Robot Friends Valentines

Just two weeks left to finalize your school Valentines!

Check out these super cute Robot Friends Valentines from PickledPumpkin's etsy shop. Set of 12 with envelopes for $5.50 (plus $1.50 shipping).

25% off everything at Feather Your Nest

Feather Your Nest is liquidating its inventory due to a family loss. The quicker they can close up the shop, the quicker they can begin to find a new normal. Everything is 25% off. The discount will be taken once items are added to your cart. No returns/exchanges unless the item arrives damaged.

http://www.shopfeatheryournest.com/

Some of my favorites:
~Oilcloth aprons here
~Alphabet flash cards here
~Bird cage here

Champagne Bubble Earrings

I love each season, and I love that I live in a region that experiences the four changes but I am DONE with winter. The grey of January has gotten to me and I need something to brighten my mood/outlook.

These Champagne dangle earrings are a great gift idea! Perfect little earrings with a cheerful color. And guess what? They are only $14 (plus shipping)! Easy on the budget but still very thoughtful and beautiful.

A great Valentine idea if your Valentine exchange is like mine - cards only, and maybe a little something I picked up for myself. Oh, its just what I wanted! How did you know ;).

Find these bubble earrings at JuicieJulz on Etsy. And while you are there check out their lockets!

My TWILIGHT Valentine ♥

'I love you more than Edward Cullen' Valentine card from DandeeDesigns, just $4 (plus shipping) and available for preorder today.

Its all in the details for me - I love how they used the same font for Edward's name as printed in The Saga.

Find Jacob's version here, with the same font detail.

Valentine Gift Set

Pumpkin Petunia is offering a super cute personalized Valentine Gift Set here. The set includes an aluminum water bottle, Valentine shirt, and a set of 6 matching notecards.

What a great Valentine gift that is useful well after the holiday has passed!

The set is $48. But they are being super-duper generous and offering 20% until midnight Wednesday EST, use code VALENTINE at checkout. That makes this lovely set just under $39 which is an amazing price!

Pink and Orange Swirl Personalized Stationery

Spring isn't here yet. Tomorrow's forecast is still well below riding-bikes-outside-all-morning degrees. I need something to color my grey world and give me hope that the next season is only a few weeks away. And I'm sure others feel the same way.

Share these lovely personalized note cards with friends and family. Not only will it brighten your day to send these colorful cards but it will also brighten the day of the recipient.

Find them at Whisker Graphics on Etsy, 10 for $20 (plus shipping). While you are there be sure to check out their 100% cotton Bakers Twine ($15) in beautiful colors (orange, yellow, aqua, and black). Perfect for wrapping baked goods or accenting a gift.

Turtle Pot Holder

We are in the middle of 'refreshing' our outdated kitchen. The big remodel won't be for a loong time so we are doing the best we can with our 1968 kitchen. All the effort will be worth it because the kitchen is truly the heart of our home.

I spend so much time in the kitchen, like so many other women! Why not have something fun and useful to enjoy? Like this Turtle Pot Holder! It certainly would make pulling those chicken nuggets out of the oven a little more glamorous ;).

This would be a fun, and practical, gift for so many ranging from 'living on their own for the first time' to 'I use the same boring kitchen stuff that I bought x years ago'. And this cute turtle is sure to bring a smile every time its used.

Find the Turtle Pot Holder ($13 plus shipping) and many other fun kitchen towels at BeanPickelSprout's etsy shop here.

TapeSwell

If you've received a gift from me then you know how much I love ribbon! My favorite way to wrap a present is with brown mailing paper and a beautiful ribbon bow.

Last week I found another beautiful way to accent the brown mailing paper - TapeSwell. And their tag line says it all ~ TapeSwell has practical, pretty tape. Perfect for accenting a gift, a package to be mailed, cards, and even your everyday things you'd like to make pretty (think file folders, recipe boxes, candles, picture frames, etc). These tapes would be a great gift to brighten a friend's day.

I love the Tulip and Damask ~ also check out the envelope wraparounds here, perfect way to add a little pretty to any envelope!

Tapes are $7 and wraparounds are $13. Enjoy 25% off orders over $20 by using code TWTH, big thanks to Twig&Thistle for the discount code!

SEND some LOVE to HAITI

I'm feeling really useless. And spoiled. And so many other emotions as I read about Haiti and its people since the earthquake.

Tonight after the kids are asleep I'll sit down with my husband and figure out how much we can donate this month. And we'll be sure to get his employer to match our gift through their generous matching program. It won't be enough to make a huge impact, but like our former leader said today its all the small donations that add up to make a difference in one small country that has lost just about everything.

