Open for Business!

So, today is the day! I've been working my pink and green behind off to get my website ready for a "soft launch" and today is the day! I'm so excited that I will now be able to accept wholesale orders for many of my products, and will be adding to that weekly. I am overflowing with ideas and there are so many things I want to do and products I want to make, but I'm going to take it slowly as I'm still trying to figure this all out as I go.

So, to kick off my website launch and wholesale opportunities, from now through May 31st I'm offering BUY 1 GET 1 on all my tee's. Absolutely PERFECT for family reunions, beach trips, teachers gifts, or coaches gifts. To take advantage of the BOGO offer, purchase 1 tee at checkout, then specify in "seller instructions" the size and details for your 2nd, FREE tee! Please note that the 2nd tee must be of equal or lesser value, and will get shipped right to your door via USPS!

Click here to check out all the new products and graphics
from Southern Wears & Gifts!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Easter is right around the corner. Now I don't know about y'all, but when I was growing up, all the Easter Bunny ever put in our baskets were loads of candy, peeps, the obligatory large chocolate bunny, and a few small trinkets. It was packed to the gills mind you, but it was pretty much all candy. But somehow from then to now, the Easter Bunny has become as revered as Santa Claus with the children I know (yes, including my own), and mere candy just does not suffice. The Easter Bunny is now expected to deliver toys, games, money, candy, and pretty much anything else he can fit in that basket. And the baskets? Well naturally they've become supersized as well.

So what is a mom to do? And who the hell started all this hype to begin with? I want to know who the hell is responsible for hyping up the Easter Bunny as big as Santa Claus?? I mean, I barely recover from Christmas and I have mini #1's birthday, which is then followed by Easter. I am going to need a holiday bail-out program at this rate! And while I'm on my soap box, let's just go over the long list of people I'm supposed to keep up with... Of Course there's Santa, St. Nicholas (for my fellow Catholics), the Tooth Fairy, The Leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day, & finally the Easter Bunny. WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER LOCKING THE DOOR with all these people coming in and out of my house.

Anyway, my real point of this post is that with Easter a week and a half away, I'm a bit behind on my Easter Bunny shopping. In case you haven't heard, the Easter Bunny is very busy these days trying to keep up the house since it's on the market, start her new business, and let's face it, she certainly can't miss her Young & the Restless. So I thought I'd share a few things the Easter Bunny will be including in baskets at the Monogram's house this year, in case your Easter Bunny needs a few ideas. Also? Our Easter Bunny is always looking for some cute little things for our baskets as well so please share away if you've got any suggestions of your own.

I remember watching this cartoon series in the 80's, and since my boys are obsessed with all games including Super+Mario, these inexpensive DVD's of the cartoon series will be included in their baskets this year. Santa delivered one to each of them in their stockings as well, and they LOOOOOVE THEM. You can pick them up here for the great price of $5.99 ea. and they really are hilarious.

The Easter Bunny just had to buy these and if you have to ask why, then you haven't been coming around here long enough to know we are obsessed w/ our Chocolate Lab (both current and past one). The boys will love these and as a BONUS they are on sale for a mere $11.49 at my favorite affordable kids store, Gymboree.

I have no idea what Mighty Beanz are, and I'm not entirely sure my kids do either. However, as the commercial is played constantly during Spongebob when we get home from school, the mini's are "dyiiiiing" for Mighty Beanz. At $4.99, I believe the Easter Bunny can make this happen as well.

Last year the Easter Bunny brought DS games so I believe he should keep with that and bring another DS game again (because the 10,345,857 DS games they have apparently aren't enough). At this point he is leaning towards the "I Spy" DS game for mini #1 and Lego Batman for mini #2, but it could also come down to whateversonsale.

Our Easter Bunny always brings Flip Flops. Always has, always will. I love these from Crewcuts and buy them every year, although I'm sad to see they didn't do a madras one for kids this year. Booooooo. They are $19.50 now, but I'm sure that after I buy them they'll go on sale for $12.50 like they usually do.

