I am coming out of hibernation for an even more worthy cause….a mom named Jana. I have written about Paperdoll Designsbefore, and I still love Karen and all the creative things she makes. Last week, she created some very cute cards in honor of her friend, Jana, who was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. She is a mom to two young girls and is fighting the fight of her life with her chin up and with complete faith in God’s healing power. I don’t know Jana myself, but I have had my own battles with health and know many young women who have as well. It is so hard to be sick and be a mom… After all, you are “Mom!” I would love nothing more than to help Jana in her time of need if not by helping sell these cute cards, but just being a small piece of encouragement in her daily fight. Please read PaperDoll’s post here and order some of these cute cards available in red/brown and green/brown.

Karen at PaperDoll Designs is donating $3 of every set of “Jana” note cards, plates, platters, trays and bag tags sold to help Jana’s family out.  What a worthy cause.  Who doesn’t need a cute set of cards for yourself or a friend?  Check out her other cute items and order them in the “Jana” style, too!  Keep PaperDoll designs close as school gets closer.  So many cute things for the kiddos! 

Our hearts and prayers go out to you, Jana!

Today, my mom is contributing one of her favorite things…all things by Stephen Huneck.

We discovered the Stephen Huneck Gallery in Nantucket about fifteen years ago.  When I saw the colorful whimsical paintings of Labradors, I just had to have one.  His own black lab is named Sally and has created paintings, books, stationary, etc. in honor of his Sally.  We have the children’s picture books about Sally and her adventures among other things.   When our own beloved Sweetie went to the “Lab Chapel” in the sky (also a book) we named our next lab, Sally, of course.  If you love labs, you must check out Stephen Huneck’s web site.

We are a Lab family, so we love all things Lab.  You, too, will love his site and all of his work, as would anyone you know who is a Lab-lover, too!

The book takes on a subject for each letter of the alphabet, written in a poem, that covers little people issues.  For example, “A is for Asking….” and each thought has a Bible verse, and a picture to support it with questions about the picture.  What I love the most is that we can read straight thru the book with my 3-year-old simply by reading the poems.  My 6-year-old can look at the picture and answer the ethical questions that go along with each page.  The supporting Bible verses are also great kid-friendly verses for memorization.  The book can be used in so many ways.  It is also a great resource.  Instead of reading it thru A-Z, you can discuss an important topic and reference the book with your kids, as well.

So, I am a fan of Kenneth Taylor.  The funniest part is that I pulled out a children’s devotional book that my parents used to read to me.  I started reading it to my boys last week.  When I put it on the night stand, the very 70′s looking book said, “Kenneth Taylor.”  Could it be?  It WAS!  He has now reprinted and updated the cover, but it is another great book by him, Devotions for the Children’s hour.

Love them both.  Would highly recommend them as good, thought provoking reading for you and your little ones!

The Remote Controlled Shark…for the swimming pool!  May I never step foot in a dark-bottomed pool again…

Combining my niece’s love of anatomy and nephew’s love of sharks…a really cool look at shark anatomy…

 And this cute cute shark hat/puppet….

(I bought this for my nephew to wear to his party, which he ended up wearing for his school report on sharks ) 

How about the look of this cool kite flying in the sky?

And if you have never seen this amazing pop-up book, you are really missing out.  It takes Pop-Up books to a whole new level!!!

Now you have a few good shark ideas for the shark-lover in your life.  Hope you enjoy!

Now, the authors of Hello Cupcake have a newer edition, “What’s New Cupcake?”  Each book has perfect directions that are easy to follow and some of the most amazing ideas for birthdays, Easter, Valentine’s Day…great for yourself and a great gift for a friend.  If nothing else, to keep on the cookbook shelf and marvel at their creations!  Click the links or the pictures and get yourself a cupcake book now!

