the polka dot press

Busy, Busy, Busy. And a giveaway.

2009-11-10T19:54:00.007-03:00

I thrive on busy, which is good, I suppose, since I have my share of it this time of year!
Here are a few things going on this week:

I made these this past weekend...Pumpkin Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies. Don't even get me started on how many of these I ate before I started giving them away!

Just added these to the website: Personalized Hot Cocoa Packets.

They are super-cute for classmates, co-workers, neighbors, family & friends!
Wouldn't they be fun to pass out at your holiday party?
Leave a comment on the blog and you'll be entered to win a dozen of these FREE!

Ordered these for our Christmas Tree. I'm changing our "theme" this year...all initials and monograms. I've had a snowman/snowflake themed tree for about 10 years now and while still so cute, I am ready for a change. It'll be a work in progress as I cannot afford to replace an entire tree's worth of ornaments, but I'm going to try and do some creative things myself. In my spare time. ha!

Getting ready for this event, this weekend...
If you are in the Tallahassee area, stop by and see us!

Dog Days

2009-10-27T19:23:00.007-03:00

We found Addison's "dog" the other day. He was a gift before he was even born and he is the one that "stuck".

Dog went everywhere with us when Addison was a little guy.
And he is a little worn...

a missing nose that was sewn on many times but now gone.

Floppy feet with fabric so thin you can see through it.

He still creates this sense of calm in my son that he would never admit.

So, I have been posing Dog after Addison leaves for school and I make his bed....Dog has been very busy!

Reading up on Archery. I told him "no arrows in the house".

surfing the net. good thing we have parental controls on there.

playing football. at least he wears his helmet.

playing Xbox. not on school nights.

worn out from all that fun, Dog takes a nap.

The Oprah Effect....

2009-10-22T22:22:00.013-03:00

My hubby taped a show for me the other evening called, The Oprah Effect. It highlighted several small businesses that became bigger after their products were featured on Oprah's show or in her magazine. To some degree, we have just experienced the "People Effect".
When our wine wrappers were featured in People Magazine last month, we were thrilled.

When the orders started coming in, we were thrilled.
It was so fun to open my email inbox to find orders from all over the country.

A week later, when they were still rolling in, we were thrilled.

And it continued.

For weeks.

I wish I could tell you exactly how many sets of wine wrappers we have sold in the last 30 days, but I have not even had a chance to add them up! It was alot.

Combined with all of the regular orders that came in and a BIG show in early October, we have been BUSY in the studio.

A BIG order for candy jars....so cute!

Some of the recent goodies leaving the studio....

Melissa hosted a home show..

...she is just adorable and she had this "surprise" for me when I arrived. She had collected all of her recent products and printed up a sign that read "Melissa's Favorites". How cute is that? We sold ALOT of stuff from her favorites samples!

I've lost 9 pounds without even trying. (read: elated).

I don't sleep much.

I got my hair cut all off because I didn't have time to style all that hair.
Ok, I really just wanted short, sassy hair again, but it sounded good, right?

Before: (literally- in the parking lot of the salon)

After:

I am NOT complaining. I LOVE what I do and I love that we are so busy!
I am grateful for my amazing mom who puts in countless hours!
I am grateful for my hubby, who puts up with all of my long nights and weekends away.
I am grateful for all of my customers who keep supporting my business and me!

Well, time to get ready for the next show...Saturday!!!

I'll have my People call your People....

2009-09-07T07:37:00.002-04:00

Random Thoughts

2009-08-30T16:06:00.008-04:00

Ok, so I haven't been a very good blogger lately. School has started and the lazy days of summer are over! So, here is collection of random thoughts and pictures......

A beautiful order made recently for a wedding gift!

Who do these Mens' size 11 feet belong to?

the fifth grader.....WHO WOULD NOT SMILE for the first day photo!

So, he finally smiled and I got this cheesy grin. (He will totally regret all this in about 5 years!)

This plate of delishness was made last weekend by hub. Love that man!

And THIS is just a gal after my own heart! We went to a local Spring over the summer and she whipped out this personal fan! It's hot here, people, so this is a wonderful invention!

Well, that's it.... more random thoughts to come!

new collections

2009-08-15T10:02:00.010-04:00

I've been on a creative kick the past few days.....lots of new ideas brimming out of my head. And I seem to have an obsession with little birds.
Here's a few new things!

Fall Tweet:

Fall Foilage:

And the Winner is.....

2009-08-03T12:49:00.002-04:00

RhoDelta!

Email me at kim@thepolkadotpress.com to let me know what colors/name you would like for your pencil case!!!

Woo Hoo! LOVE fun school supplies!

A Back To School Giveaway!

2009-07-26T11:50:00.005-04:00

"Good Teachers teach from the Heart, not from a Book."

I'm not sure where I read this quote, but it's so true!
Leave a comment about your favorite teacher and enter to win one of our personalized pencil cases! The winner will be chosen on Sunday, August 2nd!

