Black Friday and Cyber Monday

I don't really do sales so if you like my goodies and you like a deal now's the time to pay attention. Next week I'll be doing a Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale.

In my main shop all my Ready to Ship items will be marked down 20% and I'm offering world wide free shipping if you just enter the code "black friday" to the notes to sellers section when you check out. (I will refund the shipping price through paypal). I'll also be offering free US and Canada shipping in my fabric shop. (sale starts 11/27/09 12:00 am PST and ends 11/30/09 11:59 pm PST)

I'll have tons of RTS tutu's reduced and free shipping on princess dresses which are perfect for your little ladies to play dress up in. Also even if you may not be giving baby clothes for the Holidays keep in mind that this is a great time to get a deal on goodies for all those baby showers you'll be going to this coming Spring (I think I know 5-6 babies that are on their way in myself).

So, avoid the mall lines (or ahem do both as I will), buy handmade and stock up since the shipping is on me for the weekend and they'll be tons of Ready to Ship goodies at 20% off (I'll be adding more before the sale). Here's a forum thread of Etsy folk who have stated that they'll be doing Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales, have fun the list is long.

Naughty Time: Princess Tea Party

(click on the photo for a larger view, I LOVE the bottom left pic)

So last week's outing with the Naughties took us to a princess tea party. It was amazing seeing a room full of dolled up little princesses. I have to admit I thought for my 15$ a kid payment we'd get more than one princess and that the princesses would have been fancied up. Come on peasant Belle, why not have Cinderella in her mopping outfit while we're at it. I could go on, but despite some details that I think annoyed the grown ups more than the kiddos I think Tira and Lanna had fun.

p.s. I'm not sure why picassa decided to upload my pictures to this small size and of course it distorts it when I try to manually increase the size. Does anyone know how I can fix that.

p.s.s. there are tons of giveaways open, please enter and spread the word (see the the right column for details)

Advent Giveaway Extravaganza Day 3: Guest Giveaway Noggins

The lovely Jessica over at Noggins Beanines (shop and blog) has so graciously supplied us with a super awesome giveaway: any one beanie in her shop. Ummm yeah I was so totally tempted to try and finagle the giveaway so I could just pick one of her many awesome options for myself. If it were up to me I'd pick the hat so cutely called "the one with buttons" in espresso. But if you're not a hat person she's got adorable options for the little ones too. She does the one for little heads but I absolutely adore the Jack and Jill as well, hello, ear flaps, does it get cuter? But it's not up to me and she's got way more choices so check them out and enter.

To Enter

Step 1. Blog, facebook, twitter or post to some other internet thingy (ex. forums) a link to this post. Feel free to use the picture too if you want. If you use blogger you can click here to create a link. Otherwise just make a link how you normally would.

Step 2. Comment here tell me which item you want and where you linked this giveaway (give me a link if it's not connected to your comment id). Make sure I have A WAY TO CONTACT YOU (in past giveaways I've drawn person over person but since their blogs and/or profiles are private I couldn't tell them they won so they didn't. So please make sure you leave your email in the comment OR that your profile/blog is PUBLIC )

Last Day to Enter: 12/4/2009 If it's your first time entering one of my giveaways or for more info on these giveaways and to see a list of past winners see this post. Earn an additional entry by becoming a first time follower of my blog or a facebook fan. (see the widgets on the left)

Lots of Goodies In Stock

So the show this weekend was kinda a bust, I sold 1 thing (it snowed a lot and there wasn't much traffic through the whole show). So I've got a lot of ready to ship items. I'll be getting all of them listed through out the day. I've got tons of Christmas skirts in most designs and sizes, lots of tutus, bottoms, and more. See the ready to ship section.

What's For Dinner: Week 9 AKA selling the house vs. the kitchen

(clockwise: tomato bisque, cannelloni, stuffed shells (for another week), extra stuffed shells, carrots and zuccs chopped for fancy ramen, zuccs diced for campanelli, shepard's pie)

It's been a while since I posted a "What's for dinner" mostly because our condo is listed and at any moment the realtor may call telling us to leave and the house must be spic and span. The problem is that I'm not a tidy cook. I make a mess and I'm really bad at cleaning. It's not just that I don't like cleaning it, I'm not good at it. The mere thought of having to constantly clean has sent us to restaurants for weeks now. But it's more than we can afford and now that the holiday season is upon us I'm worried the condo will be sitting for a bit and my waist and wallet just can't keep this up. So, I need to figure out how to feed us without the mess or expense. Really there's no way I'm doing the freaking dishes and whiping everything down every night, I know some of you can do that but it's just not in me. So I prepped a week's worth of food that I can either make ahead and refrigerate or freeze or stuff that can be prepped and cooked in one dish. We'll see how this goes. If you guys have good tips or recipes that would help my situation I would absolutely love any help. We're so tired of quesadillas (I just shove the skillet in the oven haha) so hopefully this will help.

