monkey-toes

Monkey Toes are Award Winning!

2012-01-31T14:25:00.001-07:00

Funny, but I had no idea last year our design team submitted the Monkey Toes Logo, Packaging and Point of Purchase Display to the ADDY Awards and WON some great honors!

--Our adorable shoe boxes, created by Mustard Graphics Studio, took the Gold ADDY Award for BEST OF SHOW

--Our in-store display, also created by Mustard Graphics Studio, took GOLD for Point of Purchase

--Our new Logo, created by Mustard Graphics Studio, took SILVER

I'm feeling all giddy...

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A'int this the truth!

2012-01-23T07:07:00.001-07:00

via Facebook

Amen!

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I said I'd never do it

2012-01-18T12:57:00.002-07:00

It never fails, you (I) open your (my) big mouth and spout out - I'd NEVER wear that, or this or do that or this... I'm here to call my bluff, and erase the word NEVER from my vocabulary - cuz turns out, I'm a gigantic hypocrite.

As I was flying home from Atlanta (last year's Atlanta Gift Market posted here) this past weekend, feet throbbing from the loads of standing at the Atlanta Gift Show, I thought there had to be something more comfortable I could wear. Anything. Sitting on that plane, I thought about how many women request Monkey Toes shoes in their size - I would balk at the idea, as if.

Light Bulb Moment Alert!! I love my TOMS, they're like wearing slippers. I thought, if only I could have a red pair on standby to change into when my feet ache so badly I'd like to cut everything off below the knee. This would be a nicer, and cleaner, option, RIGHT?!

So I dusted off my paint brushes and -

Introducing my new TOMS -

Whaddya think about them? Would YOU wear them?

ps - TOMS and Monkey Toes are not affiliated, but Monkey Toes would LOVE to work with TOMS should their peeps contact our peeps. I do love the movement TOMS is affiliated with and support it wholeheartedly, by purchasing many of the shoes :)

Words with friends

2012-01-09T12:35:00.002-07:00

Ahhh, I'm back and funk FREE :) Yay me!! *pats back*

I've had this post mulling through my head for some time now, yet I think the final prompt came this morning when receiving an email with this exact quote in it -

"The tongue has the power of life and death" - Proverbs 18:21

There are some words and phrases, to me, that are like a knife in my fragile soul (I'm not saying I am fragile, but deep down, my soul is extremely sensitive). To name a few:

Hate
You're/it's killing me
I'd die for that

Now, please note, this is my own personal issue with these words, and it happens to be scriptural too. They're like saying a curse word in my home - (I'm not perfect, I let them slip occasionally), but ever think about the word "curse"? I do believe that our language speaks volumes about the way we live and the path we are paving for our future.

found via Pinterest

This leads me into negative self-talk - and women, we are (were) the most guilty of this. I'd love for you to take just one day and listen closely to all the bad stuff you say about yourself. Then take the next day to STOP IT! When you catch yourself doing it, please turn it into something postitive. I will share with you my favorite self-talk -

Negative - I'm feeling bloated today, probably gaining weight - oh I have eaten like crap lately, it's starting to show, need to go to the gym more, need to stop eating like a pig. A muffin is starting to appear over my pants, I should just get back into my sweat pants or pjs.

Positive - (ignoring all the potential bloating signs) confess: "I've got the metabolism of a 17 year old."

Done - just like that. Ignoring all the other self talk and making a mountain out of a molehill is annoying and wastes precious energy. Turn it into something positive and also look in the mirror at something you really love about yourself - or remember a sweet comment a friend made about you.

Doesn't that feel better? Doesn't it help you to move on with your day with more energy, pep and maybe even a smile on your face? I'd much rather be known for that than be the one that always talks bad about herself.

If you don't have anything nice to say {about yourself}, don't say anything at all.

Have you got any tips to share?

Taking a different approach this time

2012-01-04T07:34:00.001-07:00

I admit, I'm in a funk. Yep, I go there too - not often, but it does happen. I typically allow myself a day or so to get out of it on my own. Sometimes I'll call my BFF and chat through it, feeling much better and more encouraged. Sometimes I'll spew it all out on my husband. Sometimes I won't say a word and let it go for days = bad idea.

Does it ever feel like these bad things start taking over right before a BIG and GOOD thing happens? Hmmmmm....

The quickest way for me to realize I'm in a rut is I start feeling very run-down and sleepy, I'm not motivated to do anything, and I'm not any fun (says my husband). This side of me is really annoying, because it's not who I am or who I want to be. I want to be the person who gets it all done every day, who constantly moves, the woman who is SUPER at everything. I was exhausted all day yesterday, I went to bed at 7:30 and woke up at 6:30 this morning. This is NOT typical for me. I was letting "the bad" seep into my soul and take over.

Instead of letting this bad take over, I'm going to immerse myself in good. I'm going to continue to drag myself to the gym, eat healthy and finally (and most importantly) I'm going to soak in the Word of God, and in His messengers of the Word. I love the inspirational messages of Joel Osteen (I just signed up for his daily emails), I've done many Bible studies with Beth Moore (her blog is a great read), and Keith Moore (not related to Beth) always hits me right in the gut with his sock-it-to-ya sermons (watch them online or order his CD's for car rides, they're terrific) - oooh and I just got a new Kindle (it's a sign). I want to bathe in it right now, soaking it through my skin and letting it resignate in my mind and spirit. Warding off all the bad - I picture spiritual soldiers fighting evil off with their spears, one by one. Go warriors!

Beth Moore

I'll be back to my fun self in no time at all!

{ UPDATE } I downloaded the Daily Readings from It's Your Time, by Joel Osteen, and the first page says this:

So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up or quit. - Galatians 6:9

Exactly what I needed.

What do you do when you're in a funk? Any special tips you want to share?

Do you have a theme song?

2011-12-29T11:47:00.001-07:00

At the risk of sounding uber-cheesy (just grab some wine to go along with it and bear with me) - I've always connected with a particular song. I'm sure you have too, whether you want to admit it or not. I wonder what lyrics either jazz you up (yes, I'm using phrases that only 90 year olds use now too) or hits a particular note with you.

Here's mine....

This song still gives me chills. I think it's because it came out at an extremely personal time, when everything was crashing down around me. I felt like I was worth so much more than my personal circumstances, when the walls were truly crashing down around me. I still believed that I would be something big, even though it didn't look that way in the present.

I'm still walking down this road of faith and still believe this. Every set back, every failure is going to be a set up for something huge and amazing. Something I could have never in a million years anticipated. It gets me really excited to think of what is to come.
Do you have a theme song? Or feel free to steal mine - I do love to share! Post a link to the YouTube video for all to see.

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On TV again!

2011-12-16T06:17:00.001-07:00

What a nice reason to get out of bed at 5:30 am on a Thursday morning - Gregg Moss, the business reporter from our local news Channel 9 has been featuring great holiday "gadgets" this week. And guess which gadget got lots of oohs and aaahs? Yours truly :)

It's really exciting!

Have you been in the news lately? Post your link below - I'd love to see!

Calgon take me awaaaaay!

2011-12-13T12:19:00.001-07:00

Do you remember those commercials from the 70's? The woman whose baby is crying, the dog barking, the phone ringing and water boiling over on the stove? After she utters those 4 little words she's instantly transported to a giant soaker tub full of bubbles with lovely background music playing. Ever feel like that some days? (BTW, you can find ANYTHING on YouTube!!)

It personally cracks me up because that's become one of my sayings around the house. And I've been politely asked to stop. I won't, but it's nice that they asked.

I'm finding it so important, as a woman, to get out of the house by myself. Whether it be for a stroll around Target, night out with good friends or, if I can swing it, a full weekend away. As an entrepreneur and as a mom you find yourself refreshed and looking at the world differently if you can just step out of the house and every day rut. Sometimes this is the time my best ideas come to me (yes, even while wondering Target - I swear). When things come to mind I generate a list of things to do on my phone's calendar - helps me to focus when I return.


Room with a heavenly view


Calgon took me away here

I was recently invited to Devil's Thumb Ranch, Tabernash, Colorado (right outside of Winter Park) to do some "research" for my other biz, Sugar Loco. I am amazed at how refreshed and calm I was, coming back from that overnight escape. I went with a fabulous group of women, which totally helps, ate amazing food, had a spa treatment, cooking class and some good ol' fashioned down time (reading in the sun by the outdoor fire pit...ahhhh heaven).


A visit to the barn to say "Hi" to the animals

Hold a chicken

Cooking class with Chef Evan

Devil's Thumb is everything Colorado - from horseback riding, cross-country skiing to mountain biking and hiking. It has a list of things to do a mile long. Or choose to do the ultimate relaxing amongst the perfect scenery. It's completely up to you.

Just looking at these pictures again makes me all zen-like.

I'm human, I know you love your kids and family so much, but this is YOU you are investing in - and your sanity is so worth it! Even if you don't do a full weekend, rip the band aid off slowly, try a night out first. I always think about the fun my kids have when I'm not around and how they get to experience Daddy time or fun time with their Grandparents.

What do you do to take care of YOU?

Disclaimer: I was invited and hosted by Devil's Thumb Ranch for an overnight with comped services. These are my opinions.

Dream Big

2011-12-07T08:04:00.002-07:00

I've got a goal board in my office. Ok, it's in the closet because I recently redecorated and it didn't go with the "theme" of the room. I'm going to renovate it (aka Pretty it Up) and bring it back out. I've got too. I love having a visual of what I want for my life, what WE as a family want for our lives. It includes putting God first, travel, a hot butt (not going to lie, it's on there), a healthy and happy family and some business goals.

It even has a news headline, which I made, that states that I sell Monkey Toes for a cool $20 million - not too shabby, right?!

I don't know about you, but I dream big. REAL big. So big that my husband often rolls his eyes at my ideas. I'm ok with that, because I have been taught not to put God into a box. Why wouldn't He want big achievements for me? Why would I settle for selling my company for a little dough? Why would I settle for a flabby butt? (HA!) Why would I settle for no vacations? Bring them on, I want it all for my life and especially for my family. My kiddos even post some of their goals on it whenever they want to.

I believe that when you put it out there, God puts into motion and starts creating paths for you to live your dreams. Live with integrity, make good decisions, stay true to YOU and they will begin to happen. Don't try to understand your dreams, or how they will happen - it's not for us to understand, but know they were put in your heart for a reason. Start moving in that direction, get them all out in a notebook or goal board (or even Pinterest), look at them and then get to work.

Faith without works is dead... James 2:14-26

What are your dreams?

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Gift Guide

2011-12-01T07:09:00.028-07:00

Gift guides are one of my favorite things this time of year. They open you up to companies and products you may not have know about had you not seen them, all collected in a nice little guide. Monkey Toes has been honored to be in several gift guides this season, and I really wanted to return the love, each day highlighting, some of my favorite women owned brands. I love supporting smaller businesses, but even better is I love finding that gift that is special and reminds me of the person I'm giving it to. Ahhh, giving feels so good!

Each day I will add a new favorite to the list, so keep checking back for new goodies!

Day 1 -
Alexa's Angels
Not only do I love the message this company is sending out, but I'm slightly biased too because it's here in Colorado. I can tell you their pieces are beautiful and meaningful and who wouldn't love that?

Don't tell my daughters, but I bought this set of 3 Positivity bracelets - one for each of my daughters and I get to keep one too! Win-Win-Win!
Set of 3 - $9

Day 2 -
JP Lizzy
Wendy, the owner, is one of my biz pals. I love her - she is super sweet, so smart and has an amazing sense of style. We met while launching our businesses and have been friends ever since. As much as I love her as a person, I flip for her bags - can you believe it?! This is a diaper bag.... it's not your mama's diaper bag, folks - it's edgier.

I'm sure you know of a mama (or mama to be, or yourself) who would adore something from her collection - like the NEW Peppermint Satchel. And honestly even if you're not in the market for a diaper bag, these function as a handbag too - no one will be the wiser. Isn't it the cutest?
$78

Day 3 -
Ambajam
Ali of Ambajam is another business friend who is just as sweet as pie - and she's so business savvy too. (hello, Oprah's Favorite Things 2009)

Cuddling with marshmallows is the only way to describe these blankies. You'll find something that suits babies or grown babies who just love to snuggle with softness. Wish you could feel them through your computer screen, but just trust me on this one.
Ranges - $27-85

Day 4
Amy Cornwell Designs
Today's gift comes from Amy Cornwell Designs - her designs are so adorable and sweet that not only did I add one to my list, but we've purchased a few items from her for gifts as well.

Know someone who just got engaged? MEN: I swear your woman would love this little beauty. The price is so good it makes an adorable stocking stuffer too. Amy's got plenty of designs and options for anyone on your list.
$25

Day 5
Lindsay Phillips

Such an innovative Mom/Daughter team, Lindsay Phillips started this company in high school as a class art project - ceramic flip flops. Her mom believed in her idea and loaned her the funds to get the start up going, hence building a multi-million dollar company. Such an inspiring woman and adorable designs - I'm in awe every time I see what's new.