I don't post enough ideas about gifts for guys. Simply because they are so difficult to find gift ideas. Until now ... go here to Libby Dibby's etsy shop where you will find these stunning postcards. Very cool! Very 'guy'. They would also be a great gift framed for display on an office desk.

All proceeds will be donated to RED CROSS and/or CHILD HOPE international. A great gift that will also benefit those organizations that are working 24/7 to aide those in need tonight.

We are so very Blessed

I am short on time this morning but I feel compelled to share this with you.

Please go to Living with Lindsay to find out how to purchase this beautiful BLESSED necklace. $10 from each necklace purchase will be donated to Compassion International which is working to assist the affected children and families in Haiti.

Jelly Belly Raspberry Hearts ♥

(sorry this is picture is so, so small)

I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day. In my book this holiday is very similar to NYE - lots of hype and expectations that are rarely realized.

However since having children in school I have learned to enjoy the fun of making little somethings for the people in your daily life. Something little to tell them how much you enjoy spending your time with them, how much you 'love' them. We will begin the great search for the 2010 Valentine soon. My older daughter has a small class this year and I think we'll go all out on a detailed Valentine card this year.

What got me thinking of Valentine's Day so early you may ask ... these little darlings. Mmmm. Mmmm. I spotted the Jelly Belly Raspberry Hearts at the store yesterday. Mmmm. Mmmm. I haven't had them in years, many years. I can't recall the first time I discovered them, but they are my favorite Valentine candy. Pricey, yes ($6 is pricey in my tiny budget). But I will find a way to fit the $6 cost into my grocery budget next week. Then I'll lock myself in a small room alone with the bag ... heaven!

Okay, back to reality. These little gummy candies would be a great Valentine's Day gift to just about anyone. And who wouldn't want yummy candies as a nice change from chocolate this year?

Dot to Dot Towels

Need a fun and frivolous gift? Here it is! They just 'look' so happy! And really, why not add a little happy smile each morning to your giftee's life? I can see these towels in the kids bathroom as well as a grownup bathroom.
Dot to Dot Towels from Garnet Hill come in face, hand, bath and beach towel sizes. Priced from $10.50 (face) to $24 (beach).

70% off clearance at Expressionery.com

Yesterday I received probably my third email advertising an additional 70% off clearance items at Expressionery.com. The offer seemed too good to be true, but yesterday I decided to check out what they have on clearance.

OMgosh, get yourself over there NOW! Use code MADNESS after you place your first clearance item in your bag. I also used code HOLIDAY to be sure I got free shipping! Last time I checked there were 24 pages of clearance items, but they are not sorted in any way. So grab a glass of water and get comfy because you might be bargain shopping for a good chunk of time! Kinda like shopping at those discount retail stores where you have to sort through a rack of clothes to find an amazing sweater.

Keep in mind your upcoming birthdays as well as Spring gifts (Easter) and even teacher gifts for end of school gifts. There are lots of fun Christmas items as well. You can stock up now for Christmas 2010 gifts. And maybe get a thing or two for you ;).

Here are some of my favorites:

~These folded note cards just $5.46 for 25.

~Very 'spring' folded notes here just $5.46 for 25.

~Two small note pads, like these are $5.46 for both.

~These address labels are just $2.94 for 144!

~PinkDots flat notes, 25 for $5.46.

Christmas:

~Square labels like these, 80 for $3.78, would be perfect for labeling gifts (A Gift from The Smith Family), or labeling baked goods as well.

~Address labels here are just $2.94 for 120!

~Beautiful Nativity folded note cards here, $5.46 for 25.

~PinkForest flat note cards are $5.46 for 25.

got it!

Way back in October I told you here how I wanted a family print from JLink's etsy shop under my Christmas tree. Funny thing is it, or pieces of the final product, was in just about every room of our house over the course of a month before Christmas yet it never made it under the tree.

The completed product was my husband's gift to me. I ordered the print from JLink, purchased the mat and frame, and assembled it to finish. I placed it next to his bedside table for wrapping. In the craziness of the last few days before Christmas the frame didn't get wrapped. At some point during Christmas Day my husband looked at me and asked where the family print was ... I ran upstairs and brought it down to the dining room. My lovely husband hung it in the perfect place in the dining room over the weekend. I am so happy with it!

JLink's etsy shop is currently closed for a holiday break, sign up for an email alert and once its back open be sure to check out the amazing prints they have to offer. Great customer service and great products!

Newsgirl Beanie

Got any heads that need a fun knit hat? Then go to the Portland Beanie Company on Etsy!

In October I ordered this flowered headband for the little girl that is so generous to give my kids hand-me-downs and this newborn flapper hat for a little baby that will be born any day now. When I opened the package I was blown away at how adorable each piece was in person.

I have the newsgirl bean pictured above on my wish list for my girls next fall. And maybe one for me too!