Matilda Jane SALE Alert!

Sound the horns!!! THIS FRIDAY ONLY (Black Friday) - ALL Matilda Jane clothing and accessories, including their Platinum line, will be available to order online at 30% OFF! Check it out while you can still order online without having a trunk show. Folks, this is a brand that never goes on sale! Below you will find the links for each of their lines available for order - only certain sizes remain, so grab yours Friday while they last.

• Matilda Jane Back to School Line

• Matilda Jane Gypsy Blue Line

• Matilda Jane Sparkletown Line (Holiday)

• Matilda Jane Platinum Line

Please enter TRUNK KEEPER ID 187 when you check out for my fabulous trunk keeper (and friend) Sara.

(Image courtesy of Matilda Jane Clothing)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

To those who are celebrating today - enjoy the day! GIVE THANKS for everything you have, big and small.

Today, I am thankful for:
• My faith
• My family
• My friends, near and far
• My freedom
• My health
• A roof over my head
• The lessons my 2 year old continues to teach me (patience, forgiveness, understanding, gratitude, happiness...)
• The delight of a surprise snowfall and the genuine delight of a 2 year old seeing it fall from the heavens
• Food on my table
• Opportunities abound

We must learn to never take anything for granted. Each and every day, take a few minutes both morning and night, to say thanks to God - with Him all things are possible.

The Six Minute Logo Challenge...

...may be a bore to some of you; however, being in the world of design, logo identification is a MUST. If a logo is easy to remember, it's a winner and well designed. Do you have just six minutes? I double dog dare you. My results, you ask? I happily got 33 out of 36. The three I missed, I doubt I would have gotten with another six minutes to think about it.

International readers may have a bit of a challenge as they are US logos...but you may surprise yourself too! If you can't spell the name, just sound it out...you have six minutes. And no cheating ;) Have fun with it. And once you've mastered this quiz, go on to the next one - it's a bit more difficult (you do get a bit more time). Have fun!

(Image courtesy of Sporcle)

New Issue of LMNOP Available for Download

Subscribe to LMNOP magazine online and get your free downloads of their new issues! All issues can be found by clicking here. Ever wonder why the issues available in our 'cold' months picture summer items and warm weather? The magazine hails from Australia, mates - and their seasons are opposite ours. Interesting, eh?

(Image courtesy of LMNOP)

Home SAFE Home

(click on image to download guide)

Kudos to the folks that put this safety pictorial out for the holidays (I was lucky enough to catch this on the Chicago news tonight and wanted to share it with you)...please, take the time to download it especially if you have any children in your home either as your own or as visitors. The guide highlights all the recalled items (toys, furniture, clothing, etc.) from the past year.

Reminder: make sure if you shop second hand stores or online sites like ebay or craigslist, that you are cross-referencing this handy list to ensure you are not purchasing any recalled items. All retailers, both large and small, are *supposed* to be adhering to the recall notices and pulling the items from their shelves. However, online policing of these items is much more difficult which means individual consumers much be more diligent with arming themselves with vital safety information. You can also sign up to receive recall information via email at the CPSC site here. You are able to specify or filter what categories from which you receive information.

Educate yourselves and your loved ones - happy shopping and be sure to look through your current belongings to ensure safety is met! DOWNLOAD your own guide HERE!!

(Image courtesy of the Illinois Attorney General site)

Friends Don't Let Friends Pay Retail

Seriously...here is another fantabulous site for you to visit - Haute Look. It is similar to the site where I got my Orla Kiely bag for dirt cheap...so check it out! You can join for free and browse as you wish...they list their sales, current and coming, so you're always informed. Plus the timing couldn't be better - hit the sales before Black Friday comes and goes...all from your chair at home in your pjs...no long lines, no elbow bumping, no thumb-wrestling for the last Tickle Me Elmo (does that happen?)...anyway, you get the idea.

Don't waste any more time - they have great sales going on like COACH and Plan Toys right now! Check it out at Haute Look and never pay retail again!

(Image courtesy of Haute Look)

Twilight or New Moon?

We just watched Twilight the other week - I know, way late, right?! However, it's perfect timing as I am looking forward to seeing the next movie in the Twilight Saga - New Moon...hoping it's better than the first. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Twilight, but parts of it were not as expected. Some parts dragged out, but boy did they get that high school awkwardness right (painfully awkward to watch) - I felt like I was back in the late 80's/early 90's (now I've dated myself, great...). I've heard and read reviews that the second movie does not disappoint, but we will be the judge...tomorrow. We're hoping to sneak in a matinee and enjoy it firsthand.

