Penelope's Pitstop » Soul

Bagettes.com

Penelope — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:34:05 +0000

Yet another darling invention. I love pictures and I see photos put on lots of things, but there is just something about these Bagettes that takes the cake. These handy little bags are simple to make by uploading one of your favorite snapshots to their websiteand making your choice of bag for the buying…for you or for a gift. They have all sizes of bags, purses, accessory bags, wristlets, coin purses and cosmetic bags. They are excellent quality and the picture will clearly last on these cuties.

They have really great ideas for how to gift these bags…to grandparents, bridesmaids, friends. Such a great way to capture a moment and make the memory last by printing it on a bag. I think my favorites are the coin purse and cosmetic bags. I know our grandparents would love to have one of these. Mother’s Day, Birthday, Christmas…every occasion would scream for one of these.

Darling picture on a cosmetic bag…

Two cutie boys on a wristlet…

Fabulous idea for a Bridesmaid’s gift!

I love these bags. They are so cute and a perfect gift for someone who has it all! Who wouldn’t want a picture of your cutie-pies on a bag to carry with them everywhere they go? You might check out the give-aways today….you might like it!

Animal Print File Folders

Penelope — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:49:09 +0000

I have oogled over these file folders since I first noticed them in Ballard Designs years ago. I love to organize and these cute file folders are right up the nesting momma’s alley. I just can’t resist them. What will I put in them? I can organize the “kid projects” I planned to get in order 5 years ago. I can keep my blogging information in better order or organize my kiddo’s artwork. I can possibly organize my scrapbook paraphernalia… I can see homeschooling mom’s, working moms and stay-at-home moms filling these babies up with school work, reports and bills. They are certainly too cute to put in a file cabinet, so just putting them on a file stand on my desk would improve the look of my desk…and quite possibly encourage a little more order.

Each animal print (Giraffe, Cheetah, and Zebra) include a set of 12 folders. If you need that many, great, but I might consider buying all 3 sets and finding a friend or two to split the packages three ways so I can have the variety of prints. Too cute! I hope you like them as much as I do. Let’s get organized together!

Jooners

Penelope — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:08:48 +0000

Holy Cow! I think Jooners might be the best discovery of the summer for me. This week is Vacation Bible School for our church. This means lots in the way of organization for our large church and all the volunteers that are taking part in the week. I was completely amazed when I received an email organizing snack volunteers from Jooners. Have you heard of it before? Not me.

Jooners is an on-line service with minimal fee to join that organizes you for any event…snack volunteers at VBS, classroom volunteers, block party, fundraiser, sports teams…any need to you have to organize a group, Jooners has a way to do it. Once you join, you select what type of sign-up sheet you need. You can be as specific and detailed as you would like. Then, email the list to your group and everyone can sign up via their email…whether it be attendance, snack responsibilities, money. (Jooners does accept club payments thru Amazon accounts!) Jooners also provides a link to use if you prefer to organize sign-ups via a website location, as well. When my email came a couple weeks ago, I signed up to bring juice on Monday. Last Friday, I received an automatic reminder from Jooners of what I volunteered to bring and on what day I said I would bring it. For the traditionalist in me, Jooners also provides a “Thank-you” note function to thank all your volunteers. Amazing!

After all the sign-ups I have been a part of, this seems like something that someone should have thought of years ago. Not only does it prevent duplicate sign ups, but it is organized, removes the “paper”, and even allows you to make payments (for uniforms or trophies, for instance) to your organizer. Anyone who likes to be organized will love this website! I can’t say enough for the time it saves. Moms…spread the word. This will change the lives of the “PTA Mom” for sure. Watch their “Tour” and see what you think.

Seacret Nail Care Set

Penelope — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:22:00 +0000

A year ago my mom was visiting and came home from a trip to the mall with a Seacret Nail Care Set for me. This is highly unlike my mom to be suckered into buying something from a mall kiosk, let alone buying a nail care kit…it’s just not her style. So, I was automatically interested. She said she was just so impressed with the demo, she had to buy it and laughed it off. The set has a buffer, oil and lotion to be used in a proper order each week. Now, if you know me, you know that nails are not my top priority, not even close to the top of my list. I always wished I had nice nails, but typically my stress is relieved by tearing my nails…it feels so good!

I did start to use the set and with great success. I was quite impressed, as I could see nail growth the very next day and my nails were just in better shape overall. My hands were so soft! Even my hubs noticed. So, I was a believer. Every time I passed that kiosk and they tried to stop me, I was prepared to tell them how much I loved it already and kept on walking. A year later, both my mom and I LOVE the set!