Much like the Flip Flops, our Easter Bunny brings new goggles every year also. Why? Because kids lose everything, especially goggles. And new goggles also get them excited about Summer and the swimming and warm weather that is right around the corner.

So those the additional items that will accompany all the candy and chocolate in the mini's baskets this year. Now, what about you? What does your Easter Bunny like to bring???

Leprechaun Traps & Tricks

I am not Irish. And probably because I'm not Irish, I wasn't raised where St. Patrick's Day was a huge deal. Sure, we always wore green for luck, but mostly that was also so as not to spend the day getting pinched, either. Probably another reason St. Patrick's Day wasn't so huge to us was also because my birthday is the day AFTER St. Patrick's Day. But I digress...

As is turns out, lots of people celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Irish or not. And now that I'm a parent, I have to admit to getting into it a bit more. Irish or not. Some mom's I know go so far as to set "traps" so the leprechauns can't come play tricks on them. Did you know leprechauns are tiny crazy little things and love to play tricks on people? Yeah well me either. But apparently they've been known to do things like turn the gallon of milk green, toilet water green, leave green confetti all over people's houses, leave green ice cubes in the freezer, etc. Therefore, to avoid being tricked by the leprechaun, it is a good idea to create a trap for them.

Enter our Kindergarten Family Project. Each family had to create a leprechaun trap, which we had to send in today. And since I was out of town for 4 days over the weekend, this was left up to Mr. Monogram to execute. We were told in our project instructions that leprechauns do NOT obey signs or directions, that they like sparkly and shiny things, lots of sweets, and of course, gold. So after Mr. Monogram and the boys put most of the trap together, the boys and I completed the final decor after school and If I do say so, I think we've got our self a mighty fine leprechaun trap.

{The outside of our trap says "NO Leprechauns Allowed!" The leprechaun will enter through the tiny door w/ the gold pathway where there is a sign that tells him NOT to stand on that stack of coins and pull that green string for more gold coins. When he pulls it, because of course they do NOT follow directions, it dumps over the bucket with the marble, the marble goes down the steps, into the yellow bucket, and the trap falls down on TOP og the leprechan who us standing on the stack of gold coins. TRAPPED!}

At our school, the kindergartner's will lay their leprechaun traps outside their rooms along the hallway, and their 8th grade buddies will come fill them up with treats and so forth to make it look like leprechauns came. Cute, right? Then tomorrow, while they are in Music class, the homeroom mom's are coming in and "tricking" out the classroom and bringing in green lemonade, green cupcakes, etc. I can't wait to see their little faces.

Now, if you want to set up some tricks of your own, check out this, & this. And for trap ideas you can easily whip up today, go look at this, and this. Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Let's Get This Party Started!

It's party day! And I'm beginning to think I've completely gone ape shit and lost my mind to have 8 boys sleeping over (plus my 2 which makes a grand total of 10). Oh well, we can always nap tomorrow.

After much hemming and hawing, I finally figured out the party favors and they are ADORABLE if I do say so myself (which of course, I'm going to). I ended up finding large red, white, and blue sports bottles and I custom created labels for each boy's bottle which also match the invites I designed. I'll go into more detail on the labels next week when I post a picture, but they are going to be great. Super easy, super easy on your wallet, and oh so cute!

I've got a million errands to run today so I had to reschedule my 9:30 hair appointment. I seriously don't think my hair has been this long since I was a senior in HS. I can't even reach all the way to the bottom of it when I brush the back of it, it is THAT. LONG. Ugh. At this point nothing would make me happier than for Vidal Sassoon to show up on my doorstep and just cut it already since I keep having to reschedule this appointment.

Anyway, before I rush off this morning I thought I'd share 2 fun little activities since 1) I am hosting an Olympic Birthday Sleepover tonight and 2) the Olympics end this weekend (BOOOOO!). Check 'em out...