Saturday: Tomato Basil Soup (Cooking Day)
Sunday: Campanelli or Fancy Ramen (I prepped the stuff for both)

Monday: Tomato Basil Soup and Grilled Cheese (we're not usually leftovers people (they just go bad in the fridge) but both of us could eat this soup every day)

Tuesday: Shepard's Pie
Wednesday: Balsamic Chicken and Sausage Bake
Thursday: Eat Out
Friday: Italian Cannelloni (I sub sausage for the beef)
Saturday: Coconut Lentil Chicken Soup and Naan (previously frozen)

Sunday: Thanksgiving Dinner Part I at our place -turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie, sweet potato souffle, cranberry sauce and relish, stuffing pumpkin pie, tollhouse pie, something sweet from Beth

Advent Giveaway Extravaganza Day 2: Gingerbread Skirt

Here's my second giveaway in the extravaganza. Another one of my Cake Shop Skirts that I adore. I made up a bunch of Christmas ones (and even some new everyday ones). I've taken a bunch over to Happy Halen which if you're in Salt Lake you really should stop by (tons of cute stuff). And I'll be adding them to my etsy shop as soon as I get the chance (feel free to email me if you see one you want and I'll make it happen). The one I'm giving away is the gingerbread man one (the first one). It's my personal favorite and unfortunately I don't think the photo does justice but trust me it's cute. Also special for Christmas this time I'm letting you pick the size (0-9mo, 9mo-2T, 2-4, or 5-7)

*UPDATE* I've finally got the skirts listed since I had a couple people ask me about them. So if you want to purchase one click here. I've got most sizes ready to ship.

To Enter:

Step 1. Blog, facebook, twitter or post to some other internet thingy (ex. forums) a link to this post. Feel free to use the picture too if you want. If you use blogger you can click here to create a link. Otherwise just make a link how you normally would.

Step 2. Comment here tell me what size you want and where you posted this (give me a link if it's not connected to your comment id). Make sure I have A WAY TO CONTACT YOU (in past giveaways I've drawn person over person but since their blogs and/or profiles are private I couldn't tell them they won so they didn't. So please make sure you leave your email in the comment OR that your profile/blog is PUBLIC )

Last Day to Enter: 11/27/2009 If it's your first time entering one of my giveaways or for more info on these giveaways and to see a list of past winners see this post. Earn an additional entry by becoming a first time follower of my blog or a facebook fan. (see the widgets on the left)

Naughty Time: Loy Krathong

Contrary to no one by my on belief I cannot update two blogs on a regular basis. What that means is that I'm putting my personal blog to rest so you all will just have to get to know me a little better which mostly just means you'll have to see more pics of the naughties and maybe tolerate a bit of ranting if someone rubs me the wrong way :) .

Last week we celebrated Loy Krathong . In Thailand during Loy Krathong, the water ways and skies are filled with lights. Floating flower creations are topped with candles and beautiful lanterns are rigged with flames and released into the night sky believed to take the bad things away. While some do celebrate it religiously we just did it as an excuse to do some Thai cultural stuff and dress up the naughties.

My mom made the krathongs which for having no car and just pillaging her apartment complex I believe turned out excellent. Yes we handed Tira and Lanna the flamming floats and yes when we told Tira to put it in the water, she chucked it (must remember to explain more to the two year old) and yes both of them tried to blow the candles out like on birthday cakes. But they looked cute, we had yummy Thai food and it was fun.

to the right: my sister with her babes (Tira complete with her so very Thai, tacky plastic red high heels)

Advent Giveaway Extravaganza Day 1: Christmas Diaper Covers

So I know it's not even Thanksgiving but if I want to run some giveaways and get things to the winners in time for Christmas celebrating I've got to start now. That being said I'm doing an Advent Giveaway Extravaganza. I'll be giving away many many things. I'm even considering some guest giveaways (email me -see my profile- if you're interested in sponsoring one).

To start off I've got something mamas with both boys and girls can enjoy I'm giving away a pair of my brand new Candy Cane diaper covers with ruffles or without (your choice). Chose from the following sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, 2T or 3T. They'd be super cute over some tights or with baby legs.

To Enter:

Step 1. Blog, facebook, twitter or post to some other internet thingy (ex. forums) a link to this post. Feel free to use the picture too if you want. If you use blogger you can click here to create a link. Otherwise just make a link how you normally would.