Though it's tough to pick a favorite, this sweet trio is the perfect starter set and gift for any shoe lover. With interchangeable snaps you can change out the snaps to coordinate with any of your outfits - genius!
$74

Day 6
TravelKiddy
What happens when you're on a trip and the kids say "are we there yet?" or "I'm bored" - though you'd like to say "suck it up" that might not be as effective as you'd like. Enter TravelKiddy (founded by Jennifer Untermeyer) - born out of necessity after toting kiddos on trips of over 27 hours. YIKES!

Kits come in various age ranges and unique to gender. What an amazing gift for anyone who has little ones and whether they're traveling to other countries, or just heading to the Dr's office, they'll surely thank you...and so will their sanity!
Ranges $30-60

Day 6
Ellia C Naturals
Whether you're looking for a great hostess gift, stocking stuffers for the kids, or needing to pamper yourself - Jen, the beauty behind the company, has something indulgent for you. This company was born out of necessity when her son had horrible skin issues. Trying to avoid harsh prescriptions, she was striving to find something that would sooth his skin, making both baby and mama happy.

I personally love her gift sets, which give you a sampling of her best soaps. Once you've used them all you can reorder your favorite in a larger size.
$25

Day 8
The Preppy Poppy
Angela, the sweetest little southern girl you'll ever meet, has a fabulous eye for fashion, home interiors and embroidery (my fave combos!). I love everything she personalizes on her site so it's hard to pick a favorite. But since I have too....

I love personalizing, well, pretty much everything - especially goodies for the kids. Angela has a stock of pint sized pillows for the kiddies too. What a great Baby's First Christmas gift, she can personalize the back making it an adorable keepsake. Take note: The Preppy Poppy has two sites that you can obsess over - The Preppy Poppy & Etsy.
$28.99

Day 9
Lola's Sugar Rush

Colorado favorite “sweet” spot, Lola’s Sugar Rush, is a must see while in town. I know not everyone is here in Denver, but you can order her sweets online. Lola is absolutely in love with sugar (and sweet as pie to boot) and knows her candy. Whether it's new candy or retro, everyone has a magical memory of childhood sweets.

This is a gift for that sweet tooth in your life – you’ve got one in mind right now, don't you?! Though Lola's has tons of great sugary candy baskets, this one is the “Colorado Gift Basket” – filled to the brim with Colorado favorites. Drooling yet? Send it directly to the recipient because if it arrives at your house, it might not make it out the door intact.

$29.99 + free shipping for the holidays

Day 10
Ridgeline Artisans

This one is a family affair, my family created this amazing jewelry site. When you purchase a piece of jewelry from RA you’re actually supporting a woman in a 3^rd world country run a business and feed her family. It’s completely feel good, and look good too! Each uniquely hand-crafted piece of jewelry has a story behind it.

These beauties come to you from Thailand, created from waxed cotton thread and black pearls (I LOVE black pearls). They’re intricately woven to create a star affect, which is fun for any “star” on your list.

$16

Day 11
Busy Breathers, LLC
This company blossomed from Michelle's own necessity when her son was born prematurely. Between lugging the diaper bag, her frail son, and the oxygen tank an idea was "born" - an easier way to carry it all together.

Give the gift of hands free help. Whether you know an older adult who uses an oxygen tank or someone with a young child who's mom could use some extra hands between all the gear - it will be the most thoughtful gift you give.
$59.99

Day 12
Birchbox
I'm slightly obsessed with this one, every month for only $10 delivered to your door is a special little box filled with beauty samples. I'm talking about sample-sized lip glosses, mud masks, the latest perfume scents and that's just been my first box.

I love this! Makes me feel like I'm getting to sample out the most luxurious new finds on the market. Love a product you received? Just click the website and order for yourself, all while earning beauty points.
$10/month

Day 13
Swaddle Designs
Though we've never met in person, we have chatted via social media several times. Lynette Damir, RN and founder of Swaddle Designs, seems just as sweet and cuddly as her company - Swaddle Designs.

Lynette makes the art of "baby-burrito-ing" simple and fashionable with instructions on every blanket. And when you're knee deep in spit up - it's nice to have the adorable burp cloths scattered around the house at an arms length - they fit right in with your decor. This is a great gift for any baby-to-be. I truly loved mine.
Gift Set - $64

Day 14
Jones Design Company
Daily I lust after Emily's creations, this is one blog I make time to read daily. Not only is she gifted at interior design, but her prints and downloads are stunning as well. This is the gift for your gifts. (silly me)

Best part? They're free. Give your gifts a spruce up gift and print these adorable gift tags for all of your presents this year. Should you want to purchase something from the JDC collection, I encourage you to do that too. Oh and while you're there - sign up to receive her daily posts, you will love it!
FREE

Day 15 - last day!
Silhouette Blue
Simple, yet whimsical, designs are what keep me coming back to this paperie to purchase personalized stationary for my family members.

The tough part is choosing a design that suits the recipient, they're all so cute. I also wouldn't mind having a set for myself. (hint, hint)
$25

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Monkey Toes on the silver screen!

2011-11-29T06:54:00.002-07:00

I may have exaggerated a wee-bit, it's not really the silver screen, it's your home TV. But nonetheless, we're super stoked to see our little buggy and animal shoes on any TV show.

Our Monkey Toes were spotted on the Everyday Show here in Colorado.

Enjoy your day!

Hot Shots 2

2011-11-27T13:04:00.001-07:00

Movie sequels are usually no good (though you Star Wars fans might beg to differ). Blog posts, however, are another story! I had such fun creating my original Hot Shots post - that I decided to do another one.

Here you have it - what I've been up to the past two months - lots of fun!

I'm not going to tell him these are girl shoes...He was so excited to wear "bugs" "shoes"

Pretty much the cutest business cards ever - from MOO

My Sugar Loco sweets partner, Tracy, came to visit. Behind her is the Denver skyline. Gorgeous day!

My lil golfer

My office needs this

Ahh, Sweet Kara, from LaunchHer, came to visit the same weekend Tracy did. Can you see her back there beyond the margarita??

Ella & Oscar after E's school fun run

Can you believe I found these on sale for only $5 at a local boutique???

Bubble wrap fun

Ahh, this place brings me relaxing memories. More to come on this retreat!

Stop judging

hahahahaha!

First time feeding a horse and I was slightly freaked out he was going to take my hand


I spy Monkey Toes at Fruehauf's in Boulder, CO

Ask a toddler for a smile and this is what you get

My sweet Ella giving a speech at her Veteran's Day assembly - proud mama moment

Link up and show me what you've been up to!!

Thanksgiving realization

2011-11-21T13:31:00.001-07:00

At church yesterday it was brought to my attention something pretty profound. Something that I never really thought about - how pure Thanksgiving is. It's a holiday that has not been tainted with mass amounts of retail, holiday cards or weird traditions (Black Friday aside). It's purely about family, friends, food and mostly about giving thanks for what we have. I love that.

In fact, it's interesting because if you notice, aside from selling food, many stores skip over Thanksgiving and go from Halloween straight to the big money-maker Christmas.

I'm glad that as Americans we have a holiday which doesn't rely on our pocketbook (or coin purse...ha! Such old-school terms.) to satisfy everyone, or no need to try to out-do "The Jones's". It's pretty pure and simple.

Share your thoughts...

I'm thankful for a family that is healthy and happy this year... And feel so blessed for it.

What about you?

You're invited to Small Business Saturday!

2011-11-18T05:45:00.002-07:00

Wanted to cue you in before you get into your Turkey coma - we're so excited to team up with Little Feet & More in Cherry Creek (Denver, CO) for Small Business Saturday, November 26, 2011 from 10-2.

I'll be showing off my Monkey Toes (thankfully it won't be my un-pedicured winter toes, it will be our adorable toddler shoes) and meeting many of you sweet people. Little Feet will be showing off their expert shoe fitting skills and will treat with you adults and your kiddos with sweets (should you decide to share).

Monkey Toes are fun to wear and they're also a great gift and keepsake too.

I hope you'll avoid the malls and enjoy some one-on-one time with a couple of local small business owners.

And it gets better! American Express is giving you a $25 statement credit to spend at a local small biz, we hope you'll come spend it with us!

Wondering why you should support Small Business Saturday? I've written a piece for LaunchHer on that very topic!

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What have you got to lose?

2011-11-13T13:46:00.002-07:00

I'm speaking to myself when I write this, it's my own little pep talk. Even though Monkey Toes has had such amazing successes, we're still not dominating the world...yet. I know I still need to be a major part in that, which a lot of times means that I need to force myself out of my own comfort zone.

As a business owner, if I see something I am unhappy with or somewhere I can see better success, it means I MUST start pounding the pavement myself. This has been out of my comfort zone as it may be for you too. But if this is something I (you) believe in, it's a must. No one knows and can tell your story like you.

What's the fear? Is it hearing the dreaded "No"? Is it tripping on the way into a store or to see a client? Is it asking for money? What is it? Identify it and logically break it down into - what's the worst that can happen? Wouldn't you rather hear No, trip, ask for money, or whatever your fear is, then to never do it and miss out on an opportunity that was destined for you? You could be missing out on a major blessing so take that risk...

No longer for me will I sit in fear and be paralyzed, because really, what is the worst that can happen? God is on your side, why would you fail?

Rah! Rah! Rah! I'm my biggest cheerleader!

What's in a name?

2011-11-01T13:38:00.001-06:00

I was reading about how long ago, when dirt was new (my kids would tell you that was 30 years ago) - people chose names by circumstances and it really meant something - almost like it predestined your life if you had the name that meant "Rich" or "King". I admit, I did take into consideration the meaning of the names I gave my children. I have no good reason why.

Rose - Flower, shade of pink
Ella - meaning "All", girl
Oscar - jumping fighter, warrior, accurate spearsman

I have to wonder if they have taken on the meaning of their names or if I am just looking for it?

Rose - delicate, sweet, beautiful - aside from her "moments"
Ella - very girly, yet will kill a snake with a shovel while donning a sparkly dress and ballet flats
Oscar - not even two yet and will send a golf ball soaring with one swipe of his golf club

sending chapstick across the driveway

How about myself and the hubs?

Jennifer - white wave, fair one
Timothy - Giving honor, one who honors God

Well, if you've ever seen me, I am quite pastey...As much as I love the sun, my monthly dermatology visits keep me white and realize I will never be a bronzed beauty without the help of a spray tan. I'm not sure if that's what they mean by fair one, but that's how I'm looking at it.

Tim - he's cut out to honor the highest God. He truly is a man of great respect and that is what drew me to him.

Go check out the meaning of your name here...

What do you think? Have you ever analyzed the name you've been given or gave your children? What does your name mean?

PS - I am in no way affiliated with Meaning of Names.com, just thought it would be cool to see what you think about all of this.

Don't stop believin!

2011-10-25T12:39:00.001-06:00

Some people call me impatient. I call it persistence (ok, with maybe a side of impatience). Persistence has gotten me to this point. My two options - Success or Success. I've gone through major ups and major downs (my story here), that's what life is all about - I try to accept it and get over the downs as quickly as I can.

I'm a pretty positive person by nature, but was recently going through a funk (people are seriously surprised that I go through lulls - I'm human!). I got tired of being in that funk and decided to search for a positive faith based book to help me release that ugly energy and turn it positive. Joel Osteen was the first author to pop into my head.

I snagged my daughter's Kindle (at some point I will go get my own) and downloaded his book called It's Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams, and Increase in God's Favor . First few pages in and I am hooked and his words have forever changed me. (You can read through the first few pages online before you buy)

If I can pass along any one bit of advice from this book it would be -

Don't stop, you have no idea just how close you are to achieving your dream. Whether it be that business you started, having a baby, or going back to college...Whatever your dream looks like, it could be right at your fingertips - so DON'T STOP!

This absolutely doesn't mean you can just sit around and wait for things to happen. Get going and do everything you possibly can to make things happen and believe that what you're doing is building on your dreams. I believe things will start happening for you and you will be walking in your dreams before you know it.

All I can hope is that this speaks to you, the way it does to me. What is your dream?

Disclosure, I am not related to or in any way affiliated with Joel Osteen, his ministries, Amazon Kindle, or anything else I mentioned in here - well, except that bit of impatience and lots of persistence. Those other things mentioned don't know me...

SEW easy

2011-10-21T14:02:00.013-06:00

Har Har...Had to make the cheesy joke.

Over the summer I was a little over zealous making throw pillows - so overboard that I've been cut off by my husband. You see, our sofa is so deep that unless you're about 6' 25" tall, your feet don't hit the ground. They dangle. feeling like the lady on the "Big Comfy Couch" show from the 90's. So I typically curl up on this couch, it's perfect for that - curling up reading books or leisurely thumbing through magazines. At least, in my dreams it is...(I've got three kids, those moments don't happen often).

After watching guests struggle to get comfy on our sofa a few million times, I decided we needed an abundance of pillows on it.

I obsessed over easy throw pillows for over a year before I actually got my sewing machine out and gave them a shot. I bought coordinating cloth napkins (they're the perfect square) and you can mix and customize however you want. I loved that, and then they are completely personal to my home and my decor. And the WIN here is that you can find cloth napkins everywhere and typically find them on sale. I believe I spent a total of $12 on recovering 6 pillows.

Here is just a sampling, the solid blue and the brown and white print are two that I made. The giraffe is from Scene Weaver and the Brown silk is from Bed Bath & Beyond ($10 on sale). I won't embarrass myself with the total pillow count on my couch...just know there is a lot (at least by my husband's standards).