• Fun Winter Olympics Bingo Game for the whole family (because as you know, the Monograms are some game loving people)
• 2010 Closing Ceremonies Drinking Game for the over 21 set. So this is really written for the opening ceremonies, but can totally still work for the closing ceremonies as well. Hell, let the kids play Bingo and the adults play this game and it's sure to make Vancouver 2010 memorable for all!
  

Party Favors

For once I am at a loss. With the help of Mr. M, I think I've gotten the details of this "Lego Olympics" party down. Although to be truthful, it is turning out to be more wii Olympics and notsomuch "lego" if you catch my drift. Anyhoo, I'm having an issue with party favors. I have a call into a local chocolate specialty shop to see if they can create a chocolate snowboarder or chocolate olympic rings or even a chocolate olympic medal. Fingers crossed on that but if not, what else can I do for a great party favor? I don't like to do the generic bag of crap and it's too late for me to call my favorite cookie lady to do favors.

Any ideas?

Let's Talk

So, it's been 3 long months since I've sat down and giving this blog any attention. Forgive me for ignoring all of you, but many of you I have kept up w/ and interacted with via Twitter, so I haven't been completely gone. At any rate, the past 3 months were super busy with Paper Concierge, my Etsy shop, my family, friends, and my fundraising at the mini's school. In a nut shell, it all turned me into a complete nut myself, but I am ready to sit back down at the keyboard and start giving my blog a little attention again.

Right now I'm working on planning mini #1's 8th birthday party. Talk about where did time go?! I can't believe my oldest is 8 when it seems like yesterday I was calling caterers for his 1st birthday party. Don't worry, there will be no caterers this year. At 8, it seems they want sleepovers and pizza and wii games, so that I shall provide. My theme this year is the "Lego Olympics" and I'm embarassed to admit I haven't even figured out what that exactly means yet (I did, however, design a super cute invitation that everyone has loved if that counts for anything!)! I do know that we will be doing some sort of lego building competition, and also doing the wii olympics w/ medal winners. However, I need prizes and treats and medals and all sorts of stuff I can't even figure out yet. This is so not like me! And then there's the cake. I always make a big deal about the cake, but do a I have Lego Cake done or an Olympics cake done? Decisions, decisions...

So I'm off for now to start to figure all this out, but I promise I'll be back this time. ;-)

Flu Be Damned

After weeks, possibly months of us hiding under a rock and me scrubbing my children day and night with antibacterial soap, hand cleanser, & Lysol, the unthinkable happened. Mini #2 threw up last night. THREE TIMES. For you mom's keeping score, that is also 3 sheet changes on a day that I'd JUST changed sheets on the beds, so I'm completely out of sheets now and have been running my washing machine through the entire night and early morning. Ladies, I am TIRED.

I'll try to surface later, but right now I'm heading back into the trenches.

Two Things

Last week I was pretty down in the dumps about my little guy being in kindergarten and not needing his mommy anymore. Okay, so maybe that's a stretch. He does need me, but it sure as hell feels like he needs me a lot less today than he did 2 weeks ago before he started kindergarten.

But something good happened today. I realized 2 very important things I get to do now that I'm home by myself all day.

1) Listen to whatever I want to in my car on XM or my iPod AS LOUD AS I WANT without anyone yelling "MOMMY IT'S SOO LOUD YOU CAN'T HEAR ME TALKING!"

2) Drive around with all the windows down and sunroof open without anyone telling me "MOMMY IT'S TOO WINDY IT'S BLOWING MY HAIR AROUND!"

So there you have it.

Empty Nest

Remember when I was excited both boys were going to be in school together, every day? Gone, out of my house from 7:30a.m. -3:30 p.m.?

Well, today I realized I'm maybe not okay with that.

Today I realized that, while I've got a list of all these things I both need and want to do on my gigantic never-ending monogrammed note pad, I can't figure out where to start.

Today I realized that I feel lost and don't really know how to start my day once the boys are gone, because I'm not used to them both being gone at the same time.

