4 more weeks

Until school starts!  Camp is done & the heat is on around here!  I am so blessed to be busy … not enough time for blogging.  I wanted to share a few new happies that have been added recently.

new large round cornered calling cards

new binder designs – these have been SUCH a hit with Emma Kate’s friends.  they love them!

new sticker designs

more stickers – great for kids books this year

and a cute new baseball set

small invites

thank you notes

calling cards

there’s many more new things on the site… just don’t have time to post them all here right now!

click here to see what’s new on the site!  show time is approaching – get your orders in soon for back to school!  Lunchboxes are flying out my office right now!!

Custom Design Requests

I have always gotten custom order requests – from wanting to see a different sticker design, to wanting a custom pillowcase – this has been a constant around here.  I have put up a form on the site for these requests since they are very hard to keep track of when sent via email or via phone.  So, one way or another I am determined to stay on top of things & keep organized!

Hope ya’ll can find this easy to use & apply it to any product that’s on the site or if there’s a product that you’d like to see added – something you’ve seen that you know comes from us but isn’t on the site yet (cutting boards, aluminum sports bottles, beach towels…get it?).  There’s no payment requested for this service but fees may apply depending on the detail. 

Please use this form BEFORE placing an order so I can upload the design of your choice to the site for purchase.  Again, there may be fees applied to the final order total – just ask before checking out the final product.

Thanks!!

Contents of my disastrous purse.. the month of JUNE

is almost OVER!  Thank goodness as it was purely hectic & insane … perhaps the most insane month of my whole entire motherhood existence of almost 9 years.

As I reflect over the past 6 months, I realize:

• sales are DOWN 18% (waah) compared to 2008 BUT they are UP 150% compared to 2007 (gotta find that silver lining!)
• I have done more for my kids in the past month than my business
• I still haven’t found the balance I’ve been looking for in managing this business & family life
• Competition has increased about 200% since I began doing this

As I reflect over this emptied out purse that has been carried w/me this past month, I see:

• a packet of otter pops
• 2 energizer rechargeable (dead) batteries
• about a dozen sunflower seeds
• popcorn pieces
• a yellow skittle
• a nail file
• a blue bicstic
• nasty unwrapped green trident (YUCK!)
• a Picadilly gift card
• packing slip
• a hefty cheerleading uniform bill
• large paperclip
• Emma barrette
• wrappers of ALL kinds
• lipliner
• mac lipstick
• receipts, receipts, receipts
• an invitation
• a wadded up diaper
• sequins
• sashes from dance recital
• 3 dirty socks
• airhead
• 2 checkbooks
• 3 pens
• a purse calendar
• blackberry
• 1/2 roll of quarters still in tact
• coupons
• dollartree ad
• Coldplay ticket stub (AWESOME CONCERT!!)

Okay.. that’s enough!  Can you tell I have been running around like a chicken w/my head cut off?  Baseball & Softball are officially over but there are still other activities… 

Long story short…

BEAR WITH ME!!!!!!!!!!  I’M BEYOND WAY BEHIND!!!

Hope everyone else is enjoying the peace & relaxation of summer!  As I deal with this heat wave we’ve had

our kids are now enjoying a nice little addition to our backyard

Did I mention, I LOVE THIS THING!?  The kids are having such a blast in it & it’s been such easy maintenance!  All the kids in this pic look like giants but it really is the perfect size for my kiddies :)

Happy Summer!!

Is the 4th really that close? Geez…

Here’s how these gals have grown over the years :) 

Oh how I love me some English babies!!!

Pics

I have yet to find time to snap pictures of stuff that goes out of this office!  Can we say, “Assistant, where are you?”  Very frustrating not having more hours in the day to get everything done.  So many cute things, not enough time to brag about them :)

Here’s a couple custom designs from this week…

and a new invite option added – an easy way to customize a party invite…

pick your border pattern, the icon & font & you’ve got a custom invite – very easy & quick :)

enjoy!

