Lil & Kalle Discount Code

Well, well....just when I think I'm free to get back to blogging about family and life in general, I get busy again!  I have four Junior League meetings this week in preparation for the upcoming fundraiser.  Next week will be less busy (I know, I know..... I say that "but!")

Plus, I'm getting sick.  This is not good....no sir-ee!  Not good at all.  I do have lovely pictures from this weekend, but that will have to wait (plus I left my camera at home).

In the meantime, remember Lil & Kalle?  One of the lovely Etsy shops I posted about on Friday HERE?

Well, today, and today ONLY, they are offering an 11% of discount code to ALL their customers in honor of 1/11/2011!  Use code 01112011





Uh oh, I sense a shopping spree coming on.  Hey, it'll take my mind off my stuffed up nose! :-)

Latest Fabulous Etsy Finds

I love to "pounce" on Etsy and find great new shops with unique things to sell.  Have you ever pounced?  If not, you should try it, it's a great way to surf etsy for fun and you just might run across something unique, that might already have needed.  It basically shows you shops that have recently had a sale.

Here are my latest faves and finds.

First up is Lil and Kal.  I have been following them on facebook for quite some time and I'm about ready to purchase one of their adorable personalized art portfolios for Lallie.  It's always a struggle to figure out something to buy a child for a gift or for a newly expecting parent.  I love the tooth fairy pillow, custom dress and baby basket.

   

I am a sucker for primitive country shabby chic, cottage type things.  And sometimes, they can get quite expensive.  Well, I LOVE this shop....Chunky Monkey Luv

My favorite is the mason jar wall shelf!  For $22.50, that is a deal!

Chunky Monkey Luv also has adorable gifts as well.  Lallie would LOVE this little personalized baby doll sleeper as she is very much into taking care of her "babies."

Sticking with primitive, these handmade decorations for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Easter would look adorable on my antique drop leaf table at my entry.  I have lots of wooden bowls in this style that I've collected over the years.  These are from Homespun Annie.

I love to make little dresses for Lallie and several of my blogger peeps have bought some of my dresses.  Wouldn't these adorable appliques be a great addition to a little dress?  An extra pop of color?  And you can't beat the price!  I will be purchasing from Two Angels Supplies soon!  I adore the apples!

My toddler is no longer napping at school (sadly....as it can make for interesting evenings at home!)  I wish I had run across these Kinder Nap Mats from Annie's Pinking Shear, how perfect would this have been, the blanket and pillow are always together, eliminating the last minute seek and find!

Last but certainly not least, are these goat's milk soaps from Ariel's Secret Garden. 

A perfect excuse to run off and have a party in the bath tub...I'll take it!  Plus, I love goat's milk soap, so soft and nourishing.  I have to say, these designs are so pretty, I don't know if I'd use them, but keep them for decor!  They would also make fabulous gifts.

Hope you enjoyed this new finds!

Happy Friday Y'all!

So, Where Have I Been? LUNAFEST 2011

Well, not only have I been working, but I've been working on my local Junior League's biggest fundraiser of the year!  It's set for late February and man, are we busy!!!

Myself and my friend Mary are Co-Directors of this fundraiser, a really exciting film festival called LUNAFEST.  It's brought to us by LUNA, the maker of the whole nutrition bar with 15% of the proceeds going to LUNA's primary cause partner, the Breast Cancer Fund, the remaining going to this particular Junior League chapter.

You can learn more about LUNAFEST at http://www.lunafest.org/.

There will be food and wine, a silent auction, a women's exposition with local "mom"preneurs (as we call them) in conjunction with the main event, the film festival!

(If any of you fellow blogging entrepreneurs want to donate, email me at slpreppy@gmail.com and I'll get in touch with you through my Junior League email! - hey, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't ask!  :-)  

This is our second year presenting LUNAFEST and myself, my committee and the Junior League are just having so much fun planning for this luxurious women's evening out on the town!

It's going to be held at a beautiful mansion, on the water, with the films being shown just after sunset, outside with the water as the backdrop.  Can you imagine any more luxurious of an evening with your friends....and it's all for a wonderful cause.

In addition, the films are just fabulous and inspiring.  Of course, we won't know what the films are until a couple weeks prior to the event but we did have the film festival last year and they do not disappoint! 

Check them out on their website.

Happy Thursday Y'all!

2011 Reading List

Do I even dare committ to reading all of these books?  I have SO many that I'm just dying to read!

Of course, I would also like to fulfill my other resolutions, after February 25th, of course!

What are my resolutions (things to DO, not quit this year)?  And what's on February 25th and why am I waiting to start until then?

Those are both two completely different blog posts for Thursday and Friday!

In the meantime, here is my list, in no particular order.

These next three are a series called The Hunger Games and I've heard good things about this series.  We'll see.  I'm usually a hard sell on series, they have to be really great and riveting with different stories in each (or a continuation).  I don't like series that are the same book over and over again (remember the TV seris 24?   I got tired of the same ole - same ole very quickly!)

   



The cover of a book usually makes a sell to me (marketing at it's best!)  These next few books just look interesting and I'm excited to read them!

