What a blessing!

Almost a year ago I held a contest on my blog giving away items from Multiple Blessings. Lets just say, wow, what a difference a year makes. Caroline has fulfilled almost every entrepreneur's dream - being discovered. I would like to attribute that to my blog. But, I am pretty sure there are only five of you reading it. Just kidding. Sort of. (I do use my analytics...hello lurkers! Or, Kelsey and Jackie, you guys really are checking my site 100 times a day.)

Let's start with the most exciting news first! Caroline's designs are now licensed!! Meaning we will start to see her inspirational quotes and designs in Target, Walmart and drug stores throughout the US. I cannot wait to photograph myself in Target (and I so will) with one of her designs!!! Basically, I now know someone super famous. And you all pretty much do too - since you know me. One degree of seperation, at the most. Here are her designs embroidered on hand towels-- we will see these in gift shops near us soon! Seriously, that is just so cool.

Caroline's other exciting news is she is now blogging. We can keep up everything going on with her business, her family and everything in between. Since my biggest idols are entrepreneurs, (Donny Deustch, will you ever contact me?) I am super excited to keep up with her business and her products coming out! Caroline, I would also LOVE to know how this all came about. Will you fill us in on that one day too?

And, the exciting news for us is Caroline is selling all the inventory in her store for 50% off! I always get compliments on my cute cards whenever I enclose them in a package, so I have to share the love. Here are some of my faves:

A cupcake birthday card! Hello - adorable!
I have these Grace Bits and I just love them. There are 36 little sheets of note paper - perfect for writing a cute note!

This would look cute in my sister's baby's room. I absolutely love the whimsical birds. Even though it is hard to choose, I have to say this is my favorite in Caroline's collection!

I also have these and love them. I was going to a wedding every weekend, so it was so nice to have a bunch of cards on hand.

Since everyone I know is having a baby, these "Congratulations on your new chick" cards have gotten a lot of mileage and everyone loves them (including me).

With these good deals, it would be so fun to put together a gift packet for a friend (or yourself) with greeting cards for every occasion. Oh, and the 50% discount will be given once you begin the check out process. So, go shop and enjoy!

Congratulations Caroline! I am so excited for you and cannot wait to keep up with your journey!

A compilation - kind of like mixed tape

Because I am a magazine freak and subscribe to at least 10 (don't tell my husband) on my trip to Chicago I brought about 8 that I hadn't had time to read yet. Lucky for you (and because I am a MAJOR nerd) I pulled all the pages of things I thought I needed to share (and then carried these around the city with me...I am that loyal.)

Oh, none of these really go together either. Think of it more of a menagerie or like a mixed tape.

First, if you don't subscribe to the Food Network Magazine you are totally missing out. And that is coming from someone who doesn't cook. Anyway, they have great entertaining ideas like this cocktail keg. I really want to try this! Hollow a watermelon and insert a tap from Keg Works and you have quite a statement. And basically you will keep people hydrated too...with all that water and all.

Also featured in the magazine was a whole section on using citrus. I cannot find the pics online but this will give you a good idea. Also think oranges, limes and lemons. I have done this in the fall with mini-pumpkins but this is such a fresh idea for summer!Fruit place cards were also the rage - love these - they are reusable and super cute. Another fun idea that I could not find in Google Images (and trust me I looked) was taking a lemon, cutting it into slices, removing the everything but the rind and then putting the leftover "ring" around a crisp white napkin.

Another centerpiece that was featured was a real pineapple hollowed out, like a vase, and hydrangeas coming out. Now this was so cute but have you ever tried to cut a real pineapple? You would have to have one heck of a knife to get the inside out with out cutting into the outside. But, I am also very weak.

Now for the unrelated part...are these wine bottle holders not just clever?

Cheers! More later!

Juxtaposition and a Farmer's Market

The flowers in Chicago rivaled those on my Germany trip earlier this summer. (This is it for vacay's for awhile.) The city was abloom - a former florist's dream!