Step 2. Comment here tell me what size and style you want and where you posted this (give me a link if it's not connected to your comment id). Make sure I have A WAY TO CONTACT YOU (in past giveaways I've drawn person over person but since their blogs and/or profiles are private I couldn't tell them they won so they didn't. So please make sure you leave your email in the comment OR that your profile/blog is PUBLIC )

Last Day to Enter: 11/24/2009 If it's your first time entering one of my giveaways or for more info on these giveaways and to see a list of past winners see this post. Earn an additional entry by becoming a first time follower of my blog or a facebook fan. (see the widgets on the left)

Guess What I'm Doing...

Tomorrow is the last day to sign up. It sounds super fun to me.

Be There: Happy Halen

I know I've been neglecting the blog but I've got fun things coming up. Yes I plan to share some of the 'adventures' of house hunting/selling. But mostly I've been getting ready for Christmas. More specifically for the Happy Halen Show. It will be the first of possibly a few shows I'll do this season.

If you're in Salt Lake please stop by and then give me some honest feedback on my set up. I've got tons of adorable Christmas skirts that I'll be taking over as well as many of my bloomers, diaper covers, jumpers and dresses. Also I will be taking local princess dress orders perfect for Christmas gifts. If you've never gotten to see my goodies in person here is your chance. Plus there will be daily giveaways (including something from me) and lots of great artists' goods.

Naughty Time: Halloween 2009

I survived. Here are some of my favorite shots of our Halloween. The naughties', the music maker's and my costumes were pushed back until the night before/day of Halloween since there were so many RaeGun orders and house selling items that demanded all my time before that but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out.

(move your cursor over the pictures to see captions)

Lanna was supposed to wear her birthday gift, that Luchadore costume I made for her but even with making the mask larger the stinker would not let us put the mask on her at all. Hmmph so I made her a 5 minute dwarf costume that looks more like a gnome since I was totally against making her a disney-ish dwarf. Whatever she looks cute and it's probably the only Halloween we can make her be a dwarf. She got a lot of "he's so cute" 's .

I'm the Wicked Witch of the East and Daniel was the house that crushed me. Yup. I seriously think the best part was sneaking those two candy all weekend I gave Lanna a whole fun size bar just to gnaw on hahaha. Hope you all had a fun Halloween. I didn't get to go skank watching at the clubs like I normally like to on Halloween, I was just too exhausted after a friend's wonderful party so I didn't see too many costumes did any of you guys see some good ones?

Customer Appreciation Pic: Bam Bam

Tell me he doesn't make the absolute perfect Bam Bam. Love it so much. Customer appreciation pics really are a wonderful pick me up.

In other news, I finally feel like things aren't tumbling down on me. Costumes are out, the house is almost stage-able (we had our first prospective buyers go through tonight) and I can finally get back to a normal non-chaotic pace of life. I'll have to post pictures of the new set up tomorrow when I can get pictures with better lighting. It's funny how you fix things up so much just to sell it. I'll for sure fix up my next place right when we get it so we can reap the benefits of our hard work.

Sorry I'm A Little Fried

So I definitely took way more costume orders than I should of, but they're all out thanks to the constant help of my family. But next year I will definitely put a number of costumes cap instead of a date cap because seriously for the last month and a half I've been mostly sewing/packing/responding to messages. And for the last 2 weeks I literally have done only that and a few times make dinner staying up to 2 am and 3 am every night with my mom and sis and mil helping me for hours during the day and night. Way too much.

On top of that we decided to sell our house now since it's the type of place home buyers would want and there are more looking because of the government rebate. So seriously I went straight from order filling to fixing the house to make it sell (after we bought it we realized they had done a crap job fixing things so lots of things fell apart and it's super dated).

So I'm super tired. But I keep on telling myself this level of hard work should be over this week, I hope. And there is a house I absolutely love and want it's perfect. I could have a great big work room for all my stuff that also would fit the music makers stuff and have plenty of room for kiddos to be right there with us. We're trying to put an offer on that, send us your good vibes.

Anyways that's why my posting here has been on the weak side. Hopefully I"ll regain my energy and sanity soon.

Customer Appreciation Pic: Dorothy

Doesn't she just make the cutest Dorothy? Love the customer appreciation pics. I've got a few ready to ship costumes up. So if you were slacking go check out the shop.

Ready To Ship Costumes Available

There are a few ready to ship costumes in the shop right now. If you're interested in one of my costumes go head over and check out the options. One of them includes this boy pirate (I'll add a made to order version for dress up after Halloween).