Ashleigh read South of Broad and loved it, so I added it to my list.  The story doesn't really intrigue me but she says I won't be disappointed!

Husband is currently reading this book and says it's hilarious!  NPR also rated this as one of its top books for 2010.

My mom and dad have been itching for me to read this book for years!  I don't know why I've waited.

Another one Ashleigh, and several other bloggers, loved and so I've added it to my list.

As if you didn't already know!  I love George Bush and his wife.  I'm very excited to read both George and Laura Bush's books.

The next few books I've added to my list based on other blogger's recommendations!  I've heard of most of them but waited for a review before branching out for the read.

        

I am currently reading this Nora Roberts Bride series.  They are easy reads and will keep my habit satisfied until I can pick up some more difficult reads after February 25th.  So far, I'm liking the romance!

Again, more books based on blogger reviews.

                    

I read Firefly Lane in 2009 and LOVED it!  Could not put the book down.  I've heard that it was Kristin Hannah's best book and the other books have not kept up the reputation.  We'll see.

The next two are on NPR's best books of 2010, not a typical "Jennifer read" but I thought I'd give it a try.

                           

So....that is exactly two books per month!  Wow!  I read 25 in 2010, can I keep up the trend?

Anything else you'd recommend or that you have on your list?

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

Reading Lists

I LOVE reading.  My Kindle is with me every where I go, especially for those meetings where the other party is 10 minutes (or longer) late and for doctor's offices.  I also read before bed nearly every night.

So, what did I read in 2010.

Are you ready? .... Because this is a long list!  25 books actually!

2010 READS

Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler - Wade Rouse

a memoir about a prep school guidance counselor and his handling of the stereotypical (and in this case...REAL)...crazy and insanely rich mommy.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert 

EVERYONE should read this book

By Invitation Only - Sheri McInnis and Jodi Della Famina 

about a non-rich aspiring chef and caterer that grew up in the Hamptons, finally finding herself amongst the life of the rich and even richer!  Very cute!

Bitter Is the New Black and Bright Lights, Big Ass - Jen Lancaster

I LOVE Jen Lancaster, she is hilarious and I love reading her memoirs.  Her blog...www.jennsylvania.com is great too!

Emma - Jane Austen

My absolute favorite author and I read one of her books every year.  I've read them all and am now reading them over again.

The Ex-Mrs. Hedgefund - Jill Kargman

Just another fun prepster novel.

Four Wives - Wendy Walker

I really enjoyed Wendy Walker's Social Lives, but never finished this book.  I just couldn't get through it as it was sort of boring.  BUT, I tend to not read books by the same author very often.  I like to change up writing styles.  Exceptions are Jane Austen, Jen Lancaster, Margaret Atwood and Stieg Larsen (as you'll see soon).

Social Lives- Wendy Walker - loved this prepster novel

The Real Real - Emma Mclauglin and Nicola Kraus

About 6 high school seniors, popular and not so popular, that end up on a reality TV show and how they handle the situations, good and bad.

The Swan Thieves - Elizabeth Kostova

I LOVE The Historian and have read it twice and this was Kostova's highly anticipated new novel.  I had it pre-ordered and have to say, I'm quite disappointed.  I never finished it as it was just ..... dragging.....on .....and ..... on.  Maybe I'll finish it eventually as the storyline is intriguing.

Swimsuit - James Patterson

I read this book on the last two days of December.  I've never read James Patterson, but I wanted a quick car read.  While entirely disturbing, I couldn't put it down!

Tainted - Brooke Morgan

While very intriguing, very disturbing, especially considering I have a child.  This one just hit a little too close to home I guess.  I don't know, I can't really describe it.  The title speaks for itself.

Wolves in Chic Clothing by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman

About an aspiring jewelry designer that suddenly finds herself amongst the privileged, only to be dropped back to earth ...quite quickly.

The Nanny Diaries and The Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

I enjoyed both of these books but found the second one harder to get through (again with that not reading authors more than once).

Overnight Socialite - Birdie Clark

Very cute prepster book, a great and easy read just to get your mind off thing!

Pollyanna - Eleanor H. Porter

Okay....so Ashleigh has been buying classic books for Lallie on each of her birthdays.  This year it was Pollyanna, which I promptly read (not the book...but on Kindle - Ashleigh doesn't want me breaking the bindings).

Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea - L.M. Montgomery

See Pollyanna and then check out this blog post. 

The Pre - Nup - Beth Kendrick

The story about three women in various stages of dating and marriage.  One who is engaged, one married for several years to a cheating husband and one married however, has a thriving business who's husband has taken a back seat.

Prep: A Novel - Curts Sittenfeld

Also the author of American Wife, which I thoroughly enjoyed in 2009, I thought I'd try Prep, and I loved it!

The Girl Who Series - Stieg Larsson

Loved, loved, LOVED these books!  I found them hard to get into at first, because there was a lot of background information, but once i started, I was hooked!  Think of the three as one huge novel as each story plays right into the next.  Fantastic reads!!

What did you read in 2010 that you could recommend to me, to add to my 2011 list?  I will be making that list out tomorrow!

Happy Tuesday Y'all!