It is so awesome to see a city with all of the skyscrapers intermixed with the natural beauty of flowers on ground. Keep in mind I am no photographer, so this is as good as it gets.

I do not lie when I tell you that these hydrangeas were as big as my head. I tried to get Tommy to jump in there for comparison sake but he "wants to reduce his online footprint" and flatly refused.

One of my favorite things to do when visiting any city is to visit the Farmer's Market. Strange - considering everything is pretty much perishable. But, whatev. I can't help what I like.

Fortunately, my friend Mindy let us stay a few nights with her and I wanted to get her something for her new house/30th birthday/thanks-for-letting-us-stay-with-you gift. (I know, I probably could have done better - especially considering this is more of a gift to me to put flowers together.)

Start with a medley of wild flowers -- in here we have zinnias, lilies and some other flowers I cannot identify.

I took the twine and tied it around the vase.

Next, put in the lilies.

Fill with the white drapey flowers...I thought they looked like Stars of Bethlehem and the owner told me what they were but you can only count on me for so much.

Add some color and you have a finished arrangement!

See, wasn't that easy?

Taste of Chicago

***Um, are you kidding me? I realized I spelled Chicago wrong in my title - now fixed. Sorry I am a total moron. I promise I can spell!!!***

Tommy and I just got back from a 4-day weekend in my favorite US city - Chicago (not to be confused with my favorite place in the US - Destin, FL.) There is so much to do, so much to see and so much to eat! Since I am sure you guys are just dying to live vicariously through me I will count down my top three favorite things I ate/drank this trip.

1- Garrett's popcorn. All I can say is you have not had popcorn until you have tried Garrett's. The Mix - caramel and cheese popcorn combined is the ultimate sweet and salty mix. And I know my sweet and salty - I swear I invented it. Served hot and gooey, you will have died and gone to heaven when you taste it. All that being said, I am not a popcorn person either. Can you imagine having lived your life without this if you were a popcorn lover?

2- Sweet Mandy B's Cupcakes. While in Chicago I visited my friend from high school, Mindy. One of the many expeditions I asked her to take me on was to visit a cupcake boutique and this one did not disappoint. I thought I ordered a carrot cake cupcake --somehow it was orange -- and she got a traditional yellow cake with chocolate icing. Of course, we shared and both were great. We also followed this treat up with a double chocolate chunk cookie. This why I am doing Zumba tonight.

Hot Chocolate. When you name your restaurant Hot Chocolate -- you better deliver. And, Hot Chocolate soooo did. I had the "Light" - white, dark and milk chocolate (mostly white chocolate) served with a homemade marshmallow. You guys, I have never drank anything this awesome in my life. The consistency was similar to pudding you would make on the stove before it was instant. The taste was like a perfect piece of chocolate. The marshmallow melting in the cup was so light and airy. I wish I could give you all just a sip of mine. Tommy even loved it and he is not a sweet person. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

I didn't get any deep dish Chicago pizza this time and I was so bad about taking pics of my food but did get some other cool pics that I will share later this week. Glad to be back and missed you guys!

Can you do me a favor?

I came across the most adorable favors the other day on one of the million blogs I read. I need to find that and link back and get a life. Anyway, what would be more perfect than an adorable box of cupcakes? (Okay, maybe pre-made cupcakes but then you wouldn't get as many.)

The cupcakes come packaged (and we all know it is all about the packaging) in this adorable box with a custom sticker. Now these are for birth announcements and on Gourmet Gift Company's website, they had a little header that said "announcing our new little cupcake." Um, does it get any cuter?

They are a little pricey but for those family and friends you want to impress - totally worth it.

From the website:

Our custom label baking mix favors are the perfect wedding favors, bridal shower favors, baby shower favors, party favors or Bat Mitzvah favors. Choose from our four delicious cupcake mix flavors, vanilla cupcake mix, chocolate cupcake mix, champagne cupcake mix and red velvet cupcake mix or our chocolate brownie mix (flavor selection is limited due to favor box size). Each mix is made from the finest ingredients available including Nielsen-Massey pure Madagascar bourbon vanilla. They are all natural with no artificial flavors or preservatives. Simply combine with fresh ingredients from your kitchen, bake and enjoy!

