Giveaway Reminder: Simply A Boy Sportscar

It's not too late! Submit your comment by midnight tonight (pst) to enter the Simply A Boy Pedal Sportscar Giveaway. Just leave a comment on that post. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

Party Ideas

Did anyone else pick up a copy of Good Things for Kids - Summer Edition? It's one of the mini-mags that Martha Stewart puts out from time to time. I'm still looking for something to fill the hole that Martha Stewart Kids left when they shut down, so I was happily suprised to see this magazine. And it's especially timely because it's all about parties, and August is a double-birthday month at my house. My kids are enjoying the magazine as much as I am.

My favorite ideas after my first read:


Paper-wrapped tea sandwiches. A more sophisticated version of these would be darling at a bridal/baby shower as well.


Butterfly straws. Lovely.


Mini-balloon garland. I love this.

Two Straight Lines Home Tour

Cookie's Nesting blog featured a mini home tour of crafter Courtney Russell's home. I love some of her great very-doable ideas.

True Mom Confessions

If you're not already addicted to True Mom Confessions, prepare yourself. I was introduced to this site at BlogHer and the whole idea is so brilliant I can hardly stand it. Some confessions are funny, some are sincere, many are down right heart-wrenching. Reading it makes me want to hand out hugs right and left.

Random Giveaway: Simply A Boy Sportcars

I know. It's been all about BlogHer and sk*rt posts for days on end. So here's a little change of pace. How about a Giveaway featuring the coolest kid vehicle around? Remember that fab online shop I just blogged about — the one with the fantastic collection of stuff especially for boys? Called Simply A Boy?

Well. They're putting up one of their fantastic PlayToys Sports Cars up for grabs — worth $140!



And what a car. Fine workmanship. Excellent design. Great colors. You know any kid would take pause if a toy like this entered their view. It's one of those toys that inspires foreheads to be pressed against shop windows. Your child — or godchild or nephew/niece/neighbor — would love this car!

And you'll feel good about it too, because PlanToys figured out how to use recycled rubberwood to make it. It's like a toy version of a hybrid.

You know the drill, just leave your comment on this post to enter. And then be sure to explore the well-thought-out collection at Simply A Boy. I'll leave you with some of my favorites from their shop:


Kirby Crib Collection


Baby Walker



Transport Rug


Liam Shoes

Thank you Simply A Boy!!

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Random Giveaway Guidelines:
-You have until midnight PST on Tuesday, July 31st to enter this giveaway.
-Just make a comment ON THIS POST to enter — any comment.
-Anonymous comments will be ignored/removed.
-One entry per person, please.
-The winner will be randomly picked and announced Wednesday morning.
-What are Random Giveaways? Read about them here.

sk*rt Up and Running Contest

Okay. The Up and Running Contest has been announced. You can check out the sk*rt blog for the full details, but here's the basic 411:

There are 20 Pairs of Ryka Shoes up for grabs! The 20 winners get to pick their favorite pair. There are 3 ways to enter and you can enter 3 times. Just show us your a true sk*rt by:

a) voting on at least 10 items in either the up-and-coming section or the popular section of sk*rt every day this week (M-F)

or

b) submitting a link to sk*rt everyday this week (M-F)

or

c) leaving comments on at least 2 sk*rt items everyday this week (M-F)

Email sharethelove@sk*rt.com by Sunday, August 5th and let us know if you did A, B or C and you’re entered! Want to enter more than once? Do option A, B and C, and you’ll be entered 3 times. The winners will be announced Tuesday, August 7th.

20 pairs means really good odds of winning — don't miss your chance to get your feet into a pair of these awesome shoes!

Nice to Meet You

I'm still going through my millions of business cards from BlogHer and checking out blogs and remembering who was especially happy or charming or funny or kind or smart or beautiful or friendly or visionary or outgoing or enthusiastic or inspired. The photo above is a picture of a few of the most colorful and creative cards I collected at the conference.

My very most favorite cards belonged to Birdie, who made each card one at a time with the help of her son. She used reclaimed paper and rubber stamps. Each card was it's own little bit of art. A project within anyone's budget. Here's a glimpse of 5 Birdie cards, front and back:

sk*rt Launched!

Well, I'm back from BlogHer and sk*rt is officially launched! The sk*rt buzz at the conference was all over the place. It was so great to see so many people excited about it.

We gave out little white tins filled with little white mints. We gave out the most adorable cards. We gave out books and bags and prizes, prizes, prizes. You can find the prize winners announced on the sk*rt blog — check to see if you made the list.

We were interviewed. We were videoed. And the best part, the sk*rt founders finally got to hang out.


Girl con Queso and Design Mom


Upside Up and Design Mom

If you're feeling like you missed out, take heart. I'm about to announce a huge contest to celebrate the official sk*rt launch. And that's not all. There are fun contests planned all week. Stay tuned. . .

My First Visit to Chicago.

Suitcase packed. Check.
Ferris Bueller reviewed (the first Chicago movie I could think of). Check.
Cherry red pedicure procured. Check.

It's looks like it's time to head out!

While I'm 100% looking forward to the possibility of sleeping in, and while I know it's a short trip, I haven't quite made it out the door and I already miss my wee family. Ridiculous.


polish photo via Getty

BlogHer Prep

I've got a long list of BlogHer/sk*rt launch preparations, so posting will be spotty for the next couple of days. . .

