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giving back...

I found a couple of good deals today. I heart google reader. :)

Origins offers a recycle program now. Bring in ANY empty cosmetic cases and they will give you a free sample of one of their products. hm... wish I didn't throw away some recent cases.

MAC also offers a recycle program. If you recycle 6 cases - lipstick, foundation, eye shadow, etc., they will give you a free lipstick as long as its not one of their special ones. I can't seem to find any solid link to their website with this info, but if you go to any MAC cosmetic counter and ask them, they'll agree. [They even offered this to me in Korea, so it may be universal!]

And lastly, I found this site: Freecycle. It lets you reach out to others in your local area to see if they have something that they aren't using but you can use. One man's trash is another man's treasure!

some more fabric loving...

purchased these at the Chicago Craft Mafia show on Saturday for a whopping $4.50... it's not a lot of fabric, probably equivalates to 1 yard total, but I was looking for some yellow, so it all worked out. :)

psssssssssssst....

I heard through the grapevine that Target stores will receive more shipments of Orla Kiely's line sometime in April!

I'm hoping to get my hands on this!

where are you?

we had a crazy snowstorm on saturday evening and woke up to this. I was completely shocked to hear the storm because it sounded like a hailstorm for a few hours. doesn't it kind of look like the snow is cotton?

[it's a little hazy bc I didn't want to step outside just yet!]

missing you...

rolling...

I've always loved patterned tape. Here are a few that I still have from about 15 years ago. I couldn't find a good enough reason to use them... ok, I just wanted to hoard them for myself. :) I like how the bottom one has a little cutter. It works well on that roll of tape but isn't wide enough for the other ones.

I found the rest of these on my trip and couldn't resist. I figured if I bought enough of them and had an abundance, I would use them this time. Maybe I should have gone for the entire pack..

Some MT Paper Washi:

:top to bottom: monopolydesign, unknown, o-check, o-check:

:Good enough to put on some packages and attach a tag as well:

I couldn't resist and used it on my wall... who needs thumbtacks now?

baby penelope [part 2]

[the amazing spread of food]

[the water bottles - i have a tutorial to come later on]

[yummy cupcakes with the little flags]

[party favors - a little palmier treat for all of the guests]

Penelope, Mommy, and Daddy received a lot of goodies!

baby penelope

Back in January, friends and a sister-in-law gathered together to throw baby Penelope a wonderful shower! I helped with the design aspect and she did the rest!

[invitations]

[decorations - she did an amazing job with the pom poms! I wish I had asked for some... I could use some around my office for some inspiration...]
 

[banner - welcome little one]

[the loot!]

baby shower banners

I've been on the hunt for baby shower banners. With all of the baby showers coming up in the next 6 months, I figured I should do some more research on them.

So cute and what a clever idea: using cupcake liners!

a simple way of using some leftover paper with punches. You can use the punched out paper as well as the scrap it came from!

a great way of showing off party favors that guests can grab on the way out! [this was actually displayed at their shop]

[courtesy of 1. dandeedesigns.blogspot 2. and 3. loulouaddictshop.canalblog]

Here are some other ones.

gp

 

I discovered Gwyneth Paltrow's blog a few weeks ago but actually had the chance to sift through her site... It's really cute! I might say that it's hard to maneuver at first, but I think signing up for the weekly newsletter will help.

Sign up here!

I'm going to try to make these this week... just need some ripened bananas!

[images courtesy of goop.com]

yum....

The weather was beautiful in Chicago over the weekend. On Saturday, my girlfriends and I went to eat at Toro in the city. I didn't take any pictures, but it's definitely a place I want to visit again! It was fresh and so filling! The place was constantly busy which is always a good sign.

We walked around the area for a bit and wound up right back near Toro at Molly's Cupcakes. The venue is so cute!

We picked up some cupcakes and vegged at my friend's place a few blocks away. She made us some refreshing iced coffees with the Instant Starbuck's coffee... I think I'm sold!