There is very little sewing happening on these. I don't even turn them inside out (none of my friends are seamstresses, so I have a feeling no one will notice where they don't line up perfectly. Gasp!).

What you need:
2 cloth napkins
Sewing machine
Old pillows (make sure they will fit your napkin squares) - remove stuffing, throw away old cases

Line up the two napkins (do not turn them inside out). Sew along the edge about 3/4 of the way around the square, leave an opening to stuff the pillow. Stuff the pillow, if the old pillow is still in good form, just slide it right into your new case. Hand stitch your pillow closed. Toss it on to your couch, aside all your other newly covered pillows.

There it is...A little home inspiration for you. Have you been wanting to do any projects around the house lately? If so, what?

Confessions of a seasonal slacker

2011-10-20T13:27:00.001-06:00

Thank you friends and family (mainly my dear, sweet 3 kids who will be scarred for life) for your forgiveness in advance. I have been really great at sharing super-dee-duper Halloween decor and finds, yet when it comes to applying anything to my actual home - I suck. Yep, I said it...For someone who was in the past coined a young Martha Stewart (minus jail stripes, but gosh I still love her) - I'm not living up to my previous reputation at all. Frankly, I'm doing more admiring on Pinterest than I am actually taking action. My poor, poor kids...

Here it is the week before Halloween and this is our front porch.. Whoa, you say? I know, Halloween decor overload, right?! Um, it's more like - the only reason we have that one pumpkin on the porch is because my 11 year old did it at school. I had nothing to do with it...NADA, Zilch.

So in keeping with the theme of just admiring and repinning the creativity I see other people doing, here it is, My Pinterest. I swear it's laughing at me, mocking me...shouting loooser every time I log in. *insert fingers in ears, stick out tongue*

If I can't make fun of myself then who can I make fun of? Oh well, maybe next year??

How are you doing with keeping up with the creativity of the seasons? Rocking it or just keeping your head above water?

End the Dinner Dilemma

2011-10-16T13:21:00.001-06:00

Folks, you have no idea how much I've struggled with topics on this blog. I don't want to bore you with business details all the time - though it totally excites me, I realize it's not for everyone. Some of my best posts have been just relating to regular old life. So I hope you will start noticing the changes (and randomness) I will exhibit over here. It's just going to be life (and maybe a touch of self-promotion sprinkled with Monkey Toes cuteness)...Hope you enjoy!

I know EVERYONE struggles with the age old question "what's for dinner". It's right between "Are we there yet?" and 5 minutes into a car ride with "I have to go to the potty, can we stop?". Over the past year my husband and I have been really working hard to plan out our weekly meals. We've tried grocery shopping for 2 weeks worth of meals (talk about a lot of bad produce) and shopping randomly, ending the day standing in front of the refrigerator (usually starving) and wondering what we will be doing with a combination of pickles, lettuce, peanut butter and leftover spaghetti (sounds like a pregnancy craving, not dinner). This is what we've turned in to - planning out one week at a time on a calendar. But honestly, I think we could be even better than that and I've found a solution I'm going to work into my weekly meal planning. - The Organized Cook.


Utilizing a calendar my 9 year old made me for Christmas last year

Toni Spilsbury, the actual Organized Cook, generates weekly meal plans, keeping the kiddos in mind. She plans everything from your grocery list to the initial meal to what to do with the leftovers - love that!

In my opinion, Fall is the best season to do this. We utilize the CrockPot a LOT (actually year round, I love it that much). One of my favorite things to let stew and simmer in the CP is chili. Sunday afternoon chili...mmmmm. I've got several recipes, but one of my faves (which always receives a ton of compliments) is the actual Wendy's Chili recipe.

Ingredients

2 pounds freshly ground beef
4 cups (1 quart) tomato juice
1 (29-ounce) can tomato purée
1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained ** note new addition
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1½ cups)
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup chili powder (you may want to use less)
1 teaspoon cumin (if you like real flavor, add more)
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
In a frying pan, brown the ground

Instructions

In a frying pan, brown the ground beef, then drain off the fat. Put the beef and the remaining ingredients into a 6-quart pot. Cover the pot and let the chili simmer for 1 to 1½ hours, stirring every 15 minutes. You an also put this in the crock pot on low for 3 to 4 hours while the chili simmers.

Pair it with corn bread and stick a fork in me, cuz I'm done. We usually double up this recipe so either we can freeze it for another day or eat it all week long. But Toni has gotten me thinking about how to utilize it in another meal - Chili Dogs, Chili Cheese Nachos, Chili with my eggs in the morning (oh I'm drooling now), drain the liquid off and make burritos or serve it over Indian Flatbread and top with taco goodies. I could go on all day. All of these would be fabulous dishes for Halloween night trick or treating too, keep those bellies warm and full.

I'm excited to join Toni Spilsbury on a Twitter discussion about Fall Meal Planning this Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 8 pm MST (10 pm EST).

Interested in joining in on the Festive Fall fun? RSVP here before the party (or during, if you're a procrastinator such as myself). When you RSVP, you do enter yourself into several great drawings.

What are your fall food traditions?

Disclosure: Monkey Toes and The Organized Cook are not affliliated in any way shape or form, though I (Jenny) love the program so much I am using it myself. I am being compensated for this post, all opinions are my own.

Halloween Science F-U-N!

2011-10-14T06:23:00.001-06:00

By Guest Blogger Susan Wells, Steve Spangler Science

I love this time of year. Crisp, cool mornings, colorful leaves on trees and time to pull out the Halloween science.

Here are a few, fun activities to celebrate the fall season and maybe learn a little something.

Design Your Own Glowing Pumpkins

This activity is always a hit and will work as a craft. Here’s what you will need:

· Mini pumpkins (usually found at grocery stores)

· Elmer’s glue

· Glow Powder

· Cheap paint brushes

· Construction paper or tissue paper

· Google eyes

· Pipe cleaners

Mix the glow powder in with the Elmer’s glue. Paint the pumpkin with the glow glue. Stick eyes, shapes and pipe cleaners into the glue to decorate the pumpkin.

Turn off the lights. The kids will ooh and ahh at their masterpieces.

Glow Powder works by absorbing surrounding light energy and then releasing that energy when the lights go out. It's called a phosphorescent powder.

This is obviously a seasonal project so pumpkins should not be put away with the decorations for next year. If you want an heirloom craft project, use the glow powder glue to decorate trick or treat bags or plastic pumpkins. Get creative.

Halloween Papers – Glowing, Bloody Good Times

A special paper, called Goldenrod Paper has a special dye that acts as an acid-base indicator. Dip a cotton ball into a basic solution like ammonia or washing soda and wipe it on the paper. The yellow paper will turn red (bloody) where the cotton ball is swiped. Or wet your hand with the solution and slap it on the paper to make a handprint. What happens when you use an acidic solution like lemon juice? The red disappears and the paper turns back to yellow. Design jack-o-lanterns, ghosts and more on the paper. When it dries, the red stays to keep your creations.

**I like to use washing soda for this as it is more like baking soda and not toxic like ammonia. Washing soda can be found in the grocery store with the laundry detergent and cleaning agents. It comes in powder form and can be mixed with water for this activity.

Grab a few sheets of Glow in the Dark Paper and turn out the lights. Write with light, freeze your shadow or capture a picture. The sheets are actually made from a durable vinyl that will stick to anything. It is treated with zinc sulfide that is energized by light. Small black lights are a must to write secret messages that quickly disappear.

Halloween Science Decorations

Decorate your house with test tubes filled with different colored water or add plastic bugs and other Halloween trinkets to the water for added fun. If you have some cylinders, fill a little more than half way with warm water then add dry ice. They will bubble and burp. Just make sure to wear heavy-duty gloves when handling dry ice and do not let the children touch it. To step it up even more, add a few drops of Dawn dish soap to the water and watch the bubbles overflow. Just make sure to have the cylinders inside a tray or something to catch the overflow. Add a few cobwebs and plastic spiders and you have a very cool mad scientist laboratory.

Ooey Gooey Slime

It isn’t Halloween at our house without slime. Slime comes in several varieties…green, clear, glowing atomic and homemade. You can purchase slime online along with cups and a mixing kit or make your own by mixing Elmer’s glue and borax together in a bowl.

Visit us at SteveSpanglerScience.com for step-by-step directions. To step it up even more, add Styrofoam balls or plastic bugs into the slime.

For more information and Halloween party ideas visit SteveSpanglerScience.com.

Twitter - @SpanglerScience

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SteveSpangler

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/stevespanglerscience

Susan Wells is a native Colorado mom to two girls, ages 6 and 10. She loves to volunteer at her daughter’s school as room mom, science club teacher and classroom helper. She looks for the learning in everything. In past lives, Susan has been a symphony bassist, sound engineer, news web producer and web developer. She currently works for Steve Spangler Science in web marketing, social media and blogging and blogs at TwoHandsTwoFeet.com.

Thank YOU

2011-10-10T13:33:00.001-06:00

I always knew I’d be an entrepreneur, Monkey Toes jumped into my lap after taking a painting class to hang out with my girlfriends once a week. I was getting good at it and would whip through projects quicker than anyone else. While thumbing through an idea book I found a great idea for painted shoes. I tried that project and the wheels started turning – I developed my own designs, copyrighted them, found suppliers and boom Monkey Toes was born.

Pic taken years ago for our local newspaper

I worked night and day as a stay-at-home mom of two girls taking every free second to get this business up and running. I can’t even count how many pairs of shoes I spent hand painting, lacing and packaging – many nights I went to bed with bloody and swollen fingers. I went through a rough time personally with a divorce, single mom-hood, layoffs from 2 consecutive jobs, and almost losing my home to foreclosure, to now – an amazing new husband, a third baby (a boy this time) and a licensing deal with a major manufacturer. My immense faith in God gave me strength and kept me pursuing my Monkey Toes dream. If given the choice I would endure it all again knowing that this journey would turn out this way – someone pinch me!

I’m ecstatic with all of the evolving this little company is doing, it’s literally a 10 year dream come true. From the gorgeous and fun new gift packaging, to the revamp of the shoes (better shoes with sand box stamping soles, how cute) and don’t even get me started on the new store displays – they’re out of this world adorable! No wonder the whole package gets such a great response from everyone, but especially the kiddos.

For anyone who has given me encouraging words, or purchased a pair of Monkey Toes for someone they love - Thank YOU for being a part of my dream… - Jenny Ford

Take Note...

2011-10-04T14:50:00.002-06:00

Kids grow up so fast. I feel like I'm an "expert" at saying that now, since I've been blessed with three of them. Many parents save little trinkets of their kiddo's youth (mainly from the baby and toddler days) like a lock of hair or a special outfit. Come to find out many people (even myself) have saved their child's first pair of Monkey Toes. When recently clearing out my office I found a box of mementos from years past and one being a pair of Ella's first hand painted Ladybug shoes. She was about 9 months old (she's 9 years old now) when I started Monkey Toes - I just dated myself.

She obviously crawled in these - look at the toes on them (plus they were still hand painted back then), but the thing I love the most is that I didn't have to jog my memory (mainly because three kids has diminished any memory I used to have), to think of whose shoes these were. I had personalized them. Such an easy thing to do, but so cute and so sweet - and I swear my girls are so proud of "their" shoes.

I have finally gotten around to personalizing Oscar's shoes for winter.. Of course we went with Shivers the Snowman - though he has his pick of an endless supply of shoes, he will be wearing these all winter long.

For example sake, I tried two different ways of personalizing. I think I like Oscar's name spelled out with the year (on the left), but get creative! A large letter "O" on the side of the shoe would be adorable too. If I was personalizing a pair of girl shoes, I'd probably add dots to the tips of each letter to soften them a bit, but plain and simple goes pretty well for boys.

My favorite markers to use for personalizing are Pigma Micron pens (found at Hobby Lobby / Michaels) - this one happens to be pretty fine at .020 mm. It doesn't bleed on fabric, it's washable, and it's Acid-Free. As much as I *Heart* Sharpies - I do NOT recommend it for this project - they will bleed and it won't look very cute. Trust me, I've painted a LOT of shoes and worked with them a ton, I just use them on other projects.

This is an easy and fun way to personalize a gift for the holidays too! They'll always remember who gave them their first pair of Monkey Toes with their name on them.

I hope that one day when I hand over all the little shoes I've saved up (there will be a lot I'm sure), maybe they'll hand them down to their kids - or even display them in their baby's room.

What have you saved from your kids?

Hot Shots

2011-09-26T07:05:00.001-06:00

I often wonder, what ever did I do without my camera phone? Oh, that's right. I missed a ton of moments because I didn't have my camera on me...Or I had to try to explain to people what the kids did or the view that I saw. And still I think it is just now setting in that I have a camera, practically surgically implanted to my hand at all times, and I can remember to take those impromptu shots.

I thought I'd share with you "some" of what's on my camera phone (there is a TON)...The compilation is kinda nutty. When I scroll back through everything, it's pretty random, which is how it should be, but they all bring back wonderful memories. So many great memories that I have a hard time downloading them from my phone to my computer --- AHHH, that explains why my phone is running so slow. HA!

I love having a little hand-held yearbook with me at all times. Enjoy!


