Easy to Get {Joyfully} Lost on Etsy!

I have spent a lot of time perusing the wonderful world of Etsy lately. It is so neat to see what the creative minds out there have come up with.

Some of my favourite things to search for lately have been custom photo cards {I wanted to do some thank you cards from my son's birthday, but I have been procrastinating and now I am almost past what might be considered proper etiquette for thank you cards}, party kits and printables, purses, recipe organizers, and contact cards.

The only thing I have actually ordered so far is the contact cards. I figured I could use them dual purpose, as mommy contact cards when we meet some new potential playdate friends, and also as a business card when I am dealing with suppliers and vendors while planning the dance-a-thon event.

I used Etsy seller IcingsPrints, and owner, Ais, was a joy to work with. Super pleasant, and quick to respond. I am looking forward to receiving my finished product. I chose a flexible package that IcingsPrints offers that includes 30 printed copies of the contact card, plus the digital file to print more later myself if I run out. Perfect for me. Plus, I was able to get two different designs {one standard business card rectangle, and the other a funky square shape}. Thanks IcingsPrints!

Working Wednesdays

I think "Wife Wednesdays" might have to be re-categorized as "Working Wednesdays." My sister and I have been busily working on our event that we are planning in support of the Mustard Seed. We officially have a date and location now, so it so much more real!

So You Think You Can Dance For A Really Long Time, a dance-a-thon aimed at Calgary and area teens, will take place on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at Eau Claire Market. I am excited by the group of people that we have working to make everything happen so far. Generous, kind, wonderful people that are a joy to be around. And I look forward to even more people joining the team as things progress!

I will also be working in the true sense of the word soon since I have been offered a contract position with a local event management company! Lots of exciting things seem to be happening all at once.

Design In A Box

If you have been following my blog for a while, you already know that I have a passion for a few things. Baby/Children's Products, Event Planning, and Entrepreneurship are probably the highest ranking in my passion pages. Many of the posts I write tie into at least one of these themes in some way.

Today it's entrepreneurship, or since it is Mother Monday, more specifically "Mompreneurship." On Friday afternoon I was directed {via a Facebook fan page} to an article in the Globe and Mail entitled Technology Sets Mompreneurs Free. In the article they mention a Calgary-based business that I had never heard of before, but that I instantly fell in love with. The company is called Design In A Box.

Design In A Box is owned by professional interior designer Nyla Free. Clients send Nyla photos and specifications of a room in their home that needs some design TLC, and she creates a custom interior design kit complete with a floor plan, source guide of where to buy the items she is suggesting, and even fabric samples for you. The kit is put in a box {hence the company name} and mailed to you, and you can take it from there. How neat is that?

The best part is that Nyla has discovered a way to continue doing something that she loves, because her business plan makes it so she can work on her own schedule and still play mom to her two girls. Loving it!

Week in Review

My goodness life has been busy lately! Between the event that I am planning, school, and being a mommy I have barely had time to breathe these days! Sorry I missed Monday and Wednesday's posts, to make up for it, today's post will be all three posts in one!

Mother Monday
I have been taking Toddler B to classes three mornings a week. Mondays we are at Petite Beats for a Totally Tots class, Tuesdays is Sportball, and Thursdays we are at Gymtastics. I have discovered that three classes a week is way too many, but I can't decide which class to cut out of our schedule next session since we are enjoying all of them so much! Plus, we did enjoy Gym & Swim at the Shawnessy YMCA and I would consider going back to that as well. It's been good to be busy this winter though... nothing worse than a stir-crazy toddler!

Wife Wednesday
Yesterday when hubby got home from work and went to start the barbeque we discovered that there wasn't any propane left. Since there wasn't any other meal option in site, and the potatoes were already in the oven, we decided to pull out the indoor grill we have had for probably five years, but have never actually used before. It did the job, but wasn't ideal of course. Anyone else use indoor grills in their homes and have any tips? Maybe we should be using it more?

Female Friday
Anyone else in major need of a shopping fix? I haven't stepped foot in a mall or store since before Christmas, and I am going crazy! I do a lot of my shopping online, but there is something to be said about getting out with a bunch of rude, hurried shoppers and desperately trying to find what you are looking for. Hopefully an opportunity will come along soon where I can get my shopping on! I'd even be willing to head out to CrossIron Mills. Anyone been there and have recommendations of stores to hit up?

Sweet Valentine

Sorry about my absence on the blog... something came up that prevented me from being on here for a little while.

Today, I wanted to share with you a site that I found {via another site I love called Everyday Celebrating} that has some really neat ideas for Valentine's Day.

Skip to My Lou is a very cute little corner of the blog world with many crafty ideas that look easy enough for a beginner like myself.

Head on over to see the sweet candy cane lollipop tutorial that Cindy from Skip to My Lou has shared! If you poke around some more there are some adorable printable Valentines too!

Thanks Cindy for sharing!

We Are Calgary's Next Top Event Planners!

My sister and I had our first meeting with the Mustard Seed about our event today {from the Calgary's Next Top Event Planner contest we won}, and we are ready to get started! Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I will share with you whatever I can about the event and the planning process!

I'll try to get back on track with the Mother Monday, Wife Wednesday and Female Friday plan soon! Sometimes life doesn't fit into a blogging schedule I guess!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Looking forward to what 2010 has in store...

Sorry that I have been away from the blog for a little longer than I had expected. Toddler B is going through a difficult stage right now, so we have been devoting more time to him. Hopefully it doesn't last too much longer. I need sleep!

We had a wonderful Christmas in Mexico with my family, and I hope everyone also had an enjoyable holiday. It wasn't quite the same being on the beach to open presents, but I'm certainly not complaining since it was a welcome reprieve from cold Calgary.

Just before Christmas my sister and I found out that we won that contest we entered looking for Calgary's Next Top Event Planner. We have our first meeting this week, so we will see what's in store for us in the coming months. I'll keep you posted!