Each mix comes complete with your choice of a white gloss or natural-colored box and your choice of custom label (ribbon not included). Our personalized labels come in many different styles and have been designed in a palette of colors that make them perfect for any occasion. They are custom printed with your name, date or personal message to your guests.

Now I just need to have a cupcake party!

Won my first award ever!

I have never won anything in my life. Nothing. Oh, wait, I lied. I have never won anything in my life that I would actually want. Things won:

1- Round of Golf in a United Way contest. Gave it back to be re-raffled, much to Tommy's chagrin.
2- Dinner for two at Jamil's. I am sure that would be lovely, if I ate meat.

But, today I was awarded the Most Awesome Blogstress award by Angie at Step-fabulous! Yay me!

So, as part of my acceptance speech, I am to tell you 7 things that make me Awesome. This should be easy, right?

1- My awesome computer abilities. I can google better than anyone I know. Unfortunately, this is not a marketable skill but it does bring my 8 blog followers (hi, Kelsey!) some new finds.

2- I am an awesome pup mom to Pudge and Carter. You will hear no arguments from them. (And, that is not just because they cannot talk.)

3- I have awesome friends and family!

4- Oooh - I am world's most awesome aunt! Boo ya, Tori! And, I can totally say whatever I want about that because my she has never read my blog, I am pretty sure. So, I will also award myself with World's Most Awesome Sister/Sister-in-Law. Both are easy considering I only have one sister and I am Kristen's (Max's mom) only s-i-l.

5- I am an awesome planner. Vacays, partys, play dates, my future - I am on it. Just don't make me deal with logistics of getting everyone else there. That I don't like.

6 - Okay, this is getting hard now. Oh, I am an awesome speller. I should be in one of those new adult spelling bees. Only I have to write it out. I cannot do it in my head. (That is kind of a lie -- I have a hard time spelling embarrassed and guarantee -- um, yeah, thank God for spell check on those. Just had to correct.)

7 - I have an awesome memory for all things that happened in high school. Now, that is a talent!

Since I cannot keep all this awesomeness to myself, I am going to bestow Queen of Awesome on my friend, Aja, from It's a Strange and Lovely Ride. Totally fitting because:
1- She is awesome.
2- Her blog is hilarious.
3-Randomly Angie knows Aja! Small, weird world.

Testy

I have no idea why but there have been a couple of commercials/ads lately that just get on my nerves. Why? I have no idea. But, I must share. Maybe venting will help.

I am a huge fan of Lowe's. They do so many great things for Habitat and I love that they have designed their stores to be more "female-friendly." Take me to Lowe's over Home Depot any day. That being said. I CANNOT stand this ad. Do they think we are dumb???

Although I have never been pregnant, I am pretty sure if I was this enormous I would know that I was not having just one and wouldn't need to call my mom to pick out two more names. I think they would have picked that up on appointment 2 at the latest. Okay, vent over. Deep breaths. ; )

On the national/international level, I am annoyed when Walmart advertises that they shop their competitors daily and adjust their prices to be lower, so we don't have to shop around. I am no dummy (wow, I think I found the root of my frustration) and don't like to be reminded that Walmart is going to make the most off me as they possibly can. I totally applaud this. It is a good business model. But, you don't have to actually come out and say it in your ad.

My last consumers-must-be-total-idiots ad is Joe Cooper Ford's ad heading westbound on the BA. The billboard states - "We will beat any competitor's price by $500 or give you $10,000." Might as well say, "We will beat any competitor's price by $500 or we will give you a $1,000,000."

Dear Joe Cooper's marketing team,

I can do math.

Sincerely,

Katie

Wow, that was cathartic. I think I can move on with my life now.