Last week, I passed the kiosk with no children and a little time on my hands. The girl was cute and talked me in to sitting down for some eye treatment something. So, I let her. Lately, I have become obsessed with my eyes. Not only do I have brown spots, that are hopefully just pregnancy induced and will go away in the near future, but I am really noticing crows feet around the eyes. She went on to tell me all about Seacret and that it is made with minerals from the Dead Sea. After all, this is where Cleopatra went on occasion to nurture her beauty! At that point, I knew I was a sucker. The products are made in Israel and do claim on the package to be of the Dead Sea, but distributed here in the United States out of Phoenix, Arizona. I was skeptical.

Then, I looked in the mirror. The eye that she had put the cream on was brighter, softer and clearly different that the other eye. She then quoted me a ridiculous price of $160. I told her how much I noticed the difference and would buy it, but I couldn’t pay that for the jar of eye gel. Eventually, I talked her down simply by just refusing to buy. I got the eye gel for less than half of her initial quote and called my mom immediately. “I was snookered just like you, Mom! And at the same kiosk!!” and we laughed about it. However, a week later, my eyes do look more supple and with less darkness around my eyes and the skin is definitely softer. I knew I already loved the Seacret Nail set, no matter where it was made, but now I really am a believer in the Seacret Eye Gel. Bottom line, I can see a difference whether it is full of the Dead Sea or not.

The kicker is this. I got on-line to search for the products to blog on and they are all on Amazon for much better prices than the mall kiosk. In fact, many of the reviews rave about the product and profess to never purchase from the mall kiosk again, but will buy again on-line. You be the judge. These two products work, I can vouch for that.

And they used Cleopatra in their sales pitch! What more can you ask for…

Click on the above links to Amazon and check them out!

The Organizing Junkie

Penelope — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:39:00 +0000

I have been on a major mission to get my house organized. I love to organize, but having moved to a new home 9 months ago, which coincided with holiday cooking and guests, then finding out I was expecting with 3 months of nausea to follow, I have dropped the ball. In fact, the past 2 years, my family has been in transition, and “transition” is one place I don’t like to be because nothing in my house has a home, including me!

Recently, as my close friends know, I have been nesting like there is no tomorrow. My list of organizing “To-Do’s” is growing smaller by the second. My life hasn’t felt so good in so long. There is just something about that feeling inside when my house is organized. If my house is a wreck, my head is a wreck worrying about getting things clean or organized, not to mention I am irritable. In the process of getting my house organized, I have also been getting my life and patterns organized. I might be the last person in the blogging world to finally start using a blog reader. The time this saves! And it allows for me to keep up with more blogs than just my friends. I have recently started following The Organizing Junkie. Every Monday she has a Menu Plan for the week…a great resource for recipes and loads of tips and resources for getting your home and your life organized. She has great ideas for getting rid of clutter and “minimizing”…my new motto. Don’t use it, don’t want to look at it, get rid of it! I really enjoy getting her ideas for how to get organized. As much as I love to organize and re-organize I can get overwhelmed with what goes where…and I can certainly go crazy at The Container Store. Then, I come home with multiple “cool” organizers and no real place to put them!

Check her out. If you don’t have a blog reader, get one. And be prepared, as I am going to start sharing a few more of my favorite blogs for you Internet Savvy folks!

Who can go wrong with a little organizing help?

The Silver Queen

Penelope — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:59:00 +0000

How much do I love thee? I can remember The Silver Queen catalog coming to my mom when I was a little girl. I would flip through it and think, “How boring!” I know I became an adult somewhere in there, as I LOVE SILVER now and I LOVE getting my Silver Queen catalog. So many girls don’t register for silver these days when they get married and I think that’s a shame. No, you don’t use it often, but when you do, it’s beautiful…and a great heirloom! Dishes and flatware come and go through the years, but china and sterling silver stick around…for many generations to come.

I love china, crystal and silver on top of the many informal sets of dishes and glasses I already own. I love a pretty table setting. It must be the Martha Stewart in me…what little there really is. My silver set is the only thing I am still working on completing from my wedding. I believe right now, 4 people in total could eat with me and my silver. I dream of 12, at least! The Silver Queen has every possible choice of sterling silver patterns at great prices. They buy and sell and they have great sales! While I am focusing right now just on my basic silver set, they have every possible utensil available in most sets…down to a pickle fork or a bon bon piece! They sell silver baby gifts, wedding gifts, wedding party gifts….they do silver to the nines! They also sell a great variety of silver boxes, which is needed to store all the beautiful silver when you have it.