Show order update

For those who placed orders for the following products, here are some updates on production of said items:

• Cutting Boards – arriving Mon 6-1-09 – will ship/deliver upon receipt
• Note Cubes - arriving Mon 6-1-09 – will ship/deliver upon receipt
• Clipboards - arriving Mon 6-1-09 – will ship/deliver upon receipt
• Plates, Bowls, Platters – arriving daily – will ship/deliver upon receipt (some shipped direct from the factory)
• Stamps – arrived Thurs 5-28-09 – holding some to deliver/ship w/grouped orders (some shipped direct from the factory & have arrived to some recipients already)

Please note – if you ordered any of these items in a group (ie: note cube, cutting board & plate) your orders will be grouped to ship together.  Since I waive most shipping charges at the shows (see what you get for not coming to see us?) I like to group the orders as best I can to save a little $$.

Oh.. forgot to show you the cutting boards.. you can see them in the pic from the show on this post but here are a couple examples.  Also pictured are some note cubes that were ordered…

cutting boards

these are the small version which is 12 x 8 & sell for $34.  the larger version is 16 x 12 & sells for $40.  these make great wedding gifts as well as housewarming gifts!  even college kids moving into their first pad would love these :)  i know my old roomie would have loved to have had one, considering she did cook almost every night in our apartment!!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Is it summer yet?

Sure is… starting Friday, kids will be running around here while I desperately try to get orders done, pick up after them, do laundry, attempt to put food on the table and get my business out of this house!  I secretly wish we had a couple more weeks for me to get things straight around here!

Since April 1st, I have processed, designed, produced, packed & shipped over 5,000 items for Mother’s Day, Graduation Gifts, Teacher Gifts, end of the year kids gifts and even a few “missed Christmas gifts” if you can believe that!  Over 300 orders in less than 2 months … worn out!!  But grateful :)

A new little addition that was introduced at the latest show – went over pretty well.  Very cute size & presentation.  Hope you like the new Baby Sippy – available in blue or pink.  Same process – pick your pattern, font & you’ve got a custom product for a dirt cheap price :)

enjoy!

Hello from the show…

(insert theme song from the twilight zone)

This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area we call. The Twilight Zone

Feeling like I am in some other world w/my mind going a mile a minute for 8 straight hours, I say to you, Welcome to the Twilight Zone.

:)

Here’s a couple shots from the show this past weekend.  I am headed off in a few but wanted to give you a glimpse of what it’s like in our world…

what a weekend! rough week ahead as well…

Emma Kate had her 7th birthday party this past Saturday – an American Idol meets Dancing with the Stars them – it was a hit!  She had a blast & her friends did as well :)  I still have to upload the pics from the party but for now you’ll have to take my word for it!  It was fun!

So, last night I had so much to do as part of what I call my Mother’s Day & Party Central recovery, I was up until 5 a.m.  First I was processing, printing & packing orders until 3:30’ish.  Then I decided that I would just stay up to finish up laundry, pack the lunches, set the coffee & do the general morning duties.  Jeff was nice enough to let me sleep in after I told him I had just fallen asleep when Ev woke up at 7.  So, my sleep-in morning lasted till about 9:30 & then I was non-stop from that point on.  It’s time to call it a night though b/c I am pretty tired…

This weekend is another tradeshow that will last through Tuesday of next week.  Please keep that in mind when ordering – orders will be processed during that time but will not ship until after the show is over.  This will apply starting this Thursday, May 14th.

A few snippets from the past couple of days…

Some pens

a few sippys… just showing one

some hand sanitizer pumps – gotta have one for your kids!!

a sports bottle

a couple new pillowcases…

and placemats…

a custom baby shower invite

a couple bag tags…

plates…

and aqua mama… just in time for this SUMMERTIME weather we’re having!!!