Fresh Baked Cookies from last night

The view from a wedding we just attended at gorgeous Arrowhead Golf Course


The other "view" from that wedding! YUM!

The blinds I needed for my bedroom, at Ikea. Though when I bought them and got them home, they were too big. Dang! Back to Ikea I go!

My kiddos at the beginning of the summer. We were so ready for some fun!

This just looks like trouble

On a plane with my two friends heading to Cancun...Good Times!

My daughters whoopin up on their mama, playing golf

View from the roof of the Las Vegas Design Center - such a cool city!


President Clinton spoke in Las Vegas - 1st time ever seeing a President in person

The aquarium at the Golden Nugget Casino - Las Vegas

Kids have such an amazing understanding. From my daughter.

Happy 11th Birthday Rose!

I leave the kids alone for a few minutes to take a phone call, and look at what I find?!

I was so excited to receive these new arrivals!

The unsolicited cuteness!

My two best girlfriends at a Pat Benatar Concert, Red Rocks

My new office/guest bedroom - pale blue and silver harlequin diamonds

My two favorite boys at the Fire Fighter Chili Cook-off, LoDo Denver

Oscar's outfit of the day - Leap Frogs!

Slurping Noodles

This is only a small portion of what's in my phone. I urge you to share a link to what's in your camera phone too - I will check them out!

New Press - Business, Business and More Business

2011-09-23T06:49:00.001-06:00

Hi Friends!

Many of you who personally know me, know that I don't take life too seriously. I'd much rather spend my days laughing, enjoying good friends (maybe a glass of wine...or two) and of course enjoying good sweets than holding grudges, seeking out negativity or crying (it doesn't happen very often). I don't take life, and my millions of mistakes, too seriously. I do however take business very seriously. I will admit that if I didn't have a family I could easily become a work-a-holic. I love business. I love how it challenges me daily and I'm easily consumed by trying new tricks and tactics to see what works. Maybe you are the same way?

Anyway, M.O.is a great up and coming website that interviewed me about the 2 businesses I currently run - Monkey Toes and Sugar Loco. If you've got a few minutes, take a peek.

At the risk of sounding crazy - Could you become an "a-holic" of any type? What is your passion?

Monkey Toes spied on Anders Ruff!

2011-09-01T15:03:00.001-06:00

I absolutely adore Anders Ruff. They helped to design all of the printables for Oscar's first birthday - a Farm theme. The details they created pulled the entire party together. People oooh'd awww'd all over the place because of the special touches from Anders Ruff.

I'm excited to see that they did a "School Day" photo shoot and guess what was spotted in the pics? Our Little Ladies Mary Janes!!

If you're throwing a party and need inspiration and special personalized touches, make sure you go through Anders Ruff. They're so incredibly talented.

Trade Away!

2011-08-25T13:56:00.000-06:00

I bet you didn't know that all of our NEW shoes not only come packaged in the cutest little boxes you've ever seen (perfect to save your Monkey Toes in, after they've been worn. Or store hair bows, legos, or pencils in.), but enclosed in each box are trading cards too!

Each card represents a different Monkey Toes character and carries a little saying too.

Some examples:

"Silly Monkeys swinging in a tree, come on over and play with me"

-or-

"Little Ladies on my feet make me feel extra sweet"

They're fun little sayings to repeat when you're trying to get their shoes on and run out the door - something that happens quite often around here!

Business feature on Andreea Ayers

2011-08-24T12:30:00.001-06:00

Ever dream of crafting away and making a business out of it? Or heck, maybe you're already doing it, but want to grow it larger? I will have you know, that's actually how I started. I've learned a lot along the way and am always excited to share the information I've learned with budding entrepreneurs too (the enthusiasm for business is truly contagious). Seriously, ask me anything, I've probably been there and done that!

I was recently interviewed by Andreea Ayers, a lady who, by the looks of her site, has her business sense together. She interviews entrepreneurs all the time and is always sharing such a wealth of information - where was she when I was getting up and running? Oh well, at least you have her now.

In this feature, I tell you all about wholesaling, how to do it and why you would do it (it's just like diversifying your portfolio). Go check it out, it's a quick, yet useful, read. AndreeaAyers.com

The inspiration behind the Playful Pumpkins

2011-08-12T13:19:00.001-06:00

You may recognize them because they've been here before, but there's something new about these Playful little Pumpkins...I've added my favorite Halloween treat - Candy Corn!

I'm most inspired by the uncomplicated things around us. The simple joys of each season, hence the sweet face of these little jack-o-lanterns. I admit, I did not personally design the originals. Our fabulous painter, Katy Haas created it. Katy has years of experience with tons of different mediums (metals, the cutest wire sculptures, acrylics), but most importantly (to me) she fulfilled many of my visions for new styles in the Monkey Toes collection. For that, I am forever grateful to her. When you get an opportunity you can see her work here on her Facebook page - trust me, she is amazing!

Yes, this is Katy's pumpkin face creation...

And from that adorable face, our designers created the perfect packaging to coordinate with them. Isn't the final product BOOO-tiful? (Sorry, I had to do it)

These make such an adorable gift for that playful pumpkin in your life. Plus, they're a great keepsake too - whether it's baby's first Halloween or they're a seasoned pro at the age of 3 - any kiddo will delight in a pair on their feet!

Our Playful Pumpkins are available in tennis shoes sizes 4-8 (ages 1-3 years). Available beginning September 1, 2011. Get em online here!

What is your favorite Fall treat?

Monumental

2011-07-31T06:48:00.001-06:00

I found myself at a loss for words so many times on this trip. I had been to DC before, as a 13 year old, with my friends through our middle school. It was a lot of fun back then and though it made an impact on me, pretty sure I was more interested in all the boys from the other states on their school trips.

I was pretty excited to go back and show my girls (and husband) the sights and how beautiful they are. Being there for only 5 days seems like you'd see a lot, um, no. We barely scratched the surface.


Smithsonian Air & Space Museum - they have a great hands on section just for the kids

Washington Memorial

World War II Memorial - 4,048 stars on this wall, each representing 100 service personnel who died or remain missing in the war. Speechless.

Lincoln Memorial, what a grand site and it's how I will always think of our larger-than-life President Lincoln.

The White House - TV doesn't do this amazing structure justice.

Smithsonian - American History Museum

Dumbo from Disneyland at the Smithsonian American History Museum - lots for kids to do at this museum


Dorothy's Ruby Slippers - Smithsonian American History Museum

The first day, we were all on foot. The second, we visited Alexandria, VA. The third, we got smart and rented bikes - that was such a fun way to get around the city, even with a toddler! We rented a bike trailer which magically transformed into a stroller - GENIUS! And much easier on the feet.

I would ask my girls (9 &10) - what was your favorite part of the day? They'd respond with - all of it. I have to agree with them!

It's time to be KIND

2011-07-29T10:19:00.001-06:00

It's back to school time again. And it's always a fun time for the kids to go shopping for a fresh new Peachie (do they still make those?), pens, pencils, a protractor and their first day outfit. Unfortunately so many kids out there, and especially in this economy, more and more kiddos can't afford their much needed new supplies.

That's where KIND is stepping in. You know those delicious and nutritious bars filled with nuts, cranberries oats and other delightful goodies? They're not only doing good for your taste buds, but urging everyone to commit to do a specific act of kindness on the first Tuesday of every month (Denver is August 2 - commit to hand out cold water to someone working outdoors - easy!). If enough people pledge, they'll pay it forward and enact their very own BIG act of kindness on a group that really needs it. It's a win win - everyone feels good giving!

It's the easiest acts of KINDness that are the most rewarding. More details on the KIND mission here

Music to my ears

2011-07-28T13:15:00.001-06:00

We spent the day in Alexandria, Virginia and I'm totally crushin' on this little city. Seriously, a town on the water, quaint little shops and restaurants.

Magicians on the boardwalk and this....

Jamey Turner, a "Glass Harpist" who plays Beethoven, Mozart, you name it, on wine glasses. Eat your musical heart out! (Totally kicking myself for turning the camera vertically - GAH!!! If there's a way to fix it, I'd love to know!)

I'm pretty sure Oscar fell in love too - with this tree. He wouldn't stop hugging it. HA!

If you could move anywhere, where would it be?

A Historical Family Trip

2011-07-24T07:16:00.001-06:00

We loaded up the kiddos (all three) and headed to Washington, DC this year. It was quite the adventure I must say! My biggest fear was the 3 hour early morning flight with our 18 month old, Oscar, who doesn't stop moving. Mother's of boys out there - I know you can relate.

O squirmed across our three seats, he tried to get into the isle to run free, he yelled at the top of his lungs to his older sister across the isle "ELLA! ELLA! LA LA!" He'd look her right in the eyes and then look away pretending not to see her and would continue yelling (he's definitely my child). He found the tray on the back of the seat and proceeded to unlock it, let the tray drop and then slam it back up. How annoying for the seat in front, I had to put a stop to that fun quick. I hope the people around us didn't mind (afterall, he wasn't crying for 3 hours straight, right?!) We were of course overly sensitive to his every move. Thank God for some cartoons keeping him still long enough to fall asleep.....Until I tried to readjust him and he woke up. UGH, after only 30 minutes. But that 30 minutes was enough to recharge him, where does he get all this energy?

Through all of that, lasting 3 hours, we made it! And him, without a nap until checking in to the hotel (we left our house at 4 am). And all the squirming in the world was worth it for this view from our hotel.


Washington Memorial

We had arrived in the most historical city my kids will ever visit, our nations capital. Rich in monuments, memorials and museums. Everyone, except Oscar (he could care less), was so excited to get out and explore this amazing city!

More to come. What memorable family trips have you taken?

What we're doing this summer - Calling all Bookworms

2011-07-06T13:45:00.000-06:00

I'm in love with free activities. I often find that there are too many days in the summer and not enough things to do. So this week we channeled our inner bookworms and headed to our fabulous library. Seriously, I know you're saying - DUH! But I actually forget about it (mommy brain, I guess). And the kiddos, whether they can read or not, all have an opportunity to have fun.

Our neighborhood library has the best play area. Full of noise-and-mess-making kids (so mine isn't the only one - phew!). Oscar doesn't like to draw with chalk, he'd rather huck it into the stainless steal bucket. Yes, making an incredibly loud thump, but never once did a librarian walk over and say "SHHHHH".

Ella, my serious bookworm (who is launching a blog of her favorite books soon), had fun browsing the books and finding a new adventure to go on...

Oh, and then she had her own creation to make in the kiddie area. (The silly girl, she's so proud of herself)

And I'd be lying if I didn't say that I enjoy sitting with a little somethin somethin that takes my mind off of life by digging into someone else's....The racks upon racks of glorious smutty mags!

I'll be heading back soon, possibly even daily.

What are your favorite FREE things to do during the summer? The one's that I have totally forgotten about... Please share!

What we're doing this summer - Random acts of Sweetness

2011-06-28T12:18:00.000-06:00

The summer is flying by and speeds fast as lighting, and thankfully I haven't heard "I'm bored" yet (I said YET). Maybe because they know we'll make them do chores if they say those dreaded two words (insert evil snicker here). I'm always trying to think of fun things for them to do. Projects such as this one from Imagination Soup are fabulous (my girls made their own comic strips and had so much fun doing it!).

I know the kiddos enjoy baking (as much as I enjoy eating it - hence my other endeavor Sugar Loco). So I thought, let's bake some sweets and give them to a neighbor - just for fun. A little random act of sweetness, if you will. They were thrilled at the idea. And I think that's just because they love licking the spoons.

Exhibit A... Spoon Licking

I'd love to hear if you are doing any random acts of sweetness with your kiddos this summer?

- Jenny

This is what summer is all about

2011-06-06T13:10:00.000-06:00

Playing in the water yes...And what you can't see in this still life pic is Oscar shivering. Yet, he wouldn't dare get out of the water because he loved it so much!

Wishing you all a sprinkler filled summer!

Get your tissues ready

2011-05-11T13:05:00.000-06:00

I don't even know where to begin with this one, but I know I HAD to share this with you. My daughter Rose, is 10 years old, going on 25 (oy!)...This little beauty amazes me with her kind heart, her generous spirit and her ability to empathize with others. Rose is such an amazing gift to anyone and everyone she comes in contact with.

Background - Rose has struggled through school. She has been tested on every level - too smart, not smart enough, ADD, ADHD, dyslexic, any label that is out there - they tested her for it. The conclusion - Rose is Rose. She does what she wants when she wants to and on her own time. Fast forward to 4th grade and our move to new home and new school. She was placed in a classroom with an amazing teacher (thank you Mrs T), in which had Hard of Hearing children. (Note: Rose can hear perfectly...well except for the usual selective hearing issue) She began watching and soaking in the interpreter's "words". Out of nowhere she was signing, all the time. Initially, we thought this was some joke, but she was seriously signing! She began thriving again at school and became fast friends with the hard of hearing students. She's even got the interpreters in awe of her natural gift.

And now on to today at her 5th grade class's Poetry Coffeehouse (minus the coffee - doh!). This video clip is Rose signing her poem while the interpreter reads it. It is HER original poem about what it must be like to be deaf.... (Grab your tissues, friends - I'm still a sappy mess just thinking about it).

She should be so proud of herself...