Can't get enough of Bella or Edward or the rest of the vamp gang? Download some cool desktop wallpapers here and enjoy their presence eternally.

Have you seen it already? Did you like it? How did it rate to the first one? And here's the big question...are you Team Jacob or Team Edward? Inquiring minds want to know...cast your vote for fun in our poll found in our righthand sidebar.

(Image courtesy of Twilight the Movie)

Santa Stopped Really Early...or Orla Kiely?

Whatever way you say it, Santa got a deal! Remember my post Wonderful Weekend Wardrobe? Do you see the awesome Orla Kiely cross-hatch stem large tote in my style board? After weeks and weeks of searching for a price that wouldn't break our bank, my persistence has paid off and I scored this exceptional tote for 60% off retail pricing - yes, you heard me right...it's a tad over $100 OFF the retail price. An extra benjamin in the bank is never a bad thing...no sir. I about fell off my chair and had to refresh my screen a few times to ensure I wasn't wishfully daydreaming. I wasn't. Here is my beauty that should be arriving via UPS in the very near future. Look out UPS man - you may just get a hug out of this delivery :)

Are you wondering how I was able to snag such a deal? Well, keep reading. I joined the Gilt Groupe; it's free to become a member and most of their sales are up to 70% off brand name and designer goods. From my Orla story, you can believe what I'm saying! So hurry and click on the link to join and become a member. You'll be glad you did and so will your wallet. Enjoy some Gilt (free) shopping like me!!!

(image courtesy of Orla Kiely)

GAP Give and Get = Shopping Karma

I absolutely LOVE this promo - it's a great idea and I participate in it every year. GAP offers a Give and Get coupon - 30% off of anything for 4 days - with 5% going to the charity of YOUR choice (they have a group you get to pick from and they are all worthy charities). You can send an invite to participate to 25 of your friends - if they buy, 5% of their purchase will be donated to that charity of your choice. Although 5% isn't a ton, there is a domino effect going on here and as they say, every little bit adds up.

I urge you to participate in this when it rolls around next time - keep your eyes peeled. Here's a sampling for what I got for just about $60 with the 30% OFF! Three basic layering shirts for me (came to $8.75 for the Favorite tees and $10.50 for the gray super soft tee), uber cute legwarmers for Miss Gabi (hello, $7!) and some new cologne for the hubs (under $20). Right now, they have an online special running through November 22nd. Get 25% off your entire purchase (regularly priced items only) by entering GIFT123 at checkout (some exclusions apply - check the website for full details).


(Images courtesy of GAP)

NEW Papier Mache Issue Ready to Read

Let your mouse do the walking and enjoy the new issue of Papier Mache online. Beautiful photography and fabulous products in this issue. Enjoy it on a break or after the kids are down for bed. Subscribe for free here and get notifications direct to your inbox of their newest issues available.

Jane of the Jungle

So, I was a Jane the other weekend. Yup. I hosted my first Matilda Jane party and LOVED it. I had a fabulous trunk keeper come to my house with all her goodies and wowed my guests with her adorable wardrobe and accessory options. And trust me, there are a ton of them! Here are some samples of what my Gabrielle will soon have in her closet...she has a better wardrobe than I do! But that is OK - things seem to look so much cuter on her...and Matilda Jane fabrics and construction are unmatched - there are a lot of copy-cats out there or look alikes to this brand, but they just do not compare. Their knit fabric is so incredibly soft and Denise picks the BEST fabric combinations - every line that is released coordinates with the previous or next - it's great!

So check it out!!! But I'm warning you - if you've never been exposed to Matilda Jane, it's a life changing experience...I'm addicted to them! Either you love them or you hate them...I happen to be in the love them, love them, love them group...so here's some eye candy of our newest additions. Have fun!

(images courtesy of Matilda Jane Clothing)

Long time, no see...we're back!

Where does the time go? Well, last you heard we were packing up, had sold our house and moved. We are settling in...but not too much as we're unsure of whether or not we'll have to move because of a job offer. There are a few things in the works, some local or close where we would not need to move in the short term...and some are quite distant (out-of-state) to where it would behoove us NOT to unpack the non-essentials for every day living. So, we wait. And wait. And wait. Hoping some news will arrive much sooner than later...but for now, here is where we are holding camp. We love our Craftsman bungalow home and we are so blessed to have the world's best friends (old and new) - especially the builders who are renting this beauty of a model home to us. It is wonderful to be so close to family again and in familiar territory - we're sure going to enjoy it while it lasts. Updates to come once we hear more, I promise!