relief. I have recently found the Lush Cosemetics line. I think I am in love. I heard about these from another blogger, I learned that the products are all freshly made and mostly all natural some even vegan. I even bought a face mask so fresh that it comes in a small pot that needs to be refrigerated and then expires in 3 weeks. I actually told my family not to eat it, it looks that yummy!!! The best part is this super funky little boutique in the mall has the most funnest ( I know it is not a word but it fits the bill) staff, who are so willing to massage your arms and hand and are very helpful. They even give me tons of freebies!!! Honestly, I told the young lady that I have had a bad week, (ok year) and she told me that I needed a bath tub cocktail. She gave me a few bath fizzies adding up to about $14!! It smells wonderful, like hot cocoa!! I also told her that I was just coming in for one specific product and didn't want to spend any more this visit than that and she cut off a sample for me to take home. They want you to feel good, not matter what!! You must go and visit, don't let it scare you!!!

I just started using this Mrs. Meyers soap to do my dishes, keeps my hand from getting irritated, the Basil scent is my favorite!

This is another new lotion that I have sampled and finally broke down and bought it after smelling my hands constantly after trying it. It is another natural product from Naked Bee, the orange blossom honey scent reminds me of sweet tarts!!

This Buff Body Butter scrubby was something that she cut me a sample of and it is amazing!!

This is my bath cocktail combo, love it!! These fizzies are so much fun.. She mixed the Floatin Island bath melt with teh Butterball bath bomb (below). How nice of her!!

Ok, this is a must used with many of their products, The ocean salt scrub, I bought the small tub to see how I like it, I will upgrade as soon as I am done with this one! It actually has some vodka in it so I could scrub and get tipsy!!!

I saved the best for last....this has saved me let me tell you, they said in the ads for this one that many people who will only use prescription strength products on their sensitive skin have found this to be the only lotion that will help. So I tried it after reading that and I agree! It is called Dream Cream. I really was skeptical but it has been wonderful for my skin!!

So that is it, hope you will try at least one of these great products!

Wedding Silver

I somehow inherited my Grandparents wedding silverware. That sounds pretty impressive I know, but actually it has more sentimental value than function, it is not a full set (not even close) and some of the knives tips are cut off, but nonetheless, it is beautiful and it really likes the camera. This is our anniversary week and I get all giddy remembering the fuss and craziness that was going on at my parents house 15 years ago. I was the first grandchild to have a big wedding on both sides of my family, so it really became a family affair. I am sure that whomever bought this silverware 60 some years ago never imagined that it would be uploaded to the internet via a blog! It sure makes you wonder what life will be like when we celebrate 60 years!