Collapsible Bins

I just saw these Loom Pop Bins available at Sons and Daughters, and think they are darling. They fold flat to store easily and then pop up when you need them. Great for toys. Great for a clothes hamper. Available in 4 color combos.

via Cookie's Nesting blog

Mr. Picasso Head

Another artsy-fartsy way for you or your kids to spend your day online: make your own masterpiece at Mr. Picasso Head.

found at How about Orange

sk*rt at BlogHer

So today is Tuesday and I leave to BlogHer on Thursday. I'm looking forward to it for so many reasons. I can't wait to meet lots of interesting people that are bound to be in attendance. I'm excited to pack for one person instead of seven — and be on an airplane without my kids. But what I'm really, really psyched for is the official sk*rt media launch. To take place at BlogHer. On Friday. So awesome!

You can read about some of the great stuff sk*rt has planned for the launch on the sk*rt blog. And I'll recap here.

In addition to handing out yummy goodies during the actual conference, we will also be dealing out the door prizes at a Pre-BlogHer Unofficial Party. Anyone at the party will be able to enter their name to win awesome stuff:

3 winners will each receive an outfit from Ryka. Any Ryka top. Any Ryka bottom. The winners get to choose their favorites.

3 winners will each receive a $50 gift certificate to Mahar Dry Goods. Mahar’s collection is fantastic. Browsing their site will bring a smile.

1 winner will receive a set of 3 custom storage cubes from Via Toy Box. The winner gets to choose from any 4 available faces and 8 available colors. Retail value: $177.

10 winners will each receive a year’s subscription (worth $20) to Organize Magazine. The magazine has just debuted and is gorgeous.

3 winners will each receive a generous 6-book prize package from Chronicle Books, including: I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids, Three-Martini Family Vacation, Fit Mama, Organic Baby, Don’t Just Stand There and Mama’s Little Book of Tricks. Retail value: $97.70

And EVERYONE at the party will receive their own copy of I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids. Plus. A certificate for 30% off and free shipping at Chronicle.

We hope to see you at the party! We hope to see you at BlogHer! And if you’re not going to BlogHer, we’ll have fun contests for you as well. Watch for announcements on Friday.

A big thank you to our terrific sponsors!

Craving

Maybe because it's summer and my house has been overrun with children. Maybe because my husband turns in his dissertation next Monday and there are stacks and stacks of overly academic books in too many rooms.

Whatever the reason, I am craving a simpler space. I saw this room on Black Eiffel last week and I have returned to stare at it several times.

Handsome Baby Announcements

Handsome Devil has a new line of baby announcements. Super duper warm and fuzzy..

Simply a boy

I just found out about Simply a Boy — and I'm very impressed. An online store with an excellent collection for baby and toddler. They seem to cover everything: bedding, furniture, clothes, toys, books, bath, and on and on. Plus, they do a really good job of it.

And just like your brother's treehouse, this store is for boys only. Because everyone knows girls have cooties.

Andrea is a Superhero!

Andrea Scher. What an amazing woman! How lucky were we to have her here for a visit this past week? I'm confident you enjoyed her posts as much as I did — they were full of pretty and easy to love.

If you haven't had a chance to check out Andrea's blog, SuperHero Journal, or get your hands on one of her gorgeous necklaces, I hope you'll do so. You won't be disappointed. Andrea is a positive force for good. And any connection with her is bound to bring happy to your life.

Thank you, Andrea!!

Giveaway Winner: Svan Bouncer Seat

Oh my goodness! I am just amazed at how many of you are expecting a baby right now. Or just had a baby. Or know someone who just had a baby. Oh how great would it be to have 431 hip baby chairs to giveaway! Alas. I have only one. But it is really good-looking. And the winner of the really good-looking Svan Bouncer Giveaway is: Denise who said, "really need one of these for the new boy"

Congratulations, Denise! Please email me from the link on my blog and I'll forward your information to Svan.

Thanks again to everyone who entered the Giveaway. Thanks to Svan. And thanks for reading.

Wands of Wonders

Look how great the wand project turned out! My kids are sooo excited. And to make me extra-happy, all the materials were on hand.

Project notes: I didn't have the pcv glue (what is that, anyway?) they recommended, so I just used some school glue I had on hand. Also, for paint I used common craft acrylic paint. The metallic parts are a combination of acrylic paint and permanent marker.

These would be perfect for any sort of wizard/witch-themed party.

Color and Photography — by Guest Mom Andrea Scher

It has been so much fun being a guest blogger this week for this fabulous site! Thank you all for welcoming me and reading my tidbits. Because I am all about color and photography over at Superhero, I thought I'd end on this theme. Here are some things I found to inspire you as you go into the weekend!

Melissa Muszynski's colorful resin jewelry:




from The Daily Planner, The Harbin Mini Journal Set:


The Spectrum Photo Album Set:


Love these leather journals (with multicolored pages) by Jenni Bick:


And if you are wondering what project to tackle this weekend, try organizing your bookshelf by color:



And one more little weekend project is to make mini cards or stickers from Moo.com. They are supercheap and you can use images directly from your flickr account.