 

nite nite!!

wow!

not much time but went on a field trip today to see

THIS

a must see!  more later…

how i see it

so since i’ve been looking for ways to show off those pics that i don’t have time to take … i’ve decided just to show you how i see it {on my computer screen}.  so, i will title each item each time i do this so you know what this design will be used for :)  i know you are dying to see my creations every day (LOL!!  just kidding!) so i will show you.

first …

pens for the day

clipboards

can holders

sports bottle

and a stamper

there were more done today but this is all ‘ya gonna get for right now :)

off to carpool!

monday, tuesday & Happy Cinco de Mayo :)

LOVE all things Mexican… ask anyone I know ;) Happy Margarita, cerveza, Mariachi .. whatever!

Here are few things from the past few days

cute posh plate & kid kup set …

and a sneak peek of the tailgate trays coming soon…

and a couple other designs…

happy tuesday!!

bag tag bag tag bag tag…

today was a bag tag day!!

 

also, happy 7th birthday Emma Kate :)

and congrats Megan & Patrick :)

now off to wrap em’s present…

today… was a Monday

Not much to report here for this Monday – thank goodness it didn’t turn out like last Monday for sure!

Wanted to post a few clips from the past few days…

New “Meredith” folded note

I need to find a way to do previews for the pens & drinkware & stuff that I don’t have time to photograph… I did a few really cute pens & memo holders today but of course, I have nothing to show for them b/c I absolutely do not have time to take pics let alone edit them, since my picture taking skills are the pits. 

So, I guess you will just have to settle for nothing on those products for now – until I spend the $15 grand I was quoted over the weekend for a previewing website… ((geez!!)) I guess that’s what I get for having too many choices :) 

I did manage to preview some of the new pillowcases that have been quite popular since their intro…

and a new note cube…

& a CUTIE PIE!!

and another precious cutie :)

and how about a cute folded note to match…

and mom wanted some stickers w/her name on them.  I started doing a 3x2 sticker that I haven’t added to the cart yet…

off to bed… :)

Quick Friday post

Headed off to carpool but had to share…

look at little chichi up there :)  ain’t she cute??

happy weekend!!!!

Last chance for Kelly’s Kids clothes!

As most of you (may) know, I am a Kelly’s Kids clothing rep along with owning this business.  Tomorrow is the close of the Spring 2009 season so I wanted to post a quick blitz regarding that…

Here’s the incentive:

LEVEL 1:

• Take 25% off at laurieslagniappe.com for placing a Kelly's Kids order of $300 or more!
• This promotion CANNOT be combined with any other lagniappe offers (including coupons, online party credits, etc.)

LEVEL 2:

• Take 15% off at laurieslagniappe.com for placing a Kelly's Kids order of $200 or more!
• This promotion CANNOT be combined with any other lagniappe offers (including coupons, online party credits, etc.)

LEVEL 3:

• Take 10% off at laurieslagniappe.com for placing a Kelly's Kids order of $100 or more!
• This promotion CANNOT be combined with any other offers (including coupons, online party credits, etc.)

LEVEL 4:

• Earn free shipping for lagniappe orders for placing a Kelly's Kids order of $50 or more!
• This promotion CANNOT be combined with any other offers (including coupons, online party credits, etc.)

ALL TOTALS ARE PRE-TAX & SHIPPING!
SALES ARE ONLY VALID FOR SPRING 2009 COLLECTION - DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OUTLET ITEMS ON THE KELLY'S KIDS WEBSITE!

Check out some of the adorable Kelly's Kids clothing www.kellyskids.com. Remember!! You MUST order through me to get your hostess earnings & Laurie's Lagniappe gift certificate!

Rush, rush, rush!

I am way behind on so much right now – sorry for any delays that I’ve caused… my daughter was in the ER w/a heart episode & my father in law had a heart attack – both things happened on the same day this week so we have been so exhausted w/all this going on. What I had planned on being a very productive week has turned into a flop.  :(

Pink Baby Girl Shower Invite & return address

a new NOLA stamper

and Emma Kate’s (above) 7th birthday party invite… where has the time gone? 

