ev in the hospital

I wanted to make a quick post about production time right now. I am in the hospital w kid 3. He's got a piece of wood stuck in his foot and is in IV antibiotics and has been since tuesday night. We hope to be going home soon but please expect delays in turnaround time until we get back and settled. I apologize for any inconvenience this causes but unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it! Thanks and I will post as soon as we are back to normal.

Pocket Purse Calendars… on their way!

Just wanted to give a quick update – the 2010-2011 pocket purse calendars are on their way.  They are ON SALE through September 4th for only $12!  After that, they will return to normal selling price of $15. 

A pen & calendar set will be $18.50 through September 4th as well.  GET THEM NOW for Christmas teacher gifts, housekeepers, nurses, babysitters and for yourself!  I use mine every single day – it is always getting filled w/things to do for our family.

Thanks!

Why, yes maam, I certainly would!

Check it…  Emma Kate’s birthday was this past April & I contacted Bakerella to find out if she knew if white chocolate actually had coco in it since EKB can’t have caffeine due to her heart condition…

I snapped a quick pic of her on the way to school & sent it in to Bakerella to show her how happy her creativity made my girl.  Well, she thanked me for sending the pic & then tonight… I got this sweet note.

Hi Laurie
I'm thinking about showcasing some cake pops from readers on my site.
Would you like to have this photo included?
If so, can you give me your location (state) and a little background
info on the photo?
Let me know what you think.
Thanks
Bakerella

How sweet :)  I hope she decides to do it.  My girl would sure be excited to see her face somewhere else other than my website ;)

Giveaway going on .. now!

Check out this blog

http://hfrjourney.blogspot.com/2009/08/post-honeymoon-giveaway.html

Hannah of Simple Pleasures is so kind to host this giveaway.  She’s a newlywed customer of mine who fell in love with her Monogrammed Stamp!  Read the rules & post a comment to be entered to win!!

Good luck :)

Passed on by a friend

I felt compelled to post this today.  A friend of mine sent this link to me.  If ANYONE reading this has Type O blood, please consider donating… QUICKLY!  This little girl is fighting for her life in Miami.  I am praying that this outpouring from her family will help this little girl.  She’s from Breaux Bridge, LA which is not far from here…

http://cbs4.com/video/?id=81378@wfor.dayport.com

just a few more days… revised

All the kids will be in school in just a few more days… THEN I will be ALONE & have more time for production!!

Thanks for your patience!  For being so patient, please use the coupon SCHOOL09 to receive 20% off your order!

*coupon is good through aug 31st!

Trying to catch up

Late nights around here!  Trying to get caught up seems impossible but it’s getting better.  All of the special orders from the show are in production and will ship as soon as they arrive.  As always, I have batched several orders to ship together.

I have added a lot to the site in the past few days.  Old files that have been waiting to be uploaded…

Check out “What’s New”

Dear, dear

I am so behind!  I want to let you know please allow some extra time right now with back to school just around the corner (STILL NEED SCHOOL SHOES & UNIES!!!).  I am taking the kids for a day at the water park tomorrow & then bday parties this weekend…

So, please, please, please bear with me as I attempt to {squeeze} in some last minute {squeezes} with my kiddies ;)

Post show post

Back from show – very busy filling custom orders from that so please bear with me!

Just a few new sites on the site (uploaded from months ago!).

New Trays listed

Don’t forget those football games! I can coordinate any school colors for a great look!  This one happens to be Ole Miss but I can do any color combination for sure.

I’ve also added the Cutting Boards to the site.  They come in 2 different sizes - check the dropdown list for details!

Here’s the large: $40 each

and the small: $34 each

There are also some super cute pillowcase designs being added!  Check them out here

Back to school orders have been coming in as well!  Get your lunchboxes!! 

no time.. busy, busy… but

took a brief vacation over the weekend to see these guys

it was a great show despite the little guy making it extra hard to really pay attention to Anoop & the gang :)  They were all awesome!  We all had a great time…

Wanted to send you on over to see some new icons… I have so many choices, I cannot even tell you… I have to refrain from uploading all of what I’ve got for fear the site might blow up!  And there’s more in the works!  I have my graphics girl hard at work all the time to keep it fresh.  Honestly, I get bored w/the same things over & over so I gotta keep her on her toes!!

here’s a peek

There are some new patterns as well… the number of patterns is equally as ridiculous!  Do you think I have too many choices here?  feedback appreciated…

20% off coupon up for grabs – comment on whether you think I have too many choices for design options & I will pick a random winner on Friday!

C’mon, all 10 of you that read this blog!  Comment so one of you can get a little deal!!

enjoy!

bedtime… exhausted!