Today I realized that I miss my little guy.

And today I realized that I'm sad when I should really be very happy and proud.

Now What?

Last Thursday marked our first day of 2nd grade and kindergarten respectively. What a BIG YEAR this is going to be what with mini #2 being the big boy kindergartner and mini #1 celebrating his First Holy Communion in the Spring. I can't help but sit here in my very quiet house wondering how did we get to this point so quickly and most of all, now what?

Mr. Monogram: well, you've got the whole house to yourself now every day. The boys don't get out of school until 3 o'clock. What are you going to do all day?

MM: Whatever the hell I want, that's what.

Case in point, it's nearing 10 a.m. and I'm still in my pajama's. All kidding aside though, my list of things to keep me busy is very long. Since the boys were home with me all summer long (which I really deserve a freaking medal for, btw), I've gotten a *tad* behind on the laundry. And Cleaning. And organizing. And packing. Yes, packing. Because did I tell you are moving? Once we can get this little "to-do" list sorted out and I can get some of these overstuffed closets packed up into boxes because I'm a pack rat who can't seem to throw anything away, not even a magazine from 1996, the house is going on the market. We've found a lot we love and really want to build a custom home but we're in no rush because my husbands industry sucks BIG TIME right now so we're taking our time.

Anyway, I've made myself a short-list of little projects I both need and want to accomplish before the sign goes in the yard, and like it or not, I'll be sharing these with you.

-Make new window treatment for Master Bedroom
-Make new window treatments for Master Bathroom
-I have a great idea for a big art project on canvas
-Make new desk skirt to match new drapes in Office
-Make cute slipcover for my office desk chair

So I'm thinking I won't have any trouble keeping busy.

New Duds: Castaway Clothing

{Which could also be titled The One Where I Finally Post Pictures of the Mini Monograms}

As ya'll know, I am quite picky about the clothes the Mini Monograms wear. Yes, they've got a few things to bum around in that they are very rarely seen in public in (save for baseball or football practice), but overall, they are typically dressed in cute clothes 95% of the time. Nothing gets my goose more than to see kids who wear nothing but cartoon graphic tee's everywhere they go. I can't explain it, I guess it's just how I was raised.

Two weeks ago they each got a new pair of Jetties Shorts from Castaway Clothing and I've been dying to show them to you. For those of you who have been around here for a while, you'll remember that Castaway has been on my radar for quite a few years, and I know ya'll would adore their stuff. Anyway, these are the most fabulous shorts, I kid you not. Not only are they beyond adorable, but the fabric is light-weight and comfortable (not a heavy cotton duck like most embroidered wear) and extremely well constructed. You know I know my sewing and these shorts are super high quality. They run true to size and also have the ever important adjustable waistband (thank you Matt, for thinking of us mom's with growing kids!).

So how cute are these shorts? Well on Friday the boys and I were running errands around town and they were in their Jetties Shorts. We stopped at the park down the street from our house and our local Channel 10 news crew was there doing a special interest piece. When they were done, their videographer and anchor came up to tell me how much they loved the boys shorts and wanted to know all about Castaway. NO LIE! It was so fun, and all day the boys kept arguing over whose shorts were "cooler." So yes, it seems I've created my own little mini clothes hounds.

Become a Castaway Facebook Fan!

2010 momAgenda's!

Does 2010 scare you like it scares me? It's such a huge number! lololol

For any of you busy mom's out there who do not use momAgenda, all I can say is you are really missing out. MomAgenda is a fantastic product that's been seen on Oprah and the Today Show and truly is a must-have for busy mom's trying to keep track of family schedules, appointments, play dates, etc while still looking stylish. I was a big fan of momAgenda before I started repping them through PC so I speak from experience here.

The momAgenda books and calendars run from August '09 through December '10 and with August being but a week or so away, it's time to order. Pre-order your momAgenda by July 31st and I will give you $5 off the regular price. Use code MOMAGENDA10 at checkout.