Teacher Appreciation?

In charge of those gifts for our wonderful teachers?  I just got a few emails in the last couple of days from those interested in purchasing gifts for Teacher Appreciation.  We had ours already but here are the suggestions that I gave today:

• desktop memo holders
• small javas
• can holders
• clipboards (small 6x9 w/pen set or large by itself)

And… from today through May 1st, take 25% off for teacher orders!  Enter TEACH25 at checkout to take advantage of the sale!

First Communion

Large Flat Invite (girls version available – see pillowcase design)

Girls First Communion Pillowcase

Boys First Communion Pillowcase

Spring Break coming to a close

As things wind down this week, the silence to come will be deafening for sure… but much needed!  When the two year old says to you, “Mom, I see Ms. Amy now” you know it’s time to be back in the swing of school days. 

We’ve been enjoying our wonderful Nanny’s Wii… so much that Dad now wants one.  Geez… I think I’ve convinced the kids to tap in to the “Disney jar” that we forgot to cash in for our most recent trip to buy the said Wii – what’cha think?  I think it’s fair game since the Bippity Boppity Boutique came out of my pocket this year.  As did all the junk purchases & game room (thanks to Gramma).

While the kids (older 2) enjoyed the Zephyr’s Baseball game, I stayed home to work… yeah! 

I did get a much needed email, though… thanks Jill ;)

Here’s a few new happies for your Friday night.  Have a great weekend!

Liv’s Tiger Pillow

Liv’s Pretty Pillow :)

I loved Liv’s pretty pillow so much, I had to give the plate design a whirl

and I couldn’t leave out Liv’s imaginary baby brother, Luke ;)

and a plate for his milk & cookies… enjoy, baby Luke

and some new Dino Bros stickers

 

Facebook Fan Up Roundup…

We made it to 100… did you fan up?  If so, there’s a special deal waiting for you on Facebook.  Join up & see what every fan gets ;)  Hurry though… deal expires at midnight tonight.

Little snipit from today’s work…

Charlee’s first thank you notes

Cute new pillowcase for Abby

A new fleur de lis & polka dot pattern option… made for Lily

Alyssa note cube

and a few new pillowcases for my favorite trips :)

 

A few from the day

i am helping a friend develop her new (upcoming) website!  cutie pie little pink monkeys ;)

off to design more cubes!!  nite nite!

love,

the looney-bird-can’t-wait-till-next-week-when-school’s-back-in

nah, not really!  love ya kids :) 

Stick ‘em up ;)

These are the cutest… & they are stickies!!

They have 700 sheets of paper & are printed on all 4 sides.  Pick your pattern, font & icon (optional) & you’ve got a great gift for those grads or moms on your list.

There are so many new things being introduced … having fun designing away!  Keep up by checking back … there’s also a Facebook roundup going on right now.  Jern up & get informed of some sweet deals! 

 

 

Poll time...

I've never posted a "poll" but I just wanted to play around to see what you thought of the new look ;) Go ahead... click over theerrreee to the right!

Also, I need everyone to "Fan Up" on Facebook! Click on the link to become a fan - when I reach certain milestones on there, I will do a giveaway!! Let's get to 100 first & see how it goes :)

new fonts, icons

I have been working on a more organized collaboration of my icons & fonts. Of course, there are way more options than what I actually post on the website but this is a good sampling. The icons are an ongoing project so keep checking back to see what's new in that section. So far I have uploaded the critters & cuties to the icons link but there's much more where that came from.

Also, I have added a bunch of new fonts that I have been using lately (I have over 1500 fonts on my machine!) but you will probably see more fonts being used in different products on the site.

Click the links here to check them all out! I hope you enjoy ;)

Click to view

Patterns
Icons
Fonts