Miscellany Monday

A little randomness.

On Friday my hubby and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary.

We went out for dinner at a wonderful restaurant. I had Lobster Ravioli with Sweet Potato Cheesecake and Bill had the Fillet. It was wonderful.

It was beautiful weather all weekend. Perfect for a "non-professional" photo shoot with my niece and nephews.

Bill and I enjoyed a very lazy weekend. We hung out on the couch watching season 7 of Weeds. Yesterday we watched the Redbull Stratos - Felix Baumgarter jumped from 128,000 feet - roughly 24 miles above the earth. More than twice the height that commercial airlines fly. If you missed it - you need to check out it!

photo via

linking up - check it out!

A Decade.

I've been married for a decade.

You know when people say marriage is hard? I actually don't think it's all that hard. I think Bill and I are supposed to be together.

Don't get me wrong, we have our disagreements. It's never anything that lasts too long and for the most part we just bicker like an "old" married couple.

As I write this I realize that I don't have ANY wedding pictures on my computer. None. Zip. Zilch. We got married before this whole digital craze took off... That's ok though because, I hate our wedding photos. They're so posed and completely not "us." This pic is more like "us."

I'm serious. He's silly. I'm quirky. He's weird. He like old VWs. I like new and shiny. He likes modern. I like contemporary. He listens to Muse. I listen to the Carpenters. 

We complement each other.

I couldn't go on without him.

He is my rock.

Happy Anniversary! 

I love you more than words.

Shop Update and "I Baked! I really did!"

FYI: If you're looking for the perfect Halloween treat for your daughters/ granddaughters/ nieces/ friends/ sisters etc. I have the perfect fat free deal for you! For blog readers only receive 20% off your entire order at Poppyandpippa.com through Sunday. All you have to do is choose the items you'd like to purchase by adding them to your cart and before you check out enter the coupon code greenpenfriend. Easy as pie...pumpkin pie but without all of the fat and calories!

*Check out all of the new items that have been added just in time for the Holidays!*

////

"I baked! I really did!!"
With all of the busyness behind me (for a while) I have some time on my hands in the evening. I've been wanting to make homemade granola bars for a while now. The store bought ones are good - but have very little nutritional value. I found a recipe for Pumpkin Granola Bars on Pinterest. Made them. Ate them. Love them. Seriously - only one change I would make for next time is to add cinnamon and reduce the amount of pumpkin pie spice. Check the recipe out!

Source: thecafesucrefarine.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinteres

Happy Baking and Shopping!

Fall Favorites {My Wish List} Part Three

I have been mildly obsessed with scarves for the past two years. They look great with a few of my other favorites - boots, jackets, and dresses.  Perfect for North Dakota Fall, Winter, and let's face it Spring. Check out {Part 1} and {Part 2}.

SCARVES and DRESSES

Source: polyvore.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: stylezen.net via Laura on Pinterest

Source: jennifer-olexa-williams.polyvore.com via Laura on Pinterest

Miscellany Monday

Random thoughts from the last week.

My favorite day of the entire year is the first day it snows. Yes, I love snow!! Last week we had the second earliest first snow for the year on record. The earliest was two days earlier. We almost had a record. Bummer. This is my car...before I brushed it off.

Sorry for the poor picture - it was taken in the dark (6:15 am)

///

Bill and I left the snow behind in Fargo and made our way to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for three days. 

We saw Louis CK - Bill loves him! 

On Friday we slept in and ate a late breakfast at the hotel. It was good we slept in because we ended up walking about 6 miles (according to Bill's Fit Bit) through Ikea and the Mall of America. We were exhausted at the end of the day. But made some great purchases at Ikea!

On Saturday Bill managed to reserve an iPhone 5 so, I got to lounge at the hotel while he ventured to the mall. Then, we went to visit his brother and wife as well as two of our nephews. It was nice to catch up for a bit. They wouldn't let me take a "normal" picture of them - so here are Dylan (Zombie) and Cody (Clone). Adorable, aren't they? Hehe.

After visiting for a bit we made our way to the outlet mall. I scored some great deals - like 40% off  EVERYTHING at Old Navy. Seriously. It was so awesome! Then we left for home and arrived about 10:00 on Saturday night to a cat who had A LOT of energy!

///

Fall Favorites {and Wish List} Part Two

I have several jackets and cardigans in my closet but, can you really have too many?  Number two on my Fall Must Have list - jackets and cardigans.
See Fall Favorites {1} here.

JACKETS and CARDIGANS

Source: becauseitsawesome.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: bourbonpearlsandwildcats.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: longenecker-storyshort.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: puttingmetogether.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: garnethill.com via Laura on Pinterest

Fall Favorites {and wish list} Part One

Thank goodness for Pinterest... or not. I can't stop drooling over the adorable outfits, bags, and boots! My fall wish list is long and rather spendy. So, breaking it down, today I'm going to share several outfits that look fab with brown riding boots. #1 on my wish list -- Boots!

BOOTS.

Source: theguavalife.polyvore.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: ishandchi.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: jennifer-olexa-williams.polyvore.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: dressinterest.com via Laura on Pinterest

What's on your Fall wish list?

Enjoy your day!

Miscellany Monday

A little randomness...

For the past two and a half months I've been consumed by work. Working on the Junk Market for Poppy and Pippa as well as planning a state early childhood conference. As I write this (on Sunday) I realize that my life is going to slow down. A lot. 

So, what's next? 

Well, I have a board report to write for work as well as billing and writing a newsletter. Sound like fun? It sounds like everything is getting back to normal.

I have one goal with all of my extra time in the evening. Exercise. I know I've said it all before. 

Eat better.

Exercise.

Lose weight.