Here's a low-down on the products, just in case you've got any questions.

momAgenda Desktop
As featured on the Today show and in Real Simple magazine! At last, a
comprehensive and stylish planner created by a mom exclusively for
moms. The distinguishing feature of this upscale planner is its custom
week-at-a-glance planning pages, featuring separate spaces for your
activities and those of your kids. Finally a useful tool to help
multi-tasking moms do it with ease!

Beautifully bound covers have a shantung finish that is both
fashionable and stain-resistant. Calendar is dated August 2009
through December 2010 for convenient school and year-long planning.

Size: 7" x 9" avail. in: Fuchsia, Azure, Lime, Chocolate

MomAgenda Mini

Introducing the day-on-a-page version of the popular momAgenda
planner! Featuring the NEW momEssentials pamphlet that can be re-used
from year to year, attached via ribbon on the back of the book.
Size: 5" x 7" avail. in: Fuchsia, Azure, Lime, Chocolate

All in One Portfolio
The All in One Portfolio features a monthly calendar that starts with
the new school year in August. Calendar runs 17 months, through Dec ‘10.
Calendars feature separate planning space for mom and up to four kids, plus
space notes and inspirational quotes. You’ll also receive a separate folio
section to store class lists, school schedules, sports schedules, menus and
more. 48 pages and 24 interchangeable tabs, there’s a place for everything!
You’ll also have a large notepad and pen for jotting down a note.
Size: 10" x 12" avail. in: Cherry, Blue

momAgenda Weekly Family Planner Pad
Same great format, now for the whole family! The momAgenda family
schedule pad features the unique momAgenda weekly format, with
separate spaces for each person in the family… whether you keep it on
the kitchen counter or on the fridge, the whole family will be more
organized! 9" x 12"

Sit There Quietly Until You Can Be Nice

WARNING: Mommy post straight ahead.

This morning got off to a rough start. As you know, the mini monograms are roughly a year and a half apart. In simple English, this means they are the best of friends and the worst of friends. They are oil & water, salt and pepper, complete opposites in every. single. way. One is a neat freak, one is a slob. And so on and so forth, you get what I'm saying.

Perhaps you've also heard the old saying "opposites attract?"

Well, apparently they woke up on the wrong sides of their beds this morning because they were arguing about every little nit-picky thing this morning and it wasn't even 7:45a.m. GAHHH! Calgon, take me away, already!! Clearly they did not read mommy's memo that it is Summer and she is allowed to have some extra beauty sleep. *sigh* Therefore, me trying to get them out the door and to VBS sounded something along this line (Vacation Bible School: something holy & sacred to Southern Mothers where, whatever your religious beliefs are, your children are welcome with wide open Protestant arms for a week of free-yes, FREE- childcare for approximately 3 hours a day. And this Catholic mom would be a damn fool not to partake in such a gift from God, right?):

Me: GET IN YOUR SEATS, BUCKLE UP, & LOOK OUT UR OWN WINDOW. DON'T EVEN LOOK OR SPEAK 2 EACH OTHER.

Along the way, after I tweeted this for all the world to share in my irritation this morning (I'm a giver like that, what can I say?), I received a few tweets back from other mom's who were in the same boat as I was this morning. Well, it is summertime, so let's face it, it's more like we're all on the same overcrowded, sinking ship. But regardless, one of my friends asked for pointers with her arguing boys and while I'm happy to share one of my favorite STOP ARGUING NOW OR I WILL START DRINKING AND IT'S TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING tips with you that I use on the mini's, keep in mind I am only speaking from my own experience here. Oh and also? Additional tips welcome.

Monogram Momma's Quick Trick to Stopping the [arguing] Insanity

1) When the mini's are consistently arguing and I've already separated them and sent them to their rooms and that still hasn't done the trick, I have them come stand face to face in front of me.

2) They have to wrap their arms around each other, then put their noses together, literally touching.