Today’s post comes from Alli…

My friend, Kinzie, created the cutest personalized book! It’s called “Find Me.” Think “I Spy” but you’re hunting for your own pictures. I ordered one for my daughter’s 3rd birthday, but it turns out that my 8 and 11 year olds love it too! It was very easy to create…just go to her website, and follow the directions! You upload 6 pictures and choose 11 backgrounds. Your pictures are hidden in the scenes you choose! And, of course, you have a chance to review the scenes with your pictures in them before you order. This was great for me because I had originally chosen some scenes that might have proven to be too challenging for my 3 year old (the big kids would have loved them though). My favorite scene is the one with dollar bills all over it because it made my husband have funny Andrew Jackson hair. The book itself is a very high quality hardback with beautiful, colorful pages (and, really, how fun is it to have your picture on the cover of a book!). My daughter absolutely adores it and shouts “hooway!”   she finds a picture. I have to agree! Hooway for the Find Me Book!

These are so cool!  Thanks, Alli, for sharing.  What an incredibly fun gift to give to your children!  It doesn’t get better than finding pictures of yourself!

For the record, I am currently reclaiming organization in my life.  In my life before kids, I was an organizing maniac.  Then, I got married and two people were using my clean space…then, three, four and now five people! And the space just “ain’t” clean like I like it.    HOW do you stay organized with five rug rats (and a big dog) in one space?  ahhh!  I am currently organizing all the pages I have ripped from magazines.  I got tired of storing loads of magazines that I never went through again, so I decided to rip what I like and recycle the rest.  HUGE difference in space.  I tear recipes, decorating ideas, kid projects.  And now, I have an “Idea Book.”  I also have two huge binders for my recipes.  I dropped and broke one too many recipe boxes, so I moved all my cards into photo pages in a binder and merged them with my recipes I print from the computer, find in magazines, etc and put in sheet protectors.  Binders work!

Of course, I also like “cute.”  So when I found these custom binders I was in Heaven!  There are loads of pre-designed binders that you can insert your own text in OR you can start from scratch and make your very own.  I can’t wait to get started.  Just by perusing their ideas, I came up with lots of reasons to make new binders.  A recipe binder is the best idea.  This way you can add and remove on a whim.  What a great gift…wedding, birthday, housewarming!  There are many many cute recipe binders to choose from…

Binders with your own photos inserted…

There is this cute “Wedding Binder”…a place to keep all those wedding plans organized. 

If you have any sort of business, a binder is a great idea to keep your portfolio…like this cute Cake Binder…

Or if you have a need for a Baby book…for pictures, guest lists, keepsakes…

I get so excited at all the endless ideas to get yourself organized…a binder to keep track of finances, a journal, a business, cute teen gift to personalize a school binder, a special binder for a big project, photos, recipes, meal plans…tell me your ideas!  I love it!  Let’s get organized!  Click the link below and search for “Custom Binders.”  Voila! 

Don’t forget, Penelope will donate 20% of all proceeds to a local charity if you shop/link through Penelope’s Pitstop…

If you purchase via the link above, it is also available for FREE shipping!  Last minute gift…check!

For the record, The Junior League of North Harris and South Montgomery County is just a mouthful for the Junior League of  The Woodlands, Texas.

I was just as excited to find the Everything Christmas Book, as it is full of Christmas traditions, recipes, and stories.  I always like to hear new ideas and suggestions for holiday traditions.  It has Christmas craft ideas and songs.  “Everything” for great ideas for family time around the holidays.  A great gift to share with families with or without existing traditions!

What I didn’t know, is that there are hundreds of “Everything” books.  From, games to recipes and language to baby.  I had no idea how many books were in the series.  It’s a cute series.  Click on the links and discover all the great “Everythings” you didn’t know were out there!

Noteworthy Kids

If your first thought is that your child isn’t the next Van Gogh, don’t worry!  My son still draws egg people and his egg art made one of the cutest note cards of all.  And I will proudly send out the egg people for all the world to see.  Not only is this a darling idea for grandparent gifts, parent gifts, teacher gifts, and thank you cards, but what a GREAT way to make your own Christmas card with your child’s artwork on the front!  Have your child draw a holiday picture and send it to all your friends and family.  OR, review the Art Gallery and have your choice of purchasing other children’s art!  Check out their website.  Noteworthy Kids is a very affordable option for a darling personalized gift and even a clever and creative Christmas Card!    Noteworthy Kids is offering a 10% discount to all Penelope’s Pitstop readers.  Coupon Code:  penelope.  You might want to check out the Giveaways today, too!