Taylor Made designs

Yes Please.

Have you ever found a store that makes you swoon? No? Well, check out Cox & Cox, a lovely online store. I'll take one of each please :)

Bracing for another snow storm. Seeing that it is just the beginning of February and I live in the North East,  I have no right to complain about snow. If this were March 25th, I might grumble a bit... but now,  I won't. Off to pick up the kids... it's a half day due to the storm. Yipee! We're making heart shaped sugar cookies today and some chocolate lollipops for Valentines :) ciao~

Perfect Gifts

Who doesn't want to be a rockstar at gift giving? Or have their child have the best, and most unique things to wear. I know I do :) I'll be honest... I hate having what everyone else has or gives. I always go out of my way to find something that is uniquely different. {That's how many of my Taylor Made design products have started.} Anywho, my friend Cindy gave Davis this t-shirt the other day. Cute, no? She wore it out while we were grocery shopping and so many people stopped us and asked her where she got it. To say that Davis felt special is a bit of an understatement.

"My mum's friend made it – she made it for ME! It's my favorite shirt." declared Davis. Seriously, she was beaming. It's cute + clever with an edge. Love it.

I just love her stuff. You can personalize all her products. {which wins major points from me}  I just know that if Cindy received the exposure she should have, she'd make it BIG. I am talking Oprah big :) So do me a little favor, when you have a chance, check out her site + products at Mitetees.com. She has stuff for newborn babies, toddlers and young kids. Right now she is going to design a t-shirt for William – a skeleton head with an Indiana Jones hat on it. (she knows he LOVES Indiana Jones + pirates) He is going to be so excited to wear it. And really, isn't that what it's all about?

Do You Live in the Boston Area?

I just created this ad for my friend Dava. It's for her beautiful store on Newbury Street called, MATSU. They are having an incredible jewelry sale. I have many pieces from her store and I always get compliments on my necklaces, rings, and earrings. If you live in the area take the time to check out her sale. I guarantee you, you will fall in love with something!

:: Design Public – so pretty ::

Oh so many wonderful things are available at Design Public. Just love the Dwell brand. Their products are just so pretty, aren't they? My cousin just had a little baby girl, Julianna Grace – Congrats Emily and her husband Mike :) So now I'm doing a little online shopping to see what I can send their way.

Of course I would love, love, love to send a bib designed and created by the talented Erin over at House on Hill Road. Have you seen her lovely bibs? I wish she had a store... because I would buy them right up!  I joked with her that I would wear and use one of those bibs myself, that is how beautiful they are.

:: A little window shopping ::

Boy... I've been really good lately. I have not been out and about buying much of anything. {my doctors advised me to stay away from crowds + people seeing that my immune system is pretty much shot from being sick... so believe it or not, I have listened. I didn't want to chance getting sick again so soon!} So of course I've been doing a bit of "window shopping" online. 

I have also been doing a lot of decluttering and removing of stuff. Boy...We have way too much stuff!  Especially in the kid's rooms. But I can't help thinking how much William would love that rug + the little cars. Oh, and  those pillows. Those pillows would so go in my house – mmm, the couch in my bedroom I think. I absolutely love them. I can't remember where I saw them. Does anyone know?  I love the PMS mug for my studio. Though I am really a TOYO girl at heart. {way better choices of colour} The lamp would be perfect for Davis's room + I just think that little table is so cute! A lot of the stuff I saw at zac and zoé.
Am I the only one wanting + but not needing more stuff :)

:: Friday RoundUP ::

Design Public is one of my favorite online stores.
These are just a few things that I want to buy.
Oh.There's so much more...  :)

In the last few weeks, I've asked a few questions on my blog.
I thought I'd let you know some of the answers I've received.
I'm calling this my Friday RoundUP.

Starbucks VS Dunkin Donuts
Starbucks won overwhelmingly... with Dunkin Donuts a close second.

Birdies VS Ribbon Banner
Birdies cute, but Ribbon better and more Taylor Made designs.
So the ribbon is going to stay. Don't worry, I'm resurrecting the birdies in some cards.

Swaps
Looks like a lot of you signed up for the Mellow Yellow Swap.
My partner is Rachel from blackeiffel.blogspot.com.
She has a terrific blog, go take a look! Her daugher Vienna is so adorable.

I also decided to do Jen's Swap | 5 senses.
My partner is Erin from operation-paper-cut.blogspot.com.
Again, a terrific blog + you should check out her Etsy store.
It's dangerous for any paper + book person!

Haircuts
Most of you enjoy getting your haircut + about 10% of you had a horrible experiences as a child. So your sympathy for William ran deep.

Etsy
There's a lot of Etsy love out there.
No one offered up any of their favorite stores... but I think I inspired at least two people to buy SugarLoop's prints. Which makes me happy. Her work is really beautiful.

Books
You all like books.  I am currently reading "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" for my book club. I have to say... I'm not loving it. It's just not grabbing me like "Snow Flower + the Secret Fan" did. I finished "Kite Runner" last week. Which I LOVED. The best book I have read in a long, long time. Barbara recommended, READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN. I think I'll pick it up this weekend.

Fonts
It seems you all can't get enough fonts :)
I'll let you know of any other sites I find. I'm trying to clean out my bookmarks.
I've recently discovered del.icio.us + find it's easier to use than just bookmarking.   