3) For 3 solid minutes, they BOTH have to repeat while noses are touching and arms are around each other, " I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU..."

4) They are usually giggling before the 3 minutes are up, and believe it or not, for some reason I honestly can't explain, they are happy to run off and play nicely after that 3 minutes in each others face.

Try it, I promise it will work.

Mii Cupcakes

I always try to make a fun cupcake to bring to school for the entire class when it's one of the mini's birthday's. And since the boys are really into the wii, *cougharen'tweall* I thought it would be fun to come up with a mii themed cupcake for mini #1's birthday in February.

In a perfect world, I would be talented enough to whip something like these together...

photo: Bakerella via Flickr

However, this is by no means a perfect world and as such, this was the best I was able to do. Cute, simple, and a HUUUUUUGE hit with the kids at school. To make it even more fun, I kept them a surprise and didn't even tell mini #1. I even did mii cupcakes for his teachers.


What You Need
-Your Favorite cupcake recipe
-Avery Label 5294, 2.5" round printer labels
-Toothpicks
-Sprinkles of your choice
-Computer
-Printer

Directions
1) Bake your cupcakes and let cool.

2) Meanwhile, go online to this site, and create a mii for each person you're making a cupcake for.

3) Either "Print Screen" and copy to Photoshop or Paint for each individual mii, or use a program like Jing (I recommend Jing) to save each mii you create.

4) Once you've created and saved a mii for each cupcake, open your word processing program with the layout for the Avery Label template, and insert each mii into two circles. The reason each mii needs to have 2 circles/labels is because you will need a front and back.

5) Print up your labels.

6) Your final step is sticking 2 labels together, back-to-back, with the toothpick in between so they are ready to be inserted into your cupcakes.

7) Ice and decorate your cupcakes, stick in your mii's and they are ready to go!

*NOTE* If you are doing a fair amount of cupcakes, then I suggest putting each person's name on the shirt of their mii. This can be done once you've inserted them into the label template, before printing up, but adding a text box and making the outline and filling invisible.

The Summer of Our Discontent

And so it begins... the broken bones and injuries, that is.

Last Thursday the boys and I made an impromptu stop at the park since they were being so good running errands with me all morning. Everything was going great until mini #1 tripped and fell. He came to me holding his right arm, with wet eyes (not crying, just wet). To know my child is to know that he is by no means dramatic, nor is he a complainer. If he says he doesn't feel well, he is genuinely sick. And if he says he is hurt, then he really is hurt. Still, he wasn't making a big deal of it, just holding it.

We went home, iced his wrist off and on all afternoon as baseball tournaments were starting that night and he had a game to play. He said it was feeling better, just a little sore, but could play baseball. So we went to the game and his assistant coach who is a Dr. taped up his wrist and hand really well. He played a three HOUR baseball game that kept going into extra innings because the score kept tying up. It was a nail biter of a game, I kid you not. As it turned out, we were unable to finish the game though, because of lighting, so we all went home at 9:45ish with both teams planning to come back to the fields to finish the game Friday night. The winner would advance in the tournament and play Saturday.

On the way home, our friend who is a Orthopedic Surgeon called Mr. M to chit-chat about our game and Mr. M casually mentions the hurt wrist, just saying that mini #1 didn't have that great of a game because of it. Our friend insists I bring him into his office for an x-ray on Friday afternoon. So, Friday morning we wake up and mini #1 says his wrist is feeling much better. He can move it around and again, it was just a little sore. I feel really bad about wasting our friends time and call him to say I really think he's going to fine. In the end, I reluctantly bring him in for the x-ray "just to be on the safe side."

The result?


Our first broken bone. A broken wrist, to be exact.

At that point I'm pretty sure the world went quiet with my screams of "NOOOOOOOO!!!! IT'S THE FIRST WEEK OF SUMMER!!!!!" Since our friend was on call all weekend he wasn't able to come over and cast it until Sunday evening, but he is the now not-so-proud owner of a waterproof cast so at least he can still go swimming. ;-)

Naturally, you had to know I would monogram his cast, didn't you?