Have more energy.

Live well.

So... starting tomorrow I'm going to give it a try.

Enjoy your day!

Micellany Monday

Random thoughts about my first vendor event...


All of the hours and weeks of hard work preparing for my first craft show paid off! I was very doubtful leading up to the event. I wasn't sure it would be "my thing." But, it was! As with everything I do - I researched everything I could to make sure my first vendor experience was a success. I think I read for hours about booth design and the do's and don'ts of a successful show.

Here is my practice table at home in my office. I changed a few things before the actual event. Bill made me professional looking pricing signs and I ended up hanging some headbands rather than laying them on a plate. But, other than that - it stayed the same. (My sign is 24 X24 stretched canvas - perfect for hanging in my office when it's not in use).

Here is my booth - I had a very small 4X6 spot - it was perfect.

As you can see from my hat that it was a bit chilly. In fact it was about 34 degrees when we were setting up. Thank goodness for the spot in the sunshine against the building and out of the wind. So many of the vendors froze their butts off! Luckily, the weather didn't scare anyone off. It turned out that the line to get into the event went all the way down the block and around the building - it was three times as long as the event this last spring! It turned out to be a beautiful first day of fall.

Just a fraction of the line...

FYI - We used 'Square' to take credit cards and to keep track of cash and checks on the iPad. It was so slick. If you are planning on participating in a vendor event I highly recommend using Square. There are NO hidden fees! It's just 2.75% per swipe and your money is deposited the NEXT day! 

I was so tired after the event - I was asleep by 8:30pm. It was a good day.

Now, I'm gearing myself up to be energized for this coming weekend - It's the state early childhood conference - in which I am the chair of the planning committee. I am trying to psych myself up for another weekend of long days...

Enjoy your Day!

Friday Five

Please be aware of the fact that my first craft show - the junk market - is one week away. I will be writing about it. I will be sharing pictures of my first adventure into the craft show world.  :)

So, here are a couple of the things that made me a little happier this week.

one.
A couple of my favorite things - Harry Potter - Zevia - Creating. Yes, I'm a huge geek!

two.
my favorite combo for the Poppy Blossom Bags - so much so that I decided to keep this one for myself.

three.
Loving all of the Poppy Dot Bobby Pins - great hold too! I use professional bobby pins so they won't slide out!

four.
Boo! Halloween is just around the corner - can you believe it? - I love these little monsters!

five.
my favorite little guy to keep me company while working long hours - as you can see - there are going to be fun Christmas accessories too!

All I know is that the team of teachers I work with are counting down the days until I am sane again! Next weekend is the Junk Market (finally!) and the weekend after that is the State Early Childhood Conference in which I am the chair of the planning committee. Ugh. Did I also mention it's budget time? Yup. I can't wait until Oct. 1st. I'm going to do nothing all day. Wait! Isn't that a Monday? I guess I'll be working...

Enjoy your weekend!

Junk Market - Display

As I shared with you on Monday, I am 8 days away from the Junk Market. I've been busy researching everything anyone would need to know to have a successful show. I've been mildly obsessed with it. I know in my mind what I want my booth to look like. I have a 6' table under an awning. I'm starting small - this way I don't need to invest in a tent. If I don't love it - so be it. I gave it a try... although I hope to love it. I'm very proud of my work and where Poppy and Pippa has come in the past year. Again, that's from being mildly obsessed with researching successful online stores. No wonder I don't have a life. I'm too busy being obsessive.

Moving on.

Here are two of the things I purchased at Hobby Lobby today at 50% off. Woot! Woot!

This first one is a lovely bright pink jewelry holder - as you can see I'm going to use it to display headbands. I believe it was about $6.

I saw this metal bowl from across the store and it was screaming to me! I love it. I almost bought one in each color but, settled on purple. This one was $15. So worth it. 

For the show I'm not putting hair ties in here. I have way too many so they're going into a green basket. I was thinking I could put it upside down and clip clips to the outside... so many possibilities.

Finally, here is one of the headbands that will be for sale. I'm using a stainless steel "vase" with rocks in it to display the hard headbands.

I can't wait to share more with you in the next few days...

Enjoy your day!

xo

Miscellany Monday

Write Random.

This is a picture of my home office on Saturday morning. It actually looked much much worse than this by Saturday afternoon. 

As some of you may know from reading (my not-so-consistant posts) that I am going to participate in my first craft show. It's called The Junk Market.

I have been working like crazy to prepare. I am obsessively reading all I can about craft shows. Yes, craft shows. I never thought I would do that - ever. I used to call them crap shows whenever my mom would drag me to one. I guess I have a whole new outlook. I hope people don't think it's a crap show! Here are a few of the things I've found that I want to incorporate into my booth area or things that have inspired my booth.

......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I really like how accessible these bobby pins are - they are easy for customers to see clearly and to remove from the ribbon for purchase. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with my bobby pins yet.

I adore this color scheme. Bright, cheerful, and welcoming. I have big plans for my booth. Huge plans...

I am going to use this idea for my business cards. I love it. It's so personal. I'm not sure how it's going to actually play out because I don't have much space so, I'm still brainstorming about this one.

The clear pricing on these products make it so easy for customers. I'm going to do something similar to this as well.

*all photos via google images

I have so many things to do for this show. I know it will work out but, until then I will frantically be creating.

Throughout the next two weeks (leading up to the show) I'll be sharing some of my products as well as the process of my booth coming together.

Enjoy Your Day!

My Favorite Things Thursday

one.
I DIE.
She's back for a fifth season. Ba-nan-as!
Read about it here.

(via)

two.

a $0.97 dress that's wedding appropriate.

from Old Navy - of course.

three.

a four day week. Yahoo!