Bloglines
Everyone agrees. Bloglines rocks!
If you want to sign up, just look below right for the button. It will take you to bloglines where you can sign up and subscribe to your favorite blogs. Seriously, everyone will tell you it's a lifesaver. But I have to say, it sometimes does not update your feed daily. Which kinda stinks. But eventually it will show you that your favorite blogger has indeed posted.

Of course, you've all subscribed to my site... right :)

Happy Friday everyone, enjoy the long holiday weekend.

:: I'll take one of each ::

Ever find a store that makes you drool?
I've come across a few sites that offer the best products...where form + function live harmoniously together. Tell me, why do labels in japanese look so great? Is it the simplicity + the beautiful letterforms?

All of the above items can be found at Mujion.
The kids plates (green + red) can be found at Not Neutral.

I'm always looking for great online stores... care to share?

:: window shopping ::

Magic beans? I think so! "Believe it or not, each bean has a word lasered onto one side, and a complementary image on the other." All one has to do to see the "message" is grow the bean."

How cool is that? What a great little gift this would make! I found these last week while surfing and had to track down the link. I found them at a terrific site called Spoon Sister. Definitely worth a visit.

I do a lot of work on the computer. But I also do a lot of things by hand, which means that I make my fair share of mistakes. Often I hear "command z" go off in my little head. Wouldn't that be wonderful if that worked in life? Alas, it doesn't. So, there is still a huge need for this huge eraser.

Neal and I decided before the kids were born that we did not want them to have a pacifier. And I am happy we made that decision, especially when I see three + four year olds with a "binky" in their mouths. {no offense to anymore who's baby does enjoy one} But as I understand it, a "binky" is equivalent to a bad crack habit... if they don't get their fix, they get cranky + irrational.

This would surely break the habit, no?  :)

The 5-minute candles. Because sometimes, that's all the time you need.

“Karma” according to ancient traditions is the sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. The effects of all deeds actively create present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain in others. In other words, “what goes around, comes around”. Wear this necklace as a reminder to keep the circle positive, peaceful and loving.

:: 20 days till spring! ::

That's right. 20 days and counting.

I for one can not wait. For those of you who love to garden {hi mum!} I think you'll love this site, Baileys.  I do not know if their products are any good, but they sure do look good :) I'm a total sucker for packaging. So simple + charming, don't you think?

If you're under six months old, then this is the O N L Y, I repeat, O N L Y time you can wear socks with jesus sandals. ever. really. don't do it. I repeat... do not do it. You'll thank me :)

They sure are cute huh :)
Had I found these when the kids were little, I would have bought them. My mother-in-law would have loved them!

Just wanted to give a big  T H A N K  Y O U  to a couple of people who have been so kind to mention my blog on their blog :) SO, thank you to Susan @ sulu-design, Carmen @ sweet-petite and to MarBargar @ Marbargarbo Blog. I appreciate it. Take a gander over to see them... you won't be disappointed :)

:: I want these! ::

Ooooooh. I so want this key board but it doesn't work with a MAC. I bought this mouse a few weeks ago, but we could not get it to work on my Mac or Neal's PC so we returned it. But this keyboard is slick... not only the design, but all the hi-tech gizmos it comes with.

:: time to grow ::

Love the packaging on this! Everyone can use a little organic basil, no? They have tons of other herbs you can grow. They say the seeds will germinate in 14-21 days. I like it!

And how clever are these? Paper vases that have a coating inside so water won't leak. You can customize them anyway you want.  They have a long shelf life + are totally recyclable. Sorry, I can't seem to find the link to them! {will try to find it later}

Thanks for all your nice words about us not getting into The Charter School. We are bummed... but I have to believe that it happened for a reason :) Hey, we're only number 7 on the wait list. {and historically, the #7 is a very lucky number} so who knows. They had 99 applicants for 47 openings, so we had a 50-50 chance of getting in. Maybe in Spring we'll get a letter telling us an opening is available. Till then, I'll just have to hope we get into the other School we applied to!

Happy President's Day!

:: for the birds ::

How fantastic is this bird house? It's a bit pricey... {housing is just going through the roof!} But I can just imagine it hanging from a tree limb in my yard. {found via decor8} Now, which colour to pick?

:: monday ::

Howdy! Hope everyone had a terrific weekend. Here's Davis's cowgirl hat from last week. I should take a photo of what it looks like now. {those foamy stickies do not adhere that well!} She's been going around the house saying, "ehhh haaaawwww" it's pretty cute. Now if I could only get her to sit on her pony that Santa brought her for Christmas and do that.

Sweet William on his way to school.

Some flowers we picked up last week. They look so pretty in the kitchen and remind me that Spring isn't that far away.

Before we eat I always make the kids wash their hands, but surprisingly, a lot of places that are "kid friendly" do not have bathrooms suitable to kids. I always carry wet ones + other towelettes with me. These lemon + peppermint towelettes are the best! They smell like heaven. Whenever I use them in public I always have people asking me where that smell is from. {they smell that good} You can order them online here.

I recently bought these heart potholders from Williams-Sonoma {50% off, how sweet}

:: it's all in the wrist ::

 

OK, how cool is this? Move over Dick Tracey! It's a watch, MP3 player, Camera Wristband by Swatch.

I want it! You have to take a look. It's a folding chair. It's amazing!

If you like honey, here's a beautifully packaged sample kit of honey.