Just in Time for Fathers Day

Things have been uber crazy here at chez Monogram (more to come on that later). And since today is the mini's first day at summer camp and my first day to have the house to myself to, oh I don't know, perhaps get some laundry done and clean a few toilets around here, I am only allotting myself to sit at the computer for 5 more minutes.

Therefore, my friends, just in time for Fathers day and those family beach trips, all my new designs are ready and available at my SWAG shop on Etsy. Fifty eight (yes, that's right FIFTY EIGHT) designs in all now, and I am in love with the new stuff. Honestly. Mr. Monogram will be getting a new SWAG shirt himself for Fathers Day and the mini's will be sporting the "nautical flag line" design themselves (which I think will look super cute with their embroidered nautical motif shorts). As always, remember that if you have any questions or want to see a larger image, just email me! I'm happy to oblige requests.

There Once was Girl from Nantucket...

**UPDATE** YAY! Great news for MM readers! See this comment left by Maria of Charlotte Carey Photography & book your summer session with her now! MM, Thanks so much for your lovely post about Charlotte Carey Photography. I would love to extend to your readers a 75 dollar discount off their session fee if they mention "monogram momma" upon scheduling. Discount will be available for June-September, 2009.Thanks so much for being one of our biggest fans and I hope to meet some of your other readers very soon out here on Nantucket!

So, as I was saying... There once was a girl from Nantucket, who was fabulous and talented and cared for sick people in her day job but took pictures of slobbery canines in her free time. What? Did you think I was going somewhere dirty with this little poem of mine?

This fabulous woman of whom I speak is my cousin, Maria Carey of Charlotte Carey Photography on Nantucket Island. And since many of my readers regularly summer on Nantucket, I thought some of you might be interested in having some professional photography done while you are there. Don't think twice about it, just call her. After all, you know you've been putting off doing this for a while now, right?

A mom of two golden retrievers (Zach & Sophie), she is wonderful and personable and very talendted and gifted. And no, I'm not the least bit biased as her work speaks for itself (why just look at this picture of adorable little Hazel!). While her focus is on pets, she does photograph children as well. She shoots in natural light and will even travel to New England if you find yourself doing more of a staycation in lieu of your regular vacation and thus can't make your way to Nantucket this summer.

You can also keep up with Maria on her blog, Pups on a Sandbar. Tell her I sent you and you won't be sorry!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are gearing up for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and a day of cooking and fun for the family and I hope you are too. And in case you're looking for something simple to keep the kids occupied while all the cooking mayham ensues, here's a little something for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Xo-MM

You Will Need

Corn husks

Pinecone

Craft glue

Twigs,

pieces of vine, or gourd stems

Tacky glue, such as Magna-TacTwine or string

Place card

Hole punch

Instructions

1. Using scissors, cut small feather shapes from corn husks. Dip the stems into craft glue, and insert them between the scales of the pinecone, attaching feathers to its base in several rows so that they fan out like a turkey's tail, with the lighter colored feathers in front.

2. Twist, shape, and trim a twig, piece of vine, or gourd stem to form the turkey's head and gobbler; gnarled gourd stems make interesting and distinctive faces. Apply tacky glue to its end, and secure onto the front of the pinecone.

3. Write the name of a guest on a place card. Punch two holes into the upper corners of the card, and thread a piece of twine or string through the holes. Knot the ends, and hang the card around the turkey's neck.

source: Martha Stewart

Special Delivery

I haven't shared anything humorous about the mini's in a while so I think you guys are due. On Friday I was playing "mailman" with the boys and they were writing me letters and drawing me pictures and then mini #1 was delivering them as the "mailman." I would open them up and thank the "mailman," and then they would go back off and do on another letter for me.