Somethin to do with the kiddos

2011-04-18T06:59:00.000-06:00

I just thought this was so cute, I would share with you. Peep Houses! Yes, little apartments for your Peeps. What a fun little project to do with the kids. Go check it out over on Sugar Loco.


Image provided & post by Kasey Buick

What are you Easter plans? I need more ideas!

A whirlwind of a weekend

2011-01-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend is what (my) dreams have been made of. A true realization of all of my blood (literally from hand lacing all those shoes), sweat (it can get hot in my office) and tears (probably bawling like a baby at times). Remembering the last 10 years of believing so hard this company would become a success, that I was willing (and almost did) to lose my house over it. Seriously, this IS the reality of entrepreneurship.

As many of you know I was at the re-launch for Monkey Toes at the Atlanta Mart (aka, America's Mart) for the Gift Show over the weekend. I had no idea how I would react to being there and seeing everything in person, listening to reactions from reps and most importantly hearing the applaud from store owners. I had my moments, holding back tears, truly, and I'm not a big crier. But something about this weekend made me a sappy mess - oh and my feet hurt too (where were my adult sized Monkey Toes when I needed them??).

I want to personally share with you what I saw and also show you what you'll be seeing in stores in the next few months - the pictures don't do this justice, you MUST see it all in stores personally. SOO EXCITING!!

Greeting me at the elevators...

(Notice my lack of shoes...this pic was snapped at the end of the day after what felt like 18 hours on my feet - and yes, like an idiot I chose to wear cute shoes (4-5" platform booties), not sensible shoes. YEP, that's me - queen of impracticality..at least I looked cute).

Waiting for me as I arrived in our showroom was this...

The cutest kids, all wearing Monkey Toes. I adore that picture of the little boy swinging like a monkey - and of course wearing his Silly Monkey Tennis shoes (painted version is now on sale, BTW)!

Next up - new product and a new way to display it...

This is a 360 degree, 6 foot tall "tree" display housing 128 pairs of cute little Monkey Toes. We're initially re-launching our most popular styles for tennis shoes - Little Ladies, LUV bugs, Silly Monkeys and Leap Frogs - in sizes 4-8. For the mary janes - Little Ladies, LUV bugs, Flutterflies and Buzzy Bees - in sizes 3-7. I've found that over the past 8 years of selling these were our most popular sizes and styles. Don't fret though, we'll be bringing back some more of your favorites, plus I've already got some new fun one's in the works!

Can this new packaging get ANY cuter? We all know that kids play with boxes more than they do with the contents inside. That was the thought behind the new boxes - it slides open and is perfect for kiddos to carry around their baby doll, rocks, I'm sure boys would love to put a snake in it and scare mommy with it. You understand, right? Plus, since our shoes never seem to make it to the "donate" bag, this box is perfect for keeping them in tip top shape for a keepsake.

Buzzy Bees box


LUV bugs box

The shoes, let me just tell you about the cutest feature of the shoes - the sandbox stamping soles! This is so innovative. I overheard someone saying - it's perfect for when your kid walks through the mud and then onto your carpet - at least the stains will look cute! HA HA!

So what do you think? These babies will be hitting stores in March - so keep your eye out for them and I hope you'll share with us a picture on our Fanpage.

I don't ever want to come down from this High!!

While the owner's away....

2011-01-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

The monkey will play! I'm heading to Atlanta to visit the OneCoast showroom this weekend. Am I stoked? Um, beyond stoked! I am excited because I will be seeing so many new Monkey Toes products in person - with our new little guy, MANGO, splattered all over.

That's right, we officially named our new monkey mascot - Mango! We're totally excited to introduce this little one to you and to the world on some great new products...

I'm going to take some great pics and report back to you on what YOU will be seeing in stores near you. (I'm squealing like a kid on Christmas morning right now!)

In the meantime, check out our latest $18 deal! It's just plain "Silly".

Get the Silly Monkey's NOW, before the hand painted versions are gone! Pricing will go back up once they restock.

Go bananas :)

We've got some stuff goin on!

2011-01-06T10:10:00.001-07:00

I am excited to share with you some news in the next few days that is gonna knock your socks off! Plus a new logo and Monkey mascot (eeeee, so exciting!) But, until then I've got some work to do clearing out our inventory to make room for NEW and EXCITING product for you Monkey Toes lovers (does that sound weird?). I'll be featuring one style per week with a great price attached...This week's deal - The LUV Bug mary janes. I've got 10 pairs of these babies left and they're only $18!! I know what you're thinking... What? That's unheard of !! I know!! So get them NOW!! (sizes 1-10, limited quantities, only while supplies last).

Know what these little cuties are perfect for? Valentine's Day! What a great gift and an adorable finishing touch on any little V-Day outfit.

PS - I can guarantee the pricing will go back up once our new stock is in.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

This is the time of year I try to slow down, even though the world around me is speeding up. Since our shipping deadline has come to a close, and it is my turn to be with my family, I just want to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. And to thank you for your continued support of this little biz, which is about to go nuts!

We've got some excited stuff for next year, like our new monkey mascot and logo - stay tuned for the reveal. In the meantime, leave your ideas for his/her name below (I know you've got some good ones in your pocket!). I will love ya forEV!

Holiday ordering

2010-12-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

There is still time to ship Monkey Toes to all those good little girls and boys. To ease any shopping (and shipping) stress, take 25% off all holiday shoes in stock until December 20th!

For in stock items, all shoes ship via USPS Priority and follow the guidelines set by USPS

Rowdy Reindeer Tennis Shoes & Mary Janes

Shivers the Snowman Tennis Shoes & Mary Janes

The details: Begins 12/8/2010 ends 11:59 pm EST on 12/20/2010 on our website at www.monkey-toes.com. No code necessary to receive the 25% off discount at checkout. 25% off is only good on Holiday items in stock, sorry no rain checks on out of stock items. 25% off is only good on the Holiday Collection (Rowdy Reindeer & Shivers the Snowman. Not valid on prior purchases. Code is valid with 1 other discount code, if you have one - take full advantage! Void where prohibited, taxed or otherwise restricted.

Who's gonna be ONE-DERFUL???

2010-12-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

So aside from the Christmas rush around here - I am embarking on the magical journey of planning a 1 year old's birthday party...YEP! O is just weeks away from 1! So of course I am going to be spending every extra moment I have (and by "extra" - I mean my sleep time) to work on the details of his party.

I cannot hold back any longer - I've gotta show you some of the adorable-ness (my made-up word of the day) that Anders Ruff has created for little O's birthday party. They have, literally, MADE the details!

The Invite...

I love a good mix CD and I love to share them too!

Of course I will be blogging about the entire party, but I just could not help myself, I had to share a few things. More to come! In the meantime, go check out Anders Ruff the Etsy Store and the Blog! You won't be disappointed :)

What was your kiddos 1st Birthday party themed as?

Thanks & Giving

2010-11-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

This time of year can get CrAzY! I mean seriously, why is it that from November until January 1 we're stressed out? For a moment let's stop and think about what we're really supposed to be doing. Giving thanks for everything that we have (seen and unseen) and giving to others. I'm thankful for millions of things - I've been VERY blessed over the last few years. And it always warms my heart to give to others.

This is Oscar (11 mos) feeding Rose (10). Oscar was having so much fun giving bread to Rose - it turned me all warm and fuzzy.

Smiles & giggles - this is one of the many rewards of parenting, and I am so thankful!

I encourage you to take a moment and think about all the great things in your life. Feel free to share them or keep them to yourself, but ENJOY!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

~Jenny

I love stuff that screams WINTER!

2010-11-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

I really do love this time of year. To me it means SNOW and not that I really like to hang out in the snow, it's pretty ironic actually - I can't stand being cold. But I do love waking up to a fresh blanket of snow. And I love SNOW DAYS! (AKA pajama days and no schedule). I love sweaters and boots and I really love dressing the kiddos in winter wear. Can you tell I'm a little overly excited?

Monkey Toes teamed up with some fabulous companies to create adorable outfits for the kiddos. Kota Couture (@KotaCouture) and Cutie Pa Tutus (@cutiepatutus). Love these ladies - and their products aren't too shabby either!

Our "Brrrrrr" Collection -

For the Boys

For the Girls

And the "Sleigh Driver" Collection -

For the Boys

And here are the shopping details!

"Brrrr" Collection

Brrrr Holiday Tee by Kota Couture

Shivers the Snowman Tennis Shoes or Mary Janes by Monkey Toes

Snowflake Pa Tutu by Cutie Pa Tutus

"Sleigh Driver" Collection

Sleigh Driver Holiday Tee by Kota Couture

Rowdy Reindeer Tennis Shoes or Mary Janes by Monkey Toes

Sleigh Driver Pa Tutu by Cutie Pa Tutus (and tee as a set)

Which is your favorite look? And what's YOUR favorite thing about winter??

Monkey Toes updates you should know about!

2010-11-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

We created a new SALE page! You must go check it out... Why? Because - who doesn't love a good deal? And there are a few items that are last call... They'll be disappearing next week!

See those Goin Batty Tennis shoes on Oscar's feet? They're "flyin" off our shelves at 40% off! Also, those Playful Little Pumpkins are rolling out the door quick too. Limited quantities available, so get clickin!

the Leaves are Falling!

2010-10-28T10:26:00.000-06:00

I heard squeals in the back yard yesterday....

Another childhood memory - the big piles of leaves in the back yard. I don't know what it is about a big mound of leaves that screams "jump on in" or "throw me up in the air". But it's what I think of every time I see a giant pile of freshly raked leaves. And then I remember how itchy they get when you get those crunchy tree leaves in your shirt and pants. *itch, itch*

What do you think of when you see a pile of leaves?

Punkin Carvin Fun!

2010-10-25T11:41:00.000-06:00

We (ok, my hubs did the daunting job) of pumpkin carving a few days ago. As a child I always remember reaching into the pumpkin and mushing around the strings and goo between my fingers. I'd still kinda like to stick my hands in (but that's not very lady-like). Here are my, not so little girls, experiencing the joy of cleaning out their pumpkins.

I grew Oscar's little baby pumpkin in our backyard. It was my feeble attempt at a green thumb this summer. And since I knew we weren't going to be able to cut this little guy open, I drew a silly/scary face on it and named him "Franken-Punkin". Oscar enjoyed throwing it around the kitchen.

Here are all the pumpkins together. Rose decided that her "Princess" pumpkin needed to accessorize with a tiara, earrings & a necklace.

And then of course, it wouldn't be like me not to get all crafty on a pumpkin...Here's my Little Ladypunks pumpkin.

What's your favorite childhood Halloween memory? Do you have pics of your carved pumpkins? Send me links!!

Costume FUN!

2010-10-22T15:22:00.000-06:00

How am I dressing my little kiddos this year for Halloween? Well, the girls get to choose their own costumes, so I guess I have to keep my mouth shut on their choices. Of course unless they want to dress a little too grown up (not cool) - I would totally put my foot down. The girls seem to have a dancing theme going on this year - I wonder if it's because they LOVE the costumes on Dancing with the Stars, which are, um, a little racey!

Ella (8) has chosen to be a Flapper Girl - She's super stoked about how the dress flaps when she twists and turns. I think she would choose to wear this costume every day if we'd let her (she's sooooo girly).

image courtesy of Target.com

Rose (10) is dressing up as a Flamenco Spanish Dancer. I think she's excited because she'll be sporting a pair of mini-heels (I'm talking 1 inch, which is exciting for her).

image courtesy of DevilishDisguise.com

Oscar will be donning his SUPER OSCAAAAR outfit from Cutie Patutus. They made it custom for O. See the O on his cape and you can't see it but he's got an O on his onesie and diaper cover too? Super cute isn't it?? Check out my review of their Super Hero stuff over at CupcakeMag for Littles (formerly Sprinkles). HINT: There's a discount code!!

image courtesy of moi

I just HAVE to show you one more thing from Cutie Patutus (@CutiePaTutus), I adore Amanda over there! Since ladybug are always a hot costume for Halloween - they've got this adorable ladybug Tutu and tee, which of course would be so stinkin cute with Monkey-Toes Little Ladies mary janes. And can be worn for dress-up all year long too!


(Want it? Get 20% off with the code: monkeytoes)

Have you decided on your kiddos costume yet? What is it gonna be?

Make sure you're following us on Twitter
Fan us on Facebook

Forty under 40!

2010-10-22T15:06:00.000-06:00

I was thrilled to find out that LaunchHER (@launchher) was featuring yours truly on their 40 under 40 list of Women-Owned Brands. Yep! Me, Jenny, the little ol' suburban momma of 3. Did I mention I was thrilled?

Check out the AHHH-MAZING list of women I was featured amongst here

Donald Trump - YOU'RE fired!

2010-10-18T11:15:00.000-06:00

It was a week of little milestones for the kiddos in our family! I will share the other one a little later in the week.

Oscar was born with a full head of blond hair and from day 1 he had that old man comb-over. I called him my little future Donald Trump. We were able to faux-hawk it since birth, which was really cute. However, it quickly grew so long that the trendy little "hawk" turned into just a saggy, unstylish, wing.


just minutes after O was born - a full head of hair!