Bag Tags for Older Boys

2009-07-26T11:45:00.004-04:00

We've had lots of requests for some "older boy" bag tags, so here's a few
sport-themed tags:

Personalized Pencil Cases....

2009-07-25T20:23:00.004-04:00

Personalized Pencil Cases-Now available on the website....
your kids will love these! (and they are only $5!!!)

Lunch Box Notes...

2009-07-25T09:42:00.009-04:00

We've updated our Lunch Box Notes, by request and we now offer 4 different notepads!
Older kids will like the newer designs.....
Make your student smile at lunchtime with a little note from Mom.

Back to School is almost here!

2009-07-23T19:32:00.008-04:00

Ok, let me just put it out there. I love my son more than anything in the whole world. But I am ready for school. Ready for routine. And regular bedtimes. And the ability to run errands without moaning and groaning. I know, I know...along with school comes the morning hustle, lunch-packing, uniform ironing (I have to have pleats in his shorts) and homework! But about this time of the summer, the payoff seems greater than the sacrifices.

So, with that in mind, I put together some "Back to School" items for the polka dot press....

Here's a few of them:

A new collection for Teachers...Appletini.
I know teachers get tired of the apples, but I couldn't help it. Bag Tags...lots of fun designs for boys and girls!
School Money Envelopes...make sending money to school
So EASY!
School ID Labels...for everything from pencil cases to folders!
A fun new collection for girls...there's a bag tag too!
I'm working on a couple of other cool items that I'll share soon!
Now get out there and buy some loose leaf paper!!!!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Tuesday, July 21st

2009-07-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

21042...Ellicott City, MD

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Tuesday, July 21st! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Ellicott City!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Monday, July 20th

2009-07-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

35758...Madison, AL

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Monday, July 20th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Madison!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Sunday, July 19th

2009-07-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

90254...Hermosa Beach, CA

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Sunday, July 19th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Hermosa Beach!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Saturday, July 18th

2009-07-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

29926...Hilton Head Island, SC

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Friday, July 18th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Hilton Head!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Friday, July 17th

2009-07-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

30004...Alpharetta, GA

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Friday, July 17th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Alpharetta!

Fun in the Sun

2009-07-15T21:51:00.003-04:00

We are so lucky to be able to spend the week on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida....beautiful beaches, lovely condos and lots of family (we are from here).

The kids stopped long enough for me to take a quick photo of their cute faces with masks on...we spend ALOT of time at the pool!

I hope you are enjoying your summer!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Thursday, July 16th

2009-07-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

44321...Copley, OH

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Thursday, July 16th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Copley!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Wednesday, July 15th

2009-07-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

21236...Nottingham, MD

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Thursday, July 15th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Nottingham!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Tuesday, July 14th

2009-07-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

83002...Jackson, WY

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Tuesday, July 14th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Jackson!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Monday, July 13th

2009-07-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

97603...Klamath Falls, OR

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Monday, July 13th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Klamath Falls!

Have it your way....

2009-07-11T15:59:00.004-04:00

So all of a sudden we have two Burger Kings within 1 mile of our house. We are not huge Burger King fans around here, but apparently someone is because they are popping up in every direction. Anyway, recently I had picked up Addison and his friend from a day camp and they were thirsty. So thirsty, mom. Dying of thirst, mom. Really, so much drama...do you think it's 102 degrees or something? Ok, well, it was. But still. so much drama.

So, I pulled into the first available fast food establishment, which happened to be a BK. The boys decided on Icees and both chose the Orange Creamsicle flavor. Of course, I'm sitting in the front thinking, "You are so going to wish you had gotten Cherry." But, I let them make the decision.

I took a sip of Addison's before I passed it back to him and OMG! Deliciousness! I kept hoping he wouldn't finish the whole thing, but he did. meany.

So, now we have these two BK's so close and all I've been thinking about are these Orange Creamsicle Icees. So, last night, I walk around the house, telling the boy people that I am headed to BK to pick up Icess. Who's with me? The big boy(husband) declined, but the little boy knew better....we enjoyed our Creamsicle goodness! Ironically, the big boy LOVES Creamsicle Popsicles and me?- not so much!

One more little tidbit: I still refer to Icees as Slurpees. I'm a Florida Gal and we have 7-11's where I'm from. And they make slurpees. Not icees. And today...is National Slurpee Day. If you live near a 7-11, you can walk in and get a free Slurpee. No 7-11's in these parts, so I'll have to stick to the BK Creamsicle Icees.

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Sunday, July 12th

2009-07-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

06776...New Milford, CT

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Sunday, July 12th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, New Milford!

Summer Zip Code Tour Stop: Saturday, July 11th

2009-07-10T12:00:00.001-04:00

92027...Escondido, CA

If you live in this zip code, you will receive a 30% discount on everything you buy on Saturday, July 11th! Simply enter your zip code as the discount code! Happy Shopping, Escondido!