Most of the letters were random drawings (scribble scrabble from mini #2) and some "I love you Mommy" type notes and then all of the sudden the "mailman" delivered another letter. I was expecting much of the same as all the others but this time when I opened my letter it had a much different message inside...

Translation: Dear Mommy, you can not let anybody see you naked (pronounced in the Southern vernacular as neck-id).

This leads me to wonder, what in the world does he think I'm doing while he's at school all day????

Dishpan Hands

This past weekend I was out of town. I took a trip home by myself (although preppy puppy accompanied me of course) to see my friend Ashley who lives in NJ. She was flying home for 1 night so we arranged to go out to dinner together with our parents. Ashley, if you’ll remember, is an old prep school friend of mine and one of the greatest friends I could truly ever ask for. Anyhoo, we had the most fabulous dinner Saturday night and had a great time with our parents so it was lots of fun. I’d say it was just like the old days but that wouldn’t be entirely correct because if it were like the old days, Ashley and I would have been in trouble for one thing or another and I’m happy to report we remain ungrounded (although I would love to see our dad’s try to take away our phones or tv from us now! HA!).

So I arrived home yesterday afternoon to a sink full of dirty dishes which just did not please me. Especially considering I left the house in tip-top shape. If this is what happens when I leave Mr. Monogram & the boys for 24 hours when they are a mere 5 and 3 ½ , I can’t *wait* to see what kind of shape they leave the house in for me when they’re teenagers. But here’s yesterday’s conversation just to give you the full effect.

Me: Why are all these dishes in the sink?

Mr. Monogram: I don’t know.

Me: You really don’t know????

Mr. Monogram: Well mini #2 did it.

Me: looking annoyed, thinking, That is LOW, blaming dirty dishes on a 3 yr old.

Me: Oh, okayyyyy. Well what did you guys eat for lunch yesterday? Did they eat for you?

Mr. Monogram: Yeah, pizza.

Me: What about dinner:

Mr. Monogram: Mexican

Me: Did they eat breakfast?

Mr. Monogram: yeah, we had more pizza.

Me: thinking, ughhhhhhh

Me: Well what did you boys do yesterday? Anything fun?

Mr. Monogram: Yeah, I took the boys to my office for a little while

**because we allll know that is *tons* of fun for children***

Mr. Monogram: BTW, I need to replace the projector screen in my board room (then looks over at Mini #1)

Me: I'm sorry???? And why on earth are we buying a new projector screen anyway?

Mr. Monogram: Because the current one has a really big self-portrait of mini #1 standing on some grass with clouds and a sun and then it’s signed. So your son left a signed self-portrait on the wall of my board room. REALLY BIG.

Me: Oh that’s not my son that did that. That’s yours.

Clearly when I leave town for a mere 24 hours, this is what happens. At any rate, I have to say I am excited because it’s my birthday week. Did you know that? My birthday is Sunday. I guess that technically makes next week my b’day week but whatever. Next week, as it turns out, is Spring Break for the mini monograms. And while I’m day dreaming of sitting on a beach w/ the mini’s and a book somewhere (anywhere!), I don’t think that’s going to happen. Although I sure could use a littly vacay! I guess we’ll just head to my parents in Atlanta for a few days, but we’ll see.

This morning we are headed out to JoAnn’s because I’ve got a great craft project for us to do today. I’ll fill you in on that tomorrow and I also have lots of other great spring/easter things heading your way as well this week. In the meantime, I want to share a couple new sites you might be interested in before I get started on cleaning those dishes.

The Pink Monogram

I love this little site! I particularly love the monogrammed bag selection (there are one or two that have monogram momma's name all over them!). But also make sure you check out the massive monogrammed custom shoe department while you're there too. I promise you will not be disapointed!

Magnetic Messenger

This is one of those ideas that makes you look at it and say "why didn't I think of that?" In their own words, "Photo Birth Announcements, Save The Date Magnets, and Birthday Invitations all printed on Premium Quality cardstock...simply the best quality product on the web at the best price!" Check it out!