I was finally able to talk the hubs (who was resistant) into doing away with the Donald Trump doo. He finally agreed. Oscar did so well, I was amazed at how my little baby boy is starting to look so much like a toddler in that seat gettin his hair cut. *sniff, sniff*

It's amazing what a little trim will do for a tyke - it really spiffs them up. How old was your little man/lady when they got their first hair cut? Did it make you kinda sad?

MAD Hatter!

2010-10-13T08:55:00.000-06:00

I'm officially in love with hats. Not for me, I admire women who can pull off the fedora or cloche, I just can't do it! I CAN however slap those on my kiddos! And what better time then now, for Halloween, to create a cute and warm costume for your little candy grubbin' tykes...Add Monkey Toes and you can leave the rest of the outfit simple. Here's what I found....

From the Cutie Hats Shop on Etsy the Cow Hat
...and obviously, you'd pair it with our Wowie Cowie Tennis shoes/Mary Janes

Ooooh la la and check out this ladybug beanie...I'm in LOVE! It's from the Love & Ladybugs Etsy shop

Pair it with a little black outfit and our Little Ladies Tennis Shoes/Mary Janes and oh so cute!

I could go on FORever...especially on Etsy. But I will leave you with this final find - the Froggy Beanie by Charlie Mai.

Can I say cute enough in this blog post? You MUST pair your little Leap Frog in this hat with our Leap Frogs Tennis Shoes/Mary Janes

All of these sweet little finds are on Etsy.com. When you've got hours on your hands, you MUST head over and search (oh ya, and try not to drool all over your keyboard).

Which one is your fave? Or find one and link me to it :)

You Silly Monkey....

2010-10-11T11:23:00.000-06:00

Whew! We are blowing through our Silly Monkey tennis shoes this year...Is everyone dressing as a monkey? Well if so, you know where to get the kicks!!

And here's where you can get the Monkey costumes....

Carters online (or outlet store)

**OR**

Etsy - Little SideKick Store
How cute and simple would this hat be, paired with a little sweat suit and Silly Monkey's shoes?

Easy, CUTE, & Wearable all winter long

(image from Little SideKick on Etsy.com)

**OR**

Or like the vintage Sock Monkey look?

(I just ordered one of these for Oscar)

Etsy store - MimisBabies

Oscar will be wearing it all winter long!!

(image from MimisBabies on Etsy)

Which one is YOUR favorite?

Bugs & Hisses to you....

2010-10-03T20:25:00.000-06:00

I had so much fun looking for cute little Halloween sayings - like Bugs & Hisses to you. (I know, I am a total dork).

But that saying goes perfectly with this cutie patutie little Spider costume from Target.com. Pair that Silly Spider with our Spunky Spiders (say that 3 times fast) and you've got the recipe for the cutest costume on the web (har har)! I think it's perfect for girls and boys...

And guess what? Order any of our shoes this week and we'll hand paint GLOW on the eyes....FREE!

YEP! Order through the 11th and your pair will automatically go through the GLOW-IN-THE-DARK machine (ok, it's not a machine, it's me, but you know what I mean).

The hubs and I are dressing up as Marge & Homer Simpson this year...should be interesting. What's your favorite Halloween costume - you OR the kiddos?

You're going to want to read this one...The perfect parenting manual!

2010-10-03T19:38:00.001-06:00

I was elated when I discovered that Ray Lincoln was writing a parenting book based on temperaments. I have personally asked Ray for advice and coaching sessions, which I believe has changed my life and outlook on myself and the people around me...Especially my children.

Ray has taught me so much. He's taught me that everyone is gifted and talented, just in different ways. Not one person fits into a box or mold. After reading this book and applying his principles I completely understand where my kiddos are coming from. If you've got that one (or two, or three) child that you just don't understand you MUST read this book!!

Crazy enough, I understand my husband better too! Ray is truly a gift from God and I recommend you RUN (ok, click) as quickly as possible and pick up the book!

If you act now (yes, I am going to be a car salesman now :)) you'll even receive some FREE SWAG! Who doesn't love free stuff? Click here to purchase a copy today (and collect the free goods too!)

Share this info too! Know someone who is struggling with a child? OR even makes a fabulous gift for teachers. Don't keep this info to yourself - please pass it on.

After you do, I'd personally love to hear what you have to say about Ray's book!

He said it! He said it!!

2010-10-01T15:04:00.000-06:00

Every new mom and dad secretly challenges the other to the game "will he say mama or dada first". It's a friendly competition (if you agree that mockery is friendly). You spend countless hours repeating "mama, mama, mama" in their faces. And your lying if you say you didn't.

Well, he said it! It was plain as day - I walked around our Jeep as my hubs was unbuckling O from his seat belt. He looked over at me with those sweet blue eyes and said "Ma Ma" and then smiled! Oh how my heart melted. It was surreal.

And as you know they won't do it again when you want them to. But that's completely ok, because my hubs was within earshot and got a whiff of my sweet, sweet victory!!! He said MA MA first!! HA! HA! (As I rub his nose in my glory!!) And he said it right in front of Da Da!

What was your kiddos first word?

October Mummy Tummy

2010-09-30T10:59:00.000-06:00

Ladies (and gents) prime candy season is right around the corner and this is why we need to get our exercise on! No more flabby abby's, bingo wings or pancake buns! Join us for the month of October to get it in shape! I've personally been challenging my bum and my schedule by doing this daily for the past 2 months and have seen a MAH-JOR difference. It's bananas, folks!

Since I am creatively challenged at the moment, I went ahead and cut and paste Lindsey's (@ottosmomblogs) blog post about Mummy Tummy. Here it is...

Remember, if you want to join us, you must head over to her blog to sign up!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Mummy Tummy October - Workout Maniacs!

This month's MummyTummy is hosted by (in abc order):

- Jenny from Jenny Loves This (Twitter @Jenny_LovesThis)

- Tracy from Sweet Harper (Twitter @SweetHarper)

- Wendy from Kiboomu (Twitter @Kiboomu)

And then me. Please check out each of these ladies' sites! They are awesome gals & amazing mompreneurs!

#MummyTummy is an online workout club for moms (or anybody) on Twitter that I launched back in July. You will be sent 4 dedicated #mummytummy tweets per day - each one a reminder to do a set of 20 crunches, situps, or whatever ab workout you're comfortable with.

Introducing #MumBum
Jenny from Monkey-Toes Shoes, co-host this month, a creative genius and one of my favorite Twitter friends, suggested we switch it up by alternating days. One day abs, the next, SQUATS! That's right, the dreaded squats, deal with it whiner, and you'll be glad you did! You can thank Jenny for your soon-to-be-firmer butt by following her on Twitter here.

Introducing #AnistonArms
Every now and then we may ADD arm exercises to your #mummytummy or #mumbum by adding the hashtag #anistonarms. Because, I mean come on, who doesn't want arms like hers? Feminine doesn't have to mean wimpy!

Let's Get Physical!
In honor of #MummyTummy and #MumBum October I'd like to veejay a song for you. Otto and I were dancing to this today and it is just so fun and gets me in the mood to be physical, strong and get moving!

Sign up For MummyTummy October! Do it. Do it.
Just comment below with your Twitter name and from October 1 through 31 one of us will tweet you 4x a day! And don't stress it, we're all busy with lives, there's no penalty for skipping a set or a day. This is just a fun way to motivate each other and even make new Twitter connections.

Halloween!

2010-09-23T15:05:00.000-06:00

My favorite time of year, Fall, is coming. And along with the season comes the fun holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and then we end our year with New Years. It's crazy to think that this time will all be here before we know it. And it tends to go even faster when you've got kids.

I love searching the web and brick and mortar stores for cute costumes that go with Monkey-Toes. I will also be posting other ideas for homemade costumes, so stay tuned!

For some outfits that would work for the month of October AND for Halloween check out these adorable ideas from Carters.com (many of these finds I actually ran into while walking through the Carter's outlet store). Enjoy!

Click here to visit the Carter's Halloween Shop

How do you plan to dress the kiddos this year?
(images courtesy of Carters.com)

Start thinking 'bout Halloween!

2010-09-15T11:09:00.000-06:00

Buzzy Bees
Tennis shoes & Mary Janes

New Pics!

2010-09-05T16:05:00.000-06:00

People are wondering why I started a new Twitter handle (@Jenny_LovesThis) and why I've changed my profile pic on Facebook from the sassy little pair of Little Ladies Mary Janes to sassy little ME. Well, I've got a few things up my sleeve. More details on that to come, but for now I've gotta tell you all about Regina Mountjoy of Recherche Photography and her fabulous idea for a head shot party!

Regina says you may need a new head shot if...

you can answer "yes" to any of the below, you should come!

Your Facebook/Twitter profile picture is a shot of your child or pet.
Your current head shot image is from at least 2 years ago.
You cringe when you see your current head shot.
Everytime your head shot is requested you experience a sense of panic or dread.
You're considering joining a cool new dating service.
Someone recently saw your head shot and commented that "you look just like your mother."
You need a little self nurturing. Don't underestimate what a beautiful new image of yourself just looking natural & happy can do for your self esteem (and love life!)

Regina's head shot party consists of ladies (or gents), some vino, and goodies to munch. While you socialize, one by one she takes you to find the perfect back drop for your head shots and starts snapping away. The best part is - it's only $50 per person. Usually when working with a photographer you have to reserve them for an hour and it can start at $200. If you're local to Denver and need to update your avatar on Twitter or Facebook, or heck, your website - you've gotta sign up for one of her future head shot parties - she's hosting them once a month - details here. I totally enjoyed hanging out with Regina, a current friend and even met a new friend. It was loads of fun!

Here are my two faves...

Gather a group of girls or meet some new ones at one of her parties, you won't regret it! Oh, and say you don't need a new head shot now, she also is AMAZING at family and baby photos too. Her home studio is gorgeous!

Black is the new White

2010-08-30T16:02:00.000-06:00

Confession: I *heart* jewelry. Really, what girl doesn't? My jewels du jour vary by mood. Sometimes I am a minimalist, with a tiny silver chain and studs or hoops, and sometimes I like to go a little more bold, with larger pendants and chunky cuffs. Some of my all time fave jewelry comes from my step mom's jewelry biz - Ridgeline Artisans.

Julie and my Dad started out on an amazing adventure a few years ago, to Bali, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka breathing in the many flavors of the culture and collecting amazing works of jewelry art from little artisans around the globe. I was completely jealous of their trip and selflessly offered to become a "buyer" and if I had to travel to exotic locations I would definitely take one for the team...I am a good daughter.

These are my two FAVE necklaces (though I could spend hours sifting through their collection and finding a million more faves).

I'm completely infatuated with black pearls (if you can't tell). There's something so "sassy Jackie O" about these little gems of the sea. Which describes me to a tee - "sassy" and if Jackie O ever donned a wife beater, I'd be sure she was my long lost twin.

Go to Ridgeline Artisans today and show my step-mama, Julie, some love. Like what you see here? Email Julie for the 5-Strand Black Pearls from Thailand by emailing Julie direct. Or get the Chandelier Necklace here

The best part? Use the code: monkey-toes at checkout and you'll get 20% off your purchase. YIPPEE!

I'd love to know two things... 1) What's your favorite jewelry find? (And you can't just say "Etsy", give me a link!) 2) What adjective describes your personality?

(disclaimer: I was not compensated for this review, I am family, AND I love their fabulous exotic finds. My review is my opinion. I was given these necklaces for my birthday as gifts. WOOT! WOOT! LUCKY ME!)

Discontinue SALE!!

2010-08-24T13:35:00.000-06:00

We've got a few pairs of Monkey-Toes that need to GOOOOOOOO!

These shoes are not like our other designs - they were created for someone special. We're thrilled to offer them to you at such a great deal, that it's going to be really hard for you to pass up - $12/pair!!!

Click here to check availability

You won't find these on our site, or anywhere else for that matter - you'll need to email me direct to get this special deal. click here

These are the details you must provide us in your email -
Phone number or a Paypal email address for payment purposes
Your shipping address
Size/Style requested
**Shipping/handling charges will be around $6 for 1 pair and $9 for two.

To sweeten the deal (and prepare for upcoming Halloween) Cutie Pa Tutus has made a matching TUTU! Isn't it adorable? Interested in pairing the shoes with the tutu? These are regularly priced at $38, she's selling them to you lucky peeps for only $23. Mention Monkey-Toes when you email them and you'll get the discount.

Small Business - A Word to the Wise

2010-08-23T13:04:00.000-06:00

In the past few months I've seen some businesses, that I do business with, get burned by internet/email scams for large wholesale orders. That sucks! They not only lose out on inventory, but they lose money & their precious time too.

I thought I would write up a quick post to help you distinguish one of these scams...And NOTE - I've been burned and had to learn the hard way too.

This email is straight out of my inbox..

"Hello sales,
I will love to purchase from you but before I can do that I will like to know whether you can ship product's to Asia (Korea) and to know more about your market and to also know your mode of payment because I will be making payment with my credit card, so please i will be expecting to hear from you soon for me to place my order. AND MY ADDRESS IS:

103-103 Yangwoo Apt,
323 Sosadong Sosaku Buncheon City
Kyunggido
Korea

Note: I need your product website

Regards"

Let's break this baby down:

1) Aside from the giant run-on sentence (if you can look past it), the fact that they can only make payment via credit card should clue you in - they are frauds. Don't EVER do this! What many new business owners don't know is that you are not protected from international fraud if and when the chargeback occurs. People, they are using stolen credit cards. A lot of times they will want to make 2 separate payments with 2 different credit card numbers. Even Paypal payments can be sketchy.