4 more weeks

Until school starts!  Camp is done & the heat is on around here!  I am so blessed to be busy … not enough time for blogging.  I wanted to share a few new happies that have been added recently.

new large round cornered calling cards

new binder designs – these have been SUCH a hit with Emma Kate’s friends.  they love them!

new sticker designs

more stickers – great for kids books this year

and a cute new baseball set

small invites

thank you notes

calling cards

there’s many more new things on the site… just don’t have time to post them all here right now!

click here to see what’s new on the site!  show time is approaching – get your orders in soon for back to school!  Lunchboxes are flying out my office right now!!

Custom Design Requests

I have always gotten custom order requests – from wanting to see a different sticker design, to wanting a custom pillowcase – this has been a constant around here.  I have put up a form on the site for these requests since they are very hard to keep track of when sent via email or via phone.  So, one way or another I am determined to stay on top of things & keep organized!

Hope ya’ll can find this easy to use & apply it to any product that’s on the site or if there’s a product that you’d like to see added – something you’ve seen that you know comes from us but isn’t on the site yet (cutting boards, aluminum sports bottles, beach towels…get it?).  There’s no payment requested for this service but fees may apply depending on the detail. 

Please use this form BEFORE placing an order so I can upload the design of your choice to the site for purchase.  Again, there may be fees applied to the final order total – just ask before checking out the final product.

Thanks!!

Contents of my disastrous purse.. the month of JUNE

is almost OVER!  Thank goodness as it was purely hectic & insane … perhaps the most insane month of my whole entire motherhood existence of almost 9 years.

As I reflect over the past 6 months, I realize:

• sales are DOWN 18% (waah) compared to 2008 BUT they are UP 150% compared to 2007 (gotta find that silver lining!)
• I have done more for my kids in the past month than my business
• I still haven’t found the balance I’ve been looking for in managing this business & family life
• Competition has increased about 200% since I began doing this

As I reflect over this emptied out purse that has been carried w/me this past month, I see:

• a packet of otter pops
• 2 energizer rechargeable (dead) batteries
• about a dozen sunflower seeds
• popcorn pieces
• a yellow skittle
• a nail file
• a blue bicstic
• nasty unwrapped green trident (YUCK!)
• a Picadilly gift card
• packing slip
• a hefty cheerleading uniform bill
• large paperclip
• Emma barrette
• wrappers of ALL kinds
• lipliner
• mac lipstick
• receipts, receipts, receipts
• an invitation
• a wadded up diaper
• sequins
• sashes from dance recital
• 3 dirty socks
• airhead
• 2 checkbooks
• 3 pens
• a purse calendar
• blackberry
• 1/2 roll of quarters still in tact
• coupons
• dollartree ad
• Coldplay ticket stub (AWESOME CONCERT!!)

Okay.. that’s enough!  Can you tell I have been running around like a chicken w/my head cut off?  Baseball & Softball are officially over but there are still other activities… 

Long story short…

BEAR WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!  I’M BEYOND WAY BEHIND!!!

Hope everyone else is enjoying the peace & relaxation of summer!  As I deal with this heat wave we’ve had

our kids are now enjoying a nice little addition to our backyard

Did I mention, I LOVE THIS THING!?  The kids are having such a blast in it & it’s been such easy maintenance!  All the kids in this pic look like giants but it really is the perfect size for my kiddies :)

Happy Summer!!

Is the 4th really that close? Geez…

Here’s how these gals have grown over the years :) 

Oh how I love me some English babies!!!

Pics

I have yet to find time to snap pictures of stuff that goes out of this office!  Can we say, “Assistant, where are you?”  Very frustrating not having more hours in the day to get everything done.  So many cute things, not enough time to brag about them :)

Here’s a couple custom designs from this week…

and a new invite option added – an easy way to customize a party invite…

pick your border pattern, the icon & font & you’ve got a custom invite – very easy & quick :)

enjoy!

Show order update

For those who placed orders for the following products, here are some updates on production of said items:

• Cutting Boards – arriving Mon 6-1-09 – will ship/deliver upon receipt
• Note Cubes - arriving Mon 6-1-09 – will ship/deliver upon receipt
• Clipboards - arriving Mon 6-1-09 – will ship/deliver upon receipt
• Plates, Bowls, Platters – arriving daily – will ship/deliver upon receipt (some shipped direct from the factory)
• Stamps – arrived Thurs 5-28-09 – holding some to deliver/ship w/grouped orders (some shipped direct from the factory & have arrived to some recipients already)

Please note – if you ordered any of these items in a group (ie: note cube, cutting board & plate) your orders will be grouped to ship together.  Since I waive most shipping charges at the shows (see what you get for not coming to see us?) I like to group the orders as best I can to save a little $$.

Oh.. forgot to show you the cutting boards.. you can see them in the pic from the show on this post but here are a couple examples.  Also pictured are some note cubes that were ordered…

cutting boards

these are the small version which is 12 x 8 & sell for $34.  the larger version is 16 x 12 & sells for $40.  these make great wedding gifts as well as housewarming gifts!  even college kids moving into their first pad would love these :)  i know my old roomie would have loved to have had one, considering she did cook almost every night in our apartment!!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!