Check out The Silver Queen. And encourage your girls to register for China and Crystal and Silver. They may not appreciate it in their 20s, but they are certain to adore it as they get older.

Traditionalist I am…and I love it!

Body Butter

Penelope — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:27:00 +0000

Body Butter how much do I love thee? I have loved The Body Shop’s Body Butter since I first discovered it, possibly in high school (ie more than a few years ago). I like to have smoothe skin and I don’t like to have dry skin. Yes, I buy store-bought lotion, but I have discovered that, while I don’t have really dry skin, many of the store-bought lotions just don’t cut it. I often have to re-apply and still never feel completely free of dryness. It’s those fillers, I tell you. I am telling you I want supple skin…

When I first started using Body Butter there were only two choices and I love love loved the Avocado Body Butter. Today, there are 12 flavor choices for you…and they really work. It is super thick and especially great to nourish your skin after being in the sun this summer and great after shaving your legs. Oh! and great in the dry winter. It is great all year long!

Aaaaahhhh….I love me some Body Butter. Click the link below and check out the flavors and order your favorite smell. I guarantee you will LOVE. IT. And they are even having a sale right now!

momAgenda School Years Book

Penelope — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:12:00 +0000

I have come to a major crossroads in my life. To some, it may be quite petty, to those who value scrap booking, you will understand. I started doing Creative Memories scrapbooks when I was in college. I love every inch of them. Since college, I have made many more scrapbooks, always using the Creative Memories approach. Each of my boys has a book, going on 2 each, as well as our family book. Thus, I am currently keeping 3 books going at a time. Yes, it’s crazy. Come September, when I have my third child, I will have yet another book to keep up with. I love that each child has a baby book that he will someday have to show his children, but I have put my foot down on how many books he will have. I can just see the day that I hand over 20 huge scrapbooks to their wives…that would be a true mother-in-law moment.

I have recently determined that as soon as each boy starts Kindergarten, they will become a part of the family album. BUT, as my mom did for me, I want them to have a more “scrappy” book…for school pictures, report cards, awards, etc. Meet the momAgenda answer to my worries: The School Years Book. Kindergarten through 12th grade is captured in one book. It has a pocket to keep things like report cards and papers in, a place to put a school picture, and blanks to fill in about your child for that particular year. My mom kept a very similar album for me and I love it as much as my baby books. Through momAgenda you can even have each book you order personalized with their names.

Sold! I am buying 3 right now. Really. Who am I kidding that I can keep up with four scrapbooks for the next 18 years? Funny. I know. Click the momAgenda link below or in the left column to buy your books!

P.S. I just ordered my AWESOME momAgenda calendar for next school year…dates are already cropping up for the Fall! Do you have yours?

Shutterfly Snapbooks

Penelope — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:56:00 +0000

I love these Shutterfly Snapbooks for any occasion, including Mother’s Day…for moms, grandmother’s, mother’s-in-law. I even gave one to my husband and the grandfathers for Father’s Day one year.

They come in 4×6 or 5×7, but I like to make them in 4×6 so they can fit in a purse or bag and be used as a brag book. The price varies based on how many pictures you put in your book, but you can put up to 50 pictures in a book. Shutterfly allows you to put captions on each picture if you choose and you can choose from several styles of books.

I know my husband loved having it at his desk at work.

I ordered mine for Mother’s Day gifts and received it in just a few days…great gift, thoughtful, personal and easy to make! (and Grandmothers love them!)

Click the link below and search for “Snap Books” to make your own!

Rummikub

Penelope — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:14:00 +0000

I love to play games and I really like playing games with our family. Now, I am to the stage of Christmas shopping where I must find a good game for a late night competition. Rummikub keeps taking the cake in my mind. We had some friends teach us their version of Rummikub which made for a very fun night. It is a fun slant on Gin Rummy, but with tiles. We used two boxes of Rummikub tiles (that’s 2 games) with 8 people. The whole waiting for each person to go really slows the game down and makes it boring. Instead we all go at once. It is like a massive game of Nertz or Speed for you card players out there. You really have to be quick and watch the whole table constantly. It was an absolute riot.

While the best game would be with all adults, if you have kids elementary and up, they should be able to catch on. Watch out though, your competitive spirit is sure to rear its head. So, great game for the family over Christmas, especially if you are about to get a winter storm and are going to be stuck inside for a long time. (So I hear for Oklahoma.) You will want to play over and over….and over! Good Luck!