2) The "Note" at the bottom should also give you a major smack in the noggin that they are sending these blanket emails to any email address they can get their hands on and have no idea what your products are. They don't care what your products are. They want your goodies and they want to use stolen credit card numbers to get it. If you end up having a conversation with them and get an order, they will politely ask that you ship it quickly (because it will take about 2-3 weeks for the actual credit card holder to find out that their info has been stolen and report it to their bank). By then they will have your product and you will be out everything. The money will be automatically retrieved from your bank account and will NOT be returned to you. Even if you prove you shipped the product - YOU LOSE!

Things you can do to verify if/if not a company is legit -

Have the "company" fill out a new vendor application. Ask for their information up front and in return let them know that they must pay you with a wire transfer upon order placement. Yes, you do have to give out your bank account information (you can get your wire transfer information from your bank), but they cannot withdraw money from your account, only transfer money into it. Make sure this money is sitting in your account BEFORE you begin pulling or creating their order. Don't waste your time. This step should deter anyone who is not legit.

I know the prospect of receiving really large orders is exciting (especially in this economy)! There are plenty of international businesses that are wanting your fabulous product. These scams have ruined it for them. Protect yourself. Say upfront what you need to get moving on the order (and stand by it!). If they don't want to follow your policies - you don't want to do business with them.

Remember, you are building a relationship and you are NOT desperate (they can totally smell it). Good luck!

Have you been scammed before? Share the story here and spread awareness.

How do I love Thee?? Let me count the (Givea) ways...

2010-08-13T07:42:00.000-06:00

Many of you who follow me on Twitter know that I have an obsession with sweets. Thankfully, I am NOT alone in this department - I share my sweet tooth with my #sweettootholympics buddy Sweet Harper (@sweetharper). We're constantly tweeting about our latest sugar highs and cravings.

I thought I'd share my sweet tooth love's fun products with you because it's back to school season. And who doesn't love new hair accessories for school? (um, I can't think of anyone!) Check out Sweet Harper's etsy shop for amazing clippies for your daughter - they are the cutest things around.

We received these fabulous headbands from our Twitter BFF, aren't they great?

Rose's words exactly "Oh MY Gosh, Mom!!! These are the cutest things I have EVER seen in my whole entire life" (I think she liked them?!)

Ella's favorite colors are blue/brown. Sweet Harper did a fabulous job capturing that!

So here's the fun...
It's a Double Whammy giveaway. You've got two shots to win - here and there. So get your contest fingers ready for our very first giveaway!!

In honor of Back to School Sweet Harper & Monkey-Toes are giving away prizes on both of our websites. Sweet Harper will give you a $20 store credit to go crazy, and Monkey-Toes is giving away a pair of your favorite shoes (valued at $37.50). If you love them, and us, the contest details are below...Folks, it's super easy!!

Mandatory entries (there are 2) -
1 - Go to Sweet Harpers Etsy Shop and tell us what your favorite item is, leave 1 comment below
2 - Go to Monkey-Toes website and tell us what your favorite item is, leave 1 comment below

For additional entries (make sure you leave individual comments below for each entry - and more chances to win)
1- Follow Monkey-Toes on Twitter
2 - Follow Sweet Harper on Twitter
3 - Follow the Monkey-Toes blog (super easy, you're here already, so click on the right)
4 - Follow Sweet Harper's blog (you won't regret it!)
5 - Tweet about this giveaway and make sure you include @monkeytoesshoes & @Sweetharper in your tweet. Cut and paste the link below

And remember, Sweet Harper is doing the SAME giveaway on her blog...Go over and enter that one too - you're already half way there.

Contest Ends Friday August 20, 2010 at 11:59 pm CST. Open to US & Canada residents only. Tracy from Sweet Harper sent those gorgeous headbands for free for us to review, love her!

Show and Tell

2010-08-04T22:47:00.001-06:00

I cannot believe I am about to reveal to you the pics of the room in which I am working amongst. Can you say - shoe VOMIT? As I was sitting in the "packaging station" (image 3) I was looking around thinking... "oh my gosh! Someone has to see this. It's like Hurricane Monkey came crashing through my office". This is what I'm working with folks, it's not pretty, but it's real.

This is the view from my door..Scenic, isn't it? (if you love the view of large empty boxes waiting to be filled with orders shipping out to stores). PS. The clock on the wall over my desk has never read the correct time. I have never set it. I never look at it. It's there because I needed something to fill the space. There, I said it.

Looking to the left of the door - this is many things...One being, an order going to Israel, awaiting packaging by yours truly. You see that mish-mashed unorganized looking board above it? Those are our family goals. If you can look really closely I've got the O List, trips to many exotic places, my hubs has a motorcycle and many other fun things we dream of one day.

See that pillow laying on top of the order going to Israel? That's a project I started weeks ago, just haven't had the chance to finish. I need to put a stitch in that pillow to seal it up - it's going on the back porch - my new indoor-outside space, soooo cozy. And that table full of crap? Well, that's a whole bunch of stuff that needs a home. Filing, a birthday hat, my dear Ella made me, the baby monitor, etc. It's kinda like a junk drawer, minus the drawer and add a giant table. UGH!

When you move past my desk (if you can make it without tripping over shipments for tomorrow) you'll see my "packaging area" and the inventory "warehouse". This is where I spend many hours on the floor packaging all those cute little shoesies. Yes, I package EACH AND EVERY ONE of the shoes that go out our door. The "warehouse" shelves that you are seeing is only a portion of the inventory I keep on hand. There are three other walls, plus the walk-in closet that house the shoes and our supplies. That big pile of shoes there to your right is an order that needs to be packaged for a store in Canada (I love that international stores find us!).

If you CAN turn to the right (I know, it's totally messy!), you'll see more inventory and a painting station. Yes, I do still paint a couple of the styles. I personally hand paint the bees and the pigs. I've held on to the bees, well not by choice, but because they can take 3-4 coats of paint and require a lot of time, love and patience (which I don't have much of, but those Buzzy's and I work together). It's been difficult for me to find a painter who will do them justice...so I continue on. And it's late right now, so Kate Plus 8 is on the TV. This is how I catch up with TV shows at night while I work. Most the time I'm not even paying attention - I think it makes me feel like I've got an office full of people around me.

So that's it, people! That's my office. I am not proud of the mess, but I have to tell you that it's all I can do right now to stay afloat with a baby who now crawls (and gets into EVERYTHING) while I work. I have to prioritize. So I have an office FULL of unfinished projects and me (a giant stressball) sitting either on the floor, at my desk, or at the painting station just doing what I can to get it all done.

I'm totally a proj-a-holic. I've got a million projects either in my head or half-way finished, usually because I get distracted by a wee one whose name rhymes with SHMOSCAR. Tis the life (and office) of a home based entrepreneur, mommy and wifey.

Ok, I've procrastinated enough, I've gotta get back to Tazmanian devil-in it up in my office, I've got HUGE messes to make!

How many unfinished projects do you have around your office? (Please, please tell me I'm not the only one!!!)

A little {Online} shopping secret

2010-08-03T10:56:00.000-06:00

Raise your hand if you hate paying retail for anything. (Oh! Oh! ME! ME!) And raise your hand if you LOVE to shop online, but dislike the shipping charges, handling charges, putting the store owners kid through college charges, etc, etc? (again, COUNT ME IN!) I've got a little secret to share with you www.RetailMeNot.com.

5 Simple steps to getting what you want...and at a fabulous discount!
1. Shop online and find something amazing that you cannot live without (I know this one is gonna be tough)
2. Go to www.RetailMeNot.com and enter the website into the search box
3. Be magically blown away by the coupon codes it will provide to you for that website
4. Go back to your favorite website and enter the code upon checking out
5. Happiness will arrive on your doorstep

Now there, I saved you money. You can thank me later!

Tell me, what is your online shopping secret??

PS - I was not compensated by the above mentioned company for talking about their fabulous service. I just thought I'd share the great resource. Not all companies will have a discount code to redeem. But you check it out and see for yourself!

What Goes with Monkey-Toes....Seriously, does it get any cuter?

2010-07-26T15:28:00.000-06:00

It's funny, now that I'm shopping for a baby boy, I find myself "peeking" onto the baby girl side of stores, just to see what the collections are looking like. And I am totally brought back to swooning sensations over all of the adorable little dresses, rompers and bubble outfits for summer. ho hum. But I have to bring myself back to reality, as I know my husband would be totally annoyed if I started dressing our boy like a girl...

At least I can share it with you...all of you with cute little girls to dress. These were my faves at the Gap (@Gap)over the weekend (images from Gap.com
). And guess what?! They would pair deliciously with our Little Ladies mary janes or tennis shoes.


Smocked floral tank & bloomers set


Embroidered flower tank dress

Little Ladies Mary Janes

Little Ladies Tennis Shoes

And lucky YOU, this Capetown Collection is on SALE over at the Gap.com. And since I'm feeling all nostalgic - I'll give you 20% off any Monkey-Toes products - enter the code: GAPBLOG and you'll receive the discount when you check out :) (until Monday August 2, 2010)

I will live vicariously through you...

{Road Trip Part 1} What a Grand Canyon!

2010-07-23T16:41:00.000-06:00

They really weren't lying when they named that giant chasm in the middle of nowhere, The Grand Canyon...We took off on a road trip to Arizona and along the way stopped at the Grand Canyon to see one of the earths wonders. I hadn't seen it since I was a child and honestly couldn't remember it if I tried (though that's no feat anymore, I have a hard time remembering anything). But I do have pics of my brother and I scarily close to the edge of the canyon when we were just tots - let's be honest, we really didn't care.

That photo was probably taken close to the same location as this one of my daughters (Ella 8, Rose 9). It's fun to think that the kiddos might one day take their kids to the same location and shoot pics very similar to ours...and on and on and on!

Unfortunately, there was a fire below which created a giant haze above the canyon, which you can see at the top of the pic. Looks very simliar to a city I know (cough, cough *Los Angeles* cough). But nontheless, it was still beautiful.

We've now been back for about 2 weeks (I'M A BLOGGING SLACKER), and I promise I will share the rest of our trip with you next week.

What was your most memorable vacation as a kid? Was it by plane, train or automobile? Share with me :)

Caterpillar Crawling

2010-07-20T09:46:00.000-06:00

Oh! My! Gosh! Oscar is getting closer and closer every day to crawling around. The hubs and I captured his "Caterpillar Crawling" (you'll see why I named it that in the video) over the weekend on our handy dandy little Flip camera.

He's gonna rub a bald spot on the front of his head if this keeps up...

How old was your baby when they started moving about? And what did they do first?

What goes with Monkey-Toes

2010-07-15T12:34:00.000-06:00

I've got a boy now, and since he can't wear dresses (obviously) during the summer I am all about ROMPERS! They just look so comfy on little tykes. I found the most adorable rompers from Tea Collection and guess what? They match with Monkey-Toes!!

How adorable is this...

...and better yet, the romper is on SALE for $17.50 (reg $25) online at Tea Collection .

What do you love dressing your kiddos in in the summer?

Weekend Project - Tweet Tweet

2010-07-04T11:24:00.000-06:00

Wall words are pretty popular these days and I have to admit, I've got some in my house too - just above a family photo in the hallway (minus Oscar, but if you look REAL close, that's not bloat - he's in there).

The saying "All you need is Love" is inspired by the Beatles (I do not take responsibility for this song running through your head night and day now)...

I'm truly not an artist.. Ya, I can come up with creative ideas and skate by to get a good prototype, but for the most part I leave the true work and details to my very talented artists. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the masterpiece I was able to create on my own in Rose's room. We decorated her room in pink and brown for her birthday last year and when I saw these adorable little birds and bird cage, I couldn't resist. BUT - I could resist the $60 price tag that came with the cute little vinyl stickers! So I decided I could paint these myself...and I did. I figured if I messed up the walls that bad I could paint over it, right?

Here's my sneaky little secret...tracing paper! Yep! I printed out the image that I liked, blew it up and used tracing paper to transfer it to the wall. Found some colors I liked (who doesn't LOVE pink little birdies??) in acrylic paints and voila - after a few coats of paint it looked fabulous!

The part I love the most is its "tweet" little imperfections.

Final Result...

I surprised Rose with the finished product - she adored it! What project in your house are you most proud of? Share a link with me...

PS - don't think you can attempt this project yourself? You can purchase those cute little birdies online here

HOW TO: The Ladybug Birthday

2010-06-28T21:20:00.002-06:00

We're constantly getting calls and emails for a last minute Little Ladies shoes for a birthday party! Who woulda thought, our little ladybug shoes would be the finishing touch to a cute little ladybug themed birthday party. We're so honored to be a guest at each and every one of those cutie patutie parties. And with so many requests I decided to recruit The Indie Tot's (@theindietot) very own Erika Pitera to show us HOW TO throw your very own ladybug party. Whether you're crafty or not I know YOU can do it :). Enjoy...

