31
Mar
2009
40 and fabulous!

yes, this is the year we all turn 40! thankfully, i am the last of my crew, so I can brag about being 39 until the very end of 2009 :)  I just love that our 40th year is bringing me together with all my grade/high school and  college friends, and I mostly love digging thru photos for the “roast.”  I found a great wig shot of my friend, Lonna, and we created a comic canvas to hang on the front door at her party.  It was a huge hit and set the tone for a fabulous time with old friends. (oops! did I just say “OLD?”)  Everyone brought classic photos and silly stories, and we stayed up all night laughing and facebooking old neighbors & boyfriends…thankfully, no frozen bras at this sleepover :)

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31
Mar
2009
no more tears!

My daughter loves to help me make dinner, and recently wanted to help chop the onions for the burgers.  She is nearly 8 years old, and as much as I can’t stand to watch, she does use a big, sharp chopping knife.  (i just can’t imagine how I will feel when she can drive a car!)  I told her I would cut the onion, but she is an insistent little thing, and so I let her chop away.  I guess some lessons need to be learned the hard way!  Her eyes were stinging and the tears were flowing and she said, “we should wear goggles when chopping onions!”  With a quick google search, voila! we found found onion goggles and now have no more tears in the kitchen. 

 

no more tears while chopping onions

no more tears while chopping onions

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27
Mar
2009
lunch notes

i still remember the warm fuzzy feeling i would get when I opened my lunch box to find a sweet message from my mom, handwritten on a napkin.  Now that I am a mom, I send along the same sweet nothings, but my favorite part is the note that comes back!  This very green lunch box was designed by a good friend of mine, and mother of two. Although the first round of production needed some fine tuning, it is a great idea – good for our environment – and I just love the the dry erase memo section for lunch notes. I just crack up at the comments from my kids…”mom, no more nutz pleez”, or “can i pleez by lunch?”  Since the message is gone with each new lunch that I pack, I decided to photograph some of my favorite messages to memorialize forever.

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23
Mar
2009
put the FUN into FUNdraising!

It’s that time of year again, when we all need to rally to support our local schools. With further budget cuts during these difficult economic times, our schools need our help more than ever! Pink slips have been handed out to teachers and important programs are on the chopping blocks – WE ALL MUST DO WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS STRONG! We attended our school fundraiser this past weekend and I was blown away by all the hard work and dedication it takes to execute such an event. It took dozens of volunteers and countless hours to coordinate, but the night was a huge success! Even smaller, spontaneous events can bring in the resources and raise awareness to our challenges…see the photos from our event we held at our home last year. Fun stickers and wax lips helped to put the FUN back into fundraising! Contact us to help with your next fundraising event…we are here to help!

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20
Mar
2009
cheers! from the O’Condrens

Oh, to be a kid again with endless fun and parties each day at school!  If I saved all the paperwork and art projects from my kids’ school parties, we’d have a fire hazard on our hands! Instead, I often photograph the kids with their artwork and display on our “art board” at home.  The art project stays on exhibit for a short while, but the photo memory will last forever.

st. patrick's day masks & photo

st. patrick's day masks & photo

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20
Mar
2009
a tisket, a tasket…

how about this fabulous basket! I came across this emerald gem at my new favorite store in Hermosa Beach, Gum Tree.  I love that it comes with a strap and can easily detach to be used to carry farmer’s market finds and such, then snaps back on to the bike.  love it. 

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17
Mar
2009
Now we’re blogging!

life is a circus

I couldn’t agree more. Perhaps like you, I play the role of hot dog & popcorn maker, animal (kid) trainer, master of ceremonies, and always a juggler. I hope this blog will help us all improve our “act” as we share creative ideas, party tips, and favorite things that help to make everyday a happyday.

enjoy the show

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16
Mar
2009
Aaaaaaahhhhh! the spa!

Starting with a fun birthday party invitation, we created a spa-like feel with cucumbers and catchy text to set the tone for a fabulous day celebrating 7 at the spa!

 

we can customize any invitation to create a theme!

This year we created our own DAY SPA and celebrated my daughter’s seventh birthday at home. The girls had a blast doing their own mud masks, and I had friends and other moms help with the mani-pedis. Each girl got a a monogrammed spa robe and themed water bottle as a party favor. The square bottles from Fiji Water are ideal for our waterproof party labels! Of course, Kate had matching thank you notes to send all her pals with photos of the memorable day!

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16
Mar
2009
Calendar Survey

Do you like that each page is personalized with the name above the month?




Do you like the size of the calendar?




The calendar cover is a family information guide. Would you like to see an alternate cover option that is not family centered?




Do you like the plexiglass backing or would you like the option to recieve without it?




The calendar currently comes with 88 asterisk stickers and 88 stickers with printed events. Would you like the option to order more?



Our 2008 calendar was more modern and simple in design. Less color, fewer fonts & more bright white space. The 2009 calendar is full of color, mixed fonts and personalized on each page. Which year did you like better?





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15
Mar
2009
Weekly Life Planner Survey

The current layout is a weekly view. Would you also like a FULL MONTH at a glance?



Would you like the option to upgrade or possibly "laminate" the cover for stronger durability for
an additional cost?




Would you like the option to add more "goodies" to your planner, much like an a-la-carte menu of additional pages, features, etc?



Do you like the current size of the "life planner" or do you wish it were smaller?




Would you like the option to add more pages of stickers for an upcharge?



Would you like the option to have us print a photo or any uploaded artwork onto your planner?



Would you like a pocket to store loose papers, photos, etc?



Do you wish there was a less colorful, more "corporate" look on the inside pages?





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