If you’re looking for a children’s birthday party theme that’s simple, fun and guaranteed to be a smashing success, try planning your party around a ladybug theme! For those of us who aren’t so crafty, a ladybug theme is really easy to shop for and decorate. You can do a lot with simple, inexpensive store-bought decorations, but if you really want the party to pop, give some of these ideas a try.

Invitations

(1) Once you get an idea of how many children to invite, you can find plenty of sources for customized and personalized birthday party invitations. I particularly like vanillaink’s Ladybug Custom Birthday Invitation because the shop will customize the design to fit any message you want.
Then, within 24-48 hours, you’ll get an e-mail proof. Once you give the okay, you’ll receive a high resolution file via e-mail that you can take to any professional printing store or print at home. It’s simple, affordable and great for last-minute planning!

Partyware

(2) With solid red and black partyware, you can create a cute ladybug theme with relatively little effort. Plates and Napkins, for example, offers solid red and solid black plastic utensils, plastic or paper plates, crepe paper streamers, tablecovers, etc. You can mix and match the solid colors and then accent with the red and black polka dot balloons.
If you purchase extra red paper plates and some craft store staples like glue sticks, felt, wiggle eyes, etc., you can even let the kids make their own paper plate ladybug crafts (click here for some ideas).

Sweets

(3) Thanks to Wilton’s Lady Bug Cake Pan, you can even have a sweet little ladybug birthday cake!
If you’re not up to baking a cake, there are plenty of options online for ladybug-themed cupcake wrappers or even edible fondant cupcake toppers.

Outfits

(4) You can really let your little one be the star of her birthday party with a pair of Little Ladies MJs from Monkey-Toes. These adorable little handpainted Mary Janes are for infants and toddlers and feature an elastic buckle for easy on and off. You can also try the Little Ladies Tennis Shoes with springy laces!

(5) Monkey-Toes can easily pair with a simple red and black outfit, but if you want to go one step further, check out the Miss Ladybug Tutu Costume from PoshTots. It includes a handcrafted red prima ballerina tutu with black polka dots, a pair of polka dot wings, fur antennae and a ladybug wand!
If you’re feeling up to a craft project, you can make antennae for all of your little guests fairly easily. You’ll need thin headbands, ribbon, pipe cleaners and red or black pom poms (click here for instructions).

Handmade Ladybug Party Goods

In our recent feature of handmade ladybug party goods on Etsy, we found some adorable party favors and invitations. Click here to check out our finds!
These are just a few tips to help you with your party planning. A quick search of the Web will surely help you find even more ideas to prepare for the party.

With a little creativity and a lot of love, you can throw a fabulous birthday bash for your little ladybug!

What other themes are popular right now? Share your favorite...

(FFF) My secret (fashion) weapon

2010-06-24T07:30:00.000-06:00

You ever get the nerve up to purchase an article of clothing that is uber expensive, proudly wear it a few times and within the next month or two it's sooooo two-thousand and late? (thanks Fergie for the quote) I'm gonna spill the beans on a site I truly love. Mainly because I really don't like paying retail for things, especially clothing that is trendy. All I gotta say, is you better not steal the stuff I want...15 Dollar Store is one of my fave online shopping sites. They actually carry brands that I've heard of - Rampage (adore), Romeo & Juliet Couture (Love) and Chinese Laundry (can't live without) - and yes, you guessed it, it's all $15 each (hence the 15 Dollar Store name, duh).

I recently wore an adorable strapless hot pink, black and silver bubble dress I purchased online (yep, for 15 bucks, have I hit that home yet?) to a wedding. Got so many compliments on it and I will be thrilled to wear it again. I've also purchased a fun top for a night on the town...tons of compliments on that one too. Whether you're looking for stuff to lounge around in, go to work in or head out for a little GNO - this is your place. You can browse daily because it's constantly being updated.

Some recent finds that I'm eying are this Romeo & Juliet Silk Peasant Blouse

And oh my, this Double Breasted Gingham Jacket *SWOON*

I swear every time I am on this site I find more and more obsessions! And seriously, if you find something you like - BUY IT! It may not be there again when you return.

(I will warn you, I believe these sizes run a little smaller, so order larger. I bought a pair of skinny jeans online and will be waiting to lose the extra baby weight before I can sausage my butt into them.)

I've shared my secret (fashion) weapon...What's yours?

Mom of the Month - June!

2010-06-17T10:14:00.000-06:00

Of all the hats I wear on a daily basis, the one that I'm most proud of, which challenges me the most, but also brings me the most reward, is the Mom hat. (Well, and wifey too, but only 1 person can give out that award). So I was thrilled, flabbergasted and honored (yes, all the at the same time) when Cupcake Mag /Sprinkles (@cupcakemag) offered me the title of Mom of the Month for June. We absolutely adore Cupcake Mag /Sprinkles (Casi) for her delicious style, the Etsy finds (addicted), and the love and support Casi offers me on a daily basis. Plus I think she thinks I'm the funniest person in the world and laughs at all my jokes, which totally makes me a fan of hers.

Read "A Day in the life of Moi!" over at Cupcake Mag/Sprinkles. And if you're so inclined, follow the blog, you WON'T regret it!!

Do you have one??

2010-06-13T11:10:00.000-06:00

I've heard so much about these 1 cup brewing systems and wonder if anyone out there owns one? I think it would be fabulous to have 1 cup brewed just for me...it would make me feel oh so special in the midst of my sluggish mornings.

Cupcake Mag (@CupcakeMag - whom we love, oh so much!) is giving one Keurig Brewing System away on her blog....Do you have one? Whattya think?

I'm gonna brag (part deux)

2010-06-10T10:24:00.000-06:00

About a month ago I posted the Mother's Day gift I received from Ella (read it here). Kids are so unfiltered and so precious. Of course I cannot leave out the thoughtful gift from my other daughter, Rose (9). Along with a copy of her class picture, she gave me a book with a lovely letter and a story about helping me. It always amazes me what kids pick up on, not thinking that they will ever remember, or even cared about a particular event or gift. But they are definitely little "sponges". This story turned out to be more about her helping me (which in my book is a wonderful Mother's Day gift - any day of the week!) than it was about how I made her feel. Apparently, it make her feel super special to take the lead.
Rose's story reads:

"One time when I helped my mom was when I woke up early and got dressed, fed my dog Tate, and then quietly woke up Ella, my sister. After I woke up Ella, I went up stairs and packed the lunches. I packed a PB and J sandwich, some pretzels, 2 cuties (oranges, and a bag of M&M's. What I felt when my mom woke up and I told her what I did - I really felt her thanking me because my mom just had a baby and she wakes up like, 3 times each night. I tried to get her to go back to sleep but she said no! And I poured her coffee and my step dad came back and he was so happy that we got to go to the mall and pick out lunch from the food bank (this was supposed to read "court" ha! ha!) at the mall. And I thought that my mom would just tell my step dad that "Rose woke up early and packed the lunches" But no. My step dad really said when we were eating lunch "Thank you so much for helping your mom. I really do appreciate it!". I took that as 2 whole thank yous, just because I packed the lunches. I thought it would be no big deal. But my mom and step dad took it very deeply and seriously. And now I just really want to squeeze my mom and my step dad because they thanked me for just packing lunches."

Wow! I had no idea she would love picking out her own lunch at the food bank, errr, food court (ha! ha!) so much. It was definitely something she remembered. And of course, I remember that morning and how much it meant to me to have her help. Rose is going to be a good little mommy when she grows up!

(FFF) In case you were wondering

2010-06-04T07:25:00.001-06:00

The crazy thing about hair is it can make or break you...your mood that is. I know that if I've just had my hair done, I don't want to go home because it will seem like a waste. I try to schedule more to do afterward to show off the lovely locks - lunch with a friend, dinner out, etc. I love a good hair product and I've been wondering about the new line of goodies from, yes, Goody (@GoodyHair).

So I did it, I made a last minute decision to run to Target to check out the Goody selection, with mainly one item on my hair (ok, mind) - the Spin Pins. I was thinking that a cute, messy, loose, up-do would be adorable with the dress I was planning to wear.

Two words - loved them! I've got fairly fine hair, but lots of it, so it took some hairspray and teasing (Texas style) to get the pins stuck into my hair in a way that I wouldn't be fidgiting with them all night. But it was SUPER easy. I even threw a braid in for a little more dimension.

All in all, I am thrilled with my $6 purchase and will be using them again...just in case you were wondering about these...

I had no other choice

2010-06-02T21:01:00.000-06:00

I had to post this picture of Oscar...

Let me eat CAKE...

2010-06-01T10:28:00.000-06:00

There is something about having a baby that throws me back to simpler times, crafting, sewing and preparing foods from scratch (okay, my husband would say these are more complicated times - but whatev). I turn to the ultimate mom, Martha Stewart (@MarthaStewart), for inspiration. I love baking from scratch too - though I do still love the boxed mix brownies too *Martha gasps* (see the ultimate "Brookie" recipe here, I just made this..and YUM! @Bakerella). I LOVE making my own baby food too - not for me, silly, for Oscar. And since my boy won't take a supplemental bottle of formula (at night, I do this so I can get some solid zzzzz's) I even make him coconut milk. My food processor is getting a workout these days.

Summertime reminds me of this cake - I have made it for several baby showers I've hosted. It's light, it's lemony, and it is divine... And you don't have to be a pro at decorating either - simply dust it with some powdered sugar and add your own touch of sweet little daisies (or any flowers for that matter, edible pansies would be great too) around it - plus it covers any cake imperfections. It seriously makes a gorgeous centerpiece to any meal or party.

Martha's Lemon Angel Food Cake recipe can be found in her cookbook "The Martha Stewart Cookbook, Collected Recipes for Every Day" page 510 (find it on Amazon here). Or send me a note with your email and I can send the recipe directly to you.

The glass cake plate/punch bowl can be found at Williams-Sonoma (LOVE this! And use it for everything.) Right now, mine is full of those Brookies slathered in chocolate Ganache - not for long though :).IDEA: how yummy would this cake be served with a dollop of raspberry sorbet, I'm sooo trying it next time I make it. mmmmmmmmmmmmm.... And make sure you put a sweet little flower bud on each plate when you serve it to your friends. They'll love you for it.

What's your fave summer treat? Share the recipe with us.

What goes with Monkey-Toes,,,

2010-05-20T12:59:00.006-06:00

I'm beaming with excitement. Any of you out there with businesses revolving around children can probably relate. When your child is actually able to wear or use the product that you've created - it's a really exciting moment. I am now slapping Monkey-Toes on this child as much as I possibly can!! And what better advertising??

Since the day my mom bought these little plaid shorts from The Gap, I've had visions of Silly Monkey's running through my head. It just happened to be a nice day out (ya, in May, here in Denver it's been snowing. ICK), my husband dressed the little guy in his brown plaid shorts and Carter's "Hero in Training" shirt (last season and no longer available) and we were off - outside to snap some pics of the event. His first Silly Monkey event, that is! (No, I'm not a proud mama at all!)(I was not compensated for any products mentioned/pictured, I just personally love them...)

What is your biz? And what was the first thing you were able to put or use on your child? How did that make ya feel?

Fab find FRIDAY!!! (FFF) Easy does it.

2010-05-20T11:43:00.009-06:00

I really like sharing products and services I love especially if they save me time and money. No, I have not been given free product to test and I am also not being paid for these items - they are 100% my finds that I enjoy the heck out of and I bet you would too.

I often dream of getting weekly/bi-weekly, heck once every 6 month-ly mani/pedi's, but let's face it - with three kiddos time and money can often be the set back. And honestly, if I'm getting a mani, I get frustrated because all I really want to do is read a smutty tabloid - uh, have you tried turning the pages with your mouth or toes? And once I'm done getting my nails done - I'm a huge clutz and usually wreck them the moment I leave the salon - OY!

So instead of dropping the $30-$60 smackers on having someone else do it, I thought - I'll go get my own polish instead. My venture turned out better than I could have imagined - Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color (and might I add - in Funky Fuschia - which is Fuschia FABULOUS). For less than $7, I had a mani AND a pedi and in minutes my nasty feet and hands looked like a pro did it. Ahh, and I never wrecked them because it dried so fast that even when Oscar woke up from his nap 10 minutes later, I was able to grab him without worry of wreckage. Another great thing - if you have squirmy girls, like I do, that like to have their nails done like mom (or dad - I'm not judging), voila! They are free to run wild after only a minute because they'll dry in less time than that.

My pedi is going on 3 weeks now without sight of a chip in it! I found this polish at Target, but you can find it pretty much everywhere - just check out the store finder on the Sally Hansen website.

What do you love that helps you feel pretty - and in a jiffy?

I'm gonna brag (part un)

2010-05-13T08:04:00.005-06:00

I LOVE the little projects I get from my kiddos. They are usually pretty well thought out from the teachers (usually the art teacher) at school. I've got all their little nick-nacks displayed on my end-table shelves for any of our guests to look at. This year I was so pleasantly surprised to receive sweet sentiments from my girls. I want to share with you Ella's little love "book". She was so proud to hand the book to me and point out her best pictures and why she chose the order she did.

The most charming part of her gift was the card, which reads:

Happy Mother's Day!
Dear Mom, You look after me like I'm an egg in your nest.
I need you to keep me warm and cozy.
I love you with all my heart!
Love, Ella

Such darling words from my dear girl - she totally makes my heart smile.

What did your kiddos make you?